THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2015
Adopted at the 41st WFUNA Plenary Assembly
Marriot Pinnacle Hotel, Vancouver, Canada
22 November 2015
The World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA) and its member associations represented at the 41st WFUNA Plenary Assembly in November 2015 in Vancouver, Canada, adopt this Declaration and commend it to the Member States of the United Nations and to the peoples of the world.
As we approach the 70th anniversary of WFUNA, we reflect upon a world that is significantly different from the world we lived in during the birth of the United Nations in 1945. These shifts challenge the international community to develop new ways to respond appropriately to ensure that the UN is fit for purpose. 2015 will go down in history as a year filled with some remarkable multilateral accomplishments, coupled with, at times devastating, major global shortcomings.
We commend the United Nations on the unanimous adoption of Agenda 2030: Transforming our World and the 17 ambitious Sustainable Development Goals included, as well as the Addis Ababa Action Agenda for Financing for Development. We welcome efforts to produce inclusive and consultative reviews on; Peace Operations, Peacebuilding Architecture, and the role of Women in Peace and Security. Furthermore, we’re encouraged by the global consultations in preparation for the World Humanitarian Summit, the International Climate Change Conference, and the multilateral effort to reach the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the nuclear program of Iran. It is our hope that these agreements and frameworks can become a bedrock for further international cooperation.
Yet, in spite of the substantial effort to pursue a common agenda our longer-term advances in global peace are at a huge risk. 2014 was the deadliest year on record since 1989. The refugee crisis engulfing the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe is at a level unseen since World War II. Inequality continues to rise, whilst climate change remains routinely under prioritized by Member States. This array of complex challenges will require bold leadership by the United Nations to devise a response founded in compassion, global citizenship, and long-term human interest.
WFUNA commits to continuing its mission to strengthen the UN community to better respond to challenges through our United Nations Associations. Acknowledging that very local problems can have major repercussions on a global scale, we know that solutions must come from all levels—local, national, regional, and global—if they are to succeed.
WFUNA, together with all of its member United Nations Associations, will strive to represent voices from all over the world, emphasizing the role of civil society, in an attempt to garner grassroots understanding and support for the many missions of the UN, local communities, and partnerships. We are dedicated to striving for a world in which citizens of every country can enjoy human rights and a freedom from fear, violence, and poverty.
We will work to ensure that Agenda 2030 truly leaves no one behind and delivers its promise to transform the world we live in, through building capacity, raising awareness, and promoting accountability, transparency, and participation for all.
We will pursue further collaboration with new partners to achieve our strategic vision, while strengthening our current partnerships. Emphasizing the vital need to prioritize the prevention of violent conflict, we will work with civil society around the globe to promote a world based on people, the planet, prosperity, peace, and partnerships.