Upcoming global themes

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Upcoming global themes ideasThèmes et idées
globaux prochains
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• 2009
• International Year of Reconciliation to
  highlight the necessity of reconciliation
  processes in societies affected by conflicts
• International Year of Natural Fibres important
  revenue source for farmers and therefore
  important in poverty alleviation
• International Year of Astronomy
• International Year for Human Rights Learning (10
  Dec 2008 to 10 Dec 2009)
• UNFCCC COP-15 Kyoto COP-5 (7-18 December,
  Copenhagen)
• FAOs Third World Food Summit (November, date
  location tbc)
• 35th anniversary of the World Food Conference
  the Universal Declaration on the Eradication of
  Hunger and Malnutrition
• 25th anniversary of the Convention against
  Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading
  Treatment or Punishment
• 20th anniversary of the adoption by the UNGA of
  the Convention on the Rights of the Child
• Launch of a new UN Day
• 20 February 2009, World Day of Social Justice
• Themes with Canadian ties
• 20th anniversary of the Montréal Protocol (on
  ozone) coming into force
• 10th anniversary of the Ottawa Convention (on
  land mines) coming into force
• 10th anniversary of the World Conference on Civil
  Society in Montréal

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• 2010
• International Year of Biodiversity
• International Year of the Rapprochement of
  Cultures the importance of mutual understanding
  and inter-religious dialogue
• Launch of the 2010-2020 UN Decade for Deserts and
  the Fight against Desertification
• End of the 2001-2010 International Decade for a
  Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the
  Children of the World (watch to see if it rolls
  into something else as several decades do)
• 20th anniversary of the first World Summit for
  Children, chaired by Brian Mulroney
• Not UN, but of interest to UNA-Canada
• Olympics and Paralympics, Vancouver (12-28 Feb
  12-21 Mar respectively)
• XVIII International AIDS Conference, Vienna
  (18-23 July)

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• 2011
• International Year of Forests their
  contribution to sustainable development, poverty
  eradication and development
• International Year of Chemistry (theme is  our
  life, our future ) to celebrate the
  achievements of chemistry and its contributions
  to the well-being of humankind
• 30th anniversary of the Ramsar Convention on
  Wetlands of International Importance being opened
  for signature
• Both the 10th anniversary of the UN, led by H.E.
  Kofi Annan, receiving the Nobel Peace Prize AND
  the 50th anniversary of H.E. Dag Hammaskjolds
  Nobel Peace Prize
• Not UN, but of interest to UNA-Canada
• 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster

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• 2012
• The UN hasnt announced a theme(s) for an
  international year. However, it is the
• End of the 2003-2012 United Nations Literacy
  Decade  Education for All (watch to see if it
  rolls into something else as several decades do)
• 30th anniversary of opening for signature of the
  UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
  signed by 117 States and two entities -the
  largest number of signatures ever affixed to a
  treaty on its first day
• 20th anniversary of the UN Conference on the
  Environment Development (also known as the
  Earth Summit or the Rio Conference)
• 10th anniversary of the formal establishment of
  the International Criminal Court
• Not UN, but of interest to UNA-Canada
• Spring 2012 is the anticipated but unconfirmed
  opening of the new Canadian Museum for Human
  Rights, Winnipeg (dependent upon funding being in
  place and construction completed)
• XVIIV International AIDS Conference, location
  specific dates yet to be determined
• 15th anniversary of the Land Mines Convention
  (also known as the Ottawa Convention)
• 10th anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq

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• Lists of all UN days, years and decades are
  available
• on the UN website at
• http//www.un.org/observances/
• and on UNA-Canadas website at
  http//www.unac.org/en/news_events/un_days/index.a
  sp