QUNO Geneva engaged with the 58th session of the Human Rights Council with particular attention to the human rights impacts of the climate crisis, the right to conscientious objection to military service, the human rights impacts of arms transfers, and the primary focus of the Human Rights and refugees Programme: human rights of migrants.

On 4 March 2025, Quaker House was filled with energy by a visit from a delegation of advocates from Korean Anti-Nuclear Peace Action (KANPA). The group consisted of survivors of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and their descendants, as well as Korean and Japanese peace activists from environmental and faith-based organizations. This month, KANPA is conducting a tour of the United States raising awareness for Korean survivors of the atomic bombs, who are often left out of memorializing and reparations plans.

February 1 marked four years since Myanmar's military overthrew the country’s democratically elected government. As the international community observed the anniversary of the military coup, QUNO NY hosted an informal briefing for diplomats by Charles Petrie, former UN Resident Coordinator to Myanmar. The meeting focused on the emergence of new governance models.  

QUNO NY Representative Kavita Desai joined a panel discussion entitled “Promise of World Peace: A Coherent Approach to Peace and Security” on February 7th. Hosted by the Bahá’í International Community (BiC) and the Permanent Mission of Portugal to the United Nations, the discussion focused on the UN General Assembly Revitalization process that makes recommendations on the functioning of the UN System, such as coordination among UN principal organs, rules of procedure, and accessibility.  

The Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO), Geneva, is seeking a well-qualified, highly motivated, part-time Fundraising Officer to join its small staff team. 
This is a new position established to support QUNO Geneva’s financial stability and grow its income, in line with our strategic vision and priorities. Under the supervision of the Interim Director, the Fundraising Officer will take this forward through two workstreams: 
1)    Coordination and support to increase fundraising from grant making bodies  

Kavita Desai, QUNO NY UN Representative, joined the Transparency, Accountability, and Participation (TAP) Network’s ‘Financing for Development Strategy Workshop-Webinar’ and led a small group discussion. During the small group discussion participants explored priorities for the TAP Network and SDG16+ community during the ongoing UN Financing for Development process.    

On 14 December, QUNO New York Programme Assistants joined faith-based partners in a silent vigil outside the United States Mission to the UN. For over an hour, the group held a quiet presence to bring attention to the ongoing massacres of civilians in Gaza and the escalating violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.

Attending COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan from 11-22 November 2024, QUNO’s Human Impacts of Climate Change (HICC) program was busy engaging with proceedings and acting in our capacity as official credentialed observers of the multilateral negotiations:

The Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) and Eunomia have published a new report detailing a second phase of research and modelling to understand the extent of subsidies for primary polymer production and the potential impact of removing these. We undertook the study with support from Dalberg Catalyst through grant funding from the Rockefeller Foundation.