Welcome to the blog of the first-ever U.S. Youth Observer at the United Nations! As the U.S. Youth Observer, I attended events in NYC during UN General Assembly week, as well as a number of events around the Social, Humanitarian Cultural Affairs Committee of the General Assembly in October. In addition, I am traveling to speak about the UN’s work at public events and at UNA-USA Chapters around the country, blog, tweet and discuss my experiences with the general public, and advise UNA-USA on potential future youth roles at the UN. I hope this blog will serve as an exciting, engaging forum for discussing global youth issues and youth roles at the UN!

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Photo Gallery: UN General Assembly Week

Brooke Loughrin and Bill Gates at the “Commitment to the Next Generation: The Legacy of a Polio-Free World” event.

UNA's "Listening Session with Zeenat Rahman, Special Adviser for Global Youth Issues to Secretary Clinton," seated left, is moderated by Brooke Lougrin, U.S. Youth Observer at the UN, right, at the UN Foundation in New York. (Stuart Ramson/Insider Images for UN Foundation)

U.S. Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice with the first-ever U.S. Youth Observer Brooke Loughrin at the Social Good Summit. (Photo Credit: Keith Bedford/Insider Images for United Nations Foundation)

"Mobilizing Young People For The Next Generation of Social Good" panel with Jeff Martin, Co-Founder and CEO of Tribal Brands and mPowering, U.S. Youth Observer Brooke Loughrin, Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of UNFPA and Sharon Feder from Mashable at the Social Good Summit. (Photo Credit: Keith Bedford/Insider Images for United Nations Foundation)

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LGBT Rights are Human Rights

 March 6, 2013

One of the highlights of my experience at the United Nations in Geneva has been the opportunity to meet with human rights defenders from a variety of countries to discuss their courageous efforts to advance the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. Read more >>

U.S. Youth Observer Travels to Geneva!

 March 4, 2013

Bonjour from Geneva! On my first overseas trip as the U.S. Youth Observer, I am spending one week at the U.S. Permanent Mission in Geneva, the United States’ largest overseas multilateral diplomatic post, reporting on the range of important international issues covered at the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva. Read more >>

Forging Partnerships to Help the UN Help the World

 September 27, 2012

Two of the major themes that have emerged from my past few days at the UN are the importance of civil society and public-private partnership in the work of the United Nations. Read more >>

Water Matters

 September 25, 2012

Water is essential. In three days we die without it. Yet, nearly one billion people live without access to clean water. In India, Senegal and Tajikistan, I have experienced living without access to a reliable source of water, and in my volunteer work I continue to grapple with the alarming ways in which water scarcity can disarm efforts to solve global issues. Read more >>

Realizing the Potential of Women and Girls

 September 24, 2012

While the world has seen extraordinary progress in expanding opportunities for women and girls, significant gaps remain in the areas of political participation and economic opportunity. Read more >>

Can the Power of Social Media Inspire Effective Change?

September 23, 2012

In this past year, we have seen movements led by young people that have removed dictators and challenged financial systems, but can social media and new technology inspire movements to eliminate gender inequality, ensure access to health care, and provide education that prepares young people for decent work? Read more >>

UN Initiatives, Innovative Thinking & Bold Creativity

September 22, 2012

I started my first day off at the UNA-USA Headquarters in NYC with a briefing from Leo Nevas Human Rights Fellow Ryan Kaminski. Ryan gave me an overview of all of the UN bodies and thematic issues related to human rights at the UN. One of the most exciting issues the UN is working on this year is a wide variety of initiatives to improve the status of women and girls. Read more >>

Quick Links

• About UNA-USA
• About U.S. Department of State - Bureau of International Organization Affairs
• About the U.S. Mission to the UN

The U.S. Youth Observer program is hosted by UNA-USA, in partnership with