The United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) Congratulates President Biden and Vice President

January 20, 2021

The United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) and its 200+ chapters across the nation congratulate President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on their inauguration as the 46th President and Vice President of the United States.

This moment holds great significance for our country. In a free and fair election that saw the largest voter turnout in over 100 years, Americans elected a President and Vice President who committed to ensuring their administration truly represents all Americans. Vice President Harris is the first woman, first Black American and first South-Asian American to serve in our nation’s second highest office and President Biden has appointed the most diverse cabinet in American history. As the Biden-Harris Administration begins the difficult task of bringing a divided country together, having a wide range of voices and perspectives at the table will be critical.

As our country faces unparalleled democratic unrest, a global health crisis, racial inequality and a climate emergency, we need leaders to confront these challenges head-on, beginning today. UNA-USA and its global advocates applaud President Biden for signing executive orders within his first hours in office to stop the U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) and re-enter the Paris Climate Agreement.

“We are encouraged by President Biden’s swift action to revive our partnership with WHO and renew our commitment to global climate response,” said Rachel Bowen Pittman, UNA-USA Executive Director. “Rejoining WHO and the Paris Agreement are two of many actions that must be taken to rebuild America’s position as a leader on the world stage, but we believe President Biden’s plan for his first ten days in office signifies a fresh start for our divided nation and brings new opportunities for lasting change.”

UNA-USA is hopeful that the Biden-Harris Administration will take additional steps to fulfill our financial obligations to UN peacekeeping missions and restore our leadership in key UN agencies, such as the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the UN Human Rights Council.

Getting the U.S. back to its leadership role in multilateral processes will require support across all sections of American society. UNA-USA is committed to working with our private sector partners, civil society organizations, Members of Congress, and 20,000 advocates across the country to support and assist the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to recommit to our democratic values and advance our involvement in the UN system.

As a founding member of the UN, America plays a vital role in promoting peace, upholding human rights and innovating solutions to the world’s biggest problems. There is much work to be done here in the U.S. and we believe President Biden and Vice President Harris are up to the task. We must meet the challenges of our time with the power of our example, and we believe today’s historic inauguration marks a new opportunity to redeem America’s integrity, strength and cooperation on the world stage.

About the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA):

The United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) is a grassroots movement of Americans who support the vital work of the United Nations in U.S. communities, colleges, and Congress. For more than 75 years, UNA-USA and its national network of 20,000 members and 200 chapters have promoted strong U.S. leadership at the UN through advocacy campaigns, youth engagement, outreach programs, and public events. Learn more: https://unausa.org/