United Nations Day: Connecting the Work of UPF with the Global Community

October 24 marks United Nations Day, commemorating the entry into force of the United Nations Charter in 1945. More than eight decades later, the United Nations continues to provide a forum where nations and civil society organizations come together to address challenges that cross borders—from peace and development to human rights, family well-being and sustainable development.

For the Universal Peace Federation, United Nations Day is also an opportunity to highlight its ongoing relationship with the UN and the role that civil society can play in advancing the ideals expressed in the UN Charter.

UPF is an NGO in General Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). This status provides an important connection between UPF's work around the world and the international community represented through the United Nations.

ECOSOC is the UN's central forum for discussing international economic, social and environmental issues and for coordinating related work across the UN system. The Council's relationship with non-governmental organizations creates opportunities for civil society to contribute knowledge, experience and perspectives to international discussions.

There are three categories of ECOSOC consultative status: general, special and roster. General consultative status is intended for larger international NGOs whose work encompasses most of the areas addressed by ECOSOC and whose membership and activities have a broad international reach.

For organizations with general consultative status, the relationship is more than simply having an association with the UN. General-status NGOs may attend ECOSOC meetings and, under established procedures, make oral and written contributions, participate in discussions, circulate statements and propose items for consideration on the Council's agenda.

Consultative status also reflects the UN's recognition that governments are not the only source of knowledge and experience needed to address global challenges. Civil society organizations often work directly with communities and bring perspectives and practical experience that can contribute to international conversations.

At the same time, consultative status carries responsibility. Organizations with this status are expected to contribute meaningfully to the purposes and work of the United Nations and to report periodically on their activities.

For UPF, this provides an avenue for bringing the experiences and ideas emerging from its network of Ambassadors for Peace and partner organizations into a wider international conversation.

UPF's work intersects with many of the areas addressed by the United Nations, including interfaith cooperation, sustainable development, strong marriages and families, women's empowerment, conflict mediation and international cooperation. Much of this work takes place at the local level: people of different faiths meeting one another, communities working together on service projects, leaders building relationships across cultural and national boundaries, and families and institutions seeking practical ways to strengthen peace.

United Nations Day offers a reminder that these local efforts are connected to a much larger global vision. The UN Charter begins with a commitment to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war and to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights and the dignity and worth of the human person. The Charter also calls for international cooperation in solving economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems.

These principles provide common ground for people and organizations working for peace in many different settings.

UPF's General Consultative Status with ECOSOC gives the organization an opportunity to connect its grassroots peacebuilding work with international institutions and conversations. The relationship works in both directions: global goals can inspire local action, while the experiences of communities and civil society can contribute to the broader discussion about how those goals can be achieved.

As United Nations Day is observed on October 24, UPF celebrates not simply an institution, but the continuing effort of people, organizations and nations to find ways to cooperate across differences.

Peace is ultimately built through relationships—and the work of building those relationships continues at every level, from local communities to the international community.