NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY TO HOLD PUBLIC FORUM ON MONDAY, 15 JUNE

Press Release

NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY TO HOLD PUBLIC FORUM ON MONDAY, 15 JUNE

The United Nations University will hold a public forum from 1 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. on Monday, 15 June, at the Dag Hammarskjold Library, to focus on the launching of the publication "The Future of the United Nations System: Potential for the Twenty-First Century". This volume is a project of the Research Commissions of the International Peace Research Association (IPRA) and is published by the United Nations University Press.

Chadwick F. Alger, Mershon Professor of Political Science and Public Policy Emeritus of the Ohio State University and Editor of the volume will present an overview and focus on prevention of violence and disruptive conflict through peace keeping and peace-building in the United Nations. Ho-Won Jeong, of the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University, will speak on the United Nations and global economic policies. This will be followed by a panel discussion which will include the participation of Samuel R. Insanally, Permanent Representative of Guyana and former President of the General Assembly, and Alvaro de Soto, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs.

Twenty-two scholars from all continents have contributed 12 chapters that encompass prevention of violence, creating economic and social structures that sustain human fulfilment, sharing and protecting the commons, and peace education. The search for future potential, based on the experience in these 12 "laboratories", leads to 66 recommendations for new instruments and programmes on issues that relate to control of weapons, humanitarian intervention, collaboration between United Nations peacekeepers and non- governmental organizations, human rights, economic policies, advancement of women, refugees, ecological security, communications, and peace education.

The recommendations include proposals for the Bretton Woods institutions, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), International Labour Organization (ILO), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Trusteeship Council, United Nations Centre for Human Rights, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations High

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Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), United Nations University, and World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Suggested new instruments include a United Nations institute for mediation and dispute resolution, NGO rapid response teams, an early warning information service, a United Nations peace education fund, a world court for the environment, enhancement of United Nations capacity for institutional memory, and mechanics for wider participation of local governments and organizations.

For more information, please contact: the United Nations University Office in North America (UNUONA), Tel: 212-963-6387; Fax: 212-371-9454; E-mail: unuona@igc.apc.org.

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