The Quakers United Nations Office (QUNO) is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. Founded in 1948, QUNO represents Quakers at the United Nations and other multilateral institutions.
Their website says “QUNO works to uphold the original ideal of the UN to strive for sustainable peace and justice. QUNO’s consistent commitment to speaking with integrity, lifting up the voices of those on the margins and bringing to light diverse perspectives, insights, and concerns, has led Quakers to be recognised as trusted partners who create space for new and creative solutions in response to global challenges.”
Working out of offices in Geneva and New York City, QUNO works to impact the policies of the U.N. They attempt to accomplish this in the quiet, patient Quaker tradition, and that approach has worked well.
QUNO has successfully worked for banning anti-personnel mines, banning having children in armed combat, the right to conscientious objection, and many other positive policies.
They sum up their mission this way:
“Our work is rooted in the Quaker testimonies of peace, truth, justice, equality, and simplicity. We understand peace as more than the absence of war and violence, recognizing the need to look for what seeds of war there may be in all our social, political, and economic relationships.”
QUNO will be celebrating their anniversary with several events and activities throughout the year. You can see the list of events at their website quno.org, or by following them on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter.
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