United Nations Association of Hungary

The United Nations Association of Hungary (Hungarian: Magyar ENSZ Társaság, MENSZT) is a Hungarian civil-society organization dedicated to supporting the United Nations. It is the Hungarian member organization of the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA), the global movement founded in 1946, one year after the establishment of the UN, which today counts more than 100 national members. MENSZT was established in 1947 at the initiative of WFUNA leaders, with the exclusive purpose of promoting the realization of the goals and values enshrined in the UN Charter and popularizing and supporting the activity of the world organization. MENSZT describes itself as the only domestic public-benefit social organization that encourages multilateral cooperation within the UN framework across political, economic, environmental, social, scientific, cultural and humanitarian fields. It pursues these aims through civil-society instruments such as publications, lectures, seminars and expert conferences. While it is an independent national association that also conducts international activity, it is an integral part of WFUNA and carries out its international work primarily through that body. WFUNA holds Category I consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council, and the UN General Assembly's 41st session resolution A/41/680 called on member states to strengthen the World Federation through material and moral support for national UN associations. MENSZT does not engage in direct political activity. It is independent of political parties, does not provide financial support to them and does not accept financial support from them. Its stated goals include providing authentic, wide-ranging information on global challenges and the UN's role in the 21st century; publishing UN documents and books on the UN in Hungarian and distributing English-language publications; supporting research, information and education related to the UN Charter and the UN system; organizing scientific conferences and symposia on international cooperation within the UN; providing expert advice connected to the UN system; running youth programs on international issues, thesis consultations, a UN Academy and model UN sessions; hosting domestic press presentations of UN reports (annual drug report, state of world population, foreign direct investment, etc.); holding public consultations of thematic social committees on major UN agenda issues such as climate change, environmental protection, human rights, drugs, terrorism, peacekeeping, unemployment and poverty; cooperating with governmental and non-governmental organizations that support the UN; supporting Hungary's international efforts in the UN and other international organizations; protecting the domestic interests of former Hungarian UN officials and experts; organizing programs on UN commemorative days and UN weeks and years; and cooperating closely with national UN associations, primarily through WFUNA and the UNA Europe Network. Within the association operate several social committees and bodies, including the Council for Environment and Development; the Council for Human Rights, Minorities and Refugees; the Council of Former UN Officials and Experts; the Health and Population Council; and working groups on anti-drug issues, disarmament and peacekeeping, and international development cooperation. MENSZT also has local groups in several provincial university cities. Its youth organization, the International Diplomatic Student Association (IDSA), works independently but in close cooperation with the association and organizes an annual international Model UN conference; similar programs are held at the University of Szeged, the Eötvös József Grammar School in Budapest and the Karinthy Frigyes Grammar School.

The World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA) was founded in 1946, one year after the establishment of the United Nations, inspired by the opening words of the UN Charter, "We the Peoples." Today it counts more than 100 national members. At the initiative of WFUNA leaders, the United Nations Association of Hungary (Magyar ENSZ Társaság, MENSZT) was established in 1947. Its exclusive purpose was to promote the realization of the goals and values enshrined in the UN Charter and to popularize and support the activity of the world organization. MENSZT is the only domestic public-benefit social organization in Hungary that encourages multilateral cooperation within the UN framework across political, economic, environmental, social, scientific, cultural and humanitarian fields, using civil-society instruments such as publications, lectures, seminars and expert conferences. It is an independent national association that also conducts international activity, but it is an integral part of WFUNA and carries out its international work primarily through that body. WFUNA holds Category I consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council. The UN General Assembly's 41st session resolution A/41/680 called on member states to strengthen the World Federation through material and moral support for national UN associations; this is the only resolution the UN General Assembly has ever adopted concerning an international non-governmental organization. As a WFUNA member, MENSZT works in the spirit of the WFUNA constitution and treats it as guiding for its activity. MENSZT does not engage in direct political activity. It is independent of political parties, does not provide financial support to them and does not accept financial support from them. Over the decades it has developed a broad program of information, education and public discussion. Its activities include publishing UN documents and books on the UN in Hungarian and distributing English-language publications; supporting research, information and education related to the UN Charter and the UN system; organizing scientific conferences and symposia on international cooperation within the UN; providing expert advice connected to the UN system; running youth programs on international issues, thesis consultations, a UN Academy and model UN sessions; hosting domestic press presentations of UN reports such as the annual drug report, the state of world population and foreign direct investment; holding public consultations of thematic social committees on major UN agenda issues including climate change, environmental protection, human rights, drugs, terrorism, peacekeeping, unemployment and poverty; cooperating with governmental and non-governmental organizations that support the UN; supporting Hungary's international efforts in the UN and other international organizations; protecting the domestic interests of former Hungarian UN officials and experts; organizing programs on UN commemorative days and UN weeks and years; and cooperating closely with national UN associations, primarily through WFUNA and the UNA Europe Network. Within the association operate several social committees and bodies, including the Council for Environment and Development; the Council for Human Rights, Minorities and Refugees; the Council of Former UN Officials and Experts; the Health and Population Council; and working groups on anti-drug issues, disarmament and peacekeeping, and international development cooperation. MENSZT also has local groups in several provincial university cities, where it organizes programs. Interest in international issues has grown among youth (university and college students and secondary-school pupils), and the association provides consultations for them. Modeling the work of the UN has been a tradition for several decades. Its youth organization, the International Diplomatic Student Association (IDSA), works independently but in close cooperation with the association and organizes an annual international Model UN conference; similar programs are held at the University of Szeged, the Eötvös József Grammar School in Budapest and the Karinthy Frigyes Grammar School. The UN Academy is one of MENSZT's most successful programs. It consists of a multi-week lecture series discussing important problems on the UN agenda, aimed at providing knowledge indispensable for those who want to navigate today's complex world of international relations. Lectures and consultations are usually held once a week in the afternoon, led by outstanding Hungarian and foreign experts. Regular attendees receive certificates in English and Hungarian, and the lecture material is published by the association in volumes. The events have had several hundred participants, primarily university and college students. The topics of "UN Academy 1993" were peace and security, peacekeeping, human rights, environmental protection, health, etc., and "The UN Family and Hungary."

• 1993

  "UN Academy 1993" held, covering peace and security, peacekeeping, human rights, environmental protection, health, and "The UN Family and Hungary."

• 1947

  United Nations Association of Hungary (MENSZT) established at the initiative of WFUNA leaders.

• 1946

  World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA) founded, one year after the UN.

Hungary's only public-benefit civil-society organization promoting multilateral cooperation within the UN framework; the Hungarian member of WFUNA.

1. 1United Nations Association of Hungarywikidata.org
2. 2Magyar ENSZ Társasághu.wikipedia.org