UN information resources
News and information including relevant resources compiled and presented primarily by the UN Library in New York, Dag Hammarskjöld Library.
The 2021 Jus Gentium Research Award to the United Nations Digital Library
The American Society of International Law (ASIL) and the International Legal Research IG have awarded the 2021 Jus Gentium Research Award to the United Nations Digital Library. The selection is stated: “in recognition that this resource is "one stop shopping" for primary documents crucial to most areas of international law, as this refines and builds a centralized source for all United Nations documented activity, and so provides legal materials embedded in the context of the work of the entire UN system.”
The United Nations Digital Library is the online catalogue of UN documents and publications provided by Dag Hammarskjöld library, New York. The Digital Library includes UN documents, voting data, speeches, maps, and open access publications.
UN Digital Library is developed and maintained by the Dag Hammarskjöld Library staff in partnership with the UN Libraries in Bangkok, Beirut, Geneva and Vienna.
The Swedish Forum for Human Rights goes digital 19-21 April
The Swedish Forum for Human Rights will take place on April 19-21, https://www.mrdagarna.nu/. This is an annual event aimed at raising awareness of human rights and raising them higher on the political agenda. The theme for this edition of the Swedish Forum for Human Rights is: "Human Rights - a question about where you live?"
This time the event will be digital due to Covid-19: Digital exhibitions, digital stands, digital seminars and so on.
Uppsala University (UU) is one of the local hosts. Dag Hammarskjöld and the Law Library, which is a part of the Univeristy Library, participates in University's digital stand and to help you to find information about the UN and human rights, as well as the university library.
Welcome to visit our digital stand and chat with us!
UN information:
DagDok, guide to the UN, www.DagDok.org
For inquiries to the library:
Phone: 018-471 39 00
E-mail: fraga.biblioteket@ub.uu.se
Website/Chat: www.ub.uu.se
Nobel Peace Prize 2020 to the World Food Programme.
On October 9, 2020 the World Food Programme was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Announcement by the Nobel Committee: https://www.nobelprize.org/
Announcement by WFP: https://insight.wfp.org/world-food-programme-chief-pays-tribute-to-front-line-staff-and-partners-after-nobel-peace-prize-fc406608d60
Secretary-General’s statement on the awarding of the 2020 Nobel Prize for Peace to the World Food Programme: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2020-10-09/secretary-general%E2%80%99s-statement-the-awarding-of-the-2020-nobel-prize-for-peace-the-world-food-programme
SG video message of congratulations: http://webtv.un.org/watch/ant%C3%B3nio-guterres-un-secretary-general-on-the-awarding-of-the-2020-nobel-prize-for-peace-to-the-world-food-programme/6199155473001/
Executive Director of WFP’s statement: https://www.wfp.org/news/world-food-programme-awarded-nobel-peace-prize-statement-wfp-executive-director-david-beasley
UN News Centre story (multiple languages): https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/10/1075012
All the information and promotional materials found on the websites listed above has been provided by the United Nations and the Dag Hammarskjöld Library and are free to use. Always state source!
United Nations and the Nobels Peace Prize
October 9, 2020
We congratulate United Nations World Food Programme that was awarded the Nobel peace prize 2020, “for its efforts to combat hunger, for its contribution to bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas and for acting as a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict”
The priority of the World Food Programme is the Sustainable Development Goal 2 – Zero Hunger – pledges to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
WFP - Press Briefing: Nobel Peace Prize Win (Geneva, 9 October 2020)
UN Nobel Peace Prize laureates through the years
- 2020 World Food Programme
- 2005 IAEA
- 2001 UN and Secretary-General Kofi Annan
- 1988 UN Peacekeeping forces
- 1981 UNHCR
- 1969 ILO
- 1965 UNICEF
- 1961 Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld
- 1954 UNHCR
International Day of Peace 21 September 2020

To mark its 75th anniversary, the UN has invited millions of people worldwide to join UN75, the largest and furthest-reaching global conversation on building the peaceful and prosperous future that we want.
The UN General Assembly has declared this International Day of Peace as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire.
For more information about this special day, please visit at: https://www.un.org/en/observances/international-day-peace
Attend the virtual observance event by joining: http://bit.ly/peacedaylive (On 17 September 2020, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EDT; NY local time). This online Student Observance will begin with a dialogue between United Nations Messengers of Peace and young people around the world.
The United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. António Guterres, has called for all of us to use these dialogues, as well as the International Day of Peace, to exchange ideas on how to achieve a global ceasefire, heal our planet and turn the COVID-19 crisis into an opportunity for peace. Let us build back better for more inclusive and peaceful societies.
The Peace Bell Ceremony will follow, featuring the participation of the United Nations Secretary-General, the President of the General Assembly and the Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations.
All the information and promotional materials found on the websites listed above has been provided by the United Nations and the Dag Hammarskjöld Library and are free to use. Always state source!
International Day of UN Peacekeepers 2020
The United Nations celebrates International Day of UN Peacekeepers on 29 May. 2020 marks the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the landmark Security Council resolution 1325 recognizing the important role of women in peacekeeping and therefore, this year's theme is "Women in Peacekeeping: a Key to Peace".
Here some resources you may wish to use and refer to to mark the day:
- Official website, https://www.un.org/en/observances/peacekeepers-day
- Trello Board with promotional materials (social media cards, posters, infographics, videos, photos), https://trello.com/b/Vo5zaxr1/women-in-peacekeeping-peacekeepers-day-2020
- Online photo exhibit, https://www.un.org/en/exhibits/page/women-peacekeeping-key-peace
- Dag Hammarskjöld Library (New York) research guide on UN peacekeeping, http://research.un.org/en/docs/peacekeeping
- Website of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, https://peacekeeping.un.org/en
- Peacekeeping Resource Hub, http://research.un.org/en/peacekeeping-community
- Data on UN peacekeeping operations, https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/data
Secretary-General's video message for download (mp4 format) (In English sub-title)
All above resources has been provided by Dag Hammarskjöld Library, New York.
DagDok resources:
International Mother Earth Day 2020
April 22, 2020 is the 50th anniversery of the International Mother Earth Day. It is an annual event celebrated around the world to demonstrate support for environmental protection.

Informations resources
Website of UN International day events, https://www.un.org/en/observances/earth-day
Research guides by Dag Hammarskjöld Library, New York.
- Climate Change - a global issue, http://research.un.org/en/climate-change
- UN documentation - environment, http://research.un.org/en/docs/environment
The UN Secretary-General
UN chief on International Mother Earth Day (22 April) - YouTube
António Guterres (United Nations Secretary-General) on International Mother Earth Day (22 April 2020), www.youtube.com
All UN documents are in the public domain and can be freely disseminated. When re-using these resources, kindly give appropriate credit.
International Women’s Day on 8 March
Dag Hammarskjöld library, New York, has put toghether a list of resources to different achievements of women, gender equality, and women’s issues:
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The Secretary-General's video message on the occasion of International Women’s Day
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Review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcomes of the 23rd special session of the General Assembly : report of the Secretary-General (UN document E/CN.6/2020/3), https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/3850087?ln=en
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Generation Equality Campaign (UN Women), https://www.unwomen.org/en/get-involved/beijing-plus-25
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Research guide about women (Commission on the Status of Women), http://research.un.org/en/CSW64 (In English) and http://research.un.org/fr/CSW63 (In French)
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AskDAG – FAQ on major UN conferences on women, https://ask.un.org/faq/125856
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UN Library news blog – digitization of the documents of the 1975 World Conference on the International Women’s Year, https://library.un.org/content/library-news
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Comprehensive research guide on women and gender equality (UN Library in Geneva), http://libraryresources.unog.ch/gender
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Research guide on women and global diplomacy (UN Library in Geneva), http://libraryresources.unog.ch/womendiplomacy
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SDG 5 (gender equality), https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/gender-equality/
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More on womena's rights in DagDok.
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All UN documents are in the public domain and can be freely disseminated. When re-using these resources, kindly give appropriate credit.
The 2010-2020 UN News decade in review
UN News takes a look back at some of the big stories on its global patch, that unfolded between 2010 and 2019:
In part one, which takes in the period between 2010 and the end of 2013, the focus is on the devastating Haiti earthquake, the beginning of the ongoing Syrian conflict, the inspiring work of Malala Yousafzai in favour of girls’ education, and the creation of what has now become “the world’s most dangerous UN mission”, in Mali.
In part two, we take in the years 2014 to 2016, which saw the worst outbreak of Ebola ever recorded; new hope that the climate crisis could be tackled by world leaders, through the historic Paris climate agreement; a UN mission in Colombia to facilitate a much-awaited peace process; and the launch of the UN’s 2030 Agenda, a plan of action for people, the planet and prosperity.
In part three UN News looks back over the past decade takes in the launch of the 2030 Agenda, the UN’s blueprint for a better future for all; the humanitarian response to the Rohingya refugee crisis; the successful end to the mandate of the UN Liberia Mission; and fresh momentum in the fight against the climate crisis, despite disappointment over the COP25 climate conference in Madrid.
70 Years of Human Rights - UDHR70: 30 Articles - 30 Documents
Dag Hammarskjöld library, New York, has made a short video about 70 years of Human Rights.
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Swedish | in English
- Vist the DHL online exhibition: https://research.un.org/udhr70
- View the video "UNDHR70: 30 documents, 30 articles": https://youtube/eYmWy2keILs
- Learn more about the drafting work, Drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
- More on UN and the human rights in DagDok.