16 June 2017 - Season Wrap-Up

Season Wrap-Up

Thursday, 22 June 2017 11:00 am – 12:45 pm
ECOSOC Chamber, United Nations Headquarters, NY

Join us as we present the highlights of the past season of DPI/NGO events, the annual review stats and the upcoming Intergenerational Dialogues happening this summer at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The NGO/DPI executive committee elections will follow.

Briefing Summary

"Season Wrap-Up" DPI/NGO Briefing on 22 June highlighted the past thematic briefings, workshops, and orientations aimed at strengthening engagement with DPI associated NGOs.

• 17 briefings were held in Winter/Spring 2017 season
• 9 Briefings were organized in observance of a specific event or day:

• International Day for Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust (January)
• ECOSOC Youth Forum (January)
• CSW61 (March) [3 Briefings held in Observance of the Commission on the status of women]
• International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade (March)
• World Press Freedom Day (May)
• International Day of Families (May)

• 2 NGO orientation programmes
• 3 NGO-led Briefings
• Over 20,000 Followers total on Facebook and Twitter as of June 2017 and there were over 200 mentions of #DPINGO this Briefing season
• The highest attended briefing, with about 500 attendees was the 13 April Briefing: “Focus on Faith: Faith Based Organizations and Refugee Assistance.”
• Our total of Youth Representatives has reached 533 which is a 108 percent increase from last year. These youth representatives represent of 100 countries from around the world.
• Highlight statistics from one particular briefing this season – The youth orientation held on 10 March for newly appointed youth representatives. The ECOSOC youth forum side event attracted over 3000 views on the UN webcast.

The discussion and feedback also focused on the upcoming event, co-organized by DPI NGO Relations and the NGO/DPI Executive Committee entitled, "Intergenerational Dialogues on the SDGs" which is planned to take place on 1 August 2017 at UNHQ.

Specifically, the Questions-and-Answers session featured a discussion between the panelists and the audience on the upcoming Intergenerational Dialogues event.  Members of the audience kindly offered their suggestions and comments in relation to the topics and thematic format of the dialogues. Some of the suggestions included:

• Ensure that everybody understand the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) are all about.
• Ensure that the voices of people from less privileged backgrounds and vulnerable populations are heard.
• Ensure more thematic inclusion and participation of older people and the resources they can offer. E.g. “Grey is Green” movement.
• The subjects are related and should be addressed likewise. In relation to unemployment, the attitude of powerful corporation should be addressed.
• Ensure young people engagement for community outreach.
• Ensure follow up in different ways.
• Create and provide toolkits to facilitate and maximize cooperation for multiple generations.
• Discuss quality of life, sustainable cities, migration, poverty and success stories of people born into poverty.

We encourage suggestions on the topics to be highlighted and the expert speakers on thematic issues.

Intergenerational Dialogues on the Sustainable Development Goals 

List of Co-Chairs as of 21 June