NGO/601 
     PI/1728
     14 July 2006

25 Non-Governmental Organizations Newly Associated with United Nations Public Information Department, 30 Are Disassociated

NEW YORK, 13 July (UN Headquarters) -- The United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI) has associated 25 non-governmental organizations (NGOs), bringing the number of NGOs that work with the Department in the area of communications and information outreach to 1,564. The Department, together with the Economic and Social Council, is a key focal point in the United Nations Secretariat for NGOs that wish to work with the Organization. The DPI Committee on NGOs held the first of its two annual meetings on 7 July 2006.

The DPI Committee on NGOs noted that the newly associated NGOs represented six different regions of the world -- Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, North America and Latin America. All of them conform to the principles of the United Nations Charter and fulfil the DPI criteria of association. They all operate solely on a not-for-profit basis and are involved in United Nations related work.

Raymond Sommereyns, Chair of the Committee and Director of the Outreach Division, stated that "DPI acknowledges the effective partnership between the United Nations and the NGO community and DPI continues to expect that these newly associated NGOs will have the commitment and means to conduct effective information programmes with their constituents".

The 25 newly associated NGOs are advocates for an array of issues, ranging from peace and cultural understanding; children and youth; economic and social development; humanitarian issues; assistance to victims of armed conflict; education; youth leadership; transitional justice; health care; women's rights, empowerment and education; indigenous people; peace education; energy; and support for teachers.

They include seven from developing regions. The Academy of Fine Arts and Literature (AFAL) and ISHA Foundation are both based in India. The former is a cultural institution in New Delhi, and the latter is an international service organization dedicated to advancing physical, mental and spiritual health for all human beings. Batey Relief Alliance (BRA), Dominican Republic, is committed to creating a productive and self-sufficient environment for people affected by disease such as HIV/AIDS, poverty and hunger in the bateyes (sugar cane plantation communities) in the Caribbean, in general, and the Dominican Republic in particular. The Kenya Women's Political Caucus (KWPC), Kenya, aims to enhance and facilitate the attainment of gender equity and equality in decision-making structures and elective leadership at all levels of governance, through policies/programmes and through mobilization, lobbying, advocacy and sensitization.

Eighteen of the approved NGOs are based in developed regions. The Daniel Pearl Foundation, United States, seeks to promote cross-cultural understanding and sponsor public dialogues between Jews and Muslims to explore common ground and air grievances, through journalism, music and innovative communications. EMERGENCY Life Support for Civilian War Victims, Italy, intervenes in war zones through humanitarian initiatives on behalf of victims of armed conflicts, of wounded people and those suffering from poverty, hunger, malnutrition, diseases, lack of medical care and education caused by conflict. The International Centre for Transitional Justice (ICTJ), United States, with an impressive record of collaboration with the United Nations, aims to promote justice, peace and reconciliation through Government officials and NGO advocates. The Overseas Development Institute (ODI), United Kingdom, has worked to inspire and inform policy and practice that lead to the reduction of poverty, the alleviation of suffering and the achievement of sustainable livelihoods in developing countries.

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

Africa: Futures Foundation International (Nigeria); Kenya Women's Political Caucus (Kenya).

Asia and the Pacific: Academy of Fine Arts and Literature (India); AREG Scientific Cultural Youth Association NGO (Armenia); ISHA Foundation (India); Liberation War Memorial Trust (Bangladesh).

Europe: EMERGENCY Life Support for Civilian War Victims (Italy); International Diabetes Federation (Belgium); Marianists International (Italy); Overseas Development Institute (United Kingdom); Teacher's Support Network (United Kingdom); Lauravetlian Information and Education Network of Indigenous People (Russian Federation).

North America: Armenia Fund USA (United States); Daniel Pearl Foundation (United States); Felician College (United States); International Centre for Transitional Justice (United States); International Cinema Education (United States); International Institute on Peace Education (United States); National Women Study Association (United States); New York Board of Rabbis (United States); Shinnyo-en Foundation (United States).

Latin America: Batey Relief Alliance (Dominican Republic).

Among the approved organizations there were three NGOs that also have consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council: Comité National d'Action pour les Droits de l'Enfant et de la Femme (Cameroon); Association des Etats Généraux des Etudiants de l'Europe (France and Belgium); Droits a l'Energie SOS Future (France).

As they no longer meet the criteria for association, the following 30 NGOs have been disassociated. It is DPI policy to ensure that its active roster of affiliated NGOs maintain the level of interest and support that informed the initial acceptance of their applications. Regional Council on Human Rights in Asia (United States); Réseau Sous-Régional Femmes Africaines et Droits Humain (Burkina Faso); Shannon Centre for International Cooperation (Ireland); Society for Social Responsibility in Science (United States); Southern Africa Church News (United Kingdom); Students Council of the Commonwealth of Independent States (Russian Federation); Summit Council for World Peace (United States); Terra Christa Communications (United States); Third World Educational Foundation (United States); United States Arab Chamber of Commerce (United States); UJMA (United States); UNEP Association for Japan (Japan); Union Internationale des Laboratoires Indépendants (United Kingdom); Union of Socialist Youth of Yugoslavia (former Yugoslavia); United Nations Association in Afghanistan (United States); Vienna Institute for Development (Austria); Woman's National Farm and Garden Association, Inc (United States); Women United for the United Nations (United States); Women's Foreign Policy Council of Canada (Canada); Women's Inter-Church Council of Canada (Canada); Workers Movement for Peace Disarmament (Greece); World Confederation for Physical Therapy (United Kingdom); World Conference of Mayors (United States); World Council for Global Cooperation (Canada); World Council of Indigenous People (Canada); World Federation of Development Financing Workers (United Kingdom); World University Service (Switzerland); World University Service (Japan); Young Men's Christian Association of the United States (United States); Yugoslav League for Peace Independent and Equality of People (former Yugoslavia).

For further information, please contact the DPI/NGO Section, tel.:
212 963 6842; e-mail: dpi@un.org. The Directory of NGOs associated with DPI is also available on the DPI/NGO website: http://www.un.org/dpi/ngosection.

 

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