Key Publications

QUNO Review 2023

Annual report and summary of QUNO’s history, programmes and ways of working. QUNO (March 2023)

Human Rights and Refugees

Briefing Paper: Using the Regional Migration Reviews to Further Human Rights Protection

This paper is intended to help migrants, NGOs and other stakeholders to engage with the Regional Migration Reviews as part of their work to improve the promotion and protection of the human rights of migrants. (February 2021)

International Standards on Conscientious Objection to Military Service

Developments in ways conscientious objection has been recognized and protected under human rights treaties. (February 2021)

Briefing Paper: Not Forgotten: Human Rights of Migrants at the 45th Session of the Human Rights Council

The UN Human Rights Council has an important role to play in the promotion and protection of the human rights of migrants. This report provides identifies potential entry points through activities mandated in resolutions adopted at this session. (October 2020)

Biometric data in the context of children of parents suspected, accused or convicted of association with designated terrorist groups

Upholding the rights of children of parents suspected, accused or convicted of association with a designated terrorist group is both a legal requirement and a moral imperative. (August 2020)

Protection of the Rights of Children of Parents Sentenced to Death or Executed: An Expert Legal Analysis

This paper presents a legal analysis of the protection of the human rights of children of parents sentenced to death or executed. (February 2019)

Covid-19 and the Rights of Children of Parents who are Incarcerated

The Child Rights Connect Working Group on Children of Incarcerated Parents, of which QUNO is co-convenor, produced this Briefing Paper on the Rights of Children of Parents who are Incarcerated in the context of Covid-19, with the support of Penal Reform International. (May 2020)

Children of Incarcerated Parents - International Standards and Guidelines

The paper is designed to promote the rights of these children, to aid States and other actors in ensuring that these rights are protected in practice, and to contribute to contribute to improving standards. (March 2020)

Briefing for Friends - A short guide for engaging with the Global Compact on Migration

This briefing paper offers an explanation of the final text the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, a brief timeline of how it was developed, some suggestions of how Friends can use the document to support their witness and their activism, and a short description of what QUNO’s next steps will be. (December 2018)

Foundations for Implementation

A guide to assist States in the implementation of the Global Compact for Migration. (November 2018)

Can the children of parents sentenced to death or executed be considered victims of torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment?

The written statement to the 34th session of the Human Rights Council outlines the severe impact of the death penalty on children, specific death penalty situations where there is robust evidence of a violation, as well as recommendations for States and the UN. QUNO (March 2017)

Briefing for Friends on opportunities and challenges for the protection of refugees and migrants at the UN level

This briefing aims to inform Friends about the New York Declaration, a new agenda by the UN for responding to large movements of people crossing borders. Catherine Baker (January 2017)

Mental Health, Human Rights and Criminal Justice

This submission to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is QUNO's input to an open request for information by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the topic of mental health and human rights. (November 2016)

F orgotten Victims: Children of prisoners sentenced to death or executed

A briefing paper on children of prisoners sentenced to death or executed prepared for the 6th World Congress against the Death Penalty.
Daniel Cullen (May 2016)

Children of Incarcerated Parents International Standards and Guidance

Outlining international standards pertaining to children of incarcerated parents. Laurel Townhead (April 2015)

Education and the Military: A human rights and peace perspective

Questioning the presence and influence of the military in primary and secondary education from a peace and human rights perspective.
Emily Graham (July 2014)

Conscientious objectors to military service: Punishment and discriminatory treatment

Conscientious objectors to military service can face a number of serious and negative implications for their refusal to perform military service.
Emily Graham (June 2014)

Children of parents sentenced to the death penalty or executed: developments, good practices and next steps

Perspectives and learning from a side event at the 25th session of the UN Human Rights Council in which experts reflected on a number of relevant key issues. QUNO (May 2014)

Children of Parents Sentenced to Death or Executed: How are they affected? How can they be supported?

This study points out the devastating effects on the physical and mental well-being of children of parents sentenced to death. Available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Spanish and Russian. QUNO, on behalf of the Child Rights Connect Working Group on Children of Incarcerated Parents (September 2013)

Lightening the Load of the Parental Death Sentence on Children

Detailed study of the situations of children of parents sentenced to the death penalty. Available in Arabic, English, Farsi, French, Japanese and Spanish. Oliver Robertson and Rachel Brett (June 2013)

Children of Parents Sentenced to Death

One of our first publications to examine the question of children whose parents are sentenced to the death penalty. Available in Arabic, English, French and Spanish. Helen Kearney (February 2012)

Human Impacts of Climate Change

How to be a Hero for All our Children

This toolkit is a guide to personal and political climate action. (December 2023)

A Government Official's Toolkit - 2024 Edition

QUNO’s updated ‘A Government Official’s Toolkit’ aims to empower policymakers and climate advocates with the AR6 IPCC findings on root causes and urgent, feasible, and near-term options that are already available at scale to address climate change and improve well-being and planetary health. (November 2023)

Fair Sources of Finance for a New Loss and Damage Funding Arrangement

This paper is meant to present policy makers with feasible and fair sources of finance for funding the new L&D arrangement without taking money away from needed action into climate change mitigation and adaptation. (July 2023)

People's Climate Empowerment Series

A helpful resource to connect people with international efforts that can strengthen climate action at all levels. (December 2020)

A Government Official's Toolkit - 2020 Edition

Intended to support government officials, this booklet contains 12 concise cases and 231 quotes referenced to over 100 published papers (including the IPCC Special Reports on: Global Warming of 1.5C Climate Change and Land Ocean and Crysophere in a Changing Climate). (November 2019)

Human Rights Based Climate Action

This leaflet was written to help decision makers better understand how a rights-based approach in forming climate policy will lead to more effective and fair action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). (June 2019)

A Government Official's Toolkit - Updated A5 edition

This and the original publication were written to support government officials—at local, regional and national levels—who are concerned about the impact of climate change on their citizens, their country, and the planet. (March 2019)

A Negotiator's Toolkit - Second edition

This booklet was created to support climate negotiators in their work to engage busy Ministries with reasons for urgent, rights-based climate action. (April 2018)

A Negotiatior's Toolkit

This booklet was created to support climate negotiators in their work to engage busy Ministries with reasons for urgent, rights-based climate action. Ministers and other decision makers face competing demands and priorities, but they may also be more receptive to one argument over another. (November 2017)

Climate justice and the use of human rights law in reducing greenhouse gas emissions

This report looks at how human rights obligations can help support policies which lead to more successful and just efforts to decrease greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to human activities. David Elliott, Lindsey Fielder Cook (August 2016)

Preparing for Paris

These four papers are intended to provide a comprehensive briefing for those concerned about the outcomes of international climate change negotiations taking place in Paris in December 2015. QUNO (October 2015)

QUNO and Minute 36: Briefing Paper for the Yearly Meeting Gathering 2014

Connecting the work of QUNO to Minute 36 (the Canterbury Commitment), which challenges Quakers to seek a sustainable, equitable and peaceful life on Earth. QUNO (August 2014)

Call to Conscience

Quaker experiences in facing the challenge of climate change. QUNO (July 2014)

Moving Forward in International Negotiations: Four Innovative Examples

Insights from past multilateral agreements that involved complex negotiations may offer a way forward for international climate change negotiations.
Ellie Roberts (June 2014)

Increasing Trust and Effectiveness under the UNFCCC: Learning from International Monitoring Processes

Insights from our experience of international treaties may be helpful in designing ways for States to show they are reaching their obligations to reduce emissions.
Ellie Roberts (November 2012)

Peace and Disarmament

Sustaining Peace: How can human rights help?

The report reflects on a selection of key developments, opportunities, and challenges in integrating human rights in sustaining peace. (March 2021)

The Peacebuilding Implications of Energy Transitions to a Carbon-Neutral Future

This paper explores the peacebuilding implications of energy transitions towards a carbon-neutral future. (October 2020)

The role of decentralized renewable energy in peacebuilding

This publication explores the role of decentralized renewable energy as a peacebuilding tool, in global efforts for a net-zero carbon energy transition. (December 2018)

Integrating Human Rights and Sustaining Peace

This report brings together the learning to explore the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) as a vehicle for better linking human rights and sustaining peace. (April 2018)

Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and Sustaining Peace: An introduction

This joint publication by the Quaker United Nations Office, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung and Lancaster University demonstrates how economic, social and cultural rights can contribute to a sustaining peace approach to peacebuilding. (March 2018)

Written Input to Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food in Humanitarian Contexts

QUNO’s Food & Sustainability and Peace and Disarmament Programmes, submitted a joint contribution to Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food.
QUNO (March 2017)

Building Peace through Principle 10

How can environmental rights agreements prevent destructive conflict around natural resources. Available in English and Spanish. Ellie Roberts and Alexandra Pluss Encarnacion (April 2015)

White Paper on Peacebuilding

Perspectives on the challenges, opportunities and future of peacebuilding, and ways in which societies may work toward a sustainable peace. QUNO and The Geneva Peacebuilding Platform (February 2015)

The Aarhus Convention and the prevention of destructive conflict

Using access rights, including rights to information, public participation and justice, to build peace and prevent conflict around environmental issues. Lynn Finnegan (June 2014)

All voices heard: natural resources, conflict and company-community engagement

More meaningful models of community participation in project planning are particularly important in projects that affect local access to, and control of, natural resources. Lynn Finnegan (December 2013)

Building Peace around water, land and food: Policy and practice for preventing conflict

Developing management of water, land and food that is equitable and peaceful is increasingly challenging, but there is hope for the future. Ellie Roberts and Lynn Finnegan (September 2013)

Diverting the Flow: Cooperation over International Water Resources

Shifting the discourse of natural resource scarcity from one focused on preparing for war to one on creating peace, we note examples of water cooperation between countries. Steven Heywood (October 2012)

Sustainable and Just Economic Systems

Working Paper: Exploring barriers to justice and sustainability in economic systems

This analysis is a work in progress that has been prepared as a working document by QUNO’s Sustainable and Just Economic Systems programme to help us better understand our theory of change and our actions in the multilateral sphere. (July 2020)

Peacebuilding and the Prevention of Violent Conflict

Infographic - Building Peace in Times of Crisis

Infographic explaining Building Peace in Times of Crisis. (February 2022)

Building Peace in Times of Crisis

Messages document for policymakers and practitioners. (February 2022)

Advancing Prevention Across UN Sectors and Institutions: Collective Pathways for Effective Prevention

Report by the Civil Society-UN Prevention Platform summarizing key findings from a recent discussion series. (September 2021)

Let us see what Peace can do: A shared statement by peacebuilding organizations

Statement signed by QUNO and over 200 peacebuilding organizations marking the International Day of Peace. (September 2021)

Advancing UN Prevention Efforts Across Sectors and Institutions: Collective Pathways for Effective Prevention

This document shares the key points raised, and opportunities explored to advance conflict prevention in UN processes during a virtual forward-looking Civil Society-UN Prevention Platform. (May 2021)

Global Virtual Launch: UN System-wide Community Engagement Guidelines

Intervention delivered during the global virtual launch of the UN System-wide Community Engagement Guidelines. Megan Schmidt (January 2021)

The time is now: Recommit to Peace

Statement signed by QUNO and over 170 peacebuilding organizations marking the International Day of Peace. (September 2020)

United Nations Community Engagement Guidelines for Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace

Publication resulting from work carried out since 2019 by a joint UN-civil society working group. (October 2020)

Building Sustainable Peace: Recommendations for the 2020 Peacebuilding Review

Set of recommendations from QUNO and GPPAC to UN and Member State officials to inform and influence the 2020 review of the Peacebuilding Architecture. (June 2020)

Building Peace through Reconciliation

Thematic paper submitted by QUNO New York to contribute to the 2020 Peacebuilding Architecture review. (June 2020)

Present Impact of COVID-19 on Peacebuilding and the 2020 GYPI

Meeting note from a virtual discussion with the UN Peacebuilding Support Office and peacebuilding organizational representatives. (April 2020)

Towards a people-centered and sustainable approach to COVID-19

Statement providing key messages to support the UN and its membership as they try to respond to the challenges caused by COVID-19. (April 2020)

QUNO Remarks at annual session of the Peacebuilding Commission

Remarks given at the UN Peacebuilding Commission Annual Session. Andrew Tomlinson (December 2019)

People, Planet...and Peace: A shared statement by peacebuilding organizations

Statement signed by QUNO and over 100 peacebuilding organizations marking the International Day of Peace. (September 2019)

D evelopment and Security Rely on Peace, Justice and Inclusion

Statement signed by QUNO and over 80 peacebuilding organizations marking the International Day of Peace. (September 2018)

The Peacebuilding Commission (PBC): Purpose, Work, and Opportunity

Meeting note from workshop convened by QUNO and the International Peace Institute (IPI). (March 2018)

Building Sustainable Peace

Report co-authored by QUNO and GPPAC building upon past peacebuilding work. (March 2018)

Threats to United States Support for the United Nations: An Overview

Background document about recent threats to United States support for the United Nations. (January 2018)

Statement by Andrew Tomlinson during UN High-Level Event on Human Security

Statement delivered at UN High-Level Event on "Human Security and its Contribution to Agenda 2030" in New York. Andrew Tomlinson (July 2017)

Remarks by Andrew Tomlinson at the 2016 Holley Lecture in Applied Ethics

Remarks given at the 2016 Holley Lecture in Applied Ethics at Bloomfield College, New Jersey. Andrew Tomlinson (April 2016)

Reconciliation – transforming relationships in divided societies

Remarks given at the UNITAR Workshop on Reconciliation & Peacebuilding. Andrew Tomlinson (May 2015)

Filling the Gap: How civil society engagement can help the UN’s Peacebuilding Architecture meet its purpose

A paper on civil society engagement in the UN’s Peacebuilding Architecture, co-authored with Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict. Camilla Campisi and Laura Ribeiro Rodrigues Pereira (April 2015)

Peace and Post-2015: Into the Home Stretch

Reflections on the current state of play of the inclusion of peace issues in the soon to be agreed Sustainable Development Goals. Andrew Tomlinson (April 2015)

The importance of inclusion, transparency and consultation in revenue mobilisation

Remarks during the UN Peacebuilding Commission Annual Session in New York. Andrew Tomlinson (June 2014)

Long-term accompaniment of societies in transition: a role for the PBC?

Remarks during the UN Peacebuilding Commission Annual Session in New York. Andrew Tomlinson (June 2014)

Food and Sustainability

The Time is Ripe for Governments to Strengthen Sustainable and Food-Secure Farming

This "call to action" is a result of discussions held during an expert consultation in November 2016 on the role of the public sector in supporting small-scale farmers and agricultural biodiversity and is a product of contributions made by all participants. Dialogue to Action (DtA) Group (April 2017)

Are Small-scale Farmers at the Table?

This policy brief offers reflections on small-scale farmers’ participation in global and national decision-making, concluding with six recommendations for how multilateral institutions can encourage and facilitate the participation of small-scale farmers. QUNO (March 2017)

Foundations of Food Security – Ensuring Support to Small-scale Farmers Managing Agricultural Biodiversity

This paper discusses the access and benefit-sharing (ABS) agreements established by the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, the Convention on Biological Diversity, or the Nagoya Protocol. QUNO (March 2017)

The Evolution of Rights and Responsibilities over Agricultural Biodiversity

This publication explores the concerns driving relevant international instruments with the goal of increasing the understanding needed to achieve coherence and mutual support. QUNO (March 2017)

Government Means of Supporting Small-Scale Farmers and Agricultural Biodiversity

This document presents some examples of government means of supporting small-scale farmers in agro-biodiverse settings. QUNO (November 2016)

Trends in Public Sector Spending in Agriculture

This document provides a brief overview of the statistics and trends on the declining public sector support for agriculture - demonstrating that public sector investment in agriculture is growing at a much slower and more unpredictable rate than the private sector. QUNO (November 2016)