United Nations Information Service Vienna
Encyclopedia
The United Nations Information Service Vienna (UNIS Vienna) is part of a 63-strong network of United Nations Information Centres spanning the globe, which are part of the United Nations Department of Public Information
. They share a common goal: to help fulfill the substantive purposes of the United Nations
by communicating the activities and concerns of the organization to the public.
UNIS Vienna plays a dual role: as UN Information Centre it serves four client countries – Austria
, Hungary
, Slovakia
and Slovenia
. By serving as the local voice of the UN in these countries, the Information Service aims to promote an informed understanding of the work and goals of the UN, by reaching out to media, government, academia, schools and civil society organizations. Furthermore, it provides public information support and promotional services to the substantive programmes of the United Nations based in Vienna
, and acts as Secretariat to the UN Communications Group in Vienna.
where one of the four UN headquarters – along with the UN Headquarters
in New York City
, the UN Office at Geneva
and UN Office at Nairobi
– is located. The Visitors Service offers lectures by UN staff members on the UN in general and the work of the Vienna-based organizations.
. Reference documents, Security Council resolutions, the latest sales publications, the latest UN reports and more are available in the library, along with UN posters and handout material on a variety of subjects. The UNIS reference library in Vienna is open to visitors, journalists and students (upon prior appointment) and to all UN staff members. A wide range of reference material on all aspects of the UN System is available, especially on issues dealt with by the Vienna-based UN organizations dealing with drugs control, crime prevention and outer space affairs. Information and promotional material (handouts, reports, posters) as well as sales publications in limited quantities are available free of charge. The UNIS library can also help interested individuals and institutions to find a UN document.
United Nations Department of Public Information
The United Nations Department of Public Information helps non-governmental organizations gain access to and disseminate information about United Nations issues so the public can better understand the aims and objectives of the organizations...
. They share a common goal: to help fulfill the substantive purposes of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
by communicating the activities and concerns of the organization to the public.
UNIS Vienna plays a dual role: as UN Information Centre it serves four client countries – Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
and Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
. By serving as the local voice of the UN in these countries, the Information Service aims to promote an informed understanding of the work and goals of the UN, by reaching out to media, government, academia, schools and civil society organizations. Furthermore, it provides public information support and promotional services to the substantive programmes of the United Nations based in Vienna
United Nations Office at Vienna
The United Nations Office in Vienna is one of the four major UN office sites where several different UN agencies have a joint presence. The office complex is located in Vienna, the capital of Austria, and is part of the Vienna International Centre, a cluster of several major international...
, and acts as Secretariat to the UN Communications Group in Vienna.
Guided tours and lectures
UNIS Vienna runs the guided tours at the Vienna International CentreVienna International Centre
right|250px|thumb|Vienna International Centre . The [[UNO-City|Austria Center Vienna]] can be seen at the far left in the middle distance....
where one of the four UN headquarters – along with the UN Headquarters
United Nations headquarters
The headquarters of the United Nations is a complex in New York City. The complex has served as the official headquarters of the United Nations since its completion in 1952. It is located in the Turtle Bay neighborhood of Manhattan, on spacious grounds overlooking the East River...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, the UN Office at Geneva
United Nations Office at Geneva
The United Nations Office at Geneva is the second-largest of the four major office sites of the United Nations...
and UN Office at Nairobi
United Nations Office at Nairobi
The United Nations Office at Nairobi is one of the four major UN office sites where several different UN agencies have a joint presence. The office complex is located in Nairobi, Kenya...
– is located. The Visitors Service offers lectures by UN staff members on the UN in general and the work of the Vienna-based organizations.
Media accreditation
UNIS Vienna issues annual accreditation to bona-fide representatives of the media who are writing on UN system issues, on the basis of certain criteria. Accredited journalists to the UN receive access to the Vienna International Centre, information on the happenings in the UN world in Vienna and beyond, invitations to events and press briefings being organized at the VIC.Civil society liaison
Over 1,500 civil society organizations with strong information programmes on issues of concern to the UN are associated with the UN Department of Public Information, linking the UN with people around the world. The NGO liaison service of UNIS Vienna maintains a distribution list of approximately 400 local NGO representatives, research institutes, political think tanks and initiatives of civil society.Publications and information products
UNIS Vienna produces a wide range of information products on the work of the UN and current international issues, including German-, Hungarian-, Slovak- and Slovene-language versions of press releases, backgrounders and the UN Secretary-General's statements, as well as information on the work of the Vienna-based organizations in English and other languages. All publications are available on UNIS website.Library and reference assistance
The UNIS library is a repository of information from all over the UN SystemUnited Nations System
The United Nations system consists of the United Nations, its subsidiary organs , the specialized agencies, and affiliated organizations...
. Reference documents, Security Council resolutions, the latest sales publications, the latest UN reports and more are available in the library, along with UN posters and handout material on a variety of subjects. The UNIS reference library in Vienna is open to visitors, journalists and students (upon prior appointment) and to all UN staff members. A wide range of reference material on all aspects of the UN System is available, especially on issues dealt with by the Vienna-based UN organizations dealing with drugs control, crime prevention and outer space affairs. Information and promotional material (handouts, reports, posters) as well as sales publications in limited quantities are available free of charge. The UNIS library can also help interested individuals and institutions to find a UN document.