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Secretary-General's message on the International Day of Democracy
New York, 15 September 2012
Today we look back on yet another year of remarkable events in the story of democracy -- a story that continues to be written by people who yearn for dignity and human rights, for an end to corruption, for a say in their future, for jobs, justice and a fair share of political power.
Their story is just beginning. Democracies are not born overnight, nor built in a year, or by holding one or two elections. They require sustained and painstaking work. Yet, once begun, there can be no going back.
Reform must be real. People do not seek authoritarianism with a human face. They want a virtuous circle of rights and opportunity under the rule of law, a vibrant civil society and an enterprising private sector, backed by efficient and accountable state institutions.
Inclusive dialogue is crucial. Diversity is a strength. We must work to promote pluralism and protect the rights of minorities and the vulnerable. And women must be at the centre of efforts to build democratic futures. They have been at the forefront of movements for change. They have a right to a real say in governance and decision-making.
The voices of the young must also be heard and heeded. Profound demographic pressures around the world make this an imperative. Faced with bleak prospects and unresponsive governments, young people will act on their own to reclaim their future.
Underpinning these prerequisites -- and essential for long term success -- is democracy education, the theme of this year’s observance. It is needed so that all citizens in all nations, in democracies young and old, established or fragile, fully understand their rights and responsibilities. And it is especially needed in countries that have made recent democratic gains so that progress made does not unravel.
The United Nations is strongly committed to working with partners to develop global and local initiatives that elevate democracy education as an integral part of all education initiatives and as a component of long-term governance strategies. Let us build partnerships between international education experts and Governments to develop and disseminate best practices. Let us develop a culture of civic participation to explore opportunities made possible by new media, and support countries in devising curricula and training methods.
In marking this year’s International Day of Democracy, let us use all our creativity to advance this mission. Let us work to bring democracy education to all, and in particular, to those societies in transition that need it most.
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Secretary-General's message to General Assembly of the International Auschwitz Committee
Oswieçim, Poland, 5 September 2012
I extend warm greetings to the International Auschwitz Committee and all the participants in this important gathering.
The world has much to learn from the lessons of the Holocaust, when tyranny ruled in so much of Europe and indifference to the plight of the Jewish people was the norm.
As Holocaust survivors, you have witnessed unspeakable acts and known immeasurable suffering. Through your eyes, the world has come to know the truth of the horrors of Auschwitz-Birkenau and the web of ghettos and camps that fed the Nazi death machine.
You have taken a long journey together. You have nurtured loving families and reached goals that you set out for yourselves. This is a testament to your strength, endurance and determination.
Today, I join you in remembering the millions of loved ones lost, friends and family who are not here today. I also pay tribute to your dear President Noach Flug, who passed away last year.
His legacy lives on through the good work of the Committee and the continued preservation of this site, which helps us to honour the victims of the Holocaust and safeguard their memory.
However painful, remembering the Holocaust and educating future generations is essential to overcoming prejudice, hatred and human rights abuses. These efforts also include speaking out against those who would deny or diminish the fact of the Holocaust.
The United Nations outreach programme on the Holocaust, established in 2006, continues to work with educators and partners such as yourselves to make sure your stories are heard and heeded as a warning about the consequences of anti-Semitism and other forms of discrimination.
This is vital work. The United Nations was created in the aftermath of the Second World War and the Holocaust to help ensure that our children can live in a world of peace, dignity and human rights for all.
I thank all of you for your contribution to building that future, and I wish you a successful assembly.
Statements on 5 September 2012
Statements on 5 September 2012
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Everyone has the right to be heard and to shape the decisions that affect their community. This right is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and fully integrated in international law, especially in article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Over the past century, we have made undeniable progress along the path of inclusion.
Yet far too many groups and individuals face far too many obstacles. Women have the right to vote almost everywhere, but remain hugely under-represented in parliaments and peace processes, in senior government posts and corporate boardrooms, and in other decision-making positions. Indigenous people frequently face discrimination that denies them the opportunity to make full use of their guaranteed rights or fails to take account of their circumstances. Religious and ethnic minorities – as well as people with disabilities or those with a different sexual orientation or political opinion – are often hampered from taking part in key institutions and processes. Institutions and public discourse need to represent societies in all their diversity.
More generally, in several parts of the world, we have seen alarming threats to hard-won gains in democratic governance. In some countries, civil society groups face growing pressures and restrictions. Legislation has been introduced specifically targeting civil society organizations and making it almost impossible for them to operate. Champions of democracy have encountered new confrontational measures. We should all be troubled by such backsliding.
Even in societies with a good track record, there is room for improvement. No country has succeeded in ensuring that all its inhabitants are able to participate fully in public affairs, including the right to be elected to public office and to have equal access to public services. Enacting new rights or removing unjust laws is not always sufficient. Too often, discrimination persists in practice, creating barriers and mindsets that can be hard to overcome.
Vibrant civil society groups are among the keys to the well-being and functioning of any nation, and the United Nations deplores measures taken to suppress them. That is why, on this Human Right Day, the United Nations is highlighting the right to participate and the associated rights that make it possible – freedom of expression and opinion, and peaceful assembly and association.
International law is clear: No matter who you are, or where you live, your voice counts. On this Day, let us unite to defend your right to make it heard.
Ban Ki-moon
(New York) On Thursday 20 February 2014, the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Ms. Angela Kane met with NGOs working in the field of disarmament and nonproliferation. This was the third such meeting to take place at the UN since Ms. Kane was appointed High Representative. The aim of this meeting is to improve coordination and collaboration between NGOs and the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA). It is also an occasion to assess the advances that have been made and that are still to be made in the field of disarmament. Thirteen NGOs were represented that day and participants sketched out their main campaigns for the coming year. Ms. Kane opened the meeting by highlighting upcoming some of the major disarmament and non-proliferation events in 2014: the Third Session of the Preparatory Committee for the Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the Fifth Biennial Meeting of States on the programme of Action on small Arms and Light Weapons (BMS5), both of which will be held in New York. She also discussed a number of issues including the upcoming one-year anniversary of the adoption of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) and the possibility that sufficient ratifications from States parties will trigger its entry-into-force. Having recently returned from the Nayarit (Mexico) Conference on the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons (13 – 14 February), the High Representative also had much praise for the civil society interventions given there and encouraged them to keep the momentum going. High Representative Kane and the group Ms. Mary Wareham ICBL-CMC The NGO representatives made presentations across a broad swath of interests including: work to address the impact of explosive weapons in populated areas, efforts to ban fully autonomous weapons or ‘killer robots’, universalization and implementation of the treaties banning landmines and cluster munitions, nuclear disarmament and the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons, cyber warfare, promoting the universalization of the ATT, stopping the illicit flow of small arms and light weapons, and disarmament education. Ms. Kane strongly supports this dialogue with NGOs and other civil soc
Join our campaign for peace, human rights and environmental sustainability. Let us, together, create a movement … a movement for change, a movement of all nations and all people, united, to advance the great causes of our day.”
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon 2011
The Department of Public Information sees young people as a critical group in its work with non-governmental organizations. We encourage young people already involved with a DPI associated NGO to become their organization’s Youth Representative at the United Nations.
Become a Youth Representative
Are you 18-32 years old?
Do you belong to an NGO associated with DPI?
Do you want to help make positive social changes – in your community, in your country and in the world?
Would you like to gain experience to help reach your education and career goals?
Encourage youth participation
Are you a current NGO that would like to get more youth involved in your cause?
Would you like to learn how to better support and encourage your current youth representatives?
How to get involved
If you are interested in serving as a youth representative of a DPI associated NGO, contact the head of your organization who will need to nominate you. Each DPI-NGO associated organization is allowed 2 youth representatives annually.
Some of the benefits and activities include:
- A yearly UN Grounds Pass which allows access to the UN Headquarters, in New York.
- A one-day Orientation Programme for DPI/NGO Youth Representatives
- Access to documents promoting youth activities at the DPI/NGO Resource Centre
- Access to youth-related public information events at the UN
- Participation in the weekly Thursday Briefings
- The opportunity to be a youth panellist at the weekly Thursday Briefings
- Active involvement in two bi-annual Communications Workshops
- Membership in the Youth Subcommittee as part of the Annual UN DPI/NGO Conference Planning Committee
- The chance to be a youth speaker at the Closing session of the Annual UN DPI/NGO Conference
- The opportunity to participate in social media coverage of the Annual UN DPI/NGO Conference
- Involvement in establishing a youth blog by and for youth
- Organizing and promoting NGO youth events publicising issues and campaigns on the UN agenda using both traditional and new media
- Providing opportunities for intergenerational cooperation and collaboration
- Cooperating with UN programmes such as the UN Volunteers
Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth
We invite you to visit the website of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth for more information on the work that they are doing and the events taking place at the UN involving youth.
Website of the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth
The role of partnerships beyond 2015
Posted: 08, April 2014, New York | Author:UNDESA High Representative Kane meets with civil society groups engaged in disarmament issues
Posted: 01 March 2014, New York | Author:Sophie Durut
DPI-NGO Conference opens in Mexico City
Posted: 09, September 2009, New York | Author:iSeek Youth events lead up to September DPI-NGO conference
Posted: 17, July 2009, New York | Author:iSeek GA President helps launch new DPI-NGO briefing format
Posted: 13, January 2009, New York | Author:iSeek Focus of DPI-NGO activities broadened in 2008
Posted: 29, December 2008, New York | Author:iSeek Historic 61st Annual DPI-NGO Conference opens in Paris
Posted: 03, September 2008, New York | Author:iSeek Annual DPI-NGO Conference to focus on human rights
Posted: 20, August 2008, New York | Author:iSeek DPI-NGO Conference on climate change swings into action
Posted: 05, September 2007, New York | Author:iSeek Looking ahead to the 60th Annual DPI-NGO Conference
Posted: 29, August 2007, New York | Author:iSeek Standing ovation for SG Annan at the closing session of the 59th Annual DPI-NGO Conference
Posted: 08, September 2006, New York | Author:iSeek
Use of NGO Relations’ Content
The following guidelines are for the external use of NGO Relations content:
- No material produced by NGO Relations is to be sold, used for outside advertising or promotional purposes of any kind.
- All content taken from the NGO Relations website/social media platforms and republished must be clearly credited or sourced to UN DPI/NGO Relations.
- Photos, videos and articles may be released under the legally recognized terms of “Fair Use” to members of the press, academia, non-profits and the general public.
- No material is to be used in programs, articles or online publications of any kind that defame the UN, its member states, or the NGO Relation Section.
- Material is provided, free of charge, for use in objective and balanced content, even if at times the end products may be critical of the UN.
- NGO Relations reserves the right to request the removal of UN Copyrighted material from any externally created content.
Application
How do we apply for association?
1. Fill out the application form
2. Prepare the required documents:
- A copy of your organization’s Constitution/By-laws
- Proof of non-profit/tax exempt status (only official government-issued documents will be accepted)
- A copy of your most recent audited financial statement (preferably in U.S. dollars)
- A notarized copy of the original signatures of both the Head of the NGO and the Main Representative
- 6 different samples of your organization’s most recent information materials related to the work of the United Nations (for example: newsletters, reports, audio or video productions, blogs, promotional publications/advertisement of events, etc).
- 2 recommendation letters from an individual/organization.
- 1 recommendation letter from a UNIC/UNIS/UNRIC or a UN office with which your NGO has partnered.
Recommendation letters should briefly describe your organization’s work/partnership and explain why your NGO is being recommended for association with DPI.
3. Send the completed application form and all required documents to the UNIC/UNIS/UNRIC servicing the country where your NGO is based.
Or submit your application form and all the other required material online. In order for you to submit these documents online you need to create a profile for your organization in the CSO Net following the instructions given on that site.
For the complete listing of UNIC, UNIS and UNRIC offices please visit the directory.
All submitted materials must be in English or French, the two working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Material in other languages must be accompanied by a translation into to English or French.
Remember to keep a copy of all submitted documents and material.
I’ve applied. What’s next?
Step 1: Once your application material has been received, the UNIC/UNIS/UNRIC office will evaluate your submission and prepare a recommendation letter.
Step 2: The recommendation letter and all required accompanying documents will then be sent to the NGO Relations office at UN Headquarters in New York for review and evaluation.
Step 3: If your NGO meets the requirements for association, the NGO Relations Section will prepare your application for presentation to the DPI Committee on NGOs which will decide whether your Organization is approved for membership. This Committee meets twice a year-once in the spring and once in the fall- to discuss and approve applications.
Step 4: Your NGO will receive a letter informing you of the decision by the DPI Committee on NGOs on your application; the UNIC/UNIS/UNRIC office in your country/region as well as the NGO/DPI Executive Committee is also informed.
Step 5: If your NGO does not meet all the requirements for association, including no record of collaboration with a UN office, the DPI Committee on NGOs may offer you a probationary two- year membership or association. Probationary association status means that your NGO will have 2 years in which to establish a partnership with a relevant UNIC/UNIS/UNRIC or UN office, agency, fund or programme. The Committee will then review your progress after 2 years and determine if you can continue being associated. All decisions on your application status will be communicated to you in writing.
What are the responsibilities of NGOs associated with DPI?
- To raise public awareness particularly in grass root and rural communities about key issues on the UN agenda including the priorities of the UN Secretary-General
- Disseminate information and promote issues of global concern such as the Millennium Development Goals, human trafficking, climate change and vulnerable communities, HIV/AIDS, sustainable energy, violence against women, the empowerment of rural women, nuclear security, disarmament and the arms trade treaty, the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons and issues of drugs and crime among others.
- Design and implement public information activities and programmes including the printing and dissemination of publications promoting the work of the United Nations.
- Collaborate with UN Information Centres or Services on advocacy campaigns or other promotional public information activities.
- Submit yearly an online Annual Review form through the Civil Society Organizations’ Network. This is the process by which DPI-associated NGOs report back to the DPI/NGO Relations Section on their work and public information activities in support of the United Nations, and are evaluated.
Can my NGO be disassociated?
Yes, the DPI Committee on NGOs which decides on whether an NGO should be disassociated from membership will approve the termination of your membership with DPI, if your NGO consistently fails to fulfill its responsibilities over a three-year period.
Grounds for disassociation:
Failure to meet the criteria for association
Failure to submit an Annual Review for three consecutive years
Three consecutive negative evaluations of the Annual Review process
Acts of fraud and misrepresentation of the work of the UN
Lack of collaboration with a UN entity (including UNIC/UNIS/UNRIC)
Unauthorized use of the UN logo
Can my NGO re-apply for association status if it has been disassociated?
Yes. Your organization can indeed re-apply for association/membership with DPI one year following its disassociation. You must follow the original application procedure for membership as disassociation renders invalid the required documentation for membership, which you originally submitted at the time of your acceptance for association.
Annual Review
Every year, we evaluate DPI-Associated NGOs to determine if they have fulfilled their association responsibilities and to update our records.
The Annual Review form – allows each NGO to (re)designate up to six representatives, and to report on their most recent activities and public information programmes. We use this to update our database of all DPI-associated NGOs – a great resource for connecting those that share a common purpose.
This exercise will enable us to learn: - how NGOs are communicating and about which issues
- in which languages
- to audiences of what size
- using what platforms/methods
- in which locations
Link – Annual Review InstructionsLink - Annual Review Questions (to assist you in preparing for the online questionnaire)Link – Annual Review InstructionsLink - Annual Review Questions (to assist you in preparing for the online questionnaire)
How do I submit the Annual Review?
- Log in to the Civil Society Organizations’ Network
- On the side navigation menu under MY CONTRIBUTIONS, click on QUESTIONNAIRES
- Click on DPI/NGO ANNUAL REVIEW
- Complete the online form (there is a 90-minute time limit) and click SUBMIT TIP: Write your answers in a Word document first, and cut and paste them into the form. This will ensure that you don’t have to re-write if you have technical problems.
- If you are successful, a new screen will appear with a reference number. Please keep this number, as it is the confirmation of your submission.
Any questions? Contact us using the contact form.
When can I submit the Annual Review?
The 2014 Annual Review is now closed. The process opens online in October and ends in January of the following year.
What happens after we submit our Annual Review?
We review and evaluate it based on the required criteria, and send you the results by e-mail by within two to three weeks from the date that you submitted it to us. If you meet the criteria, we will:
- send instructions on how your representatives can retrieve their UN grounds passes
- add your information to our DPI-associated NGO database, which can be accessed from our DPI/NGO Resource Center.
- create the yearly mailing list with your contact information. We keep this encrypted and do not share it with third parties.
What if my organization does not meet the required criteria?
If your submission doesn’t fully meet the criteria because of missing information, we will describe what items are missing and explain how to resubmit the Annual Review form.
If your submission doesn’t meet the criteria because the evaluation determines that your organization did not actively participate in our briefings/workshops, or develop enough projects and activities with UN agencies or programmes, as well as DPI, your submission will be negatively evaluated and no grounds passes will be issued for that year. The NGO, however, will remain in good standing and the e-mail addresses of the designated representatives will be included in the mailing list.
How will you use our information?
See above answer to ‘What happens after we submit our Annual Review?’
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Thursday Briefings To help the world, you need to know about the world. Learn from panel discussions with experts and/or those who benefit from the work of NGOs and the United Nations, watch film screenings and keep up-to-date on United Nations priorities and mandates! Spring 2015 Calendar 20 April 2015 “Culture and Conflict: Art as a Conflict Prevention Instrument” in Partnership with the World Federation of Ukrainian Women Organizations. Thursday , 23 April 2015 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ECOSOC Chamber UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK INVITE RSVP 8 April 2015 “Educational Technologies Available for Primary and Secondary Schools” in Partnership with Rutgers Preparatory School. Webcast This NGO-led Briefing, organized in partnership with Rutgers Preparatory School, featured a panel of speakers who are using technology to educate children in new and engaging ways. Their presentations focused on all levels of education and how these tools allow… Read more about Education & Technology 20 March 2015 “Women and Slavery: its impact on women’s rights today” 26 March, 2015 11 a.m to 12:30 p.m. ECOSOC Chamber, UNHQ in New York Invite RSVP Introduction Hawa Diallo, NGO Relations and Advocacy, UN Department of Public Information Moderator Gaynel Curry, Gender and Women’s Rights Advisor, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights… Read more about Slavery Remembrance
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Secretary-General's video message for General Assembly Observance of the International Day against Nuclear Tests
New York, 6 September 2012
I am pleased to greet this important observance.
I thank the Government of Kazakhstan for its continued leadership on nuclear disarmament, including President Nazarbayev’s courageous decision to close the Semipalatinsk test site and renounce nuclear weapons.
I visited the site two years ago.
I learned more about the terrible impact – but also about how people are working together to restore the area and improve the health of the people.
I came away with a feeling of hope for the future.
Nuclear tests are a threat to human health and global stability. Their effects are both harmful and long-lasting.
The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty enjoys near-universal support.
But it has yet to enter into force.
I urge States that have not yet signed and ratified it to do so without delay.
Pending the Treaty’s entry into force, I urge all States to uphold the existing moratorium on all nuclear test explosions.
At the same time, let us be clear: voluntary moratoriums are essential, but they are no substitute for a total global ban.
The Treaty’s verification mechanism has been proven effective.
I reiterate my offer to visit any State that remains unconvinced of the reliability of the Treaty’s monitoring and inspection systems to answer their questions and address their concerns.
As we mark this International Day against Nuclear Tests, let us also recognize the continued danger posed by the tens of thousands of nuclear weapons in global arsenals -- and let us strengthen our efforts to achieve the widely shared goal of a world free of nuclear weapons.
Thank you for your commitment to this effort.
Statements on 6 September 2012
The World is over-armed and peace is under-funded'
30 August 2012 — The following opinion piece by Secretary-General BAN Ki-moon has appeared in leading newspapers in Argentina, Bangladesh, Burundi, China, Germany, India, Iran, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Malaysia, The Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine and European weekly publications and has been translated into 10 languages.
Last month, competing interests prevented agreement on a much-needed treaty that would have reduced the appalling human cost of the poorly regulated international arms trade. Meanwhile, nuclear disarmament efforts remain stalled, despite strong and growing global popular sentiment in support of this cause.
The failure of these negotiations and this month's anniversaries of the atomic bombings at Hiroshima and Nagasaki provide a good opportunity to explore what has gone wrong, why disarmament and arms control have proven so difficult to achieve, and how the world community can get back on track towards these vitally important goals.
Many defence establishments now recognize that security means far more than protecting borders. Grave security concerns can arise as a result of demographic trends, chronic poverty, economic inequality, environmental degradation, pandemic diseases, organized crime, repressive governance and other developments no state can control alone. Arms can't address such concerns.
Secretary-General BAN Ki-moon
Photo credit:UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe
Yet there has been a troubling lag between recognizing these new security challenges, and launching new policies to address them. National budget priorities still tend to reflect the old paradigms. Massive military spending and new investments in modernizing nuclear weapons have left the world over-armed -- and peace under-funded.
Last year, global military spending reportedly exceeded $1.7 trillion – more than $4.6 billion a day, which alone is almost twice the UN's budget for an entire year. This largesse includes billions more for modernizing nuclear arsenals decades into the future.
This level of military spending is hard to explain in a post-Cold War world and amidst a global financial crisis. Economists would call this an "opportunity cost". I call it human opportunities lost. Nuclear weapons budgets are especially ripe for deep cuts.
Such weapons are useless against today's threats to international peace and security. Their very existence is de-stabilizing: the more they are touted as indispensable, the greater is the incentive for their proliferation. Additional risks arise from accidents and the health and environmental effects of maintaining and developing such weapons.
The World is Over-Armed
The time has come to re-affirm commitments to nuclear disarmament, and to ensure that this common end is reflected in national budgets, plans and institutions.
Four years ago, I outlined a five-point disarmament proposal highlighting the need for a nuclear weapon convention or a framework of instruments to achieve this goal.
Yet the disarmament stalemate continues. The solution clearly lies in greater efforts by States to harmonize their actions to achieve common ends. Here are some specific actions that all States and civil society should pursue to break this impasse.
Support efforts by the Russian Federation and the United States to negotiate deep, verified cuts in their nuclear arsenals, both deployed and un-deployed.
Obtain commitments by others possessing such weapons to join the disarmament process.
Establish a moratorium on developing or producing nuclear weapons or new delivery systems.
Negotiate a multilateral treaty outlawing fissile materials that can be used in nuclear weapons.
End nuclear explosions and bring into force the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.
Stop deploying nuclear weapons on foreign soil, and retire such weapons.
Ensure that nuclear-weapon states report to a public UN repository on nuclear disarmament, including details on arsenal size, fissile material, delivery systems, and progress in achieving disarmament goals.
Establish a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.
Secure universal membership in treaties outlawing chemical and biological weapons.
Pursue parallel efforts on conventional arms control, including an arms trade treaty, strengthened controls over the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, universal membership in the Mine Ban, Cluster Munitions, and Inhumane Weapons Conventions, and expanded participation in the UN Report on Military Expenditures and the UN Register of Conventional Arms.
Undertake diplomatic and military initiatives to maintain international peace and security in a world without nuclear weapons, including new efforts to resolve regional disputes.
And perhaps above all, we must address basic human needs and achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Chronic poverty erodes security. Let us dramatically cut spending on nuclear weapons, and invest instead in social and economic development, which serves the interests of all by expanding markets, reducing motivations for armed conflicts, and in giving citizens a stake in their common futures. Like nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, such goals are essential for ensuring human security and a peaceful world for future generations.
No development, no peace. No disarmament, no security. Yet when both advance, the world advances, with increased security and prosperity for all. These are common ends that deserve the support of all nations.
For those interested in publishing this opinion piece and for information on translations available in the official UN languages, please contact Ari Gaitanis.
See Also:
The World is Over-Armed
The role of partnerships beyond 2015
8 April 2014, New York
Strengthening the global partnerships for sustainable development for the post-2015 development agenda will be the main topic of a thematic debate and Forum on Partnerships jointly convened by the President of the General Assembly Mr. John Ashe, and the President of the Economic and Social Council, Mr. Martin Sajdik which will take place from 9 to 10 April at United Nations Headquarters in New York.
The thematic debate and forum on partnerships will feature three consecutive, interactive, multi‐stakeholder panel discussions on 9 April 2014 and two on 10 April. The event is being organized by UN DESA in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Partnerships and the UN Global Compact.
Building on MDGs moving forward
As the Secretary General’s High-level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda has noted, an important transformative shift going forward is to bring a new sense of global partnership into national and international politics. A new global partnership should engage national governments of all countries, local authorities, international organizations, businesses, civil socirty, foundations and other philantropists, and people. It should move beyond the MDG’s orientation of state-to-state partnerships.
“Together, nothing is impossible; if we strengthen these partnerships among governments, business communities, civil organizations and philanthropists, then I think all these powerful partnerships can bring us towards the right direction,” UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said at the beginning of his second term in office.
“Together, nothing is impossible; if we strengthen these partnerships among governments, business communities, civil organizations and philanthropists, then I think all these powerful partnerships can bring us towards the right direction”
UN Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon
Strengthened global partnerships for sustainable development will be a catalyst for the international community to aspire and advance towards an ambitious and transformative sustainable development agenda beyond 2015. The thematic debate and forum on partnerships will promote the scaling‐up of the impact of all forms of cooperation in the post 2015 development agenda, and promote the urgent implementation of existing commitments under the global partnership for development while also addressing the emerging role of innovative multi‐stakeholder partnerships.
Member States will participate, including at Ministerial level, alongside senior representatives of private sector companies, UN agencies, NGOs and other relevant stakeholders.
The two-day event is expected to generate innovative policy ideas and models for multi-stakeholder partnerships that can contribute to the implementation of the post-2015 development agenda. The Presidents of the General Assembly and ECOSOC will issue a summary at the conclusion of the event which will be made available to the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals and the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts on Sustainable Development Financing.
Addressing the role of innovative multi-stakeholder partnerships
In the effort to achieve the MDGs, partnerships among various groups and stakeholders have played a critical role. New partnership models have emerged, motivated by the sense of urgency of the MDG deadline, which have created innovative sources of financing, in addition to the official development assistance and trade. Novel uses of technology, capacity building, and engagement with low-income members of society have helped increase access to basic services. The panel debates will discuss how to further leverage these innovative approaches in the conclusion of the MDG process, as well as in the delivering on the post-2015 development agenda.
The role of private sector, civil society and philanthropy has grown significantly in its size and reach. These actors will have a critical role to play in bringing the innovative methods and tools to the task of creating decent employment and strengthening the use of funding and research. In the panel discussions, member states will have a chance to explore the role of the private sector in the development agenda.
Monitoring and accountability
One of the most common explanations for gaps in MDG achievement is the lack of effective framework. Challenges in establishing consistent mechanisms for monitoring and accountability come from the diverse nature of partnerships and partners. The architecture of this framework will need to be flexible and adaptable enough in order to accommodate the variety of actors with the development agenda.
In order to better understand these issues, participants will share their experiences and lessons learned. While focusing on development, these sessions will also attempt to address gender, human rights and peace-building issues.
Finding solutions, delivering outcomes
The second day of the two-day event will focus on linking the policy discussions on innovative multi-stakeholder partnerships, monitoring and accountability with specific concrete solutions and outcomes. In the course of that discussion, special focus will be on Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs). One of the major issues to be discussed will be food security, nutrition and marine resources. In this area, partnerships can provide indispensable science, technology, financing and capacity building in order to address the problems of food security.
In order to deliver solutions, the core component in sustainable development is reliable infrastructure. Without its physical components, such as roads, railways, ports, communication and technology, water and waste management systems, development efforts are severely hindered. This is especially relevant for a certain group of vulnerable countries, such as small islands and landlocked developing countries. These are faced with serious transportation infrastructure problems, which result in high transit transportation costs.
The outcome of the event is expected to provide ideas and information for the coming major conferences, such as the SIDS conference in September in Samoa, the Ministerial conference on New Partnerships for Development of Productive capacities of LDC in July in Benin and the Comprehensive Ten-Year Review Conference of the Almaty Programme of Action to be held 3-5 November 2014 in Vienna, Austria.
For more information: The role of partnerships in the implementation of the Post-2015 Development Agenda
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If you have any questions or queries regarding becoming a member, attending a briefing or anything else concerning NGO Relations and its work and/or activities, please submit your enquires to us through the online contact form below. We will respond to your queries in a timely manner. Please also explore our website and the Frequently Asked Questions page before submitting an enquiry.
If you have questions, comments or suggestions specifically about the NGO website, also use the online contact form below.
Messages from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Press Stay Informed! We provide access to press releases, articles of interest on the NGO community and their work across the globe as well as photographs, and other multimedia resources.
Stay Informed! We provide access to press releases, articles of interest on the NGO community and their work across the globe as well as photographs, and other multimedia resources. To ensure appropriate use of our resources, please see our guidelines.
There are currently over 1,300 NGOs associated with the United Nations Department of Public Information. Below you can find the link to the Official Directory. Access the DPI/NGO Directory
All Events Calendar Do you want to know what is happening for NGOs in and around the UN? Check this calendar for the latest information. {CALENDAR} For more information on United Nations Events, please follow this link: http://www.un.
For more information on United Nations Events, please follow this link: http://www.un.org/en/events/
Announcements Find the most up-to-date information on our activities, the Thursday Briefings as well as events of interest to the NGO community, including film screenings, concerts, campaign launches, book signings, workshops and seminars, taking place at the UN. This information is also e-mailed weekly to representatives of DPI-associated NGOs which have submitted their Annual Review. Since we use our mailing list to send you this information, please make sure that we always have the most current contact information for you. 18 March 2015 Winter-Spring 2015 Briefing Calendar *Please note that the calendar is subject to change. 10 March 2015 DPI/NGO Special Briefing with 2014 Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi Ending Child Slavery by 2030 Working Together to Give 168 Million Children the Future They Deserve On Tuesday 17 March, 2015, DPI/NGO Relations welcomed 2014 Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi to a special briefing at the United Nations Headquarters. Mr. Maher Nasser, Director of the Outreach Division… Read more about 2014 Nobel Laureate 10 March 2015 Women Taking the Lead: Designing and Monitoring Sustainable and Gender-Responsible Infrastructures This panel discussion highlighted the efforts of women groups toward inclusive and global rural and urban development. Speakers touched on; (1) The role of women as critical designers, implementers and monitors of sustainable urban development; (2) the importance of bringing constituencies of grassroots women… Read more about Women taking the lead
Organized by the Department of Public Information (DPI) in partnership with the NGO community, our annual Conference is unique. It is the largest gathering of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) jointly organized by the UN Department of Public Information and NGOs and relevant partners, as appropriate. We welcome all representatives of NGOs worldwide. The Conference brings together over 1,500 NGO representatives from around the globe to focus on a theme related to current UN and NGO priorities.
This three-day conference includes:
- Roundtables: you can exchange ideas and experiences with diverse experts
- NGO workshops: interact with NGO colleagues about your work.
- Exhibits: showcase your work and network with others that share your interests.
- Youth-led activities: build partnerships across generations.
- Networking opportunities: meet NGOs from other regions who share common interests and goals.
- Side Events: participate in related side activities which reflect the theme of the Conference.
For 60 years the Annual Conference was held in New York at UN Headquarters. In recent times however, in an effort to attract a more diverse community, the Conference has gone “on the road.” It has been held in different regions of the world beginning in 2008 with the Paris Conference focusing on the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. With each successive Conference we hope to attract new NGO partners from the host country and its neighbouring region. Past Conference Programmes and Final Reports
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General Assembly of the United Nations Back to top69th regular session of the General Assembly Mural inspired by Fernand Léger, painted in the General Assembly Hall. (UN Photo) UN Web Services Section, Department of Public Information, United Nations This page
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