UNA Today 10/1/2022

Feature Article: UNGA77 Uncovered

On Sept. 6, President Biden nominated Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Senator James Risch (R-ID) to serve as the two U.S. Congressional Representatives to the 77th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations.

Both nominations were confirmed by a voice vote on September 15. While the posts are largely ceremonial, the two Senators will serve as the official representatives of the U.S. Congress at the meeting of world leaders, which kicked off in earnest last Monday at UN Headquarters in New York. The duo plans to hold a closed door meeting with Secretary-General Guterres to discuss a number of headline issues, including the War in Ukraine and growing food insecurity, as well as engage in bilateral meetings with UN Permanent Representatives and various visiting Heads of State.

Senator Leahy, the president pro tempore of the Senate and longest-serving member in the chamber, announced in November 2021 that he wouldn’t seek reelection, concluding his final term in the Senate after nearly five decades of public service. Sen. Leahy has been a longstanding leader on U.S. foreign policy matters, including U.S. support for the United Nations. He has served for more than 30 years

as Chair or Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Foreign Operations and State Department Subcommittee, where he worked with Democratic and Republican administrations on funding, oversight and management of U.S. foreign policy, including U.S. contributions to the UN, its peacekeeping operations, food security, global health, and environmental programs.

Senator Risch is the Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. As the lead Republican on the committee, Sen. Risch has largely focused his efforts on countering China and has introduced and advanced several legislative packages, including the first comprehensive legislative strategy to compete with China across a number of areas. Sen. Risch’s other key foreign policy priorities

include confronting Russian malign influence, strengthening NATO, and improving global health security.

Words from Micah Spangler, Director of Advocacy and Humanitarian Affairs at the Better World Campaign.

InterGenerational Model United Nations

To celebrate and recognize UN Day, we're hosting the 2022 UN Day InterGenerational Model UN where participants of all ages and walks of life can step into the shoes of UN Ambassadors and debate a range of issues on the UN agenda.

This all-day program is designed as a teaching and learning conference intended for both novices and delegates with prior Model UN experience. Attendees will be able to debate and collaborate a range of topics and hear from inspiring speakers like Ambassador Chris Lu, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations for Management and Reform.

View the IGMUN webpage below for more details and registration!

REGISTER

The Future of the United Nations

On Thursday, September 8, UNA-USA members gathered virtually and in-person at the Fairmont Hotel—where the UN Charter was negotiated and signed 77 years ago—to hear remarks from U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield.

The address topic, The Future of the United Nations, was incredibly timely given rising instability internationally and global challenges with no borders. Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield's speech was live-streamed and followed by a one-on-one conversation with UN Foundation Senior Vice President Peter Yeo.

News: UN Favorability Rises Among U.S. Voters

"During a year when the impact of Russia’s war in Ukraine has been felt throughout the world, American support for the United Nations is on the rise. The UN’s favorability rose to 62% in 2022, up from 56% in 2021."

UNA-USA is beyond excited to see the increase in the UN's favorability and are committed to ensuring continued support for the UN's lifesaving work around in the world through global crises. See the results of the bipartisan polling here!

UPCOMING EVENTS, PROGRAMS, & MORE

The United Nations is the largest global body where nations come together and create better ways to solve problems, share our planet, and build the future. On October 24th, we will celebrate UN Day and let the public and Congress know that we need these “better ways” now more than ever.

On Monday, we will call our Members of Congress using a phone script and advocate for the work of the UN. Everyone is also encouraged to post on social media, celebrating UN day. We will compile everyone’s posts and, on Tuesday, release a social media highlight reel. We hope you all will submit a letter before UN Day, and on Wednesday, we will post the submissions that made it to publication!

Looking for other ways to celebrate? Check out what your local UNA-USA chapter is doing here on our UN Day webpage.

TAKE ACTION TODAY

Support the Global Goals

The United States government played a critical role in shaping the Global Goals and generating international support, because global challenges require global solutions. If we want to create a more peaceful, prosperous and just world by 2030, then we need to commit to global collaboration achieved by the Sustainable Development Goals.

Urge your Members of Congress to uphold our country's commitment to achieving the SDGs by supporting H.Res.30, Supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

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JOIN THE MOVEMENT TO SUPPORT THE UN

UNA Today aims to inform Americans interested in global affairs and the UN about important updates, events, opportunities, and campaigns. As the largest group of UN advocates in the U.S., UNA-USA members are the leaders fighting to protect and promote the vital work of the United Nations.

UNA-USA’s membership finds strength in numbers. Join UNA-USA today to gain exclusive access to learning, leadership and networking opportunities, and our closed online community to connect and network with fellow members across the country! (Those under 26 join free!)

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