In July 2017, the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) adopted the Committee’s recommendation and officially granted Special Consultative Status to United by schools.
The association thus joined the circle of non-governmental organizations recognized by the United Nations for their contributions to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — particularly those related to education, peace, and human rights.
This Special Consultative Status enables United by schools to:
- provide independent expertise and analysis drawn from its field experience;
- participate in international conferences and meetings organized by the United Nations;
- submit written and oral statements to UN bodies;
- organize side events to promote its initiatives;
- and contribute to the implementation and monitoring of international agreements related to education and child protection.
Under this status, the association is required to submit a quadrennial report to the UN Committee on NGOs every four years, ensuring transparency and the continuity of its collaboration with the Organization.
United by Schools also gained the opportunity to actively participate in the work of the Human Rights Council as an observer organization. In this capacity, it can:
- attend debates and interactive dialogues of the Council;
- submit written statements and deliver oral interventions on issues concerning children’s rights and non-violence in schools;
- and contribute to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process, which evaluates Member States’ commitments to human rights.
This international recognition crowned years of dedicated work by the association and offered it a global platform to amplify the voices of students, families, and educators united against school violence.