1. UN & Internet2 Connectivity to Research & Education Networks worldwide for the United Nations System of Organizations

2. 24 April 2006Michael Laing Internet2 Conference 2 UN Charter The purposes of the UN are: To maintain international peace and security; To develop friendly relations among nations; To cooperate in solving international economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems and in promoting respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; and To be a centre in harmonizing the actions of nations in attaining these ends.

3. 24 April 2006Michael Laing Internet2 Conference 3 UN Secretariat The United Nations is the political assemblies of member states The Secretariat provides services to the United Nations The Secretariat’s Information Technology Services Division provides IT services

4. 24 April 2006Michael Laing Internet2 Conference 4 Principal UN Offices New York: 8,000 staff/20,000 diplomats Geneva office: similar numbers but more diverse organizationally Brindisi: data center; gateway to Africa Other offices: Nairobi, Vienna Commissions: Addis Ababa, Bangkok, Beirut, Santiago Tribunals: Arusha, The Hague

5. 24 April 2006Michael Laing Internet2 Conference 5 UN System The family of international organizations that are broadly supported by the nations of the world: UN, UNDP, UNICEF, UNHCR, UNEP, UNFPA, WFP, UN-HABITAT, OHCHR, ICTY, UNAIDS, ILO, UNESCO, WHO, FAO, ITU, WTO, IAEA,… And which have operations in almost every country of the world.

6. 24 April 2006Michael Laing Internet2 Conference 6 Why Join? Information sharing –Official documents –Multi-media archives –Specific programs: K-20, health networks, etc. Meetings and Conferences –Geographically diverse –Very high quality needed

7. 24 April 2006Michael Laing Internet2 Conference 7 Why Join (2)? The research and education community is the brain trust of international diplomacy: you are us

8. 24 April 2006Michael Laing Internet2 Conference 8 Other Interest Areas Middleware –200,000+ individuals with internal access rights –Complex federation of organizations moving sensitive personal information across jurisdictions East Africa: bandwidth & access

9. 24 April 2006Michael Laing Internet2 Conference 9 Issues Internal governance: insuring that the UN’s use of the global NRENs is solidly “positive” –UN Secretariat will take the lead for now in cooperation with all other members of the UN System –Internal “license” for uses? Common portal for UN System information resources? Global connectivity: attaining critical mass –US, EU, Latin America: enough to start –Asia/Pacific, Africa