THIRTY-ONE NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS NEWLY ASSOCIATED WITH UN PUBLIC INFORMATION DEPARTMENT

THIRTY-ONE Non-Governmental Organizations newly associated

with UN Public Information Department

The United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI) has associated 31 non-governmental organizations (NGOs), bringing the number of NGOs that work with the Department in the area of communications and information to 1,501.  The Department, together with the Economic and Social Council, is a key entry point in the United Nations Secretariat for NGOs that wish to work with the Organization.

DPI’s Committee on NGOs, which held the first of two meetings during the year on 13 July, noted that the NGOs came from six different regions of the world (Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America and Western Europe).  Each organization conforms to the principles of the United Nations Charter, operates solely on a not-for-profit basis and is involved in United Nations-related work.  The DPI expects that these organizations have a commitment and means to conduct effective information programmes with their constituents and to a broader audience about United Nations activities as they relate to their field of activities.

The 31 NGOs are advocates for a diverse array of issues, ranging from consumer protection, sustainable development, good governance, education, gender equality, humanitarian assistance, counselling for humanitarian and disaster-relief personnel, information technology, protection of children from exploitation and abduction, youth, public service broadcast and peace education.

They include 13 NGOs from developing regions.  Associaçao Brasileira de Defensa do Consumidor da Vida e dos Direitos Civis (Brazil), works for the defence and protection of the consumer.  Bunyad Literacy Community Council (Pakistan) provides education, health and environment training with local NGOs and communities.  The International Academy of Information Technologies (Belarus) disseminates information on development and achievements in the field of information technologies in its member countries by using the United Nations information network.  Queens World Network (Nigeria) works for the emancipation of the African women and girl child from all forms of neglect, abuse and socio-cultural depravation.

“We are very pleased that an increasing number of non-governmental organizations from developing countries wish to work with DPI”, said Raymond Sommereyns, Director of the Department’s Outreach Division and Chair of the DPI Committee on NGOs.  “We are looking forward to deepening our dialogue with all of our NGO partners.”

Seventeen of the approved NGOs are based in the developed regions.  Among them, Lehigh University (USA) and Saint Peter’s College (USA) are both institutions of learning committed to pursuing global issues relating to the United Nations.  UBUNTU - World Forum of Civil Society Networks (Spain) works to strengthen the voice of civil society organizations and is a mechanism of exchange of information among Spanish NGOs that work on issues such as terrorism, poverty, human rights and globalization.

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

Africa:  Queens World Network (Nigeria)

Asia and the Pacific:  Bunyad Literacy Community Council (Pakistan); Centre for Women’s Resources Development (Indonesia); NipponAcademy (Bangladesh); National Youth Service Action and Social Development Research Institute (India); and Public Broadcasting Trust (India).

Eastern Europe:  Association for Sustainable Development (Armenia) Association of Central and Eastern European Election Officials (Hungary); and InternationalAcademy of Information Technologies (Belarus).

Latin America and the Caribbean: Associaçao Brasileira de Defensa do Consumidor da Vida e dos Direitos Civis (Brazil); and United Nations Association Suriname (Suriname).

North America: Child Foundation (USA); Headington Institute (USA); Global Vision for Peace (USA); International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (USA); Jewish National Fund (USA); Lehigh University (USA); Saint Peter’s College (USA); and United Nations Association New York (USA).

Western Europe: Fundaçao de Assistencia Medica Internacional (Portugal); Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (Italy); Seminario de Investigación para la Paz (Spain); and UBUNTU - World Forum of Civil Society Networks (Spain).

The DPI Committee on NGOs also confirmed the association of eight NGOs that have consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council:  African Action on AIDS (USA); Association Nigérienne des Scouts de l’Environnment (Nigeria); Association pour la Promotion de l’Emploi et du Logement (Tunisia); Fondation Haitienne pour l’Habitat et l’Integration des Sans-Abri (Haiti); Global 2000 (2010) International (USA); International Political Science Association (Canada); Interregional Union of Life Help – Sail of Hope (Russia); and  Partnership for Indigenous Peoples Environment (USA).

The following NGOs have been disassociated from DPI because they no longer meet the criteria for association:  African-American Labor Center (USA); Association Burkinanabe des Communicatrices (Senegal); Black Economic Development Conference, Inc. (USA); Christian Peace Conference (Czech Republic); Centre for Research and Promotion between Ibero-America and Europe (Spain); Council on International Educational Exchange (USA); Deutscher Frauenring E.V. (Germany); European Federation of National Associations Working with the Homeless (Belgium); European and Mediterranean Commission on Water Planning (Italy); Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (USA); Federation Abolitionniste Internationale (Switzerland); Forum of Democratic Leaders in the Asia-Pacific (South Korea); Greek Committee for International Democratic Solidarity (Greece); Iamvlichos (Greece); Internationaler Jugendaustausch- und Besucherdienst (Germany); International Association of Universities of the Third Age (France); International Federation for Information and Documentation (Netherlands); International Federation of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Canada); and International Federation of Translators (Canada).

Also:  International Movement of Apostolate of Children (France); International Organizations of Journalists (Czech Republic); Kenya Freedom from Hunger Council for National Development (Kenya); Mouvement Contre le Racisme et pour l’Amitié entre les Peuples (France); Movimento Democratico das Mulheres Portuguesas (Portugal); National Center for Health Education (USA); National Council of German Women’s Organizations (Germany); Oesterreichischer Informantionsdienst fuer Entwicklungspolitik (Austria); United Nations Association of Kenya (Kenya); United Nations Association of Latvia (Latvia); World Africa Chamber of Commerce (USA); World Federation of United and Twinned Towns (France); and World Peace Council (France).

For further information, please contact the DPI/NGO Section, tel.:  212 963-6842; e-mail:  dpi@un.org.  The Directory of NGOs associated with DPI is also available on the DPI/NGO web site:  www.un.org/dpi/ngosection.

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