The United Nations Associations are non-governmental organizations that exist in various countries to enhance the relationship between the people of a member state and the United Nations, raise public awareness of the UN and its work, promote the general goals of the UN and act as an advisory body to governments, decision making and the news media. They are not a part of the UN itself.
Their long-term concerns comprise:
- The implementation of the Millennium Development Goals
- Peace, security and disarmament
- Human rights and humanitarian affairs
There are currently over 120 UNAs around the world. The secretariats for the World Federation of United Nations Associations are located in Geneva and New York.
Famous quotes containing the words united, nations and/or association:
“In a moment when criticism shows a singular dearth of direction every man has to be a law unto himself in matters of theatre, writing, and painting. While the American Mercury and the new Ford continue to spread a thin varnish of Ritz over the whole United States there is a certain virtue in being unfashionable.”
—John Dos Passos (1896–1970)
“We are asking the nations of Europe between whom rivers of blood have flowed to forget the feuds of a thousand years.”
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965)
“The aim of every political association is the preservation of the natural and imprescriptible rights of man. These rights are liberty, property, security and resistance to oppression.”
—French National Assembly. Declaration of the Rights of Man (drafted and discussed August 1789, published September 1791)