Timeline

High Level Policy Engagement

QUNO engages with the broader policy debates on peacebuilding and prevention at the UN in New York. From time to time QUNO also works on topical situations such as Palestinian statehood.
March 2025

QUNO NY releases "Civil Society at the United Nations" resource paper

QUNO NY has released the resource paper Civil Society at the United Nations aimed at addressing shrinking civic space at the UN. The project was inspired following discussions with civil society colleagues and diplomats on the difficulties civil society organizations have faced since the COVID-19 pandemic in accessing information and engaging in UN processes.

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February 2025

On the Fourth Anniversary of Myanmar’s Military Coup, a Look at New Approaches to Local Governance

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.  

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February 2025

Human-centered Cooperation at the UN: QUNO Highlights the Role of Faith Actors at PGA Townhall

On 12 February 2025, QUNO NY staff attended the annual Civil Society Townhall with the President of the General Assembly. Under the theme “Unity in Diversity for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for everyone everywhere,” President of the 79th General Assembly, Philémon Yang of Cameroon, engaged with members of civil society on their role in implementing the Pact for the Future.

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February 2025

QUNO NY joins discussion on the promise of world peace

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.  

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January 2025

New Jersey’s Cropwell Meeting welcomes QUNO

On 26 January 2025, the community of Cropwell Meeting in Marlton, New Jersey welcomed representatives from QUNO’s New York office to share ongoing efforts to advocate for Quaker concerns and values at the United Nations. QUNO NY Director Sarah Clarke gave a short presentation highlighting how QUNO’s approach to facilitating dialogue helps to strengthen connections between leaders, advocates for peace, and those directly impacted by conflict. 

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November 2024

QUNO at COP29, Part One

QUNO Geneva’s Human Impacts of Climate Change Programme has been attending the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan since the start of the conference on 11 November. Accredited under the Friends World Committee for Consultation, Lindsey Fielder Cook and Johan Cavert are representing QUNO during negotiations.

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November 2024

QUNO NY Spotlights: Enhancing Women's Leadership in Peace Processes

Each October, shortly after the opening of the year’s General Assembly, the UN observes Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) week. The week includes an open debate in the UN Security Council, which this year was entitled “Women Building Peace in a Changing Environment.” QUNO, in partnership with the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC), hosted a side event to extend this conversation beyond the walls of the UN, welcoming panelists from Uganda, Kyrgyzstan, and Palestine to speak to a full house of civil society and representatives of Member States.

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October 2024

Financing for Sustainable Development: Turning global policies into local action

On 29 October, local peacebuilders, UN civil society, and diplomats gathered at Quaker House to discuss ways to make the international financial architecture more impactful and relevant for sustaining peace at a local level.

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October 2024

Finding Hope from the Start: A reflection by Ailih Weeldreyer on beginnings with QUNO

I first stepped foot in the UNGA chamber at age eighteen on a tour while visiting New York City with my family. Taking in the vast expanse of delegate seats, the dramatic curve of the ceiling, and the UN seal shining in the distance, I dreamed wildly of one day having a place in that hall. Over the past few weeks, participating in civil society Action Days for Summit of the Future and experiencing the energy around the high-level week of the General Assembly, I thought often of teenage me.

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September 2024

International Solidarity with Palestine Solidifies at the Outset of the 79th Session of the General Assembly

On 17 September, the UN General Assembly convened for an emergency session to consider a resolution calling for the implementation of this summer’s opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, which focused on Israeli settlements and called for their withdrawal.

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September 2024

QUNO NY joins panel on ‘Mobilizing Civil Society for Sustainable Peace in the Age of Crisis’

While world leaders convened at the United Nations for the opening of the General Assembly, across the street at the UN Church Center civil society also gathered at the Global People’s Assembly to share experiences, strategize and mobilize in the face of growing global crises.  

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September 2024

Finding Determination in Disappointment: QUNO reflects on the Summit of the Future

On 22 and 23 September, world leaders met in New York for the Summit of the Future. The road to the Summit and its outcome document, the Pact for the Future, followed months of intense negotiation and has been a process that QUNO staff in Geneva and New York have followed closely.

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September 2024

QUNO bids fond farewell to this year's Programme Assistants

In September of 2024, QUNO’s offices in both New York and Geneva bid fond farewells to this year’s cohort of Programme Assistants. Natalie Dewar and Nyeri Otero Flanagan departed from QUNO’s New York office to pursue their future endeavours, and Anna Aguto, Maria Kamenias, and Chatrina Schumacher reached the end of their terms at QUNO in Geneva. The entire QUNO team thanks these committed advocates of peace and justice for their hard work and contributions to our programmes and community. We wish them the best of luck in their next steps! 

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August 2024

QUNO NY Launches UN-Civic Space Research

QUNO NY gathered civil society representatives together for an intimate discussion on inclusion and participation at the UN on August 14th. The discussion centered around QUNO’s draft paper analyzing the current state of civic space at the UN and how agreed language from UN resolutions and past momentum for greater inclusion can be used.  

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July 2024

QUNO NY Joins SDG 16+ Campaign focused on peace

QUNO NY UN Representative Kavita Desai is co-chairing the peace working group of the 2024 SDG16+ Campaign. QUNO is a Member of the Transparency, Accountability, and Participation (TAP) Network, an international coalition of over 300+ civil society organizations working towards SDG 16 and the 2030 Agenda through advocacy and collaboration. 

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July 2024

Interactive Event: Diplomacy for Sustainable Development

On 16 July 2024 QUNO NY partnered with the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) and the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPACC) to host an interactive event during the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF, see more about the Forum below), which simulated building political will for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

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June 2024

A Deeper Dive: Challenges and Opportunities Facing the UN, and the Role of Quakers

Working at the UN, it’s easy to feel discouraged. Over recent years, staff of the Quaker UN Offices in Geneva and New York have had front-row seats watching repeated instances when powerful countries have ignored basic tenets of international law and not lived up to their commitments under the UN Charter. At a recent meeting of the Quaker UN Committee in Geneva, Switzerland, we were asked to reflect on the current state of the UN, including the challenges and opportunities facing the institution. 

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May 2024

QUNO NY and AFSC Join the UN Civil Society Conference

QUNO NY attended the 2024 United Nations Civil Society Conference (UNCSC) with a focus on peace and connecting with civil society from around the world. Alongside Eunice Ndonga, Migration Director for the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) and Pauline Kamau, Quaker International Affairs Representative for the Africa Region of AFSC, QUNO NY UN Rep Kavita Desai joined the 2024 UNCSC from 9-10 May, at the UN Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.

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