Permanent Observer to the United Nations

International IDEA in North America implements its programme through its Office of the Permanent Observer to the United Nations in New York and its outreach office in Washington D.C.

Our work with the UN

The Office of the Permanent Observer for International IDEA to the United Nations promotes partnerships, multilateral dialogue and UN policies that advance democracy. Through its Permanent Observer status at the United Nations General Assembly and its office in New York, International IDEA acts as a leading voice on democracy at the UN General Assembly, contributing to UN debates, convening dialogues and supporting International IDEA’s member states with knowledge, data and expertise on democracy relevant to UN processes and agendas. We also collaborate with the UN Secretariat, UN agencies and programmes, and partners on the ground on issues related to electoral processes, constitution building, parliaments, women’s political participation, data on democratic governance and the state of democracy, and on the 2030 Agenda, in particular on Sustainable Development Goal 16. International IDEA is an active member of the SDG 16 Data Initiative, which produces non-official data to track progress on SDG 16, together with partner organizations.