United Nations recommends the Equal Earth world map

I am delighted that last week (4th September 2026) the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has voted to change their world map from the Mercator projection (created in 1569) to the Equal Earth projection aimed at "a more accurate representation" of the world: https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/09/1168284

The UN Equal Earth projection is here: https://www.un.org/geospatial/content/map-world-1

Equal Earth projection adopted by the United Nations 

I have long advocated for using an equal earth projection of the world. In the Oxford Handbook of Speech Development in Languages of the World (McLeod, 2026) I had bespoke maps made for each chapter (language/dialect) using this projection - and an explanation and comparison with the Mercator projection is outlined in chapter 1.

Here is a map from my book showing the distribution of Afrikaans:

 

Vice Chancellor's All-staff Session

Today I attended the CSU Vice Chancellor's All-staff Session on the Bathurst. It was advertised as "This is a chance for me to update you on the university’s direction and priorities and to hear directly from you with any questions or views." The VC asked for news and updates, so I was able to provide a shout out to A/Prof Kathy Cologon, Dr Belinda Downey, Dr Goutam Roy, Dr Shukla Siker, their children and the Communications Team (Kevin Ng and Dom Lindsay) for their research that lead to the World Health Organization profiling our CVC children's advisory group 7-minute video in their presentation at the United Nations in June.

 

CVC children's advisory group present at the WHO Disability Health Equity Network side event at COSP19

This week the Children's Voices Centre Children's Advisory group are presenting at the United Nations in New York! They have prepared a 7 minute video to be played during the official United Nations side event. Kathy Cologon has worked with nine children associated with CVC to prepare the video. Wow!

The CVC Children's Advisory Group who presented were: Finbar, Zac, Chloe, Knox, Jocelyn, Greta, Nayantara, Biju facilitated by A/Prof Kathy Cologon, Dr Belinda Downey, Dr Shukla Sikder, and Dr Goutam Roy

Here are the details: 

World Health Organization (WHO) Disability Health Equity Network (DHEN) Side Event at the 19th Conference of States Parties (COSP19) to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability in New York City

Title: Rights to Results: Political Prioritization of Disability Health Equity 20 Years After the CRPD
Time: Wednesday, June 10 ∙ 11:30 am  - 12:45 pm EDT
Location: Bahá'í International Community, 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 120, New York, NY 10017
Co-sponsors:
•    WHO Disability Health Equity Network (DHEN)
•    International Disability and Development Consortium (IDDC)
•    Deaf Child Worldwide
•    International Cerebral Palsy Society (ICPS)
•    Rehabilitation International (RI)

Here is the run sheet for the UN side event

11:30 – 11:35    Opening        Christoph Gutenbrunner
11:35 – 11:45    Welcome Addresses       
•    Rehabilitation International President: Christoph Gutenbrunner
•    WHO: Kaloyan Kamenov 
•    Deaf Child Worldwide and IDDC: Elizabeth Sidell
•    ICPS: John Coughlan 
11:45 – 11:50    Introduction of the speakers    Christoph Gutenbrunner    
•    Janet Charchuk, Board Member of Down Syndrome International
•    Rafael Bonfin, Co-founder of Noussa Casa Institute (International Cerebral Palsy Society)
•    Dr. Latoya Dixon, Post-Doctoral Student/Lamar University, Disability Advocate & Critic of the ADA
•    Danielle Engel, Programme Specialist, SRHR Across Life Course, UNFPA
11:50 – 11:57    Video Children’s Voices Centre Advisory Group of Charles Sturt University, Australia
11:57-12:07    Panelist statements
12:07 – 12:32    Panel discussion
12:32 – 12:42    Open discussion with the audience
12:42 – 12:45     Wrap up and closure

 

United Nations presentation: Congratulations A/Prof Kathy Cologon and Tim Cologon

The Children's Voices Centre is so proud to have supported our associate director A/Prof Kathy Cologon to present at the United Nations in New York with her co-researcher Tim Cologon.

They were invited to present at World Down Syndrome Day. Their presentation was powerful - describing their research with children who experience disability - and their insights about belonging.

They have just returned to Australia and it has been wonderful to hear about their impact, experiences and all of the people they met. Congratulations.

 

The World Children's Day recording is now available

The World Children's Day recording is now available - WOW!

https://media-studio.csu.edu.au/w/x5lAkxJaPWK

http://clickemail.csu.edu.au/c/7/eyJhaSI6NTQzMjg4ODQsImUiOiJtZy1lbmM6Ry9BQWVKb3ZUYnVqWGNPL25CVWFSeWt2bjNSNm1hc0ciLCJyaSI6ImNvbnRhY3QtOWQ1ZmIwYTVjMTRiZTkxMWE5NzkwMDBkM2FkMWMzYWYtODgwMjdiNzYxY2VhNDk1Yzk1ZDA0NDBhZTdlOTQ1NTgiLCJycSI6IjAyLWIyNTM1Ny04YmE0OTFkZWI5ZmQ0NjNmYjg2M2M5MGJhNzhjMmMwYiIsIm0iOmZhbHNlLCJ1aSI6IjAiLCJ1biI6IiIsInUiOiJodHRwczovL21lZGlhLXN0dWRpby5jc3UuZWR1LmF1L3cveDVsQWt4SmFQV0s_a2V5PTI0NzI3ZjgxMGE0ODkxYzNmYTM0ODAxMWRlN2U2MmRiJl9jbGRlZT1nc3BabVJSUUdqSGppUTBPRDhfRDAyWUdkQW5iMDUyTGFGYmtNQlhVZzItSlhHekQwZlNNZHVYNU5GNWQta21nJnJlY2lwaWVudGlkPWNvbnRhY3QtOWQ1ZmIwYTVjMTRiZTkxMWE5NzkwMDBkM2FkMWMzYWYtODgwMjdiNzYxY2VhNDk1Yzk1ZDA0NDBhZTdlOTQ1NTgmZXNpZD04ODQzMGM0Zi0zZWQ2LWYwMTEtODU0NC03Y2VkOGQzNDQ4YWEifQ/f-y3A0yWKARtRVFEsqsQJQ 

 

World Children’s Day celebrations with the United Nations - 20 November 2025

From Regional Roots to Global Impact: Kids Interview UN Changemaker David Ohana

The CSU Advancement Office worked with the Children's Voices Centre (CVC) to create an online event to celebrate World Children’s Day on 20 November. The event profiled CSU alumnus David Ohana, Chief Communications & Marketing Officer, United Nations Foundation as a guest speaker https://unfoundation.org/who-we-are/our-people/david-ohana/

• 30 minutes ‘in conversation’ interview with David led by CVC children
• 30 minutes to talk about CVC/current research and projects, and fundraising call to actions. 

The full recording (1hour) is here:

http://clickemail.csu.edu.au/c/7/eyJhaSI6NTQzMjg4ODQsImUiOiJtZy1lbmM6Ry9BQWVKb3ZUYnVqWGNPL25CVWFSeWt2bjNSNm1hc0ciLCJyaSI6ImNvbnRhY3QtOWQ1ZmIwYTVjMTRiZTkxMWE5NzkwMDBkM2FkMWMzYWYtODgwMjdiNzYxY2VhNDk1Yzk1ZDA0NDBhZTdlOTQ1NTgiLCJycSI6IjAyLWIyNTM1Ny04YmE0OTFkZWI5ZmQ0NjNmYjg2M2M5MGJhNzhjMmMwYiIsIm0iOmZhbHNlLCJ1aSI6IjAiLCJ1biI6IiIsInUiOiJodHRwczovL21lZGlhLXN0dWRpby5jc3UuZWR1LmF1L3cveDVsQWt4SmFQV0s_a2V5PTI0NzI3ZjgxMGE0ODkxYzNmYTM0ODAxMWRlN2U2MmRiJl9jbGRlZT1nc3BabVJSUUdqSGppUTBPRDhfRDAyWUdkQW5iMDUyTGFGYmtNQlhVZzItSlhHekQwZlNNZHVYNU5GNWQta21nJnJlY2lwaWVudGlkPWNvbnRhY3QtOWQ1ZmIwYTVjMTRiZTkxMWE5NzkwMDBkM2FkMWMzYWYtODgwMjdiNzYxY2VhNDk1Yzk1ZDA0NDBhZTdlOTQ1NTgmZXNpZD04ODQzMGM0Zi0zZWQ2LWYwMTEtODU0NC03Y2VkOGQzNDQ4YWEifQ/f-y3A0yWKARtRVFEsqsQJQ

Information: 

• https://events.humanitix.com/from-regional-roots-to-global-impact-kids-interview-un-changemaker-david-ohana  
• https://alumni.csu.edu.au/news-and-events/events/industry/from-regional-roots-to-global-impact-kids-interview-un-changemaker-david-ohana 

 WOW! The children's questions were so enlightening - and David's stories were so inspiring. Congratulations to A/Prof Kathy Cologon and A/Prof Tamara Cumming who organised the event. I was in Washington DC - so watched online...

Join us this World Children’s Day for an inspiring free online event celebrating the power of children’s voices. Hosted by the Children’s Voices Centre, this free event features Charles Sturt alumnus David Ohana, now Chief Communications & Marketing Officer at the United Nations
Foundation (based in Washington DC), with a panel of curious young interviewers. In a playful reversal of roles the children will lead the discussion, asking David about his journey from
regional Australia to the global stage, his work in international advocacy, and what it means to create real change for young people around the world. Alongside this conversation, the Children’s Voices Centre will share stories from their inspiring, child-led research projects and their vision for a future where every child is heard, valued, and supported to thrive. Join us in celebrating the voices that shape tomorrow, because when children are heard, the world changes for the better.
Date: Thursday 20 November 2025
Time: 10.00am - 11.00am AEDT
Where: Online via Zoom.
Cost: Free (donations to the Children’s Voices
Centre Little Library Project welcomed).
If you are unable to attend the livestream, we encourage you to register regardless. A recording of the event will be sent to all registered participants.  From regional roots to global impact: Kids Interview UN Changemaker David Ohana

Visiting the United Nations

Today I had the opportunity to visit the United Nations. Originating alongside the League of Nations that was formed after World War I, the United Nations has had a fundamental role to play in shaping the modern world. While the United Nations Head Office is in New York, the Geneva Office holds many important meetings and roles.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), and Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) are some of the important documents from the United Nations that inform my work every day.

The view from the UN

Orientation to the United Nations, ILO, UNICEF and WHO in Geneva

I talk about and write about the United Nations every day including:

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)
• Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
• Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (CRPD)
• United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)

Today (12 Nov) was my first time visiting Geneva - and I spent the day orienting myself to:

• United Nations
• Red Cross (CICR)
• World Health Organization (WHO)
• International Labor Organization (ILO)
• UNICEF
• UN Migration (IOM) 

It is very special to visit these important places that have shaped the world.

Broken chair - Giving a voice to victims of explosive weapons

Palais des Nations | The United Nations Office at Geneva

Snowy mountaintops in the distance

United Nations

Red Cross - Comité international de la Croix-Rouge

The People's Wall "This work explores the themes of identity, migration, the construction of shared narratives, and living together...imagining a world of diversity where everyone can find their place" (Philip Baldwin and Monica Guggisberg) - installation at Red Cross

WHO

ILO and UNICEF

UN Migration

Walking around Geneva on this gorgeous autumn day reminded me of the Parliamentary Triangle in Canberra in autumn. 

UN Youth forum at CSU

This morning I had the privilege of welcoming the UN Youth forum to Bathurst to speak with high school students across the region. I had the opportunity to engage with the 85 attendees registered from schools across the region, CSU communication and media staff and students, and the following people:

• Ms Satara Uthayakumaran, Australian Youth Representative to the United Nations 2025
• Mr Max Spencer-Tighe, Human Resources Director UN Youth
• Ms Jessica Luu, NSW President UN Youth
• Mr Benjamin Fry, Deputy Mayor of Bathurst
• Ms Kate Hook, Independent Candidate for the seat of Calare
• Ms Julie Cunningham, Labor Candidate for the seat of Calare

Welcome to 2025 - Orientation week at CSU

This week was orientation week for new students at Charles Sturt University. Emily-Jane Woodhead and I enjoyed meeting the students, staff, and vendors - including Max and Damien from UN Youth

 

We learned a lot from Max and Damien at UN Youth