Baha'is and United Nations
The Bahá’í Faith teaches that true religion promotes unity and that unity is necessary to establish world peace. Bahá’u’lláh encouraged the Bahá’ís to let their vision be world-embracing and said “The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established.”
Believing that the United Nations represents a major effort by the peoples of the world to come together in unity, the Bahá’ís have been actively involved in promoting the work of the United Nations since its very beginning in 1945. The Bahá'í International Community is accredited in consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
The offices of the Bahá’í International Community in New York and Geneva and Bahá’ís in many lands regularly participate in conferences, congresses and seminars sponsored by the United Nations and its agencies concerning human rights, social development, the status of women, the welfare of children, youth and the family, the movement toward disarmament, crime prevention, the control of narcotic drugs, protection of the environmental and other social issues.
Statements on social issues that have been prepared by the Bahá'í International Community are available at www.bahai.org or from the Office of the Baha’i International Community at the United Nations in New York.
What is the Baha'i Faith?
Throughout history, God has revealed Himself to humanity through a series of divine Messengers, whose teachings guide and educate us and provide the basis for the advancement of human society. These Messengers have included Abraham, Krishna, Zoroaster, Moses, Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad. Their religions come from the same Source and are in essence successive chapters of one religion from God.
Bahá’u’lláh, the latest of these Messengers, brought new spiritual and social teachings for our time. His essential message is of unity. He taught the oneness of God, the oneness of the human family, and the oneness of religion.
Bahá'u'lláh said, “The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens,” and that, as foretold in all the sacred scriptures of the past, now is the time for humanity to live in unity.
Founded more than a century and a half ago, the Bahá'í Faith has spread around the globe. Members of the Bahá'í Faith live in more than 100,000 localities and come from nearly every nation, ethnic group, culture, profession, and social or economic background.
Bahá'ís believe the crucial need facing humanity is to find a unifying vision of the nature and purpose of life and of the future of society. Such a vision unfolds in the writings of Bahá'u'lláh. •
