Grassroots support for the UN in the world today through the United Nations Association of USA

1. Grassroots support for the UN in the world today through the United Nations Association of USA

2. The United Nations • Founded in 1945 • The world’s largest international organization, comprised of 193 countries

3. History UN was founded in the aftermath of WWII and the Holocaust to: • Provide an open forum for diplomacy and peaceful debate • Promote international cooperation to avoid another world war • Define and uphold the rights inherent to all humans • Solve international economic and social problems

4. UN Structure • Security Council authorizes use of force Elected committee of 10 countries and 5 permanent, veto-wielding members: United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China • General Assembly makes recommendations, admits or suspends members, and determines the UN’s budget • Economic and Social Council helps to solve international economic, educational, and social problems • International Court of Justice resolves legal disputes between nations • International Criminal Court prosecutes war crimes and crimes against humanity • Specialized Agencies, such as the World Bank, UNDP, UNESCO, Food and Agriculture Organization, UNICEF and the International Atomic Energy Agency focus on specific areas

5. How the UN Helps Video here

6. How the UN Helps the World • Provides food to 90 MILLION people in 73 countries • Vaccinates 58% of the world’s children, saving 2.5 MILLION lives a year • Assists over 36 MILLION refugees and people fleeing war, famine, or persecution • Combats climate change and heads a campaign to end leaded fuel use in over 100 countries • Advances democracy, assisting 30 countries/year with elections

7. How the UN Helps the World • Maintains peace with 120,000 peacekeepers in 16 operations on 4 continents • Promotes maternal health, saving the lives of over 30 MILLION women a year • Protects/promotes human rights on site and through 80 treaties/declarations • Mobilizes $12.4 billion in humanitarian aid to help people affected by emergencies • Fights poverty, helping 370 million rural poor in the last 30 years

8. The UN’s Impact • Resolved conflicts in El Salvador, Guatemala, Namibia, Cambodia, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, and Burundi • Prevents the spread of nuclear weapons, through the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty • Eradicated smallpox and is on the verge of wiping out polio • Organized the Montreal Protocol, which banned the use of ozone-destroying CFC’s.

9. The UN’s Impact • Doubled female literacy around the world since 1970 • Helped end apartheid in South Africa • Established international standards for working conditions • Fights for the rights of indigenous peoples around the world • Aided more than 50 million refugees since 1951

10. United Nations Foundation • Platform that connects citizens with the UN • Started by Ted Turner in 1998 with $1 billion grant • UNA-USA part of UNF since 2010 • Supports the UN’s development and sustainability activities with various programs Video here

11. UNA-USA is a membership organization dedicated to inform, inspire, and mobilize the American people to support the ideals and vital work of the United Nations • Started in 1948 by Eleanor Roosevelt, who wanted to establish a way for all US citizens to engage with the UN • 120 chapters and divisions across the country

12. Advocacy Agenda UNA-USA educates Americans and policymakers around four core elements of the US-UN relationship UN Funding Payment of our nation's UN regular budget and peacekeeping dues on time, in full, and without conditions Removal of Congressionally imposed arbitrary peacekeeping cap Reversal of the U.S. policy of paying dues one year late Human Rights Increase awareness about the work being performed by UN specialized agencies around the world Heightened support for fully funding their crucial mandates including the WHO, WFP, UNICEF, UNDP and UNESCO

13. Advocacy Agenda International Treaties Senate passage of key international agreements signed but not yet ratified, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban TreatyMillennium Development Goals Support 8 MDGs to significantly reduce extreme poverty and disease, ensure environmental sustainability, and enhance international coordination around development by 2015

14. Young Professionals • Network of 21-40 year old members that supports the work of the UN Foundation and UNA-USA • Regional groups promote educational programs and are organized by the National Leadership Council • Opportunities for volunteerism, personal and professional development, and political engagement

15. Student Involvement • Model UN helps students learn about how the UN works by participation in mock UN competitions • Global Classrooms is a program designed to help develop underserved students’ critical reading, writing, and communication skills through Model UN • GenUN, new national student initiative promoting UN and Model UN activities on campus, along with the Youth Observer program at the UN General Assembly

16. Student Involvement

17. Student Involvement Educate • Learn more about the UN and its work around the world • Teach others about the importance of the UN and the opportunities Americans have for leadership Advocate • Encourage strong U.S. leadership at the UN by advocating on its behalf

18. Student Involvement Spread the Word • Plan a UN Day event • Spread awareness about the work of the UN Resources • Work with the local chapters • Partner with other organizations and United Nations Foundation campaigns and initiatives to make an impact • Find out more about the many issues facing the United Nations.

19. Council of Organizations • Organized by UNA-USA • Comprised of local groups and NGOs interested in education, social justice, energy and climate change, labor, and human rights • Promotes UNA-USA’s mission and educates stakeholders about the UN

20. UNA Women • Supports the UN’s efforts to improve women’s rights around the world • Open to all UNA-USA members • Hosts workshops, training sessions, and conferences • Seeks to empower women in the United States as well as abroad through UN initiatives

21. United Nations Association local chapters • Regularly holds events in their area • Creates awareness of the UN in local communities • Advocates for the UN to elected local representatives • Serves as a resource for UN information • Open to members of all ages

22. Member Benefits Be a driving force in supporting the United Nations! Events: • Regional Conference and Members' Day at UN Headquarters in New York - FREE for members • UNA-USA National Convention in Washington, DC, including “A Day on Capitol Hill” • Local events on key UN issues Stay Informed: • Online access to The World Bulletin, a monthly newsletter covering chapter events nationwide

23. Member Benefits • “The Interdependent” online magazine, featuring news on the inner workings of the UN and world affairs • Members-only access to insider information at UNA-USA’s member website • Member-exclusive monthly national conference calls with key speakers on current issues Advocacy: • Meet with your local elected senators and US house representatives to advocate for the UN

24. Member Benefits Programs and Groups: • Join UNA-USA’s affinity groups: UNA Women, Young Professionals (ages 21-40), and GEN UN (college students) • Model UN programs at schools around the state • Actively support the UN Foundation’s programs like Girl Up, Shot at Life, and Nothing But Nets Engagement and Involvement: • Meet and network with others interested in international affairs • Participate in chapter committees – help run the organization

25. How To Join Become a member of UNA, with opportunities to volunteer, network, and support the United Nations • Go to: www.unausa.org/join • New member introductory membership - $25 for the first year • Students and fixed income  - $10/year • Regular Membership - $40/year