Issue No. 62 - June 2006
Making an Impact in the Battle against HIV/AIDS
 HIV/AIDS is an issue of global concern that affects the lives of men, women, and children in every country and all sectors of society. According to UNAIDS, an estimated 38.6 million people world-wide were living with HIV at the end of 2005. In 2001, leaders from 189 Member States committed to comprehensive, time-bound targets for the delivery of the effective HIV prevention, treatment, and support needed to halt and begin to reverse the global epidemic by 2015 (UNGASS Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS). In the first week of June, world leaders gathered once again at UN Headquarters to review the progress made towards the achievement of these goals in the past five years. While there have been some positive advances, such as favorable trends in the incidence of new infections in a number of countries, there is still a great need for improvements in policy, implementation, and education. Civil society organizations involved in the UNGASS process are voicing concerns that if progress continues to be slow, the goals are in danger of not being met.
If the dire statistics are not convincing enough, the energy and sentiments in the air at the UNGASS conference, the many side-events and rallies, and at the Civil Society Coalition meetings, clearly proved that HIV/AIDS is an issue that the world must pay immediate attention to. Civil society organizations play an especially important role in the battle against the epidemic on the ground, and in the conference rooms. In a statement produced during the review conference, civil society defined their involvement with this disease: "After 25 years of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, we know what it takes to save lives. We know the groups at highest risk for HIV/AIDS. We know what it takes to prevent  new HIV infections. We know what's needed to keep people living with HIV/AIDS alive and how much it will cost"
Julie Coultas, a youth activist who represented UNA-Canada at the conference described her experience as "both inspiring and disheartening; both encouraging and deeply troubling". The main concerns of civil society that emerged from the dialogues at UNGASS include amendments to the "ABC policy" that promotes abstinence, monogamy, and the use of condoms; the politicizing of HIV/AIDS; and universal access to treatment.
Global Civil Society Champion: Pamela Hawley
 In a time of competing agendas, limited resources, and further challenges, NGOs and other civil society organizations often have to struggle to survive and succeed in their mission. In 2002, Pamela Hawley founded UniversalGiving (www.universalgiving.org), a social entrepreneurship nonprofit organization whose mission is to create a global platform for action where anyone can contribute time or resources to exceptional organizations. This free, web-based service connects donors and volunteers with civil society organizations around the world. It is a valuable, mutually beneficial, and easy-to-use tool for NGOs and donors. What differentiates UniversalGiving from other similar services is that 100% of the donations go directly to the NGO or project of choice. Instead of charging a fee or percentage from the donations, UniversalGiving provides a customized service for corporations which generates their revenue.
Part of what drew Ms. Hawley to start UniversalGiving was the positive influence of past experiences. In 1996, she co-founded VolunteerMatch, which has now matched more than 2 million volunteers with nonprofits in the U.S. On a personal front, volunteering abroad twice per year motivated her to create new opportunities for bringing together willing donors and volunteers with NGOs and projects in need of such resources. Ms. Hawley's international work includes experience in the area of microfinance in remote villages in India, crisis relief work in the 2000 El Salvador earthquake, digital divide training in Cambodia, and sustainable farming in the countryside of Guatemala. Through the help of the UniversalGiving website, hundreds of eager volunteers can now gain similar experiences.
NGOs have many assets that allow them to be effective on the ground and make a global impact, but they face challenges that can hamper their progress. According to Ms. Hawley, personal, on-the ground experience and understanding of what really works in the communities are some of the most valuable contributions of NGOs. Civil society organizations can be relied upon to be experts and they have the unique ability to "listen to people on the ground. They should be honored as experts." Ms. Hawley maintains that NGOs need to be able to market themselves and secure funding in order to pursue their mission and play their valuable role in global society. UniversalGiving facilitates this difficult but crucial process.
The World Federation is creating a profile on www.universalgiving.org.
UN Partnerships in Action: Implementing the Millennium Declaration
 Mobilize Against Poverty and Break the Record
Following-up on the success of last year's White Band Day, the UN Millennium Campaign is planning large-scale events to coincide with the month of mobilization around the International Day of Poverty Eradication on 17 October. The Campaign is inviting UN Agencies and partners from civil society, the faith based community, NGOs, schools, universities and youth groups to join them and attempt to set the first ever Guinness World Record for the largest number of people ever to "Stand Up…to bring poverty down". People around the world will be organizing public events on this day. Although still in the initial planning phase, there is already a bustle of excitement surrounding this project. To find out more about the Millennium Campaign, visit: www.millenniumcampaign.org and start planning your event today!
760,000 People Walk Against Child Hunger
On 21 May, the UN World Food Program and its partners mobilized people all over the world to walk for an end to child hunger. 420 walks were held in 118 countries to raise funds and awareness about this pressing issue. For pictures and personal stories from the events, visit: www.fighthunger.org/wtw06
World Cup: UNICEF, FIFA Partnership
UNICEF and the world's governing soccer body Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) officially kicked off their partnership campaign for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™ under the banner "Unite For Children Unite For Peace". The campaign spotlights the power of soccer in promoting values of peace and tolerance within communities and at the international level. The website for this project includes video stories of 11 children who have overcome various situations of violence and conflict through the power of football. As part of the campaign, UNICEF, FIFA, and the Family Violence Prevention Fund will launch a manual for football coaches to help them address issues of violence and discrimination, particularly against women and girls. Visit www.unicef.org/football
Sustainable Development Fair, 10-11 June, Geneva
The Geneva Environment Network - International Environment House will be hosting the 5th "Sustainable Development Fair", organized jointly with the City and Canton of Geneva. 60 environmental organizations will showcase day-to-day actions that can be taken by individuals, businesses, or local authorities. Concerts, food and drinks, entertainment for all ages, recycling workshops, used bike exchanges, construction of a giant recycled cardboard model of the Palais Wilson, and much more will be available at the Plaine de Plainpalais. For more, go to: www.ngocongo.org/index.php?what=doc&id=858
Human Rights Council Update
Preparations are underway for the first session of the new UN Human Rights Council that will take place from 19-30 June 2006 in Geneva:
- The Office of the UN HCHR is hosting the final two open-ended informal consultations on preparations for the first session of the Human Rights Council on 9 and 13 June.
- NGO update on the Human Rights Council at UN Headquarters in New York, organized by the UN HCHR and the NGO Committee on Human Rights, on 8 June.
- Human Rights Watch launched a brief issue paper "Human Rights Council: No More Business As Usual" to contribute to the ongoing discussions about how the Human Rights Council should function and develop its work. This is available at: http://hrw.org/backgrounder/un/un0506/
Who's Who at the UN
Ambassador Luis Alfonso De Alba of Mexico was chosen by Member States as the first Chair of the new Human Rights Council to serve for a period of one year.
Imelda Henkin of the Netherlands is the UN's new Pandemic Influenza Prepardness Coordinator to prepare the UN in case of a human outbreak of bird flu.
Mary Davis Fisher, a prominent US-based writer, artist, and motivational speaker has been appointed as Special Representative for the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS.
Carolyn McAskie of Canada was appointed UN Assistant Secretary General for Peacebuilding Support.
Jan Mattson, UNDP Director of the Bureau of Management, is the new head of the UN Office of Project Services.
Marie Fakhouri, a long-serving Lebanese official with UNHCR, was named as Kofi Annan's Deputy Special Representative for Iraq, focusing on humanitarian relief, reconstruction, and development.
What's Happening at the UN
3rd Session of the World Urban Forum (3rd Session) - Our Future: Sustainable Cities - Turning Ideas Into Action
19-23 June, Vancouver, Canada
1st Session of the UN Human Rights Council
19-30 June, Geneva
Civil Society Forum Preceding the ECOSOC High-Level Segment
29 - 30 June, Geneva
UN International Meeting in support of Israeli-Palestinian Peace and Consultations with Civil Society Organizations
27-29 June, Vienna
58th Session of the International Law Commission
3 July-11 August, Geneva
Civil Society Hearing on International Migration and Development
12 July, UNHQ New York
WFUNA Highlights
 WFUNA Seminar on the Human Rights Council
For the fourth year in a row, WFUNA is organising a three-day Seminar in cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR). This year the seminar, which will take place at the Palais des Nations in Geneva from 26 to 28 July, will focus on the new Human Rights Council. It is open to Government representatives, members of WFUNA, NGO representatives as well as students. The purpose of the Seminar is to introduce the Human Rights Council, and to highlight the changes brought to the human rights system by the creation of this new body whilst stressing its continuity with the work of the Commission on Human Rights. For more go to: www.wfuna.org/what/humanrights/hrseminar/index.cfm
UN Course in Iran
In cooperation with the UN Information Centre,UNA-Iran is holding an educational course for reporters and journalists on the United Nations system, with a focus on UN activities and programmes in Iran. The objectives, activities, and programmes of the UN will be presented by representatives from the UN in Iran. At the end of the course the participants will receive certificates of attendance signed by the UN coordinator in Iran and the president of UNA-Iran.
UNA-Haiti Dialogue with Young Haitian Leaders
Under the auspices of the U.S. Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program, a meeting was arranged between nine influential young Haitian leaders, a representative of UNA-Haiti Mr. Harvey Dupiton, and members of the WFUNA Secretariat on 19 May. The visitors included young activists, medical and legal specialists, journalists, academics, and local leaders, who shared their perspectives on the major challenges faced by the people of Haiti, and the role of the UN. Possibilities for collaboration with the World Federation through programs focusing on the promotion of the UN and youth initiatives were discussed with the Haitian leaders.
Model UN in Zambia
UNA-Zambia, in collaboration with its Youth wing, the Youth of the United Nations Association of Zambia, is organizing the first YUNAZ-MUN conference to be held from 12-14 July 2006 at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka, Zambia. About two hundred delegates are expected to attend.
C'MUN
The first session of the Catalonia Model UN conference (C'MUN), organized by UNA-Spain was held from 3-6 May 2006. The event simulated the General Assembly and the Security Council, focusing on topics ranging from disarmament and international security to humanitarian issues. Besides the positive response to the conference among the participants, one of the most remarkable features was the inclusion the highest political actors of Catalonia in the opening and closing ceremonies. More information is available on the C'MUN website: www.anue.org/CMUN/index.html
 Opening Ceremony of the Seventh Annual UNA-USA Model UN Conference
UNA-USA's three-day Model-UN conference opened on 18 May at a ceremony in the UN General Assembly. Over 2,000 excited students from close to 130 U.S. high schools and over 20 international high schools filled the large hall with bustling energy, talk, and laughter - a scene quite different from the normal day-to-day life at the UN. HE Mr. Jan Eliasson, President of the General Assembly, spoke passionately on the importance of cooperation, since "a world working together is stronger than a world working alone". To raise the energy level further, a talented young choir performed in front of the podium.
Visitors from Sweden
Four educators and members of UNA-Sweden travelled to New York in May to observe the UNA-USA Model UN conference. Johanna Wiklund, Helen Huledal, Ing-Britt Pettersson Nyholm and Lotten Hubendick are involved in the organization of Model UN programs all over Sweden, as well as supporting new programs in Africa and Lithuania.
Inside Global Civil Society: How it Networks
Teaching Tool on Climate Change
The International Polar Foundation produced an interactive, online version of the comic book "The Migration of the Ibanes", which is accompanied by a related teaching tool. This tool offers information about climate change and suggests activities for children to help them discover various aspects of sustainable development. For more information, visit: www.educapoles.org
 Muhammad Yunus receives the World Information Society Award
On World Information Society Day (17 May), Professor Muhammad Yunus was honored with the World Information Society Award. Prof. Yunus is the founder of Grameen Bank, an NGO with the objective of offering micro-credits to the poorest members of the community. In 1997 he set up the Village Phone program to provide outlying rural regions with telephone services operated by women, with the purpose of driving development and creating paid job opportunities for women.
For more information visit: www.itu.int/wisd/2006/award/yunus.html
Managing Yourself and Others: A Pick-up-and-go Training Pack
The modules in the "Pick-up-and-Go" packs provide a structured learning system for geographically dispersed NGO staff to deliver training where and when learners most need it. The materials are designed for use by facilitators who have presentation and management skills, but not necessarily any specialist expertise. For more information, click here>>
Gaming for Public Good
Videogames are played by millions of people around the world. As this technology matures, there is potential for a new breed of games to have a real impact on such diverse issues as poverty, health reform, and racial inequities. From 27-28 June, the 3rd annual "Games for Change" conference will explore real-world impact, the latest games, and funding strategies. Event details and registration are available at: www.gamesforchange.org/conference/2006/index.htm
News from the Indigenous World
The International Working Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) supports indigenous peoples' struggle for human rights, self-determination, right to territory, control of land and resources, cultural integrity, and the right to development. IWGIA's recently launched newsletter covers news and updates fr om the indigenous world. To subscribe, go to: www.iwgia.org
Useful HIV/AIDS Related Websites:
The High-Level Meeting on AIDS took place from 31 May to 2 June at UN Headquarters. Some useful websites for more information about this global epidemic are:
www.GlobalHealthFacts.org: a free service operated by the Kaiser Family Foundation that provides easy access to new HIV/AIDS data, offering country comparisons and interactive maps. The site also provides up-to-date data on tuberculosis, malaria, avian flu and other health issues.
www.GlobalHealthReporting.org: a companion site, providing news, information and events for journalists and others. See "facts-at-a-glance" and "an overview" of HIV/AIDS for the latest information and background on the epidemic, and visit the country profile pages for country-specific news and resources.
www.ungasshiv.org: news from the UNGASS 2006 Review, civil society resources, relevant links and documents
Fundraising Tip:
The 26th International Fundraising Conference, which will be held in The Netherlands from 17-20 October, is the world's leading event for senior fundraisers, attracting 800 participants from more than 45 countries worldwide. With a 25 year pedigree, the organisers know exactly how to inspire, energize and provide you with the latest thinking and techniques to help you stay ahead. For more information, visit click here>>
"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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