Issue No. 64 - August 2006 - Special 60th Anniversary issue
         
Anniversary Message from Kofi Annan
THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
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MESSAGE FOR THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS OF THE WORLD FEDERATION OF UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATIONS
New York, 2 August 2006
For 60 years, the World Federation of United Nations Associations and its member Associations have rallied people in support of the work and ideals of the United Nations.
Education has been central to the Federation's work. By raising local awareness and ownership of the activities of the United Nations, WFUNA members help make the Organization more responsive to peoples' needs.
More recently, WFUNA has mobilized impressive grassroots support for the Millennium Development Goals. Its annual reports, round-table dialogues, seminars, workshops, and regional Model UN conferences have all helped generate support for national and community-specific MDG campaigns.
Perhaps most encouraging, by prioritizing the participation of young people in its activities, the Federation is preparing a new generation of global citizens, and helping ensure its and, I hope, the United Nations' vigor for another 60 years.
I am pleased that your 38th Plenary Assembly will be convened, for the first time, in Latin America later this year. Your worldwide reach and grassroots presence symbolize, in many ways, what the drafters must have had in mind when they penned the stirring words "We, the People of the United Nations" in the preamble to the UN Charter.
On behalf of the United Nations Secretariat and its staff, thank you for your many years of advocacy and assistance. I and my colleagues are most appreciative of what you do, and you can count on our support as you pursue your goals of peace, development, human rights and democracy.
      
      
UN Partnerships in Action: Implementing the Millennium Declaration
Migration and Devel opment - the "Hearings"
On 12 July 2006 the General Assembly held its first informal interactive hearings with civil society and private sector representatives on international migration and development. NGO representatives highlighted the importance of a rights-based approach to international migration that should include labor rights for all migrants, universal access to health and social services, and the regularization of all undocumented migrants. Particular attention was paid to vulnerable groups who need special protection. Welcoming the suggestion of Secretary-General Kofi Annan to establish a permanent forum on migration at the UN, they encouraged a larger and more meaningful role for civil society in such an institution. Migration and Development will be the theme of the high-level segment of the 61st General Assembly in September. See: www.un.org/esa/population/hldmigration/NGO_Hearings.html
WFUNA Launches Global Essay Competition on WMDs
 The World Federation has launched its Online Global Essay Competition in honor of Dr. Hans Blix on Weapons of Mass Destruction disarmament. High school, college, and university students from all across the globe are invited to participate. The views and unique perspectives of today's youth are of great interest to the World Federation, and their voices will now contribute to renewed efforts towards a world freed from the threats of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons. Essays can be submitted until October 1st, 2006, and the five winners will receive trips to the World Federation's Plenary Assembly and International Symposium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on November 6-10, 2006.
For more information and all the details, please go to: www.wfuna.org/what/education/essay_competition.cfm
Contribute to the Secretary-General's Report
The Commission on Sustainable Development's (CSD) Secretariat encourages and welcomes inputs from major groups and organizations that will contribute to the CSD-15 policy process. Information submitted by major groups will be collected, analyzed and considered in the preparation of Secretary-General's reports. The Secretariat is seeking contribution in the form of a written discussion of a given policy option or possible action including a brief rationale and a brief reference to the necessary conditions for effective implementation. Major groups wishing to contribute to these reports should send responses in writing by 18 August 2006 to: csdmgregister@un.org
On Sunday 2 July the High-Level Panel on System-wide Coherence in the fields of Humanitarian Assistance, Development and Environment held a day-long consultation with over 50 civil society representatives in Geneva. The consultations focused on themes including gender equality, human rights and sustainable development/environment. The report of that meeting is now available: www.stakeholderforum.org/policy/ieg/HLPanelonSystemWideCoherence.htm
Recent Actions Taken on World Summit Pledges
- UN GA President released its report on the relationship between Member States and civil society
The President of the General Assembly, Jan Eliasson, sent on 7 July 2006 his Report on the relationship between Member States and civil society, including non-governmental organizations. It was compiled on the basis on consultations lead by Ambassador Jenie of Indonesia and Ambassador Løvald of Norway with NGOs, Member States and United Nations Secretariat and Agency Staff dealing with NGOs. www.ngocongo.org
- Democracy Fund Reviews First Round of Applications
The Advisory Board of the UN Democracy Fund met on 18 June to review the first batch of applications for funding and make recommendations to Secretary-General Kofi Annan for endorsement. Approved projects will be announced on the website of the Democracy Fund in early August, and the distribution of funds is expected to begin in September. The primary purpose of the Democracy Fund is to promote democracy by providing assistance for projects that consolidate and strengthen democratic institutions and facilitate democratic governance. For further information on the work of the United Nations Democracy Fund, please visit the Fund's website at www.un.org/democracyfund
- Peacebuilding Commission Briefings
At the inaugural session of the PBC on 23 June, UNSG Kofi Annan said that "There are few issues on which there is greater consensus, or higher expectations, than on the responsibility of the United Nations to help states and societies recover from the devastation of war." The Commission began its work on 19 June by holding informal briefings on the first two countries that it will focus on: Burundi and Sierra Leone. This session was attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sierra Leone, a representative Burundi's Permanent Mission to the UN as well as representatives of the UN and the Bretton Woods institutions. More at: www.un.org/peace/peacebuilding
Who's Who at the UN 
The Belgian tennis player Justine Hénin-Hardenne, the 2006 winner of the French Open, has been appointed Champion of Sport by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization. She is dedicated to campaigning against doping in sports.
The Peacebuilding Commission elected as its Chairman Gaspar Martins, the Ambassador of Angola, a once war-ravaged country where the United Nations helped to foster stability. Jean Arnault from France is the new head of the UN Observer Mission in Georgia. The Japanese optometrist Dr. Akio Kanai will receive the 2006 Nansen Refugee Award for his commitment to assisting displaced people all over the world. For more than 20 years, Dr. Kanai has provided vision services to over 100,000 refugees in Nepal, Thailand, Azerbaijan and Armenia.
What's Happening at the UN
International Youth Day
12 August
Youth Assembly at the United Nations
16-18 August, New York
www.faf.org/programs/unyouthassembly2006/youthassembly.html
DPI/NGO conference at the UN New York
6 - 8 September 2006
Twenty-fifth Meeting of States Parties to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
7 September, New York
High Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development
14-15 September, New York
General Assembly, high-level meeting on the midterm comprehensive global review of the implementation of the Program of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the decade 2001-2010
18 - 19 September, New York
WFUNA Highlights
Commemorating the Hungarian Revolution and the UN's Involvement
UNA-Hungary is preparing a publication for the 50th Anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution, which will be on 23 October. The publication is titled The Hungarian Revolution in 1956 and the United Nations, and is being produced in collaboration with UNHCR.
 UNA-Australia National Conference in Sydney
The New South Wales Division of the UNA-Australia is hosting the association's annual conference from 25-26 August 2006. The Conference will be celebrating the 60th anniversary of the World Federation and will be co-chaired by the President of WFUNA and the President of UNAA. The conference theme is Community - We the Peoples. Discussions will focus on a number of topics, including the MDGs, human rights, gender equity, alleviating extreme poverty, and peace and disarmament. One of the aims of the event is to provide youth with inspiration derived from people who have served the UN and multilateral organizations with distinction. Visit www.unaansw.org.au/conference/index.php
Inspiring Youth to Think, Share, and Act Through Sport
UNA-Canada recently launched creative and interactive websites for its Sport-in-a-Box project. Sport-in-a-Box empowers young Canadians to think globally, act locally and share their ideas through the universal language of sport and physical activity. This unique program uses the power of sport to promote education, health, development and peace. To learn more, go to http://unac.atomicmotion.com
Sport-in-a-Box has developed a series of exciting and witty Public Service Announcements that are currently being broadcast across Canada. These could be viewed at: www.sportinabox.ca
Youth Day in Manila
The UNA-Philippines (UNA-P), in collaboration with UN Volunteers and UNDP, is hosting its 7th Annual International Youth Day Celebration from 10-12 August 2006. The theme for the celebration is "Millennium Development Goals: Youth UNITE in Action!", Activities will include a leadership conference, a workshop on beginning MDG projects, an international youth expo showcasing successful ongoing MDG projects, and a day of community service. UNA-P will honor five "Youth in Service" Award winners for their leadership, community service, scholarship, and dedication to the UN. The conference aims to strengthen the connections between youth groups, cultivate MDG projects globally, and to increase youth participation in UN programs and volunteer efforts.
New Website for UNA-UK Youth
A new website has been launched for UNYSA, the UNA-UK Youth and Student Association. Go to www.una.org.uk/youth to learn about the latest UNYSA events, get involved in the Stop AIDS and citizenship campaigns, and view pictures from UNYSA's annual conference.
ARMUN Follow-up in East Africa - EARMUN
As a follow-up project to the 2005 African Regional Model UN conference, the UNAs of Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania are co-hosting the East African Regional Model UN from 1-4 August 2006 at the UN offices in Nairobi, Kenya. Over 200 young people from the East African region and surrounding areas are discussing how they could become more active in implementing the MDGs. It is hoped that this Model UN will lead to the creation of a stronger youth network in East Africa.
VIMUN
The UN Youth and Student Association of Austria and the Academy Forum for Foreign Affairs will be co-hosting the Vienna International Model United Nations from 6 to 10 August. VIMUN 2006 will be held at the UN Office in Vienna. The conference will simulate seven commissions, and discuss a diversity of topics including nuclear non-proliferation and the crisis in the Middle East. For more, visit: www.afa.at 
New UNA, new MUN
In conjunction with the national UN DPI branch, the recently established UNA-Armenia organized a Model UN conference on the topic "Nuclear Crisis over North Korea" on 25 July. Participants simulated a Security Council emergency session on the looming nuclear crisis after North Korea had launched a missile test in early July.
Global Civil Society: How it Networks
State of the Future
The Millennium Project--a global participatory think tank--will release its10th annual State of the Future report on August 15, 2006. This "Report Card on the Future" distills the collective intelligence of over 2,000 leading scientists, futurists, scholars, and policy advisors who work for governments, corporations, NGOs, universities, and international organizations. The 2006 State of the Future comes in two parts: a hardcopy executive summary and a CD. The CD contains all the research behind the print edition, plus the Millennium Project's 10 years of cumulative research and methods. Unique features of the Report include: 15 Global Challenges, 4 Global Energy Scenarios for 2020, and the State of the Future Index. Go to: www.acunu.org
TIG Podcasts - Listen to the Voice of Global Youth
Podcasts are short audio programs available for online listening, or for downloading to an iPod or other audio player. The on-line youth community TakingITGlobal, has recently launched its own podcast program which features the work of young broadcasters from around the world. The podcasts will provide a new and compelling audio window on the way global issues, daily news, and cultur al change affects the lives of young people. Go to www.takingITglobal.org
TIG is hosting the official youth website for the Toronto International AIDS Conference showcasing all the youth activities planned. Visit: http://youth.aids2006.org/
Amnesty International Launched Global Campaign against Internet Repression
Following the success of the launch of its internet freedom campaign in the UK , Amnesty International is going global with Irrepressible Information. The campaign aims to claim back the web as a force for change in the face of an increasing willingness on the part of technology companies to aid censorship and repression. Governments in some countries are cracking down on those who use the internet to communicate their views and denying citizens access to its wealth of information. The organization is urging internet users around the world to sign the petition calling on governments and companies to respect internet freedom that is available at: http://irrepressible.info
The online pledges will be collected and presented at a key UN meeting on the future of the internet in November 2006.
 Transparency of the Security Council
Security Council Report is an independent not-for-profit organization in affiliation with Columbia University's Center on International Organization that was founded with the encouragement of Secretary-General, Kofi Annan. The vision for this initiative stems from the belief that the lack of consistent, high quality, publicly-available information about the Council's activities is a consistent barrier to the effective performance of the Council itself as well as constituting a major handicap for the Member States at large, and the wider public. Security Council Report seeks to fill this gap by establishing an independent professional capacity, supported by a first-rate research staff, to provide information and analysis on the activities of the Security Council. The intention is to publish regular reports on the Council's existing and prospective agenda, supplemented by ad hoc bulletins on breaking news. For more information, go to: www.securitycouncilreport.org
Global Prize for IT Benefiting Youth in Developing Countries - Call for Nominations
The Development Gateway Foundation is calling for nominations for its US$100,000 prize for outstanding achievement in the use of information and communication technologies to improve lives in developing countries.This year's Development Gateway Award is focusing on initiatives that empower or improve the conditions of youth. The award was launched at the United Nations' World Urban Forum III. Both individuals and organizations are eligible to apply for the award.For full award criteria and to access an online application, please go to www.developmentgateway.org/award .
The application deadline is August 11.
Briefing kit for Human Rights Defenders
The International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) has produced a briefing kit for human rights defenders entitled "Review of the System of Special Procedures by the Human Rights Council: What Challenges for the Mandate on Human Rights Defenders? The publication is available at ISHR's website www.ishr.ch
GCAP released a communiqué for mobilization on the White Bands Campaign
The Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) released a communiqué for the mobilization in the perspective of the launch of the GCAP Month of Mobilisation (September 16th - October 17th). More information and a campaigning toolkit will also be circulated soon. Document available in English, French and Spanish.
Read the insights of UNA members on UN reform issues, contribute your own thoughts, or pass on the word to others!
http://wfunauna.civiblog.org
"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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