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Event Highlights
Spring 2011
Michelle Bachelet in Conversation at SIPA
The United Nations Studies Program (UNSP) invited former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet to SIPA on March 2, 2011 in honor of International Women's Day. In a conversation with Professor Elisabeth Lindenmayer, director of UNSP, Ms. Bachelet spoke about her childhood, her experiences in Chilean politics, and the challenges that await her as the head of the new United Nations entity for women’s empowerment, UN Women.
Read more in an article by Marie O'Reilly (MIA '11) from Communiqué, SIPA's student-run newspaper.
Shivani Desai (MPA '11) wrote about Bachelet's visit for The Morningside Post, SIPA's student-run blog.
Download an audio podcast of the discussion between Elisabeth Lindenmayer and Michelle Bachelet.
Fall 2010
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs): Can We Keep the Promise?
Five United Nations officials called for renewed urgency in alleviating poverty during a panel discussion on the eve of a global summit on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Sponsored by SIPA’s United Nations Studies Program. [September 16, 2010]
- Kandeh K Yumkella, Director General, UNIDO
- Nafis Sadik, Special Advisor to the UN Secretary General on HIV/Aids
- Jomo Sundaram, UN Assistant Secretary General for Economic Development
- Rebeca Grynspan, Associate Administrator, UNDP
- Robert Orr, UN Assistant Secretary General for Policy Coordination and Strategic Planning
- Moderated by Elisabeth Lindenmayer, Director, UN Studies Program
(Flash Player) 
| Article
Spring 2010
Building A Future for Haiti: Panel and Fundraiser
The UN Studies Program invited UN Officials, Ambassadors, experts and students to reflect on the consequences of the earthquake and the way for Haiti to move forward. All proceeds of the fundraiser went to Partners in Health (www.pih.org).
Panelists:
- Jean–Marie Guehenno, Former Under-Secretary-General, DPKO
- Ambassador Rick Barton, US Permanent Mission
- Bob Orr, Assistant Secretary-General, Office of the Secretary General
- Jeffrey Sachs, Director, Earth Institute
- Tatiana Wah, Earth Institute
- Jocelyn McCalla, Senior Adviser to the Government of Hait
- Pablo Ruiz, Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery, UNDP
- Moderator: Prof. Elisabeth Lindenmayer, Director, UN Studies Program
The UN Studies Program is currently conducting a research project on Haiti and the role of the private sector in development. The research team was in the country as the earthquake hit on January 14. Click here to read about the experiences of the students in Haiti.
Working Lunch with the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia on Energy Politics
April 30, 2010 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Residence of the Saudi Arabian Ambassador
The working lunch series is an initiative by the UN Studies Program to give SIPA students access to the current thinking of the UN diplomatic community, while at the same time providing UN Ambassadors the opportunity to hear students' views and perspectives on topics of mutual concern.
Peacebuilding, Statebuilding, and the Private Sector in Haiti
April 20, 2010 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm EDT
International Affairs Building, Room 1501
Panelists:
Garry Conille, Chief of Staff of the Office of the Special Envoy to Haiti
Ugo Solinas, Head of Haiti Desk, Department of Peacekeeping Operations
Amie Patel, Investment Officer, Soros Economic Development Fund
Dr. Graciana del Castillo, Senior Research Scholar, Columbia University
Moderator: Prof. Elisabeth Lindenmayer
Under the direction of the head of the UN Studies Program, Professor Elisabeth Lindenmayer, a team of six graduate students were engaged in a research project studying statebuilding and the private sector in Haiti. At the time of the earthquake, the team was in Haiti conducting stakeholder interviews. While the earthquake exacted a terrible toll in human suffering and physical damage across the country, the team concluded that as Haiti moves through reconstruction and into development, the private sector will continue to play an important supportive role in Haitian statebuilding. In this conference, the team presented the results of their research before a panel discussion.
Working Lunch with the Ambassador of Egypt and Cuba
April 8, 2010 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Permanent Mission of Egypt to the UN
The Permanent Representative of Egypt to the UN and Chairman of the Non-Aligned-Movement, Ambassador Maged A. Abdelaziz hosted a working lunch for SIPA students on the subject of “The Responsibility to Protect: Perspectives from the Non-Aligned-Movement (NAM)." The Ambassador of Cuba, Pedro Nunez Mosquera, was also be present. The working lunch series is an initiative by the UN Studies Program to give SIPA students access to the current thinking of the UN diplomatic community, while at the same time providing UN Ambassadors the opportunity to hear students' views and perspectives on topics of mutual concern.
Raise Hope for Congo: A Panel Discussion and Student Photo Auction
April 7, 2010 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm EDT
International Affairs Building, Room 1501
Raise Hope for Congo was a panel discussion about the situation in DRC, organized specifically to raise awareness about the conflict in eastern Congo, and particularly addressing the scourge of conflict minerals and the epidemic of rape and sexual violence in the region. The panelists went into detail about the history and background of the Congo, the current political situation, and the policy initiatives in place. Additionally, the panelists discussed their own personal experiences on the ground, and how we can get involved in putting an end to the conflict.
Panelists:
- John Prendergast, co-founder of the Enough Project
- Roger Luhiri, a former fistula doctor at Panzi Hospital in DRC
- Lisa Jackson, director of the film The Greatest Silence about rape in the Congo.
The event also included an exhibition of student photos taken in DRC. The photos were auctioned off in a silent auction to raise funds for Panzi Hospital in DRC. A reception followed the event, providing an opportunity for students to mingle with panelists and other attendees.
Raise Hope for Congo was organized by the Human Rights Working Group with the Humanitarian Affairs Working Group and the UN Studies Program Working Group, in partnership with The Enough Project.
Panel with Helen Clark
March 30, 2010 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm EDT
International Affairs Building, Room 1501
Helen Clark discussed "The UN and Development Challenges in a Time of Multiple Crises" on a panel moderated by Prof. Elisabeth Lindenmayer, Director, UN Studies Program.
Working Lunch with the Ambassador of Switzerland
March 11, 2010 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm EST
Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the UN
The Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the UN and President of the Fifth Committee of the General Assembly, Ambassador Peter Maurer, hosted a working lunch for SIPA students on the subject of “The UN Landscape and the Challenges of the 21st Century: the Decision-making Process in Changing World Politics; Reforms: who decides, who pays? Is the UN delivering?” The working lunch series is an initiative by the UN Studies Program to give SIPA students access to the current thinking of the UN diplomatic community, while at the same time providing UN Ambassadors the opportunity to hear students' views and perspectives on topics of mutual concern.
Working Lunch with Ambassador of Brazil to the UN
February 26, 2010 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm EST
Permanent Mission of Brazil to the UN
The Permanent Representative of Brazil to the UN, Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, hosted a working lunch for SIPA students on the subject "Rebuilding Haiti". The working lunch series is an initiative by the UN Studies Program to give SIPA students access to the current thinking of the UN diplomatic community, while at the same time providing UN Ambassadors the opportunity to hear students' views and perspectives on topics of mutual concern.
Fall 2009
Protection of Civilians in Peace Operations
October 28, 2009
Panelists:
- H.E. Augustine P. Mahiga, Permanent Representative of Tanzania to UN and Chairman of the DPKO/OCHA Independent Study on the Protection of Civilians in Peacekeeping Missions
- David Haeri, Chief, Best Practices Section, UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO)
- Hans-Joerg Strohmeyer, Head, Policy and Development Studies Branch, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
UNSP Retreat
October 24, 2009
See details
For a listing of all events at SIPA this semester, please visit the SIPA calendar online.
To see past events, please visit the UNSP event archive.