This is what advocates look like
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”
One of the UNA’s core missions is to conduct engage in advocacy with our congressional representatives.
This purpose is enshrined in our organizational founding and is based on the principle that one of the chief ways to support the United Nations is through holding our own elected officials accountable for their promises.
Currently, the United States is in arrears — meaning it is far behind — in fulfilling obligatory contributions to the United Nations. As of 2021, our payments were more than $3 billion below what we owe.
The UN relies on member states' contributions to fund its operations, and timely payments are crucial for the organization to carry out its mandate effectively. Late payments can lead to cash flow problems and affect the UN's ability to deliver critical services and programs.
And that’s where we come in.
Through meetings, outreach, coordination, and engagement, we work with the congressional representatives who serve the greater Sacramento area to advocate for US leadership on the international stage. And this includes calling for our funding obligations to be realized.
Fortunately, we were able to meet this week with a Field Representative from Congresswoman Doris Matsui’s office (D-7th).
Representative Matsui has long been a leader on issues like: sustainable infrastructure development, clean energy, and healthcare.
During the conversation, we focused on
Our gratitude for the Congresswoman’s recent votes on bills related to climate change and sustainable infrastructure.
Opportunities for future collaboration with Congresswoman Matsui
Incorporating the language of the SDGs into Congresswoman Matsui’s future comments of pending legislation and projects.
Advocating for the UN is a important because it is a critical international organization that plays a crucial role in promoting peace, security, human rights, and sustainable development around the world.
The UN is a forum for dialogue and cooperation among nations, and it serves as a platform for addressing global challenges that require collective action. Through its various bodies and agencies, the UN works to advance a wide range of issues, such as poverty reduction, climate change, gender equality, and conflict resolution.
Advocating for the UN can help raise awareness of its mission and activities, and can encourage support for its initiatives and programs. This can lead to increased resources for the UN and its member states, which can in turn help to address some of the world's most pressing problems.
But beyond that, it ensures that the United States always has a seat at the table — and leads from the front. The principles of Sustainable Development and Social Justice that underlie much of the UN’s work are equally applicable and important for how we build our own communities here in the United States.
And the more we can incorporate the language of the Sustainable Development Goals into conversations about local policy decisions, the more we can ensure our own local growth aligns with the core values that extend the UN programs all across the globe.
