8 March 2025, Geneva, Switzerland - On this International Women’s Day, I am pleased to announce that I joined the International Gender Champions. Today, we must all answer the call to action to achieve a future where the rights, equality, and empowerment of all women and girls are fully realized. The theme, For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment., serves as a powerful reminder that gender equality is not just a goal—it is a necessity.

22 February 2025, Geneva, Switzerland – The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) is pleased to announce that Michelle Gyles-McDonnough has officially assumed office as its new Executive Director. She succeeds Nikhil Seth of India, whose mandate concluded on 31 January 2025.

16 December 2024, New York, USA - United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the appointment of Michelle Gyles-McDonnough of Jamaica as the new Executive Director of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). She will officially assume her duties on 22 February 2025, succeeding Nikhil Seth of India, to whom the Secretary-General expressed profound gratitude for his dedication and contributions to the United Nations.

8 November 2024, Vientiane, Lao PDR - The year 2024 was declared by the Secretary-General to be the year of building trust and hope.

24 October 2024, In September, Member States came together to adopt a visionary Pact for the Future aimed at aligning international efforts with contemporary realities and future challenges. Today, on UN Day, the six research and training institutes of the United Nations reaffirm their commitment to supporting the Pact of the Future through specialized knowledge, learning, research and training for the UN system – benefitting the world as a whole.

2 October 2024, Praia, Cabo Verde - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), the Atlantic Centre, and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) with the support of Cabo Verde, are pleased to announce a major forthcoming event called "Maritime Security 2024: Innovations and Partnerships for the Future.", financed by the German Federal Foreign Office. This event will take place in Cidade da Praia, Cabo Verde, in collaboration with the European Union, the Atlantic Centre, and the G7++ Friends of the Gulf of Guinea (FoGG).

Dr Eoin Langan’s background is in accounting, finance and IT consulting, prior to transitioning to a career in Higher Education. He joined TU Dublin in 2019 as Head of School Accounting and Finance, City Campus, and became Dean of the faculty of Business, in September 2021. He brings extensive executive management experience in both industry and academia to the role of Dean. He encourages an inclusive approach with an open leadership style that promotes collaboration, incorporating opportunities for staff development with an emphasis on collegiality and partnership. Dr Eoin has a strong interest in innovation, technology, entrepreneurship and sustainability within Higher Education. His research interests include transition into Higher Education and innovation in Teaching, Learning, Assessment and Feedback. He is a former chair of the Irish Accounting and Finance Association (IAFA). Aligned with his interest on sustainability, Dr. Eoin was a keynote speaker in the International Research Climate Security Conference. 

Anna Beck found herself navigating a journey from the private sector to the role of project manager within the United Nations peacekeeping mission MONUSCO in 2022. As an associated Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) officer, her work primarily focuses on Community Violence Reduction (CVR) projects. Despite her large experience in project management, Anna was eager to continue learning on peacekeeping-related issues. The UNITAR training allowed her to fulfil this objective, bringing new weapons and ammunition management (WAM) perspectives into her CVR work. 

Chapter VIII of the UN Charter highlights the importance of cooperation with regional arrangements and agencies for the purpose of the maintenance of peace and security. UNITAR’s Fellowship Programme in Peacemaking and Preventive Diplomacy, now in its 31st year, is unique in bringing together mid- and senior-level diplomats with regional organization representatives and UN staff to provide intensive training in conflict analysis, negotiation and mediation. The first of its kind in the United Nations system, the programme invites senior UN and regional organization staff, top academics and practitioners to serve as senior resource persons, sharing their lessons and strategies with Fellows from around the world. 

27 May 2024, Lisbon, Portugal - The Atlantic Centre and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research's (UNITAR) Division for Peace today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on training and capacity development initiatives focused on maritime security and port governance.