59th ANNUAL DPI/NGO CONFERENCE UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Effective Partnerships for Human Security and Sustainable Development September 6-8, 2006 UN Headquarters, New York

The 59th Annual DPI/NGO Conference, organized by the Department of Public Information (DPI) in cooperation with associated non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and taking place just ahead of the sixty-first General Assembly, attracted more than 1,500 representatives of nearly 500 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from 62 countries. It aimed to build on what had already been accomplished by greater NGO, private sector and civil society participation in many of the debates taking place at the United Nations, including the groundbreaking informal interactive hearings convened by the General Assembly President during the past two years. The Conference highlighted the importance of strategic multi-stakeholder partnership building -- with United Nations agencies and each other -- in support of human security and sustainable development for all.

Mr. Jan Eliasson, President of the Sixtieth Session of the General Assembly and Foreign Minister of Sweden, opened the Conference. He described his personal commitment to the NGO community and stressed that NGO participation was now accepted by the United Nations and helped the Organization to remain anchored in the needs of people around the world. Ms. Haya Rashed Al Khalifa, President of the Sixty-first Session of the General Assembly, noted that civil society had made a significant contribution to United Nations evolution and pledged to maintain an open dialogue with the NGO community.

Keynote speaker Álvaro García Linera, Vice-President of Bolivia, speaking on behalf of Bolivian President Evo Morales, urged civil society representatives to press their home Governments, particularly in the north, to stop perpetuating the centuries-old, “one size fits all” development myth. Addressing the Conference via live video-link, he said that the industry-first myth had been used to systematically marginalize or even destroy agricultural livelihoods for years. But, it was clear that the earth simply could not sustain a linear pattern of consumption disguised as development.

The main characteristics of this year’s Conference were the high participation of youth participants and speakers and the real-life examples of the work at the grass roots level towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The three plenary sessions discussed “Moving Development Forward: Accountability, Transparency, Equitable Trade Policies”; “Achieving Financial and Ecological Sustainability”; and “the Role of the Media and Communications Technology in Achieving the MDGs.” The six roundtables addressed science and technology for education; emerging approaches to healthcare, including gender-based HIV and AIDS; human security: responsibility to protect and the peacebuilding commission; civil society and global partnerships for development; commitment to reducing extreme poverty and hunger; and promoting respect for cultural diversity in conflict resolution. Additionally, ten midday workshops took place every day at lunchtime. The Conference also provided thematic networking sessions as well as other initiatives such as a film festival.

In his closing remarks to the Conference, Secretary-General Kofi Annan praised the ever stronger partnership between the United Nations and NGOs and said: “You have the capacity to push the envelope and say things that we cannot say, and things that I cannot say. In some areas, you lead and we catch up.”

Juan Carlos Brandt

At the mid-November 2006 Town Hall meeting, held jointly with DPI and the NGO/DPI Executive Committee, thirty contributions on the theme of the conference were received from NGO representatives in attendance. An email to DPI Non-governmental organizations requesting ideas resulted in an additional 30 contributions.

At the Conference Planning Committee meeting held in early December, two themes, Climate Change and UN Reform, emerged as favorites. After lengthy debate, Climate Change emerged as the clear choice and will be the conference theme.

In early 2007, the committee will decide on a conference title and will designate the various conference subcommittees. The Co-Chairs of the Planning Committee, Juan Carlos Brandt and Richard Jordan, welcome and encourage YOUR participation in all phases of the conference preparations.

Richard Jordan

The Survey was a first step in eliciting systematized feedback from the DPI/NGO community at the UN regarding services and programs provided by DPI and the NGO/DPI Executive Committee. The results were presented at the NGO/DPI 9 November Communications Workshop, Surveying for Change.

The SIROTA Survey represents a major accomplishment, although the limited number of responses clearly indicated a need for more effective outreach to DPI-affiliated NGOs. Also, more interaction is needed between the Executive Committee and New York-based NGOs that did not respond to the survey. The Executive Committee's initiative in establishing regional chairs is an attempt to also reach out to NGOs that are not represented in New York.

In the Survey responses, more recognition was given to the role of DPI than to the activities of the Executive Committee. Consequently, more information, clarification, and most importantly, action, should be forthcoming from the Committee in order to fulfill its mandate and provide a clear understanding of the division of labor between DPI and the Committee itself.

The Survey will have a follow-up in the spring of 2007. In the meantime, the Executive Committee has already begun to work on the findings provided in the first installment.

Aaron Etra

The Office of the President of the 61st Session of the UN General Assembly and the United Nations Foundation convened a forum to exchange views of Member States and NGOs on the future of the relationship between civil society and the General Assembly, 21 November 2006. H.E. Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa, President of the 61st Session of the UN General Assembly, was the principal speaker during the daylong meeting. Representatives from Member States, UN agencies and NGOs were present.

Sr. Joan Kirby, the Committee Chair, represented the NGO/DPI Executive Committee. In her remarks, Sr. Kirby emphasized the strong role NGOs play in fostering the work of the United Nations. “We all know,” she said, “that ignorance and misinformation about the UN threaten its very support worldwide. Yet there are 1500 organizations ready to ‘enhance the legitimacy, accountability and transparency of intergovernmental decision-making’ as Secretary- General Kofi Annan said in his latest annual report. We want to let the world know of the possibilities that the UN offers for an era of peace and justice.”

Sr. Kirby emphasized several key issues, all concerning NGO access to the United Nations and its deliberations. She began by recommending the appointment of an NGO/civil society position within the Executive Office to facilitate partnerships with NGOs and the creation of a permanent NGO Liaison with the Office of the Assembly President. Sr. Kirby also asked for Mme. Al Khalifa’s support in facilitating on-going relations between NGOs and Member States. And, in reference to a matter of paramount concern, Sr. Kirby urged Mme. Al Khalifa to keep the UN accessible to NGOs during the impending building renovation and provide the NGO Resource Center with adequate space to continue its information-providing mission.

“Our commitment,” Sr. Kirby concluded, “is to continue to deepen the goodwill of the world toward the United Nations because we see this institution as our best hope for a world where peace can be achieved and maintained.”

Lester Wilson

The NGO/DPI Executive Committee approved revision to its by-laws at its November 30, 2006 meeting. The revisions are intended to underscore the Committee's commitment to serve the more than 1500 NGOs associated with the United Nations Department of Public Information.

The approval of Regional Chairs who shall reside in the nine UN regions is perhaps the most significant change to the by-laws. Appointments to the regional positions will significantly increase the possibility and probability of effective communications with NGOs who are not located in the United States. Of particular concern is the need to increase the communications with NGOs in Africa, Latin America and Asia. A sub-committee has been appointed to develop and oversee the procedures for the appointment of Regional Chairs and for maintaining regular contact throughout the year.

Other major revisions to the by-laws include changes in nominations procedures to ensure more cultural and racial diversity; clarification of the roles and duties of the Committee’s two Vice-Chairs; the appointment of an external auditor for fiscal reports; and clarification of the relationship of the NGO/DPI Executive Committee with the UN Department of Public Information.The Survey will have a follow-up in the spring of 2007. In the meantime, the Executive Committee has already begun to work on the findings provided in the first installment.

L. Eudora Pettigrew, Ph. D

NGO/DPI EXECUTIVE COMMMITTEE – 2006-2007

OFFICERS

Sister Joan Kirby - Chair
Temple of Understanding

*Aaron Etra - Chair
Academia Mexicana de Derecho Internacional

*Shamina de Gonzaga - Vice Chair
Fundacion Cultural Baur

Janet Stovin - Secretary
Women of Reform Judaism

*Catherine E. Moore - Treasurer
International Federation of University Women

MEMBERS

*Dr. Joyce Braak
International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies

*Elizabeth Burns
International Association for Volunteer Effort, United Kingdom

Anne-Marie Carlson
The Kappa Gamma Society International

*Juanita Carrillo, Ph.D.
International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics

JMuriel Hertan
Women’s American ORT/World ORT

Jeffrey Huffines
Baha’is of the United States

*Niger Innis
Congress of Racial Equality (CORE)

*L. Eudora Pettigrew, Ph.D
International Association of University Presidents

*Stephanie Sigg
The ArtCenter College of Design

Daniel Utti
Philippine Human Rights Information Center

Anne Zanes
Peace Links

*Newly Elected

Editors’ Note

Welcome to the first online version of the NGO Reporter! We are excited about this transition to a new format that will permit us to transmit more information in a faster way and for far less than we have spent on these communications in the past.

The Executive Committee clarified our mandate this year and the Reporter will be more focused on its work and success on behalf of the DPI affiliates worldwide. And there is so much to report! The upcoming DPI NGO Conference on Climate Change, the improvement of the NGO Resource center at Headquarters, new NGO communications workshops for 2007, and the new format of the Reporter as noted above. Beyond this, important revisions of the by laws have been approved that will allow for increased representation on the Executive Committee in the future.

We are proud to serve as co-editors and look forward to developing the Reporter in its new format. Thank you for your readership and we look forward to your comments.

Patrick Sciarratta • Lester Wilson

EDITORS

Lester N. Wilson, Ph.D.
Long Island University
Patrick L. Sciarratta
Friendship Ambassadors Foundation

EDITORIAL BOARD
Juan Carlos Brandt
Chief, Non-Governmental Organizations Section / UNDPI
Sr. Joan Kirby
Temple of Understanding
Vincenzo Pugliese
Executive Office of the Secretary-General United Nations
Joan Levy
End Child Prostitution and Trafficking
Dr. Elaine Valdov
International Institute of Integral Human Sciences

CONTRIBUTORS

Juan Carlos Brandt
Chief, Non-Governmental Organizations Section / UNDPI
Anne-Marie Carlson
The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International
Richard Jordan
International Council for Caring Communities
Sr. Joan Kirby
Temple of Understanding
L. Eudora Pettigrew, Ph.D.
International Association of University Presidents (IAUP)
Lester Wilson, Ph.D.
Long Island University

DESIGN
Stephanie Sigg
ArtsCenter
LAYOUT
Carmela Colletti Fava, Pace University
Jeanette Lindsay, Pace University
Patrick Sciarratta
Friendship Ambassadors Foundation

Comments and suggestions
Lester Wilson (Lester.Wilson@liu.edu)
Patrick Sciarratta (psglobal@faf.org)