United Nations
Over fifty-five years of service to the global community through our work at the United Nations.
As a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council, the TOU is an active member of the NGO community working on the inside of the United Nations to advance social justice. The TOU actively supports the aims and principles of the United Nations by attending world summit meetings, sponsoring programs for NGOs, and participating on committees and coalitions of NGOs with similar values.
The Temple of Understanding is accredited through ECOSOC with Special Consultative status. We are also accredited by the DPI (now the Department of Global Communications.)
Our current work at the UN is in coalition with a set of partners including:
- Mining Working Group
- Women’s Major Group
- United Nations Environmental Program
- NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief
- Women’s Working Group on Financing For Development
- UN Committee on the Rights of Indigenous People
- Committee of Religious NGOs – Climate Working Group
Updates:
8th annual CSW66 Interfaith Service of Gratitude and Remembrance
Dear Friends, Please join us March 23, 2022 (ET) at 2 pm for the 8th annual CSW66 Interfaith Service of Gratitude and Remembrance. The Temple of Understanding is again honored to collaborate on this important annual event with colleagues from NGOCSW, URI, United...
FORUM2021 Sacred Food ~ Blessed Earth
Watch the replay of our 61st anniversary event, FORUM2021.
Women’s Initiatives
As a leading interfaith organization founded by a woman, Juliet Hollister, the Temple of Understanding has long been interested in women’s full contributions to society as a pathway to peace. Our most recent Hollister award recipient is Ela Gandhi, an internationally...
FORUM2020: Science, Spirituality, the Climate Emergency and Our Future
Watch the replay of our 60th anniversary event, FORUM2020.
Chief Arvol Looking Horse to open FORUM2020
We are very honored to announce that Chief Arvol Looking Horse, 19th Generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe Bundle for the Great Sioux Nation, will be offering opening prayers for our online FORUM2020 this year as well as giving a keynote address....
Meet our 2020 summer interns!
Meet our 2020 summer interns! We were thrilled to connect with interns from around the world this summer via Zoom! For the summer of 2020, we ran a virtual internship program due to COVID-19 and had three main goals – making connections, promoting awareness and education, and coming up with ways that we can advocate for important causes we are passionate about both individually and as a group. Click here for more information about our 2020 program!