Note No. 5649

                                                      12 February 2001

NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS

COMMISSION FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT TO DEBATE GOVERNMENT

SUPPORT FOR VOLUNTARY ACTION

NEW YORK, 12 February (United Nations Volunteers):  At United Nations Headquarters from 10 a.m. on Thursday 15 February, expert panelists called in by the United Nations Commission for Social Development will kick off a day of discussions on the role of volunteers in social development.  Key representatives of governments, United Nations agencies and civil society will consider the contribution made by volunteers to addressing global problems of poverty, civil conflicts and HIV/AIDS, and will review how governments can best support voluntary action.

The Commission for Social Development's current thirty-ninth session (from 13 to 23 February) takes place during the International Year of Volunteers (IYV 2001).  The Bonn-based United Nations Volunteers (UNV) is serving as global focal point for IYV 2001.

The Commission, which has 46 Member States, is expected to adopt a resolution highlighting key characteristics of pro-volunteer policies which could be included in national agendas.  These are likely to include legislative and regulatory measures to remove barriers blocking effective voluntary action at the community level.

The expert panelists are:  Michael Bürsch, (Germany), a member of the German Federal Parliament and Chairman of the Study Commission on the Future of Civic Activities; Joan Denise Daries, (South Africa), Director of the Volunteer Centre of Cape Town and Chairperson of both the National IYV Committee of South Africa (Volunteer South Africa 2001) and the South African National Aid Council task Force (SANAC); Dasho Meghraj Gurung, (Bhutan), Vice Chairperson of the National IYV Committee of Bhutan and the Board for Sustainable Development, Bhutan, and expert on traditional mutual aid and self-help systems; Miguel Darcy Oliveira (Brazil), founder and coordinator of Institute for Cultural Action (IDAC) and special adviser to the First Lady of Brazil in her capacity as Honorary President of the National IYV Committee; and Justin Davis Smith (United Kingdom), founding director of the Institute for Volunteering Research.  

                                    - 2 -                   Note No. 5649

                                                            12 February 2001

Background information on this agenda item of the Commission for Social Development is available on the Internet at http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/csd/csd39vlntr-6eO.PDF.

For further information, please contact:  Yuko Osawa, Representation Office in North America, United Nations Volunteers.  Tel:  (212) 906 3634; Email:  yuko.osawa@undp.org.

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