The Vincentian Family has three NGO’s – the Congregation of the Mission, the Federation of Sisters of Charity in the Vincentian and Setonian Tradition and, finally, the AIC or Ladies of Charity as they are known in the USA>
Backgrounder
58thAnnual DPI/NGO Conference
Our Challenge: Voices for Peace, Partnerships and Renewal
United Nations, New York, 7 – 9 September 2005
This year’s Conference of the 3,000 Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
associated with the United Nations will take place from 7 – 9 September at the
United Nations in New York.
The 58th Annual DPI/NGO Conference, entitled Our
Challenge: Voices for Peace, Partnerships and Renewal, will provide the forum for a
dynamic and diverse gathering of civil society representatives in the week preceding
the September Summit of world leaders. More than 2,500 NGO representatives and
other civil society partners are expected to underscore their support for the work of
the Organization in its 60th year, especially its efforts to eradicate poverty, promote
human rights and enhance collective human security through multilateral
cooperation and deeper partnerships with civil society.
The 58th Annual DPI/NGO Conference is organized in partnership between
the United Nations Department of Public Information and its associated NGOs, with
the participation of the NGOs in consultative status with the United Nations
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), many of whom are represented by the
Conference of NGOs (CONGO). A range of other civil society organizations are being
invited to participate in what will be the largest gathering of civil society actors
immediately prior to the September Summit (14 – 16 September).
This gathering will be an interactive, activist Conference, born of a
determination to fully implement the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It will
be an opportunity for NGOs to present their expectations for the outcomes of the
Millennium+5 Summit, which is looked to as a potentially pivotal event in the
process of implementation of the MDGs and revitalization of the United Nations. It
will underscore their specific commitments to the MDG process to 2015 and
beyond.
The Conference draws its agenda from the Secretary-General’s report In Larger
Freedom: Towards Development, Security and Human Rights for All, which outlines the agenda
for the September Summit. The agenda revolves around three inextricable goals: the promotion of
peace and security, development and human rights. The agenda calls for action to strengthen the
United Nations to meet these goals through renewal and reforms that are widely supported by the
international community and civil society. The report cites key problems and reforms to be
tackled through multilateral cooperation at the international, regional, national and local levels.
As of 17 May 2005 2
General Assembly Hearings and the M+5 NGO Network
In January, NGOs represented by the NGO/DPI Executive Committee and
CONGO joined forces to form the M+5 NGO Network, a broad-based working group
that is monitoring civil society recommendations to the Millennium Summit during
the official UN meetings that are taking place during 2005.
Key among these
meetings are the General Assembly Informal Hearings with Civil Society on 23 – 24
June. As requested by the President of the General Assembly, Member States will
consult with civil society organizations and private sector representatives regarding
their views on the possible outcomes of the September. These hearings will serve to
inform both the Millennium Summit and the DPI/NGO Conference.
The M+5 NGO Network is compiling a report on the views of civil society
organizations which is expected to be presented at the General Assembly Civil
Society Hearings in June. This report will be considered at the 58th Annual
DPI/NGO Conference. It will be posted in advance on the interactive Conference
web site: www.dpingoconference.org In this regard, the General Assembly Hearings
serve as a preparatory meeting for the Conference as well as the Summit.
Conference Plenary Sessions and NGO Interactive Workshops
Throughout the three-day Conference, participants will have multiple
opportunities to dialogue with a variety of stakeholders to voice their views, expand
their networks and interact with Member States on the eve of the Summit. In
addition to seven plenary sessions, there will be 30 Midday NGO Interactive
Workshops featuring the participation of civil society, United Nations and
government representatives. The President of the 59th Session of the General
Assembly has been asked to oversee an interactive dialogue between
representatives of Member States, parliamentarians and civil society participants
on the final day of the Conference, 9 September.
* *** *
For further information and queries regarding the 58th Annual DPI/NGO
Conference, including the draft programme, contact: dpingo@un.org or visit the
DPI/NGO Section web site:
www.un.org/dpi/ngosection
Queries may also be addressed to Sasa Gorisek, Information Officer, NGO Section,
Department of Public Information, by phone: (212) 963-1859, or by e-mail:
gorisek@un.org For more information on the Millennium+5 Summit, see:
http://www.un.org/ga/59/,
http://www.ngocongo.org/mdg.htm,
http://www.un-ngls.org/MDG, or
http://www.undp.org/mdg
For Conference registration information, contact:
delgadillo@un.org
Note: Registration is limited to NGOs working with the United Nations.
