SPECIAL SESSION OF UN CONFERENCE ON NGO VOLUTEERISM HELD ON 13 SEPTEMBER

SPECIAL SESSION OF UN CONFERENCE ON NGO VOLUTEERISM HELD ON 13 SEPTEMBER

Session Follows Fifty-Fourth Annual DPI/NGO Conference, 10-12 September

In the aftermath of the terrible events that shocked the entire world, the fifty-fourth Annual Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) associated with the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI) held a special session at United Nations Headquarters in New York on 13 September 2001.  Sessions of the Conference and midday NGO workshops scheduled for 11 and 12 September had been cancelled.  The DPI, in consultation with the Office of the Secretary-General and Security and Safety Service, decided that it was important for the Conference to conclude its work and to show that the spirit of volunteerism and the valuable work performed by the United Nations and non-governmental organizations would continue even under the most difficult circumstances.

On 13 September, 16 speakers, including Mrs. Nane Annan and Mr. Mechai Viravaidya, Chairman of the Population and Community Development Association in Thailand, delivered substantive and often emotional addresses to the audience of more than 200 NGO representatives.  The participants paid tribute to the victims of the terrorist acts with a minute of silence.  Many speakers pointed out that events of the previous days gave vivid examples of volunteerism in action and underscored the importance of the theme of this Conference.  Participants expressed their appreciation to the organizers for the decision to hold the special session of the Conference.

Over 2,000 representatives from more than 600 NGOs in 90 countries had registered for the three-day Conference, which has become the premier NGO event at United Nations Headquarters each year.  This year’s theme highlighted the International Year of Volunteers, exploring the pressing and sometimes controversial issues that challenge the world’s community of NGOs, many of which are guided by the spirit of volunteerism.  The opening session on 10 September was addressed by Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the President of the fifty-fifth session of the United Nations General Assembly, Harri Holkeri, and (by videoconference from Mexico) President of MexicoVicente Fox.  In her keynote address, Sharon Capeling-Alakija, Executive Coordinator of the United Nations Volunteer Programme, provided the conceptual framework for discussion of the ways in which volunteers can support the work of the United Nations.

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