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Issue No. 94 – May 2009
In this issue:
Topic people are talking about:
 “Disarmament was very successful right after the end of the Cold War, in the beginning of the 90’s, but by the middle of the 90’s it stopped and we have had a decade of sleep walking or even worse: sliding back into arms races again. Now, in the spring of 2009, we see a new spring for disarmament and we have to grab it. There is a beginning, there is new hope, and there is occasion to come to real peace after the end of the Cold War that was missed in the middle of the 90’s. We as public opinion, whether in the cities or on the country side, have to stand up and support our governments and push them to come to new agreements”. Hans Blix video message to the Mayors for Peace conference at UN Headquarters, NY, 5 May 2009.
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 United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Marta Santos Pais of Portugal as his Special Representative on Violence against Children at the level of Assistant Secretary-General.
 Major General Floriano Peixoto Vieira Neto of Brazil was appointed as Force Commander of the United Nations Stabilization Mission.
 Anthony Banbury of the United States was appointed as Assistant Secretary-General for Field Support.
 The World Health Organization appointed Jet Li as a goodwill ambassador. Mr. Li is expected to use his worldwide celebrity to raise attention on key health issues, including public health responses to emergencies and mental health.
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Commission on Sustainable Development, seventeenth session
4 - 15 May, New York
Committee on Information
4 - 15 May, New York
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
4 - 22 May, Geneva
International Law Commission
4 May - 5 June, Geneva
UNCTAD, Trade and Development Commission
11 - 15 May, Geneva
International Day of Families
15 May
World Telecommunication and Information Society Day
17 May
Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations
18 - 27 May, New York
WHO, Sixty-second World Health Assembly
18 - 27 May, Geneva
Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
18 - 29 May, New York
Conference on Disarmament
18 May - 3 July, Geneva
World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
21 May
International Day for Biological Diversity
22 May
Commission on Science and Technology for Development
25 - 29 May, Geneva
Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories
25 – 31 May
Committee on the Rights of the Child
25 May - 12 June, Geneva
International Day of UN Peacekeepers
29 May
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 The Prepcom for the NPT review conference
The 2009 Preparatory Committee (Prep Com) for the Treaty on Nuclear Non Proliferation (NPT) concluded its 2 week meeting on Friday 15 May. Within the first week, the delegates agreed on both an agenda and procedural rules. The new atmosphere that enabled states to quickly agree on non-substantive issues was not powerful enough to overcome the real divisions that exist between states regarding the NPT. Chair, Amb Chidyausiku circulated a promising draft of recommendations at the end of the first week. Nuclear weapons states insisted on amendments to the first draft, and NAM states called for changes to the second. Despite pleas for more time to negotiate, the meeting ended without a consensus on the substantive issues. Compared to 2004, the 2009 Prep Com was at least successful in preparing for the 2010 NPT Review Conference by establishing an agenda, procedural rules, and giving states an understanding of the major divisions and controversies. The meeting decided that the 2010 Review Conference will be held from 3 to 28 May in New York. www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2009/dc3174.doc.htm
Copies of the report of the Conference on Civil Society and the NPT, convened by UNA-UK/Edinburgh in the Scottish Parliament on 16 April, were widely disseminated at the meeting.
 Participate in Campaign Competition on Nuclear Non-Proliferation!
Initiated by Dr. Hans Blix in 2006, WFUNA's Students for a Nuclear Weapons Free World program has sought to engage the youth of the world in the nuclear disarmament dialogue. This third year of WFUNA's Students for a Nuclear Weapons Free World program aims to tap into the energy and creativity of the digital generation to invigorate world-wide campaigning to free the world of nuclear weapons. A competition is being held challenging students around the world to start their own campaign, either online or in their community. Competitors submit web links, photos, videos, posters etc to hub@wfuna.org by the end of July. The winners will have a chance to be invited to the UN DPI/NGO conference on disarmament in Mexico in September and to be part of a global video conference in October organized by the Project for Nuclear Awareness. For more information visit www.disarmamenthub.org, or email hub@wfuna.org.
If your NGO wishes to organize a workshop at the DPI/NGO conference on Disarmament in Mexico City in October 2009 email talleres.62dpi@gmail.com (for proposals from Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean) and afternoonworkshops2009@gmail.com (for submissions from all other countries) and ask for proposal form. The deadline for submitting the form is 29 May 2009.
 NGO preparations for UN Finance and Development Conference
In an effort to help keep interested stakeholders informed on the latest developments and events leading to the UN Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and its Impact on Development taking place in New York from 1-3 June 2009, the NGO Liaison Service of the UN has launched a dedicated weekly ‘Bulletin’ leading up to the Conference.
To read the current issue, which includes information on the release of the draft outcome document for the Conference, go to: www.un-ngls.org/spip.php?article964
 UNCTAD Public Symposium
The UNCTAD Public Symposium on “The global economic crisis and development – the way forward” will take place in room XIX of the Palais des Nations from 18-19 May 2009 from 10am-6pm. The event is being co-organized by the UN NGO Liaison Service and other partners. www.unctad.org/publicsymposium
 Commission for Sustainable Development Outcomes
The 2009 Commission for Sustainable Development (CSD) which concluded on Friday, 15 May, attracted high-level participation from both governments and NGOs through a series of roundtables, panels and side events. The outcome document highlights the increasingly urgent need to focus on “policy options and practical measures to expedite implementation in agriculture, rural development, land, drought, desertification and Africa”, and the deeply entrenched interconnectivity of these topics. A need for an integrated action plan that addresses short term emergencies while developing long term sustainable strategies was a key theme throughout. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said during the event, “we must pursue development that meets the needs of the present generation without comprising the ability of future generations to meet their needs”. The CSD-17 Final Adopted Text can be found at www.un.org/esa/dsd/resources/res_pdfs/csd-17/Final_text.pdf.
 ILO Launches Report
The International Labor Organization launched its Forced Labor Global Report, entitled The Cost of Coercion. This report comes with a powerful economic argument, as well as a moral imperative, to why governments must give higher priority to combating forced labor practices in the private sector. Besides the criminal aspects surrounding forced labor, forced labor practices result in economic losses as the “opportunity cost” of coercion to the workers affected by these abusive practices now reaches over US$20 billion, the report emphasizes.
www.ilo.org/global/About_the_ILO/Media_and_public_information/Press_releases/lang--en/WCMS_106219/index.htm
 Human Rights Council Elections
On 12 May 2009, the General Assembly elected 18 countries to serve on the Human Rights Council, the principle UN intergovernmental body for human rights. This year, Belgium, Hungary, Kyrgyzstan, Norway and the United States are joining for the first time. Bangladesh, Cameroon, China, Cuba, Djibouti, Jordan, Mauritius, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal and Uruguay were re-elected.
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 WFUNA President Dr. Hans Blix, together with other WFUNA leaders, met with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on 27 April to discuss priorities for the United Nations, the Global Model UN conference, and preparations for the 39th Plenary Assembly in Seoul, Korea from 9-12 August 2009. Dr. Blix recorded a video message to all UNAs where he talks about the meeting with the Secretary-General and about the Plenary Assembly. This can be viewed at: www.wfuna.org (it will soon be available with Spanish and French subtitles as well).
The theme of the 39th WFUNA Plenary Assembly to be held in Seoul, Republic of Korea from 9-12 August 2009 will be “Global Citizens for the United Nations”. We propose to facilitate a worldwide conversation to understand how different people think about what it means to be a Global Citizen. We welcome your insights – please send a message to pa39@wfuna.org.
UNA-USA is holding its biennial national convention from 12 – 14 June in Washington.
 As part of an effort to promote better understanding between peoples, the Seattle Metropolitan Chapter of UNA-USA is sponsoring an educational tour to visit UNA-Iran from 2-17 May, 2009. The tour consists of 25 UNA members from chapters across the United States. A highlight of the tour will be a meeting between UNA members of both countries where they can learn more about each other’s activities and find possibilities for collaboration.
 The Indian Federation of UN Associations hosted the 8th Asia/Pacific Regional Conference in New Delhi from 26-29 March 2009. View the photo gallery from the event at: http://aprc.ifuna.org:80/photogallery.htm
 On World Health Day, 7 April 2009, the UNA-Pakistan organized an event at the Dow University of Health Sciences on the theme "Health facilities in emergencies". The theme underscores the importance of ensuring that health facilities are resilient enough to withstand natural disasters and are prepared to operate in their wake to serve both the people directly affected and others in surrounding communities.
On 22 May 2009 from 6-9pm, the UNA-Haiti, together with the UN Staff Recreation Council is organizing celebrations to commemorate the Haitian Flag Day. This event will take place in two different venues: a cocktail hour in the Express Bar on the 3rd floor of the UN, during which the Mikerline Dance Company will perform its best Haitian dances, followed by a jazz concert featuring the Haitian jazz band “Chardavoine and Friends.”
 The UNA-Philippines has launched the first “Search for MDG Youth Champions” program, which aims to engage Filipino youth with the goal of helping the country achieve the MDGs by 2010. Participants will record their experiences in their effort to inspire people to take action and to create change in their lives and the community they belong to.
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WFUNA-youth is proud to welcome 6 new members from:
UNYA Philippines www.unap1947unyap.blogspot.com
UNA Slovenia www.unaslovenia.org/en
UNYA Japan [Website under construction]; Email: suda@earth.ocn.ne.jp
UNA Armenia [Website under construction]; Email: auna@arminco.com
UNA Mauritius http://pages.intnet.mu/unamauritius; Email: youthmauritius@yahoo.com
UNA Togo www.unatogo.org
Overview of all members of WFUNA-Youth: www.wfuna-youth.de/wordpress/unya-contact-details/
WFUNA-Youth has now 47 members!
In cooperation with UNYA Germany, WFUNA-Youth will hold a Train the Trainers Workshop from 22-24 May in Berlin. The aim of the workshop is to train interested UNYA members in the skills needed to facilitate a Project Management Workshop. The 12 workshop participants are from the UNYAs of Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the UK. www.wfuna-youth.de
From 11 to 14 June, WFUNA-Youth in cooperation with UNA-Spain will hold its first Leadership Workshop in Barcelona. The aim of this workshop is to equip experienced UNYA members with the skills necessary to successfully lead an UNYA branch. WFUNA-Youth is proud to note the unprecedented number of applications received for participation in this workshop. www.wfuna-youth.de
 From 19 to 21 April, WFUNA-Youth in cooperation with UNYA Switzerland held its 4th Project Management Workshop in Geneva. The workshop included a one-day study tour through the UN in Geneva and two days of project management skills training and one-on-one project coaching. The participants came from the UNYAs of Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Turkey and from the UNA-Slovenia. www.wfuna-youth.de
The participants had the opportunity to partake in the "Tour de Suisse", from 20 to 21 April in Bern and Geneva. Speakers included Sergei Ordzhonikidze (UN Director-General) and Charlotte Warakaulle (Political Affairs Officer, UNOG). www.junes.org
 UNYSA-UK just held its Annual Conference at Kingston University, and a New Youth Council has been elected. The outgoing Council, having focused on the integration of their 41 branches, is handing over to the new Council a series of projects focused on inter-branch cooperation and UN education at secondary schools. www.una.org.uk/youth
 The Youth Program of UNA-Sweden launched a youth campaign on the MDGs on a Swedish online platform. The campaign called maxa millenneimålen seeks to raise awareness and further interest about the MDGs amongst Swedish youth. It provides users with information, and 15 Youth Millennium Goal Ambassadors will answer user questions. In addition, users can vote for celebrities who they think should get engaged with the MDGs. http://bilddagboken.se/p/campaign.html?campaignID=36&c=96c4f988
 From 6 to 7 June, the Berlin-chapter of UNYA Germany will conduct its 8th weekend seminar, this time on UN basics. The approximately 40 participants will be working on topics such as the MDGs, Climate Change, UN Institutions and UN History. The application process has just started - the seminar is open to students of all branches. The working language is German. www.uni-gruppe.de/deutsch/weseminar/weseminar.htm
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 Global Model UN Update
The UN Department of Public Information, in partnership with WFUNA, is organizing the first annual Global Model UN (GMUN) conference at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, from 5 – 7 August 2009. Held for the first time under UN auspices, the theme for this University-level Model UN conference will be “The Millennium Developments Goals -- Lifting the bottom billion out of poverty”. The website is now active! Visit: www.un.org/gmun
GMUN organizers have issued an open call for individual applications. You can find the application form on the website. The deadline has been extended to 20 May 2009.
2009 WFUNA Model UN Schedule
29 April – 2 May
UNA-Spain held the 4th International Model United Nations of Catalonia in Barcelona. www.anue.org/en/cmun
14-16 May
UNA-USA held its 10th annual Model UN conference in New York. The conference saw the participation of over 2,300 students and 18 committees, covering diverse and pressing international issues such as separatist state movements, the economic effects of HIV/AIDS, micro-loans, biofuels, and the situation in Myanmar.
www.unausa.org/unausamun
22-24 May
UNYA-Germany is arranging a Model UN in Berlin, simulating the Security Council on the conflict in Kashmir and the General Assembly on terrorism. www.uni-gruppe.de
25-27 May
UNYA-Peru is arranging the third PERMUN in Cusco, Peru. www.ajnupcusco.es.tl
11-13 June
UNA-Canada is arranging a Model International Joint Commission conference at the Niagara University in the Niagara Region. The conference will seek to simulate real IJC boards that influence how issues and disputes are dealt with on ground level. www.unac.org/modelijc
12-14 June
UNYSA-UK is arranging the second annual Durham Model United Nations Conference 2009 (DURMUN’09). This year’s event will comprise of six committees and a total of 125 delegates will be participating. www.durmun.co.uk
18-25 July
The second edition of the Sofia International Model United Nations conference will take place in Bulgaria from 18th to 25th July, 2009. www.sofimun.org
2-6 August
UNYSA-Austria and the Academic Forum for Foreign Affairs will arrange the Vienna International Model United Nations with students and young graduates from all education levels from 18 to 35 years. www.vimun.at
10-14 August 2009
The fourth Eastern Africa Regional Model UN (EARMUN) will be hosted in Kampala by the UNA-Uganda, UNA-Tanzania and UNA-Kenya.
View photos from the Moscow International Model UN (MIMUN), hosted by UNA-Russia in April 2009 at: www.mgimo.ru/photo/105836/index.phtml
Read an interview with MIMUN guest speaker, UN Under-Secretary-General for Public Information and Strategic Communications, Kiyo Akasaka at:
www.mgimo.ru/photo/105836/index.phtml
Please send information about your UNAs upcoming Model UN conferences for inclusion in our calendar to stendahl@wfuna.org.
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 In the course of the last international meeting of the MCM Initiative in Budapest in early March, the results of the project's research efforts were compiled and analyzed, with the goal of developing a first visualization of the project database. The findings of the UN Agreements Research on malaria served as a thematic basis for this first presentation. The input gathered by the project's target group research among civil society organizations and state actors were used in the process of developing a user interface, tailored to the needs of the targeted users. You can find an animation of this presentation on www.un-informed.org/clip.
In addition, the new design identity for the project is almost complete. Aside you see the new logo and identity of the project, UN-informed.org. The new project website will soon be available on this domain, as well. Contact: sutholt@un-informed.org.
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 Alexandra Hooper from Melbourne, Australia is the most recent addition to the New York office as the Climate Change Coordinator Intern. She completed her Bachelor degree in Journalism at RMIT University in 2008, and is passionate about issues relating to the environment and biodiversity. Email: hooper@wfuna.org.
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 UNA-Rwanda is a non-profit, voluntary community organization working for peace and security, economic prosperity, clean environment and human rights through promoting the aims and objectives of the United Nations. The UNA advocates for the implementation of the MDGs in Rwanda.
UNA-Rwanda is a youth-led UNA – almost all members are young people. They work in schools through the UNA’s Patrons in Schools program where they train primary and secondary pupils on the work and functioning of the UN, and on ways in which young people can advocate for the organization. In addition, the UNA is building networks of young people interested in UN issues, and has developed a program that connects primary and secondary school students with mentors at University.
To read the full article click here >>
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By: Zsuzsa Biro
 Indigenous peoples comprise approximately 350 million people worldwide continuously confronted with discrimination and exploitation by state governments, corporations, and mainstream society. While the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was designed to defend the rights of individuals throughout the world, there have been limits in its capacity to handle collective group rights and issues particular to indigenous communities.
According to the United Nations Special Rapporteur to the Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, indigenous groups are defined as:
“…those which having a historical continuity with pre-invasion and pre-colonial societies that developed on their territories, consider themselves distinct from other sectors of societies now prevailing in those territories, or parts of them. They form at present non-dominant sectors of society and are determined to preserve, develop, and transmit to future generations their ancestral territories, and their ethnic identity, as the basis of their continued existence as peoples, in accordance with their own cultural patterns, social institutions and legal systems.”
To read the full article click here >>
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 Ms. Chandra Roy coordinates the Regional Indigenous Peoples’ Programme (RIPP) at the UNDP Regional Centre in Bangkok. She assists Country Offices by supporting dialogue and cooperation on indigenous peoples’ issues at the national, regional and global level. Ms. Roy provides Country Offices with advice and assistance on programming, capacity development, advocacy and other initiatives to implement a human rights-based approach to indigenous peoples’ development.
Ms. Roy previously worked with the ILO where she was instrumental in establishing a project promoting ILO policy on indigenous peoples. She served as team leader for a human rights training programme for indigenous peoples in Asia and Africa.
What awareness-raising activities are being conducted in the Asian region for the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and how effective have they been?
There are many initiatives taken by a whole range of activists on the Declaration. For instance, it is being translated into various languages, by indigenous organizations, the UN system, and others. This is the first step to help people understand what this instrument is, and to let people know that the UN system has looked at indigenous issues and has come up with a framework.
To read the full article click here >>
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 The United Nations Youth Association of New Zealand is hosting their Annual Declaration, a gathering of senior high school students to discuss and formulate a comprehensive youth statement of what they believe across a number of topics, including Indigenous Issues. This year's Youth Declaration will be held on 18-19 April at the University of Auckland.
 The United Nations Association of San Francisco and the United Nations University co-sponsored the Rotary Club’s first ever Peacebuilding Symposium on 15 March- an all day event with 8 panels. The poverty eradication panel presented micro lending programs, direct support, and fair trade projects. All of these activities allow for direct participation in promoting indigenous economies and income for peoples of developing countries.
 The United Nations Association of Australia and the Indigenous Leadership Network co-sponsored the Everyday people, Everyday Rights conference, which featured a high-caliber group of presenters and speakers who tackled everything from embracing diversity to adopting a national charter, pro bono legal work to corporate social responsibility, young people's rights to the right to know, Aboriginal health and wellbeing to human rights and citizenship.
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 Native Planet strives to give indigenous peoples around the world a voice amidst the threatening din of “modernization” and the power to preserve and protect their traditions. Global education and their active on-site humanitarian projects assist indigenous groups in their own cultural preservation and self-empowerment. With input from knowledgeable members of the communities to whom they offer help, they plan and implement projects tailored to the unique needs of each individual culture. www.nativeplanet.org
 In December 2003, a number of NGOs working with indigenous people in Cambodia, particularly in relation to land and forest issues began meeting as an informal national network. Increasingly, it was recognized that a more integrated approach to advocate on indigenous issues needed to be developed and that the NGOs require further support in order to implement this strategy. The Indigenous Minorities Rights Project commenced in September 2004 and has significantly contributed to a better coordination of the advocacy activities of NGOs, increasing indigenous peoples’ awareness of their rights and the development of indigenous peoples’ networks.
www.ngoforum.org.kh/Land/Indigenous/background.htm
 Building on the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child Day of General Discussion on Indigenous Child Rights, and recognizing the work of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the Sub Group on Indigenous Children and Young People was officially formed at a meeting held at Native Child and Family Services in Toronto, Canada on October 24, 2005. The formation of the sub group represents the first international focal point that specifically focuses on the pervasive and persistent rights violations experienced by Indigenous children, young people, their families and communities worldwide. www.isg-ngogroup.org/about.html
 The Saami Council has member organizations in Finland, Russia, Norway and Sweden. Since its foundation in 1956 the Saami Council has actively dealt with Saami policy tasks - it is one of the longest existing indigenous peoples’ organizations in the world. The primary aim of the Council is the promotion of Saami rights and interests in the four countries where the Saami are living, to consolidate the feeling of affinity among the Saami people, to attain recognition for the Saami as a nation and to maintain the economic, social and cultural rights of the Saami. www.saamicouncil.net/?deptid=1116
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 Indigenous Peoples and Environmental Issues: An Encyclopedia
Bruce E. Johansen, Greenwood Press, 2003
Australia, Burma, Peru, Russia (Siberia), Turkey, Tibet, the U.S., and Zambia are among the more than 50 countries discussed in this encyclopedia. Indigenous peoples, in the definition presented here, are "groups of human beings who have occupied an area before other groups intruded." Author Johansen has written widely on environmental issues of Native Americans, and the purpose of this work is to describe foreign intrusions (usually destructive) and their effects on indigenous peoples and their environment.
 Indigenous Peoples: Self-determination, Knowledge and Indigeneity
Henry Minder (ed.), Eburon, 2008
Achieving political recognition from their native countries continues to be one of the most contentious struggles for indigenous peoples. In this book, scholars from a variety of disciplines assess how indigenous groups are inventing and challenging new modes of identity, whether legal, cultural, artistic, or economic. Through the examples of cultural development in the United States, Australia, Guatemala, and other countries, the authors discuss the role of opposing ideals—such as national unity and ethnic diversity, assimilation and self-determination—in forming indigenous identities. This authoritative volume will change the way scholars consider the position of indigenous peoples around the globe.
 Political Theory and the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Duncan Ivinson (ed.), Cambridge University Press, 2008
This book focuses on the problem of justice for indigenous peoples and the key questions this poses for political theory. Contributors include leading political theorists and indigenous scholars from Australia, Aotearoa/New Zealand, Canada and the United States. They examine how political theory has contributed to the past subjugation and continuing disadvantage faced by indigenous peoples, while also seeking to identify ways that contemporary political thought can assist the "decolonization" of relations between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples.
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 Sampari
52 min, 2008, France, Damien Faure & Jerome Bonnard
Every year, indigenous leaders from all over the world come to the United Nations in New York, to participate in the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Viktor Kaisiepo, the representative of Western Papua comes to defend the rights of his people, colonized by Indonesia since 1969. Viktor’s task is to try to hedge the protocol to make himself heard by the international community. www.humanrightsfilmfest.net.nz
 Upstream Battle
97 mins, 2008, Germany, Benjamin Kempas
English Native Americans in Northern California fight for their fish and the survival of their culture. An energy corporation is damaging their river with a series of hydro-power dams, contributing to one of the worst fish die-offs in U.S. history. To confront their opponents, tribal members first travel to Scotland, then to the second richest man in the United States. The dam owners praise hydro-power as a low-cost, climate-friendly source of energy, a valuable resource they say they couldn’t afford to lose. Yet the tribes at the Klamath River may trigger the largest dam removal project in history. A long-term documentary with incredible access to tribal members, utility managers, and farmers in the basin — all fighting for water.
www.upstreambattle.com
 Indigenous People and the United Nations Vol. 1, 2 and 3
30 mins, 2006, Canada, Rebecca Sommer
This film was commissioned by the Secretariat of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues to promote and raise awareness on Indigenous Issues within the UN system, to politicians and diplomats.
www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/multimedia.html
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