Tshimbombu Eric Wa Tshimbombu with UNA-USA Executive Director Faith Akovi Cooper during the 2026 UNA-USA Advocacy Summit — June 29 By Tshimbombu Eric Wa Tshimbombu, UNA-Atlanta Member
The 2026 UNA-USA Advocacy Summit marked a personal milestone. It reminded me that the qualities we develop as children can become valuable tools for addressing global challenges.
My commitment to advocacy began long before UNA-USA. As a child in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), I stood up for my siblings and spoke out against injustice. At school that passion led me to become an attorney in the DRC, earn an LL.M. in the United States, become a Registered Georgia Mediator, and found a social legal organization and an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) firm. For me, advocacy is not something I chose; it is a way of life.
Through the UNA-USA, I had the honor of representing Georgia and advocating before Members of the U.S. Congress on behalf of the United Nations. It was a profound responsibility to speak from experience and on behalf of billions of people whose lives are shaped by global peace, health, humanitarian assistance, and international cooperation. Our mission emphasized U.S. leadership and funding for the United Nations. My advocacy also highlighted the need for UN peacekeeping mandates and programs tailored to the realities of the countries they serve, with monitoring and engagement by the UN and the U.S. to achieve lasting outcomes.
Article 1 of the UN Charter establishes four fundamental purposes: maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations, achieving international cooperation in solving global problems, and serving as the center for harmonizing the actions of nations toward these common goals.
My advocacy through the UNA-USA advances these objectives. Advocating for the United Nations is different from advocating for an individual, a community, or a nation because its impact extends across the world, benefiting millions I may never meet. Recognizing that humanity includes each of us means advocating for the world is also advocating for myself. That realization brings humility and purpose.
More than one hundred advocates came together for this mission. We came from different backgrounds, professions, and life experiences, but were united by one goal: advocacy. For two days, we embodied the spirit of Article 1(4) of the UN Charter by harmonizing our efforts in pursuit of peace, health, food security, innovation, and hope.
Today, the DRC continues to endure the deadliest conflict since World War II. The Middle East faces ongoing instability; Europe confronts uncertainty because of the war in Ukraine. Geopolitical competition continues to intensify across Asia, Americans are suspicious and distrustful of one another, and global security challenges continue. In this environment, diplomacy is not a luxury; it is a necessity. Diplomacy costs less than war, peacekeeping costs far less than military intervention, and preventing conflict costs far less than rebuilding nations after conflict. Investing in the United Nations is an investment in peace, stability, and our shared future. It was my honor to contribute to that purpose proudly.
The 2026 UNA-USA Advocacy Summit marked a personal milestone. It reminded me that the qualities we develop as children can become valuable tools for addressing global challenges.
My commitment to advocacy began long before UNA-USA. As a child in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), I stood up for my siblings and spoke out against injustice. At school that passion led me to become an attorney in the DRC, earn an LL.M. in the United States, become a Registered Georgia Mediator, and found a social legal organization and an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) firm. For me, advocacy is not something I chose; it is a way of life.
Through the UNA-USA, I had the honor of representing Georgia and advocating before Members of the U.S. Congress on behalf of the United Nations. It was a profound responsibility to speak from experience and on behalf of billions of people whose lives are shaped by global peace, health, humanitarian assistance, and international cooperation. Our mission emphasized U.S. leadership and funding for the United Nations. My advocacy also highlighted the need for UN peacekeeping mandates and programs tailored to the realities of the countries they serve, with monitoring and engagement by the UN and the U.S. to achieve lasting outcomes.
Article 1 of the UN Charter establishes four fundamental purposes: maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations, achieving international cooperation in solving global problems, and serving as the center for harmonizing the actions of nations toward these common goals.
My advocacy through the UNA-USA advances these objectives. Advocating for the United Nations is different from advocating for an individual, a community, or a nation because its impact extends across the world, benefiting millions I may never meet. Recognizing that humanity includes each of us means advocating for the world is also advocating for myself. That realization brings humility and purpose.
More than one hundred advocates came together for this mission. We came from different backgrounds, professions, and life experiences, but were united by one goal: advocacy. For two days, we embodied the spirit of Article 1(4) of the UN Charter by harmonizing our efforts in pursuit of peace, health, food security, innovation, and hope.
Today, the DRC continues to endure the deadliest conflict since World War II. The Middle East faces ongoing instability; Europe confronts uncertainty because of the war in Ukraine. Geopolitical competition continues to intensify across Asia, Americans are suspicious and distrustful of one another, and global security challenges continue. In this environment, diplomacy is not a luxury; it is a necessity. Diplomacy costs less than war, peacekeeping costs far less than military intervention, and preventing conflict costs far less than rebuilding nations after conflict. Investing in the United Nations is an investment in peace, stability, and our shared future. It was my honor to contribute to that purpose proudly.
Tshimbombu Eric Wa Tshimbombu, UNA-Atlanta member, meets with Alexandra Schindewolf of U.S. Rep. Andrew Clyde’s office, representing Georgia’s 9th District, during the 2026 UNA-USA Advocacy Summit to advocate for strong U.S. support for the United Nations.
 Tshimbombu Eric Wa Tshimbombu, UNA-Atlanta member, connects with Samuel Hymes, Harvard fellow, and Rob Placek, Senior Advisor for Sports Diplomacy at the U.S. Department of State, during the 2026 UNA-USA Advocacy Summit. |  Tshimbombu Eric Wa Tshimbombu represents Georgia during the 2026 UNA-USA Advocacy Summit, joining advocates from across the country in support of strong U.S. engagement with the United Nations. |
