Leaders and Changemakers in Action at the Worldview Institute Spring 2019
With warmer weather finally settling down in New York's cityscape, the Worldview Institute Spring 2019 semester came to a close, with attendees celebrating at the graduation dinner held in the National Arts Club. Among Worldview participants were professionals and leaders from across New York City, who took part in the program in order to learn about and engage on the most pressing global challenges undertaken by the UN. Each Worldview semester provides an opportunity for attendees from various fields to immerse in these international currents and to engage critically with speakers from different sectors, including UN officials, ambassadors, scholars and journalists.
With the UN as central to the discussions, Worldview attendees visited its headquarters in a mid-semester highlight tour, while otherwise engaging in direct interactions with high-level officials throughout the seminars. Speaker Stéphane Dujarric, UN Spokesperson, explained to participants the current role of the organization in meeting the greatest challenges of the 21st century. With climate change a top concern, UN Special Envoy for the 2019 Climate Summit, Luis Alfonso de Alba, stressed that the summit’s aims will ensure that UN Member States are committed to solving the environmental degradation of our planet. Moreover, Assistant UN Secretary-General for Operations, Bintou Keita, highlighted the importance of more peaceful partnerships in today’s globalized world. Her experience taught professionals the necessity of a multi-sector involvement in constructing peace today.
With diplomacy a major element of the Worldview outlook, Ambassador Karen Pierce, Permanent Representative of the UK to the UN, discussed the future of multilateralism in making stronger international cooperation systems. In addition, Ambassador Jürg Lauber, Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the UN, explained the first ever Global Compact on migration and the key challenges in drafting agreements as such.
Academia provided a relevant presence in the seminars. Janine di Giovanni, Senior Fellow of the Jackson Institute of Global Affairs at Yale University, shared her expertise on documenting human rights situations in places suffering from war and conflicts. Moreover, Jan-Werner Müller, Professor of Politics at Princeton University, informed participants about ongoing political movements rising in Europe and the changing political spectrum of the region.
Representatives from the fields of journalism and law were also part of the Worldview scope this year. Adam B. Ellick, Director and Executive Producer of Opinion Video at the New York Times, emphasized the role of the press in clearly communicating with society in a more interconnected world. He presented his perspectives on the film Operation InfeKtion. An international law consultant and immigration law practitioner, Fay Parris, gave her viewpoints on immigration by distinguishing between myths and reality.
As keynote speaker at the graduation dinner closing out Worldview this year, Josiane Ambiehl, Chief of the UN Decolonization Unit, motivated graduates to understand the situation of territories inscribed on the UN list of Non-Self-Governing Territories.
The success of this year’s Worldview seminars reinforces the pivotal role of UNA-NYC in empowering and instructing New York professionals in helping solve global challenges. We congratulate all the graduates for taking steps to truly becoming changemakers!
Photography: Melanie Zhang