Note to Correspondents

On Friday, 18 September, the United Nations Department of Public Information will hold the twelfth student observance of the International Day of Peace under the theme “Disarm Now for a Better World”, in line with the Secretary-General’s “We Must Disarm” campaign.

The Democracy Video Challenge, a worldwide online competition that engages people around the world in a global dialogue on democracy, will launch the six winning videos in a ceremony marking the International Day of Democracy on Tuesday, 15 September, at 11:00 a.m. in the Main Gallery of the Visitors’ Lobby.

The world continues on a path of remarkable technological change in the communications domain. Witness the nature of public and online debate over elections held in countries as far apart as the United States, Republic of Moldova and Iran; while the inroads made by new media and social networking options have given millions immediate access to the latest-breaking developments from an array of communications sources.

The United Nations Reham Al-Farra Memorial Journalists’ Fellowship Programme begins its twenty-ninth session today at Headquarters, under the direction of the Outreach Division of the Department of Public Information. The six-week fellowship ends on 16 October 2009.

An exhibition of posters and photographs capturing images of humanitarian workers in action will be the background for the launch of the first World Humanitarian Day on Wednesday, 19 August at 10:30 a.m. in the Visitors Lobby, where Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Catherine Bragg will make statements.

Initiatives to promote environmental, economic and social sustainability will be on display at United Nations Headquarters in New York when young people meet to celebrate International Youth Day on 12 August. The Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) will host a public event where youth will share initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable living and development.

A joint exhibition entitled “Against Nuclear Arms” will open with a ceremony and reception on Monday, 10 August at 6 p.m. in the Main Gallery of the Visitors Lobby. It will remain on display until 30 September.

A photographic exhibition entitled "Women, Water and Wells" opens in the North East Gallery of the Visitors Lobby on Wednesday, 29 July at 6 p.m. The exhibition features a selection of photographs by Gil Garcetti that reveal the challenges, hopes and successes experienced by people throughout West Africa -- particularly women -- who are faced with the daily task of providing safe water for their families and communities.

An exhibition of the best press photographs of 2008 will open in the Main Gallery of the Visitors Lobby at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, 8 July 2009. This travelling exhibition of winning images selected at the fifty-second annual World Press Photo Contest in Amsterdam this year will remain on display through 29 July.

The Department of Public Information has embarked on two new youth-related projects which will culminate in separate but simultaneous events, with the Global Model United Nations Conference convening from 5-7 August in Geneva, Switzerland, and the Youth Assembly at the United Nations taking place at New York Headquarters.