un.dk

The Future of Human Rights
2023-12-12 15:00 - 16:30 (Europe/Copenhagen) | UN City, Marmorvej 51, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark
This year, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights marks its 75th anniversary. The milestone arrives amidst a new wave of violent conflicts and political unrest, intensified impacts of climate change, a rise in the use of artificial intelligence, a recent pandemic, and the most notable reversal in human development in 30 years. These challenges have put human rights under unprecedented pressure since their adoption 75 years ago.
Following International Human Rights Day on 10 December, join us for ‘The Future of Human Rights‘ opening event to the Human Rights Week in UN City.
The event will feature speeches and discussions with decision-makers, experts, and activists on the determining power of human rights for the well-being and safety of people and the planet.
It will also unveil a photo exhibition showcasing human rights milestones from the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 to the present day.
The event is co-organised by UN City, UNDP, and the Danish Institute for Human Rights.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Please bring a valid photo-ID to get through security at UN City and set aside time for the security check prior to the event.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Register to save your spot here
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
PROGRAMME
15:00 Welcome by Henrik Fredborg Larsen (Director, UNDP Nordic Office)
15:05 Opening Remarks by Vibeke Pasternak Jørgensen (Under-Secretary for Legal Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark)
15:10 Keynote by Prof. David Kaye (former UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Opinion)
15:30 Discussions: How Will Human Rights Determine Our Future?

Human Rights and Climate – Role of the Courts by Sune Fugleholm (Lawyer, Poul Schmith)
The Rights of Man or Mankind? by Mary Consolata Namagame (Activist, Founder of She for She)
Safeguarding our Social Contract by Rights by Manilla Ghafuri (Chairperson of Rapolitics, Winner of the Human Rights Award 2022)

15:45 Reflections by MP Christian Friis Bach and MP Sascha Faxe
16:00 Panel Debate and Q&A with MPs and Presenters
16:25 Closing Remarks by Louise Holck (Director, Danish Institute of Human Rights)
Moderator: Jakob Sheikh
16:30–17:30 Reception and Launch of Photo Exhibition ‘Turning Points: 75 Years of Human Rights – Capturing Memories and Milestones‘

Reimagining Safety: Advancing Gender-Responsive Policing to Strengthen Responses to Gender-Based Violence
2023-12-04 13:30 - 15:30 | UN City, Marmorvej 51, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark
Reimagining Safety: Advancing Gender-Responsive Policing to Strengthen Responses to Gender-Based Violence
Join UN Women, the Nordic Council of Ministers for Gender Equality and LGBTI (MR-JÄM), and Danner during 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence for discussions on Gender-Responsive Policing.
4 December 2023, 14:00 – 15:30 CET, UN City Copenhagen.
16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual campaign led by civil society to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls. The campaign is supported by the United Nations through the Secretary General’s UNiTE by 2030 to End Violence against Women initiative.
For this 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence event, we are gathering civil society, parliamentarians, Nordic law enforcement practitioners and Ministers to discuss the strengthening of the justice sector response, particularly that of law enforcement, to crimes of Violence Against Women and Girls. Through panel discussions, we aim to explore good practices and advancing commitments to end violence against women and girls through gender-responsive policing.
We look forward to welcoming you to a frank discussion in UN City on Monday, 4 December!
Register your participation here
Please note that there is a limited number of seats.
Where: Atlantic Lounge Area, UN City, Marmorvej 51, 2100 København Ø.
Please make sure to bring a valid photo ID for the registration and security check. Kindly allow sufficient time for the security check upon arrival.

docUNight: Climate Exodus
2023-11-23 17:00 - 19:30 | UN City, Marmorvej 51, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark
Join us for a special screening of the documentary ‘Climate Exodus’. The film shows the tragedy of three women who have lost everything due to climate change and now emigrate to start a new life. Lobuin struggles every day to find the last water supply so that she can survive in Kenya. Nazma lost her crop in Ghoramara, India, due to the sea level change. Tornadoes and violent hurricanes punish the Saint Martin Island in the Caribbean, where Vanesa has lost her house and her neighbours their lives.
Run time: 52 minutes
Language: Original with English subtitles
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Register to save your spot here
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Coffee and gløgg will be available (free of charge) before and after the event.
Snacks and cold drinks will be available for purchase before the event.
Please bring a valid photo-ID to get through security at UN City and set aside time for the security check prior to the event.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Programme:
17:00 Welcome and introduction to COP28: A good COP or bad COP coming? by John Christensen, Director of UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre
17:10 ‘Underfinanced. Underprepared – Inadequate investment and planning on climate adaptation leaves world exposed’ by Henry Neufeldt, Chief Scientific Editor, UNEP’s Adaptation Gap Report, UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre
17:20: Screening of ‘Climate Exodus’
18:20: Panel discussion and Q&A
• Frode Neergaard, Chief Advisor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark
• Jingjing Gao, Impact and Adaptation Scientist, UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre
• Nadia Gullestrup Christensen, Chairperson of the Youth Climate Council
19:00: Closing of the event and networking
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Background:
Progress on climate adaptation is slowing on all fronts when it should be accelerating to catch up with rising climate change impacts and risks. The 2023 UNEP Adaptation Gap Report, published in early November, showed that adaptation finance needs of developing countries are 10–18 times as big as international public finance flows, and over 50% higher than previously thought.
As a result of the growing adaptation finance needs and faltering flows, the current adaptation finance gap is now estimated to be 194–366 billion USD per year.
Failure to adapt to the climate crisis has massive implications for people and societies, especially the most vulnerable populations.
‘Climate Exodus’ shows us some of the personal stories behind the huge numbers and the loss inflicted by three women due to climate change.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
About UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre:
UNEP Copenhagen Climate is a leading international advisory institution on energy, climate, and sustainable development. Its work focuses on assisting developing countries and emerging economies transition towards more low-carbon development paths and supports integration of climate resilience in national development.
Learn more about UNEP-CCC here.

Resilience Amid Armed Conflict: The Journey of Ukrainian Commissioner of HR
2023-11-06 18:00 - 19:00 | UN City, Marmorvej 51, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark
The Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights (UPCHR) operates within the multifaceted challenges of an ongoing international armed conflict in Ukraine. Given the war’s escalation, safeguarding the rights of the increasingly vulnerable Ukrainian population, notably prisoners of war, internally displaced persons, and refugees, has been paramount. The UPCHR prioritizes their protection to ensure they have access to essential services, currently extending its reach to 25 regions, refining case management processes, enhancing human rights education programs, and exploring varied funding sources. The Commissioner’s overarching objective remains steadfast: to guarantee comprehensive human rights protection, demonstrating resilience and adaptability amidst these complex circumstances.
The Ombudsman of Ukraine, Dmytro Lubinets, in collaboration with the Danish Institute for Human Rights, UNDP, OHCHR and ENNHRI, invite you to a discussion that will offer insights into, and explore measures for enhancing the roles of NHRIs under the challenging conditions of armed conflict through examples of the work of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, Northern Ireland Commission for Human Rights, and other NHRIs present in the event.

PROGRAMME
18:00-18:05 Welcome remarks by Mette Thygesen, International Director, Danish Institute for Human Rights (Moderator)
18:05-18:10 Opening speech by Sarah Rattray, UNDP Senior Advisor on Human Rights
18:10-18:30 Keynote: “Resilience Amid Armed Conflict: The Journey of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights”, by Dmytro Lubinets, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights
18:30-18:45 Insights on NHRIs’ roles in times of conflict: Moderated panel reflections
• Alyson Kilpatrick, Northern Ireland Chief Commissioner for Human Rights
• Peter Vedel Kessing, Senior Researcher, Danish Institute for Human Rights
• Christian Salazar Volkmann, Director of the Field Operations and Technical Cooperation Division, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
18:45-19:00 Discussion/Q&A
19:00 Closing remarks

The event is open and free for all but please register your participation via Eventbrite here.

Soldiers and Citizens: Military coups and Africa's Democratic Renewal
2023-10-30 09:00 - 10:15 | UN City, Marmorvej 51, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark
The Sahel and West Africa region is fast being referred to as constituting a new ‘coup belt’, after experiencing a resurgence in unconstitutional changes of government in recent years. The recent military coups in Niger and Gabon, following events in Burkina Faso, Mali, Sudan, and Guinea, underline a crucial need to delve deeper into the root socio-economic causes behind this alarming trend. UNDP’s new report Soldiers and Citizens: Military coups and Africa’s democratic renewal, explores these issues, emphasizing insecurity, economic stagnation, exclusionary governance, and low development indicators as coup risk factors.

UNDP is pleased to invite you to a presentation of the main findings of the report followed by a panel debate with distinguished experts discussing actionable insights on causes and solutions, with a focus on prioritizing development for lasting stability and coup resilience, beyond sanctions and military interventions.
PROGRAMME
Moderator: Fatma Ahmed, Specialist, UNDP Africa Facility to Support Inclusive Transitions
9:00 Welcome remarks by Henrik Fredborg Larsen, Director, UNDP Nordic Representation Office
9:05 Opening speech by Ketil Karlsen, Director, Department for Africa and Development Policy, Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
9:10 Presentation of the key findings of the report, Jide Martyns Okeke, PhD, Regional Programme Coordinator for Africa, UNDP
9:30 Panel discussion / Q&A
• Thomas Mandrup, Associate Professor and PhD, The Royal Danish Defence College
• Ketil Karlsen, Director, Department for Africa and Development Policy, Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Jide Martyns Okeke, PhD, Regional Programme Coordinator for Africa, UNDP
10:10 Closing Remarks

REGISTRATION
You may register to join the event via Eventbrite here.

Women and Adolescent Girls as Key Actors in Climate Action
2023-10-27 12:30 - 15:00 | UN City, Marmorvej 51, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark
Women and adolescent girls as key actors in climate action!
How do we ensure that women and adolescent girls get the opportunity to use their insights and experiences from the local context to take a lead in climate action?
How do we ensure that women are placed solidly at the centre of climate action?
How do we ensure that women get real opportunities to make their own choices and to access rights and justice for themselves and for the coming generations?
This conference gathers researchers, activists and policymakers to discuss concrete actions leading to climate justice, gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).
Come to UN City and hear from Dan Jørgensen, Minister for Development Cooperation and Global Climate Policy; Zainab Yunusa, Climate justice advocate; Mette Boye, Conservation Director at WWF Verdensnaturfonden; Sally Dijkerman, researcher at IPAS; Ulla Müller, Director of UNFPA Nordic Office; Torben Huss, CEO at IFU; Marianne Bigum, MP, and others! The conference is moderated by Heather McMulllen.
REGISTER HERE TO SAVE YOUR SPOT
Organised by UNFPA, the UN Sexual and Reproductive Health Agency, Sex & Samfund, and WWF Verdensnaturfonden.
Lunch will be served!
Please arrive early for the security check and remember to bring your photo ID.

UN City Career Day
2023-10-25 12:00 - 17:30 | UN City, Marmorvej 51, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark
Join us for Career Day in UN City to explore career opportunities in the United Nations & network with HR professionals from UN agencies.

UN City Copenhagen invites you to come and learn about the UN job market, recruitment processes, career journeys, competency-based interviews, as well as to meet and speak with HR professionals from the resident UN agencies. Whether you are a university student exploring post-graduate opportunities or a seasoned professional looking for a new role in the UN system, this career seminar is for you.
Join us for one of three 90-minute sessions – to chat with HR representatives, as well as hear their advice on:

How to navigate the UN job market – learn about agency mandates, field & HQ locations, different entry points and job trends
What a UN recruitment process typically looks like
Career journeys and real-life experiences
How to prepare and deliver a convincing competency-based interview
The main contract modalities across UN agencies

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Please bring a valid photo-ID to get through security at UN City and set aside time for the security check prior to the event.
Please note that it is only possible to attend one session.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
REGISTER VIA EVENTBRITE
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Programme:
Session 1:
12:00–12:45 Presentations
12:45–13:30 Meet the UN agencies
13:30 Closing of session 1 & departure
–––––––––
Session 2:
14:00–14:45 Presentations
14:45–15:30 Meet the UN agencies
15:30 Closing of session 2 & departure
–––––––––
Session 3:
16:00–16:45 Presentations
16:45–17:30 Meet the UN agencies
17:30 Closing of session 3 & departure

docUNight: World Mental Health Day Short Films
2023-10-06 17:30 - 19:30 | UN City, Marmorvej 51, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark
In connection with World Mental Health Day and the 75th anniversary of the World Health Organization, join us on 6 October for a docUNight screening of award-winning short films on various topics surrounding mental health and well-being.
Chances are we all know someone who has struggled with poor mental health. In 2019, more than 125 million people in the WHO European Region – about 1 in 7 people – lived with a mental health condition. Only a fraction of them received the care they need.
In these short films, we will meet ordinary people with extraordinary determination and resilience. Diving into topics such as depression, climate anxiety, schizophrenia, stigma, or homelessness – combined with a strong message of hope – the films underline the importance of connecting with each other, fostering discussion, dialogue, and understanding.
The short films are part of the WHO Health For All Film Festival’s shortlisted or winning films.
The screening will be followed by a discussion and Q&A, inspiring conversations, actions, and solutions for reducing stigma and improving well-being for all through #Film4Health.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
REGISTER TO SAVE YOUR SPOT
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Food and drinks will be available for purchase from 16:30–17:30.
Please bring a valid photo-ID to get through security at UN City and set aside time for the security check prior to the event.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Programme:
17:30: Welcome by WHO
17:35: Screening of short films on mental health (total duration: 1 hour)
18:35: Discussion and Q&A
19:30: Closing of event
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
About the panelists:
Paul Jerndal
Paul Jerndal is an award-winning Swedish filmmaker and passionate advocate for mental health. Paul actively engages with organisations and non-profit mental health initiatives, using his films to raise awareness and drive positive change, sparking conversations that promote understanding, compassion, and self-reflection.
Rune Jørgensen
Rune Jørgensen is a voluntary ambassador with One Of Us, a Danish governmental campaign for combatting societal stigma associated with ill mental health. He also has 20 years of experience living with a mental health condition. Politically engaged, Rune sees his work as part of fighting stigma and self-stigma in a broader context in a society.
Dr Ledia Lazeri
Dr Ledia Lazeri is the Regional Adviser for Mental Health at the WHO Regional Office for Europe, leading WHO’s work on mental health in several areas such as policy and services, rights and advocacy, as well as implementing the WHO European Framework for Action in Mental Health 2021–2025 and supporting the pan-European Mental Health Coalition.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Background:
Mental Health matters. Nevertheless, people with mental health conditions rarely get the help they need. Many people avoid disclosing a mental health condition because doing so often invites discrimination and stigma – they may lose their job or find it difficult to get hired, get deprioritised in housing queues, and even become alienated from friends and family.
Mental health services are under-funded and under-resourced: for the estimated 1 in 7 members of the European population who have a diagnosable mental health condition, governments on average allocate only about 3.0% of their healthcare budgets to mental health services. Also, there are only about 45 mental health workers for 100,000 people in the WHO European Region.
WHO launched the pan-European Mental Health Coalition in 2021 to unite everyone who is already enacting the phrase “mental health matters”, whether they be healthcare professionals, academics, or people living with mental health conditions and their families. The coalition’s overarching aim is to create a space for sharing knowledge, wisdom, and experience in improving mental health at the individual, community, national, and international levels.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
The WHO Health For All Film Festival
The WHO Health for All Film Festival (HAFF) aims to harness a new generation of film and video innovators to champion global health issues, inviting independent film makers, production companies, NGOs, communities, students, and film schools from around the world to submit their original short films about health. In its fourth edition of 2023, there was a strong showing for mental health by European filmmakers as HAFF received hundreds of submissions from all over the world, competing in the Universal Health Coverage, Health Emergencies, Better Health and Well-being, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Climate Change and Health, and Very Short Film categories. Since 2020, the Health for All Film Festival has gathered more than 4,300 submissions from 110 countries.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
About the World Health Organization:
Founded in 1948, the World Health Organization is the United Nations agency that connects nations, partners, and people to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable – so everyone, everywhere can attain the highest level of health. Dedicated to the well-being of all people and guided by science, WHO leads and champions global efforts to give everyone, everywhere an equal chance to live a healthy life.

Commemorative Event to Remember the Victims of the Terrorist Attack Against the UN Compound in Baghdad in 2003
2023-08-24 11:00 - 12:30 | UN City, Marmorvej 51, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark
19 August 2023 marks 20 years since the terrorist bombing of the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq. 22 colleagues were killed and 150 wounded. Since the founding of the United Nations, more than 4,300 brave people have lost their lives in its service.
🇺🇳 Join us on 24 August in UN City to remember the victims of the attack against the UN compound in Baghdad in 2003, participate in the wreath laying ceremony, and hear from:

Henrik Fredborg Larsen (Director of the UNDP Nordic Office)
Mogens Lykketoft (former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark and President of the UN General Assembly)
Henrik Kolstrup (former UNDP Resident Representative and UN Resident Coordinator) and his spouse Elsebeth Kolstrup
Torben Gettermann (former Danish Ambassador to Iraq)

Let us pay tribute to and honour the memory of colleagues (civilian, military, and police) who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
See full programme and save your spot via Eventbrite.

docUNight: The Swimmers
2023-06-22 16:30 - 20:30 | UN City, Marmorvej 51, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark
Join us for an inspiring evening as we present a special screening of the biographical drama ‘The Swimmers’. This thought-provoking film is based on the true story of Yusra and Sara Mardini, two courageous swimming sisters from Syria, and their extraordinary journey as refugees.
Run time: 2h 14min
Language: English
#WorldRefugeeDay #HopeAwayFromHome #TheSwimmersDocumentary
#RefugeeStories #UNHCR #SupportRefugees #Resilience #TogetherWeCan
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Register to save your spot
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Food and drinks will be available for purchase in the UN City Café from 15:30–16:30.
Please bring a valid photo-ID to get through security at UN City and set aside time for the security check prior to the event.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Programme:
16:30: Welcome by Flemming Johannesen (Head of UN City Communications)
16:35 Prelude with Yusra Mardini’s and the High Commissioner for Refugees’ messages
16:45: Screening of ‘The Swimmers’ (2h 14min) incl. an intermission
19:15: Discussion and Q&A
Panellists:

Sally El Hosaini, movie director & screenwriter of ‘The Swimmers’
Salah Zada, Country Representative at the Danish Refugee Council Youth (DFUNK)
Hans Lucht, Head of Unit, Senior Researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies
Maja Lazić, Deputy Head of the Joint Data Centre at UNHCR

20:15: Closing of event
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Background:
Step back in time to 2011, where the movie begins by capturing the idyllic life of the sisters in a suburb of Damascus. As the Syrian war unfolds, they face a difficult choice: leaving their homeland behind and embarking on a perilous journey to Europe in search of safety and hope. ‘The Swimmers’ portrays their determination, resilience, and unwavering pursuit of their dreams amidst the chaos and destruction surrounding them.
About the Main Lead:
Yusra, the main lead in the documentary, holds onto her dream of competing in the Olympics even as she confronts immense challenges along her path. Her unwavering spirit and strength inspire all those who witness her remarkable journey.
About the Director of the Film:
Sally El Hosaini is a BAFTA nominated feature film writer and director. Her acclaimed debut feature, ‘My Brother the Devil’, picked up major prizes at Sundance, Berlin, and London Film Festivals. ‘The Swimmers’, Sally’s second feature, opened the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival before being nominated for the BAFTA for Outstanding British Film. The script was co-written with Jack Thorne and produced by Working Title Films and Netflix. It was one of the most streamed films in the world in 2022 and one of Netflix’s most successful original films to date.
About World Refugee Day:
This event is particularly significant as it coincides with World Refugee Day, a global initiative to honour and support refugees worldwide. It serves as an opportunity to raise awareness about the millions of forcibly displaced individuals and their incredible contributions to society.
About UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency:
In alignment with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Refugee Agency recognises the importance of protecting and advocating for the rights and well-being of refugees. By amplifying their voices and sharing their stories, we hope to foster empathy, understanding, and solidarity. Please join us for this special documentary screening, where we will explore the experiences, struggles, and triumphs of Yusra and Sara Mardini. Their journey serves as a testament to the indomitable human spirit and the resilience of refugees worldwide.

Folkemødet 2023
2023-06-15 12:00 - 2023-06-17 18:00 | Allinge, Bornholm, 3770 Allinge, Denmark, Allinge, 3770, Denmark
UN City Copenhagen will be represented at the People’s Meeting 2023 (Folkemødet 2023) – Denmark’s largest political festival – from the 15thof June through the 17th of June.
The UN City Copenhagen pavilion will be in the Sustainable Development Goals square (A4). To learn more about our festival programme and the UN agencies attending, click here.
Stay tuned for updates on our website and social media channels.

docUNight: Green City Life / La Belle Ville
2023-04-14 16:30 - 19:00 | UN City, Marmorvej 51, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark
What makes a city healthy? How do we build greener and cleaner cities of tomorrow, reconnecting with nature and combining the benefits of the countryside with the advantages of the urban world?
In connection with World Health Day and the 75th anniversary of the World Health Organization, join us on 14 April for a docUNight screening of ‘Green City Life‘ (‘La Belle Ville’). This inspiring documentary on how cities can be propelled into the 21st century links solutions such as revegetation, urban farming, and bio-waste recovery with greener and healthier cities for everyone.
Through the documentary, Manon and François will take you on an inspiring journey around the world, meeting ordinary people with extraordinary initiatives and solutions for healthier urban environments that reconnect People, Cities, and Nature.
#WorldHealthDay #HealthyCities
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Register to save your spot
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Food and drinks will be available for purchase in the UN City Café from 15:30–16:30.
Please bring a valid photo-ID to get through security at UN City and set aside time for the security check prior to the event.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Programme:
16:30: Welcome by Flemming Johannesen (Head of UN City Communications)
16:33: Welcome by Petra Hongell (World Health Organization)
16:35: Short Film on WHO75 (1:32 min)
16:38: Screening of ‘Green City Life – La Belle Ville’ (1h 25min)
18:05: Presentation of the panellists by moderator Petra Hongell (World Health Organization)
18:10: Discussion and Q&A on the Cities of the Future
Panellists:

Camilla van Deurs, Architect MAA, Copenhagen Municipality City Architect
Kira Fortune, Ph. D., M.I.H., M.A., B.Sc., Regional Advisor, Healthy Cities, Health Promotion and Well-being, World Health Organization
Livia Urban Swart Haaland, Co-founder of ØsterGro (rooftop farm), FællesGro (CSA initiative), and Øens Have (urban farm & restaurant).

19:00: Closing of event
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Background:
By 2050, 2 out of every 3 people are likely to be living in cities or other urban centres, according to the United Nations. Most of the increase is expected to be highly concentrated in just a handful of countries. Cities generate wealth but also concentrate poverty, inequality, and ill health. From densely populated slums to homelessness and pockets of destitution, urban poverty and inequality take many forms.
Good urban planning is one of the essential tools for shaping the future of sustainable cities – a future where climate change and environmental concerns increasingly dominate future scenarios. Beyond hospitals, medicines and vaccines, equitable provision of health-promoting infrastructure such as green spaces, improved housing, clean and safe drinking water, and extensive sewer systems to safely dispose of human waste are necessary minimum components for securing public health in urban areas.
WHO’s Healthy Cities Network is a global movement working to put health high on the social, economic, and political agenda of city governments. For three decades, the network has been a pioneering driver of change, creating healthier urban settings that support the health and well-being of people of all ages.
About the Panellists:
Camilla van Deurs
This year, Copenhagen has been designated the World Capital of Architecture. Camilla van Deurs is the Chief City Architect for the City of Copenhagen since February 2019, working to shape a more livable capital in one of the world’s most sustainable cities.
Kira Fortune
Kira Fortune, Ph. D., M.I.H., M.A., B.Sc. has worked for more than 15 years in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America in positions related to public health, gender and social determinants of health. She works as the WHO Regional Advisory for Healthy Cities, Health Promotion, and Well-being.
Livia Urban Swart Haaland
Choosing rooftop gardens instead of her studies in architecture, Livia is the co-founder of the first Danish urban rooftop farm ØsterGro, as well as the CSA initiative FællesGro and the urban farm and restaurant Øens Have.
About the World Health Organization:
Founded in 1948, the World Health Organization is the United Nations agency that connects nations, partners and people to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable – so everyone, everywhere can attain the highest level of health. Dedicated to the well-being of all people and guided by science, WHO leads and champions global efforts to give everyone, everywhere an equal chance to live a healthy life.

docUNight: In Her Hands
2023-03-17 16:30 - 19:00 | UN City, Marmorvej 51, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark
At 26, Zarifa Ghafari, became one of Afghanistan’s first female mayors and the youngest to ever hold the position. Filmed over two turbulent years, the film documents her personal battle for survival as her country unravels.
In commemoration of International Women’s Day, join us on 17 March in UN City for a screening of the movie ‘In Her Hands‘ and expert perspectives on the situation and quest of women and girls in Afghanistan.
The event is co-hosted by UN Women Nordic Office and DAKDIF – Danish-Afghan Women & Diaspora Forum, with support to the event provided by the Danish Refugee Council.
#LetHerLearn #WomenLifeFreedom #WorkFoodFreedom #EducationWorkFreedom

Food and drinks will be available for purchase in the UN City Café from 15:30–16:30.
Please bring a valid photo-ID to get through security at UN City and set aside time for the security check prior to the event.

Register to save your spot via Eventbrite

Programme:
16:30: Welcome by moderator Flemming Johannesen, Head of UN City Communications
16:33: Panel introduction to the commemoration of International Women’s Day zooming in on the voices of women and girls in Afghanistan
Panelists:

Alison Davidian, UN Women Representative, Afghanistan (virtual participation)
Tahmina Salik, Chairperson, DAKDIF – Danish-Afghan Women & Diaspora Forum
Zarifa Ghafari, Economist and Human Rights Activist

17:00–18:30: Screening of ‘In Her Hands’
18:30–19:00: Interview with Zarifa Ghafari
19:00: Closing of event

Background:
On 24 December 2022, the Taliban issued a letter banning women from working in international and national non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the latest attack in a series of systematic infringements on the fundamental rights of women and girls since the Taliban takeover of Kabul in August 2021.
Developed during the two-week period following the ban, this gender alert analyses the impact of the directive through the insights of Afghan women’s civil society organizations. The gender alert focuses primarily on the immediate repercussions of the ban on humanitarian assistance, as well as the implications for the economy and women’s empowerment. It concludes that the ban:

is discriminatory and dictates whom humanitarian actors can(not) employ, and whom they can reach with assistance;
has multilayered implications that go beyond the inability of reaching women and girls with life-saving assistance, including dealing a further blow to the Afghan economy amid the ongoing crisis; and
speeds up the erasure of Afghan women and girls from all aspects of Afghan public life.

About Zarifa Ghafari:
Zarifa Ghafari received the 2022 International Women’s Right Award at United Nations Geneva Summit. She was included by BBC in the list of 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world for 2019. On March 4, 2020, Zarifa Ghafari was honored by the U.S. Department of State as an “International Women of Courage” and she was included in The Badass 50 list. In 2020, she received the award: “Women Who Can Change the World by InStyle” as well as many other awards and lists within the country from various organizations.
About UN Women:
UN Women is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide.
About DAKDIF:
The Danish Afghan Women Forum (DAKDIF) was established in January 2021 to promote Afghan women’s access to education, economic growth, their participation in social and political landscape on both a national and international scale, and civic engagements. DAKDIF strives to provide Afghan women with the necessary tools and resources to participate and engage in civic, social and political activities.

Bringing CSW Home: Solutions to Strengthen Civic Space and Women’s Digital Rights
2023-03-16 13:30 - 15:00 | virtual
Amidst growing resistance, regression, and pushback on gender equality, join us for a discussion on the ‘Solutions to Strengthen Civic Space and Women’s Digital Rights’. Let us take stock of recent developments and challenges and share experiences, lessons learned, and ideas from the Nordic context to explore the role Nordic countries can play in addressing the pushback.

REGISTER HERE

Moderator: Alexandra Pascalidou, award-winning journalist, author, producer, and TV hostess, UN Women Sweden’s President.
Speakers: Representation from governments, civil society, private sector, youth, media, and international organisations.

This virtual event is co-organised by the UN Women Nordic Liaison Office, and Finnish, Icelandic, and Swedish National Committees.

Programme:

13:30-13:35
Introduction: CSW67
– Alexandra Pascalidou, award-winning journalist, author, producer, and TV hostess, UN Women Sweden’s President

13:35-13:40
Opening Remarks: UN Women’s perspective on the global pushback on gender equality and how we can strengthen the civic space and women’s digital rights
– Åsa Regnér, UN Women Deputy Executive Director

13:40-14:15
Session 1: Share and discuss challenges, experiences and solutions towards the pushback on gender equality from a Nordic perspective
– Elinor Samuelsson, Founder, BrightAct, Sweden
– Sigríður Björk Guðjónsdóttir, National Commissioner of Police, Iceland
– Tawar Salari, Generation Equality Youth Group Member, Finland
– Lars Engberg-Pedersen, Senior Researcher at Danish Institute for International Studies, Denmark

14:15-14:55
Session 2: How can the Nordic countries play a key role in responding to the pushback and better support women human rights defenders, peacebuilders and members of civil society, with a focus on online spaces
– Jino Doabi, Board Member, Voice of Iran, Denmark
– Vita Volodovska, Head of NGO Digital Security Lab, Ukraine
– Thomas Blomqvist, Minister for Nordic Cooperation and Equality, Finland
– Zahra Mesbah, Project Manager and Cultural Mediator, Iceland

14:55-15:00
Conclusion & Next Steps: Taking forward concrete solutions responding to the pushback on gender equality
– Moderated by Alexandra Pascalidou, award-winning journalist, author, producer, and TV hostess, UN Women Sweden’s President

Global Context

Opposition to gender equality and to women’s rights activism has become more vocal, global, and better organised in recent years. Not only are there coordinated and well-resourced, well-networked groups putting forward traditional, patriarchal, binary, and hetero-normative constructs of men’s and women’s roles in society and polity, but these notions are finding public legitimacy through political processes and rhetoric, including from political leaders at the highest levels of governments. This challenge to long established international UN human rights frameworks norms and standards is playing out in policy making spaces nationally, regionally, and globally.
As a result, we are seeing the hard-won gains on women’s rights currently under attack in fields as diverse as sexual and reproductive rights, political participation, the labour market, care work, and violence against women.
Trends of de-democratisation have gone hand in hand with the articulated opposition to established standards of gender equality and the backsliding of previous gender equality policy gains. Women’s rights are significantly at threat particularly when such rights have been more recently established and where the space for civil society actors to defend them is limited and/or shrinking.
This situation is further aggravated by rampant misinformation and disinformation fuelled by technology and the surveillance, censorship, and violence enabled by the digital sphere.
Women are disproportionately targeted and suffer serious consequences as a result of online and technology-facilitated violence against women (TFVAW). The aggression faced by women and girls online also restricts their access to online services and tools, affects their work and learning opportunities, and deters their engagement as active digital citizens in important online spaces and dialogues. Women human rights defenders, politicians and journalists are at greater risk of technology-facilitated violence, as are women facing multiple discriminations. One of the consequences of online and technology-facilitated violence against women and girls is that victims/survivors silence themselves online, which limits participation in public discourse, resulting in a democratic deficit.

Nordic Context

The growing resistance, regression, and push-back on gender equality is taking place globally as well as in the Nordic context. In September 2022, the Nordic Ministers for Gender Equality launched the Nordic Roadmap on Advancing Gender Equality, Women’s and Girls Rights, and Equal Rights of LGBTI-persons 2022-2024 outlining their commitment and response to the push-back and anti-gender movement.
The Nordic Roadmap is anchored by the Nordic Council of Ministers and serves as a framework to strengthen and elevate the common Nordic voice for gender equality, women’s and girls’ rights, and equal rights for LGBTI- persons internationally, responding to three specific objectives:
a) To promote a common Nordic voice and communication,
b) To foster advocacy, alliances and cooperation,
c) To exchange experiences.

REGISTER HERE

Spotlighting Copenhagen Lived Experiences
2023-02-21 10:00 - 11:30 | UN City, Marmorvej 51, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark
Join us this Black History Month for a panel discussion on the lived experiences of African/Afro-descendant UN colleagues in Copenhagen.
REGISTER HERE

This panel discussion aims to bring together a diverse group of experts and community leaders to explore the lived experiences of African/Afro-descendant colleagues in Copenhagen beyond their offices. It will also be an opportunity to provide a space for meaningful and respectful dialogue about anti-racism in Copenhagen, addressing the challenges and opportunities in preventing racist and discriminatory acts, and to inspire attendees to take action towards promoting equity and justice in their own lives and communities.
Panellists (TBC)

Vivian Cintron – Communications Lead, SCM Unit, UNFPA
Fahad Saeed – Diversity Manager, MungoPark
Fernando Navarro Sanchez – Ombudsman office, UN City Copemhagen
Peris Wambugu – Diversity and Inclusion Officer, UNOPS
Cynthia Birikundavyi – Senior Diversity and Inclusion Officer, UNHCR (Moderator)

Programme
10:00 Opening and introduction to the purpose and goals of the panel
10:05 Brief introductions by each panellist highlighting their background and expertise
10:25 Panel discussion allowing the panellists to share their perspectives and experiences
11:00 Q&A session inviting all attendees to share their lived experiences and pose questions to the panellists
11:25 Closing reflective remarks by the moderator and the panellists highlighting key takeaways and potential next steps for attendees to consider
Guiding Questions

How has your lived experience as an African/Afro-descendant person been like in Copenhagen and what challenges have you faced in terms of racial discrimination and prejudice?
What are the linkages you see between the UN City employee experience and social dynamics within Danish society?
Since the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020, more space has been created to discuss race and racial discrimination around the world. What have you personally learned?
We often talk about ‘zero tolerance’ to racial discrimination. What does it mean in practice?
What are some examples of good practices you have seen locally?
What do you think leaders and allies need to hear?
How do you define Duty of Care when it comes to providing support to colleagues who may be marginalised outside the office space.

REGISTER HERE

docUNight: A Girl from Mogadishu
2023-02-06 18:00 - 21:00 | UN City, Marmorvej 51, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark
Join us on International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), 6 February for a screening of the movie “A Girl from Mogadishu” and an introduction to global and regional initiatives to eliminate the practice of FGM.
Registration Closed
Food and drinks will be available to buy in the UN City Café from 17.00-18.00.
18.00: Welcome by moderator Flemming Johannesen, Head of UN City Communications
18.03: Panel introduction to the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation
Panellists*:
– Pernille Fenger, Director, UNFPA Nordic Office
– Ambassador of Sweden to Denmark, H.E. Charlotte Wrangberg
– Member of Parliament (Tbc)
18.30: Screening of “A Girl from Mogadishu”
20.30: Interview with Ifrah Ahmed
21.00: End of Programme
*Panellists will be available for questions and answers after the screening.

Background
Female genital mutilation (FGM) has existed as a practice for more than 2,000 years and comprises all procedures that involve altering or injuring the female genitalia for non-medical reasons and is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights, the health and the integrity of girls and women.
Girls who undergo female genital mutilation face short-term complications such as severe pain, shock, excessive bleeding, infections, and difficulty in passing urine, as well as long-term consequences for their sexual and reproductive health and mental health.
Although the practice has been around for more than a thousand years, there are reasons to think that female genital mutilation could end in a single generation. That is why the United Nations strives for its full eradication by 2030, following the spirit of Sustainable Development Goal 5.
Since 2008, UNFPA, jointly with UNICEF, leads the largest global programme to accelerate the elimination of female genital mutilation. The Joint Programme currently focuses on 17 countries in Africa and the Middle East and also supports regional and global initiatives.
About the movie
Circumcised at eight. Raped by wandering militiamen at twelve. Fully infibulated again at thirteen, and then married off to a fifty-year-old man who regularly beat her; Ifrah Ahmed runs away to a place she had once known as home in war torn Mogadishu to find it had become the kind of battleground now known as ‘Black Hawk Down’. Ifrah makes the extraordinary journey out of war-torn Somalia and arrives not in Minnesota, USA, as she had been lead to believe, but Dublin, Ireland.
Finally finding some sense of safety, her fears begin to subside and her traumatic days, she thinks, are behind her, until a routine medical smear test elicits such looks of horror on the faces of her Irish doctors that she suffers a profound sense of shame. They say that anger is the flip side of shame. Channelling the feelings on both sides of that coin, she reacts incredibly quickly, learns English at break-neck speed and unearths an enviable technical talent for harnessing social media.
Within months she is campaigning for better conditions for asylum – seekers arriving in Ireland. She quickly becomes a leading activist against gender-based violence and fights through her campaign work for the abandonment of FGM world-wide. As an Irish citizen, she presents her testimony on behalf of Ireland’s MEPs on the occasion of the ratification of the UN Convention against FGM/C at the European Parliament and it is passed unanimously.
Thus commences her now lauded professional career as an international activist.
Registration Closed

Subscribe to our newsletter for future events: Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Email *EmailSubscribe
