About Citizens for Global Solutions
We believe the greatest challenges facing humanity (war, climate change, the erosion of human rights) cannot be solved by nations acting alone. Since 1947, Citizens for Global Solutions (CGS) has worked to build the global governance structures needed to address them. We invite you to join us.
Our vision
A peaceful, just and sustainable world community democratically governed through a united federation of nations.
Our mission
To advance global solutions to governance challenges that transcend national borders, and to build toward a democratic federation of nations empowered to:
- Create just and universally enforceable world law
- Abolish war and armed conflict and eliminate nuclear weapons
- Advance peaceful means of resolving disputes between states
- Uphold human rights and freedoms, prevent atrocities, and ensure accountability for violations of world law
- Protect and sustain our planetary home
Our story
Founded in 1947 as the United World Federalists, CGS has since brought together individuals and organizations united by a common commitment to peace, human rights, and the rule of law. We are a non-governmental, non-partisan, membership-based nonprofit, and we believe true progress is a generational enterprise.
Milestones
Our founding organizations champion ratification of the UN Charter.
Five world federalist groups merge to found the United World Federalists.
Norman Cousins, a leading world federalist and co-chair of SANE, is part of the peace movement whose pressure helps create the US Arms Control and Disarmament Agency.
Becomes the World Federalist Association, a purely educational body.
Supports the US Commission on Improving the Effectiveness of the UN, which called for a permanent International Criminal Court (ICC).
Co-founds and hosts the Washington Working Group on the ICC.
The World Federalist Association and the Campaign for UN Reform unite as Citizens for Global Solutions.
Welcomes the UN Security Council referral of Libya to the ICC and delivers a 29,000-signature petition for UN action to the White House.
Pilots the Global Governance Fellowship with the World Service Authority and Trinity Washington University, taking undergraduates to UN conferences.
Launches Mobilizing an Earth Governance Alliance (MEGA) in Geneva with the Climate Governance Commission and WFM-IGP.
Our work
From championing ratification of the UN Charter, to supporting the creation of the International Criminal Court (ICC), to advocating for global frameworks addressing today’s defining challenges, CGS pursues change through advocacy, education, and coalition-building. See all our programs.
Recognizing that lasting global change requires new generations of leadership, we invest in youth education and engagement through free programs that equip students and young professionals with the knowledge, skills, and inspiration to engage in international affairs, advocate for UN reform, and lead with vision, empathy, and integrity.
Why a democratic world federation?
The case for our vision, and what it would change, in one place.
Our network
Education Fund
Our 501(c)(3) charity for education and research. Gifts to it are tax-deductible.
Action Network
Our 501(c)(4) arm for advocacy and lobbying. Gifts to it are not tax-deductible. Learn about the Action Network.
CGS is a member of the World Federalist Movement-Institute for Global Policy (WFM-IGP) and holds consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
Our values
In our work with each other, the Boards, Secretariat, Members and Volunteers strive to be:
- Trustworthy
- Open to diverse opinions
- Effective
- Collaborative
- Rigorous in tracking progress
- Sustainable
- Creative
How we hold ourselves to these
Organizational values provide the core principles by which an organization operates; including how the stakeholders of the organization relate to and treat each other. What ethical principles must be adhered to in order that the organization is respected and listened to by its stakeholders and the outside world.
Trustworthy
- Our communications with one another are clear and honest.
- We openly discuss ideas, issues and decisions in a way that assures transparency and collaboration.
Open to diverse opinions
- We listen to opinions that are different from our own, trying to understand the other’s point of view and why they hold it.
- We encourage everyone to participate in discussions, especially those who have a different point of view.
- We give adequate time to make important decisions, so that all participants can study, discuss, and understand the issues involved.
Effective
- We set meaningful goals that are focused on strategic action.
- We are accountable for meeting our goals and acting consistently with our values.
- We want our words and actions to demonstrate that we are competent.
Collaborative
- We recognize that we are stronger together.
- We rely on each other’s expertise and skills to accomplish our mission.
- In order to increase our effectiveness, we work collaboratively and cooperatively.
- We critique ideas and behaviors but do not criticize people.
Rigorous in tracking progress
- We use clear, rigorous thinking to define our success measures.
- We rigorously track and report a variety of indicators that measure how effectively we deliver on our mission.
- We have discipline to hold the organization accountable for the trajectory of our success.
Sustainable
- We establish budgets that reflect realistic expectations of income and expenses.
- We manage our resources carefully.
- We use best-practice techniques for raising funds and use funds raised efficiently.
- We reach out to a broad range of people, including all ages and all political persuasions.
Creative
- We set goals and solve problems by considering all options and thinking creatively.