Japan has a long tradition of strong support for the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme and volunteering, in general.

Last week, UNV Executive Coordinator Flavia Pansieri visited the earthquake and tsunami stricken town of Minami Sanriku cho and spoke at the opening of the 20th Japanese National Volunteer Festival Tokyo.  She offered her deepest sympathies to the people of Japan and expressed her great admiration for the millions who are engaged as volunteers throughout the country. Read

In marking World Migratory Bird Day 2011, 14-15 May, Flavia Pansieri, UNV Executive Coordinator, notes the critical role volunteers play participating and engaging others in the environmental movement. Read

Kinshasa, DRC: It was a somber day in Kinshasa last Sunday as UNV Executive Coordinator Flavia Pansieri joined the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme and Senior Management for the UN Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) in a special tribute to the three UN Volunteers who lost their lives in the crash of UN Flight 834 last Monday 4 April. Read

Bonn, Germany: This year, International Volunteer Day (IVD) comes at a vibrant time. 'Share the Story' is the theme of UNV's IVD campaign. UNV is using social media to engage in a global online conversation focused on how volunteering contributes to meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

People the world over joined UNV on Facebook yesterday (4 December) for a 24-hour online film festival to celebrate the worldwide impact of volunteerism. The festival showed volunteers in action, featured volunteer stories and hosted discussions on how volunteerism contributes to ending poverty. Read

Bonn, Germany: Today we are starting a global discussion to Share the Story about volunteering to meet the MDGs.  We can meet the Goals, but only if we complement essential government action with the engagement of millions of people through volunteer action.  Our discussion will culminate in a 24-hour, online film festival that will showcase video stories received from volunteers, communities, civil society, non-governmental organizations and United Nations partners. Read

Bonn, Germany: Volunteers play a crucial role in coping with the aftermath of disasters, as they are often in the frontline to respond and mobilize communities to help each other. Volunteers increase the resilience of rural and urban communities to disasters through raising awareness of risk, better preparedness and identifying early warning mechanisms. Read

Geneva, Switzerland: UNV Executive Coordinator Flavia Pansieri addressed the UNDP/UNFPA Executive Board on 30 June 2010.

"The UNV mandate is very inspiring," she said, "and the UNV programme provides an opportunity for motivated, committed and experienced individuals to contribute substantively to national development goals of programme countries by contributing to the work of UNDP and 22 other United Nations organizations, as well as 19 United Nations peacekeeping and special political missions."

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Bonn, Germany: The United Nations General Assembly designated 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity. As ever, voluntary action will be key to achieving its goals. Read

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme has united with the families of victims of the Haiti earthquake, their former colleagues and friends to express empathy for their grief.

In a memorial service led by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in New York, UNV Executive Coordinator Flavia Pansieri and senior UNV staff attended to express their support for the families of UNV volunteers Nicole Bahaya (30) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mamadi Conde (43) of Guinea and Nivah Odwori (36) of Kenya. Read

Copenhagen, Denmark: "Volunteers do. Volunteers act. They are doing something about climate change; making things happen and improving lives," said the UNV head at Copenhagen yesterday. Read