ADVOCACY WITH GOVERNMENT: Making our Voices Count on Policy
One of the UN Association’s principal purposes is to encourage the U.S. government to consistently and firmly support international cooperation as an effective means to address global problems, and to provide constructive leadership that enables the United Nations to fulfill its unique potential.
UNA-USA’s policy positions are carefully reviewed periodically. Within that framework, our East Bay chapter identifies what is of highest concern to our local members and Congressional representatives. We annually discuss these issues with senior legislative staff locally and in Washington D.C.
Among key issues that we’ll advocate for in Washington this year are:
- Ratify UN conventions to protect human rights of women (CEDAW) and children;
- Support Obama’s initiatives to reduce existing nuclear weapons and halt proliferation
- Adopt tough legislation to control climate change and greatly improve energy efficiency
- Make eradication of poverty, hunger, illiteracy, preventable diseases and the other UN Millennium
Development Goals a priority of U.S. policy by shifting funding from warfare toward providing “fair share” funding for the MDGs that the U.S. has promised. - Join and support the work of the International Criminal Court.
As this June newsletter goes to press, delegations of 7-10 people have just completed advocacy discussions with district staff of Senators Boxer and Feinstein and local House Members. In mid-June, seven East Bay delegates will be in Washington D.C. at UNA’s annual national gathering where we’ll join with UNA leaders and members from around the country for a “Day on Capitol Hill.” We plan to meet with legislative staff of Senators Boxer and Feinstein, and we also anticipate discussions with the Representatives or staff of the five members of the House whose districts cover the East Bay counties: Lee, Garamendi, McNerney, Miller, and Stark.
Through this process UNA East Bay maintains constructive dialogues with our elected officials. They encourage us to voice our concerns and welcome our Chapter’s effort to collect signatures on a petition asking them to actively work for ratification of the critical treaties listed on the reverse side of this page.
We urge you to sign and collect signatures on this petition and mail it back to us at: 1403-B Addison Street, Berkeley, CA 94704, or you may scan the petition and send it via e-mail to: unaeastbay@sbcglobal.net. We deliver the signed petitions to our representatives during these annual legislative visits.