The Global Engagement Summit can be livestreamed on UN Web TV at the following links:
- Morning Session: https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1s/k1s3od27u5
- Afternoon Session: https://media.un.org/en/asset/k13/k134nh9ebr
The annual UNA-USA Global Engagement Summit (GES) unites world leaders with our nation’s top grassroots changemakers. Held at UN Headquarters in New York, more than 1,000 community leaders, students, lifetime advocates, and young professionals from across the country come together to sit in the seats of decisionmakers.
This full day summit is one of many educational and inspirational programs that UNA-USA coordinates to help make Americans aware of the strong connection between the U.S. and the UN. The theme for GES 2023 is “Empowered and Emboldened for Impact” in order to highlight the need for our members to feel empowered in order to let decisionmakers within the U.S. government and the United Nations know they support bold action in order to see impact in terms of improving the fate of people, justice, and our planet.
In previous summits, over half of the audience consists of youth members who are committed to advancing global engagement both through their activism and career pursuits. This annual, sold-out event offers a unique, high-profile platform to engage national influencers who care deeply about making the world a better place.
TARGET AUDIENCE
As this year’s event will be hybrid, in person participation will be offered to UNA-USA members while virtual participation is open to the public. The program and speakers will attract Americans and U.S. residents who are interested in foreign policy, local issues with global implications, Sustainable Development Goals, and who want to take action to support a strong U.S.-UN partnership.
FORMAT
Our theme for 2023—Empowered and Emboldened for Impact—highlights the importance of empowering our advocates to take bold action in order to achieve great impact. The event will consist of a 1-hour Opening Plenary, eight ½ hour sessions, and a 1-hour Closing Celebration with a focus on how to Support Sustainable Development and Climate Action.
In order to EMPOWER participants with the knowledge and understanding of the UN, some of the sessions will be organized around the organization’s five main purposes:
- Maintain International Peace and Security
- Protect Human Rights
- Deliver Humanitarian Aid
- Support Sustainable Development and Climate Action
- Uphold International Law
And in order to EMBOLDEN GES participants, additional sessions will be held to introduce them to changemakers who have made an impact in UN issue areas or focal points:
- Fortifying the US-UN Relationship
- Actualizing the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals)
- Preserving Our Cultural Heritage
- Supporting the Evolution of the United Nations
In addition, the Summit will offer all participants–whether in person or online–to ENGAGE through a variety of actions housed on the Zoom Events platform, explained in more detail within the following section. Also, in-person attendees will have the chance to engage in complementary activities on Thursday, February 16 and post-event on Friday, February 17. More details will be shared once activities and opportunities are confirmed.
Please click here to view the latest schedule of speakers and sessions.
10:00 AM Opening Plenary
11:00 AM Fortifying the US-UN Relationships
11:30 AM BREAK
11:45 AM Deliver Humanitarian Aid
12:15 PM Protect Human Rights
12:45 PM LUNCH BREAK (on your own)
2:00 PM Actualizing the Sustainable Development Goals
2:30 PM Maintain International Peace and Security
3:00 PM Preserving Our Cultural Heritage
3:30 PM BREAK
3:45 PM Uphold International Law
4:15 PM Supporting the Evolution of the United Nations
4:45 PM BREAK
5:00 PM Closing Plenary: Support Sustainable Development and Climate Action
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Registration for in-person tickets closed on February 10. When registering, please ensure that you use the EXACT name as your government-issued ID, as you will need to bring both the print out confirmation and government ID (Passport, driver’s license, etc.) with you to the event.
If another person will be picking up your event badge, please indicate that in your registration form. For those who have already registered and will have another person pick up your event badge, complete this form with the name of your proxy pick-up.
Refunds will be issued for cancelled tickets until February 7. If you would like to cancel your ticket and request a refund, please email membership@unausa.org.
All confirmed registrants have been sent a 'Know Before You Go' email from UNA-USA with important logistical details for the event. If you have not received this email, please email membership@unausa.org.
ADDITIONAL PERKS & OPPORTUNITIES
Considering a career in the United Nations? Add value to your day with a free (for UNA-USA members) session focused on Careers in the UN from 1-4 pm ET on Thursday, February 16. Location TBA.
Affinity Groups and Global Goals Ambassadors meet ups will be held at around 6:15 pm ET on Friday, February 17th at various locations (TBA)
SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR UNA-USA MEMBERS ONLY: opportunity to take a UN Guided Tour at the student discount rate only available on Thursday, February 16
ABOUT UNA-USA
UNA-USA is a movement of more than 20,000 Americans who support the values and principles of the United Nations, and advocate on its behalf within their communities and with their Members of Congress. Through 200 chapters across the country, UNA-USA members inspire, educate, and mobilize others to ensure a strong U.S.-UN partnership. More than 14,000 of UNA-USA members are under the age of 26 and represent an active and engaged base of advocates. UNA-USA members are those who take action and speak up to support the UN, the Sustainable Development Goals, and local issues that have global implications. For more information on UNA-USA, or to join as a member of this impactful movement, please visit www.unausa.org.
EVENT CONTACT
For more information about UNA-USA’s Global Engagement Summit, including a rolling list of confirmed guest speakers, please visit www.unausa.org. For additional program inquiries please contact membership@unausa.org.