United Nations Day is celebrated around the world on October 24, the anniversary of the day in 1946
when the UN Charter came into effect. This simultaneous global celebration recognizes the essential
work of the United Nations on critical international issues from humanitarian relief and global health to
human rights and peacekeeping.

Since 2000, the United Nations Association of Greater Boston has organized the UN Day Luncheon
each year . The event gathers business, community, and academic leaders from the Greater Boston
area to engage in a dialogue about world affairs and to recognize locally the important work carried out
by the United Nations system.

The United Nations has been a cornerstone of Irish foreign policy since the Republic joined the Organization in 1955. Ireland has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to international peace and security, not least through continuous participation in United Nation peacekeeping operations since 1958. Irish nationals have had the honour to serve throughout the UN organisation, with distinguished examples including former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson, who served as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights from 1997-2002, and Patricia O’Brien, who has served as Under-Secretar-General for Legal Affairs and UN Legal Counsel since 2008.

Ambassador Anderson took up her post as Ireland’s Permanent Representative to the UN in September of 2009, having previously served as Ireland’s Ambassador to France and Monaco. From 2001 to 2005, Ms. Anderson served as Permanent Representative to the European Union in Brussels; before which she was Ireland’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, where her responsibilities also included Chair of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (1999-2000); Vice-President of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) (1997); and Chair of Trade Policy Review Body, World Trade Organization. Prior to her long diplomatic service, Ms. Anderson studied at Dublin’s University College, where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts in history and politics, and at Kings Inns where she obtained a diploma in legal studies.

Many thanks to our sponsors, patrons, and all attendees for joining us at this annual event marking the day in 1945 when the UN Charter went into effect. For past Boston Globe coverage, please click here.

Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information,
please contact us at 617-482-4587 or info@unagb.org.

Past UN Day Luncheon speakers:

2009 Ambassador John McNee, Canada's Ambassador to the UN

2008 Sir John Sawers, Britain's Ambassador to the UN

2007 Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert, French Ambassador to the UN

2006 Ambassador Wang Guangya, China's Ambassador to the UN

2005 Sir Emyr Jones Parry, Britain's Ambassador to the UN
          “The UN After the September Summit”

2004 Ted Turner
         “Our Common Future”

2003 Ambassador Andrew Young 
         “The US, the UN and Global Security”

2002 Ambassador Richard Williamson, the US Alternate Representative to the UN
         “US Priorities at the UN”

2001 Ambassador Donald McHenry, US Ambassador to the UN during the Carter Administration
         “Unilateralism in an Age of Terror”

2000 Sir Jeremy Greenstock, Britain’s Permanent Representative to the UN, who addressed the inaugural Luncheon, “UN Peacekeeping in the 21st Century: the US Role.”

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