The Portail des Nations, the next entrance to the UN in Geneva
This is welcome news for the development of international Geneva, for the people of Geneva and for all visitors to the United Nations. UNO Geneva has received approval from the Geneva authorities for its future visitor center, scheduled to open in summer 2025, under an agreement with the Fondation Portail des Nations. The complex, aptly named "Portail des Nations", will cover 2,000 m2 and offer a multimedia experience on the role of the UN. The project, led by Ivan Pictet, includes the construction of residential buildings in coordination with local UN entities. Construction work, which began recently, will take 18 months. The Foundation's donation responds to António Guterres' call for the UN to be better known, so that the public understands its daily impact and global actions.
"The Nations Portal project will enable us to better welcome, educate and inspire the many visitors who come to the United Nations in Geneva," enthuses Melissa Fleming, Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications at the United Nations. They will have the opportunity to learn how they can join forces with the United Nations to take action for a world where everyone thrives in peace, dignity and prosperity on a healthy planet."
As Tatiana Valovaya, Director General of the United Nations Office in Geneva, also points out: "*At a time when mistrust of public institutions is the order of the day, UN Geneva is resolutely choosing openness and is working to find new ways of spreading the fundamental message of the United Nations. The "Portal of Nations" project is an extraordinary opportunity to strengthen our communication with the general public.
"As Ivan Pictet points out, it will also reinforce Geneva's attractiveness as the cradle of multilateral diplomacy and a center of international cooperation, recognized as one of the most important in the world in terms of its density and the variety of topics covered.
The realization of the future visitors' center has been made possible by the generous contributions, at this stage, of the Fondation Portail des Nations, another Geneva-based private foundation and the Loterie romande.
Anyone wishing to follow the progress of this project can do so by subscribing to the Fondation Portail des Nations newsletter Fondation Portail des Nations, or by continuing to follow genevemonde's multi-weekly publications.
Virtual presentation photo of the Portail des Nations (© Portail des Nations)
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