Promoting UU Values at the United Nations 

The United Nations is a vital tool to advance rights and justice globally. Nearly 80 years after its founding, the UN remains the only international body that brings together heads of state from around the globe on a principle of equal representation. At a time of global challenges requiring collective action on the largest scale, the UN is indispensable.

From its inception, Unitarian Universalists have been active in promoting values of human rights and global justice at the UN. The denomination appointed its first official delegate to the UN as early as 1946, and UU representatives were the first religious leaders to preside over the inauguration of the International Criminal Court in 2002. 

To carry this work forward, UUSC is inheriting the mantle of the historic Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Office at the United Nations. For more than 50 years, this Office served the UU denomination by promoting our shared values on the global stage. The UUA has closed this office, but its efforts and legacy will live on at UUSC. 

This transition to UUSC serves UU values and our grassroots partners alike. The international scope of UUSC’s work makes us a natural home for UN engagement. Since our model of working with grassroots communities is global in nature and requires collective action across borders, we are intentionally building out our existing work at the UN.

To achieve this goal and advance the legacy of UU/UN involvement, UUSC is expanding our team of human rights professionals with global expertise. In Fall 2024, human rights attorney Mayuri Anupindi returned to UUSC in a new role as Global Advocacy Strategist. Her portfolio will focus on advancing solidarity with our partners at the UN. 

Our ongoing work at the UN includes—but is not limited—to the following active priorities: 

Advocating for the UN’s International Court of Justice—the highest court in the world—to issue a “strong and progressive” Advisory Opinion, informing governments of their responsibilities to address the global crisis of climate change and secure international climate justice. 

Participating in side events at Climate Week at the UN, in September 2024, to promote our partners’ urgent calls to world leaders to address climate displacement, as heads of state gather in New York City for the UN’s General Assembly meeting. 

Preparing for the 29th annual Conference of the Parties (COP) in Baku, Azerbaijan: a critical opportunity to secure new commitments to address climate change and provide equitable compensation for loss and damage from the climate crisis.

UUCSJ is continuing the historic UU Multigenerational Seminar at the UN. Formerly housed at the UUA’s UN Office, this seminar is being reimagined, while continuing the legacy of the original seminar that generations of UUs have known and loved. The seminar happened in late September 

If you have questions or would like to become more involved with the UU@UN work, please email UN@uusc.org.

Image credit: UUSC