The goal of both Scouting and the United Nations has always been to create a better world. One way or the other both organisations work for (or contribute to) global peace, development, human rights, and education of young people. Since the early days of the United Nations, Scouts have been involved in various joint programmes, initiatives and projects with different UN bodies.
Today, WOSM is one of the over 130 International Non-Governmental Organisations with General Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council, having gained the status as early as in 1947. Scouting is regularly invited to express its views on several topics being discussed in the United Nations, and participates in numerous consultations related to the situation of young people in the world.
Most recently, World Scouting has been involved in gathering inputs for the Post 2015 development goals after the conclusion of the Millennium Development Goals (2000-2015). Scouting’s contribution to the ‘My World’ global survey and other ‘World We Want’ consultation processes for Post 2015 was recognised by the UN at a special event organised at the UN General Assembly in September 2013.