The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) will take place in Brazil during 20-22 June 2012 to mark the 20th anniversary of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) and the 10th anniversary of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg.

A regional ministerial forum focused on the ‘UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions’ took place 9-11 May 2012 in Dhaka. The forum was organized by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Government of Bangladesh and UNESCO.

Visit of Special Representative of the Secretary General for Disaster Risk Reduction, 28-31 March 2012: On a three day visit from 28 to 31 March 2012 to Bangladesh, Ms. Margareta Wahlström, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Disaster Risk Reduction, promoted the disaster risk reduction profile and raised awareness on how to prevent and mitigate disaster. She also heads the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR).

Annually, the UN country team gathers to reflect on their strategic planning in order to ensure its relevance in the changing context.  The key objective of this year’s retreat, is to motivate UN agency colleagues to re-think from a strategic point, within and beyond the UNDAF, where necessary and discuss key priority policies for immediate and long-term undertaking. (see pictures)

UNIC Dhaka in cooperation with the UN Youth and Students Association of Bangladesh (UNYSAB) and the Dhaka University Model UN Association (DUMUNA) organized a number of events including Poster Exhibition & Video Show, Candle-lighting and Seminar to commemorate the International Day of Holocaust at IDB Bhaban auditorium, Dhaka, on 26 January 2012.

The UNDAF Action Plan 2012-2016, the country’s first common operational plan of the UN System, was signed and endorsed by the Economic Relations Division (ERD), Ministry of Finance and the UN Country Team on 12 January 2012.

On December 10, the National Human Rights Commission led Human Rights Day 2011 celebrations in Dhaka by organizing a program around the theme: “Working together to promote Human Rights: Giving young people a voice.”

Mr Manoj Juneja, FAO Deputy Director-General (Operations) visited Bangladesh during 18 to 21 November 2011.

UN Secretary-General Mr. Ban Ki-moon visited Bangladesh on 13 November for a three day visit as part of three-country tour to South-East Asia , (see pictures)

Release of the State of World Population Report 2011

UNFPA’s annual flagship publication “State of World Population Report” was released on 26 October 2011 in Dhaka.

In 1945, representatives of 50 countries met in San Francisco at the United Nations Conference on International Organization to draw up the United Nations Charter.

A regional conference on South Asia Women's Political Leadership ended in Dhaka today following three days of intensive discussion on issues related to women's empowerment in the socio-political arena.

Dhaka Conference on 'Scaling Up Social Protection in Bangladesh: Providing Ladders Out Of Poverty and Social Safety Nets' ended with a call for the formulation of a national strategy to widen coverage

Following a long and consultative process, the UN Country Team and the Economic Relations Division (ERD), Ministry of Finance, signed and endorsed Bangladesh’s new UNDAF 2012-2016 at the UNDAF Signing Ceremony on 1 June 2011.

Since the first United Nations peacekeeping mission in May 1948, peacekeeping has continually evolved to address issues of war, conflict, peace and security.