About

Who we are

 

First UNIC office in Keat Street, Port of Spain.
Photo credit: UNIC Port of Spain

 

On 18 January 1962, the United Nations Information Centre for the Caribbean Area (UNIC) opened its office in Port of Spain, Trinidad, with a mandate to educate regional audiences about the activities of the United Nations and the principles that drive its work. As a branch office of what was then the Department of Public Information, the UNIC’s specific task was to tell the UN’s story strategically and directly to Caribbean audiences.

Today, UNIC Caribbean is part of a global network of 59 UN Information Centres in 139 countries around the world, which produce or translate information materials in 134 languages. We work with individuals and groups in a variety of fields and sectors – including governments, civil society organisations (CSOs), educational institutions, public offices, private businesses, and counterpart UN organisations, entities, departments, and programmes, as well as activists, public figures, artists, interns, and volunteers – to bring the UN message to populations in the English and Dutch-Speaking Caribbean.

We keep our audiences informed about the UN’s activities globally and about the work of its offices and agencies that directly serve Caribbean countries. Our messages are crafted within the UN’s defining thematic framework of human rights, peace and security, and development. Currently, our communications priorities include climate action, information integrity, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Where we work

UNIC's Area of Responsibility

We serve 19 countries and territories of the English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean, spread over a geographic area of approximately 2.4 million square km: Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Curaçao, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Maarten, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Kingdom of the Netherlands overseas territories (Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius).

 

Advocacy

The UNIC promotes United Nations issues that the Secretary-General feels should have a priority. The aim of this is to encourage support from governments, organisations, community groups and the general public with the ultimate goal of realising the universal access to rights, freedoms and a better quality of life for everyone.

Our advocacy work focuses around a number of global and regional campaigns and special events, for example:

  • UNiTE to end Violence against Women and Girls
  • Free and Equal campaign - advocating for LGBTI rights
  • Agenda 2030 - 17 Sustainable Development Goals 
  • Blue Heart Campaign  and Global Humanitarian Summit - to protect the rights of refugees
  • UN Climate Change conferences and meetings - COP 
  • International Day of Peace 
  • Let's End Racism Campaign
 

Education

UNIC often participates in educational activities to share more information about key issues on the United Nations agenda. Some of those activities include :

  • Presentations to government officials, schools, NGOs and other target audiences
  • Interactive sessions with students, teachers and civil society organisations
  • Distribution of information materials 
  • Promoting and supporting stories about the work of the UN on social network platforms
  • Introducing the UN to new staff in the Trinidad and Tobago UN Country Team
 

Outreach

An important part of the work of the UNIC is to reach out to different audiences and partners in the Caribbean.

The Centre hosts  and participates in events and activities as part of its programme to promote the United Nations and to encourage support for the Organisation and it's work in the region. Some of them include annual observances like the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and Holocaust Exhibits; Joint United Nations Day observances with other UN offices and sharing special displays with partner organisations.

 

Press & Media

UNIC maintains a working relationship with media houses to:

  • Encourage publication of articles and stories about the UN in the Region and globally
  • Keep journalists updated on activities of the Secretary-General, General Assembly and other parts of the Organisation through press releases, opinion editorials, daily briefings and other services
  • When possible facilitate the development of skills of young journalists who have interest in the work of the Organisation  
  • Expose journalists in the region to opportunities such as fellowships, scholarships that are offered by UN offices and other partnering foundations or funds 
 

Partnerships

One of the ways that UNIC is able to reach out to people across the region is by exploring opportunities for partnerships. Our partner organisations and groups play an important part in helping us to tell the story of the United Nations, promote and advocate for those priority issues on the Secretary-General's agenda. Our partners include, educational institutions, non-governmental organisations, libraries, diplomatic missions and other UN offices and agencies. 

Partners sometimes make funding available for UN themed events or sponsor campaign activities, because it is part of their agenda as well - for example Human Rights education or Model United Nations.

 

The United Nations serves as a global forum where countries can raise and discuss the most difficult issues, including problems of war and peace. In addition to maintaining international peace and security, the UN protects human rights, delivers humanitarian aid, promotes sustainable development and upholds international law.