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UNIC Lebanon-Jordan-Kuwait-Syria
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About
UNIC
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The United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Beirut is one of 63 offices around the world which constitute branch offices of the United Nations Department of Public Information (UNDPI). |
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The Department of Public Information at United Nations Headquarters in New York is headed by Under-Secretary-General Kiyotaka Akasaka.
UNIC-Beirut was established on 7 September 1962 further to General Assembly Resolution 13 (1) of 13 February 1946, which called on UNDPI to establish branch offices in all parts of the world.
The mandate of the Department of Public Information is to promote an informed understanding of the work, principles and the purposes of the United Nations among the peoples of the world through various outreach efforts and campaigns. The Department provides information and produces materials on United Nations global activities such as peacekeeping and international security, economic, social and cultural development, human rights and humanitarian issues, education, population, drug trafficking and other issues. It also provides information on the proceedings of the United Nations principal organs, the General Assembly and its various bodies and the Security Council. In carrying out these functions, DPI works closely with other Secretariat departments as well as all UN organizations. DPI also administers the Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General (OSSG).
The United Nations Information Center in Beirut which serves Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Kuwait is also the United Nations Information Service of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). Its activities cover the thirteen countries covered by the Regional Commission. UNIC also maintains close ties with the rest of the United Nations family in Lebanon.
Core Functions of UNIC:
The core functions of the UN Information Centre are as follows:
1. Promoting to the greatest possible extent an informed understanding of the work and purposes of the United Nations,
2. Informing the public of the aims and activities of the United Nations, in accordance with the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, in order to create a global support for the International Organization,
3. Providing through its outreach activities, accurate, comprehensive and relevant information to the public on the tasks and responsibilities of the United Nations in order to strengthen national and regional support for the activities of the Organization,
4. Developing communication/information strategy aimed at generating greater public understanding of and support for the work of the Organization taking into account international and regional interests as well as priority themes defined by the Organization,
5. Promoting and disseminating information on the activities and programs of UN-ESCWA at the national and regional levels, and other UN agencies in Lebanon.
6. Maintaining close contact with the media and other important target audiences such as government and non-government organizations, educational institutions…etc,
7. Providing leadership to the UN Communication Group/Lebanon.
8. Providing information and feedback to the Department of public Information at Headquarters in New York.
Activities of UNIC
As part of its efforts to build up public support for the work and concerns of the Organization, UNIC is responsible for formulating, developing and implementing an information strategy:
News Coverage:
UNIC responds to inquiries about the United Nations with the most complete and current information on the Organization and related agencies. UNIC publishes and distributes, throughout the region, press releases, news letters: UNIC regularly disseminates, to the media and the UN agencies, the press releases produced by UN Headquarters, covering the statement of the Secretary-General, background information on conferences/meetings, celebration of UN days and special events, launch of major UN publications and reports...
UNIC also issues press releases and newsletter/bulletins to inform the media and raise public awareness on the work of the Organization, at the national and regional levels. The press releases include announcement, participation and coverage of special events, such as conferences/meetings, exhibitions… It also promotes the work and programs of the Regional Commission (UN-ESCWA) in the thirteen countries served by the Commission. UNIC produces a weekly newsletter covering latest UN-ESCWA activities in the region.
Press Conferences/Press Briefings/Interviews:
UNIC/UNIS organizes press conferences/press briefings to ensure the media coverage of the Organization and the Regional Commission’s work. It also arranges interviews for UN Officials with the media to present and discuss priority issues.
Audio-Visual Material:
UNIC maintains a wide collection of videos and recently of DVDs, provided by DPI, on the structure and the work of the United Nations and on issues before the Organization and its specialized agencies such as peace keeping, human rights, gender equality, sustainable development, new technologies…Educational institutions and NGOs are encouraged to screen these films for a better understanding of the Organization. It also ensures the broadcast of TV spots and videos, covering priority themes, by local TV stations. UNIC also produces TV spots and documentary films on UN-ESCWA programs and conferences which are sent to the media to raise public awareness and follow-up on UN-ESCWA activities in the region.
Brochures, Leaflets, Press Kits, Photo Materials and Posters:
UNIC disseminates brochures, leaflets, posters and press kits prepared by DPI as background information on the main bodies of the Organization, major meetings and events. It also maintains a photo library. UNIC produces also brochures, leaflets and posters on UN-ESCWA structure, programs and conferences which are widely disseminated to the media, government and non-government organizations, research centers/institutes in the region.
UN Communication Group/Lebanon:
The UN Communication Group/Lebanon includes the communication officers of all the United Nations system in Lebanon. It aims at strengthening inter-Agency cooperation in the field of communications and to increase media profile of the UN activities at the national and regional level. |
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Secretary General
