Marking 80 years of the UN at Government House

Our Patron, Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC, Governor of Victoria, is generously hosting an event at Government House to mark the significance of 80 years of the United Nations.

UNAA Victoria celebrated the 80th anniversary of the United Nations at Government House at the invitation of the Governor of Victoria.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a milestone document in the 80-year history of the UN and human rights. In recognition of the young changemakers who will take responsibility for, and lead the UN over the next 80 years, we thought it was apt to ask them to consider if the UDHR is still relevant and appropriate today.

So, we ran a Model UN where 19 schools from across Victoria gathered to discuss the question “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Still fit for purpose as the UN turns 80?

UN Member States were represented by students from schools across Victoria that have participated in our UNAA Victoria Global Education Program in 2025.

We thank all the teachers and students who travelled to Government House from all over Victoria to represent their allocated countries and offer interventions based on their country’s national interests, international responsibilities and humanitarian obligations.

We are also grateful to the speakers who enriched the day by sharing their thoughts on 80 years of the UN and beyond – including the opening addresses by Lieutenant-Governor of Victoria, Professor James Angus AO and Carlisle Richardson, and reflections on the UN@80 by Professor Erika AO and the closing address by Associate Professor Ian Howie.

Thank you to Associate Professor Maria O’Sullivan for expertly moderating the day and facilitating the space for the young people present to emphasise the power of multilateralism and youth to drive global change.