Perspectives from the Global NGO Community |
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Approaching the 77th Anniversary of the United Nations - and 30 years for
The NGO Reporter
Connecting NGOs, the Media, and Civil Society networks worldwide to the work of the
Global NGO Executive Committee and issues related to UNDGC Affiliates.
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President's Message
Goodbye and Hello
My dear friends. After overseeing every issue since 2009, as editor, it is quite a change for me to say goodbye to this task, which I attempted to carry out with love and passion during each issue prep.
Simultaneously, I greet hello to all our subscribers for the first time as the incoming president of the GNEC. I am humbled and honored to accept this responsibility; it is my hope to create an active base for development that will benefit many among our potential constituents. I know quite well that COVID has left many of us broke and broken – but the time is approaching for us all to build back better and I want you to know that this GNEC board will be there for your associated NGO in any way we are able. We hope to amplify your voices, be they needing support, announcing new work, or seeking collaborative partners to help get your programming or administration back into full swing.
In August, we will be sending out a survey to ask you how your NGO fared during COVID and how we may be of greater service to you in the future. We hope you will take a few moments to reply when it arrives. We will follow up to ensure you received it and use your responses as our guide on how to be more useful to your NGO over the next two years. Fill it in, make a short video, or jump on a zoom call with one of our Board: we really want to hear from YOUR NGO and you at this critical time.
For now, I wish you all the very best and look forward to your correspondence and finding ways in which the GNEC may assist you - and especially in ways where we may all grow together in service to civil society and the goals and vision we NGOs share with the United Nations Department of Global Communication.
Peace be with you; and let’s make some good work together in coming years!
Patrick Sciarratta
President, GNEC
Senior Fellow, World Development Foundation
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ELECTION RESULTS ANNOUNCED
NEW 2021-23 DIRECTORS NAMED BY THE GLOBAL NGO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The Global NGO Executive Committee (GNEC; globalngoexec.org) is proud to announce its new slate of Officers and Directors for the 2012-23 leadership period. The GNEC elections took place among UNDGC-associated NGOs throughout the world during May and June.
Patrick Sciarratta was elected President. He is a Senior Fellow at the World Development Foundation and editor of the NGO Reporter. From 2002-2015, he led and produced the very successful Youth Assembly at the United Nations, among many other events at UN headquarters.
Dr. Padmini Murthy will continue in her role as First Vice President; Ms. Nadine Clopton was elected the new Second Vice President. Newly elected members include: Olasubomi Iginla Aina, Noël Bonam, Wayne Charles II, J. Nadine Gracia, Ediola Pashollari, Aimée Quinlan, Connie Sobon Sensor, and Bircan Ünver.
“This new board represents an incredible assemble of talent and dedication,” noted incoming President Sciarratta. “We are faced with immense challenges but also great opportunities as our NGO works alongside our partners in the UN staff to re-vitalize, re-awaken, and rebuild our global partners after the devastating pandemic. We ask all DGC associated NGOs to reach out to let us know how you fared, what we might do to assist, and certainly: how we may amplify your voices at the UN, each and every day.”
The work of the GNEC is to strengthen communications between the global NGO community associated with UN Department of Global Communications, to advance UN and NGO ideals. Our vision is a world where NGOs have stronger partnerships with each other, the United Nations, and governments for their mutual goals of co-creating a world based upon peace, human rights and sustainable development. The GNEC thanks Annie Deng and her Nominations and Elections Committee for their diligent work to make this election a resounding success.
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Officers 2021-22
President: Patrick Sciarratta
NGO: World Development Foundation, Inc.
1st VP: Dr. Padmini Murthy
NGO: American Medical Women’s Association
2nd VP: Nadine Clopton
NGO: Caring and Living As Neighbours
Secretary: Debra T. Boudreaux
NGO: Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation
Treasurer: Kevin Merges
NGO: Rutgers Preparatory School
Directors
Alexandra Abrams
NGO: World Council of Peoples for the UN
Olasubomi Iginla Aina MBE.
NGO: Light Up Foundation
Desiree Akhavan
NGO: Mona Foundation
Noël Bonam
NGO: Association For World Education
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Directors, Continued
Wayne Charles II
NGO: Rotary International
Dasse Diarra
NGO: Olof Palmer Peace Foundation International
Dr. J. Nadine Gracia
NGO: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Ediola Pashollari
NGO: World Assembly of Youth
Aimée Quinlan
NGO: The City College of New York NGO
Dr. Constance (Connie) Sobon Sensor
NGO: The League of Women Voters of the USA
Dakota Silver
NGO: International Public Relations Association (IPRA)
Sandra Timmerman
NGO: International Federation on Ageing
Bircan Ünver
NGO: The Light Millennium
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This summer, Democracy International is hosting a series of webinars looking at concrete ways the UN can become more inclusive and democratic.
In their summer webinar series “Now we will be heard” they will discuss four specific proposals to make global governance inclusive and democratic:
- 11 August, 17h00-18h00 CEST : A UN Parliamentary Assembly (UNPA)
- 25 August, 17h00-18h00 CEST : A UN Civil Society Envoy (UNCSE)
- 8 September, 17h00-18h00 CEST : Global Citizens’ Assemblies
By taking you on a treasure hunt through the internet, you will be introduced to these ideas of democratic global governance in more detail. The idea is simple: through challenges you can find out more about these ideas, in preparation for a joint discussion with you and the experts on these topics. Together, we will imagine what is possible and how we, ordinary citizens of all ages, can influence global politics.
The main debates will always happen on Wednesdays and the first challenges will be sent to you on the Friday before. Altogether you will never have to invest more than 90 minutes in total for one event.
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Just ... WOW
Poetry that must be heard ...
Mumbi Macharia wrote and performed 'Dear World Leaders' for the official side event 'Rise, Respond, Recover' at the High Level Political Forum on the Sustainable Development Goals, hosted by the Government of Estonia and co-organized by PMNCH, UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO and the International Health Partnership for UHC 2030 (UHC2030).
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Looking for Work, Post-COVID? Perhaps this may be of service... |
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Vacancy Announcements
Vacancy code: VA/2021/B5004/22244
Level: ICS-10
Department/office: NYSC, SDC, Development and Special Initiatives Portfolio
Duty station: Home based
Contract type: International ICA
Contract level: IICA-2
Duration: Short-term ICA – Maximum duration 3 months (lumpsum)
Application period: 19-Jul-2021 to 02-Aug-2021
Deadline: 02 August 2021
UNAOC is working to launch a series of initiatives within the UN Global Sports Programme and one of those is a Handbook to assist the organizers of sporting events, particularly governments (at all levels), federations and organizing committees, to conduct initiatives aiming at preventing violent extremism by leveraging on sport values such as tolerance, respect, integrity, solidarity, and equality, and helping current and new generations build transferable skills such as confidence, self-control and teamwork.
Job categories: Administration
Vacancy code: VA/2021/B5004/22213
Department/office: NYSC, SDC, Development and Special Initiatives Portfolio
Duty station: New York, United States of America
Contract type: Local ICA Support
Contract level: LICA-5
Duration: On-going – open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance
Application period: 16-Jul-2021 to 29-Jul-2021
Deadline: 29 July 2021
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In addition to the almost four million deaths due to the coronavirus, between 119-124 million people were pushed back into poverty and chronic hunger, and the equivalent of 255 million full-time jobs were lost, the report indicates.
“The pandemic has halted, or reversed, years, or even decades of development progress. Global extreme poverty rose for the first time since 1998”, said UN Under-Secretary-General Liu Zhenmin, during the launch.
Moreover, disruptions to essential health services have threatened years of progress in improving maternal and child health, increasing immunization coverage, and reducing communicable and non-communicable diseases. Around 90% of countries are still reporting one or more significant disruptions to essential health services. Read more...
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Yoga: Promoter of Harmony, Health and Peace
Yoga is an ancient physical, mental, and spiritual practice whose origins can be traced back to ancient India. The word ‘Yoga’ derived from ‘Yuj’ a Sanskrit word which means to unite, and the practice of yoga symbolizes the union of body and consciousness. The practice of yoga has crossed borders and recognizing the universal appeal of yoga, on 11 December 2014, the United Nations proclaimed 21 June as the International Day of Yoga by resolution 69/131.
The World Yoga Community is a DGC accredited NGO and has played a key role in celebrating the 7th International Yoga Day by organizing a series of virtual events from June 1st to June 30th, 2021.In keeping with the current ongoing pandemic these stellar events were virtual and brought together members the diplomatic core, United Nations staff, members of NGO community, spiritual leaders, artists, students, scholars and religious leaders. Both as featured speakers and attendees.
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The series of events were well curated and conceptualized by the well-known and international spiritual leader Dileepkumar Thankappan, pictured, left, and President and CEO of the World Yoga Community. June 1st marked the start of the month-long programs to commemorate the 7th International Day of Yoga and 28th Annual World Yoga festival. The Counsel General of India Shri Randhir Jaiswal graced the occasion with his opening remarks. The entire program can be watched by clicking the link, here.
The June 21st program featured religious leaders, former senior United Nations staff member and diplomat Shri Ramu Damodaran and Ms. Hawa Diallo Chief of Civil society Unit, United Nations Department of Global Communications and NGO leaders and was well attended. The entire program can be watched by clicking the link, here.
The closing event to the month-long program on June 30th was very well attended and one of the key highlights was the presentation by Dr HR Nagendra Advisor to the Indian Government and Chancellor of VYASA University. The entire program can be watched by clicking the link, here.
This series of month long events highlighted the power of partnerships in promoting peace, tolerance and societal well being keeping in lines with the principles of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and were well received by the international community.
Padmini Murthy MD, MPH 1st
Vice Chair Global NGO Executive Committee
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Effective strategies to learn about and engage with climate change play an important role in addressing this challenge. There is growing recognition that education needs to change in order to address climate change, yet the question remains: “How?” How does one engage young people with a topic that is often perceived as abstract, distant and complex?
Art can be a powerful tool for communication. Within the growing field of science communication, art has been identified as an effective instrument to raise awareness with the help of video work, documentaries, infographics, illustrations, and comics about climate change impacts and adaptation strategies. Engagement using creative, artistic practices has the potential to go beyond traditional methods of communication and help people develop innovative ideas to combat climate change.
The United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) has created a new virtual magazine to promote this dialogue, which features a wide range of artwork by professional and amateur artists, including paintings, illustrations, street art, poetry and films.
To explore the full magazine with amazing artwork and artist interviews, please click here
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LEARNING MORE ABOUT YOU - Associated NGOs Media Releases are WELCOME
An Occasional Series
The NGO Reporter is pleased to highlight the work of our friends and constituents. Are you associated with UN DGC? If so, please send us articles no more than 600 words or videos no more than two minutes in length about your UN-related work and especially highlighting upcoming, online events worldwide. We'd love to hear from you.
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Stay up to date with the UN's full calendar of meetings and events streaming LIVE and ON DEMAND from the United Nations on the newly redesigned UN Web TV website.
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THE GLOBAL NGO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Publishers of the NGO Reporter, the recently renamed Global NGO Executive Committee, was founded in 1962 to create a link between the United Nations and the Non-Governmental Organizations associated with the United Nations Department of Global Communications UNDGC (formerly: Public Information). It is composed of eighteen elected members and encourages and assists NGOs, as members of civil society, to communicate their interests throughout the United Nations system and to support United Nations' goals and objectives. In partnership with the United Nations Department of Global Communication, the Global NGO Executive Committee co-produces the UN Civil Society Conference and affiliated activities for the 1500+ DGC-associated NGOs around the world.
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USEFUL WEBSITE REFERENCES
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NGO REPORTER
ARTICLE SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
WE REQUEST THAT YOU SUBMIT YOUR UN/NGO RELATED ARTICLES FOR CONSIDERATION.
Please refer to the article submission guidelines for the NGO Reporter. SEE DETAILS
Exhaustive investigations demonstrate that a Volume of the NGO Reporter, under Founder and former Editor Dorrie Weiss, was in its fifth year in 1997. Begun in 1992, then, that would make 2022 its 30th consecutive year of publication. Its free subscriber list includes NGO leaders associated with UNDGC (see above), as well as UN and other media, and all those interested in UN-related, NGO activities at UNHQ and worldwide that are created or promoted by the Global NGO Executive Committee, editor, staff.
Prior to her passing, Ms. Weiss mentored Patrick, as Editor, who later invited Dr. Lester Wilson. They became its co-editors for nearly two decades, assisted in large measure by the dearly departed Joan Levy, and former site manager Isaac Humphries. Currently, Ms. Annie Deng has become a Contributing Editor and Ms. Dakota Silver, the GNEC Webmaster, has assisted with online placement and social media relations. To all our volunteers, especially those on the NGO Reporter Sub-Committee, we remain eternally grateful.
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The Global NGO Executive Committee Works Closely with the United Nations Department of Global Communications
Visit the Global NGO Executive Committee website Here
MAILING ADDRESS:
Global NGO Executive Committee
c/o P. Sciarratta
P.O. Box 91
Mamaroneck, NY 10543
NGO Reporter Queries:
Phone: 001-914-843-4820
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Fannie Munlin
National Council of Negro Women
Ex-Officio, Past President
Liberato Bautista &
Soon-Young Yoon
Ex-Officio, CoNGO
Aaron Etra
UNA-USA
Pro Bono Attorney
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EDITORIAL BOARD
NGO Reporter
Members
President, Global NGO Executive Committee
Patrick Sciarratta
NGO Reporter Site Technician
Dakota Silver
International Public
Relations Association
Members NGO Reporter Subcommittee
Cristina Fan
World Development Foundation
Dr. Padmini Murthy
Medical Women's International Association
Dakota Silver
International Public
Relations Association
Dr. Sandra Timmerman
International Federation
on Ageing
COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS
Patrick L. Sciarratta (patrick@vnclm.org)
GLOBAL NGO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2020-21
OFFICERS
President: Patrick Sciarratta
NGO: World Development Foundation, Inc.
1st VP: Dr. Padmini Murthy
NGO: American Medical Women’s Association
2nd VP: Nadine Clopton
NGO: Caring and Living As Neighbours
Secretary: Debra T. Boudreaux
NGO: Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation
Treasurer: Kevin Merges
NGO: Rutgers Preparatory School
Directors
Alexandra Abrams
NGO: World Council of Peoples for the United Nations
Amb. Olasubomi Iginla Aina MBE.
NGO: Light Up Foundation
Desiree Akhavan
NGO: Mona Foundation
Noël Bonam
NGO: Association For World Education
Wayne Charles II
NGO: Rotary International
Dasse Diarra
NGO: Olof Palmer Peace Foundation International
Dr. J. Nadine Gracia
NGO: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Ediola Pashollari
NGO: World Assembly of Youth
Aimée Quinlan
NGO: The City College of New York NGO
Dr. Constance (Connie) Sobon Sensor
NGO: The League of Women Voters of the United States
Dakota Silver
NGO: International Public Relations Association (IPRA)
Sandra Timmerman
NGO: International Federation on Ageing
(Ms) Bircan Ünver, M.A.
NGO: The Light Millennium
New Logo Design
Richard Yep
American Counselling Association
DEPARTMENT OF GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS *
Hawa Diallo
UN DGC NGO Relations
Public Information Officer
Felipe Quiepo
UN DGC NGO Relations
Public Information Officer
* UN Department of Global Communications (UNDGC; previously UN Department of Public Information, UNDPI).
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