| United Nations | E/C.2/1995/2/Add.4 |
Economic and Social Council
Distr. GENERAL
9 November 1994
ORIGINAL: ENGLISH
COMMITTEE ON NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
20-31 March 1995
Item 4 of the provisional agenda*
* E/C.2/1995/1.
QUADRENNIAL REPORTS ON THE ACTIVITIES OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL
ORGANIZATIONS IN CONSULTATIVE STATUS WITH THE ECONOMIC
AND SOCIAL COUNCIL, CATEGORIES I AND II
Quadrennial reports, 1990-1993
Report submitted through the Secretary-General pursuant to Economic
and Social Council resolution 1296 (XLIV) of 23 May 1968
Addendum
Note
In accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1296 (XLIV) on
arrangements for consultation with non-governmental organizations,
organizations in consultative status in categories I and II shall submit to
the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations, through the Secretary-
General, every fourth year a brief report of their activities, specifically as
regards the support they have given to the work of the United Nations. Based
on findings of the Committee's examination of the report and other relevant
information, the Committee may recommend to the Council any reclassification
in status of the organization concerned as it deems appropriate.
At its 1981 session, the Committee decided that quadrennial reports
submitted by non-governmental organizations should be limited to no more than
two single-spaced pages. At its 1989 session, the Committee stressed the need
for non-governmental organizations required to submit quadrennial reports to
provide the Secretariat with clear and timely information, including,
inter alia, a brief introductory statement recalling the aims and purposes of
the organization.
At its 1991 session, the Committee emphasized the need for
non-governmental organizations requested to submit quadrennial reports to
provide a clear picture of their activities as they related to the United
Nations. The Committee further noted that the reports should conform to the
guidelines elaborated by the Non-Governmental Organizations Unit pursuant to
the relevant decisions of the Committee (see E/1991/20, para. 47). The
Committee decided that only those reports elaborated in conformity with the
guidelines and submitted to the Non-Governmental Organizations Unit no later
than 1 June of the year preceding the Committee's session would be transmitted
to the Committee for consideration. The Committee recalled that organizations
failing to submit adequate reports on time would be subject to
reclassification in status that the Committee might deem appropriate, in
conformity with paragraph 40 (b) of Council resolution 1296 (XLIV) (see
E/1991/20, para. 48). Pursuant to these decisions, the Secretariat, in
December 1991, communicated to all relevant organizations guidelines for the
completion of quadrennial reports.
The material issued in the present series of documents (E/C.2/1995/2 and
addenda) has been reproduced as submitted and therefore reflects the policies
and terminology of the organizations concerned. The designations employed do
not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the United
Nations Secretariat concerning the legal status of any country, territory,
city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its
frontiers or boundaries.
Supplementary material, such as annual reports and samples of
publications, is available in the Non-Governmental Organizations section of
the Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development of the
United Nations Secretariat.
CONTENTS
Page
1. Association of African Women for Research and Development (AAWORD) 4
2. Education International (EI) ..................................... 7
3. General Arab Women Federation .................................... 9
4. International Academy of Architecture (IAA) ...................... 12
5. International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID) .. 14
6. International Union of Local Authorities (IULA) .................. 17
7. Junior Chamber International (JCI) ............................... 20
8. Universal Federation of Travel Agents' Associations (UFTAA) ...... 22
9. World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY) ...................... 25
10. World Muslim Congress (WMC) (Motamar Al-Alam Al-Islami) .......... 28
1. ASSOCIATION OF AFRICAN WOMEN FOR RESEARCH
AND DEVELOPMENT (AAWORD)
(Category II)
A. Goals and objectives of AAWORD
Founded in 1977, the objectives of the Association of African Women for
Research and Development (AAWORD) are as follows:
(a) To undertake research activities that emphasize women's
participation and presence in all the processes of change: political,
economic, social-cultural;
(b) To establish a communication network between African women and all
those involved in Africa's development;
(c) To promote professional development and create national research
groups in collaboration with national research centres.
AAWORD's membership has grown from 510 in 1987 to more than 650 women to
be found in nearly every country in Africa.
AAWORD received funding from the Swedish Agency for Research Cooperation
with Developing Countries (SAREC), and the Ford Foundation until 1990 and from
then on funds have come from the Canadian International Development Agency
(CIDA), Partnership Africa Canada, the United Nations Development Fund for
Women (UNIFEM), and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC).
AAWORD became a correspondence institute of the International Center for
Economic Growth and a member of the Canadian Universities Services Overseas
(CUSO) Gender Reference Group in 1993.
B. Participation in Economic and Social Council activities
and/or other meetings of the United Nations
1991:
(a) Meeting of the Sudano-Sahelian countries in preparation for the
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, at Ouagadougou,
Burkina Faso, 13-15 February;
(b) Regional Consultation Meeting of the International Fund for
Agricultural Development (IFAD) on the Economic Promotion of Rural Women.
Presentation: "The Access of Rural Women to Landed Property, Inputs and
Technologies";
(c) Annual conference of the Canadian Institute of Research on women,
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, 8-10 November;
(d) Status of Women's Studies in Africa/African Studies Association
(ASA) Annual Meeting, St. Louis, Missouri, 22 and 23 November;
(e) Training in Communication Technologies at the International
Documentation and Communication Centre (IDOC), Rome, Italy, 5-29 November.
1992:
(a) International Women's Information and Communication Service (IsIS)-
Women's International Cross Cultural Exchange (WICCE) Advisory Committee
Workshop-Africa Project, Geneva, 9-14 March;
(b) Third International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) Workshop on
non-governmental organization participation in the African Commission on Human
and Peoples Rights, the Gambia, 9-11 October;
(c) World Conference on Human Rights Regional Preparatory Committee for
Africa, Tunisia, 2-6 November;
(d) Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)/World
Health Organization (WHO) International Conference on Nutrition, Rome, Italy,
2-12 December.
1993:
(a) Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Conference on
West African Regional Integration. Discussion of a paper on "West African
Economic Integration and Women", 11-13 January;
(b) Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) "Regional Conference on
Development Management in Africa: Thirty Years of Experience, Emerging
Challenges and Future Problems". Participation in formulation of
recommendations and plan of action, 7-12 March;
(c) As a new Correspondent Institute (CI) of the International Centre
for Economic Growth (ICEG), AAWORD attended the second ICEG Conference with
African CIs seminar on "Effective Implementation of Policies for Growth and
Development in Africa: Bringing the Asian and Latin American Experience to
Africa", 20-24 April;
(d) UNIFEM/African Academy of Sciences (AAS) Planning Meeting on
Building Technical Capacity and Gender Advocacy of Young Professional African
Women: A Regional Programme. Member of Advisory Group; developed strategies
and plan for the implementation of the Programme, 9-12 June;
(e) Training course on Documentation on Human Rights in Africa.
Sponsored by the Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies.
Representation by an AAWORD member who is a documentalist, 11-18 August;
(f) WHO "Meeting on Healthy Women Counselling Guide". AAWORD
presentation entitled "AAWORD's Interventions in Promoting Women's Health
and/or Status", Geneva, Switzerland, 20-22 September;
(g) CUSO workshop on "Programming from a Gender Perspective". AAWORD
invited as member of a Gender Reference Group. Ottawa, Canada, 22-25
November.
AAWORD encourages and recommends African women researchers'
participation in various projects and seminars with agencies of the United
Nations system, for example, the International Labour Organization (ILO), the
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), WHO, ECA, and the Office of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
C. Other activities
Research on a number of themes identified for the Association's work
programmes has been undertaken or is in progress; the 2-4 June 1993 AAWORD
seminar to launch the project "Women, Population Policies, Family Planning and
Fertility in Africa"; a training seminar on "Gender and Research for
Development with women" which treated important themes of particular
significance to women, for example, democratization, women and the
environmental crisis in Africa, education of girls, violence against women; in
collaboration with the IDRC office in Senegal, execution of a project entitled
"Nigerian women in sciences and technology"; and so on.
2. EDUCATION INTERNATIONAL (EI)
(Category II)
A. Introduction
Educational International (EI) was formed on 26 January 1993, and
maintained consultative status with the Economic and Social Council,
category II, formerly applicable to the World Confederation of Organizations
of the Teaching Profession (WCOTP). EI's formation was the result of an
agreement between WCOTP and the International Federation of Free Teachers'
Unions (IFFTU). Whereas in January 1993 WCOTP had 177 national member
organizations representing 12 million teachers in 113 countries, in December
1993 EI had 236 national member organizations representing 18 million teachers
and other educational employees in 130 countries. The aims of EI include
furthering the cause of organizations of teachers and education employees,
promoting their status, interests and welfare, and defending their trade union
and professional rights; promoting the application of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights through the development of education and of the
collective strength of teachers and education employees; seeking recognition
of the trade union rights of workers in general and of teachers and education
employees in particular, and promoting international labour standards;
combating all forms of racism, bias or discrimination in education and
society; and encouraging the leadership role and involvement of women in
society, in the teaching profession and at all levels of education.
EI is governed by a World Congress, comprising delegates from national
member organizations, and held every three years, and an Executive Board of
23 persons elected by the Congress. The Board must have at least two members
from each of five regions: Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Latin
America, North America and the Caribbean. At least one Board member from each
region, and at least two of the four Vice-Presidents must be women. There are
regional conferences and committees. The next World Congress will be held in
Harare, Zimbabwe, in July 1995.
EI is financed by dues paid by its national member organizations, and
also administers funds provided for cooperative projects in developing
countries. The present report refers to activities of both EI and its
predecessor in consultative status, WCOTP.
B. Participation in the Economic and Social Council
and its subsidiary bodies
WCOTP participated in the Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations
in Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (CONGO) in 1991,
and was elected to the Board. Subsequently the Secretary-General of WCOTP
(later Executive Director of EI) was elected to the position of First Vice-
President of CONGO.
In his capacity he addressed the substantive session of the 1993
Economic and Social Council on relations with non-governmental organizations.
EI also accepted an invitation to convene the CONGO facilitating committee at
the World Summit for Social Development.
C. Cooperation with United Nations programmes and bodies
and specialized agencies
EI maintained consultative status with the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Category A, previously
applicable to WCOTP and IFFTU, and was recognized as a workers' organization
by ILO. Interventions were made at the UNESCO General Conference in 1991 and
1993, and at the International Labour Conference in 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993.
WCOTP and IFFTU, and then EI, participated in many UNESCO and ILO meetings
during the four-year period, and cooperated with those specialized agencies in
programmes to promote education for all, the status of women, education for
human rights, and the application of the ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning
the Status of Teachers.
Cooperation was also developed during this period with UNICEF, UNHCR,
WHO and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), as well as the World
Bank.
D. Other relevant activities
WCOTP and EI have acted throughout the period to promote implementation
of United Nations resolutions in favour of human rights, and the status of
women, and against racism and apartheid. Major support was given to the
formation of the South African Democratic Teacher Union (SADTU) which played
an important role in the struggle for democracy.
In his CONGO-related capacity, the Secretary-General of WCOTP met the
Secretary-General of the United Nations in December 1992. Consultations were
maintained with many United Nations officials, and in December 1993, a
delegation of EI representatives met Under-Secretaries-General Sorensen, Annan
and Eliasson.
EI has conveyed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations
resolutions on the Middle East, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza; Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Serbia and Kosovo; Somalia, Liberia, Chad, Rwanda, East Timor,
and Haiti.
3. GENERAL ARAB WOMEN FEDERATION
(Category II)
Main objectives of the organization as listed in the statutes:
(a) To endeavour to achieve Arab unity, and liberation of Palestine and
occupied Arab territories;
(b) To resist imperialist forces, support national liberation movements
in the world and struggle against all forms of racial discrimination;
(c) To support non-alignment policies and those of the Organization of
the Islamic Conference and protect durable and just world peace;
(d) To strengthen ties of solidarity with mass and professional
organizations and progressive movements in the Arab world, the Islamic world
and third world countries;
(e) To inform world public opinion of the situation of Arab women and
act to unify the Arab women's movement at the international level and to
effect their participation in international conferences as one group;
(f) To promote the spirit of solidarity among Arab women, and unify
their efforts in social and health services, especially in the field of family
planning, motherhood and child care, and for the elderly and disabled;
(g) To enhance the status of women within the family, educate them about
their rights and combat attitudes opposed to equality with men;
(h) To integrate women into Arab society and involve them in the
development process.
Participation in the work of the Economic and Social Council and
affiliated organizations: the General Arab Women Federation has participated
in the activities of the organizations affiliated to the Economic and Social
Council between 1990 and 1993, especially the functional commissions as
follows:
(a) Commission on Human Rights:
(i) A representative of the General Arab Women Federation attended the
session of the Commission on Human Rights held from 27 January to
6 March 1992 in Geneva and gave a speech on agenda items 7 and 12;
(ii) A representative of the General Arab Women Federation took part in
the session of the Commission on Human Rights held from 1 February
to 12 March 1993 and delivered a speech on agenda item 12. The
General Arab Women Federation has also taken part in non-
governmental organizations' activities through sessions of the
Commission on Human Rights;
(b) Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of
Minorities: a representative of the General Arab Women Federation took part
in the session held in August 1992 and delivered a speech on agenda item 8 (on
economic, social and cultural rights) item 6 (on human rights violations) and
item 17 (on elimination of discrimination against and protection of women);
(c) World Conference on Human Rights: a delegation of the General Arab
Women Federation attended the World Conference on Human Rights held in Vienna,
14-25 June 1993, and took part in the NGO Forum held before the above
Conference on 1 and 2 June 1993 and delivered a speech. The General Arab
Women Federation had replied on 12 September to the letter of the general
secretariat dated 27 July 1992;
(d) Commission on the Status of Women: a delegation of the General Arab
Women Federation attended the session of the Commission on the Status of Women
held in Vienna in March 1992. The General Arab Women Federation
representative in Vienna attended the session of the above commission in March
1993;
(e) Activities to mark the International Year of the Family: the
General Arab Women Federation has taken part in activities to mark the
International Year of the Family and attended the NGO Forum held in Malta from
28 October to 2 December 1993 in preparation for the International Year of the
Family. A seminar was due to be held in 1993 to mark the International Year
of the Family but the above seminar was postponed to 1994 and was held in
Baghdad on 11 and 12 May 1993;
(f) Activities related to the Fourth World Conference on Women: the
General Arab Women Federation has taken part in the preparatory activities for
the Fourth World Conference on Women due to be held in Beijing in 1995. The
Federation took part in the meetings of non-governmental organizations and
regional conferences held in March 1992. The Federation has started to
prepare a report on whatever has been implemented of the strategies of Arab
women organizations up to the year 2000 corresponding to the Nairobi Forward-
looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women up to the year 2000 for
submission to the Fourth World Conference on Women.
Activities through specialized agencies and regional commissions:
(a) Activities with UNICEF: relations between the General Arab Women
Federation and UNICEF in 1990-1994 have developed; the Secretary-General of
the Federation has attended meetings of UNICEF experts to formulate and
approve an Arab plan of action to protect Arab children and improve their
conditions of life. The Secretary-General of the Federation has also attended
the experts meeting held in Amman to evolve a plan for non-governmental
organizations for the implementation of the Arab plan and the Convention on
the Rights of the Child. An Arab seminar on the promotion of child growth was
held in July 1993 in cooperation with UNICEF;
(b) Activities with FAO: the General Arab Women Federation took part in
the twentieth regional session (Near East) of FAO held in March 1993;
(c) Activities with the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
(ESCWA): the General Arab Women Federation continues its activities through
ESCWA especially because the activities of the Federation cover the same areas
as those covered by ESCWA, and cooperation continues with ESCWA especially in
the preparations for the Fourth World Conference on Women. The Federation is
the coordinator for Western Asia and Africa.
Cooperation with the United Nations Secretariat in reply to
questionnaires and letters: the General Arab Women Federation cooperates with
the United Nations Secretariat in replying to questionnaires, as attested, for
example, in the reply of the Federation to the letter of the Secretary-
General, No. 17, dated 3 July 1992 on General Assembly resolution 46/47,
Commission on Human Rights resolutions 1992/2 and 1992/1 (para. 6) of 14
February 1992, and the reply to the letter of the Secretary-General, No.
6/50214 (16-3), dated 4 January 1993, on Commission on Human Rights resolution
1992/12 of 21 February 1993.
Activities through non-governmental organizations: the General Arab
Women Federation delegation took part in the CONGO meetings held in Geneva,
28-31 August 1991, to prepare for the Fourth World Conference on Women, the
World Conference on Human Rights, the International Year of the Family, and
the International Conference on Population and Development.
4. INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF ARCHITECTURE (IAA)
(Category II)
The main objectives of the International Academy of Architecture (IAA)
are to stimulate the development of architecture and architectural theory; to
organize postgraduate training of gifted young architects from all over the
world; and to train specialists from developing countries.
IAA has been granted consultative status with the Economic and Social
Council, UNICEF and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization
(UNIDO). IAA has signed memoranda of understanding with the United Nations
Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) (UNCHS) and the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP).
In pursuit of its aims, during the period 1990-1993 the IAA organized or
took part in the following seminars, workshops and symposia:
(a) September 1990: IAA-UNCHS International Seminar on Improvement of
Housing Conditions and Rehabilitation of Historic Centres;
(b) May 1991: IAA-Department of Technical Cooperation for Development
of the United Nations Secretariat Seminar on Environmental Aspects of Water
Resources Management;
(c) June 1991: IAA-UNCHS International Workshop on Building Maintenance
Strategy, Santo Kiriko. Produced a set of conclusions and recommendations to
be used in the final report of UNCHS;
(d) September 1991: Workshop on the "University and the City" under the
auspices of UNESCO;
(e) October 1991: Department of Technical Cooperation for Development-
IAA-Government of Bulgaria Seminar on Environmental Aspects of Water Resources
Development, Santo Kiriko;
(f) June 1992: Ecopolis Forum of Ideas-Symposium, Rio de Janeiro,
within the framework of the United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development, chaired by IAA Professor J. Claveran;
(g) September 1992: IAA in cooperation with UNEP organized an
International Training Course on Application of Environmental Guidelines for
Settlements Planning and Management, with UNCHS and WHO participation,
Santo Kiriko. Proceedings have been published. During it, the International
Association of Sustainable Cities was founded;
(h) December 1992: National workshop on policy opinion and guidelines
for Sustainable Urban Settlements, organized jointly with the Ministry of
Regional Development, Housing Policy and Construction, Bulgaria, and UNCHS.
IAA also held the following competitions, meetings and exhibitions:
(a) Competitions for new concepts in architecture: "Ecopolis"
competition, 1990-1991;
(b) April 1991: IAA with the Free University and UNCHS arranged the
International Competition on Low-Cost Housing in Developing Countries,
presented during the thirteenth session of the Commission on Human Settlements
in Harare (Zimbabwe) as an input to the Global Strategy for Shelter to the
Year 2000;
(c) June 1992: Exhibition-competition on Ecopolis - City of the Future,
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, within the framework of the Earth Summit, and
sponsored by UNCHS;
(d) February 1993: Meeting of expert group of IAA, UNESCO, High Special
School of Architecture (France), in preparation of the World Congress on
Architectural Education, Paris;
(e) April and May 1993: IAA in cooperation with UNCHS organized an
Exhibition on Eco-village and Eco-coastal Settlement during the fourteenth
session of the Commission on Human Settlements, Nairobi, as a follow-up of the
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development and the IAA
exhibition and forum of ideas on Ecopolis - City of the Future, held in
Rio de Janeiro at the Earth Summit in 1992;
(f) August 1993: IAA Exhibition and Forum on the theme of "Ecopolis -
Sustainable City" within the framework of the International Kobe Forum '93 to
support UNEP and UNCHS activities, Kobe;
(g) November 1993: second meeting of the expert group of IAA/UNESCO for
the preparation of the World Forum (Congress or Conference) on Architectural
Education, Paris.
IAA scientific programmes
Priority attention was given to three scientific programmes:
(a) Architecture and ecology: two international expert group meetings
hosted by IAA drafting an International Programme of Ecological Research and
Monitoring of the Black Sea and the Danube River within the framework of the
IAA "Concordia 2000 - The Blue Bands of Europe" programme with participation
of UNEP, the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), the Department of Technical
Cooperation for Development of the United Nations Secretariat, WHO, UNDP,
UNESCO;
(b) Eco-problems: round-table discussion on eco-problems was held
during the INTERARCH '92;
(c) Social housing: to assist developing countries in solving the
housing problem for low-income populations.
5. INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF SOCIETIES OF INDUSTRIAL
DESIGN (ICSID)
(Category II)
The International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID), was
formally established in London in 1957, and has grown into a global force of
industrial design. It is governed by a body of 113 professional, promotional
and associate members representing 43 different countries.
Aim
The overall aim of ICSID is to advance the discipline of industrial
design. It fosters a greater understanding of industrial design through
international cooperation, communication and promotion. The Council collects
and disseminates information about industrial design to its members, as well
as to Governments, to institutions, to industry and to the general public.
ICSID stimulates creativity and establishes the highest standards of quality
and excellence in the practice of industrial design. It also contributes to
the study of industrial design at academic and research institutions.
UNIDO
For many years there have been intensive contacts between the
representatives of UNIDO and ICSID. A meeting was held in Vienna on
13 November 1991 between the representatives of UNIDO and the president,
secretary-general and UNIDO liaison of ICSID.
Working Group
During the meeting it was agreed that a UNIDO-ICSID Working Group would
be nominated to prepare an annual plan of action for the collaboration. The
UNIDO-ICSID plan of action will be prepared on a long-term policy basis.
Emphasis: activities will be studied and special commitments made, for
example, with ICSID member societies in developing countries and with non-
member organizations in Latin America and Africa. The utilization of
industrial design expertise is seen as a valuable investment in these areas.
Cooperative structure
The ICSID representatives of the Working Group visited UNIDO in
December 1992 and discussed the cooperation structure according to three
distinct areas:
(a) Awareness activities: promotion to entrepreneurs and government
officials in developing countries of the importance of industrial design in
the manufacturing process;
(b) Institutional strengthening of design capability: ICSID-UNIDO
regional workshops in countries where design awareness is weak or non-
existent;
(c) Training: training design engineers in specific industrial sectors
to improve the design capability for export-oriented industries.
The Working Group proposed that the ICSID Board should hold one Board
meeting in 1994 in the region of Central Africa. The Board meeting should be
combined with a one-day design seminar with Board members lecturing on design
issues to representatives of government, commerce and other fields related to
industrial design.
The ICSID liaison to UNIDO in Vienna later contacted UNIDO to get
assistance in searching for professional, promotional or educational design
associations/institutions in Africa. It is the intention of ICSID to
establish contacts with these societies for the promotion of industrial design
following the ICSID-UNIDO structure of collaboration.
ICSID regional programmes
To promote industrial design and to increase ICSID membership especially
in Latin America have been an important issue in the agenda of the 1992-1993
Executive Board. Agreements have been established with international
non-governmental organizations to create design awareness in this region. New
members have joined ICSID from Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico and Cuba.
Close cooperation with Chile and Uruguay was started at the end of the period.
1992-1993 programme
Regional design events to promote industrial design have been developed
in collaboration with the new members. New links and partnerships have been
set up favouring cooperation on the professional, promotional and educational
level. The 1992-1993 programme consisted of the following issues:
(a) To organize an ICSID Interdesign Workshop in Brazil in 1993, on
"Creative Use of Reforested Pine-Wood";
(b) To update the Latin American Directory of Educators and Researchers
in Design;
(c) To organize an international forum on "Design and Cultural
Diversity" in Brazil in 1994;
(d) To promote the consolidation of regional cooperation and of a Latin
American network of design;
(e) To assist in the establishment of new postgraduate design courses;
(f) To support the establishment of new design centres and laboratories;
(g) To promote development of joint research projects;
(h) To extend the number of institutions associated with ICSID.
WIPO
In 1991 ICSID was granted observer membership with the World
Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The growing economic importance of
industrial design is making the problem of legal practices more acute. Design
protection represents a wide and problematic area in the design field. A
special session on design protection was therefore organized in connection
with the Seventeenth ICSID World Congress, held in Ljubljana in May 1992.
The ICSID legal adviser in Design Protection Law and Practice
represented ICSID and the interests of industrial designers at the Committee
of Experts Meeting on the Updating of the Hague Agreement Concerning the
International Deposit of Industrial Designs, held in Geneva from 27 to
29 April 1992. It was decided that ICSID would cooperate with the
International Council of Graphic Design Associations (ICOGRADA) and the
International Federation of Interior Architects/Interior Designers (IFI) on
the subject of design protection.
ICSID was represented in 1992-1993 by its legal adviser at the following
WIPO meetings:
(a) The WIPO committee discussing the revision of the Hague Agreement on
international design registration;
(b) A working party of non-governmental organizations which was
considering ways of resolving international disputes in the intellectual
property field;
(c) WIPO's annual consultation with its recognized non-governmental
organizations about its future work programme.
The ICSID official adviser in design protection law and practice has
represented ICSID regularly at WIPO meetings and symposia. ICSID's observer
status has considerably strengthened ICSID's role when working for the further
development of design protection.
6. INTERNATIONAL UNION OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES (IULA)
(Category I)
Introduction
Founded in 1913, the International Union of Local Authorities (IULA) is
the oldest and largest world-wide association of local Governments. IULA is
dedicated to strengthening and improving local Governments and to promoting
cooperation and the flow of information between communities across the globe.
In the 1980s, in accordance with its own policy of regionalization, IULA
reorganized, and its current world-wide network is made up of a World
Secretariat and six Regional Sections serving the interests of local
Governments. Through the latter, services for, and programmes with, national
associations and related institutions are coordinated. By the end of 1993,
IULA had a membership extending to more than 80 countries world wide.
Participation and cooperation
IULA has a Permanent Representative to the United Nations who regularly
keeps contact with officials in several United Nations agencies. IULA's
Secretary-General has also made visits to New York for the express purpose of
attending United Nations meetings and conferring with United Nations offices.
In April 1992, IULA's Permanent Representative was invited to speak at
the plenary session of the United Nations Round-table meeting on
"Understanding the Role of International NGOs: Challenges and Opportunities
for the United Nations and Non-Governmental Organizations" organized by the
Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations.
During the spring of 1992, the representative of IULA served as Convenor
and Rapporteur at the Meeting of Experts on Metropolitan Governance in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; in March 1993, IULA's Secretary-General served as
Rapporteur at one of the three main sessions of a formal United Nations
Conference in Tokyo, Japan, on the same theme. This Conference was
co-organized with the Tokyo metropolitan Government.
IULA, and in particular its environmental arm, the International Council
of Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), was actively involved in the
preparatory process leading up to the 1992 United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development, held in Rio de Janeiro. During the World Urban
Forum in Curitiba, Brazil, also held in 1992, the Group of Four (IULA, United
Towns Organization, Metropolis and the Summit of Largest Cities), together
with ICLEI, formally represented local Governments' input and prepared a
written statement for the United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development. The results were reflected in chapter 28 of Agenda 21. During
the Conference itself, IULA was also represented. Later, in January and
March 1993, IULA co-sponsored the Municipal Leaders' Summits on Climate Change
in both New York and Amsterdam. The Secretary-General of IULA addressed the
Summit in Amsterdam. Both of these Summits were organized by ICLEI and UNEP.
Along with the Statistical Division of the United Nations Secretariat
(UNSTAT) and UNCHS, IULA is one of the partners in the Large Cities
Statistical Project.
The Director of IULA is involved in the continuous process of input and
review of the Urban Management Programme (UMP) as well as the Municipal
Development Programme (MDP), with special focus on the Africa region.
The Secretary-General and various IULA members have given assistance to
the newly established secretariat of the Commission on Sustainable
Development. The Secretary-General of IULA attended the first session of the
Commission on Sustainable Development in June 1993, in New York, on which
occasion the Group of Four and ICLEI organized a Cities and Sustainable
Development Panel. The Secretary-General of ICLEI and the permanent
representative of IULA to the United Nations visited senior staff at the
secretariat of the Commission on Sustainable Development to discuss follow-up
to its first session.
The IULA World Secretariat and its Middle East Regional Section (EMME)
were involved in consultations with UNDP in the design and development of its
LIFE Programme. Indeed, EMME eventually received funds from UNDP for LIFE.
UNDP has initiated a Clearing House on Decentralization Around the World, and
its Expert-in-charge consulted the World Secretariat on this issue.
Since the beginning of 1993, IULA has been very much involved in the
preparations for the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements
(Habitat II). At the fourteenth session of UNCHS (spring 1993), a policy
document was issued on the improvement of municipal management. The IULA
World Executive Committee at its autumn meeting in Quito, Ecuador, held
discussions on the subject and has since made it formal policy to follow up on
such activities.
Other relevant activities
The Biennial World Congresses of IULA: in 1991, IULA's thirtieth
Congress focused on the theme of environment, health and lifestyle and this
resulted in the adoption of the Oslo Declaration, reflecting the Congress's
theme. Two years later, in Toronto, Canada, the Congress was organized around
the theme of "Strengthening Communities". During this Congress the IULA
Worldwide Declaration of Local Self-Government was adopted, revised and
readopted by the IULA Council. Subsequently in June 1993, the Secretary-
General and the Mayor of The Hague, a member of the Executive Committee and
host of the 1995 IULA Congress, visited the United Nations and presented the
Declaration to an Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, and to United
Nations bodies in New York, notably UNDP.
Preparations for the 1995 Congress in The Hague, Netherlands, entitled
"A World of Municipalities: the Way to Innovation in International
Cooperation", were initiated in 1993. Many international organizations,
including United Nations programmes and offices such as the United Nations
Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), UNCHS, UNDP, UNICEF and the Division of
Public Administration and Development Management of the Department of
Development Support and Management Services of the United Nations Secretariat,
as well as others, are providing input into the Congress programme.
7. JUNIOR CHAMBER INTERNATIONAL (JCI)
(Category II)
Junior Chamber International (JCI) is a federation of national Junior
Chambers comprising more than 350,000 members in 115 countries and
territories. JCI's geographical boundaries were expanded during 1990-1993
with the establishment of affiliated organizations in Bulgaria, the Czech
Republic, Estonia and Romania in 1990, Uruguay in 1991, Zaire in 1992, and
Belarus, the Congo, Costa Rica, Lithuania, Mongolia, the Niger and the Russian
Federation in 1993.
The purpose of JCI is to contribute to the advancement of the global
community by providing opportunities for young people to develop the
leadership skills, social responsibility and fellowship necessary to create
positive change. Sharing humanitarian goals similar to those of the United
Nations, JCI encourages its member organizations to support and, where
appropriate, to work with the United Nations and its agencies.
Junior Chamber International is an active member of the non-governmental
organizations community. JCI is in consultative status with the Economic and
Social Council, category II, and is associated with the Department of Public
Information of the United Nations Secretariat. JCI has status with various
other organizations of the United Nations, including UNESCO, WHO, ILO and
UNIDO.
Participation in United Nations meetings
During the period 1990-1993, JCI representatives participated in the
following meetings of the United Nations:
(a) World Summit for Children, September 1990, New York, New York,
United States of America;
(b) NGO/Department of Public Information conference, September (1990,
1991, 1992), New York, New York, United States;
(c) United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, NGO Forum,
June 1992, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Cooperation with the United Nations and its agencies
and other relevant activities
JCI supported various programmes and activities of the United Nations
and its agencies, both directly and indirectly, from 1990 through 1993.
To spread the word about the role of the United Nations in the world,
JCI has organized a "JCI Day at the UN" on its anniversary (11 December),
observed in 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993. JCI Day at the United Nations is
designed to inform members about global concerns and the history of
cooperation between JCI and the United Nations through seminars, lectures and
activities held at both United Nations Headquarters in New York and Geneva.
As a follow-up to the 1990 World Summit for Children and in preparation
for the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Junior Chamber
International held its first International Model United Nations (IMUN) at
United Nations Headquarters in New York. In August 1991, over 500
participants from 91 different States gathered in New York for a week-long
programme under the theme "The Age of Global Citizenship". Engaging in role-
playing as members of the General Assembly, delegates proposed, discussed and
adopted over 40 resolutions in the areas of the environment, economic
development and the future of children. Several United Nations programmes and
offices were major partners in the organization and speakers programme of
IMUN, including UNICEF, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
(UNCTAD) and the Department of Public Information of the United Nations
Secretariat. JCI, UNICEF and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)
signed a joint agreement during IMUN that committed these organizations to
work together to halt the spread of cholera and diarrhoeal diseases in Latin
America and the Caribbean. At the conclusion of the meeting, a written
message from the Secretary-General of the United Nations was received
congratulating Junior Chamber delegates on their work.
As a follow-up to the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly and
the IMUN delegates in the field of the environment, JCI conducted a Global
Citizen's Conference for the United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 1992, in conjunction with the
Earth Summit. Delegates from 63 countries observed the NGO Forum preceding
the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development and discussed
ways to protect the global environment from pollution and deterioration.
Their recommendations were forwarded to UNEP for consideration.
Junior Chamber International has worked closely with UNICEF since the
collaboration agreement signed in 1986, particularly in the field of fund-
raising and advocacy for oral rehydration therapy (ORT). In 1990, JCI donated
254,086 Indian rupees to assist UNICEF with ORT activities in India. Many
projects at the grassroots level have been run by Junior Chamber members
around the world in support of the World Declaration on the Survival,
Protection and Development of Children.
During the 1993 JCI World Congress in Hong Kong, JCI renewed its
commitment to the children of the world by adopting the JCI-ORT Declaration in
collaboration with UNICEF.
8. UNIVERSAL FEDERATION OF TRAVEL AGENTS'
ASSOCIATIONS (UFTAA)
(Category II)
A. Mission and objectives
The Universal Federation of Travel Agents' Associations (UFTAA) gathers
together national trade associations or organizations, as well as individual
travel agents or travel partners, in some 85 countries around the world. In
broad terms, its mission consists in:
(a) Providing to the travel industry an international forum where all
matters affecting world-wide tourism can be addressed;
(b) Representing the views and supporting the interests of its members
in every appropriate manner.
The Federation's objectives are to encourage travel by people of all
nations and to support freedom of travel throughout the world, while fostering
an environment as favourable as possible to cost-effective, safe travel.
UFTAA also promotes professionalism in the travel agency business through
training courses and seminars. UFTAA goals are pursued through permanent
contact with member national associations, active involvement from the Board
of Directors, and the organization of an annual World Congress, where
resolutions are promulgated that define the Federation's policy and a
framework for its action.
B. Activities in the period 1990-1993
Support to UNICEF action
Over the past four years, UFTAA and UNICEF have undertaken several joint
projects, reinforcing a partnership established in 1986 through a "Declaration
of Solidarity" signed to mark their respective twentieth and fortieth
anniversaries, which underlined UFTAA's concern for the social and human
problems in today's world.
Travel agents contributed in many ways to raising funds to help children
world wide, namely through:
(a) Supporting the "Change for Good" programme set up by airlines,
whereby travellers donate foreign coins they no longer need at the end of a
trip;
(b) Promoting and selling UNICEF greeting cards;
(c) Creative initiatives, notably in Argentina and Australia, where the
Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA), a UFTAA member, has for several
years held a special auction, selling donated trips and travel packages with
the proceeds therefrom benefiting UNICEF.
A UNICEF representative is regularly invited to the UFTAA Annual
Congress. When unable to attend, UNICEF's message is read out to UFTAA
delegates.
Environmental issues
Since 1990, when a resolution (1990/1) was passed at its Cairo Congress
to appoint a Rapporteur to collect information on a charter for the protection
of the environment, UFTAA has maintained a close interest in this subject. In
1992, environmental awareness was the theme of its Annual Congress in Cancu'n,
where a resolution (1992/10) and a recommendation (1992/9) were approved,
reaffirming the travel agent community's commitment to the preservation of
natural and cultural values in tourist areas, and establishing policy
guidelines in this respect.
Following a suggestion made thereafter by its Norwegian affiliate, the
UFTAA Board approved the principle of linking travel agent associations having
environment committees into a network to exchange or share relevant data and
form an information pool. UFTAA's member association in Japan also took an
interesting initiative in favour of environmental protection, stressing travel
agents' commitment to such issues by imprinting envelopes and other stationery
with the words "International Traveller, Gentle to the Earth". Last year
also, a questionnaire was devised in conjunction with the World Tourism
Organization (WTO) and sent to all national associations to try to evaluate
the impact of environmental features on clients' travelling behaviour.
The Secretary-General of UFTAA was invited to participate, on
14 December 1993, in a workshop of UNEP in Paris, prepared by the
International Institute for Peace Through Tourism, dealing with "Voluntary
Environmental Codes of Conduct for the Tourism Industry". Although prevented
from actually attending, he was kept informed of the success of this seminar
and took great interest in its proceedings and outcome.
ECPAT
In 1993, UFTAA took a firm stand to oppose sex tourism in Asia. A
member of the Board of Directors undertook a vigorous campaign on this
subject, on behalf of UFTAA, and travel agent national associations in many
countries agreed to support the ECPAT ("End Child Prostitution in Asian
Tourism") campaign launched and sponsored by major international bodies
including WHO, WTO and UNICEF. In France, in particular, an information
leaflet has been produced and widely distributed with the specific support of
UFTAA and of its French affiliate, the Syndicat national des agents de
voyages.
Moreover, in a letter sent to the ECPAT Campaign Coordinator, UFTAA
advised him that its 1993 Peace Award, conferred on people or institutions
who, within the travel industry, worked towards peace and understanding
between nations, would be granted in recognition of ECPAT efforts. An
individual from ECPAT-Germany, member of the International Committee, received
this award during the twenty-seventh UFTAA Annual Congress held in Malta in
November 1993 on behalf of the ECPAT Coordinator.
During this same Congress, in consideration of the fact that the tourist
industry must show the greatest respect for the populations of the countries
visited, and particularly for their children, a resolution (1993/5) was passed
strongly condemning any form of tourism involving child abuse, as well as
calling for aid to ECPAT in alerting public opinion and in demanding that laws
be passed or better applied, in order to ensure that article 34 of the
Convention on the Rights of the Child is duly enforced.
9. WORLD FEDERATION OF DEMOCRATIC YOUTH (WFDY)
(Category I)
A. Brief statement of aims and purposes of WFDY
For the period between 1990 and 1993, the World Federation of Democratic
Youth was engaged in the implementation of the decisions of the thirteenth
Assembly which was held in Athens, Greece, during which concrete resolutions
were adopted as to the work and activities of the Federation. Thus, the
Federation was able to carry out its activities irrespective of the paucity of
resources and financial constraints.
As an international youth organization, WFDY has always considered
maintaining closer contacts with the United Nations system, particularly the
Economic and Social Council, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the International Labour Organization
(ILO), a top priority, even more so in programmes related to youth.
Within the aims of the organization WFDY coordinates its activities for
the interest of youth and contributes to the common ideals of freedom,
independence, democracy, friendship, international solidarity and world peace.
It considers its work a contribution to ensuring the protection of the rights
and interest of youth.
B. Activities for the period 1990
WFDY launched a campaign to "Save the Amazonian Forest" with the
participation of other international youth non-governmental organizations as a
contribution to the preparations for the United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development which was held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.
A seminar on "World Youth Rainforest Action" was held in Budapest,
Hungary, on 22 March 1990 with the participation of international youth
organizations. At that seminar, concrete actions were discussed for the
campaign and for the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.
A seminar on "Youth Actions for the Defence of the Amazon" was organized
in Manaus, Brazil, and held from 18 to 22 July 1990.
A symposium on the launching of a campaign for "Tree Planting and
Reforestation in Africa" was held in Dakar, Senegal, from 1 to 2 October 1990.
WFDY organized jointly with the UNESCO Youth Division a symposium on the
theme "World Youth: Changes in the East and West and influences on the
South", held in Budapest, Hungary, on 1 and 2 September 1990. Prominent
personalities from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, UNESCO, the Minister of
State and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary, and the Director of the
European Youth Centre presented papers and took part in the deliberations of
the Symposium.
The thirteenth Assembly of WFDY was held in Athens, Greece, from 5 to
10 December 1990. Within the framework of the Assembly, WFDY organized
jointly with the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs of the
United Nations Office at Vienna an International Meeting on the Fifth
Anniversary of the International Youth Year. Also, a Consultative Meeting for
a fund-raising campaign entitled "Solidarity with South African Youth and
People" was organized jointly with UNESCO within the framework of the
Assembly.
C. Activities for the year 1991
WFDY, in cooperation with the International Peace Movements, organized
an international network against war in the Persian Gulf. Our Federation sent
a fact-finding mission to Iraq and Kuwait in March 1991.
An International Youth Forum for a Just and Lasting Peace in the Middle
East and Eastern Mediterranean was organized in Nicosia, Cyprus, on 30 and
31 March 1991.
The WFDY General Council Meeting was held in Beirut, Lebanon, in
April 1991. Discussions were also held on ways to improve our cooperation
with the United Nations system in a number of activities.
D. Activities for the year 1992
The WFDY General Council Meeting was held in Madrid, March 1992.
An International Youth Camp concerning "Friendship, Solidarity and Youth
Exchange for Youths in the European Union Countries" was organized by WFDY in
St. Veran, France, and held from 11 to 17 July 1992. An exchange of views was
also held on the Maastricht Treaty and on the war in Yugoslavia.
WFDY participated in the United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development, which was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 1992.
E. Activities for the year 1993
Within the framework of the preparations for the tenth anniversary of
the International Youth Year, WFDY organized regional consultative meetings of
its member organizations; 15 and 16 November 1992 in Tunis (Middle East
Region), Enlarged Coordinating Council, 28-31 January 1993, in Paris, France
(Europe and North America).
September 1993: the General Council Meeting of WFDY was held in New
Delhi, India, and an International Seminar on "North-South Dialogue and Youth
Perspective" was held during the course of the General Council Meeting.
August 1993 in Budapest, Hungary, a seminar on Xenophobia and Racism in
Europe was organized.
World Conference on Human Rights, held in Vienna, June 1993: WFDY
participated in this Conference together with 10 of its member organizations
and some indigenous organizations dealing with human rights issues.
10 December 1993 in Brussels, Belgium: a seminar was organized on
"Racism and development and influences on the South".
F. Activities for the year 1994
A WFDY Observer Team that comprised seven national youth organizations
that were members of WFDY was in South Africa to observe the first
multiracial, democratic elections in April 1994.
An International Youth Seminar on "Youth Perspectives for Peaceful
Development in the Balkan Region" was organized in Sofia, Bulgaria, on 21 and
22 May 1994.
The WFDY Enlarged Coordinating Council Meeting was held in Sofia,
Bulgaria, on 23 May 1994.
The European Youth Festival was held in Paris, France, on 28 May 1994
and a Solidarity Meeting with the Cuban People "Cuba Yes, Blockade NO" on 29
May 1994.
WFDY launched an appeal for the release of Bushra Abdel Karim,
Secretary-General of the Sudanese Youth Union, who was arrested by the
Sudanese Government with other political activists in the Sudan. Twelve
international and regional youth organizations supported the appeal with the
cooperation of the Centre for Human Rights in Geneva. Mr. Bushra has been
released by the authorities.
An International Youth Meeting of Solidarity with Cyprus - "Cyprus:
Occupation and Division, a Shame to Humanity" - was held in September 1994,
Athens, Greece.
WFDY participated in the International Conference on Population and
Development, Cairo, in September 1994.
WFDY supported the UNESCO "Reading for All" Campaign for Africa, 1994-
1995.
In all of our activities (organized and held), we included as a point on
the agenda for discussion WFDY's cooperation with United Nations systems - and
ways to participate and improve our cooperation in a number of activities.
10. WORLD MUSLIM CONGRESS (WMC)
(MOTOMAR AL-ALAM AL-ISLAMI)
(Category I)
1990
January: the World Muslim Congress (WMC) called for support for the
self-determination of the Kashmiri people as per the relevant United Nations
resolutions. Regarding the question of Kashmir the Secretary-General of WMC
called on the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and during the Global
Forum on Environment and Development in Moscow WMC presented a memo for the
attention of the United Nations.
February: the WMC representative attended the Commission on Human
Rights and presented a WMC memorandum. WMC conveyed its concern at the global
situation in the field of refugees.
March: WMC was represented at the World Conference on Education for
All: Meeting Basic Learning Needs, held in Thailand. WMC observed the
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
April: WMC observed World Health Day on the theme "Health and
Environment".
WMC at Karachi observed World Earth Day.
May: the WMC representative attended the fifth annual Universal
Children's Day celebrated at United Nations Headquarters, New York, and WMC
also held a meeting at its headquarters to observe this Day.
Together with the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and the
Muslim World League (MWL), WMC condemned the Indian repression and presented a
joint appeal to the United Nations.
June: the Fifth Regular Conference of the Muslim Religions Board for
the European Part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and Serbia
was held at Ufa City and the Secretary-General of WMC participated.
In June, the WMC Branch of New South Wales, Australia, organized a
meeting to form a Kashmir Support Committee and send urgent appeals about
atrocities in Kashmir to the Australian Government, Security Council members
and the United Nations Secretariat.
Likewise, the WMC Branch of Azad Jammu and Kashmir has appealed to
600 human rights organizations the world over and the Commission on Human
Rights to see that India halts its illegal, unconstitutional occupation and
brutal excesses against the Kashmiri people.
The WMC international headquarters manages a Palestine Human Rights
Information Centre which maintains documentation of Israeli killings of
children in occupied Gaza and the West Bank.
July: AMC attended the UNICEF Global Conference on "The World's
Religions for the World's Children", held at New Jersey.
August: the nineteenth session of the OIC Islamic Conference of Foreign
Ministers in Cairo was attended by the WMC President and its Secretary-
General.
The representative of WMC attended the first regular session of the
Economic and Social Council in May 1990 and delivered a statement on agenda
item 3 (human rights questions).
The Secretary-General of WMC issued a global appeal for a quick and
peaceful solution to the Iraq/Kuwait issue.
The Second Assembly of World's Religions was held in San Francisco,
California, United States, organized by the International Religions Foundation
and the Secretary-General of WMC participated.
October: WMC headquarters observed the International Day of Solidarity
with South African Political Prisoners, and United Nations Day. WMC strongly
condemned the heinous and irreligious attack of extremists on the Babri Masjid
at Ayodhya, India.
November: the thirtieth conference of the Asian-Pacific League for
Freedom and Democracy was held at Manila and the Secretary-General of WMC
presented a keynote speech in the second plenary session on "Dynamism of Islam
in the Changing Ties of Development in the Asian Pacific Region". The editor
of the WMC weekly review The Muslim World attended the Asian-Pacific Youth
Freedom League's tenth annual conference in Manila.
December: a symposium on Human Rights Day was organized by WMC at
headquarters on the anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights.
During the early 1990s, WMC organized a series of seminars and open
discussions on the Persian Gulf crisis brought about by the invasion of Kuwait
by Iraq and subsequent developments. The Secretary-General of WMC addressed
an urgent appeal to the Secretary-General of the OIC, the President of Iraq,
the King of Saudi Arabia and the Secretary-General of the United Nations for a
meaningful and peaceful initiative to resolve the crisis.
1991
January: a public meeting was held followed by a global humanitarian
appeal by the World Muslim Congress for a negotiated resolution of the Persian
Gulf crisis. The World Muslim Congress expressed its urgent concern for
children, women, the infirm, the aged, and all non-combatants who were at
great risk owing to the war in the Persian Gulf, and appealed to all for
humanitarian assistance for non-combatants.
February: at its headquarters, a briefing was held by WMC to inform the
people about the Second World Climate Conference (SWCC) held at the
headquarters of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Geneva, and a
brief report about SWCC was published in The Muslim World, vol. 28, No. 30, of
3 March.
March: a member of World Muslim Congress's Commission on Peace attended
the United Nations University for Peace Conference at Costa Rica.
The representative of WMC to the United Nations in New York delivered a
statement on human rights questions to the Economic and Social Council at its
first regular session of 1991.
June: WMC held a meeting to observe the International Day against Drug
Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
At the tenth annual session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign
Ministers, held at Istanbul, Turkey, in August 1991, the WMC delegation urged
OIC to activate an effective and meaningful action plan to avert the menace of
famine, particularly in Africa, to set up a special commission on the rights
of the child, and to set up an international Islamic institute of
international peace.
September: the International Day of Peace was observed by the WMC
Commission on International Peace at WMC headquarters, Karachi.
October: the World Muslim Congress, at its international headquarters,
and its various country chapters observed United Nations Day.
November: WMC organized an International Cultural Seminar on the theme
"Heritage of Muslim Spain" at Lahore, inaugurated by the Prime Minister of
Pakistan.
December: in early December, the WMC Commission observed the
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
1992
At the United Nations Office at Geneva, the WMC representative made an
oral statement in the Commission on Human Rights.
January: WMC participated in the second session of the Preparatory
Committee for the World Conference on Human Rights.
June: WMC participated in the United Nations Conference on Environment
and Development (Rio de Janeiro, 1992).
WMC attended the forty-seventh session of the General Assembly.
WMC was represented at the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva.
December: among its last programmes for 1992 was a socio-cultural
function, held by WMC in Karachi, with the visiting children of overseas
Pakistanis now settled in Europe, to promote peace, understanding and
cooperation.
1993
February: WMC attended the forty-ninth session of the Commission on
Human Rights at Geneva.
A stock of medicines, and other items were handed over by the Secretary-
General of WMC at Islamabad, to the Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
March: for International Women's Day, a seminar was held at
International Islamic University, Islamabad, on the theme "Muslim Women and
Challenges of the Future".
April: the twenty-first session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign
Ministers at Karachi was attended by the Secretary-General of WMC who
presented the viewpoint of WMC on various items.
June: WMC participated in the World Conference on Human Rights at
Vienna.
July: WMC participated in the substantive session of the Economic and
Social Council.
August: WMC participated in the forty-fifth session of the
Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities of
the Commission on Human Rights.
The Secretary-General of WMC attended the International Conference on
"The Contribution of Islam to Civilisation" at Alexandria.
September: on the occasion of the World Parliament of Religions
combined with Holy Prophet Day, at a meeting in Karachi the Assistant
Secretary-General of WMC spoke on the "Eternal Model of Peace for All
Mankind".
October: the Secretary-General of WMC attended the meeting of the
Coordination Committee for Islamic Joint Action held in Cairo. The Secretary-
General of WMC critically analysed the United Nations peace operation in
Somalia.
November: WMC attended the Ministerial Conference of the Economic and
Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) on Urbanization in Asia and
the Pacific, held at Bangkok.
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