Quaker United Nation Office

Connecting Friends' values with the global community

We are a Quaker presence at the United Nations sharing Friends’ concerns for global peace and justice with the international community.

The Quaker United Nations Office promotes justice, peace and sustainability at the United Nations. Our priorities are based on the concerns of Quakers worldwide. Through different areas of work in Geneva and New York, we seek to ensure that the UN system and community of nations support and uphold the dignity of all, so that justice and peace can flourish, and our shared home can be nurtured.

QUNO Geneva Welcomes Two New Programme Representatives

QUNO Geneva Welcomes Two New Programme Representatives

We are delighted to welcome two new colleagues to QUNO Geneva, strengthening our work across human rights, peace, and disarmament.Lucy Richardson joined QUNO as Human Rights and Refugees Representative in January 2026, working to strengthen the promotion and...

Former Programme Assistant bears witness in the Occupied West Bank

Former Programme Assistant bears witness in the Occupied West Bank

Former Programme Assistant Ailih Weeldreyer, now a National Organizer with the World Student Christian Federation – US, reflected with QUNO-New York about her experience accompanying a group of students on a solidarity pilgrimage through the Occupied Palestinian West...

Myanmar “sham elections”: QUNO hosts Quaker House briefing

Myanmar “sham elections”: QUNO hosts Quaker House briefing

On 2 December, the Quaker UN Office hosted diplomats at Quaker House for a private briefing in advance of the elections in Myanmar that began on 28 December 2025. QUNO Director, Sarah Clarke, opened the meeting, noting that “the world will be watching carefully to see...

Applications Now Open for QUNO New York Programme Assistants 

Applications Now Open for QUNO New York Programme Assistants 

The Quaker United Nations Office in New York is now accepting Programme Assistant applications for the 2026-2027 year. This is an exciting opportunity for young professionals to gain experience at the United Nations, and to both learn about and contribute to Quaker...

QUNO attends COP30 in Brazil: Report 2 of 2

QUNO attends COP30 in Brazil: Report 2 of 2

QUNO participated in the Conference of the Parties (COP30), held from 9–23 November in Belém, Brazil. Following the first report on QUNO’s activities at COP30 (available here), this second report provides an analysis of key areas of concern as well as positive...

New York

Supporting the UN’s Role for Peace Globally

QUNO New York seeks to strengthen member states’ understanding of and commitment to important concepts that build what has been called Positive Peace. Peace in this view requires the presence of social justice, equity, and systems that support sustainable...

Supporting the UN’s Role for Peace in Regional Contexts

In New York, QUNO has a long history of engaging diplomats and UN officials around specific country and regional contexts. In this effort, we work closely with UN diplomats, officials, and civil society organizations, often using Quaker House as a space to host...

Geneva

Human Impacts of Climate Change

QUNO works for effective, fair and ambitious climate action and environmental protection. QUNO is concerned about the impacts of climate change on people’s lives, and works to ensure that the rights and dignity of all are upheld in the face of a changing...

Human Rights & Refugees

QUNO works for international law, standards and processes that uphold the inherent worth of each and every person. We work to strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights through the United Nations system, with particular reference to the interface between...

Peace & Disarmament

QUNO works for holistic approaches that address the seeds of war, including inequality, injustice and the proliferation of arms.  Our peace and disarmament programme grows out of a long Quaker history of working for peace, understanding that this means more than the...

Sustainable & Just Economic Systems

QUNO works for economic systems that improve livelihoods, strengthen resilience, and ensure just transitions to sustainability. The ways in which we design and implement economic systems have critical impacts on sustainability, peace, and justice. QUNO strives to...