QUNO Representative for Sustainable and Just Economic Systems Joachim Monkelbaan contributed to the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung publication “Building Back Better: A Call for Courage” with a chapter on “Exploring Structural Barriers to Justice and Sustainability in Economic Systems: The Example of Trade and WTO Transformation.” The piece starts by exploring some global challenges like inequality and climate change, then delves into the root causes of those challenges, and suggests some structural remedies for addressing those root causes (including looking at the role of trade and the WTO). A podcast interview with Joachim discussing his chapter of the publication is also available below.

21 September marks the International Day of Peace, a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace and a commitment towards non-violence. Since 2015, QUNO New York has led the call from peacebuilding organizations around the world in issuing a statement to Member States and the UN system. In 2020, QUNO, along with over 170 peacebuilding organizations called for peace to be mainstreamed in the response to COVID-19, for policies to be inclusive, and for the global community to recommit to multilateralism. In addition, QUNO distributed a press release on the statement, which was shared widely with media contacts covering the United Nations. 

There is growing international concern regarding the many children associated with designated terrorist organizations, one specific group of whom are children of parents suspected, accused or convicted of association with a designated terrorist group. Upholding the rights of these children is both a legal requirement and a moral imperative, yet they remain exposed to numerous, systemic violations of their rights. 

This paper is a supplement to QUNO’s Briefing Paper: Key Human Rights Considerations for Children of Parents Suspected, Accused or Convicted of Association with Designated Terrorist Groups, which is linked below. 

In collaboration with the Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC), QUNO’s New York Director, Andrew Tomlinson, participated in FWCC’s second session of, Quaker Conversations, FWCC’s monthly webinar series with Friends around the world. In preparation for the discussion, Andrew wrote a brief blog reflecting on the work of Quakers at the UN in New York. Key to his reflections is the role the United Nations has served in an ever-changing world after World War II, and the work that must be done going forward to affect positive change.

QUNO Geneva’s Director, Jonathan Woolley, will be participating this fall in another Quaker Conversations with FWCC.

Every five years the UN undertakes a review of the Peacebuilding Architecture to assess the system’s progress and impact for peacebuilding, identify remaining challenges and set the peacebuilding priorities for the coming years. QUNO, in partnership with the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC), submitted a set of recommendations to UN and Member State officials to inform and influence the 2020 review. The document focuses its messages on structural and operational partnerships, financing for peacebuilding and operational and policy coherence. 

“We hold in the light those made ill by the new virus, their families and friends, and the dedicated people caring for all of us.” (…) “In the midst of rapid change, QUNO staff will continue to work quietly with international policymakers, guided by Quaker principles of peace, truth, justice, equality, stewardship and simplicity, and upheld by your encouragement and support.”

In this letter, the Directors of our New York and Geneva offices reflect on the impact of COVID-19 on peace, multilateralism and Quaker work at the United Nations.

The UN was born out of the global crisis of the second world war. Now, 75 years later, another crisis faces us. How can we both reaffirm the Charter commitment to collective action and bring to this crisis the lessons we have learned about offering integrated support in partnership with the communities we accompany, leaving no one behind? In this statement, QUNO New York provides key messages to support the UN and its membership as they seek to respond to the ongoing global health and peace crisis caused by the spread of COVID-19.

Read QUNO New York's March 2020 newsletter, In & Around the UN, featuring articles on:

• Bridging the Gap between Peace and Human Rights
• Civil-Society UN Prevention Platform Launches a Discussion Series on Prevention
• Future of the Peacebuilding Fund

and more from New York.

Children of incarcerated parents continue to face a range of challenges to the full respect for and enjoyment of their rights. This Briefing Paper provides an update to QUNO’s previous publication, offering an overview of the international legal standards applicable to these children. The paper incorporates information from legal instruments, treaty bodies, and other guidance from the United Nations and regional systems in both human rights and criminal justice fields. 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.