The United Nations General Assembly met this September with the main focus being on international peace and security, the Millennium Development Goals and peace in the Middle East. During the opening session of the Assembly, President Barack Obama cited the importance of civil society proclaiming that “Civil Society is the conscience of our communities, and America will always extend our engagement abroad with citizens beyond the halls of government. We will call out those who suppress ideas, and serve as the voice for the voiceless.”
The work of the Temple of Understanding and other NGOs is of extreme importance to the UN process. As a representative of civil society, The Temple of Understanding continues to partner with UN bodies, Member States and other NGOs in such issues as climate change, sustainable development, women’s empowerment, human rights and interreligious dialogue and peace cooperation.