QUNO in top 100 peace builders
QUNO praised as one of the 100 most influential global actors in reducing armed violence
The Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) has been praised as one of the 100 most influential global actors in reducing armed violence. Andrew Tomlinson and Jonathan Woolley (above), directors of the QUNO New York and Geneva offices, are named by leading NGO Action on Armed Violence in their recent top 100 list.
Andrew was clear that they were representing many colleagues. He said: ‘QUNO staff have been working on this issue for decades. We’ve supported negotiations on disarmament, advocated for local perspectives in peacebuilding, upheld the need for reconciliation and dialogue and researched links between violence and development.’
QUNO was one of the first organisations to raise and research the issue of demand for weapons. As well as providing space for off-the-record meetings to support negotiations on small arms and light weapons, it played an important role in focusing international attention on the roots of the problem – why people resort to armed violence in the first place.
QUNO’s work was recognised alongside that of leading international figures such as Kofi Annan, Angelina Jolie and the Dalai Lama.
Diane Hendrick, associate representative for peace and disarmament at QUNO’s Geneva office, welcomed the recognition. She said: ‘Like Quakers in general, we tend not to publicise our work but, instead, just get on and do it.’
Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC) is the international umbrella body of Quakers under whose auspices the UN work is accredited.
Gretchen Castle, FWCC’s general secretary, expressed their delight saying: ‘We can all celebrate the depth of understanding of how Quakers work – using small circles and deep listening, initiating conversations that might not happen otherwise. We are blessed that the QUNO staff has such an appreciation of these processes and are able to use them to great effect.’
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