The United Nations Information Centre in Beirut (UNIC Beirut) is one of 59 offices around the world that constitute branch offices of the UN Department of Global Communications (UNDGC) in New York. It was established on 7 September 1962 further to General Assembly Resolution 13 (1) of 13 February 1946, which called on UNDGC to establish branch offices in all parts of the world.
UNIC Beirut serves Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Kuwait, and works closely with the UN family in Lebanon. Its core functions are the following:
- Promoting an informed understanding of the work and purposes of the UN;
- Informing the public of the aims and activities of the UN in accordance with the purposes and principles enshrined in the UN Charter;
- Organizing awareness activities on the priorities of the UN and strengthening national and regional support for the Organization;
- Developing communication strategies to generate greater public understanding of the work of the Organization and its priorities;
- Disseminating information on the activities of UN agencies and programmes in Lebanon;
- Maintaining close relations with the media, and other partners such as governmental and non-governmental organizations, educational institutions, etc…
- Providing leadership to the UN Communication Group in Lebanon, which consists of the communication officers of UN agencies and programmes in Lebanon and implements joint activities;
- Providing information and feedback to UNDGC on the Centre's work and activities.
The mandate of UNDGC is to promote an informed understanding of the work, principles and the purposes of the UN among the peoples of the world through various outreach campaigns. The Department provides information and produces materials on UN global activities such as peacekeeping and international security, economic, social and cultural development, human rights and humanitarian issues, education, population, drug trafficking and other issues.
