United Nations

Place the local issue in a global context

A broad starting point for global issues and international context.

Read the primary source

Research portal / Varies by resource

Research portal · United Nations

Read with context.

Use global sources to broaden context while keeping local jurisdiction and community experience visible.

Be explicit about which population and country the source describes; do not transfer national racial categories to unrelated contexts.

Limits to keep in view

Global context is not a substitute for local evidence.

Connect evidence to action

Choose a question, verify the relevant jurisdiction, and explain the action you are asking someone to take. A source-backed draft is a starting point—not a message sent on your behalf.

Use this in an advocacy brief

Research sources

Source text supports this summary. Human editorial approval, service availability and eligibility are separate checks.

Source-linked reference · Baseline source-linked record; editorial review pending

Related policy & program records

Shared topic, not a claim of causation or eligibility.

Your working notes

Keep the context with the claim.

Write the question first

What are you trying to understand? Identify the population and place before looking for a number that might support your position.

Capture the measure

Record the source title, table or indicator, units, reference period and any stated uncertainty. Preserve the original wording of technical definitions.

Distinguish observation from explanation

A difference between groups can prompt further inquiry. It does not, by itself, identify the cause or establish the effect of a particular policy.