United Nations Affiliation

Women’s National Book Association at the United Nations

Women’s National Book Association has been a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) member of the United Nations since 1959. An NGO is defined as “any non-profit, voluntary citizens’ group that is organized on a local, national or international level.

Task-oriented and driven by people with a common interest, NGOs perform a variety of services and humanitarian functions, bring citizens’ concerns to governments, monitor policies and encourage political participation at the community level.” As a NGO associated with the United Nations Department of Global Communications / Civil Society Unit, we must meet the following four criteria in order to remain a member in good standing.

Share the ideals of the UN Charter.
Operate solely on a not-for-profit basis.
Have a demonstrated interest in United Nations issues and proven ability to reach large or specialized audiences, such as educators, media representatives, policy makers and the business community.
Have the commitment and means to conduct effective information programmes about UN activities by publishing newsletters, bulletins, pamphlets; organizing conferences, seminars and roundtables; and enlisting the cooperation of the media.

In short, it is our responsibility to support the United Nations in its goals and to win support for those goals among the wider community we work with. In effect, WNBA members are to be advocates for the UN through its affiliation with DGC. Our organization disseminates information about the UN through all the means at our disposal, especially through our national and chapter publications and monthly programs.

Furthermore, we agree to participate in activities for NGOs at the UN Headquarters, including regular briefings, workshops and the annual United Nations Department of Global Communications / Civil Society Unit conference. The UN Secretariat, based in New York City, has offices in Geneva, Vienna, and Nairobi. WNBA has consistently met these obligations over past years, thus maintaining its status as a “NGO in good standing.” The Association is current and up-to-date with all mandatory paperwork as required by DGC, notably the Annual Review. The Association is also committed to the achievement of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) –

”a call for action by all countries to promote prosperity while protecting the planet.”

During the past six decades, WNBA has had six NGO representatives: Anne J. Richter, Beatrice James, Helen Wessells Hettinger, Rose Eichelberger, Claire Friedland, and Sally Wecksler. In January 2001, Jill Tardiff (WNBA-NYC chapter) was appointed to the position of Chief Representative and is currently serving in that role.

Our current NGO Representatives at the United Nations Department of Global Communications / Civil Society Unit are:

Head of Organization, Natalie Obando

Representative 1, Jill Tardiff

Representative 2, Marilyn Berkman

Representative 3, Jane Kinney-Denning

Youth Representative 1: Ishani Singh

Youth Representative 2: Open

There is also the WNBA Committee for UN Relations that is comprised of members from the Association’s chapters (Boston, Greater Atlanta, Los Angeles, Nashville, New Orleans, New York City, San Francisco, South Florida, and Washington, D.C.). Their individual and group role supposedly is to assist primarily with consensus building among chapter members, as well as with the dissemination of information received from the chief and alternate representatives, distribution of materials in support of related national and chapter activities, including fund-raising and partnership-building, and provide an annual accounting of said activities.

The WNBA fosters individual member projects related to the mission of the UN and its various initiatives like the Sustainable Development Goals. The UN Secretariat, based in New York City, has offices in Geneva, Vienna, And Nairobi.

In the recent past, the Women’s National Book Association had a special relationship with the U.S. Fund for UNICEF as a civil society partner. This partnership was conceived and developed in 2004 under the auspices of UNICEF USA (NGO Section).

The Association current advocacy extends to the Fund’s U.S. initiatives including Believe in Zero Campaign, Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF Campaign, Teach UNICEF, UNICEF Tap Project, and Shop UNICEF.

For more information about the United Nations:

United Nations website

United Nations Department of Global Communications / Civil Society Unit

Dag Hammarskjöld Library

U.N. Publications

United Nations YouTube channel

About UN Agencies and Divisions:

Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG)

U.S. Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA)

Division for the Advancement of Women

Division for Social Policy and Development (DSPD)