13 - 17 August 2017, Manama, Bahrain – In cooperation with UNDP in Bahrain and UNIC in Manama, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) successfully implemented a workshop entitled “Effective Participation in the United Nations General Assembly” on 13-17 August in Manama. This training gathered delegates from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain that are going to attend the 72nd General Assembly session in New York on 12 - 25 September 2017, as well as their respective colleagues who will support them from the capital.

The workshop was dedicated to enhancing the participants’ understanding of the dynamics that unfold in the General Assembly, its main committees and in multilateral conferences in general. It also aimed to strengthen the capacity of participants in order to prepare them adequately for, and perform effectively in the upcoming General Assembly session. It was led by His Excellency Mr. Lars Tillfors, former Swedish Ambassador with postings in Washington, New York and Geneva among others and expert in negotiations and multilateral diplomacy, as well as Mr. Miguel Bautista, Chief of group liaison at UNCTAD, former Diplomat for the Philippines, university lecturer and expert in diplomatic skills training and capacity development.

At the end of the training, participants were able to define and analyze the structure, mandate and functions of the United Nations General Assembly and its main committees, discuss the decision-making processes in multilateral conferences and analyze how diplomatic negotiations are conducted in the General Assembly and the committees thus gaining an in-depth understanding of its dynamics. With the knowledge and skills acquired, UNITAR looks forward to the participants’ effective participation in the United Nations General Assembly and their work for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The percentage of participants that felt that they had met each of the course objectives was 94% and all participants expressed that their awareness on the topic had increased, that they would recommend the course to a colleague and that they intend to use their newly acquired skills in their daily work, as well as at the next session of the United Nations General Assembly.