Quadrennial reports, 1994-97 – NGO reports – SecGen note (excerpts)

Quadrennial reports, 1994–1997, submitted through the

Secretary-General pursuant to Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/31 

Note by the Secretary-General 

Addendum 

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9. World Young Women’s Christian Association (World YWCA)

(Special consultative status granted 1947) 

Introduction 

The World Young Women’s Christian Association (World YWCA) unites associations that are working in accordance with its basis and principles and meet the requirements for affiliation; it seeks to coordinate them into a world movement; it acts on their behalf in matters for which it has received authority. It provides a channel for the sharing of resources and exchange of experiences. It helps its member associations with development of their leadership and programme; surveys new fields; and promotes work to meet needs. It works for international understanding, for improved social and economic conditions and for basic human rights for all people; and acts in cooperation with the United Nations and non-governmental organizations in matters of common concern.

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Participation in United Nations conferences and meetings

The World YWCA makes every effort to participate in United Nations meetings and conferences that are relevant to its concerns, through its extensive network in 85 countries around the world. It participated in a total of 33 major United Nations conferences and meetings, including those of its specialized agencies and bodies such as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF); the International Labour Organization (ILO); the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Some worthy of mention are: International Conference on Population and Development, United Nations meeting on Palestine, UNICEF meeting on refugee children and children in conflict, Fourth World Conference on Women, United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), UNHCR Executive Board meetings, FAO World Food Summit, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Fifth Conference on Adult Education, World Youth Forum of the United Nations System, United Nations/NGO International Symposium on Palestine and sessions of the Commission on the Status of Women, among others.

Cooperation with United Nations programmes and bodies and specialized agencies

The World YWCA is frequently invited to provide resource people for United Nations events. Involvement may be described as follows:

 Member of UNICEF Technical Support Group which is focused on youth health and development;

 Member of Steering Committee of the Youth NGOs which organized the Youth Consultation in Cairo during the International Conference on Population and Development in 1994;

 As member of the Board of International Coordinating Committee for NGOs on the Question of Palestine (ICCP), the World YWCA cooperates with and attends all meetings called by the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People;

 Acts as secretariat of the NGO Working Group on Palestine calling meetings of the Working Group at least twice a year;

 Sent a fact-finding team to Palestine in 1995 and 1996 to assess the situation there and monitor the peace process;

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Preparations of papers at the request of the Economic and Social Council and its subsidiary bodies

The World YWCA was asked to participate in a panel for the Fiftieth Annual United Nations Department of Information Conference on 10 September 1997 in Geneva. It presented a paper on “Women’s Participation or Lack of in the International Arena”.

It also presented a paper on behalf of the International Coordinating Committee for NGOs on the Question of Palestine during the commemoration of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People in Geneva.