United Nations Association United Nations Association ScotlandScotland

Putting Policy into PracticePutting Policy into Practice

Festival of PoliticsFestival of Politics

Friday 26 August 2011Friday 26 August 2011

United Nations Association United Nations Association ScotlandScotland

Outline of PresentationOutline of Presentation 1. UNA as a local civil society 1. UNA as a local civil society

organisationorganisation 2. Branches in Scotland2. Branches in Scotland 3. Themes for our work – from UN 3. Themes for our work – from UN

policypolicy 4. From Policy to Practice4. From Policy to Practice 5. Concluding Comments5. Concluding Comments

United Nations AssociationUnited Nations AssociationScotlandScotland

We are a civil society organisationWe are a civil society organisation Our activities build awareness of and Our activities build awareness of and

support for the UN at a local levelsupport for the UN at a local level We aim to influence decision makers We aim to influence decision makers

and opinion shapers about UN-themed and opinion shapers about UN-themed issuesissues

Through our work we hope to inspire Through our work we hope to inspire and educate people about the UNand educate people about the UN

United Nations AssociationUnited Nations AssociationScotlandScotland

Branches in ScotlandBranches in Scotland AberdeenAberdeen EdinburghEdinburgh GlasgowGlasgow HighlandsHighlands St AndrewsSt Andrews UNYSAUNYSA Young Professionals NetworkYoung Professionals Network

United Nations Association United Nations Association ScotlandScotland

THEMES FOR OUR WORKTHEMES FOR OUR WORK Climate Change and SustainabilityClimate Change and Sustainability International DevelopmentInternational Development Human RightsHuman Rights Middle EastMiddle East Model United Nations Model United Nations Nuclear Non ProliferationNuclear Non Proliferation Peace-building and Conflict ResolutionPeace-building and Conflict Resolution

From Policy to PracticeFrom Policy to Practice

Nuclear Non Proliferation at UN LevelsNuclear Non Proliferation at UN LevelsNPT Reviews – five yearlyNPT Reviews – five yearlyPreparatory ConferencesPreparatory Conferences

NPT Review 2010 -NPT Review 2010 - in plenary & three in plenary & three parallel sessions, ‘three pillars’ of the parallel sessions, ‘three pillars’ of the Conference – nuclear disarmament; Conference – nuclear disarmament; nuclear non-proliferation and the peaceful nuclear non-proliferation and the peaceful use of nuclear materials in the nuclear fuel use of nuclear materials in the nuclear fuel cycle. cycle.

Nuclear Non Proliferation 2010Nuclear Non Proliferation 2010Main Issues of ContentionMain Issues of Contention

Whether NW States have upheld their previous commitments to Whether NW States have upheld their previous commitments to disarmament: NO says Iran – new delivery systems of US at disarmament: NO says Iran – new delivery systems of US at $100b and other ‘developments’ and ‘improvements’ break the $100b and other ‘developments’ and ‘improvements’ break the 2000 NPT Review2000 NPT Review

Whether there will be a Convention in 2012 – not wished for Whether there will be a Convention in 2012 – not wished for by NW States - or a meeting to define issues for ME NWFZ by NW States - or a meeting to define issues for ME NWFZ - possibly; Israel needs to be mentioned, says Iran- possibly; Israel needs to be mentioned, says Iran

Language of the document needs great improvement says Libya – Language of the document needs great improvement says Libya – they will host another Review Conference in 2011 for further they will host another Review Conference in 2011 for further discussions and the production of a different text with more discussions and the production of a different text with more focused languagefocused language

Role of IAEA and whether Iran will sign up to IAEA and AP (no Role of IAEA and whether Iran will sign up to IAEA and AP (no indication that they will, at least not whilst NW States in breach of indication that they will, at least not whilst NW States in breach of their obligations)their obligations)

NPT Review Into PracticeNPT Review Into Practice

Conferences at Scottish Parliament Conferences at Scottish Parliament

Reports sent to all MSPs, MPs, attendees;Reports sent to all MSPs, MPs, attendees;

to all Branches of the World Federation to all Branches of the World Federation of United Nations Associations of United Nations Associations (WFUNA)(WFUNA)

Also off-the-record ‘Conversations’ with Also off-the-record ‘Conversations’ with WFUNA members on Middle East issuesWFUNA members on Middle East issues

UN Into UNA PracticeUN Into UNA Practice

Conference on Middle East Nuclear Conference on Middle East Nuclear Weapons Free ZoneWeapons Free Zone

Final Communique of 2010 NPT Final Communique of 2010 NPT ReviewReview

No States Parties taking this forwardNo States Parties taking this forward Role of Civil Society to keep it on the Role of Civil Society to keep it on the

AgendaAgenda CONFERENCE in SCOTLAND 2012CONFERENCE in SCOTLAND 2012

Concluding CommentsConcluding Comments

There are two things UNA civil society There are two things UNA civil society organisations can do:organisations can do:

Keep controversial issues on our agendas;Keep controversial issues on our agendas; Ensure that national governments are Ensure that national governments are

aware of these issues and are aware of these issues and are encouraged to act at international and UN encouraged to act at international and UN levelslevels

ContactsContacts

FaceBook Page:FaceBook Page:

UN in ScotlandUN in Scotland UNA Edinburgh website:UNA Edinburgh website:

http://unaedinburgh.com UNA Edinburgh email:UNA Edinburgh email:

martinverity@blueyonder.co.uk