United Nations

Women and Women's Rights
Progress on the Status of Women and Girls Off Track in UN Assessment

In Brief by Linda Robinson

The world’s nations are lagging woefully behind in meeting targets for achieving gender equality by 2030, but a new round of initiatives has stirred hope of progress.
Sep 21, 2023
The world’s nations are lagging woefully behind in meeting targets for achieving gender equality by 2030, but a new round of initiatives has stirred hope of progress.
Sep 21, 2023
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Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani of Iraq
The Iraqi Prime Minister examines relations with the U.S., Iraq’s foreign policy priorities, and geopolitical and security trends in the region.

Event with Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani Sep 21, 2023

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NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg discusses the importance of NATO and the transatlantic bond as the war in Ukraine continues.

Event with Jens Stoltenberg Sep 21, 2023

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Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar of Pakistan
The Prime Minister discusses partnership between Pakistan and the United States, and efforts to establish peace, security, and prosperity in the region.

Event with Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar Sep 21, 2023

  • United Nations
    Security Challenges Cloud UN’s Summit of the Future
    This year’s UN summit offers a rare chance for reform of the world’s leading peace and security body but is bedeviled by major power tensions over intractable wars.
    Expert Brief by Paul B. Stares and Natalie Caloca September 19, 2024 Center for Preventive Action
  • United Nations
    What Is the UN General Assembly?
    The General Assembly hosts a much-watched debate of world leaders annually. Its 2024 meeting is expected to emphasize climate change, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the wars in the Gaza Strip and Ukraine.
    Backgrounder by CFR.org Editors September 19, 2024
  • Global
    What Are the UN Sustainable Development Goals?
    The United Nations’ ambitious development agenda aims to protect people and the planet via seventeen goals. But experts say governments aren’t doing enough to implement them.
    Backgrounder by Clara Fong and Diana Roy September 18, 2024
  • United States
    A Conversation With U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield
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    Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield discusses the future of multilateralism and U.S. commitments to reforming the United Nations Security Council to be more inclusive, representative, and legitimate.
    Virtual Event by Linda Thomas-Greenfield and Elise Labott September 12, 2024
  • United Nations
    The UN Security Council
    The UN Security Council is the premier global body for maintaining international peace and security, but it faces steady calls for reform to better meet twenty-first-century challenges.
    Backgrounder by CFR.org Editors September 9, 2024
  • United Nations
    The Role of the UN Secretary-General
    The United Nations’ top leadership position has broad authority to steer the organization’s agenda, but its impact has varied widely since 1946.
    Backgrounder by CFR.org Editors August 29, 2024
  • United Nations
    Sorensen Distinguished Lecture: A Conversation With Cindy McCain
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    Cindy McCain shares her vision to combat hunger and malnutrition around the world. The World Food Programme (WFP) works in the most challenging contexts around the world, reaching more than 150 million people a year. As food becomes an increasingly important issue for stability and peace, she will discuss how WFP navigates crises and works to put in place a more stable and resilient future for the most vulnerable communities. The Sorensen Distinguished Lecture on the United Nations was established in 1996 by Gillian and Theodore C. Sorensen to highlight the United Nations and offer a special occasion for its most distinguished and experienced leaders to speak to the Council membership.
    Virtual Event by Cindy Hensley McCain and Marcus Mabry June 11, 2024 Sorensen Lecture
  • Sexual Violence
    Arthur C. Helton Memorial Lecture: Preventing and Addressing Sexual Violence in Conflict
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    The United Nations recognized rape as a war crime in 2008 through the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1820. Despite this step, sexual violence remains a widespread practice in wars and conflict zones globally. Panelists discuss the extent of sexual violence used as a tool of war and policies that can address it and help prevent future atrocities. The Arthur C. Helton Memorial Lecture was established by CFR and the family of Arthur C. Helton, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations who died in the August 2003 bombing of the UN Headquarters in Baghdad. The Lecture addresses pressing issues in the broad field of human rights and humanitarian concerns. The audio, video, and transcript of this meeting will be posted on the CFR website. **For those attending virtually, log-in information and instructions on how to participate during the question and answer portion will be provided the evening before the event to those who register. Please note the audio and video of this virtual meeting will be posted on the CFR website.**
    Virtual Event by Phoebe Donnelly, Madeleine Rees, Rachel B. Vogelstein and Sheryl Sandberg April 8, 2024 Arthur C. Helton Memorial Lecture
  • Human Rights
    Women This Week: Saudi Arabia to Chair the Commission on the Status of Women
    Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers March 23 to March 29.
    Blog Post by Noël James March 29, 2024 Women Around the World
  • Climate Change
    A Conversation With Amy Pope
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    Amy Pope discusses her work as director general of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the UN role in addressing climate mobility, legal frameworks for migration, and the present humanitarian crisis.The Silberstein Family Annual Lecture on Refugee and Migration Policy was established in 2019 through a generous gift from Alan M. Silberstein and the Silberstein family. The lecture provides CFR with an annual forum to explore emerging challenges in refugee and migration policy in the United States and around the world. 
    Virtual Event by Amy Pope and Jeremy Robbins March 11, 2024
  • United Nations
    Funding the United Nations: How Much Does the U.S. Pay?
    Many UN agencies, programs, and missions receive crucial funding from the United States. The Trump administration sharply reduced funding to some UN agencies, but President Biden has largely reversed those cuts.
    Backgrounder by CFR.org Editors February 29, 2024
  • North Korea
    Strengthening Human Rights-Centered Approaches Toward North Korea
    In order for the United States and South Korea to strengthen their human rights-centered approach toward North Korea, key internal and external obstacles should be addressed. 
    Blog Post by Yuna Kim December 19, 2023 Asia Unbound