Creating the Most Diverse, Equitable, Accessible and Inclusive Network of UN Supporters

Nelson Mandela once said, “the very fact that racism degrades both the perpetrator and the victim commands that, if we are true to our commitment to protect human dignity, we fight on until victory is achieved.”

In the spirit of this statement, in January 2021, the United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA) developed the Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion Task Force – which evaluated every aspect of our grassroots movement through the lens of these four pillars.

The UNA-USA Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI) Strategy seeks to strengthen our diversity and to ensure DEAI across leadership, programs, community and college chapters and partnerships, and to build a culture of equity and inclusion in all that we do. Having successfully aligned DEAI into the business plan, operational guides, the Chapter Leader Handbook, policies, and procedures, we return to the UNA-USA definition of DEAI through the purpose and mission statement, to engage you as well.

The Issues We're Working on

UNA-USA members and chapters are committed to advancing diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion in all areas of our global advocacy and community efforts. Currently, we are focused on four core areas facing the UN and U.S. agendas:

Supporting National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and upholding standards set forth in the Paris Principles;
Advocating for a just and equal future through support of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) and its work;
Protecting the Rights and Freedoms of disabled people through the framework set forth in The UN’s Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities;
Urging elected officials to protect human rights in the U.S. through Executive Order 13107.

If you are interested in learning how your chapter can engage your community in these issue areas, reach out to a member of the DEAI Task Force for help brainstorming a tailored approach for your chapter. You can also refer to the DEAI Chapter Toolkit for guidance on integrating the principles of DEAI into all aspects of your chapter’s programming and activities.

Supporting National Human Rights Institutions

National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) play a crucial role in promoting and monitoring the effective implementation of international human rights standards at the national level. For instance, NHRIs:

perform core protection functions such as prevention of torture and degrading treatment;
play a role in advancing all aspects of the rule of law;
contribute to effective Parliaments, dynamic civil society organizations, and alert and responsive media;
ensure a school system with human rights education programmes at all levels;
foster a society based on respect for universal human rights.

In order to be effective and recognized by the international community, NHRIs must adhere to the standards set out in the Paris Principles, endorsed by the UN General Assembly in 1993. The Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), in collaboration with the UN Human Rights, grants membership and two levels of status based on the criteria set out in the Paris Principles. Learn more.

Recently, nine Members of Congress wrote to President Biden, urging the Administration to establish a presidential commission to study the creation of a National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) in the United States. Read the letter.

Advocating for a Future free from Racial Discrimination

The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) is the body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination by its States’ parties.

Racial discrimination remains a barrier to the full realization of human rights. Despite progress in some areas, exclusions and restrictions based on race, colour, descent, national or ethnic origin continue to cause conflict, suffering and loss of life. CERD works to take action against the injustice of racial discrimination, and the dangers it represents.

Get up to speed with additional resources for CERD’s 107th session:

Protecting the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol (A/RES/61/106) was adopted on December 13, 2006 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York and was opened for signature on March 30, 2007. There were 82 signatories to the Convention, 44 signatories to the Optional Protocol, and 1 ratification of the Convention. This is the highest number of signatories in history to a UN Convention on its opening day. It is the first comprehensive human rights treaty of the 21st century and is the first human rights convention to be open for signature by regional integration organizations. The Convention entered into force on May 3, 2008.

The Convention follows decades of work by the United Nations to change attitudes and approaches to persons with disabilities. It takes to a new height the movement from viewing persons with disabilities as “objects” of charity, medical treatment and social protection towards viewing persons with disabilities as “subjects” with rights, who are capable of claiming those rights and making decisions for their lives based on their free and informed consent as well as being active members of society.

The Convention is intended as a human rights instrument with an explicit, social development dimension. It adopts a broad categorization of persons with disabilities and reaffirms that all persons with all types of disabilities must enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms. It clarifies and qualifies how all categories of rights apply to persons with disabilities and identifies areas where adaptations have to be made for persons with disabilities to effectively exercise their rights and areas where their rights have been violated, and where protection of rights must be reinforced.

The Convention was negotiated during eight sessions of an Ad Hoc Committee of the General Assembly from 2002 to 2006, making it the fastest negotiated human rights treaty. Learn more.

The National Women’s Law Center (NWLC) recently released a report exposing a human rights threat facing disabled people in the United States. It exposes laws across the country that allow for disabled people to be permanently sterilized against their will, stripping their basic rights to make decisions about their bodies and their futures. Read the report.

Urging Elected Officials to Protect Human Rights in the U.S.

Issued under President Clinton in 1998, Executive Order 13107 says that federal agencies have to follow the promises the United States made in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

“By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and bearing in mind the obligations of the United States pursuant to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD), and other relevant treaties concerned with the protection and promotion of human rights to which the United States is now or may become a party in the future, it is hereby ordered as follows …” Read More.

UNA-USA DEAI Mission Statement

As advocates of the United Nations and stewards of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) affirms its commitment to build a culture to engage and support all members and stakeholders regardless of race, creed, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, religion, marital status, political opinion, national origin, socio-economic status, or any other protected characteristics. Our goal is to ensure an organizational environment where members and stakeholders feel valued and empowered to support the principles and work of the United Nations, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

DEAI Resources for Members and Chapters

DEAI Chapter Toolkit

The UNA-USA Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI) Task Force created this chapter toolkit to guide UNA Chapters in their efforts to integrate the principles of DEAI in all aspects of their programs. This toolkit offers suggestions for chapters on how to be mindful of members’ accessibility needs by providing the necessary and appropriate modifications and adjustments that enable equal participation for all members.

Download the Toolkit

DEAI Membership Survey and Focus Groups Report

This summary analyzes the UNA-USA Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Inclusion (DEAI) Membership Survey results and recommendations for the DEAI Task Force on how to effectively adapt and respond to the trends Focus Group findings, aiming to provide represented in this data. Major themes include: Indigenous Inclusion, Age Diversity/Intergenerational Divide, Community Involvement/Advocacy, Communications, Leadership/Collaboration with the National Office, Developing a DEAI Strategy, Implementation of DEAI policies, Training in DEAI, Recruiting and Retaining New Members, COVID-19 Impact.

Download the Report

Troy Wolfe, Senior Director, Partnerships and Special Initiatives, UNA-USA & DEAI Taskforce Chair

Marielle Ali, President, UNA-USA National Council

Paula Boland, Past President, UNA-USA National Council

Teta Banks, Past President, UNA-USA National Council

London Bell, Secretary, Member, UNA-USA

Rory Mondshein, Member, UNA-USA

Joshua Cooper, Member, UNA-USA National Council

Kristen Hectch, Member, UNA-USA National Council

Rachel Bowen Pittman, Executive Director, UNA-USA

UNA-USA Programs Supporting Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, Inclusion (DEAI)

UNA-USA Fellowship Initiative

The UNA-USA Fellowship provides financial support to students and recent graduates who receive an internship with the United Nations. Since most UN internships are unpaid, the fellowship helps ensure that all young Americans who dream of a career with the UN have equal opportunities.

Learn More

Protecting and Advancing Human Rights for All

For nearly eight decades, UNA-USA has been advocating for human rights — here in the U.S. and around the world — using the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) as a framework for change. Learn about the history of the UDHR, and how you can stand up for human rights through numerous advocacy initiatives.

Get Involved

UNA-USA Participation in the UN’s Universal Periodic Review

In 2020, the United States participated in its Universal Periodic Review (UPR)—a peer review process—during the U.N. Human Rights Council’s 3^rd Cycle. The United States has a 100% attendance record with the UPR, along with all other fellow member states of the UN. At the close of the USA’s UPR session, the USA received 347 recommendations from fellow member states and many of these recommendations fall within issues around discrimination. Explore how UNA-USA participated in this process, and read up on these additional resources to get up to speed on the work that needs to be done for the U.S. to achieve a better human rights record, and eliminate discrimination:

Learn about the UPR process

The Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, the member countries of the United Nations unanimously adopted a to-do list for the world to achieve by 2030. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), include 17 specific priorities and 231 targets designed to advance human dignity while protecting the planet. Achieving the goals by their 2030 due date will require action from companies, nonprofit organizations, individual citizens, and governments. Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Inclusion are at the root of the 2030 agenda, with goals aimed at created a more just and equitable future.

Learn How UNA-USA is Supporting the SDGs

Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI)