"Volunteerism is a universal concept - the largest expression of global solidarity you can find," United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme Executive Coordinator (EC) Richard Dictus told a live audience of hundreds gathered in New York City, while countless virtual attendees tuned in around the world. The head of UNV was taking part in UNV's panel "Changing the World in 2.0: Volunteerism" on Sunday, 22 September 2013, the opening day of Social Good Summit, where his words seemed to strike a chord with listeners.

When UNDP Administrator Helen Clark toured China on a mission in late August, two national UN Volunteers greeted her during her field visit to a pilot sustainable forest management project site in Koutou, a village near Beijing. 

As a UN Youth Volunteer and young woman, I am proudly working for women’s economic empowerment with UN Women in Nicaragua. My job is to support four counterparts working in the field: rural women in need of their own land, trade unionists who advocate for labour rights of domestic workers, women seeking to reform social security law, and women and men working to develop a model for good entrepreneurial practices on gender equality.

From May to December 2012, UN Volunteers in Juba deployed to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) through the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) were active in an Emergency Return and Reintegration Operation of South Sudanese Returnees.   The two part operation successfully achieved the emergency return of 12,000 returnees and the emergency reintegration of 1,600 returnees to South Sudan.

The Special Voluntary Fund (SVF) is the second most important source of funding for UNV. Projects and programmes around the globe benefit from the generosity of donors who entrust their voluntary contributions to UNV and leave the allocation of these substantial funds at the discretion of our organization. We are keenly aware of the responsibility conferred on us by the willingness of UN Member States and other donors to support our work.

Volunteering is one of the best ways for young people to turn their energy and creativity into a tool for development and peace. During a conference organized in Gitega (Burundi) by the Ministry for Youth, Sports and Culture, UNV pushed for encouraging young people to take part in local and national volunteering initiatives throughout Burundi. The conference was backed by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD). The article is in French.     Read

Youth development is one of the most important issues on the global agenda for peace and sustainable development. About 65 per cent of the total population of Africa is below the age of 35, and over 35 per cent is between 15 and 35. Volunteerism offers valuable opportunities for youth to engage and contribute to the development of peaceful and inclusive societies. It also allows young people to become active empowered citizens, to acquire skills, build their capacities and increase their employability.

In the run up to the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme hosted a live Facebook chat on 27 May 2013 with Isabelle Blanc, an international UN Volunteer who is serving with the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).

On Monday 29 April, UNV Executive Coordinator Richard Dictus briefed Member States and Permanent Observers to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Richard joined the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, Ahmad Alhendawi, and the Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Inter-Agency Affairs for the UN Department for Economic and Social Affairs, Thomas Stelzer, in updating ECOSOC on the progress made on the Secretary-General’s Five-Year Action Agenda as it relates to youth.

“Elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls” was the priority theme of the 57th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW57) held at United Nations Headquarters from 4 to 15 March. At this apt venue, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), UN Women and UNV presented the latest research from their Partners for Prevention Regional Joint Programme at the side event “Why do men use violence and how do we stop it?