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

SPECIAL SESSION OF UN CONFERENCE ON NGO VOLUNTEERISM 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.  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.

Following are summaries of statements made on 13 September.

Statements

BENON SEVAN, United Nations Security Coordinator and ExecutiveDirector of the Office of the Iraq Programme: The recent tragedy was an example of volunteerism.  Many volunteers were helping people downtown, and the Mayor had to send word that they did not need any more downtown.

The work of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and volunteers was seen not as competition to the United Nations, but as complementary to the operations of the Organization.  In fact, there were many situations that NGOs were better equipped to handle than the United Nations was.  It was recognized that very often NGO activities were considered suspect, especially in places like Iraq or Afghanistan, where authorities did not understand that humanitarian assistance could be provided strictly on humanitarian grounds, without any political strings attached.  It was difficult for many people to understand that people were giving without expecting anything in return.

All NGOs in Iraq were considered suspect, and even their social activities were considered suspect.  The work of NGO volunteers was being further recognized worldwide, and appreciated worldwide.  These were not people who had nothing better to do – they were committed to helping their fellow men and women.

At the end of the day, when all activities were taken into account, the most gratifying thing was how much people had given to other people, and not how much money they had in the bank.  That was the true spirit of volunteerism, and the true spirit of NGOs.

MARK BOWDEN, Chief of Policy Development, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): OCHA was responsible for bringing a coordinated effort to natural disasters and complex humanitarian crises.  It was very clear that the major responses to these emergencies came from the voluntary sector.  In the first, immediate phases of a disaster, it was the local communities, the local organizations that provided the most immediate assistance.  Two-thirds of all disaster relief came from within the local communities.  The United Nations system was there to support them.

But how could that relationship be improved?  NGOs were some of the major sources of information in emergencies, and led to better and more detailed analyses –- and problem solving -– for the situation in question.  Many NGOs were concerned that improved coordination could actually translate into a straitjacket for their action.  That was not the case.  Increasingly, many emergencies had become far more complex -- in wars, for example -- and the United Nations was in a better position to negotiate access to NGOs and others, who were going to be the main providers of relief.

The other area that was important to coordinate on was the policy level.  One of the issues addressed was the issue of security of humanitarian workers.  Large numbers of such workers had been targeted because of their work.  The United Nations could remind Member States of their obligations to protect humanitarian workers, and help better train humanitarian workers, as well as provide them better back-up support.

INWON CHOUE, Dean of the Graduate School of NGO Studies, Kyung HeeUniversity: In many memories, the last century was marked by horrible wars and armed conflicts, and the birth of many tools of massive destruction.  The legacy of the 20^th century still prevailed, given what was seen in the beginning of the 21^st century.

Political culture surrounding the new century had undergone many changes, and at the heart of the changes were NGOs.  In the last few decades, NGOs had contributed to diversifying the issue structures of governments.  They had gone beyond issues of survival, and covered virtually all aspects of life.  Despite their steady call for diversity, a lot of work remained to be done.  Norms and values had to be established.

MARCOS KISIL, President of the Institute for Development of SocialInvestment: The Institute was an organization that helped NGOs and grant-makers come together around the problems of communities so the efforts to tackle problems were more efficient.  The Institute understood the issues surrounding the problems of common people who simply wanted dignity in their lives.

Volunteers were dedicated to fulfilling the desire of people to realize peace and dignity.  The idea of bringing NGOs together was a good way of acknowledging the value of their work.  There was a case that should be described (although time would not allow), about establishing a local system of social investment.  Grant-makers and grantees worked together to address the issues of eight communities.  Details of the case would be passed around the room.  It showed things that could be useful to every NGO present.

Francisico Lopez Bermudez, United Nations Association of Ecuador, and representing the World Federation of United Nations Association: United Nations Associations around the world were formed to support the United Nations and volunteers were becoming more important in that work.  In a changing society where international matters were becoming more important, educating people about the work of the United Nations had became more important as well.

United Nations Associations had been founded around the world and were working to coordinate the efforts of volunteers, civil society and government in working towards making the work of the Organization better known.  One of the main goals of United Nations Associations was to make recommendations of the Millennium Summit a reality, he said.  Furthermore, it was now time to put into practice the ideals embodied in the Charter of the United Nations.

The moderator, Mr. Sevon, responding to the previous speaker's comments, said too much coordination and coordination for its own sake were not necessary or helpful, and had become a business.  Answering a question, he said NGOs could come under the "security blanket" and would be asked to pay pro rata for evacuated personnel, just as United Nations agencies did.

Gillian Martin Sorensen, Assistant Secretary-General for External Relations, said volunteerism was cost-effective but not cost free.  Money was, therefore, essential to supporting the work of volunteers.  For those wishing to start a project, the problem was where the money would come from and how it would be raised, or in the words of one of her friends, "How do we make the ask?"

The fundamental question of how to get the funds for projects without compromising the Organization’s principles was always present.  She said that in raising money, one had to be clear about the purposes for which the money was being raised, professional about the wise and prudent use of that money, and open about how the money would be spent.

Combining well-raised money and well-organized volunteers would create a powerful force.  One example of this combination could be found in the Rotary's crucial support for the United Nations Polio programme.

LUIS GIAY, Chairman, Rotary Foundation Trustees, said that with branches in nearly 200 countries  the Rotary was the world's oldest and largest service organization.  The Rotary had already spent more than a billion dollars in funding projects.  Raising money took time and the efforts of a large staff.

For the Campaign to Eradicate Polio, the Rotary had worked with UNICEF, the Centers for Disease Control and others.  To everyone's surprise, they had managed to raise more than twice the amount of money asked for, with tremendous results.  After 1.5 billion dollars and many years had been spent in the battle, the disease was nearly eradicated.

In order to raise money, one had to convince people that it was for a good cause and a good programme.  The Rotary's success over the years had depended on convincing people that their money would be well-spent towards humanitarian ends.

KASIA MALINOWSKA-SEMPRUCH, Programme Director, Open Society Institute, said that her project, The International Harm Reduction Development Programme, focused its work on controversial subjects like the spread of HIV/AIDS among intravenous drug users and drug policy.  The Institute worked with more than 162 implementing partners, most of them NGOs, by providing funds and technical advice.

Although their area of focus, Eastern Europe, did not have a tradition of NGOs, the growth in the number of such groups was encouraging.  The number of people willing to help those in need was indeed heartening.  Fundraising needed to be combined with awareness of the importance of being accountable for the responsible expenditure of funds.

The range of experience of volunteers was quite wide, she said.  It was necessary to remember that volunteers came from all walks of life.  In Central and Eastern Europe, as in Africa, HIV sufferers and drug-users had offered their help to AIDS-related programmes.  Volunteers from all groups had something to offer.

Answering a question about sexual activities among intravenous drug users, Ms. MALINOWSKA-SEMPRUCH said her organization could only make sure that groups working with it address the issue of transmission by intravenous drug users of HIV/AIDS through sex.  Her organization tried to make sure that the needle exchange sites also addressed that matter.  Her organization just supported the people in the region who did the work.

Answering another question, she said the United Nations, through the international Year of Volunteers, had been in contact with many volunteer organizations.  There was a strong network and an exchange of best practices.  The very notion of volunteering was spreading around the world.  And volunteering was becoming more respected.

 Addressing a point about fundraising, she pointed out that small contributions led to large contributions.  Apart from money, contributions could be made in forms, such as time, art and others.  In every country there were at least a few rich people who might be looking for an opportunity to make a contribution, to make a difference.  It did not cost anything to give them recognition.

Mr. GIAY, Chairman, Rotary Foundation Trustees, said that with world wide fundraising, such as that done by Rotary, there was a need for respect for cultural differences in different parts of the world.

SERAFIN ARVIOLA, Coordinator, Philippine Youth Peace Advocates, said children had been victims of violence in many conflicts around the world at the beginning of the twenty-first century.  Armed conflict had killed 2 million children and left 12 million homeless.  About 40,000 children died daily from hunger, and 400 of those were Filipinos.  The continued violence had displaced more than 91,000 people in his country, where 33 million were unemployed and the inflation rate was 8.1 per cent.  Half of the population was living below the poverty line, and the degradation of family values in society aggravated the culture of violence.

The challenge now was how to transform the culture of violence into a culture of peace, he said.  Various initiatives on education from United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), had addressed that issue in recent years.  Education for peace must inspire individuals and communities to dedicate their time and efforts for selfless volunteer activities.  More than 6,000 schools from 165 countries around the world were now playing a pioneering role in placing UNESCO's ideals into renewed educational approaches.  The UNESCO Associated Schools Network had encouraged and supported many initiatives for peace in connection with the International Year of the Culture of Peace and the International Year of Volunteers.

The Youth Peace Advocates of the Philippines was a network of individuals and organizations, the main goal of which was to promote peace and sustainable development.  It complemented UNESCO's work in the informal sector.  Projects undertaken included, among other things, lectures, forums, peace rallies, inter-religious dialogue and gender sensitive sessions.

THOMAS TCHETMI, representative of La Presse Jeune, speaking on behalf of young people in Africa, said that in his country youth was more of a process than a category.  While the economic and social development situations on the continent were constantly fluctuating, and younger populations had been severely affected by the spread of the HIV/AIDS virus, youth were still enthusiastic and united in their efforts to confront those issues and overcome their debilitating effects.  This was particularly obvious in the field of volunteerism, where youth were most active in community projects and local organizations.  Indeed, Africans had a long history of community-oriented volunteerism, particularly regarding the care of children.

He went on to say that while most youth volunteers in Africa were concerned with health issues, they also showed strong interest in the environment, education, rural development and new technologies.  He said that Presse Jeune aimed to promote communication among youth and youth participation in development.  That organization had been launched in 1998 at high schools and then expanded to universities. Presse Jeune had recently initiated a national youth participation campaign, aimed primarily at the establishment of a national youth forum, elaboration of a national youth policy and creation of a Ministry of Youth.  Things were starting to move forward, with working groups in his country, Cameroon, actively seeking to integrate youth concerns into national policies and programmes.  He hoped that before the end of the year, the dream of creating a national youth council in Cameroon could be realized.

KATERINA NESTEROVIC, Organizer of the Balkan Youth Union, said her organization had been founded just seven months ago with the aim of stimulating democratic, social and cultural activities for the improvement of the standard of living in her region.  The trepidation and isolation of the Milosivic era still resonated among regional populations, and this was particularly true of the youth.  It would take much time and hard work to eliminate those feelings, she added: the breadth and depth of the problem would perhaps even require changing school textbooks.  That was a priority for her organization. It was her hope that youth from other regions of the world, whether affected by conflict or not, could learn from the Union's work in addressing the concerns of young people in the Balkans.

She went on to say that the Union would strive for peace in the south-eastern European region as well as for understanding among young people of her generation, who had been victims of 10 years of continuous conflict.  The Union's most important missions were to connect young people from the former Yugoslavia and to work to reduce ethnic and religious animosities.  The Union had already established contact with young people from Croatia, Slovenia, Romania and Turkey, among others.  Many of the group's activities were also carried out in coordination with other regional and international NGOs.  Success in rebuilding communications among the region's youth was very important, and could provide a forum for young people to discuss past difficulties, as well as interests and hobbies or other things they might have in common which could bring them closer together.

JUAN ELIAS URIBE, founder of the Children's Movement for Peace (Colombia) said many people had asked him why a young person would want to become a volunteer.  His response was always that it was not something he wanted to do, but something he was born to do.  Early in his life he had taken up the fight for various institutions to recognize the unique concerns of young people and children.  While many said that children were the future, he believed that, more importantly, they were the present.  Unless they were taught the value of volunteerism and community involvement today, they would not be capable of helping others tomorrow.  He said his objective today was to raise people's awareness and open the hearts of all those he met. 

HIMANSHU SINGH DHILLON, a youth volunteer from Jaipur, India, said his many community-oriented activities focused on local and national polio eradication drives.  Volunteerism, he said, had been and always would be an integral part of his identity.  Teaching peace, compassion and love at an early age would not only result in responsible citizens, it would indeed improve the lot of all humankind.  At the same time, however, as had been witnessed in West Asia, Eastern Europe and Kashmir, there were always those that would be eager to use the vulnerabilities of idealistic youths to destroy rather than strengthen or contribute to society.

He went on to note examples of youth that had participated in polio immunization campaigns and had helped those affected by terrorist activities regain their sense of being and self-worth.  He added that all should work to ensure that efforts of youth activists and volunteers continued unhindered, so that one day the world could stand together as one nation and perhaps even outshine the rising sun.            

SHASHI THAROOR, Interim Head of the United Nations Department of Public Information(DPI), expressed sadness at having to meet under tragic circumstances and his appreciation for those who were able to stay.  Those circumstances did not render the work of the participants futile, but rather affirmed its importance.  The object was to channel the enormous potential of the volunteer movement into the work of the United Nations.  It was the spirit of volunteerism, in fact, that was reviving the city at the moment -- in the rescue efforts, blood donations, and the “millions of acts of kindness and solidarity everyday.” 

Mr. Tharoor then introduced the following speakers.

NANE ANNAN, Lawyer, Artist, Advocate and Author, said that people needed to come together to deal with the tragedy and find strength in each other.  She sent her thoughts and prayers out to the victims and their families.   The tragedy overshadowed all else, but the spirit of volunteerism was also all-pervasive.  Blood donors and donated services showed the diversity of the volunteer spirit.  In her travels with the Secretary-General she had gained an acquaintance with NGOs.  The NGO community and the spirit of volunteerism, in the midst of so much suffering around the world, inspired her and made it possible for her to go on. 

The volunteer, she said, was a person who gave of his or her self and was enriched through the experience.  She was particularly concerned with volunteer action on behalf of children.  She quoted Nelson Mandela and Gaston Michaux pleading for such action.  It was crucial for young people to have a voice in determining their future.  She had been in classrooms in the United States, had met children who were compassionate and curious, and continued to receive mail from children who inspired her.  On her international travels as well, children had sought her out to discuss their problems and hopes.  The universe was reflected in each child’s eyes; no child should be left out.  All children should be cared for.  She quoted statistics that showed that many were not, being victims of disease and hunger.

Among other problems that affected children, AIDS was particularly devastating.  She spoke of her work with her husband, and the guardian angels she had met in her travels -- volunteers at all levels in the struggle against AIDS.  Children must also be protected from war and other kinds of violence and abuse.  Traffic in women and children must be stopped.  Education, especially for girls, was crucial for children’s survival and for realising their human potential.   Finally, for the sake of children, the earth must be protected.  It was not sufficient to make promises to children; those promises must be kept.  Enough was enough.

MECHAI VIRAVAIDYA, Chairman of the Population and Community Development Association, echoed sympathy that had been expressed toward the people affected by the recent tragedies.  He related his efforts on population, starting in Thailand 25 years ago, which required vast and varied volunteer efforts, along with the Government’s permission to allow non-physicians to issue simple prescriptions.  The assistance of Buddhist Monks was obtained, and 320,000 school teachers were also enlisted to spread the message.  Such volunteer efforts were the only way to reach the people.

In efforts to combat HIV/AIDS in Thailand, volunteers were again essential, at first because the Government was in denial of the problem.  The diversity of volunteers was great in those efforts, with taxi drivers, businesspersons, police, radio announcers and prostitutes assisting.  The Government eventually signed on to what was essentially an NGO effort.  Working within the Government, however, turned out to be complicated and he learned many lessons, including how to stay out of political partisanship. 

He turned to the need for funds, in support of volunteer efforts, and suggested various strategies for fund-raising, including attaching businesses to non-profit organizations.  “Skills banks” should be established as well, he said, to help provide human resources.  In closing, he said that the Nobel Peace Prize should be awarded to the entire NGO movement and the United Nations should promote NGOs within the Member States.

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