UNIC Maseru

The United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) – a field office of the DPI - helps local communities (including media, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), educational institutions and individual researchers) obtain up-to-date information on the Organization and its activities. The aim is make people better understand what the United Nations is doing to resolve key political, social, and economic issues thus, making a difference in their lives. To date, more than 70 UNICs around the world form the network of local sources of information about the United Nations System. The core task of UNICs in all countries is to reach the right audience with the right information at the right time. UNICs supplement local and international media coverage of the United Nations activities with background information, documentation and focus on information dissemination to the widest audience possible. About UNIC in Lesotho UNIC Maseru (UNIC in Lesotho) opened its doors to the Basotho Nation in 1979. is responsible for the public relations work of the United Nations System as well as the UN-Family in Lesotho. It is an active link between the UN and the government departments, media, NGOs and educational institutions with regard to issues on the UN agenda. Journalists, researchers and students rely on UNIC for the latest UN information materials. UNIC works in partnership with other United Nations field agencies and members of civil society who are actively involved on issues of concern to the United Nations. UNIC services to the public range from responding to general queries about the UN to organizing events commemorating UN special observances. It distributes information materials including press releases, brochures, posters, audio-visual materials and UN publications. It also translates publications received from the headquarters into Sesotho for general public consumption. Not only does UNIC Maseru inform Lesotho Government and Basotho about the work of the UN, it also informs the United Nations about events happening in Lesotho. UNIC is now equipped with communication facilities such as electronic mail, facsimile and internet. This facilitates easy transmission of information from the UN headquarters to UNIC offices and vice-versa as well as within the country. UNIC Activities UNIC and the media To reach an even broader audience, UNIC is in daily contact with local and national media outlets. UNIC produces press releases, briefs the media on issues on the United Nations agenda, contributes articles to newspapers and proposes topics on radio and television programmes. Journalists rely on UNIC as an authoritative source of information about the United Nations System in Lesotho and globally. UNIC and the civil society The importance of working with and through Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) as an integral part of the United Nations information activities was recognized when the Department of Public Information was first established in 1946. Today, over 1500 NGOs with strong information programmes on issues of concern to the United Nations are associated with the Department of Public Information (DPI) giving the United Nations valuable links to people around the world. Several NGOs from Lesotho have had a chance to participate in UN seminars world wide. Non-governmental organizations and the private sector count on UNIC as partners in organizing seminars, exhibits and commemorative events focusing on such key issues as human rights, education, the environment, drug prevention and health care. Through such cooperative partnerships, UNIC is able to extend its outreach efforts to all segments of society. Currently, UNIC is running an annual Peace Essay Competition in collaboration with the Bahá´i Faith Community, Transformation Resource Centre and the Ministry of Justice, Human Rights and Correctional Service. UNIC and the youth Issues that concern youth have been in the UN agenda in a bid to address the problems of young people more effectively and to increase opportunities for their participation in society. UNIC reaches out to the youth in their social organizations and at schools, teaching them about the United Nations. By working with school officials, university/college teachers and department heads, and inviting groups of school children for a tour of the center’s premises, UNIC helps new generations of Basotho to grow up knowing what the United Nations can and cannot do. UNIC also encourages Lesotho youth to engage in debates on global issues through organisation of essay and drawing competition on issues such as HIV/AIDS, human rights and the environment. The Lesotho Development Studies syllabus for Secondary and High Schools has the UN as one of its key topics. In these syllabi, teachers are encouraged to organise visits to UNIC for teachings on UN. A publication entitled “Basic Facts about the United Nations” is also prescribed and teachers are encouraged to get hold of this publication which is given out free of charge. This has resulted in a regular programme between UNIC and schools where the centre offers lessons on the evolution of the UN to visiting schools. To illustrate points discussed, UN videos are played for the audience.

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when UNIC Maseru posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.