On 24 October, UN Day, UNA-UK held an event at the Foreign Press Association to launch its 2007-8 'Lobby for the UN' campaign. This annual initiative aims to foster dialogue between voters and Parliamentarians on UN issues, and to push for robust action on UNA-UK policy priorities.

In 2007-08 the Lobby will focus on the UN's role in:

• Achieving the Millennium Development Goals
• Ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
• Banning cluster munitions
• Combating climate change
• Implementing the responsibility to protect

Close to 200 people attended the launch event, which set in motion lobbying activities for the coming year, to listen to the following speakers:

• Lord Hannay of Chiswick, Chair of UNA-UK
• Astrid Haas of U8, an international network of university students formed to support MDG8, which calls for a global partnership for development
• Thomas Nash, Coordinator of the Cluster Munitions Coalition, an international civil society movement working towards a ban of these weapons
• Tony Klug, a special adviser on the Middle East to the Oxford Research Group, a British non-governmental organisation advocating non-military solutions to conflict

How can you get involved?

• Download the UNA-UK briefing notes containing background information for use in lobbying your MP
• Write to your MP or arrange to see her or him during surgery hours
• Take action on a Lobby issues by clicking here