UN Connections
The World Federation of United Nations Associations Newsletter
Issue No. 56 - November/ December 2005
In this issue:
Draft Resolution on Peacebuilding Commission Presented to General Assembly
On 18 November, the President of the General Assembly presented the new draft resolution on the Peacebuilding Commission to member states, who will now have the opportunity to review the resolution, consult within their regional or country groupings and then submit comments to the co-chairs. The draft resolution encourages the Commission to consult with civil society and makes references to the inclusion of women's organizations, the integration of gender perspectives, and the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflict. The resolution also makes reference to the Peacebuilding Support Office and the Fund, reaffirming requests to the Secretary-General to establish these respective entities.
For more: www.reformtheun.org
An NGO Perspective on the Peacebuilding Commission
Saferworld is a UK-based, independent, non-governmental organization that is working to prevent armed violence and create safer communities. Due to the complex nature of this problem, a comprehensive approach is crucial to identifying and tackling all its aspects. This is why Saferworld works with those involved at every level: international bodies, governments and non-government organizations. Safeworld recently published a briefing by Richard Ponzio, entitled "The Creation and Functioning of the UN Peacebuilding Commission". The report outlines the idea for establishing the Commission, its purpose, its functioning, and the unresolved political and technical issues that still need to be overcome.
For more info, and to read the report go to: www.saferworld.org.uk
Beginning in 2006, WFUNA will launch a "Thematic Forum" This will be a venue to showcase the work of UNAs, as well as an opportunity to tap into the valuable resources and insights of WFUNA members. The thematic forum would provide a venue for UNAs to discuss how the issues on the agenda at the UN affect them locally, nationally and regionally. UNA members can share opinions, write articles, compile reports or feature related activities in depth. The first topic will be the Peacebuilding Commission. Any UNA members interested in contributing to this forum, please contact Fruzsina Molnar at molnar@wfuna.org .
Global Civil Society Champion:
Presidential Professor Thomas G. Weiss
 Is the idea of a forward-looking history an oxymoron or a constructive way of improving the future by learning from past mistakes? According to Professor Thomas G. Weiss, it is not an oxymoron, and "learning from the past may be difficult, but that is no excuse for not trying". With his leadership, this is exactly what the United Nations Intellectual History Project (UNIHP) has set-out as its goal. As he explains, the project's research seeks to "stand on the shoulders of past giants in order to confront future challenges, to learn from past successes and failures in order to improve multilateral cooperation in the future".
Thomas G. Weiss is a Presidential Professor at The Graduate Center of The City University of New York and Director of the Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies, where he is co-director of the UNIHP and editor of Global Governance. The UNIHIP has embarked on tracing the origin and analyzing the evolution of key ideas and concepts about international economic and social development born or nurtured under UN auspices. The motivations behind these ideas, as well as their relevance, influence, and impact are being assessed as part of this program.
In a discussion with the Editor of UN Connections, Professor Weiss described the "three UNs": the first is the arena where states make decisions; it is the main UN that people think about. The second is the Secretariat and its leadership. And the third are the "hangers-on"-- the relevant NGOs, experts and consultants. The second and third UNs have been very consequential to the UN with their contributions and creativity. Looking towards the foreseeable future of the world body, Professor Weiss explains that "states will remain the the main players at the UN, but the role of civil society will be to keep them honest, to make them accountable to keep the promises that they make, and to push them to move faster then they would otherwise".
UN Partnerships in Action: Implementing the Millennium Declaration
"Freedom From Want": The Development Agenda
Report on World Hunger Urges Governments to Accelerate Hunger Reduction
Hunger and malnutrition are killing nearly six million children each year - a figure that roughly equals the entire pre-school population of a large country such as Japan, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) said in a new edition of its annual hunger report, "The State of Food Insecurity in the World", published in November 2005. Many of these children die from a handful of treatable infectious diseases including diarrhea, pneumonia, malaria and measles. They would survive if their bodies and immune systems had not been weakened by hunger and malnutrition.
The Special Programme for Food Security (SPFS) is FAO's flagship initiative for reaching the goal of halving the number of hungry in the world by 2015. Partnership with civil society is inherent in the approach of this program. The SPFS offers opportunities to compare and learn from the experiences of both FAO and NGOs in the field, and to bring constraints perceived by farmers at the local level to the attention of policy-makers.
For more, visit: www.fao.org/spfs/index_en.asp
UN's "2005 AIDS Epidemic Update"
According to the new joint report of UNAIDS and the World Health Organization (WHO), the "2005 AIDS Epidemic Update", the rate of HIV infections are decreasing in several countries, but the global number of people living with HIV continues to rise. The report calls for increased HIV prevention and treatment efforts that are needed to slow and reverse the AIDS epidemic.
Take Action to end AIDS, support World AIDS Day on December 1st by making your contribution!
"Freedom From Fear": The Security Agenda
5th Anniversary of Security Council Resolution 1325
Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, was unanimously adopted on 30 October 2000. This marked the first time the Security Council addressed the disproportionate and unique impact of armed conflict on women, recognized the under-valued and under-utilized contributions women make to conflict prevention, peacekeeping, conflict resolution and peace-building, and stressed the importance of their equal and full participation as active agents in peace and security. To mark the 5th anniversary of the adoption of this essential resolution, there was a UN Security Council open debate with the participation of governments, UN agencies, and civil society.
For information about the fifth anniversary of Resolution 1325, visit the new Women's Watch website: www.un.org/womenwatch/feature/5years1325/ To read government, UN and NGO statements from the debate, go to: www.peacewomen.org/
"A Sustainable Future": The Environmental Agenda
United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 11 and COP/MOP 1)
From 28 November to 9 December 2005, Canada will host the first meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol in Montreal (MOP) in conjunction with the eleventh session of the Conference of the Parties to the Climate Change Convention (COP). The conference marks the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol, and is set to be the largest intergovernmental climate conference since the Protocol was adopted in 1997. Some 8,000-10,000 participants are expected.
Currently, over 600 NGOs and 50 IGOs are admitted as observers. The NGOs represent a broad spectrum of interests, and embrace representatives from business and industry, environmental groups, indigenous populations, local governments and municipal authorities, research and academic institutes, parliaments, labor unions, faith groups, women and youth. Instructions for registering as an observer NGO can be found at: http://unfccc.int/meetings/cop_11/items/3394.php
"Renewing the UN": The Institutional Agenda
Young People for Democracy
The Youth Movement for Democracy (YMD) is a global community of youth and allies working non-violently for democracy. It was founded by a group of young people who believe in and work for fair elections, free speech, and human rights. The YMD is a meeting space for the free exchange of ideas. It is a network that links like-minded young people with each other, with resources, and with opportunities. The YMD was founded in 2004, in South Africa, at the Third Assembly of the World Movement for Democracy.
From 13 to 15 December, the Movement will host the first Global Youth Conference on Democracy and Political Participation in Santo Andre - Sao Paulo, Brazil. It will enjoy the participation of democracy leaders from Brazil and all parts of the world.
For more, go to:www.ymd.youthlink.org
Whose Who at the UN
New Judges to serve on the ICJ
Four prominent jurists were elected on 7 November to serve on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for a term of nine years beginning on 6 February 2006. Emerging from six rounds of voting which were needed to obtain the required absolute majority in both the Security Council and the General Assembly, the new judges are: Mohamed Bennouna of Morocco; Kenneth Keith of New Zealand; Bernardo Sepúlveda Amor of Mexico; and Leonid Skotnikov of the Russian Federation. Thomas Buergenthal of the United States, whose term was due to expire on 5 February 2006, was re-elected for a second term.
Secretary-General Kofi Annan has informed the Security Council of his intention to appoint former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, as his Special Envoy to lead the political process to determine the future status of the ethnically divided, UN administered Serbian province of Kosovo.
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan appointed renowned Kenyan constitutional lawyer Yash Pal Ghai his Special Representative on human rights in Cambodia.
What's Happening at the UN
World AIDS Day
1 December
International Day of Disabled Persons
3 December
International Volunteer Day
5 December
Human Rights Day
10 December
Launch of the "State of the World's Children Report 2006"
13 December
7th Session of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities
16 January
WFUNA Asia and Pacific Regional Model UN
9-12 February
WFUNA Highlights
The 188th session of the Executive Committee of WFUNA met in Geneva from 4-6 November. The Ex Co took the follwing decisions:
- to extend the period for applications for the position of Secretary-General until one month prior to the opening of the 189th session of the ExCo in Spring 2006
- affirmed that Geneva is the location of WFUNA's headquarters
- confirmed the receipt of the offer of UNA-Argentina to host the 38th WFUNA Plenary Assembly in November 2006
- requested that any proposed amendments to the Constitution be submitted to the Secretariat before its next meeting
- approved the membership applications of UNA-Syria and UNA-Mozambique
- thanked the Indian Federation of UNAs (IFUNA) for its commitment to hosting the Second WFUNA Asia and Pacific Regional Model UN
 The WFUNA Task Force on WSIS attended the WSIS Summit in Tunis, Tunisia from 17 to 19 November 2005. It also organized an ICT related side event and held a stall at the ICT4all exhibition. The Task Force wanted to utilize its networking experience and testify on how civil society entities can benefit from networking with each other both locally and internationally. WFUNA's Deputy Secretary General, Bruna Faidutti, was among the selected speakers to address the Plenary of the Tunis Summit where she addressed the issue of Human Rights in the Information Society highlighting the importance of freedom of expression for all human beings.
UNA-Switzerland held its fall event in Pfäffikon, a stronghold of opponents to the Swiss membership to the United Nations. Two years after Switzerland had become the UN's 191st member, UNA-Switzerland wanted to demonstrate how the government is now actively involved within the UN, especially in the field where, for example, it is participating in the UN's anti-landmine campaign. For more information see: www.schweiz-uno.ch
The President of UNA-Pakistan, H.Z. Iqbal Chishti, sent a message thanking Secretary-General Kofi Annan and all the heads of state who are participating in the donors conference. It is hoped that the donor's conference will be a crucial step towards rebuilding the areas devastated by the earthquake, and restoring the welfare of the people in these areas. The UNA has been actively participating in the relief efforts.
TheUNA-Argentina took part in organizing the conference, "Childhood and Adolescence: a Challenge for the Millennium Development Goals" on 23 November, at Lomas de Zamora University's School of Law.
As the holidays are drawing closer, the UNA-Trinidad and Tobago has launched its Christmas card project. The cards feature the work of local artists, and are a part of the UNAs fundraising strategy.
In celebration of WFUNA's 60th anniversary, the Indian Federation of UNAs (IFUNA) will host the Second WFUNA Asia and Pacific Regional Model UN conference in New Delhi, from 9-12 February 2006. The conference in India will simulate the UN Economic and Social Commission of the Asia and Pacific (ESCAP) and focus on the Millennium Development Goals. The theme for the event is "The Millennium Development Goals: Strengthening Human Security in Asia". Delegations of university students will be selected and prepared by the UNAs in each country of the region. Registration will be open on the WFUNA website in early December. An informal regional meeting for UNA representatives will be held in conjunction to the Model UN. For more info, visit: www.wfuna.org/what/education/upcoming_model_un_events/index.cfm
From 2-4 December the UNA-Belgium Flanders is organizing the Interuniversity Model UN in Brussels, in cooperation with the Flemish Universities and the Belgian Royal Institute for International Relations. On the occasion of Human Rights Day, the UNA will host a conference on 9 December and on 14 December a pedagogical conference for inspectors of High Schools on "The UN and Education for International Understanding" will be organized at and in cooperation with RUNIC Brussels www.vvn.be
On 2 December, UNA-Germany will be awarding their Dag Hammarskjold honor medallion to Professor Klaus Topfer, the Executive-Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Professor Klaus was at the forefront of developing environmental policy as Minister of Environment in his home country of Germany.
As a result of partnership between UNA-Sweden and three African UNAs (Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania) this group will launch the Lake Victoria Project. This initiative focuses on the MDGS with an emphasis on HIV/AIDS, Capacity Building, and Organizational Development for the three East African UNAs. The program is supported by the Lake Victoria Initiative (LVI) of the Swedish Agency for International Development (SIDA).
www.unauganda.org
Global Civil Society- How it Networks
What do the human development statistics look like?
Gapminder, founded in early 2005, is a non-profit venture for the creation of free software that visualizes human development. This project is a collaboration between universities, UN organizations, public agencies, and non-governmental organizations. The website aims to turn dreary statistics into exciting, stimulating and practical images. It is a valuable tool for anyone interested in the state of human development in the world. You can download and distribute free software to contribute to "a world in motion".
The UNA-Sweden recently highlighted this website and its founder Mr. Hans Rosling, a Professor of International Health, by awarding him the UNA's "UN Friend" award.
http://www.gapminder.org/
Joint Press Release of NGOs in Africa
A coalition of human rights and civic organizations across Africa issued a Joint Appeal on Zimbabwe, sending letters to their Heads of State calling for African leaders and the African Union (AU) to address the human rights and humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe.
This mass appeal highlights the ongoing human rights and humanitarian crisis in the country and the failure of African States and the AU to address the situation. This letter writing action is also supported by human rights and non-governmental organizations in Asia, Latin America and Europe, many of whom work on the right to housing and shelter, and are appalled by the Zimbabwean government's program of mass evictions and demolition of homes.
Read the Joint Appeal at http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engafr460302005
CIVICUS launched its new Civil Society Watch activist web site
CSW works through CIVICUS' global membership base, other civil society partners and associated networks to mobilize responses such as statements of protest, letter-writing campaigns, media campaigns, public demonstrations, and fact-finding missions. For more information, visit www.civilsocietywatch.org
Test your knowledge of the MDGs; play the Taking it Global MDG game, and spread the word: http://mdg.takingitglobal.org
In December WFUNA will be distributing an "End of the Year Quiz". It will be posted on the website, and in the next issue UN Connections. We hope that as many of you as possible will be able to participate.
Fundraising Tip: "UNA Best Practice"
In December 2005, the UNA-Finland will launch its "Well Done Finland" Campaign. Five prominent Finnish design companies each created a product in UN blue. When buying these Finnish design products, such as a bath towel by Finlayson, a t-shirt by Nanso, or a shoulder bag by Marimekko, consumers will be able to support sustainable development. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Finnish UN Association's 2005 Anniversary Fund. The Finnish UNA will use the funds to provide information about the UN's goals and activities around the world, and to support the objectives and the principles of the UN.
"We the Peoples" Forum
Share your insights and experiences of participating in networks and partnerships shaping relationships between the emerging global civil society and the UN.
Tell us all about "best practices", new initiatives, and how to optimize the benefits of information communication technologies.
Send your feedback, comments, and suggestions for future issues to the Editor at editor@wfuna.org
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