About us

After participating in various Model United Nations conferences and taking part in organizing the first Croatian Model United Nations (ZAGIMUN), it has become quite clear that the young people (especially students) in Croatia are very much interested in the UN-related issues, its principles, goals, and its work worldwide, despite the fact that national information sources about the United Nations system have been scarce. In 2008, a group of students came up with the idea of revitalizing the Association. In 2007, Croatia was elected a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council – an additional reason in favour of the re-establishment of the Association.

The Croatian United Nations Association was first founded in 1992, with Professor Branko Vukmir as its president. It gathered mostly professors who were interested in the UN-related issues. The Association, in accordance with its academic approach, published the collection of articles entitled « Croatia and the United Nations», due to the 50th anniversary of the United Nations. Because of various reasons, after several years of existence, activities of the Association slowly faded away, and it ceased to exist.

The constitutive meeting of the newly established Association was held on June 9, 2008. On that occasion, members of the two main bodies (the Presidency, and the Supervisory board) were elected, and its Statute was adopted. About three months later, the Croatian United Nations Association became again the full member of the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA).

The Croatian United Nations Association project immediately got strong support from numerous professionals who have dedicated their careers to the United Nations, and multilateral affairs in general. Valuable advice and strong support also came from various European UNAs, as well as the members of the international Making Commitments Matter initiative.

The Association has been established with the aim of becoming a valuable information source on the United Nations system, as well as the platform which gathers young people and professionals to discuss and exchange opinions about UN-related issues. The Association will strongly promote the values of the United Nations, as stated in the Charter of the United Nations. On the national level, it will establish cooperation with governmental institutions and non-governmental organizations, as well as with the UN agencies present in Croatia. Internationally, it will work on developing projects with United Nations Associations worldwide, as well as with the World Federation of United Nations Associations.

The work of the Association will consist of projects targeting the youth, professionals, or both. It will therefore develop a series of round tables, lectures and interactive events. Simultaneously, it will act as a reference/info point for numerous UN-related international and youth projects. Its website will try to serve as a relevant, constantly updated source of data and analysis, and will try to respond to the needs of a broader public, within its (UN-related) focus.