26 March 2025, Geneva, Switzerland - On the 30th anniversary of the landmark Beijing Declaration, UNITAR convened a virtual side event, "Bridging Gender Gaps and Advancing Equity in Water Governance." In conjunction with World Water Day for the International Year of Glaciers' Preservation, the event emphasised the critical importance of glaciers to freshwater resources. The gathering brought together experts and practitioners to address the inextricable link between gender equity and sustainable water management, reinforcing that women's inclusion is not simply about fairness but an essential element for effective and resilient water governance.

26 March 2024 Hiroshima, Japan – Indonesia is renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty, but it is also highly disaster-prone and faces environmental challenges. Determined to make a meaningful change, young environmentalist Bryan Sinatra joined the UNITAR Leaders for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific: Sea and Human Security training programme.

26 March 2025 Hiroshima, Japan - Tonga’s rugged landscapes and deep blue Pacific waters have long been both a source of pride for the people of Tonga and a constant reminder of nature’s unpredictable power. For Savelinga Fatafehi ‘O Lapaha Fa’oliu, an assistant geologist at Tonga Geological Services, every day is a commitment to safeguarding her community against the island nation’s natural hazards.

26 March 2025 Hiroshima, Japan – The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) introduces a series of policy briefs on Sea and Human Security in the Indo-Pacific. The briefs were produced through the 2024 UNITAR Leaders for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific: Sea and Human Security Training Programme and represent the collaborative efforts of the programme participants, including government officials, NGO representatives, academics, and private-sector stakeholders from across the Indo-Pacific region. Through introducing these policy briefs, UNITAR aims to amplify the voices of emerging leaders in the region.

26 March 2025 Hiroshima, Japan – Manchulika Wongchai, Third Secretary of the Peace, Security and Disarmament Division of the Department of International Organization of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, was one of the 15 participants of the UNITAR Hiroshima Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Training Programme held in February 2025.

25 March 2025, Geneva, Switzerland – UNITAR’s Division for People kicked off the 2025 edition of the Mentoring Programme of the CIFAL Global Network (CGN) aimed at enhancing the CGN ecosystem by strengthening peer-to-peer knowledge exchanges and fostering collaborations among CIFAL centres across regions of the world. Held between 17 and 21 March, four sessions took place, bringing together 11 CIFAL Centre Directors, 5 mentors, long-standing directors, and 6 mentees, newly appointed directors connected virtually to exchange experiences and bridge connections.

24 March 2025, New York, USA – On March 24, 2025, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research office in New York, in collaboration with the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS) of the UN Office of Legal Affairs, hosted a briefing for delegates on Oceans and the Law of the Sea. The session provided an overview of the legal frameworks governing ocean governance, with a focus on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and its related agreements. A total of 85 participants attended the event in person, underscoring the continued interest and importance of ocean governance in multilateral diplomacy.

24 March 2025 Hiroshima, Japan – Nathalie Fakher Eddine is a Lebanese entrepreneur with a background in public health, humanitarian relief and disaster management operations. She co-founded a social dining platform that connects home cooks with locals and tourists, allowing visitors to experience authentic Lebanese cuisine through home-cooked meals. Through the platform, she aims to improve the lives of women and families with low incomes while preserving Lebanon’s rich culinary heritage.

21 March 2025, Merida, Mexico — Celebrating 20 years of leadership in hurricane risk management and operational resilience, the 20th International Hurricane Seminar brought together distinguished experts from around the world for two days of collaborative learning, strategic dialogue, and forward-looking action.

13 March 2025, Banjul, The Gambia - In an ambitious effort to address chemicals and waste management challenges in The Gambia, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the French Facility for Global Environment (FFEM), the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), the National Environment Agency (NEA) of the Government of The Gambia, and other stakeholders have partnered to improve The Gambia’s capacity to effectively manage polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and unintentional persistent organic pollutants (uPOPs) through the project "Strengthening National and Municipal Capacities for the Sound Management of PCBs and uPOPs in The Gambia". The project was launched in Banjul, The Gambia, on 5 March 2025, bringing together stakeholders from international organizations, government agencies, private sector, academia, civil society and non-governmental organizations, local communities and the media.