QUNO New York and the International Peace Institute co-organized a workshop for new and incoming members of the UN Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) in February 2013. The half-day workshop for expert level diplomats focused on a range of topics relating to the PBC including political accompaniment, reconciliation & peacebuilding, and defining the role of PBC membership.

QUNO attended the eighteenth Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC in Doha, Qatar.

Launch of the Nansen Initiative by the governments of Switzerland and Norway. To find out more about the Nansen Initiative visit http://www.nanseninitiative.org.

QUNO made a statement to the Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation at the Human Rights Council 21st session.

QUNO participated in a ClimMig conference on human rights, environmental change, migration and displacement in Vienna, Austria.

QUNO New York hosted a visited by a Burundian Quaker, Adrien Niyongabo, with the local grassroots organization Healing and Rebuilding Our Communities (HROC). At a meeting at Quaker House with experts from the UN and diplomats, Adrien shared his experiences in trauma healing and reconciliation in Burundi as well as his perspectives on the national truth and reconciliation process.

Rachel Brett delivered the Swarthmore lecture at Britain Yearly Meeting on 26 May. Entitled Snakes and Ladders, it described Quaker work on human rights at the United Nations.

This work has brought real change for many, including conscientious objectors and child soldiers. The Swarthmore Lectureship, established in 1907, provides for the publication of a book as well as the public lecture. For information about the book and how to order it please email us at quno@quno.ch.

Former QUNO Director David Atwood, who retired in 2011, presented the Backhouse Lecture at Australia Yearly Meeting describing his work seeking disarmament and peace at the UN over many years. We are grateful to Australian Quakers for making available the book published to accompany his lecture.