VOLUME 26, NO. 1           Celebrating 26 Years of Connecting NGOs Associated with UN DPI *             5 May  2018
In This Issue
BRUCE KNOTTS / MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR  
Dear Readers,
Thanks for taking the time to get an update on what's happening with NGO engagement at the UN.  This has been a busy time at the United Nations with dramatic scenes at the Security Council over Syria, Yemen, South Sudan, Burundi and more.  While the problems mount and the world becomes more threatened by war, climate change, erosion of democratic government and cooperation among nations, the UN budget continues to contract.  Even so, somehow the UN is reinforced by dedicated NGOs and manages to address issues large and small in a world that requires more international engagement, not less.


Bruce Knotts
Chair, NGO/DPI Executive Committee
Unitarian Universalist Association

CONFERENCE DRAFT CONCEPT NOTE

67th United Nations DPI/NGO Conference
We the Peoples... Reaffirming Multilateralism and Our Shared Values
22 and 23 August 2018, United Nations Headquarters New York
 
We the Peoples... with this simple introduction, the United Nations Charter lays out an ambitious and noble mandate, the implementation of which has generated successes and challenges throughout the years. While the need for creating the United Nations after two world wars was stark and widely acknowledged, today there is rising skepticism regarding the value of multilateralism and the effectiveness of UN operations. "We need to assert the value of multilateralism, only global solutions can address global problems," Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said upon taking office.
 

USING THE PAST TO GUIDE THE 67thUN DPI/NGO CONFERENCE

As planning begins for the upcoming 67th United Nations DPI/NGO conference in New York City, NGOs can use the next few months to work with the NGO/DPI Executive Committee on conference planning.  A strong conference requires broad attendance, effective speakers, and new strategies to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. As the largest gathering of NGOs at the United Nations, the Conference is a valuable venue for partnership building, one that is inclusive of member states and the private sector as well. The 2018 conference should look back upon UN history, previous DPI/NGO conferences and their achievements. 
 
Scott Carlin, Ph.D.
Co-chair, 2016 United Nations DPI/NGO conference in Gyeongju, Republic of Korea
NGO/DPI Executive Committee member
Long Island University/Post
 

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING FORWARD
A CONFERENCE TOWN HALL
A Town Hall meeting was held on 15 February to discuss the proposed August 2018 UN DPI NGO Conference. It was sponsored by the UN Department of Public Information (DPI) and chaired by Messrs. Jeff Brez (Chief, NGO Relations) and Bruce Knotts (Chair, NGO/DPI Executive Committee).  A wide variety of comments, suggestions and recommendations were discussed.        
 
Patrick Sciarratta
Co-Editor, NGO Reporter
 

NGO YOUTH REPRESENTATIVE AT THE UNITED NATIONS


Born and raised in Denver, Colorado, Kelsie Strobel is an undergraduate student at Lehigh University, where she will graduate in May 2018 with a degree Mechanical Engineering and Sustainable Development. Her longstanding commitment to women's rights only intensified as she entered the male-dominated field of engineering, and that passion for gender equity drew her to the Center for Women Studies and Intervention (CWSI). Strobel has served as the CWSI Youth Representative since November 2016. 
 

William Hunter Ed.D. 
Chair, Youth Subcommittee 
NGO/DPI Executive Committee 
Lehigh University
 
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ANNUAL ELECTIONS / 2018
NGOs associated with DPI are invited to nominate candidates for election as members of the Executive Committee for a period of two years, 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2020.  More news to follow. 
 
Samantha Lu, Chair 
Nominations Subcommittee 
NGO/DPI Executive Committee
NAFSA: International Educators

READ MORE

COMMUNICATIONS WORKSHOPS PRESENTED BY NGO/DPI

Understanding the importance of communications in both a print and digital format is key to helping our constituencies and policymakers know of our concerns. Having a digital communications strategy is no longer an "add on" so much as an integral component in the work of our NGO members. To be good advocates, organizations must be able to provide information in the way in which our supporters would like to receive our messages.
 
Richard Yep
Executive Committee member
American Counseling Association
 
THE COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN / EMPOWERING RURAL WOMEN AND GIRLS
This year's 62nd United Nations Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) drew more than 4,000+ women from 130 countries, and was focused on rural women and girls.  

Fannie Munlin
Vice-Chair, NGO/DPI Executive Committee
National Council of Negro Women


READ MORE

SOUTHERN NEW YORK STATE DIVISION / UNA-USA WINTER / SPRING 2018 HIGHLIGHTS

Global Engagement Summit (formerly Members Day at the UN) February 23 hosted students from 96 colleges and universities around the US as well as members from 41 States and DC! It convened in the General Assembly Hall for plenary sessions.  Over 1900 attendees participated in this record-breaking event.
 
The  Congressional Recess from March 24 to April 6 was targeted for visiting local Congressional offices to stress the need for full funding for the UN in the 2019-2020 budget. The Sustainable Development Goals, refugees, and women's issues were also priorities. The Global Leadership Summit in DC June 10 to 12 is a opportunity to network with members from across the US, get energized on policy and operating issues, and most importantly visit our Senators and Members of the House on June 12, the Day on the Hill.
 
George Garland, President
UNA-USA Southern New York State Division

 
USEFUL WEBSITE REFERENCES
 
NGO Relations Weekly Communications
 
Keep up to date with DPI/NGO Relations and subscribe for weekly announcements. 
Please subscribe individually here .  Anyone may apply.

Other Useful links:
THE NGO/DPI EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Publishers of the NGO Reporter, the NGO/DPI 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 Public Information (DPI). It is composed of eighteen Directors 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 Public Information, the NGO/DPI Executive Committee sponsors annual conferences for the 1500+ accredited DPI/NGOs around the world. 


The Executive Committee of Non-Governmental Organizations Associated
with the United Nations Department of Public Information

MAILING ADDRESS:  
P.O. Box 3382
New York, NY 10163


E-mail: [email protected] |  Phone: 001-347-850-3968






EDITORIAL BOARD 

NGO Reporter Co-Editor
Patrick L. Sciarratta 
World Development Foundation

NGO Reporter Co-Editor
Lester N. Wilson
UN Graduate Studies Program
Long Island University 

Members 

NGO Reporter Line Editor
Joan Levy
End Child Prostitution and Trafficking

Chair, NGO DPI Executive Committee
Bruce Knotts

NGO Reporter Site Technician
and
NGO DPI Web Master
Isaac Humphrie

EDITORIAL
Lester Wilson
Long Island University

LAYOUT
Patrick Sciarratta
WDF

ONLINE ARTICLE LAYOUT
Isaac Humphrie
Unitarian Universalist 
UN Office


COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS 

Patrick Sciarratta ([email protected]) 
Lester Wilson ([email protected])



NGO/DPI EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE / Spring 2017

OFFICERS

Chair
Bruce Knotts
Unitarian Universalist UN Office

Vice-Chair
Kim  Quarles
World Jurist Association

Vice-Chair
Fannie Munlin 
National Council of Negro Women

Secretary
Brian Muzas
Seton Hall University

Treasurer
Elisabeth Shuman
Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI)


BOARD MEMBERS

Debra Tzeng Tzehuei Boudreaux
Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation

Barbara Burns
International Public Relations Association

Scott Carlin
Long Island University

Bill Hunter
Lehigh University

Bernice K. Leber
American Bar Association

Judy Lerner
Peace Action

Samantha Lu
NAFSA International Educators

Padmini Murthy  
Medical Women's International Association
                                                               
Mary Norton
Felicia University

Out Uwem Robert
African Youth Movement

Chonita Spencer
UNA New York

Janet Stovin
World Union for Progressive Judaism

Richard Yep
American Counselling Association


Jessica Rojas Alegría
Tendiendo Puentes AC
 
Emele Duituturaga
Pacific Island Association of NGOs
Suva, FIJI
 
Azza ElSherbiny
Seeds of Peace
Cairo, EGYPT

Dr. Valerie Obot
Medical Women's Association of Nigeria
Uyo, NIGERIA

Exequiel L ira 
Ibañez
Rotary Club de Santiago
Santiago, CHILE

Sylvia Wittmer
Deutsche Model United Nations e.V.,  Berlin, Germany

Graciela Yanovsky
FRANV, Buenos Aires, Argentina

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION

Hawa Diallo
DPI NGO Relations
Public Information Officer

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Anne-Marie Carlson
The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International
Ex-Officio, Past Chair

Joan Levy
EX OFFICIO, 
End Child Prostitution and Trafficking (ECPAT-USA)

Cyril Ritchie & 
Soon-Young Yoon
Ex-Officio, CONGO 

Aaron Etra
UNA-USA

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NGO REPORTER 
ARTICLE GUIDELINES

WE REQUEST THAT YOU SUBMIT YOUR UN/NGO RELATED ARTICLES FOR CONSIDERATION.

 Please refer to the article submission guidelines for the NGO Reporter, online here:
 

* Investigations  here and elsewhere show that the  NGO Reporter , under former Editor Dorrie Weiss, was in its fifth year in 1997. That makes 2018 its 26th consecutive year of publication.
Note: Ms. Weiss later mentored Lester and Patrick, who have been its co-editors for over a decade and now also include Ms. Joan Levy, too!