Are you new to the United Nations (UN) community, perhaps feeling a little lost in terms of how to navigate the UN and its systems? Or are you an experienced NGO representative to the UN seeking a refresher on the basics? This page is for you! Check out the resources below to advance your understanding of the UN and access links designed to help you learn about opportunities to engage in UN events and processes.

FUNDAMENTALS:

UN website – Access the official UN website, available in the six official languages of the UN (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish).

UN Journal – The UN journal is an online calendar of events including daily and official meetings, informal consultations, and other upcoming events. Check here to learn about upcoming meetings that pertain to your advocacy areas of interest.

UN WebTV – This is the source of 24-hour live and pre-recorded UN programs and meetings. If you are unable to attend a meeting in person, there is a good chance you will be able to live-stream the event and follow its proceedings on WebTV. Click here to view the WebTV live schedule. 

UN News – Produces daily news content in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Kiswahili, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.

FOUNDATIONS: 

Click here to view a short introductory video about the United Nations.

Click on the image below to view a chart of the United Nations system.

Click on the following link to watch a virtual tour of the United Nations Headquarters in New York 

The United Nations is comprised of the following six main organs: 

1. UN General Assembly (UNGA) – The main policy-making body of the UN, consisting of six main committees:

First Committee (Disarmament and International Security)

Second Committee (Economic and Financial)

Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural)

Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization)

Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary)

Sixth Committee (Legal)

Human Rights Council (HRC) – The HRC is a subsidiary organ of the UNGA. It is an inter-governmental body within the UN system responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe and for addressing situations of human rights violations and make recommendations on them. It has the ability to discuss all thematic human rights issues and situations that require its attention throughout the year. Click on the following links to watch a video introduction to the Human Rights Council and what is a human right.

Learning Modules pertaining to the Human Rights Council:

UN Human Rights Council – Understand the structure, purpose and mandate of the Human Rights Council and the opportunities for effective engagement

Accessing the UN – Learn how to access UN human rights mechanisms – when you need accreditation, when you don’t

Special Procedures – Explore the purpose and mandates of the Special Procedures and how you can work with them to strengthen your advocacy

Treaty Bodies – Discover how the UN Treaty Bodies work and how you can use them to increase the impact of your advocacy

Universal Periodic Reviews – Coming soon

Overview of the  International Human Rights System: Explore how the UN can work for you

Navigating the UN – A short video introduction to the UN human rights system and why it is important for human rights defenders

Advocacy Roadmap – An overview of the UN and regional human rights tools you can use to address a particular human rights challenge or situation

Compare the Tools – Understand the connections, strengths and weaknesses of each UN human rights mechanism

2. UN Security Council (UNSC) – This UN body is charged with ensuring international peace and security. Its powers include the oversight of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of international sanctions, and the authorization of military action.

3. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) – This UN organ is responsible for coordinating the work to advance the three dimensions of sustainable development: economic, social, and environment.

4. UN Secretariat – The secretariat carries out the day-to-day work of the UN and is headed by the UN Secretary General.

5. International Court of Justice (ICJ) – The ICJ is the principal judicial organ of the UN. It functions to settle legal disputes between states and provides advisory options on legal questions from other UN bodies and agencies.

6. Trusteeship Council – This organ was established to provide international supervision of trust territories. Its operations were suspended via a UN resolution in 1994.

MAJOR CONFERENCES, COMMISSIONS, and EVENTS:

Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) – The Commission on the Status of Women is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. It is instrumental in promoting women’s rights, documenting the reality of women’s lives throughout the world, and shaping global standards on gender equality and the empowerment of women. Click here to access a recording of JCoR’s introduction to CSW.

Conference of the Parties (COP) – The COP summit brings together governments, civil society, and other stakeholders together to accelerate action toward the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

Commission for Social Development (CSocD) –  This Commission is the key UN body in charge of the follow-up and implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action, a pledge to alleviate poverty, create full employment, and foster social integration. Click here to access a recording of JCoR’s introduction to CSocD.

High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) – The HLPF is the main United Nations platform on sustainable development and it has a central role in the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the global level. Click on the following link to view a video introduction to the HLPF.

United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) – UNPFII is a forum mandated to address indigenous issues related to economic and social development, culture, the environment, health, and human rights. Click here to access a recording of JCoR’s introduction to the UNPFII.

WORKING GROUPS: 

Committee of Religious Organizations at the UN (CRNGO) – This committee is a coalition of representatives of national and international organizations, which define their work as religious, spiritual, or ethical in nature and are accredited to the UN. CRNGO serves as a forum to inform and educate constituencies about global challenges and the role that the UN can play in addressing these issues. It also provides a space for exchanging and promoting shared religious and ethical values in deliberations of the world organization.

Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations in Consultative Relationship with the UN (CoNGO) –  This is an independent, international membership association in general consultative status with the UN. CoNGO aims to ensure the presence of NGOs in exchanges that include UN entities, on issues of global concern (including assisting members in gaining access to and participating in consultative processes convened by the UN). It also facilitates ongoing substantive dialogue between entities of the UN system and NGOs, informs members of new activities and initiatives developed by the UN, promotes NGO partnerships, and trains NGOs to develop advocacy and capacity-building skills.

NGO Committee on Finance for Development (NGO FfD) – This committee advocates to end poverty and hunger and for inclusive economic growth that is environmentally and socially sustainable, ethical, and people-centered. Guided by the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the Monterrey Consensus, it urges policymakers to support development strategies that end global poverty and advance human rights. Click here to view an introduction to the NGO FfD.

NGO Committee on Migration (NGO CoM) – This committee is a coalition of NGOs, with UN accreditation, who seek to realize justice for migrants, refugees, stateless persons, internally displaced persons, and trafficked persons. Click here to view an introduction to the NGO CoM.

NGO Committee on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (NGO CRIP) – The mission of this committee is to promote respect for and implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples around the world. Click here to view an introduction to NGO CRIP.

NGO Committee on Social Development – The NGO Committee on Social Development was founded to work toward the achievement of the World Summit for Social Development goals and to continue reviewing UN progress toward those goals, notably by actively following and preparing the UN Commission on Social Development. Committee members are currently active in the articulation and promotion of SDGs and Agenda 2030 helping align advocacy work on social development with the activities of the UN High-Level Political Forum. Click here to view an introduction to the NGO Committee on Social Development.

NGO Committee on the Status of Women (NGO CSW/NY) – This committee facilitates a platform for the voices and leadership of feminists and women’s rights organizations globally who lobby for their inclusion int he UN deliberations in pursuit of gender equality. It envisions a world without sexism, sexual violence, or discrimination against women and girls, where economic, political, and social policies encourage their empowerment and wellbeing. Click here to view an introduction to NGO CSW/NY. 

NGO Committee to Stop Trafficking in Persons (CSTIP) – This NGO committee represents a collective voice against human trafficking. Its activities include initiating actions to address the issue of trafficking, organizing (at the local, national, and international level), supporting efforts to provide services to those affected by trafficking, and advocating for stronger mechanisms to monitor compliance with commitments to prevent, protect, and prosecute. Click here to view an introduction to CSTIP.

NGO Mining Working Group (MWG) – This group is a coalition of NGOs that, in partnership with members and local affected communities, advocates at and through the UN for human and environmental rights as related to extractive industries. The MWG addresses unjust and unsustainable extractive practices and policies through the lens of the rights of local communities and indigenous peoples and Earth’s carrying capacity. Click here to view an introduction to the MWG.

NGO Working Group to End Homelessness (WEGH) – This working group is committed to advocating for the alleviation and eventual elimination of homelessness, at the United Nations, in collaboration with like-minded organizations, and academic centers. Its mission is to advocate at the UN for persons who are vulnerable, pursuing the human right to adequate housing for all and to end homelessness, so that all people can realize their full human rights and potential, and flourish. Its vision is a future in which every person experiences the dignity of having a safe, habitable, affordable, secure home achieved through social protection / advocacy at the UN, safeguarding human rights, and supportive, sensitive policies and programs to end homelessness. Click here to view an introduction to the NGO WGEH. 

NGO Working Group on the Security Council – This working group provides a unique platform for NGOs to access the Security Council by bringing together NGO representatives for an annual series of meetings with UN Security Council ambassadors and high-level UN officials. It does not undertake specific advocacy positions, but rather provides a forum for NGOs and members of the UNSC to come together to exchange information and build relationships to promote bilateral advocacy.

Working Group on Girls (WGG) – This NGO committee work for girls, with girls, at the UN. WGG’s mission is to promote the human rights of the girl child in all areas and stages of life, advance the inclusion and status of girls, and assist girls to develop their full potential as women. Click here to view an introduction to the WGG.

MAJOR GROUPS:

Achieving sustainable development will require the active participation of all sectors of society and all people. At the 1992 Earth Summit, the first United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, this was recognized through the adoption of Agenda 21, which formalized nine sectors of society as the main channels to facilitate broad participation in UN activities and conferences related to sustainable development. These nine sectors are officially called the “Major Groups“: Women, Children and Youth, Indigenous Peoples, Non-Governmental Organizations, Local Authorities, Workers and Trade Unions, Business and Industry, Scientific and Technological Community, and Farmers. Since their inception in 1992, Major Groups continue to demonstrate a high level of engagement with intergovernmental processes at the UN, and the coordination of their input to intergovernmental processes on sustainable development is led by UNDESA/Division for Sustainable Development (DSD).

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: 

Basic Facts about the United Nations – This book explains the structure of the United Nations, how the Organization works, the main issues it addresses and its importance for people everywhere. In addition to setting out the various roles played by principle UN organs and related organizations, Basic Facts about the United Nations documents the Organization’s contributions to international peace and security, economic and social development, human rights, humanitarian action, international law and decolonization.

UN Blue Book – A virtual resource detailing the contact and representation information about all governments’ Permanent Missions to the United Nations

UN Jargon Guide – A brief explainer of common UNs acronyms and jargon

UN Civil Society Unit – Use this link to subscribe to the UN Civil Society Unit weekly announcement emails.

Security Council Report – This publication provides timely updates (summaries and analyses) on the activities of the UNSC.

International Peace Institute (IPI) – The International Peace Institute is an independent think tank dedicated to the promotion of peace, security, and sustainable development. It engages in policy research, strategic analysis, and publications, and regularly convenes UN representatives, government officials, and experts to engage in discourses relevant to current UN proceedings.