Once industrial facilities start to introduce and submit their PRTR, they will be much more aware of their pollution and emissions and consequently more interested in investing in greener technologies for their facilities, which contributes to sustainable development.

We saw a need for a change of attitude so we began to identify local opportunities to strengthen social cohesion and to build capacity in our own communities.

I was a middle-class family child and during my upbringing, I saw many young people in my community whose parents struggled with paying their school fees, especially those for high education. I used to ask myself ‘what can I do to help people achieve their dreams?’

The UNITAR training took place just one week after his first session as a UN mandate holder — the youngest person ever appointed to a UN indigenous-specific mechanism and with the least amount of international experience. “There was no accommodation time, as the work of mandate holders is very responsible and challenging, and indigenous peoples around the world expect results and efficiency from experts.”

16-17 December 2019, Nairobi, Kenya – A group of 26 officials from various ministries engaged in a two-day UNITAR training workshop with the aim of improving their skills and knowledge in the field of maritime law and international dispute settlement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

9 – 11 December 2019, Kigali, Rwanda – UNITAR collaborated with the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Centre (ROLACC) to host a Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop on Anticorruption and Sustainable Development in Kigali, Rwanda from 9-11 December 2019. In the framework of this event, UNITAR also signed a partnership agreement with the State of Qatar and the Government of Rwanda, aimed at future joint anti-corruption training activities.

9 December 2019, Geneva, Switzerland - UNITAR’s Division for Multilateral Diplomacy delivered a two-day workshop entitled Business and Human Rights: Key to Achieving the SDGs on the 5th and 6th of December at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, with some 60 participants from governments, business, civil society and other stakeholders. The overall objective of the workshop was to help participants gain a thorough understanding of the Business and Human Rights agenda and provide leadership perspectives on the potential and challenges to implement the UN Guiding Principles as an essential means to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

29 November 2019, Geneva, Switzerland - The Board of Trustees of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) concluded its Sixtieth Session, which convened from 28 to 29 November 2019. Key decisions of the session include adoption of the $88 million programme budget for 2020-2021 and the integration into UNITAR of The Defeat-NCD Partnership with a biennial budget of $31 million.

November 2019, Geneva, Switzerland - What would be key elements to consider in the management of international waters? Is the way in which women and men interact with water resources relevant? Check out a new free e-learning module on gender and international waters to understand why it is important to engage both women and men to foster a more equitable and sustainable water resource use for everybody. 

11-13 November 2019, Madrid & Malaga, Spain – UNITAR convened the sixteenth annual steering committee meeting of its global network of affiliated training centres to review past performance and achievements, as well as to discuss work plans for the following year, explore synergies amongst CIFAL centres and other units of UNITAR. The meeting was inaugurated by Mr. Nikhil Seth, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of UNITAR, who highlighted the importance of working with local authorities globally to resonate and act upon the mandate of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and its SDGs.