The Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) has joined an international coalition of Quaker-led organizations in releasing a statement discerning that the ongoing military action of the Israeli government against Palestinian communities in Gaza and the West Bank constitutes genocide. The statement opens as follows: 

"'We are for justice and mercy and truth and peace and true freedom.' — Edward Burrough, 1659

As Quakers, we recognize the divine imprint in every human being and confess the equality of all to live safely and without fear.

This March, QUNO Representative for the Human Impacts of Climate Change participated in the 62nd Session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This was held from 24 February – 1 March 2025 in Hangzhou China

The 4th International Financing for Development (FfD4) Conference began on 30 June, bringing together world leaders, international and regional organizations, civil society, the private sector and the UN system to advance a new policy for financing sustainable development.

Quakers have a long history of supporting peace and nonviolent solutions. The Quaker commitment to dialogue and diplomatic solutions led to the establishment of Quaker UN offices in Geneva and New York at the inception of the United Nations. Since that time, we’ve partnered with the UN to uphold the dignity and worth of all so that peace can flourish. 

Grounded in partnership for a peaceful, just, and inclusive world, QUNO NY collaborated with the Civil Society Platform for Peacebuilding and Statebuilding (CSPPS) and the Transparency, Accountability and Participation (TAP) Network to convene civil society representatives around the UNs Sustainable Development Goal 16, also known as the ‘peace goal’.

QUNO’s Human Impacts of Climate Change Programme recently compiled an official submission to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders profiling stories of Quaker Environmental Human Rights Defenders. Gathering testimony from Quaker individuals and organizations in Europe and Africa, the submission upholds actions of conscience that Quakers have engaged in as guided by their faith and commitment to the values of stewardship, sustainability, and integrity.

Every April, the United Nations bustles with activity and energy as Indigenous representatives from around the world convene in New York for the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII). Since its establishment in 2001, the Permanent Forum has offered a crucial opportunity for representatives of Indigenous Peoples to assemble to share best practices and strategize for the advancement of their human rights under international law.

On 15 April, a special Meeting for Worship in recognition of the fourth session of the UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent (PFPAD) was held at Quaker House in New York.

Applications are now open for two programme assistant positions at QUNO Geneva from September 2025 to August 2026 working on: 
-    Human Rights & Refugees
-    Human Impacts of Climate Change