United Nations Office at Geneva opens its doors widely to public to commemorate United Nations Day - 50th Anniversary of Declaration of Human Rights and 150th Anniversary of Swiss Federation to be observed during the day

M/98/32
12 October 1998



The United Nations Office at Geneva will observe United Nations Day, which will commemorate the entry into force on 24 October 1945 of the United Nations Charter, with a series of activities which will take place at the Palais des Nations on Sunday, 18 October from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This year's celebration will focus on the fiftieth anniversary of the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the one hundred fiftieth anniversary of the Federal State of Switzerland.

The open house Day is organized by the United Nations Office at Geneva in partnership with the Permanent Mission of Switzerland, the Canton of Bern and the Diplomatic Club of Geneva, with the support of the Tribune de Genève daily newspaper. The Coordinator of the Day is Dominique Föllmi, President of the Diplomatic Club of Geneva and former President of the Republic and Canton of Geneva.

The United Nations wishes to welcome, throughout the day, as many members of the public as possible in order to inform them about the activities of the United Nations in favour of human rights and human dignity. The visitors will be able to ask questions at the information booths of thirty United Nations bodies. The public will also be invited to participate in an ongoing programme of conferences, debates, film projections, cyberscafes and guided tours.

To demonstrate the fact that human rights are an intrinsic and essential component of all activities of the United Nations and in all fields, the information booths of the United Nations organs, grouped into five categories of activities, will present their accomplished works in the fields of peace and disarmament, development, humanitarian assistance, economic and social issues and human rights. The bodies will explain how they integrated in their activities the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, particularly with the help of exhibits showing posters and pictures. Starting at 11 a.m., a series of conferences and debates on important United Nations themes will take place. At 1 o'clock, a dialogue will be held between representatives of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and youth.

A round-table on Switzerland and the United Nations will be held at the Assembly Hall from 11 a.m. to noon with the participation of Ruth Dreifuss, Vice President of Switzerland; in the name of the United Nations Office at Geneva, Yves Berthelot, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe; Mary Robinson, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; Ulrich Zimmerli, President of Council of States of Switzerland; Mario Annoni, President of the Executive Council of the Canton of Bern; and Martine Brunschwig Graf, Vice President of the Republic and Canton of Geneva.

From 2 p.m. onwards, the Canton of Bern, host of honour of the United Nations Day, will produce a cultural programme carried out by a dozen traditional and multicultural groups who will perform dances and songs. The Canton of Bern also wishes to show, as a bilingual Canton, its dialogue with Suisse Romande or the French-speaking part of Switzerland, to promote the positive values of open and liberal Cantons, and to learn about United Nations objectives.

About 400 persons from Bern are expected for the Day. In addition, 500 Swiss students from 15 Cantons will travel to the Palais des Nations, as well as the 300 inhabitants of the community of d'Evolène (Canton of Valais).

The Television of Suisse Romande will produce its mid-day news bulletin from a podium installed at the Palais des Nations. World Radio Geneva will also transmit live during the Day a musical programme accompanied with interviews carried out at the Palais.

A recreation programme for children, "A Treasure Hunt at the Palais des Nations", will be organized by asking questions on United Nations activities. The first prize will be a trip to New York and a visit to United Nations Headquarters.

For further information, please contact Visitors' Service: Tel.: 0041-22 907 48 96, Fax. 0041 22 907 00 32