QUNO

At the 25th session of the Human Rights Council, QUNO co-sponsored a side-event entitled “Conscientious Objection to Military Service: Challenges and International Responses”, with the Permanent Missions of Costa Rica, Croatia and Poland. During this side event, which was moderated by Rachel Brett from QUNO, the panellists explored different elements of the right to conscientious objection. The Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Heiner Bielefeldt, addressed the philosophical underpinnings of conscience and the right to conscientious objection.

In December QUNO,  the Baha’i International Community: United Nations Office, and ATD Fourth World partnered to host a breakfast dialogue on the topic of “Peace, poverty, and violence; interlinkages for sustainable development.” The breakfast was attended by a wide range of UN staff, Member States, and representatives from civil society. Keynote speakers included a representative from the Permanent Mission of Timor Leste, as well as Sarah Cliffe, special adviser and assistant secretary-general of Civilian Capacities to the United Nations.

The New York office is pleased to share our most recent Newsletter, featuring articles on the crisis in Syria, sustainable development, women building peace, and QUNO's recognition as one of the world's 100 most influential actors in armed violence reduction.

QUNO recently contributed to an article in ‘Global Policy’ on the centrality of Peace & Stability to Sustainable Development and the post-2105 framework.

 QUNO participated in an international workshop on the topic of Building Just Societies: Reconciliation in Transitional Settings held in Accra, Ghana. The workshop was organized by the UN Peacebuilding Support Office and QUNO played a key role in the design and implementation of this initiative. QUNO Director Andrew Tomlinson also facilitated one of the workshop sessions on the topic of Stakeholders and the Role of Civil Society in Reconciliation.