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53rd Annual DPI/NGO Conference
Global Solidarity: The Way to Peace and
International Cooperation
28-30 August 2000
United Nations Headquarters, New York
Addendum
This year's conference, Global Solidarity: The Way to Peace and International Cooperation, provides a forum for representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the United Nations system, and Governments to explore concrete ways in which civil society can work with the United Nations and Governments to implement the action plans that were agreed upon during the major United Nations and NGO conferences of the 1990s.
The world conferences, organized by the United Nations during the 1990s, negotiated a remarkably cohesive set of action plans designed to achieve sustainable development for all people in the coming decades. At the same time, the burgeoning of NGOs, spurred in part by the multifaceted process of globalization, has enabled the organization of potent civil society campaigns, among them, campaigns to ban landmines, establish an International Criminal Court, cancel crippling foreign debts and address the negative aspects of the current global financial architecture. The conference will look at existing campaigns, and explore new areas where progress can be made. What makes for a successful campaign? How can crosscutting sectoral concerns be unified? How can they be replicated from country to country? How do we set priorities? What kind of working relationships between NGOs, the United Nations and Governments will ensure sustained success?
In addition to the opening and closing keynote speakers, the three-day conference features five morning and afternoon plenary panels, focusing on the best practices and lessons learned from recent experiences and on the identification of new, broad-based campaigns that bring together multiple issues. It will also examine the many ways in which civil society can participate in the decision-making processes, nationally and internationally, that affect the well being of people everywhere. The conference also explores the role of civil society in policy formulation and implementation in relation to the increased demands for humanitarian intervention in conflict areas. Panels include high-level Government and United Nations officials, and representatives of civil society, including non-governmental organizations, the private sector, academia, and media.
The 53rd Annual DPI/NGO Conference is organized by the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI) in cooperation with the Executive Committee of Non-Governmental Organizations associated with DPI.
Conference Schedule
Monday, 28 August 2000
The opening session takes place in the General Assembly Hall. All subsequent sessions take place in Conference Room 4. Midday NGO Workshops take place from 1:15 pm - 2:45 pm in various conference rooms each day.
8:00 am - 9:45 am
Registration, Visitors Lobby, United Nations Headquarters
(46th Street and First Avenue)
Opening Session
10:00 am - 12:30 pm
General Assembly Hall
Welcome:
Kensaku Hogen, Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, United Nations
Addresses:
Theo-Ben Gurirab, President of the 54th session of the General Assembly Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations
Keynote Addresses:
Hanna Suchocka, Member of Parliament, Poland
Jaime Lerner, Governor of the State of Paraná, Brazil
Hanan Ashrawi, Secretary General, Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy
NGO Welcome:
Elaine Valdov, Chair, NGO/DPI Executive Committee
Dianne Dillon-Ridgley, Chair, NGO/DPI Planning Committee
Afaf Mahfouz, President, Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CONGO)
Midday NGO Workshops (See Workshops schedule on page XX)
1:15 pm - 2:45 pm
Afternoon Session
3:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Conference Room 4
The 1990s: Action Not Promises
This panel focuses on the implementation of the action plans of the major United Nations and NGO conferences of the 1990s. The tasks are enormous, diverse and interlinked. It is a key responsibility for NGOs to monitor the implementation of these action plans and identify ways in which they can work in partnership with the United Nations and Governments in achieving sustainable development for all. The panel discusses how NGOs can work in cross-sectoral civil society campaigns to mobilize the necessary political will and financial resources. How do we set priorities for these campaigns and how do we carry them out?
Moderator:
Anwarul Karim Chowdhury, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations
Panellists:
Nitin Desai, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations
Ann Pettifor, Director, Jubilee 2000 Coalition UK
Anne Walker, Executive Director, International Women's Tribune Centre
Written Questions from the Floor
Conference Schedule
Tuesday, 29 August 2000
NGO/DPI Executive Committee Business Meeting
9:00 am - 10:00 am
Conference Room 4
Morning Session
10:00 am - 12:30 pm
Conference Room 4
The New Democratic Diplomacy: Civil Society as Partner with the United Nations and Governments
This panel develops practical application of the New Democratic Diplomacy, meaning the working partnership between Governments, the United Nations and civil society to negotiate sustained social change for the betterment of humanity. Success requires the close collaboration of all three of these actors. The New Democratic Diplomacy recognizes that when Governments alone negotiate problems and conflicts, voices of civil society are rarely heard and the desired results are not often achieved. In recent years, it has been demonstrated that international negotiations can be greatly facilitated by the inclusion of civil society partners. For instance, the Advisory Opinion on the Illegality of Nuclear Weapons handed down by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the result of civil society bringing the issue of nuclear weapons to Governments. The treaty to ban anti-personnel land mines succeeded as a result of civil society organizations linking with like-minded Governments and the United Nations. Civil society is also credited with generating the political will that resulted in the Rome Statute on the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Moderator:
Jayantha Dhanapala, Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs, United Nations
Panellists:
Alejandro Bendaña, Director, Centro de Estudios Internacionales
Betty Murungi, Member, International Federation of Women Lawyers - Kenya chapter
Indira Rosenthal, Counsel, Human Rights Watch (invited)
Pierre Schori, Permanent Representative of Sweden to the United Nations (invited)
Written Questions from the Floor
Midday NGO Workshops (See Workshops schedule on page XX)
1:15 pm - 2:45 pm
Afternoon Session
3:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Conference Room 4
Humanitarian Intervention: Roles for Civil Society
This panel focuses on the policy of humanitarian intervention as it relates to NGOs and their interaction with decision-making bodies of the international community, particularly the United Nations. In Iraq, in Kosovo and in other conflict areas, the international community has intervened militarily in the face of threats or incidences of massive human rights violations, in the context of the evolving redefinition of national sovereignty. Both, proponents and opponents of such humanitarian intervention have strong arguments. It is recognized that civil society should play a greater role in early warning and preventive diplomacy to avoid large-scale human rights violations and interventions. In the event of intervention, some argue for a stronger role for civil society in the decision-making processes regarding intervention and its aftermath. The discussion focuses on ways to ensure that decisions regarding humanitarian intervention are taken in a consistent and transparent manner, and on identifying ways in which NGOs can help ensure effectiveness.
Moderator:
Elisabeth Rehn, former Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Panellists:
Holly Burkhalter, Advocacy Director, Physicians for Human Rights
Patricia Durrant, Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the United Nations (invited)
Hibaaq Osman, President, Center for the Strategic Initiatives of Women
Written Questions from the Floor
Conference Reception (by invitation only)
6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Evening Reception organized by the NGO/DPI Executive Committee, and co-sponsored by CeleXx Corporation and the Permanent Mission of Finland to the United Nations Venue: Cipriani, 110 East 42nd Street (between Lexington Avenue and Park Avenue) Special Guests include: Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Mrs. Nane Annan, Deputy Secretary-General Ms. Louise Frechette, Mr. Theo-Ben Gurirab, President of the 54th session of the General Assembly, and Mr. Harri Holkeri, President-designate of the 55th session of the General Assembly.
Conference Schedule
Wednesday, 30 August 2000
Millennium Forum Outcome Update
9:00 am - 10:00 am
Techeste Ahderom, Co-Chair, Millennium Forum
Conference Room 4
Morning Session
10:00 am - 12:30 pm
Conference Room 4
Best Practices: Advancing Our Shared Agenda
After a great deal of trial and error, many developing programmes and civil society initiatives have produced desired results: real progress towards sustainable development and human security based on respect for human rights. What works? What is common to organizing campaigns around land mines or debt cancellation? What are the factors that contributed to the successful negotiations around global warming and other international laws? What are the elements of development policies that produce successful, people-centred change in rural areas? What policies enable multi-ethnic societies to overcome fratricidal conflicts? What steps enable a neighbourhood to secure safe drinking water or farmers to peacefully resolve a land dispute? What allows women to participate in community decision-making for the first time? What are the best practices of the private sector that have been effective in promoting sustainable development?
Moderator:
Yoriko Meguro, Professor, Department of Sociology, Sophia University
Panellists:
Arnold Hiatt, Chairman, Business for Social Responsibility
Mats Karlsson, Vice President for External Affairs and United Nations Affairs, World Bank Motarilavoa Hilda Lini, Director, Pacific Concerns Resource Centre
Kumi Naidoo, Secretary General, CIVICS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
Written Questions from the Floor
Midday NGO Workshops (See Workshops schedule on page XX)
1:15 pm - 2:45 pm
Afternoon Session
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Conference Room 4
An Economic Vision that Works: A Dialogue
The implementation of the action plans of the 1990s requires economies that support and promote sustainable development on a global basis. Current economic paradigms have not been able eradicate poverty; indeed some assert that they frequently foment conflict and demand a level of growth and development that will eventually consume the planet. This fundamental contradiction must be resolved if civil society campaigns are to have anything more than a cosmetic effect. The creativity, vision and political will required to address this contradiction successfully have eluded us, but new awareness and the global vitality of civil society movements may provide the opportunity for workable solutions in coming years.
This panel provides a dynamic discussion regarding our options and explores the economic initiatives that might be undertaken at the local, national, regional and international levels to reorient economic policies towards equitable sustainable development. How do we address the seemingly unbridgeable gap between the North and South? How do we manage the undesirable elements of globalization?
Moderator:
Jacqueline Grapin, President, The European Institute
Panellists:
Carlos Fortin, Deputy Secretary-General, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (invited)
Khadija Haq, President, Mahbud ul Haq Human Development Center
Arthur Mbanefo, Chairman, Group of 77 Developing Countries and China (invited)
Written Questions from the Floor
Closing Session
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Conference Room 4
New Responsibilities for Civil Society
Chair:
Kensaku Hogen, Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, United Nations
Speakers:
Malia Craver, Kupuna for Queen Lili'uokalani Children's Center
Ralph Nader, Founder, Public Citizen
The organizers of the conference acknowledge the generous support of the following contributors:
The CeleXx Corporation
The Permanent Mission of Finland to the United Nations
The World Family Organization
For a pdf version of the Conference Schedule, please click below:
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