The exhibition to mark the 60th anniversary of UN Special

Excellencies
Current and former UN Special contributors
Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am very pleased to welcome you all to this extraordinary exhibition to mark the 60th anniversary of UN Special.

When you look in the dictionary under “special”, you will find words like “unique” and “exceptional”. These attributes certainly apply to UN Special, and I can think of few publications that are so perfectly named. For all of us, UN Special stands out and has a special place within the United Nations as a magazine for and by staff. And today is therefore – on all levels – a special day, and I appreciate that we are many here to celebrate it.

It is highly appropriate that this exhibition is placed here in the Passarelle, which connects the main sections of the Palais des Nations. Over the past 60 years, UN Special has served as a bridge between different parts of the United Nations system. As a joint venture between UNOG and WHO, this staff magazine is itself a good example of constructive and lasting inter-agency collaboration. Through articles and interviews as we see here, UN Special has helped to create a greater awareness of current challenges, of the connections across our work and of our common direction – within Geneva and across duty stations. Long before the term was even coined, UN Special was a tool for system-wide coherence.

But, UN Special is not UN-centric. The magazines on display and the images chosen by the UN Special photographers point to a focus on the world around us and on the people that the United Nations serves.

The publication places increasing emphasis on establishing networks and partnerships with other international organizations, and on reaching out to the international community in Geneva.

UN Special has become an additional platform for bringing together International Geneva, which is particularly valuable as the challenges before us call for multi-stakeholder responses. I commend these efforts.
It is therefore a pleasure to have with us representatives of many different United Nations entities and of the wider International Geneva. Your participation testifies to UN Special’s broad reach and impact.

Dear Friends:

Today, we also pay tribute to the creativity, dynamism and energy of the United Nations staff who have put together UN Special over the past 60 years. Beyond their regular duties, they have contributed time and attention to promoting the activities of their colleagues, highlighting staff issues of common concern, advancing staff welfare and cementing our collective identity as United Nations staffers.

UN Special’s contribution to the collective efforts that led to the establishment in 2003 of the memorial in Ariana Park to honour colleagues who lost their lives in the service of peace is, in my view, a most pertinent illustration of the spirit of collegiality that characterizes the magazine. All who have taken part in UN Special have set an example in team spirit, commitment and mutual support and I am glad to see many of them with us this evening.

By tracing the development of UN Special from the very first magazine in 1949 until today, this exhibition at the same time highlights key moments in the history of the United Nations, as experienced and told by staff. It demonstrates how the challenges before us have been transformed in complexity and scope. But it also shows us that the value of multilateral collaboration and the importance of our staff are constants in a rapidly changing world.

It is the drive and determination of our staff that shape our results. They all deserve respect and gratitude for their deep belief in the mission of the United Nations and their dedication to realizing the vision of the founding fathers – whatever the challenges and constraints may be. This anniversary is an opportunity to thank each and every one of our staff.

I have just returned from the opening of the General Assembly at United Nations Headquarters. A common thread in the speeches of world leaders was the need for stronger multilateral cooperation to address shared challenges and to adapt as these challenges evolve. I believe that UN Special embodies both the United Nations’ unique ability to facilitate cooperation between people of all backgrounds and its capacity to adjust to ever-changing circumstances – without losing sight of the overall objectives.

These are the very special qualities that we need to build on for the coming 60 years.

Happy birthday!

Thank you very much.