Quadrennial reports, 1994-97 or 1995-98 – NGO reports – SecGen note (excerpts)

Quadrennial reports, 1994-1997 or 1995-1998, submitted through the

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

Note by the Secretary-General 

Addendum 

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6. World Young Women’s Christian Association 

(Special consultative status granted 1995) 

The World Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) unites associations which are working in accordance with its principles and meet the requirements for affiliation; it seeks to coordinate them into a world movement; and 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 programmes; surveys new fields and promotes work to meet new needs; works for international understanding, for improved social and economic conditions and for basic human rights for all people. It acts in cooperation with the United Nations and non-governmental organizations in matters of common concern.

The World YWCA made several statements to the Council and its subsidiary bodies.

Participation in United Nations conferences and meetings 

The World YWCA makes every effort to participate in United Nations meetings and conferences which are relevant to its concerns, through its extensive network in 85 countries around the world. In addition, the World YWCA has teams of dedicated volunteers in Geneva, New York, Paris and Nairobi who represent it in those cities.

Cooperation with United Nations programmes and bodies and specialized agencies 

The World YWCA is frequently invited to provide resource people for United Nations events. It was involved in the following ways:

(a) Member of the UNICEF Technical Support Group focused on youth health and development; member of the Steering Committee of the Youth NGOs which organized the Youth Consultation in Cairo during the International Conference on Population and Development in 1994; and member of the Board of the International Coordinating Committee on Palestine. The World YWCA cooperates with and attends all meetings called by the Committee on the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People;

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

(c) 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 Council

World YWCA was asked to participate in a panel for the fifth annual conference of the Department of Public Information (United Nations Secretariat) on 10 September 1997, Geneva. It presented a paper, “Women’s participation or lack of in the international arena”.  It also presented a paper on behalf of the International Coordinating Committee on Palestine during the commemoration of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, in Geneva.