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.  

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. 

In a recent meeting with diplomats, May Sabe Phyu of the Women's Advocacy Coalition – Myanmar shared that, “The only hope for any of us to live on is to see a new federal democratic Myanmar.” She made this point during a lunch gathering at Quaker House in New York on 23 October. The meeting brought New York-based diplomats together to meet with four representatives of the Women's Advocacy Coalition to learn more about the gendered aspects of the crisis in Myanmar.  
 

On 1 October, representatives of QUNO New York met with colleagues from the NGO Working Group for Peace on the Korean Peninsula to hear from Reverend Dr. Kim Hiheon. Reverend Kim is a pastor and peacebuilder from the Republic of Korea (South Korea), who engages in Christian activism on social justice, demilitarization, and unification of the two Koreas. The conversation took place in the context of a deteriorating relationship between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) and South Korea, as North Korea has stated its intention to abandon reunification as their goal.  

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.

On 16 July 2024, experts from Member States, the United Nations (UN), and civil society gathered at Quaker House to discuss ways in which the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can be made more relevant and responsive at the local level.

On 27 July we remember the signing of the Korean War armistice in 1953. While the armistice silenced the guns and brought an end to three years of armed conflict, it did not end the war, and to this day the parties to this conflict have not reached a peace agreement. It is estimated that the war has produced at least 2.5 million deaths, including civilians and soldiers from 22 countries. Today the Korean peninsula and many families remain separated between north and south. This year tensions have worsened with the constant threat that this friction could escalate into a nuclear conflict.

Between 15 and 26 April 2024, the United Nations (UN) in New York hosted the 23rd session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII). QUNO New York staff joined our Canadian Friends Service Committee (CFSC) colleagues in welcoming Indigenous Peoples representatives to Quaker House and to New York.   

On Monday 1 April, QUNO New York partnered with The Asia Foundation to host a workshop on Engaging with the United Nations (UN) System for the inaugural cohort of The Asia Foundation’s Pacific Women Climate Leaders, a program which aims to empower Pacific women to drive climate action in their communities.