Who We Are and What We Do
Established in 2002 to represent Oxfam at the United Nations, the Oxfam International New York Office (OINY) leads the organization’s campaign and advocacy work at the UN Headquarters, working closely with the UN Secretariat, Security Council, General Assembly, Member States, humanitarian agencies and civil society organizations.
At OI New York, we advocate for policies that address humanitarian issues connecting and amplifying the voices of affected communities, especially women and girls, to key decision-makers. We also facilitate the engagement of Oxfam staff and partners within the UN system to combat inequality, end poverty and injustice.
Engaged in multiple NGO coalitions, including the UN Working Groups on Protection of Civilians, Women Peace Security, the Security Council Working Group, the Impact Coalition on UN Charter Reform as well as the Coalition for the UN We Need (C4UN), OINY shares critical information and engages in joint advocacy aimed at influencing policies, and creating a positive and lasting impact.
UN Key Moments
UN General Assembly Sessions
The UN General Assembly (UNGA) is the main policy-making organ of the Organization, comprising all Member States, responsible for the appointing the Secretary-General on the recommendation of the Security Council; electing the non-permanent members of the Security Council and approving the UN budget. In September, Oxfam engages the annual meeting of the UNGA held parallel to the High-Level Week, when heads of Heads of State and Government convene for the High-Level Debate in New York. We also follow the discussions on specific issues through dedicated agenda items or sub-items of the various UN UNGA Committees through to December, which lead to the adoption of resolutions.
Commission on the Status of Women
The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) functional commission of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), it was established by ECOSOC resolution 11(II) of 21 June 1946 as the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. Every March, Oxfam participates in the Commission’s two-week session, when representatives of UN Member States, civil society organizations and UN entities gather at UN headquarters in New York to discuss progress on the implementation of the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the key global policy document on gender equality.
Humanitarian Affairs Segment
Each June, Oxfam (New York and Geneva Offices) participates in the UN ECOSOC Humanitarian Affairs Segment (HAS), a platform that was created by the UN in 1998 to discuss the activities and issues related to strengthening the coordination and effectiveness of the humanitarian assistance of the United Nations. Coordinated by the the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), HAS meetings rotates between Geneva and New York.
High-Level Political Forum
The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), through its outcome on ‘The Future We Want,’ established the United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) in 2012. The Forum’s first meeting was held on 24 September 2013, replacing the Commission on Sustainable Development, which had met annually since 1993. The HLPF serves as the central platform for follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It convenes bodies that carry out and review the 2030 Agenda and Oxfam engages in the annual July HLPF that meets to adopt inter-governmentally negotiated political declarations.
UN Security Council
Responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security, the 15 member UN Security Council meets regularly to discuss various issues within its mandate. In addition to ongoing advocacy on specific discussions on the UNSC agenda aligned to Oxfam programme and advocacy priorities, OI New York engages in the UNSC Protection of Civilians weeklong commemoration every May and the women peace and security month every October.
