United Nations Association in Canada

Vancouver Branch

The Vision

Growing global citizens

Welcome to the United Nations Association in Canada – Vancouver Branch

Credibility, Connection, Inclusiveness, Inspiration, Leadership

UNAC-Vancouver (UNAC-V) works to promote global awareness and further the work of the United Nations. We are one of the many national UN Association branches around the world connected through an international network. This network is called the World Federation of UN Associations (WFUNA), which was established in 1946. Our work is achieved through education and recognition programs, partnerships and fundraising.

We aim to inform, inspire and engage people in Metro Vancouver to accomplish the vital work of the United Nations. Under the umbrella of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), our public advocacy addresses poverty, gender inequities, human rights, cross-cultural understanding, environmental degradation and threats to peace and security.

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Sustainable Development Goals

The UN Universal Framework for Global Development

The United Nations has, since its inception in 1945, worked to convene member states around an overarching framework to establish peace, eradicate poverty, and ensure human rights and gender equality worldwide. In 2000 the UN committed to a 15-year Agenda for Humanity, called the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which was signed by 189 world leaders at the UN General Assembly.

By 2015, world leaders realized that they had not achieved all of the goals and that these goals were not equally applicable to all countries. They also realized that if they were to design a second generation of global goals, it would require a more inclusive approach. Member states then set about consulting civil society groups on how to improve the world over the next 15 years. A total of 88 countries initially submitted suggestions for a possible set of future set of goals.

All of this work culminated in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 193 member states, including Canada, signed this commitment to work together to implement the SDGs by 2030. It was decided that bold steps were needed to eradicate poverty in all forms, and to shift the world onto a sustainable path to development together. It was pledged to leave no one behind on this collective journey.

More About Our SDGs