Timeline

February 2024

Building Partnerships to help us Learn From Each Other

On February 10th, QUNO New York hosted a group of Young Adult Friends (YAF) at Quaker House. The session was titled “Learning from Each Other: Young Adult Friends and the Quaker United Nations Office” and was organized in partnership with the New York Yearly Meeting. Over a day-long session, the group came together to exchange views on where young Friends hope for more engagement from Quaker peace practitioners, and how QUNO’s role at the UN intersects with these perspectives.  

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February 2024

Marking Three Years of Military Rule in Myanmar

February 2024 marked three years since the Myanmar (Burma) military took power in a violent coup following democratic elections. To commemorate this sombre anniversary, the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) in New York, working in collaboration with the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), hosted a visit by two Myanmar experts. Z Nang Raw and Billy Ford spent two days at Quaker House providing private briefings to members of the UN community in New York.

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February 2024

QUNO steps into 2024 with a firm commitment to migration justice

The Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO)’ Human Rights and Refugees Programme bought its commitment to migration justice to the United Nations Network on Migration (UNNM) 5th Annual Meeting in January in Geneva. QUNO engages with these processes to meet with people working on different aspects of migration, strengthen collaboration and promote migration justice.

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February 2024

QUNO calls on businesses to ensure arms exports do not infringe on human rights

As 2024 begins, the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) Geneva’s Peace and Disarmament programme has focused on its work on corporate responsibility in the arms trade, emphasising people at the center of arms control discourses and ensuring that states and businesses uphold their roles and responsibilities. 

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March 2024

Telling the story of working to develop a common view of corporate responsibility in the arms trade

QUNO’S Peace & Disarmament programme based in Geneva recently participated in the George Washington International Law Review Symposium, “A world under fire: examining the global impact of gun trafficking and violence”.

Florence Foster, the programme’s Representative, outlined how QUNO has worked at the United Nations (UN), with multilateral organisations, government delegations and non-governmental organisations to achieve change in international standards and practice on arms control – with a particular focus on corporate responsibility in the arms sector. 

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March 2024

Answers about the Enhanced Participation of Indigenous Peoples

 On 5 March 2024, Members of the Temporary Committee for the Indigenous Coordinating Body for Enhanced Participation, the Canadian Friends Service Committee (CFSC), and the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) hosted an informal “Ask Anything” discussion with United Nations (UN) diplomats inviting them to ask questions and learn about to enhanced participation of Indigenous Peoples at the UN.  

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March 2024

As the UN scrambles for a ceasefire, the ICJ orders Israel to stop famine in Gaza

On 25 March, the United Nations Security Council successfully passed Resolution 2728, which “Demands an immediate ceasefire for the month of Ramadan respected by all parties leading to a lasting sustainable ceasefire.” Introduced by the ten elected members of the Security Council (E10), the resolution also reiterates the urgent need to expand the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, protect civilians, and ensure the safe and unconditional release of all hostages. 

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March 2024

QUNO presents UN update at AFSC Action Hour

QUNO New York’s UN representative, Kavita Desai, joined the American Friends Service Committee’s (AFSC) Action Hour on the ongoing crisis in Gaza on the 1st of March. The weekly space brings people from across the US together for a dedicated hour to learn about the situation on the ground in Gaza and to mobilize political action in support of peace by encouraging people to contact elected officials to call for a ceasefire. 

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March 2024

Supporting the Mental Health of Gaza’s Children

On 2 March, QUNO New York staff participated in the UNRWA-USA Gaza 5k, in solidarity with the children of Gaza, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), and our AFSC colleagues in Gaza. Thanks to generous donations, the QUNO New York team raised $2,909, contributing to an impressive overall total of $2,017,416. All funds raised will go towards mental health counselling and psychosocial support services for children in Gaza.

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March 2024

Advocating for Ambition: QUNO and Partners Urge Switzerland to Lead in Plastic Treaty Negotiations

 

Ahead of the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4) for a global plastics treaty, scheduled in Ottawa, Canada, from April 23 to 29, the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO), in collaboration with a coalition of civil society organizations and international entities, drafted a letter urging the Swiss government to adopt an ambitious stance in the negotiations. This initiative, part of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), aims to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution (ILBI).

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March 2024

QUNO Geneva invites applications for Programme Assistantships

Applications are now open for two programme assistant positions based at QUNO's office in Geneva from September 2024 to August 2025 working on: 

Human Rights & Refugees
Human Impacts of Climate Change

These are exciting opportunities for young professionals with an interest in international affairs to learn about and contribute to Quaker work at the United Nations.
They are open to Quakers and those in sympathy with Quaker values.

The closing date for applications is 21 April 2024. 

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March 2024

Centering Migrants’ Voices in the Regional Migration Reviews

The second round of Regional Migration Reviews are set to take place throughout 2024 and 2025,  starting with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) region.

The Regional Reviews allows Member States and stakeholders to assess the Global Compact on Migration (GCM) implementation - focusing on regional priorities, enhancing cooperation, and monitoring progress.

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March 2024

Human Rights Council urged to promote a ‘human rights economy’

HICC Programme Assistant Anna Aguto delivers statement at the 55th Session of the Human Rights Council.

Global economic system transformation is needed to ensure businesses operate within planetary boundaries to secure a sustainable environment and protect human rights.

This was a key message from the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) at the recent 55th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC). QUNO delivered its statement on behalf of the Friends World Committee for Consultation which represents Quakers, Soka Gakkai International, the World Council of Churches and Anglican Communion.

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March 2024

QUNO Review 2024

QUNO is proud to announce that the latest version of our annual review is now available online! This is a great opportunity to read and learn more about the work of our New York and Geneva offices during this past year, and to learn about the work ahead.

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April 2024

Palestine, Indigenous Peoples, and the Right to Self-Determination

On Thursday 18 April, QUNO New York staff, alongside colleagues from the NGO Working Group on Israel-Palestine, joined Indigenous Peoples outside the United Nations (UN) Headquarters to uplift the right to self-determination. Led by Indigenous partners from the Amazon, participants linked arms and performed a traditional dance to protest the ongoing denial of rights for both Palestinians and Indigenous Peoples across the world.

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April 2024

Championing Pacific Women’s Climate Leadership at the UN

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. 

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April 2024

QUNO Joins Quaker Organizations and Leaders Worldwide in Sharing a Vision for Peace in Palestine and Israel

On 12 April 2024, the Quaker United Nations Office joined with the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), the Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC), and other Quaker organizations in issuing a statement outlining a shared vision for lasting peace in Palestine and Israel.

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April 2024

QUNO hosts meeting of minds on plastic pollution in Bellagio

The Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) organised an influential residential workshop at the Rockefeller Foundation's Bellagio Center, on Lake Como, Italy, entitled “Plastic Money: Turning off the Subsidies Tap” from 26 to 30 March 2024. 

QUNO’s Sustainable and Just Economic Systems (SJES) programme took the lead on this event and brought together a diverse group of 21 stakeholders. This included government representatives, inter-governmental bodies, legal scholars and social scientists, non-governmental organisations, and experts from charitable foundations. 

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