In New York, QUNO works to create a safe space for off-the-record discussions between diplomats, UN officials, and civil society partners regarding the current conflict in Myanmar (or Burma). Quaker House provides a venue where peace practitioners, academics, and community leaders can share their analysis and recommendations regarding strategies for peace in this multi-decade conflict. As a result of these conversations, UN diplomats and officials are able to access new information and insights so that they can formulate responses that prioritize the safety and well-being of communities, and support leaders working for long-term peace.
Have you ever wondered how to say “good morning” in Bisaya, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Hindi, Nepali, Tagalog, and English? Well, one way to learn is to attend the Asia and West-Pacific section meeting of Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC) and QUNO New York’s Director, Sarah Clarke, had the opportunity to do just that. Every morning, Sarah would get to practice her newly learned greetings during a multi-day gathering that took place in the latter half of October in Hong Kong, with Quakers from Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Nepal, India, the Philippines, Australia, and Aotearoa New Zealand. During the four-day meeting, Friends from across Asia and the West-Pacific came together and learned more about Quaker practices in this vast and diverse region of the world. They also shared deep concern about a variety of topics on the United Nations (UN) agenda, including challenges related to climate change, food security, the inclusion of young people, and conflicts in the Middle East, the Korean Peninsula, and Myanmar. Furthermore, participants raised concern about the impact that current geo-political tensions have on the UN and discussed the importance of making linkages between high-level diplomatic work in New York and Geneva and community-level efforts taking place throughout the […]
On September 19th, world leaders gathered at the United Nations in New York for the opening of the 78thSession of the UN General Assembly (UNGA). This particular gathering comes at a time when the need for global cooperation is critical, with multiple crises needing to be addressed in addition to recent and tragic natural disasters that have occurred around the world. This somber backdrop to the UN’s opening led Secretary-General António Guterres to describe this moment as one where, “many of the world’s challenges coalesced in an awful hellscape,” highlighting the failings of the international community in the face of a “sad snapshot of the state of our world – the flood of inequality, of injustice, of inability to confront the challenges in our midst.” QUNO staff carefully monitored statements during these high-level meetings, watching for UN member states that may be open for engagement and partnership during the coming year. Ultimately, building collaboration with diplomats and UN staff represents a key ingredient in our efforts to bolster the UN as a leader for peace. These high-level presentations that happen every September provide the UN with key areas to focus its efforts on during the months to come and offer […]
We would like to inform you of an upcoming event on the 26th of April 2023, co-hosted by the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) and the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL). The event will consist of a follow-up webinar from 4-6 pm CET, focusing on trade-related measures in the context of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) towards a treaty to end plastic pollution. Following the webinar, a quiet diplomacy dinner will be held at Quaker House in Geneva, starting at 7:15 pm. This dinner aims to provide an opportunity for delegates to continue the discussion and exchange views in a more informal setting. The webinar will cover four main topics regarding trade and the plastics treaty: i) trade measures for negotiating parties, ii) non-party provisions, iii) subsidies relevant to plastic production, and iv) WTO rules and the plastics treaty. The goal of the event is to facilitate an in-depth and productive discussion that contributes to the ambitious progress of negotiations towards a treaty to end plastic pollution. Please note that this is for information purposes only and not an invitation to attend. This event builds on SJES' existing work, with recent focus on areas including circular economy, informal waste […]
QUNO New York staff members, Sarah Clarke and Kavita Desai, traveled to Siem Reap, Cambodia to join in a workshop held by the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC). The workshop brought AFSC staff together from Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and the United States to explore ways that different AFSC programs are working towards the shared goal of building just and sustainable peace. For Kavita and Sarah, it was an opportunity to build connections with exciting work taking place in communities from around the world. The time in Cambodia also provided an opportunity for QUNO staff and AFSC staff to meet with colleagues from the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, a Cambodian organization that supports peace efforts in the Southeast Asia region. A lunch conversation provided the opportunity to discuss challenges and potential opportunities for collaboration around youth engagement, peace efforts on the Korean Peninsula, and the need for peaceful solutions to the ongoing conflict in Myanmar.
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