Programs of the United Nations Office

Climate Change

Our Climate Change Task Force was created after requests to take on this initiative by Unitarian Universalist Congregations and other supporters.

• Learn more about our Climate Change initiative.
• Blogs, news articles, videos, and other resources are available on the Climate Change Task Force website.

Every Child is Our Child

The Every Child Is Our Child (ECOC) Program is a UU-UNO initiative towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) that were established by world leaders in 2000. The program consists of offering essential resources and health care assistance to orphans and vulnerable children, as well as enabling them to attend primary school in Ghana’s Manya Krobo district. The ECOC program thus directly contributes to the MDG’s of achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equality, and combating HIV/AIDS. Additionally, ECOC gives priority to girls who in normal circumstances would not be able to attend school in order to help promote gender equality. Finally, the program contributes to the fight against AIDS, as children are taught about HIV/AIDS prevention in school, starting in Grade 2.

The ECOC program engages UUs in considering our responsibilities to these goals, in the spirit of the UU Principles. ECOC provides real life opportunities for UUs to practice our spiritual principles. By providing education to a threatened generation, we further affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person.

• Learn more about the Every Child Is Our Child (ECOC) Program.
• Like the UU-UNO on Facebook and check out our ECOC photo album.

LGBT/SOGI Human Rights

Over the past 40 years, members of Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregations have given valuable support to their members in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. However, even members of the North American LGBT community and their allies are largely unaware of the dangers faced by members of the LGBT community abroad. In over 80 countries, people can be criminally prosecuted based on presumed sexual orientation or gender identity (SOGI)—sometimes with fatal consequences.

Using its unique position at the UN as a leader within the ecumenical community, the Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office (UU-UNO) works to garner support among the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) community, especially the faith-based community, to end criminal sanctions based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the world. Additionally, the UU-UNO enjoys UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) consultative status, allowing it to build consensus and coalition among other NGOs with consultative status to support decriminalization.

• Learn more about the LGBT/SOGI Human Rights Program.

Women: Security & Peacebuilding

The Women: Security and Peace program promotes awareness and action through education and advocacy in three key areas:

• The effects of armed conflict on women
• The importance of women’s role in peacebuilding and peace-keeping efforts.
• Ratification of CEDAW (U.S.) and international implementation.

Our goal is to encourage the strong voices and actions of women as part of the peace-building process. Through this program, the UU-UNO supports and advocates for the global implementation of key international agreements such as Security Council Resolution 1325 and the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

• Learn more about the Women: Security and Peace Program.

Learn more about how to Get Involved with the UU-UNO.