| United Nations | E/C.2/1995/2/Add.5 |
Economic and Social Council
Distr. GENERAL
6 December 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
Reports submitted through the Secretary-General pursuant
to Economic and Social Council resolution 1296 (XLIV) of
3 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 1993, 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
Note ....................................................................2
1. Christian Children's Fund Inc. .....................................4
2. Covenant House .....................................................6
3. Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan Council of North and South America .....8
4. Human Rights Advocates .............................................12
5. International Association of Lions Clubs ...........................16
6. Union catholique inte'rnationale de la presse (UCIP) ................18
7. International Organization of Employers ............................22
8. International Planned Parenthood Federation ........................25
9. International Statistical Institute ................................27
10. International Union for the Scientific Study of Population .........31
11. Zonta International ................................................34
1. CHRISTIAN CHILDREN'S FUND INC.
(Category II)
The Christian Children's Fund (CCF) is an international non-profit and
non-sectarian child development agency founded in 1938 and dedicated to the
survival and protection of children and to improving the quality of the lives
they will lead. The Fund provides help to needy children regardless of race
or religion. Assistance is provided to approximately 2.5 million children in
over 40 countries throughout Asia, Africa, Latin America and, since 1991, in
Eastern Europe. The headquarters are in Richmond, Virginia, United States of
America.
CCF works to make sure every child has the basic necessities for
survival - food, clean water, health care and medicine - as well as the
vocational and educational support that spawns self-sufficiency. CCF's
programmes also support the emotional, psychological and mental needs which
are as pressing to a child's healthy development as food and shelter.
As the world's oldest child-development sponsorship agency, CCF promotes
the concept of a one-to-one relationship between children in need and those
willing to help. This was a founding principle and has been the buttress of
its ability to help children. For children in crisis - beyond the reach of
the ongoing child-and-sponsor relationship - CCF depends on responses to
special appeals and other non-sponsorship donations.
CCF has national offices in 22 countries, including the United States.
In addition, partnership organizations provide CCF leadership in Australia,
Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Japan, New
Zealand, Republic of Korea, and Taiwan Province of China. The New Zealand and
French affiliates were added within the past four years.
In 1991 CCF opened an office in Geneva. It supports CCF's Eastern
European programme and also relates to United Nations agencies based in
Geneva.
In 1989, the President of CCF, was elected Deputy President of the NGO
Committee on UNICEF. In 1991 he became President of the NGO Committee and was
re-elected in 1993. He has regularly represented CCF at UNICEF-sponsored
meetings and events.
Since 1990 CCF has had a liaison office in New York City. This has
allowed CCF to strengthen its relationships with UNICEF and other offices and
agencies of the United Nations. The New York staff regularly attends UNICEF
Executive Board meetings, briefings of the Department of Humanitarian Affairs
and other Secretariat briefings, seminars and fora, it keeps CCF informed of
United Nations events and activities by way of a bimonthly newsletter and
regular communications by phone and memo.
CCF staff have frequent contact with UNICEF staff, both in the United
States and in the national offices. A CCF staff member visited Romania as
part of a UNICEF delegation. Other CCF staff have worked with UNICEF's
education department on early-childhood development curricula.
Ratification and follow-up to the Convention on the Rights of the Child
is a high priority for CCF. The national offices are encouraged to work with
other non-governmental organizations on promoting the Convention.
After the World Summit for Children, CCF wrote its own plan of action,
based on that of the World Summit, called Ten Steps to 2000. It calls for CCF
programmes to provide 10 basic services for all children, using the Plan of
Action of the World Summit as a guide.
Some national offices of CCF also work in direct cooperation with UNDP.
2. COVENANT HOUSE
(Category II)
The aims of Covenant House are: to identify and attempt to assist in
solving the problems of the urban poor, especially abandoned or neglected
children; to explore and participate in the identification of the social,
psychological and physical problems of these children, and to stimulate public
awareness of the need for effective youth care facilities. Covenant House
achieves these aims by providing crisis care and supportive services to more
than 40,000 runaway and homeless youth each year. Covenant House is located
in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras. It provides
food and shelter, street outreach, medical and nutritional assistance,
substance-abuse counselling and advocacy.
During the period 1990-1993, Covenant House's senior vice-president
participated monthly in UNICEF's non-governmental organizations (NGO) Working
Group on Children in Especially Difficult Circumstances. In 1993, the senior
vice-president chaired the sub-working group on exploited children for that
committee. The group worked on several projects regarding the sexual
exploitation of children and, most recently, on projects regarding exploitive
child labour. It focused on identifying and disseminating information with
respect to programmes that have successfully helped working children in the
developing and least developed countries. The working group called for the
replication of those programmes and an expansion of funding for them and
others like them by United Nations agencies, donor Governments and large
international agencies. The senior vice-president also established a link to
the New York office of the ILO.
Additionally, the senior vice-president participated in the monthly
meetings of the Youth Employment Committee from 1990 to 1991 and served as the
chair of the executive board of the NGO/DPI committee during 1990. In the
latter role, he played a major role in chairing the annual NGO/DPI conference
in September of that year.
During 1992 and 1993, the senior vice-president served on the planning
committee for the NGO Conference on the Rights of Children, held in Guatemala
in November 1993. As part of the international committee of seven members,
the senior vice-president was instrumental in assisting in the planning,
coordination and operation of the conference and in providing technical
support at the conference through Casa Alianza (Covenant House) of Guatemala.
Follow-up work with the more than 130 NGOs that attended began immediately
after the conference.
Covenant House has worked closely with UNICEF and also with the United
Nations rapporteur for human rights regarding the situation of street children
in Guatemala and Honduras and, through its legal aid office in Guatemala, has
filed over 50 cases against police accused of killing street children.
Covenant House has also apprised UNICEF of the abuse of shoe glue by street
youth, especially in Central American countries, and has led the fight to have
this glue, which is manufactured by an American and a German company, altered
so that sniffing if would be odious to these children. This work was done by
Covenant House's Central American director, in liaison with the senior vice-
president.
Covenant House's senior vice-president disseminated the United Nations
General Assembly's Declaration on the Plight of Street Children, and followed
the actions of the Commission on Human Rights with respect to this issue. The
Declaration has proved invaluable in assisting Covenant House in its continued
advocacy for street children, especially in Central America.
Covenant House has been quite active in advocating the ratification of
the Convention on the Rights of the Child through letter-writing campaigns to
members of the United States Senate.
3. GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESAN COUNCIL OF NORTH
AND SOUTH AMERICA
(Category I)
Aims and purpose
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan Council of North and South America
(GOAC) is an international organization having members in the United States of
America, Canada and Central and South America. It is dedicated to supporting
programmes in developing countries such as Uganda, Kenya, Zaire, Ghana, the
Republic of Korea, Nigeria, the United Republic of Tanzania and in other parts
of the world.
A humanitarian and family-oriented body whose budget is based on family
membership, GOAC is concerned with the United Nations principles of
maintaining peace and security in the world; of working together with the
nations of the world to promote better welfare, education and health
conditions; of encouraging respect for the individual rights and freedoms, of
enhancing the status of women and of condemning racism and racial
discrimination in the world.
Cooperation with United Nations bodies
and specialized agencies
(a) A field survey of health and nutritional status of Accra, Lartah and
Odinagwa in Ghana, Addis Ababa and Djiwaha in Ethiopia, and Laukipia, Kenya,
was conducted by the GOAC in cooperation with WHO;
(b) GOAC established medical clinics, schools and community centres in
Kenya, Uganda, Ghana and Nigeria in cooperation with WHO, UNESCO and UNICEF;
(c) GOAC organized UNICEF fund drives to build water wells in Africa,
assist homeless and street children, promote child immunization and oral
rehydration therapy. Fund drives were also conducted to help educate the girl
child and assist children in difficult circumstances. GOAC was also a member
of the UNICEF Working Group on the Rights of the Child, and participated in a
conference on world religions for the world's children and presented a
declaration and an action plan of the conference to the Head of State of the
World Summit for Children. It attended the World Summit on 29 September 1990.
GOAC collaborated and gave its expertise to the UNICEF NGO Committee during
its consultation on The Family in Support of Children. It also participated
in the UNICEF working group for the 1990 World Conference on Education for
All;
(d) In the field of disaster relief, GOAC cooperated with United Nations
bodies to assist with famine relief in Somalia, Ethiopia, the Sudan and
Rwanda. GOAC also sent food and health kits to the Russian Federation and the
former Yugoslavia. Earthquake and hurricane victims were assisted in
Bangladesh, Mexico, California and Florida. Funds were raised for the Kurdish
Refugee Relief Fund.
Other relevant activities: action in implementation
of United Nations resolutions
In implementing Economic and Social Council resolution 1987/24, GOAC is
continuing to support groups and workshops throughout the Archdiocese to
eradicate violence against women within the family. It conducts programmes to
assist with drug prevention, AIDS, and family problems. It continues its
efforts to work with national coalitions to assist the homeless, set-up food
banks and provide housing for the homeless.
Consultation and cooperation with officials of the
United Nations Secretariat
As an original member of the NGO Working Group on the Family, in
preparation for and in observance of the International Year of the Family, in
January 1990 GOAC participated in the survey/questionnaire and planning
process of the Secretariat and the Secretary-General's initiative. In May
1991 GOAC participated in the NGO Consultation on Fathers in Contemporary Life
and in the Consultation on Families and Strategies for Development. GOAC
consulted with the United Nations Centre for Human Rights in preparation for
the World Conference on Human Rights.
Participation in the work of the Economic and Social
Council and its subsidiary bodies, conferences and
other United Nations meetings
GOAC regularly attends sessions of the Economic and Social Council and
other conferences and meetings held by bodies of the United Nations. It has
been a member of the Conference of NGOs in consultative status with the
Economic and Social Council since 1986, and attends the CONGO Board Meetings
regularly. GOAC is an active member of the NGO Committees on the Family,
Youth, Ageing, Narcotics and Substance Abuse, Human Rights and Freedom of
Religion and Belief. GOAC attends the weekly briefings of the Department of
Public Information where its representatives have had leadership roles in the
NGO/DPI Executive Committee. GOAC participated in all annual conferences of
the Department of Public Information and NGOs from 1990 to 1993.
In January 1991, GOAC attended the Amendment Conference of the States
Parties to the Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons Tests in the Atmosphere in Outer
Space and Under Water.
In April 1992, GOAC attended the CONGO Conference on Understanding the
Role of International NGOs, with representatives of permanent missions.
In March 1992, GOAC attended the fourth session of the Preparatory
Committee for the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, at
United Nations Headquarters, and in June 1992, GOAC attended the Conference
itself in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
In 1991, GOAC attended a conference on the World Decade of Cultural
Development, sponsored by UNDP and UNESCO at United Nations Headquarters.
Oral and written statements
GOAC submitted a written statement on orthodoxy and the ecological
crisis to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. It
participated with other world religions in the preparation of the Earth
Charter which was presented to the Conference. The Charter is a statement of
universal principles to help people live in harmony with each other and with
the Earth.
In February 1990 GOAC issued a joint NGO statement to the special
session of the General Assembly to further discuss the drug problem.
In September 1990, GOAC issued a statement with other NGOs to the World
Summit for Children. It also participated with the NGO Committee on the
Family in a joint statement to the Commission on Social Development, stating
the negative impact on the well-being and stability of families caused by
development strategies.
It made oral statements before the forty-seventh and forty-eighth
sessions of the Commission on Human Rights.
Other examples of consultative and substantive activities,
including field-level collaboration, joint sponsorship
meetings, seminars and studies
GOAC helped to prepare kits on religious freedom with other religious
NGOs and participated with other religious NGOs in the Environmental Sabbath
initiative;
GOAC participated in the United Nations Tree Planting Programme;
As an original member of the NGO Working Group on the Family, GOAC took
special measures from 1990 to 1993 to prepare for the International Year of
the Family through its Department on Family Life. Workshops and seminars were
conducted at conventions and conferences throughout the parishes world wide,
addressing problems families face: single parenting, divorce, AIDS,
alcoholism, drugs, violence and ageing parents. Guidebooks, visual resources
and social welfare programmes were initiated in order to prevent family
breakdowns. GOAC works with United Nations agencies, inter-church groups and
national and local governments.
GOAC celebrates United Nations Day, World Food Day, World Environment
Day and Human Rights Day.
GOAC disseminates information on the United Nations through the Orthodox
Observer, its newspaper; Mission, a monthly magazine; newsletters; and through
its conferences at which seminars and workshops are held on United Nations
resolutions. Its Communications Department produces videos on United Nations
issues, which are distributed to communities in the United States, Canada, and
South America.
4. HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATES
(Category II)
The organization's aims and purpose are to promote greater protection
for human rights world wide through the creative and forceful use of
international human rights law and procedures. HRA accomplishes this by
organizing conferences, lectures, and seminars; by publishing original
articles and newsletters; by participating in United States lawsuits; by
encouraging members of the United States Congress and local bar associations
to take action to promote human rights; by making interventions at sessions of
United Nations human rights bodies; and by submitting petitions to the Inter-
American and European Commissions of Human Rights.
Participation in the Economic and Social Council and its
subsidiary bodies
HRA participates in sessions of the Commission on Human Rights and the
Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities,
through attendance, oral statements and written statements:
Written interventions
Commission
Legislatures and human rights (E/CN.4/1993/NGO/32), February 1993
Relationship between civil defence forces and human rights: situation
in Guatemala (E/CN.4/1993/NGO/33), February 1993
Crimes against humanity (E/CN.4/1993/35), February 1993
United States ratification of the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
(E/CN.4/1993/NGO/34), February 1993
Persons subjected to any form of detention (Joint statement)
(E/CN.4/1992/NGO/27), 4 February 1992
Realization of economic ... rights, Mfengu case
(E/CN.4/Sub.2/1991/NGO/7), 4 August 1992
Resolution of nationalities in conflict, Soviet Union
(E/CN.4/1991/NGO/44), 20 February 1991
Role of youth/conscientious objection (E/CN.4/1991/NGO/50), 19 March
1991
Human rights in armed conflicts (E/CN.4/1991/NGO/45), 4 March 1991
Violation of human rights, journalists (E/CN.4/Sub.2/NGO/25),
21 August 1990
Review of further developments, journalists (E/CN.4/Sub.2/1990/NGO/23),
17 August 1990
Discrimination against indigenous peoples (E/CN.4/Sub.2/1990/NGO/22),
17 August 1990
Subcommission
Realization of economic, social and cultural rights
(E/CN.4/Sub.2/NGO/28), 6 September 1993
New approach to self-determination ... (E/CN.4/Sub.2/1993/34/Add.2),
27 March 1993
Administration of justice ... (Joint statement)
(E/CN.4/Sub.2/1992/NGO/20), 11 August 1992
Review of further developments ... (Joint statement),
(E/CN.4/Sub.2/1992/NGO/10), 4 August 1992
Realization of economic, social and cultural rights
(E/CN.4/Sub.2/1992/NGO/7), 4 August 1992 (E/CN.4/Sub.2/1991/NGO/11),
1 August 1991
Administration of justice ... (E/CN.4/Sub.2/1991/NGO/27), 12 August 1991
Administration of justice ... (E/CN.4/Sub.2/1991/NGO/28), 9 August 1991
Violation of human rights, Tibet (E/CN.4/Sub.2/1991/NGO/12), 1 August
1991
Review of further developments, Yugoslavia (E/CN.4/Sub.2/1991/NGO/41),
August 1991
Administration of justice (E/CN.4/Sub.2/1991/NGO/26), 12 August 1991
Right of everyone to leave and return (E/CN.4/Sub.2/1991/NGO/25),
9 August 1991
Violation of human rights ..., 12 August 1991
Protection of Vietnamese asylum seekers in Hong Kong, working paper,
August 1991.
Legal and institutional aspects: human rights and the environment
(E/CN.4/Sub.2/1991/NGO/11), August 1991
Discrimination against indigenous peoples (E/CN.4/Sub.2/1990/NGO/22),
17 August 1990
Oral interventions
Commission
Human rights violations in Palestine, February 1993
"Minorities", "peoples" and self-determination, February 1993
Civil defense forces and human rights, February 1993
Human rights situation in Tibet, 19 February 1992
Disability report of the Subcommission, February 1992
Detention issues of torture and forced repatriation, February 1992
Racial discrimination, Mfengu case, 11 August 1992
Human rights defenders, 4 March 1992
Violation of human rights, Nagorny-Karabakh, 19 February 1992
Elimination of all forms of intolerance ..., 13 February 1990
Anti-Armenian massacres in Azerbaijan, 20 February 1990
Administrative detention of refugees ..., 13 February 1990
Subcommission
Lesbian and gay rights, August 1993
Human rights situation in republics of former Soviet Union, August 1993
Human rights and the environment, referring to report of Mrs. Ksentini,
20 August 1993
Soviet nationalities conflicts, February 1992
Situation in the USSR, 15 August 1991
Human rights and the disabled, 16 August 1991
Detention of asylum seekers; state of emergency in USSR, 21 August 1991
Copies of the HRA Newsletter, numbers 14-22 for 1990-1993, containing
articles on work at the United Nations, have been provided to the Secretariat.
Cooperation with United Nations programmes, bodies and
specialized agencies
Preparatory Committee of the World Conference on Human Rights,
9-13 September 1991, Geneva
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 25 November-
12 December 1991, Geneva
International Labour Organization, consultations re Caucasus,
December 1991-present, Geneva
Other relevant activities
Commission on Human Rights, Working Group on Minorities,
2-13 December 1991, Geneva
Centre for Human Rights, consultations re advisory services in the
Caucasus, November 1991-present, Geneva
Organized seminar on human rights law and procedures in Yerevan,
January 1992, Geneva
Participated in joint NGO delegation to Abkhazia, December 1993
5. INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LIONS CLUBS
(LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL)
(Category II)
Lions Clubs International has approximately 1,400,000 members in 42,200
clubs in 178 countries or geographical locations. It is a non-political
organization devoted to the betterment of social and humanitarian conditions.
The motto of the association is "we serve", and its activities parallel
closely those of the United Nations in the fields of economic, social and
humanitarian development.
In the past four years, membership overseas has increased, while
membership in North America has decreased. The overall number of members,
however, has remained stable, while the number of countries has grown. Growth
has occurred in the former Soviet Union, the Baltic States, and in Eastern
European countries.
Liaisons are appointed by each international president to represent the
association at the United Nations in New York and at United Nations branches
in Geneva and Vienna. In addition, the association is affiliated with UNESCO
and the World Health Organization, to which annual appointments are also made.
Within the past four years, the association has cooperated with the
United Nations in the following areas:
(a) Participation with World Health Organization on the implementation
of a major service commitment in sight. Entitled SightFirst, major grants are
given for sight-related projects proposed by a committee on which sits a
permanent representative of WHO. In addition, during the duration of the
SightFirst programme, the association has maintained a paid adviser with WHO;
(b) Participation with the United Nations Environment Programme in the
compilation of an environment handbook for distribution to non-governmental
organizations;
(c) Active participation on the NGO Committees on Narcotics and
Substance Abuse in New York and Vienna;
(d) Implementation with UNESCO of the International Literacy and Culture
Program by Leo Clubs;
(e) Sponsorship of an annual Lions Day, at which the Secretary-General
and representatives of various United Nations humanitarian agencies have been
keynote speakers. Representatives from United Nations agencies have also been
featured in similar programmes around the world;
(f) Promulgation of the United Nations-designated International Day
Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking through distribution of a calendar
created by youngsters to combat drug abuse;
(g) Promotion of a diabetes awareness programme in all countries of
Lionism, the focus of which was formulated as a result of contributions by
officials of WHO.
Other relevant activities
During 1991-1993 the UNESCO liaison of the Association headed the UNESCO
working group on environment and durable development, which produced a paper
on viable development projects that could enhance environmental quality.
During the past four years, the association obtained an upgrade in
classification with UNESCO, from category C to category B.
Issues of The Lion Magazine in which the United Nations is prominently
featured have been provided to the Secretariat.
6. UNION CATHOLIQUE INTERNATIONALE DE LA PRESSE (UCIP)
The World Forum of Professionals in the Secular
and Religious Media
(Category II)
UCIP is an international, Catholic, professional and autonomous
organization which brings together journalists, publishers and professors of
journalism and communication. It promotes, coordinates and represents the
activities of professionals in the secular and religious media world wide.
The membership in UCIP has considerably increased during the past four
years. A special wing of the union, the International Network of Young
Journalists, has been attracting many young professionals. This is a unique
and successful forum in the field of the media.
Today UCIP is present in 109 countries in different parts of the world.
UCIP programmes destined for media professionals have attracted not only
journalists but also Governments as partners.
Activities
During the past four years UCIP has given special attention to
initiating relevant and timely activities in line with United Nations
resolutions, decisions and principles. They include UCIP University;
refresher programmes; the Union's major and world-wide activity, the World
Congress; UCIP documents; the International Award for Solidarity with
Refugees; and ongoing reflections on relevant subjects.
UCIP University
UCIP University is a discovery programme for professional journalists
between 25 and 40 years of age designed to help them understand and learn
about the life of a continent other than their own. UCIP selects 20-25
journalists twice every three years from all over the world except from the
continent of venue.
UCIP University 1990 was organized in the United States and Canada in
June/July. Twenty-five journalists from Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America
and Oceania participated in the one-month exposure to the cultural, political,
social and religious realities of the North American continent.
UCIP University 1991 was organized in India and Pakistan. The 26
participating journalists said that the exposure was a much better way to
understand the life and realities of the Indian subcontinent than depending on
international news agencies.
UCIP University was not organized in 1992 since that was the year of the
UCIP World Congress.
UCIP University 1993 was organized in the former German Democratic
Republic, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary and Ukraine. For the 24
participating journalists and for the host Governments and governmental and
non-governmental organizations, UCIP University was an extraordinary
opportunity to observe Eastern Europe.
UCIP University 1994 will be organized in November in Kenya, the United
Republic of Tanzania, Zimbabwe and South Africa. The event will naturally
provide insights into four African countries which have been undergoing
enormous change.
UCIP University brings together journalists from all parts of the world,
from developed and developing nations despite inequalities and injustices in
their earning power, working conditions and hopes for the future. The
exposure programme has succeeded in uniting journalists from various nations
in the spirit of the principles of the United Nations.
Refresher programmes
Refresher programmes take into consideration the needs of professionals
on national, regional and/or continental levels. They help journalists and
Governments to study the most pressing issues of a country, region or
continent.
The pilot refresher programme was organized in Kaduna, Nigeria, in
September 1991. The second was organized in Nairobi, Kenya, in November 1992,
and the third, in Dar Es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania, for journalists
of Malawi, Zambia and Uganda. Again in 1993, Zagreb, Croatia, welcomed more
than 60 journalists, mainly from the former Yugoslavia and Eastern Europe.
The main themes studied, debated and resolved in the refresher
programmes are freedom of the press, political systems, ethics in the
profession, and the responsibilities of journalists in wartime.
In 1994 UCIP organized two major refresher programmes for the African
continent, on democratization in Africa and on the challenges of journalists.
The programmes were held in Dakar, Senegal, in July. The programmes gave the
African journalists an occasion to hold their own study days. More than 150
journalists from 32 African countries participated in the events. They were
the biggest ever assembly of journalists on the continent.
World Congress
UCIP World Congress is a world forum for UCIP members and well-wishers.
They come together to study and analyse their profession. UCIP always chooses
a relevant theme for the triennial congress. The 1992 World Congress explored
the theme "Press and solidarity" at Campos do Jordao, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
UCIP's International Network of Young Journalists organized its world
convention in conjunction with the UCIP World Congress on the theme
"Journalism for world peace and development".
The 1992 UCIP World Congress brought together 600 journalists from more
than 80 countries. One of the major resolutions called upon the journalists
to work for the betterment of street children in Latin America.
UCIP documents
During the past four years UCIP has brought out two major documents:
"Professional ethics in journalism" and "Press responsibilities in violent
conflict situations".
These documents guide media men and women towards the right decisions
and extol them to respect the dignity of all people. They have had a
tremendous influence on journalists world wide in the recent past.
International Award for Solidarity with Refugees
In cooperation with several institutions working in the field of
refugees UCIP organized an international award for journalists on all
continents. The award aimed at making nations and peoples conscious of the
plight of refugees and displaced people; honouring and recognizing five
journalists who have, through their media productions, been advocates for the
dignity and the rights of refugees as human beings; finding new methods,
attitudes and dispositions for dealing with refugees and displaced people; and
considering refugees integral and equal human beings who deserve humanity's
respect, solidarity and fraternity.
The award inspired journalists world wide to give better attention to
the plight of refugees and to use the media for the betterment of refugees, in
line with United Nations resolutions.
The five award winners visited various organizations working for
refugees, especially UNHCR.
Ongoing reflections on relevant subjects
UCIP and its Network have succeeded in stimulating ongoing reflection
among journalists world wide on relevant topics. The topics discussed and
debated in the past four years include "My profession and the development of
people"; "Role of the journalist in promoting values"; "United Nations and
world peace"; "Journalism for world peace and development"; and "Journalists
of the new era: our challenges, duties and hardships". This year's themes
are "Media and family" and "Ethics of peace in a world of violence".
Participation in United Nations events
In the past four years UCIP was present at some of the key United
Nations manifestations. The current Secretary-General sent a group of
journalists to the UNESCO-sponsored meeting of journalists in Windhoek,
Namibia, in 1991. The Secretary-General was also present at the gathering
which discussed independent and pluralistic press for Africa. A similar
UNESCO conference, held at Santiago, Chile, this year, was attended by the
1992 UCIP award winner.
UCIP was also present at the United Nations conferences on the
environment (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1992); human rights (Vienna, Austria,
1993), and population (Cairo, Egypt, 1994). Its representatives in New York,
Paris, Geneva, Vienna are often present at United Nations or United Nations-
related programmes.
The UCIP vice-president has been active in representing UCIP at
conferences on women.
Future plans
UCIP is studying the possibility of organizing more refresher
Programmes, for which it has received several requests from journalists in
Eastern Europe, Latin America, Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands. It is
also studying the possibility of cooperation with United Nations bodies like
UNESCO in the realization of its Programmes and the work of UCIP University.
7. INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF EMPLOYERS
(Category I)
Profile
Founded in 1920, the International Organization of Employers is the only
world organization authoritatively representing the interests of employers
throughout the world in all social labour matters at the international level.
It is dedicated to promoting private enterprise and to furthering the
interests of employers and of their organizations in all countries, especially
in the developing countries and countries in transition. It acts as a
permanent liaison body for the exchange of views and experience among
employers throughout the world and is the recognized channel for the
expression and promotion of the employers point of view in social matters in
all international bodies. It has consultative status with the United Nations
and with the International Labour Organization and close working relations
with other international governmental and non-governmental bodies concerned
with matters falling within its own sphere of activities. Its members are the
central employer organizations of 111 countries.
Participation in activities of the Economic and Social Council
and its subsidiary bodies
The International Organization of Employers (IOE) was represented at the
regular sessions of the Economic and Social Council both in New York and
Geneva, during the period under review.
It pursued its close cooperation with the United Nations Commission on
Transnational Corporations and its successor, the UNCTAD Commission on
International Investment and Transnational Corporations, participating in
their meetings and taking an active part in the United Nations work on
transnational corporations. Joint statements from IOE and the International
Chamber of Commerce (ICC) were submitted, presenting the views of business
circles.
Cooperation with United Nations agencies
International Labour Organization (ILO)
By virtue of its consultative status with the ILO, IOE has been involved
in all of the activities of the agency, attending all tripartite meetings in
its capacity as a coordinating body and the secretariat of the Employers'
Group.
Particular attention was paid to the defence of human rights within the
ILO Committee on Freedom of Association and the ILO Committee on
Discrimination; to the application of ILO Conventions on social and labour
standards and on human rights questions; and to technical assistance to
employers' organizations in third world countries and countries in transition
as partners in development.
Through its participation in the ILO Governing Body, IOE is permanently
following all United Nations activities related to ILO competencies.
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
IOE's permanent representative in Vienna attended all meetings of the
UNIDO Industrial Development Board. Particular attention is being devoted to
UNIDO's training activities for industrial manpower and to its sectoral
activities.
Implementation of United Nations resolutions
The Organization has participated in the ILO actions aimed at
implementing United Nations resolutions concerning action to combat racism and
racial discrimination. To this effect it participated in the special meetings
held prior to and during the International Labour Conference during the period
under review, to give effect to the updated 1964 ILO Declaration concerning
the policy of apartheid in South Africa, to which IOE subscribes.
Dissemination of information
IOE publishes The Free Employer, which periodically covers United
Nations activities of particular importance to its members.
Participation in United Nations conferences
In addition to the meetings mentioned above, representatives of IOE
attended the following conferences or meetings held under the auspices of, or
in connection with, the United Nations:
(a) Second United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries
(Paris, September 1990);
(b) United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Rio de
Janiero, June 1992);
(c) United Nations Environment Programme: Consultative Meetings with
Industry and Trade Associations (Paris, September 1992 and June 1993);
(d) United Nations Conference on Trade and Development: Ad Hoc Working
Group on Comparative Experience with Privatization (First session) (Geneva,
November-December 1992);
(e) United Nations World Conference on Human Rights (Vienna, June 1993)
Moreover, IOE is currently working very closely with the International Chamber
of Commerce (ICC) with a view to presenting jointly the position of the
international business world and employer community to the World Summit for
Social Development, to be held in Denmark in 1995.
* * *
8. INTERNATIONAL PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION
(Category I)
The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) links national
autonomous family planning associations in 136 countries world wide. It is
the largest voluntary organization in the world to be concerned with family
planning and sexual and reproductive health. It is committed to promoting the
rights of women and men to decide freely the number and spacing of their
children and the right to the highest possible level of sexual and
reproductive health. The Federation operates on a budget of between US$ 75
million and $105 million per year, and family planning associations also raise
funds locally.
Participation in United Nations meetings
IPPF has regularly attended the meetings of the Population Commission,
the Commission on the Status of Women and the Commission for Social
Development. It has made written and oral statements at those meetings.
IPPF attended and supported the participation of country-level
population/environment representatives at the 1992 United Nations Conference
on Environment and Development and gave its full support to Agenda 21.
IPPF attended preparatory meetings for the World Conference on Human
Rights and the World Conference itself, in 1993. IPPF made a statement to the
Conference and was able to influence the drafting of the Declaration on Human
Rights to ensure that language on reproductive rights was included in the
final text.
IPPF attended the preparatory meetings for the International Year of the
Family and took a leading role in the NGO Committee on the Family. IPPF was
particularly active at the launching of the IYF in Malta in 1993.
IPPF participated in all the preparatory meetings which took place in
1992-1993 for the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development.
These included the regional population conferences, the expert group meetings
and round table meetings. IPPF took a prominent role in the pre-ICPD European
meetings, giving special emphasis to Eastern Europe. The IPPF President, as
head of the Ghana delegation, chaired the second session of the Preparatory
Committee for the Conference in May 1993.
IPPF has been represented at preparatory meetings for the Fourth World
Conference on Women. It was represented at the annual and issue-related
meetings of the regional commissions - in particular, those of ESCAP.
Cooperation with United Nations programmes and bodies
IPPF's President from 1971-1978, Dr. Julia Henderson, received the 1991
United Nations Population Award, and IPPF's current President, Dr. Fred Sai,
received the 1993 Award.
IPPF is a member of the UNFPA Consultative Group on Contraceptive
Requirements and Logistic Management Needs in Developing Countries in the
1990s.
UNFPA, along with IPPF and other organizations, continues to sponsor the
quarterly publication People and the Planet.
IPPF has continued to work with several divisions of the World Health
Organization, on such undertakings as the Special Programme of Research,
Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction; the Global Programme
on AIDS; and the Maternal and Child Health and Adolescent Reproductive Health
programmes. IPPF is a permanent member of WHO's Human Reproduction
Programme's Policy Coordinating Committee. IPPF has co-sponsored with WHO
global and regional meetings in the field of safe motherhood and is a member
of the Inter-agency Steering Committee for follow-up to safe motherhood
initiatives.
Other relevant activities
Through its programmes in over 140 countries and its wide dissemination
of information and publications to its membership, IPPF fully promotes the
United Nations resolutions concerned with the human right to family planning,
reproductive rights and the provision of universal access to family planning
information and services. IPPF prepared and disseminated to its members
materials on United Nations special events such as the International Year of
the Family, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development and
ICPD. The main issues were promoted in Open File, a wide-reaching information
bulletin, People and the Planet, and in other channels. IPPF's Vision 2000:
Strategic Plan, endorsed by all IPPF member family planning associations, lays
out the Federation's goals, objectives and activities at the international,
regional and national levels for the next few years. These support United
Nations aims and concerns regarding youth, quality of care and women's
empowerment.
In support of the 1994 International Conference on Population and
Development, IPPF mobilized its entire membership to initiate consultations
with their Governments in order to influence the drafting of the final ICPD
document. Many representatives of IPPF's family planning associations became
members of their governmental delegations to preparatory committee sessions.
The President of IPPF's Western Hemisphere Region was elected chair of the NGO
Steering Committee for the ICPD.
UNFPA funded, and WHO provided technical assistance to, the Youth for
Youth project coordinated by IPPF. The project, which involved six
international non-governmental organizations, was designed to promote
adolescent reproductive health in six countries. A final publication
reporting on the project was produced in 1993.
IPPF has kept in close touch and collaborates with the NGO Offices in
New York and Geneva. FPAs have continued to work closed with United Nations
field offices in their respective countries, especially on promotion for World
Population Day.
9. INTERNATIONAL STATISTICAL INSTITUTE
(Category II)
Established in 1885, the International Statistical Institute (ISI) is
one of the oldest international scientific associations functioning in the
modern world. The Institute is an autonomous society which seeks to develop
and improve statistical methods and their application throughout the world,
encourage international cooperation and association between statisticians and
the exchange of their professional knowledge and findings; further the
international integration of statistics by developing world-wide relations
between statistical societies and other official and unofficial organizations
having statistical interests; contribute to the improvement of statistical
education and promote training in statistics. It also seeks to advance the
study of statistical theory, appraise statistical methods and practices,
encourage statistical research and further the application of statistical
methods in all relevant fields; promote the use of the most appropriate
statistical methods in all countries; and improve international comparability
of statistical data.
Conferences, seminars and sessions
In the 1990-1993 period, the ISI held two biennial sessions. The forty-
eighth biennial session, held in Cairo, Egypt (9-17 September 1991) involved
over 600 international participants. Open meetings were held examining a
diversity of issues, such as the statistics industry, statistical disclosure
control, the role of statistical societies with regard to the AIDS epidemic,
ISI Declaration on Ethics - six years later; and statistical problems of
transition countries. A highlight of the nine-day conference, was the birth
of a new ISI section, the International Association of Statistical Education
(IASE). This new section is evidence of the importance that ISI places on the
development of statistical education around the world. The forty-ninth ISI
session, held in Florence, Italy (25 August-2 September 1993), drew over 1,300
participants from all over the world. In the course of the session, several
open meetings were held examining a diversity of issues, such as areas of
statistics not covered by ISI and the sections, the Moriguti report on the
role of statisticians, artistic and cultural heritage and statistics.
As a result of the fifth and sixth competitions for young statisticians
from developing countries, three gifted young statisticians were awarded their
airfares and expenses to attend the Cairo and Florence sessions, their
participation being financed by Internationaal Statistisch Studiefonds, a
special fund created during the forty-fifth session in Amsterdam to help
promote statistical development in developing countries.
The Third International Conference on Teaching Statistics (ICOTS), held
in August 1990 in Dunedin, New Zealand, was a great success, with nearly 600
participants representing over 30 countries. The conference dealt with key
issues in the teaching of statistics at all levels and the importance of
statistical ideas among the general public.
In October 1990, the International Association for Official Statistics
(IAOS), which is one of five ISI associations, held its second Independent
Conference in Beijing, China, followed by a satellite meeting in Macau which
focused on the structure of statistical systems in small countries. The third
IAOS Independent Conference took place in Ankara, Turkey (22-25 September
1992).
In August 1990, the Bernoulli Society, a section of ISI, held its second
World Conference in Uppsala, Sweden, with over 800 scientists from all over
the world.
The proceedings of the Dublin Seminar on Statistical Confidentiality are
now complete and are being distributed by Eurostat. A collaborative effort
between the ISI and Eurostat, the seminar was held in Dublin, Ireland
(8-10 September 1992), with 125 participants from 23 different countries. It
considered papers highlighting the many diverse aspects of confidentiality,
including philosophical, legislative and technological overviews, in addition
to more specific papers relating to mathematical and computing aspects of data
protection and examinations of confidentiality concerning individual,
household, industrial and business data.
ISI has initiated a programme in which briefing seminars on
international statistics are offered to chief statisticians who wish to expand
their understanding of the existing international arrangements, with an inside
look at the workings of an increasingly complex network. The project has been
organized in cooperation with Statistics Netherlands. The first seminar was
held from 11-14 January 1993 at the ISI Permanent Office for the President of
Goskomstat of the Russian Federation. A second seminar was held from 6-8
December 1993 with the Director of the State Statistical Office of Estonia,
the Deputy Director of the State Statistical Office of Estonia and the
Director of the Statistical Office of the Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia.
On 27 April 1993, the eightieth anniversary of the ISI Permanent Office
in the Netherlands was celebrated at Statistics Netherlands, the host
organization of the Permanent Office in Voorburg. On that occasion, Professor
M. J. Petry from Erasmus University (Rotterdam) reported on his research into
the history of probability, with particular regard to the work of Christiaan
Huygens and Benedictus Spinoza.
Committees
Special efforts have been made to formulate several new committees in
order to provide a forum for those statistical disciplines which, in the past,
have been poorly represented within the ISI organization. Several of the
committees (Gregor Johann Mendel Committee on Agricultural Statistics,
Committee on Sports Statistics, Christiaan Huygens Committee on the History of
Statistics) have progressed to the point where they were able to meet at the
Florence session to discuss future plans and activities and to have a
discussion of papers in their fields. The ISI Executive Committee also
approved the creation of several additional new ISI committees to foster the
work in respect of specific fields: Ernst Engel Committee on Service
Statisticians; P. C. Mehalanobis Committee for Statistics on Statistical
Activities; Gregory King Committee on Statistical Infrastructure; Gerardus
Mercator Committee on Geographic Information Systems; El-Khowarizmi Committee
on Statistics.
The Florence session also saw the creation of the new Working Group for
the Identification of Special Areas of Statistical Interest. The Working
Group will report to the Executive Committee and Council, identifying areas of
statistical work which appear currently to be neglected or underrepresented in
ISI activities and areas that are likely to emerge in the future. The Working
Group will try to channel these emerging statistical areas to existing ISI
sections or other bodies to ensure that they are provided a forum for further
development.
The ISI Committee on the Certification of Statisticians met for the
first time during the Florence session. It will review national developments
in respect of the certification of statisticians. It will promote the
introduction of international topics and comparability in certification and
will provide advice about the international registration of statisticians at
the ISI.
Publications
Generally considered the flagship journal of the ISI, IS Review has
begun a step-by-step transformation into a publication of general interest to
all members. Beginning with the appointment of two new editors, IS Review
aims to include a broader range of both theoretical and applied review papers.
In order to reduce the backlog of papers that were accepted for publication
before the present editorial policy was adopted, a special volume of IS Review
was published for limited circulation in 1993.
Statistical Theory and Method Abstracts continues to provide world-wide
coverage of published articles on mathematical statistics and probability.
The ISI Permanent Office is considering the introduction of an index contained
on floppy disk which would act as a support to the publication.
The ISI Newsletter has continued its role of providing an up-to-date
account of the ongoing activities of the ISI throughout the world. A new
"mini" bulletin, entitled ISI Update, has been introduced to provide general
information about ISI activities to ISI Council members, Committee
chairpersons and ISI patrons. It is circulated between Newsletter issues.
Short Book Reviews provides a rapid book review service for
statisticians, covering books on statistics and related subjects published
throughout the world. At present, the ISI Permanent Office is exploring the
possibility of making Short Book Reviews available in an electronic format.
The Proceedings of the forty-eighth and forty-ninth sessions were
published as volumes 55 and 56 of ISI Bulletin.
In 1993 ISI again produced and distributed an updated version of its
membership directory. Unlike previous versions, the present directory also
includes (where available) telephone, fax and telex numbers and incorporates
the Directory of Statistical Societies and the Directory of Statistical
Agencies into its contents. The new directory was produced with the generous
assistance from the German Federal Statistical Office.
The Duisburg City Statistical Office, in cooperation with ISI, has been
engaged in a new programme on the statistics of large towns, which would
result in a revival of the previous ISI publication on such statistics.
Members of the ISI "volunteer programme" at Voorburg have helped represent the
ISI in the planning of this new publication.
Research activities
The previous Executive Committee of ISI was compelled to discontinue the
ISI Research Centre in 1991, due to significant and continuing annual
financial losses. At the same time, the European Community decided on the
continuation of the ISI research function, while limiting research activities
to projects for which specific funding could be obtained.
Since unanimous concern was expressed about the future of the invaluable
data that the Research Centre housed, a proposal was made to the United
Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) that would result in the orderly distribution,
maintenance, archiving and transfer of the precious research and historic
materials of the Dynamic Data Base (DDB, which contained the World Fertility
Survey Data) from ISI to organizations that were interested in obtaining the
materials and would ensure access to the data for future researchers. UNFPA
agreed to this proposal in late 1992. In order to take advantage of the
technological progress that has been made in the field of data storage, it was
decided to make use of the CD ROM format. In addition to its technological
advantages, the CD ROM format also helps to facilitate the copying and
distribution of the data. The DDB materials have been distributed to several
international organizations, to participating countries whose data are
contained on the disk, and to three international backup organizations. The
disks have been made available to users in developing and transition countries
free of charge and to those in developed countries for a modest charge.
10. INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR THE SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF POPULATION
(Category II)
INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT
The International Union for the Scientific Study of Population (IUSSP)
is a non-profit world-wide association of population specialists, established
in 1928. It is composed of demographers, economists, sociologists,
statisticians, physicians, public health officers, family planners,
administrators, policy makers etc., coming from more than 100 countries.
Its aims are to draw the attention of Governments, international
governmental and non-governmental organizations, and the general public to
population problems and to promote demography as a science. To achieve these
aims, the Union organizes world-wide, regional and specialized conferences,
carries out scientific activities, has a very active training programme in
Africa, provides support to libraries of population centres in the least
developed countries, and publishes the proceedings of its conferences and the
results of the work of its committees. The Union has consultative status with
the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations and with UNESCO.
Activities, 1990-1993
(a) Training workshop on demography and health planning (Lome', Togo,
29 January-17 February 1990);
(b) Seminar on the Fertility Transition in Latin America (Buenos Aires,
Argentina, 3-6 April 1990), in cooperation with Centro Latino-Americano de
Demografi'a (CELADE);
(c) Seminar on Anthropological Studies Relevant to the Sexual
Transmission of HIV (Sonderborg, Denmark, 19-22 November 1990);
(d) Training workshop on demographic surveys (Harare, Zimbabwe,
7-26 January 1991);
(e) Seminar on Old and New Methods in Historical Demography (Palma de
Mallorca, Baleares, Spain, 12-15 June 1991);
(f) Seminar on Socio-cultural Determinants of Morbidity and Mortality in
Developing Countries: the Role of Longitudinal Studies (Saly Portudal,
Senegal, 7-12 October 1991);
(g) Seminar on Causes and Prevention of Adult Mortality in Developing
Countries (Santiago, Chile, 7-11 October 1991), in cooperation with Centro
Latino-Americano de Demografi'a (CELADE);
(h) Seminar on the Measurement of Maternal and Child Mortality,
Morbidity and Health Care: Interdisciplinary Approaches (Cairo, Egypt,
4-7 November 1991);
(i) Seminar on the Course of Fertility Transition in Sub-Saharan Africa
(Harare, Zimbabwe, 19-22 November 1991);
(j) Seminar on Gender and Family Change in Industrialized Countries
(Rome, Italy, 27-30 January 1992);
(k) Seminar on Premature Adult Mortality in Developed Countries: from
Description to Explanation (Taormina, Italy, 1-5 June 1992);
(l) Expert Meeting on Demographic Software and Computing (The Hague,
Netherlands, 29 June-3 July 1992);
(m) Conference on Population and Environment (Oxford, United Kingdom,
9-11 September 1992);
(n) Seminar on the Demographic Consequences of Structural Adjustment in
Latin America (Ouro Preto, Brazil, 29 September-2 October 1992);
(o) Seminar on Child Mortality in the Past (Montreal, Canada,
7-9 October 1992);
(p) Training workshop on the analysis of data from the 90-91 censuses in
French-speaking Africa (Lie`ge, Belgium, 15-29 November 1992);
(q) Seminar on Population and Deforestation (Campinas, Brazil,
30 November-3 December 1992);
(r) Seminar on Women and Demographic Change in Sub-Saharan Africa
(Dakar, Se'ne'gal, 3-6 March 1993);
(s) Training workshop for research on the status of women and
demographic change (Dakar, Se'ne'gal, 8-11 March 1993);
(t) Seminar on Evaluation of the Impact of Health Intervention (Belo
Horizonte, Brazil, 12-16 April 1993);
(u) Seminar on Health and Mortality Trends among Elderly Populations:
Determinants and Implications (Sendai City, Japan, 21-25 June 1993), in
cooperation with the Population Division (United Nations Secretariat) and WHO;
(v) Workshop on studies in historical demography in European countries
(Lie`ge, Belgium, 17-18 April 1993);
(w) Training workshop in historical demography for Latin America
(Cordoba, Argentina, 14 June-2 July 1993);
(x) Twenty-second IUSSP General Conference (Montreal, Canada, 25 August-
1 September 1993);
(y) Conference on Population and Environment (Vienna, Austria,
24-26 November 1993);
(z) Workshop on new approaches to anthropological demography (Barcelona,
Spain, 15-18 November 1993);
(aa) Seminar on AIDS Prevention and Impact in Developing Countries; the
Contribution of Demography and the Social Sciences (Annecy, France,
5-9 December 1993).
11. ZONTA INTERNATIONAL
(Category I)
Zonta International is a service organization of executives in business
and the professions, working to improve the legal, political, economic, health
and professional status of women world wide. Zonta is comprised of over
36,000 members in more than 1,400 clubs in 67 countries. Zonta clubs support
local, regional and national community projects in addition to international
development projects with United Nations agencies: UNIFEM, UNICEF, UNESCO,
INSTRAW and the ILO. Since 1990, Zonta has increased its geographical
representation, adding 14 new countries: Burkina Faso, Israel, Hungary, Czech
Republic, Slovakia, Estonia, Poland, Turkey, Russia, Luxembourg, Guadeloupe,
Bolivia, Paraguay and Latvia.
Participation in the Economic and Social Council
and its subsidiary conferences
Zonta International has official representatives to the United Nations
in New York, Vienna, Paris and Geneva. They play leadership roles in NGO
subcommittees and working groups in the following areas: the status of women,
ageing, youth, human rights, the disabled, refugee issues, peace and
environment. Zonta regularly attends the meetings of the following
committees:
New York
NGO Committee on the Status of Women
NGO Committee on UNICEF
NGO Advisory Committee on UNIFEM
NGO Committee on Ageing
NGO Committee on Youth
NGO Task Force on Population, including the Annual United Nations/NGO
Population Consultation
Geneva
NGO Subcommittee on the Status of Women
Special Committee of NGOs on Human Rights
NGO Working Group on Women and Employment
JUNIC/NGO Programme Group on Women and Development
NGO Special Committee on Development
NGO Working Group on Women and Peace
NGO Ad Hoc Group on Drafting of the Convention on the Rights of the
Child
Annual ILO Conference
Commission on Human Rights; annual sessions
Vienna
NGO Committee on Ageing
NGO Committee on Narcotic Drugs
NGO Committee on the Family
NGO Committee on Peace
NGO Committee on Youth
Commission on Social Development
Commission on the Status of Women
Commission on Narcotic Drugs
Paris
Commission on the Status of Women
Annual Conference of NGOs in Consultative Status with UNESCO
NGO/UNESCO Working Group on Education for the Promotion and Defence of
Human Rights
NGO/UNESCO Working Group on Education Against Racism and Apartheid
NGO Working Group on the Status of Women
In addition to NGO working groups, during the 1990-1993 period Zonta
attended several United Nations conferences, including the human rights
conference held in Vienna where a presentation was given by its Geneva
representative.
Cooperation with United Nations programmes and bodies
and specialized agencies
Since 1990 Zonta has contributed in excess of $600,000 to support the
joint UNIFEM/UNICEF Gender, Women and Development project in Central America.
The project seeks to address the strategic gender needs of women in an
integrated effort to strengthen action towards ensuring equity between the
sexes and increasing women's egalitarian participation in the process and
benefits of development. To date, the project has serviced close to 75,920
women throughout Central America.
Since 1986, Zonta has become the largest non-governmental contributor to
UNIFEM. Zonta's financial commitment to UNIFEM from 1990-1993 will total
$1.3 million for seven projects in India, Latin America and Africa.
In 1993 Zonta was the recipient of UNIFEM's Award of Excellence.
Other relevant activities
Through its projects and programmes, Zonta seeks to implement the themes
of the United Nations decades and years. During the 1990-1993 period Zonta
emphasized economic development, training, education and literary programmes
to improve the status of women and their families. In addition, Zonta has
emphasized fulfilment of the goals contained in the Nairobi Forward-looking
Strategies for the Advancement of Women. Zonta has sponsored the Amelia
Earhart Fellowship and the Young Women in Public Affairs Award. Both promote
the Forward-looking Strategies, emphasizing education for women.
Zonta disseminates information concerning United Nations activities
through periodic organizational club mailings and quarterly publication.
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