About Us

Jonathan Gallagher

The Office of United Nations Liaison is located at the Seventh-day Adventist Church world headquarters and operates as part of the department of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty. Its mandate is to provide a channel of communication and influence at the United Nations, working with the main organization and it 48 different subsidiaries such as the World Health Organization, the High Commission for Human Rights, UNESCO, UNICEF, UNCTAD, and many more.

The Church has held consultative status with the Economic and Social Committee of the UN (ECOSOC) for a number of years, and is consulted on a wide range of different subjects including religious freedom, human rights, health and medical work, education etc.

In this way the Church is represented on a number of different committees of substance, participates in international conferences and conventions, and informs the representatives of the permanent missions to the UN of Church programs and activities. Much of the work of the Church is appreciated and endorsed since it parallels the aims and objectives of the UN as outlined in the UN Charter.

The Church benefits from such representation and recommendations, and seeks to partner where appropriate in UN-sponsored activities such a literacy development, humanitarian aid, human rights education, anti-narcotic drug programs, and conventions and declarations of mutual interest such as trafficking in people, children's issues, preventive health, AIDS programs, pollution control, combating intolerance etc.

UN materials of direct use to the Church and its program are channeled to the appropriate departments for their consideration and implementation. Direct contacts between Church experts and UN representative are facilitated through UN Liaison.

UN Liaison also provides a mechanism to contact country representatives on matters of interest and concern to the Church. For example, if there is a case involving religious persecution, this can be brought to the attention of the permanent mission of the country concerned, either in New York or Geneva.

Much can be accomplished by such a network of contacts with UN officials, country representatives, and members of the non-government organizations. The UN Liaison work is considered an essential part of the Church's witness to the wider world, and also provides the Church with updated and relevant information on programs and plans of the international community.