| The official name of the worldwide Bahá'í community in its relations with the outside world. That community ‘represents a cross-section of humanity, the four million† adherents coming from virtually every nationality, racial or ethnic group, religious background, culture and social class. |
| ‘Under the guidance of the Universal House of Justice, its governing authority, the Bahá'I International Community comprises 148 national affiliates (the National Spiritual Assemblies†). At the international level it operates through branches specialized for different aspects of its work. At the present time these are three in number: the Secretariat, located at the World Centre of the Faith in Israel; the United Nations Office, based in New York City with a branch in Geneva; and the Office of Public Information, with its headquarters in Israel and a bureau in New York. Both the United Nations Office and the Office of Public Information have representatives in a number of major centres of the world.'9 |
| The relationship of the world Bahá'í community to the United Nations began in 1948 when the eight National Spiritual Assemblies then existing were recognized collectively by the UN Office of Public Information as an international non-governmental organization (NGO) under the name ‘Bahá'í International Community'. Today, 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). It also has a working relationship with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the Centre for Human Settlements, the Centre for Human Rights, the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs, the Department of Disarmament Affairs and the Peace Studies Unit, the UN Regional Commissions, and other members of the UN system. It is continually increasing its contact with several of the UN specialized agencies such as the World Food Council (WFC), the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). |
| In addition, the Bahá'í International Community has representation with the South Pacific Commission and has kept in close touch with the European Parliament and the Council of Europe during the recent persecutions of the Bahá'ís in Iran. It works closely with other nongovernmental organizations at the UN, through membership in many NGO/UN committees in New York, Geneva, Vienna and Santiago. |
| Believing that the United Nations represents a major effort in the unification of the planet, Bahá'ís have supported its work in every way possible. During its participation in conferences, congresses and seminars the United Nations Office makes contributions to those aims of the United Nations that are kindred to the teachings of the Bahá'í Faith, such as the status of women and particularly their role in the achievement of world peace; economic justice and cooperation; racial equality; religious tolerance; universal education; minority rights; human rights generally; crime prevention; the control of narcotic drugs; the welfare of children and the family; the movement towards disarmament; and the protection of the environment. |
| In 1987 the Bahá'í International Community became the sixth major religion to join the World Wide Fund for Nature in its initiative for the Conservation of Nature and the Environment. |
| The Office of Public Information was appointed in 1986. It gathers and prepares information about the Bahá'í Faith and coordinates its dissemination to international and national entities, prominent persons, leaders of thought, the mass media and the general public. It seeks to foster a climate of understanding about the aims and achievements of the Bahá'í Faith and to correct misinformation. It also works with national Bahá'í information agencies to help them mobilize their energies in support of international objectives. |
| [BD 37-38] |
| Notes: |
- Published in 1989. In 2019 estimates show between 5 and 7.3 million members.
- There are now 188 National Spiritual Assemblies
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