On 12 August, QUNO NY, in collaboration with Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC), hosted a virtual event titled “Discerning the Path Forward – Quaker Engagement in the UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent”. The event gathered Friends across the global Quaker family to reflect, worship, and discern how QUNO and Quakers are called to engage with the United Nations Permanent Forum on People of African Descent (PFPAD).   

At the end of July, QUNO Programme Assistant Ailih Weeldreyer attended New York Yearly Meeting’s summer sessions. The meeting was held under the theme “Dare to Hope, Dare to Heal, Dare to Witness.” This focus encouraged Friends to reflect on messages of renewal and action to uplift voices silenced by historical and ongoing injustice. Friends in the New York region demonstrated the ways they are living these messages through partnerships in their communities and around the world.  

This briefing note by the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) and Eunomia Research & Consulting presents the preliminary findings from the third phase of our "Plastic Money" initiative. Released in August 2025 to coincide with the second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) on Plastic Pollution, this work continues our effort to bring clarity and evidence to the global discourse on plastic subsidies.

The Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) seeks a committed and motivated person with considerable knowledge and experience to carry forward work on Human Rights in the QUNO Geneva office.
Leading the Human Rights and Refugees Programme, the Representative will maintain QUNO’s long-term Quaker presence at the United Nations. As a senior staff member and part of a small team, they will help ensure the effective and efficient management of QUNO Geneva.