Since 1945, celebrations have been held worldwide to recognize and honor the important work of the United Nations as it strives for development, security, peace and human rights for all. The United Nations Association of Center County and its Council of Organization invites you to its 2014 celebration dinner and program. Each year, UNACC focuses on a topic important to United Nations member states and their citizens. This year UNACC is focusing on education issues. In particular, the plight of girls. Worldwide, some 58 million children are out of school. A shocking number of them --- some estimate up to 32 million – are girls. The reasons girls do not attend school vary – from lack of access to school safety issues. The abduction of more than 200 school girls in Nigeria earlier this year, reveals the brutally hazardous conditions which girls confront daily and around the globe. According to UN Special Envoy for Education Gordon Brown, schools should be a sanctuary, not targets of war. Our keynote speaker, Ms. Meg Gardinier will explore why girls are not in school worldwide, describe positive trends in education, and highlight how the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is at work to provide safer access to quality education for girls. Held shortly after the Day of the Girl Child (11 October) the program will culminate in a call to support the Safe Schools initiative in Nigeria. During the social gathering from 5 to 6 pm, we will welcome guests from 30 nations, view exhibits from the Council of Organization members and local community groups, review the artwork of Bellefonte and State College Model UN Club members, and learn about this year’s Council of Organizations “Make a Difference Project".
  Keynote Address Safe Schools for All Meg Gardenier, E.D. Meg Gardinier is currently the Director of Arigatou International, an international faith-based NGO committed to building a better world for children, by sustaining partnership-based initiatives that secure child rights and foster child well-being. Previously, Ms. Gardinier was Director for Community Education and Partnerships with UNICEF-USA and worked with Save the Children and the Global Network of Religions for Children. Since 2008 she has Chaired the Campaign for the US Ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Ms. Gardinier earned a MA degree in International Political Economy and Development from Fordham University and has 25 years’ experience in NGO’s focused on child wellbeing.
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UN Day Dinner 2014
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UN Day Registration
