Over 4,000 women and men are expected to converge on the United Nations in the coming days. The 53rd session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women will take place from March 2 to 13, 2009, in New York. A few related events start on February 28. The main theme will be “The equal sharing of responsibilities between women and men, including caregiving in the context of HIV/AIDS” The session will be attended by representatives of Member States, UN entities and of ECOSOC-accredited non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from all regions of the world. A "Backgrounder" is available.
This is a Complete List of the NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) Parallel events to the official UN meetings. Over 200 events are scheduled. Many take place in the Church Center for the UN, while others will take place in the UN General Assembly building.
Here is the Official Documentation of the conference. It includes statements of the UN Secretary-General, which summarize the status and thinking across the UN System with regard to the main topic and related topics, and also statements by selected NGOs in Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council, including, for example, Zonta International, the International Planned Parenthood Federation, the World Association of Girl Guides and Scouts, the International Federation of University Women and others.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Philanthropy and Global Public Health
Yesterday (February 23) I attended a Preparatory meeting for the 2009 High-level Segment of the UN Economic and Social Council on the theme of Philanthropy and Global Public Health. The meeting explored collaborative opportunities in advancing progress in maternal and girls' health and neglected tropical diseases. The aim was to share best practices and lessons learned and to build new innovative partnerships and alliances to address the Millennium Development Goals. Links to websites of co-convenors of the meeting are available.
It was brought out that half a million women die annually of consequences of childbirth, many from postpartum hemorrhage. That number hasn't changed in a decade or two (but denotes some progress, as the global population has increased). Another 300 million are debilitated by childbirth. The statistics are horrifying; young women, aged 19 and below, are particularly vulnerable.
Excellent papers were prepared before the event, and are available on the UN ECOSOC Website:
Background note:
Leadership for Health: Harnessing Business Skills with Social Needs
Issues note on Improving the Health Outcomes of Women and Girls
and
Issue note on Raising the Profile of Neglected Tropical Diseases
A UN webcast of the event is available. Look for the February 23 Special Event.
President Bill Clinton synthesized the meeting, giving a well-received keynote closing address in which he offered his ideas about the direction of philanthropy in the current tough economic situation globally. His remarks start at about 2 hours 48 minutes and I encourage you to watch.
It was brought out that half a million women die annually of consequences of childbirth, many from postpartum hemorrhage. That number hasn't changed in a decade or two (but denotes some progress, as the global population has increased). Another 300 million are debilitated by childbirth. The statistics are horrifying; young women, aged 19 and below, are particularly vulnerable.
Excellent papers were prepared before the event, and are available on the UN ECOSOC Website:
Background note:
Leadership for Health: Harnessing Business Skills with Social Needs
Issues note on Improving the Health Outcomes of Women and Girls
and
Issue note on Raising the Profile of Neglected Tropical Diseases
A UN webcast of the event is available. Look for the February 23 Special Event.
President Bill Clinton synthesized the meeting, giving a well-received keynote closing address in which he offered his ideas about the direction of philanthropy in the current tough economic situation globally. His remarks start at about 2 hours 48 minutes and I encourage you to watch.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Academic Earth goes Online
Norman Jacknis, a long-time leader in the Westchester Alliance for Telecommunications and Public Access (WATPA), has shared another great resource.
Academic Earth is an organization founded with the goal of giving everyone on earth access to a world class education. www.academicearth.org It features thousands of video lectures from the world's top scholars and other notable lecturers. Subjects include: Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics,
Engineering, English, Entrepreneurship, History, Law, Mathematics, Medicine, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology and Religion.
In the area of political science, for example, you can watch Bill Bradley, former U.S. Senator from New Jersey, lecture on "Russia: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow," and Thomas Friedman give a lecture at MIT on "The World is Flat 3.0" Princeton offers a series of five lectures on the global financial crisis, and Yale another six lectures.
What a great way to go back to school, or for high school students to get a preview of college!
Academic Earth is an organization founded with the goal of giving everyone on earth access to a world class education. www.academicearth.org It features thousands of video lectures from the world's top scholars and other notable lecturers. Subjects include: Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics,
Engineering, English, Entrepreneurship, History, Law, Mathematics, Medicine, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology and Religion.
In the area of political science, for example, you can watch Bill Bradley, former U.S. Senator from New Jersey, lecture on "Russia: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow," and Thomas Friedman give a lecture at MIT on "The World is Flat 3.0" Princeton offers a series of five lectures on the global financial crisis, and Yale another six lectures.
What a great way to go back to school, or for high school students to get a preview of college!
Year of Change: New Prospects for America at the UN
The United Nations Association Mid-Atlantic Conference, held on February 6 at the UN, was a great success, with over 600 registered, including from 20 colleges and universities. You can find the Conference program, photos and other details at: www.unasouthernny.org . From the evaluations received it is very likely another conference will be planned for next spring. Click on the photos above to see close-ups.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Glowing words for Going Global with the UN
A UNA colleague in Fort Collins, Colorado has sent a lovely note, mentioning an event held on the MDGs, with over 150 in attendance. They used the DVD "The MDG's: Dream or Reality?" She remarked that "The 'Going Global' series is a treasure. We'll be recommending it to others."
Going Global videos have been shown at UNA events in California, Texas, North Carolina, Illinois and Colorado. For information email me at: jbs@stratdev.com, or telephone 914-478-3450.
Going Global videos have been shown at UNA events in California, Texas, North Carolina, Illinois and Colorado. For information email me at: jbs@stratdev.com, or telephone 914-478-3450.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Mid-Atlantic Conference set for February 6
You can now register to attend the United Nations Association Mid-Atlantic Conference Year of Change: New Prospects for America at the United Nations. In addition to keynote speakers, panels will focus on peace and security, human rights and climate change.
The Conference will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Conference Room 3 at the United Nations. Registration begins at 9 a.m., and you should arrive early to go through UN Security at the white tent at 46th St. and First Avenue.
You must register by February 2, so that your name can be placed on the United Nations security list.
The final program will be available soon. You can link to on-line registration at www.unasouthernny.org (Click on the red "register" in the article on the conference.)
The Conference will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Conference Room 3 at the United Nations. Registration begins at 9 a.m., and you should arrive early to go through UN Security at the white tent at 46th St. and First Avenue.
You must register by February 2, so that your name can be placed on the United Nations security list.
The final program will be available soon. You can link to on-line registration at www.unasouthernny.org (Click on the red "register" in the article on the conference.)
Monday, December 1, 2008
Dr. Susan Rice named US Ambassador to the UN
Congratulations to Dr. Susan Rice, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and the rest of the Foreign Policy and security team of the incoming Obama Administration.
President-Elect Barack Obama has named Dr. Susan Rice, one-time Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs in the 1990s, to the post of Permanent Representative of the U.S. to the UN. Until joining the Obama Presidential team as senior foreign policy adviser, Dr. Rice served as a senior fellow at The Brookings Institution. She received the BA degree from Stanford University, and the M.Phil and D.Phil from Oxford University, where she was a Rhodes Scholar.
Dr. Rice has been known to express regret about the handling of the Rwanda Crisis, and can be expected to put Darfur high on her agenda at the UN, while working on a broad range of issues.
The UN Association of the USA has issued its endorsement of the appointment. The text appears below:
UNA-USA STRONGLY SUPPORTS NOMINATION OF SUSAN E. RICE AS US-UN AMBASSADOR; SHE EXEMPLIFIES QUALITIES NEEDED TO WORK EFFECTIVELY WITH UN SECRETARIAT AND MEMBER STATES
December 1, 2008. Ambassador William H. Luers, president of the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA), issued the following statement today concerning President-elect Barack Obama’s nomination of Susan E. Rice to become United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
UNA-USA strongly supports the nomination of Susan E. Rice to become United States permanent representative to the United Nations. In selecting Dr. Rice for this key foreign-policy position, President-elect Barack Obama is appointing one of his closest advisers to one of the world’s most important and demanding diplomatic posts. The president-elect’s decision to include the incoming ambassador in his cabinet is also important, signaling the key role that the United Nations will play in the incoming administration’s foreign policy.
Susan Rice exemplifies many of the qualities that UNA-USA believes are critical to achieving successful outcomes in the UN post. She has strong diplomatic experience, a demonstrated willingness to listen to others and an abiding interest in and concern for developments in Africa, where some of the most important UN responsibilities rest. At the same time, Dr. Rice has developed a keen knowledge and understanding of the UN’s operational capabilities during the years that she worked both in and out of government.
The Rice nomination adds further to the anticipation at the United Nations that the incoming Obama administration, including Secretary of State-designate Hillary Clinton, will be cooperating closely with UN member states to manage and resolve many issues that the United States cannot address on its own. Virtually every major foreign-policy issue facing the United States must be dealt with under the umbrella of the UN — climate change, nuclear non-proliferation, global pandemics, achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, the prevention of genocide, as well as regional challenges, particularly in Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and Africa.
As the new US Permanent Representative to the UN, Susan Rice will be looked to for cooperation and leadership in strengthening the United Nations. The UN is poised to undertake an energetic renewal effort, including a broader UN Security Council more representative of today’s global distribution of power. A sympathetic US role can help move this core shift in how the UN addresses global security issues. A positive and yet not commanding US role in renewing the United Nations in many aspects is greatly needed to help the UN become far more effective in dealing with its ever-growing responsibilities. We look toward a new era of American cooperation at the United Nations to address the global issues that threaten the future of our planet.
The leadership and members of UNA-USA throughout the United States look forward to working closely with the incoming administration and its team to support a robust and effective US presence at the United Nations.
President-Elect Barack Obama has named Dr. Susan Rice, one-time Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs in the 1990s, to the post of Permanent Representative of the U.S. to the UN. Until joining the Obama Presidential team as senior foreign policy adviser, Dr. Rice served as a senior fellow at The Brookings Institution. She received the BA degree from Stanford University, and the M.Phil and D.Phil from Oxford University, where she was a Rhodes Scholar.
Dr. Rice has been known to express regret about the handling of the Rwanda Crisis, and can be expected to put Darfur high on her agenda at the UN, while working on a broad range of issues.
The UN Association of the USA has issued its endorsement of the appointment. The text appears below:
UNA-USA STRONGLY SUPPORTS NOMINATION OF SUSAN E. RICE AS US-UN AMBASSADOR; SHE EXEMPLIFIES QUALITIES NEEDED TO WORK EFFECTIVELY WITH UN SECRETARIAT AND MEMBER STATES
December 1, 2008. Ambassador William H. Luers, president of the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA), issued the following statement today concerning President-elect Barack Obama’s nomination of Susan E. Rice to become United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
UNA-USA strongly supports the nomination of Susan E. Rice to become United States permanent representative to the United Nations. In selecting Dr. Rice for this key foreign-policy position, President-elect Barack Obama is appointing one of his closest advisers to one of the world’s most important and demanding diplomatic posts. The president-elect’s decision to include the incoming ambassador in his cabinet is also important, signaling the key role that the United Nations will play in the incoming administration’s foreign policy.
Susan Rice exemplifies many of the qualities that UNA-USA believes are critical to achieving successful outcomes in the UN post. She has strong diplomatic experience, a demonstrated willingness to listen to others and an abiding interest in and concern for developments in Africa, where some of the most important UN responsibilities rest. At the same time, Dr. Rice has developed a keen knowledge and understanding of the UN’s operational capabilities during the years that she worked both in and out of government.
The Rice nomination adds further to the anticipation at the United Nations that the incoming Obama administration, including Secretary of State-designate Hillary Clinton, will be cooperating closely with UN member states to manage and resolve many issues that the United States cannot address on its own. Virtually every major foreign-policy issue facing the United States must be dealt with under the umbrella of the UN — climate change, nuclear non-proliferation, global pandemics, achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, the prevention of genocide, as well as regional challenges, particularly in Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and Africa.
As the new US Permanent Representative to the UN, Susan Rice will be looked to for cooperation and leadership in strengthening the United Nations. The UN is poised to undertake an energetic renewal effort, including a broader UN Security Council more representative of today’s global distribution of power. A sympathetic US role can help move this core shift in how the UN addresses global security issues. A positive and yet not commanding US role in renewing the United Nations in many aspects is greatly needed to help the UN become far more effective in dealing with its ever-growing responsibilities. We look toward a new era of American cooperation at the United Nations to address the global issues that threaten the future of our planet.
The leadership and members of UNA-USA throughout the United States look forward to working closely with the incoming administration and its team to support a robust and effective US presence at the United Nations.
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