United Nations Week, held from Oct. 21 to Oct. 28, featured panels and programs at universities and clubs throughout the D.C. area including George Washington University and the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, according to the United Nations Association of the National Capital Area Web site.
The theme of the week was "You and the U.N.: Making a Difference Together" and the theme of UN Day was "Maternal Health and Well Being: A Cornerstone of the Millennium Development Goals." The week marked the 61st anniversary of the United Nations' founding on Oct. 24, 1945, according to the UNA-NCA Web site.
Over 24 organizations partnered with the UNA-NCA to put together this year's events. Approximately 2,000 people participated in UN Week in 2005. The UNA-NCA has not yet estimated how many people attended this year's events, according to their Web site.
Students at AU that are interested in the UN and international politics are involved with AU's Model UN. Model UN President Matt Nestopoulos, a sophomore in the School of International Service and the School of Public Affairs, said the club seeks to simulate the activities and dealings of the United Nations to better understand how it works. Model U.N. imitates a country's policy and position in the organization and in world affairs and works through committees like it, Nestopoulos said.
"I think the U.N. is very important to the security of the global community in which we live," he said. "I am convinced that the U.N. does a great job in the humanitarian efforts and in bringing member-states together through debate and communication in solving some pressing issues."
He said that while he did not attend any of the U.N. Week events, he put a U.N. flag on his door and watched some Webcasts of the proceedings online.
Patty Nollet, a sophomore in the Kogod School of Business, said she did not know about U.N. Week and did not think the organization was worth celebrating.
"I think it's fairly obsolete," Nollet said.
Asher Curry, a senior in SIS, said the United Nations is a good organization but has its faults.
"It does a lot of social and economic aid, but as for conflict prevention and peacekeeping, they fall down on the job," Curry said. "I definitely think it's an organization worth keeping around."
U.N. Week was a part of the UNA's goal to build knowledge, understanding, informed opinion and new ideas on the organization in the United States, according to UNA-NCA Web site.
