In 1945, at the UN Charter Conference, the League of Women Voters was invited by President Harry Truman to serve as a consultant to the U.S. delegation. Since that time, the League has continued its presence at the United Nations through its one official and two alternate observers. In July 1997, the League was granted Special Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), which provides the opportunity to make interventions on issues the League supports. Consultative status allows the League to: make formal oral or written statements to the UN and be consulted by the UN in areas which the League has expertise
The current UN Observers for the League are:
Rosalee Keech, U.N. Observer. Rosalee has been a League member for more than 10 years. She serves on the UN's NGO Working Group on Girls and as co-chair for its task force to prevent violence against women and girls. Her focus at the UN is to promote the democratic process and the prevention of violence. Rosalee is a member of the League of Women Voters of the Montville Area (New Jersey).
Mary Fox, 1st Alternate Observer. Mary is a member of the League of Women Voters of New Castle (NY), where she has served in a variety of positions. Her focus at the UN is environmental sustainability and issues surrounding aging. She serves in the NGO Committee on the Aging.
Margery Cohen, Alternate Observer. Margery became an alternative observer at the UN in 1987. A member of the League of Women Voters of Maplewood-South Orange (NJ), Margery works for the human rights of women and girls.
Judith (Judy) Schachter, Alternate Observer. Judy has been a member of the League for more than 40 years. At the UN she serves on the NGO Working Group on Girls and its task force To Prevent Violence against Women and Girls. She also serves on the NGO Committee to Stop Trafficking in Persons and two of its task forces. Her focus at the UN is to promote the empowerment of women and girls and the prevention of violence.
