Activity reports

September 2002 to September 2003

Events sponsored:

Thursday, June 5, 2003 - International Day of Peace UN & NGOs Working Together A Community Discussion with Internatiaonal Day of peace (IDP)Steering Group Facilitators: Robin Ludwig Sr. Political Affairs Officer, Department of Political Affairs and Sharon McPhearsonInformation Officer,Department of Public Information. The UN Steering Group for the International Day of Peace (IDP) was formed to collaborate activities and events for the observance of the International Day of Peace, September 21. Although 2003 marked the 21st observance of the International Day of Peace, this newly formed UN Steering Group is adding a most needed emphasis to peace building activities, observing cease-fires and stressing nonviolence in our world today. NGO found out how they could become more involved in this global commemoration.

Thursday, April 3, 2003 - The Role of Values in the Future of the United Nations: A conversation with Shashi Tharoor, Under-Secretary-General For Communications and Public Information. This was a rare opportunity for the NGO community to meet and have a conversation with Mr. Tharoor. Our Discussion touched on his personal sense of mission, ideals and commitments, as an individual and as well as in his capacity as Under-Secretary General.

Thursday, March 7, 2003 - Girls, Boys, Women, Men: The Value of Recongnizing Our Worth This Community Discussion lead by Micheal Penn, Professor of Psychology, Franklin and Marshall, Pennsylvania and Sr. Clare Nolan, NGO Working Group on Girls was held during the 47th session on the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). We started off the discusion reading out Article 1 of the Universal Delaration of Human Rights. "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, they are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a sprit of brotherhood."

Thursday, February 6, 2003 - Iraq and Korea: Opportunity or Crisis: Community Discussion Another in a series of community discussions organized for the NGO community by the Values Caucus that examined what is before us as the UN and its member states try to balance different points of view on war versus diplomacy regarding the situation in Iraq and Korea. Opinions were shared as we explored ways for the NGO community to influence this process.

Thursday, November 7, 2002 - Business Agenda: 1) Nominations for the Values Caucus Coordinating Council. 2) Launching of the Values Caucus website. Community Discusssions: Values Practacies that we have noticed at the UN since our last meeting.

Thursday, October 3, 2002 - Reflections on the WSSD: In Light of the Millennium Declaration. A community discussion in which the Values Caucus reflected on the Summit in light of the values declared by the General Assembly in its Millennium Declaration for example: Shared Responsibility, Equality, and Respect for Nature. Members of our NGO community who were present in Johannesburg shared their reflcetions in this context as they contemplated next steps together.

Events co-sponsored:

Monday, September 8, 2003 - Spiritual Dimensions in Global Public Policy series The Spirit of Human Security: New Paradigms for Perennial Challenge Co-sponsored - NGO Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concers (Geneva), The Values Caucus and the Spiritual Caucus. The Guest Speakers were Audrey Kitagawa - Advisor to the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict at the United Nations. U.S. Congressman Dennis Kucinich - Chair of the Progressive Caucus of the U.S. Congress, Initiator of the Department of Peace legislation. BK Mohini Panjabi – Main Representative to the United Nations & Regional Coordinator for North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University.

Thursday, January 30, 2003 - The Future of Freedom of Religion or Belief in a World Gripped by Terrorism An event by the NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Beiief co sponsored by the Values Caucus. The Key note Speaker was Ambassador Mokhatar Lamani Organization of the Islamic Conference

Coffee series:

Thursday, March 13, 2003 - H.E. Miss. Yvonne Clark, Permanent Representative of Barbados

Thursday, Novmeber 7, 2002 - H.E. Mr. Dumisani Shadrack Kumalo, Permanent Representative of South Africa

Thursday, October 17, 2002 - H.E. Mr. Javad Zarif, Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran
"Valeus in a Changing World"