On the 19th of October, in the spirit of the building that hosted it, QUNO New York joined civil society partners as well as other faith-based organisations to hold an interfaith service for members of the UN community and our broader constituency at the Church Center for the United Nations (CCUN). Rev. Dionne P. Boissiere, Baptist Minister at CCUN, opened with a call to prayer, grounding participants in a moment of silence for all the victims of the conflict between Hamas and the Israeli Government. Following the Reverend, we heard prayers for peace from the representative of the Baha'i International Community, Janet Reed, a representative from the Won Buddhist Community, Rev. Doyean Park, Msgr. Robert D. Murphy, representative of the Mission of the Holy See to the UN, and Guruji Dileepkurmar Thankappan from the World Yoga Community. Alongside the prayers, the service featured a self-composed and performed music meditation by NY Gospel musician Priya Deberry, which was artfully interwoven throughout the prayers. The service was attended in person by members of the United Nations community and the partners of the Church Center. An online space was provided for the broader community via a livestream video, which you can find on […]
Stop the violence and allow humanitarian access to Gaza — this is the strong call from Quakers from around the world in a statement issued this week. The Quaker United Nations Office was among signatories to this statement, along with Quaker organisations that work on the ground in Palestine and Israel. “The Israeli government must grant access and safety to the U.N. (United Nations) and humanitarian agencies to fulfill their duties. Instead of further bloodshed, we need immediate humanitarian access for Gaza and adherence to international humanitarian and human rights law,” reads the statement. “We demand that national leaders, faith leaders, and journalists use their power and influence to bring a bold voice for humanitarian protection and to end ongoing war crimes. Wherever there have been war crimes and violations of International Humanitarian Law, there must be accountability.” In their statement, Quakers also said that “violence such as this is never justifiable, and we insist that a ceasefire must be realized along with the return of all hostages”. “Following the start of Israel’s attack, Israel also intensified its siege of Gaza, blocking access to water, food, fuel, electricity, and medicine in an act of collective punishment. It directly impacts all […]
The international community has expressed grave concern regarding the escalation of violence in Palestine and Israel. On 9 October, the UN Secretary-General urged all diplomatic efforts to avoid further escalation, while emphasising that “only a negotiated peace that fulfils the legitimate national aspirations of Palestinians and Israelis, together with their security alike — the long-held vision of a two-State solution, in line with United Nations resolutions, international law and previous agreements — can bring long-term stability to the people of this land and the wider Middle East region.” Other UN officials, including the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO), are working to engage key actors in a process of de-escalation, while the UN Relief Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) is providing emergency assistance to civilians in the form of shelter, food distribution, and emergency healthcare. Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO), working with other UN agencies and partners, is continuing its efforts to establish a humanitarian corridor to deliver much-needed assistance to civilians. Quakers have a long history in the region, and a deep commitment to working for lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians. In New York, QUNO, in partnership with other civil society and faith-based […]
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 […]
September is an extra busy time at QUNO as we greet new Programme Assistants. In New York, this role is filled by two candidates every year and the position makes a crucial contribution to the running of our office and our engagement at the UN. This year, we are delighted to welcome Natalie Dewar and Nyeri Otero Flanagan to join our team. Natalie holds an Master's degree in French and International Relations from the University of St Andrews, Scotland, where she also recently completed a Master of Letters in Peacebuilding and Mediation. In a recent office conversation, Natalie explained that “the focus in my academic work has been on uplifting local voices and perspectives in issues of peace, social justice, and conflict transformation. Because of this, I’m excited to contribute to QUNO’s efforts to work towards long-term, sustainable peace”. Nyeri has a background in Anthropology underpinned by a culturally diverse upbringing in both Colombia and the UK. Growing up in a Quaker family has inspired Nyeri to engage with Quaker work at the international level. Nyeri noted that “the work QUNO does to facilitate trust and communication really resonates with me”. She went on to describe her ambitions for the […]
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