NGO/513
PI/1491
4 July 2003

27 NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS APPROVED FOR ASSOCIATION WITH DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION

NEW YORK, 3 July (UN Headquarters) -- The Department of Public Information (DPI) Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) approved the association of 27 NGOs from 13 countries on 27 June.  The newly associated organizations conform to the principles of the United Nations Charter, operate solely on a not-for-profit basis and demonstrate involvement with United Nations issues.  Most important, they have the information programme infrastructure in place to reach a broad audience about the work of the United Nations.  This information dissemination capacity is a unique criterion for association with DPI.

The newly associated NGOs include one from Asia and the Pacific, one from Central Europe, one from Latin America, seven from Western Europe and 12 from North America.  They represent a diverse range of interests, including education, creative arts, affordable and sustainable housing, women’s rights, humanitarian aid, conflict prevention, environment, volunteerism, disease prevention, information technology, ageing, population, children’s rights, disaster prevention and relief, women’s health and peacekeeping.

Several of the newly associated NGOs from the United States focus on academic programmes to prepare students to become a force for positive change in society.  Adelphi University in New York State aims to bring global awareness of international issues and the United Nations to the university community and the public.  The Art Center College of Design, in Pasadena, California, launched the “designmatters program” to implement design’s social and humanitarian responsibilities.

The Building and Social Housing Foundation (United Kingdom) works internationally to identify and disseminate innovative and sustainable solutions to the immediate and practical housing problems around the world.  The Chernobyl Children’s Project (Ireland) helps to alleviate the suffering of those children most affected by the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster by offering humanitarian aid and assistance to the victims.  The European Centre for Conflict Prevention (Netherlands) promotes effective conflict prevention and peace-building strategies to enable civil society, governments and the United Nations to resolve conflicts in a non-violent manner.

The Forum of Environmental Journalists of Bangladesh promotes public awareness of environmental issues through seminars, workshops and study tours for journalists.  The Observatory for Cultural and Audiovisual Communication (Italy) conducts research and develops multimedia, audiovisual and cultural communication to promote cooperation in Euro-Mediterranean areas on digital communication.

The International Conference Volunteers (Switzerland) connects volunteers in specific projects of not-for-profit organizations.  It also recruits, trains and coordinates volunteers for United Nations-related conferences and activities.  Quick Relief Foundation (Hungary) promotes new techniques and methods in disaster prevention and emergency management.

     Following are the organizations newly associated with DPI, listed alphabetically by region:

Asia and the Pacific:  Forum of Environmental Journalists of Bangladesh (Bangladesh)

Central Europe:  Quick Relief Foundation (Hungary)

Latin America:  Centro de Estudio y Formación Integral de la Mujer (Mexico)

North America:  Matercare (Canada); Adelphi University (United States); Aquarian Age Community (United States); Art Center College of Design (United States); Bond Street Theatre (United States); National Medical Association (United States); Organization of Women Writers of Africa (United States); Population 2005 (United States); Senior Net (United States); Sister to Sister International (United States); Women’s Health and Education Center (United States); and Peaceworkers (United States).

Western Europe:  Building and Social Housing Foundation (United Kingdom); Chernobyl Children’s Project (Ireland); European Centre for Conflict Prevention (Netherlands); International Association of Applied Psychology (Germany); International Conference Volunteers (Switzerland); The Observatory for Cultural and Audiovisual Communication (Italy); and Quick Relief Foundation (Hungary).

The DPI Committee on NGOs also confirmed the association of five NGOs with special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council:  Armenian Assembly of America (United States); The Chinese People’s Association of Friends with Foreign Countries (China); Catholics for a Free Choice (United States); Open Family of Australia (Australia); and Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur (Italy).

In other action, the DPI Committee on NGOs disassociated 44 NGOS that did not continue to meet the criteria for association.  This list will be made available in a separate press release.

The total number of NGOs associated with DPI is now 1,365.

For further information, please contact the DPI/NGO Section, telephone:  (212) 963-6842, e-mail:  dpi@un.org.  The directory of NGOs associated with DPI is also available on the DPI/NGO Web site:  http://www.un.org/dpi/ngosection/.

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