TWENTY-NINE NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS APPROVED FOR ASSOCIATION WITH DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION

Press Release
PI/1214

TWENTY-NINE NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS APPROVED FOR ASSOCIATION WITH DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION

The Department of Public Information (DPI) Committee on Non-Governmental- Organizations has selected 29 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from 11 countries for association with the Department. The decision, taken on 17 December, brings the total number of NGOs associated with DPI to 1,616. All the organizations conform with the principles of the United Nations Charter, operate solely on a not- for-profit basis and demonstrate a long-standing involvement with United Nations issues. In addition, they have a proven ability to reach large or specialized audiences with well-developed information programmes, as well as the commitment and means to disseminate information about the United Nations. That information capacity is a unique criterion for association with DPI.

The NGOs newly associated with DPI include two from Asia; three from Eastern Europe; one from Latin America; one from the Middle East; 13 from the United States; and nine from Western Europe. These organizations represent a diverse range of interests, including human rights, the environment, sustainable development, health care and peace in the Middle East.

Several of the NGOs aim to advance the education and development of young people. The Reach Out and Read National Training Center (United States) promotes literacy in pediatric primary care and offers an extensive early-literacy programme to parents and their children, medical personnel and volunteers. The organization actively collaborates with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) through joint information projects on early literacy intervention in pediatric health settings. Worldwrite United Kingdom advances the education of young people through its international exchange programmes and tours, while the One Day Foundation (United States) supports the creation of a Youth Assembly within the United Nations to provide young people with a permanent forum in which they can actively and effectively participate.

Other NGOs newly associated with DPI are dedicated to advancing the status of women worldwide. All those organizations have an established record of collaboration with United Nations Information Centres, specialized agencies or programmes. The Instituto Social y Politico de la Mujer (Argentina), which works closely together with the United Nations Information Centre in Buenos Aires and the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), focuses on the elimination of violence against women. Abantu for Development (United Kingdom) runs extensive programmes and seminars to advance the causes of women in Africa and to strengthen the electronic communication capacities of women's organizations. The organization's magazine, GAP Matters, frequently highlights United Nations

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conferences and events. The Federación de Mujeres Progresistas (Spain) focuses on women's social, political and economic rights, particularly in the areas of education and career.

Among the newly associated NGOs are two which are over a century old. The anti-poverty and human rights organization Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights (United States) was established in 1888. The American Psychological Association (United States) was established in 1892. Its monthly newspaper, APA Monitor, reaches 160,000 readers.

The association of the three NGOs from the Russian Federation and the Czech Republic reflects the growth of the NGO community in Eastern Europe and its increasing efforts to link up with the international community.

More than 200 NGOs requested association with DPI in 1999. The DPI Committee on NGOs continues to review the large number of applications on an ongoing basis.

For further information, please contact the DPI/NGO Section, phone: (212) 963-6842, e-mail: dpingo@un.org. The periodically updated directory of NGOs associated with DPI is also available on the DPI/NGO's Web site at: www.un.org/dpi/ngosection.htm.

Following are the organizations newly associated with DPI, listed alphabetically by region:

Asia and the Pacific:

Centre for Science and the Environment (India) Youth Challenge (Singapore)

Eastern Europe:

Academy of Mining Sciences (Russian Federation) Democratic Club (Czech Republic) International Academy of Ecology and Life Protection Sciences (Russian Federation)

Latin America

Instituto Social y Politico de la Mujer (Argentina)

Middle East:

The Peres Center for Peace (Israel)

North America:

American Jewish World Service (United States) American Model United Nations (United States) American Psychological Association (United States) Americans for Peace Now (United States)

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Capitol NewsWire International News Service (United States) Global Resource Action Center for the Environment (United States) Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights (United States) Long Island University (United States) Millennium Institute (United States) One Day Foundation (United States) Public Relations Society of America (United States) Reach Out and Read National Training Center (United States) School of Diplomacy and International Relations (United States)

Western Europe

Abantu for Development (United Kingdom) The Acronym Institute (United Kingdom) Comunità Incontro (Italy) Federación de Mujeres Progresistas (Spain) Federazione Italiana Comunità Terapeutiche (Italy) Migrantes (Italy) Therapy Center for Dependent Individuals (Greece) Worldwrite (United Kingdom) Youth Charter for Sport (United Kingdom)

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