2013 CTAUN Conference at the United Nations:

ADVANCING SOCIAL JUSTICE:  The Role of Educators 

2013 UN Conference Statement

Where after all do universal human rights begin?  In small places, closest to home - so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any map of the world.  Yet they are the world of the individual person:  the neighborhood…the school or college…the factory, farm or office…Such are the places where every man, woman, and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerted citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world.

-        Eleanor Roosevelt, 27 March 1958, United Nations

On Friday, January 18, 2013, the Committee on Teaching About the United Nations (CTAUN) will be hosting its 14th annual conference, “Advancing Social Justice: The Role of Educators.”  We invite you to join us at UN Headquarters as we examine today’s social justice issues and explore the role educators must play in helping our students understand them and address and resolve them for our future. To carry out this task, young people will need to be empowered with the content knowledge and 21^st century skills necessary to navigate and make significant democratic changes in their global society. 

Investigating current social justice issues will require critical discussion on the complex issues of human trafficking and economic inequality.  Human trafficking, including the exploitation of youth, modern day slavery, and immigration/forced migration will be considered.  Underlying these issues of “human security” is the primary problem of economic inequality and the essential question of how to resolve such overarching dilemmas as child labor, ensuring environmental justice and food security.  Speakers and panel discussions will highlight these fundamental concerns. 

All educators and concerned citizens are invited to this event. We encourage you to work with us as we move forward in promoting social justice as a means for creating economic equality and political stability for the world's citizens - the achievement of the UN's founding goals.  

An integral part of the conference each year is the CTAUN BEST PRACTICES AWARD and we encourage all attendees at our conferences - past or present - to consider a project for submission.  Details are on our website www.teachun.org  

To learn  more about The Committee on Teaching About the United Nations,  visit www.teachun.org.  To register for the conference, click the link below. 

Register Now!

I believe that education is the civil rights issue of our generation. And if you care about promoting opportunity and reducing inequality, the classroom is the place to start. Great teaching is about so much more than education; it is a daily fight for social justice. 

-       US Education Secretary Arne Duncan, 9 October 2009

Special Hotel Rates for conference participants available at ONE UN NEW YORK (formerly Millennium Plaza), located directly across the street from the UN, corner 44th Street and First Avenue:

$199 -- Superior Double Bedded Room (2 double beds) or Superior King Bedded Room (1 king bed) room per night

$239 -- Triple Occupancy with rollaway per night

Taxes are in addition to the above.

Available nights:  Wednesday 16 January through Sunday 20 January

To make reservations:

Call the main reservation line at 877-866-7529 and refer to Group Code 1301CTAUNC or

Go to www.millenniumhotels.com/oneunnewyork and make your reservation using the same Group Code.

Reservations must be made by 7 January 2013