A United Nations Association (UNA) is a people’s movement of the United Nations. While different UN associations are organised in different ways, they all share the common objective of promoting the participation of the people of the world in the United Nations systems. In accordance with the United Nations general objectives, they also work to promote public interest in the UN and increase the understanding of the interdependence of the nations of the world and their joint responsibility for international development.
As independent, non-governmental and non-profit, public organisations, UNAs strive to inform the public in an impartial manner of the functions, institutions and aims of the United Nations. UNAs strive to increase interest in and awareness of current events in foreign and development policy, in cultural and world economic policy, as well as in international relations in general.
United Nations Associations through the promotion of research, education and information about international policy issues, offer information and insight into what the UN is and how it works, and works as a channel through which people can become engaged in the critical global issues.
Through the global network of the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA), which at present has over 100 national United Nations Associations in all regions of the world, UNAs provide a link between the citizens of the world and the United Nations, by seeking to ensure that the UN is relevant to the lives of the peoples it exists to serve.
