UN – United Nations

Right now, the world faces two defining challenges: climate change and extreme poverty. Roughly 1.2 billion people don’t have access to electricity, which means children don’t have light to study at night, business owners don’t have electricity for their shops, and health clinics don’t have power to perform life-saving surgery at night. At the same time, our current energy use is causing the climate to change in ways that threaten the air, land, and water […]

“Human rights are for everyone, no matter who you are or whom you love,” wrote United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in May. He also wrote, “Equality begins at home.” This week, the UN put these powerful words into action right from its headquarters: The UN announced that it has widened its internal staff policy to recognize the marriage of all same-sex couples wed in a country where same-sex marriage is legal. This important step is

Adolescent girls have the power to transform their families, communities, and our world. But in order to do so, they need the education, tools, and services to transform their own lives. Unfortunately, far too many girls cannot reach their full potential because of a lack of sexual and reproductive health and rights. They are often forced into early marriage, drop out of school, and have children before their bodies are ready. This World Population Day,

Every Monday over the next few weeks, we’ll be highlighting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – eight goals established in 2000 by world leaders gathered at the United Nations. These goals form the world’s “to-do list” to give millions of vulnerable people the opportunity to stay healthy, get an education, and build a better life for their families. This week we’re kicking off by highlighting MDG 1. Here is what you need to know: What

Big news: Last week, the Girls Count Act of 2014 was introduced in the U.S. Senate – and we have to act now! Here’s what you need to know: What’s the issue? According to UNICEF, one out of three children in the world is not registered at birth. What’s the problem? Not having a birth certificate often prevents a girl from going to school, seeing a doctor, and getting a job when she’s older. What’s

A new UNESCO report, “World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development,” examines press freedom throughout the world. The report was launched at an event hosted by the United Nations Foundation and Freedom House at the U.S. House of Representatives, symbolizing the U.S. commitment to press freedom. While UNESCO has long espoused freedom of expression as an international norm and press freedom as a vital element in building open, transparent, and inclusive societies, the

By Raki Wane, UN Foundation Intern This week, we’re continuing our “MDG Mondays” series on the blog. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) provide a global blueprint for the international community to focus its efforts to improve lives. As we approach the December 31, 2015 target date for the goals, we’re reflecting on the strides we’ve made and what still needs to be done. About the Goals This week, we’re highlighting goals 2 and 3, which

Editor’s Note: This post originally appeared on John McArthur’s blog here. A couple of quick updates relating to the post-2015 negotiations: 1) A cleaned up version of Paying for Zero: Global Development Finance and the Post-2015 agenda is now available. 2) More importantly: over the weekend the UN General Assembly’s Open Working Group (OWG) on Sustainable Development Goals issued its final outcome document. After a year and a half of arguably the most expansive global

As the Chief Operating Officer of a foundation with global focus, it is important to me that all of our employees, partners, supporters, and friends live in a world that respects and protects their human rights – regardless of whom they love. That’s why I recently joined the Free and Equal Campaign, a campaign led by the United Nations to raise awareness of homophobic and transphobic violence and to promote respect for LGBT rights. The