26 November 2020, Geneva, Switzerland - Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, UNITAR and the International Ocean Institute launched the Online Diploma on Ocean Governance for Sustainable Marine Ecosystems.

18 November 2020, New York, USA (Virtual) - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) New York Office (NYO) hosted a second training session entitled “Conflict Resolution in the Era of Political Polarization” as part of an ongoing partnership with the Columbia Law School Mediation Clinic. Ambassador Marco Suazo welcomed the more than 170 participants to the event and introduced Professor Alexandra Carter who facilitated the event’s presentation and introduced the rest of the team who helped lead the discussion. This training was supported with funding allocated from the Swedish International Development Agency’s (SIDA) contribution to the UNITAR Strategic Framework Fund, under the programme ‘Leveling The Playing Field’ which focuses on the development of skills and knowledge of Least Developing Countries.

04 November 2020, New York, USA (Virtual) - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) New York Office (NYO) launched its series with Columbia Law School on Mediation, Conflict Resolution and Negotiation 2020. This activity is supported with funding allocated from the Swedish International Development Agency’s (SIDA) contribution to the UNITAR Strategic Framework.

19 October 2020, New York, USA (Virtual) – The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) New York office launched a series of training on Monday, 19 October catered for the members of the Ministry of foreign Affairs of Ireland. The purpose of the training is to prepare the delegates for the work and the responsibilities of the Security Council. Ireland was elected as a member of the Council in June 2020 by the members of the General Assembly along with India, Norway, Mexico and Kenya. Ireland will serve a two-year term in the Security Council, starting 1 January 2021.

October 2020, Geneva, Switzerland - New digital innovations have the potential to transform the way policing is delivered. This conference will bring together industry, government, and academic experts from the technological, security, and investigations industry to discuss and present the new technological innovations that have applications in the areas of crime prevention and control.

13 October 2020, Costa Rica, New York, and Geneva – The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) represented by the Executive Director, Mr. Nikhil Seth, and the Director-General, Mr. Manuel Otero, respectively, participated in the first virtual signature of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) together with the Head of UNITAR New York Office, Mr. Marco Suazo.

5-12 October 2020, New York, USA (Virtual) – The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) delivered a six-day training for Mexico, the newly elected member of the Security Council. Mexico was elected as a member of the Security Council in June 2020 by the members of the General Assembly along with India, Norway, Ireland and Kenya. Mexico will serve a two-year term in the Security Council, starting 1 January 2021.

28 September – 2 October 2020, New York, USA (Virtual) – The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) continued its training series for the newly elected members of the Security Council. On October 2020, UNITAR successfully completed its five-day virtual training for the delegates from the Permanent Mission of Kenya. Kenya was elected as a member of the Security Council in June 2020 by the members of the General Assembly along with India, Norway, Ireland and Mexico. Kenya will serve a two-year term in the Security Council starting 1 January 2021.

The UNITAR New York Office delivered the first of a series of training programs for the delegations of incoming elected members of the Security Council.

24 September 2020, Geneva, Switzerland - On 24 September 2020, 50 participants took part in a four-hour webinar on the topic “Sustainable Development Goals in the Private Sector”, organized and implemented by UNITAR and the Global Institute of Excellence in Hong Kong.  In a short introduction, UNITAR’s executive director Nikil Seth explained how the Sustainable Development Goals and the private sector are ultimately connected and how the business sector has an immense influence on the impact of climate change and the ecological footprint. Especially now, in the midst of a global pandemic, Mr. Seth highlighted the urgent need to take action against the climate crisis and focus on water and energy efficiency, the protection of biodiversity, gender equality, sustainable infrastructures and much more.