To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, Turin has joined the initiative Europe Turns UN Blue and will be among the European cities that will illuminate iconic landmarks in blue, the official colour of the United Nations, tomorrow evening. The initiative is a symbolic effort to unite people globally; promote the universal language of peace, sustainable development and human rights; spread hope in these uncertain times and highlight support for the aims and ideals of the United Nations.

To celebrate this Anniversary, world leaders acknowledge that “There is no other global organization with the legitimacy, convening power and normative impact of the United Nations. No other global organization gives hope to so many people and can deliver the future we want. The urgency for all countries to be united and to fulfil the promise of the UN is greater than ever.”

Today, when no country is spared by the pandemic, the UN is intervening everywhere to address emergencies, promote equality in the access to medical treatments, request a global ceasefire and reaffirm the principle that no one has to be left behind.

In Turin, thanks to the Municipality, the bridges Vittorio of Gran Madre, Umberto of Corso Vittorio, Isabella of Corso Dante and Balbis of Corso Bramante will light up in blue to send a message of unity and hope that crosses all borders: we are all in this together, and we will overcome the situation if we are united.

Turin is host to a major global training hub. For more than 50 years with the International Training Centre of the International Labour Organization (ITCILO), the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) and the United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC), the UN Campus in Turin promotes dialogue, knowledge and skills development to face global challenges. Over half a century, millions of people from all over the word met here to share experiences and build a common path towards a better future.

Antonia Marie De Meo, Director of UNICRI says: “With strong support from the Government of Italy, UNICRI is proud to contribute to global efforts for sustainable development: to enhance resilience, provide justice for all, and promote peaceful, safe, and inclusive communities. During this pandemic, UNICRI is meeting increasing training needs through adaptable online modalities and is mitigating efforts of criminal groups to take advantage of the pandemic.”

In the words of Jafar Javan, UNSSC Director: “UNSSC has played an integral role in advancing learning and training to create a more sustainable, just and equitable world. We look forward to playing this role in the future, especially during this time of COVID19. We stand together with Turin, and we stand together with the world.”

Now more than ever, embracing the mission and values of the UN is fundamental. On the occasion of the 75th Anniversary, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, sends a message to the world: “The seventy-fifth anniversary of the United Nations falls in the middle of a global pandemic. Our founding mission is more critical than ever. To promote human dignity. Protect human rights. Respect international law. And save humanity from war. When the pandemic hit, I called for a global ceasefire.

In our world today, we have one common enemy: COVID-19. Now is the time for a stepped-up push for peace to achieve a global ceasefire. The clock is ticking.

The Sustainable Development Goals give us an inspiring blueprint for recovering better. We face colossal challenges. With global solidarity and cooperation, we can overcome them. That’s what the United Nations is all about.

On this anniversary, I ask people everywhere to join together. The United Nations not only stands with you; the United Nations belongs to you and is you – ‘we the peoples’. Together, let us uphold the enduring values of the United Nations Charter… Let us realize our shared vision of a better world for all.”

Tomorrow evening, the bridges of Turin will symbolically bring people together and reminds us that only if we are united, we will overcome the challenges we are facing.

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