UNITED NATIONS FORUM TO DISCUSS ‘OUR COMMON HUMANITY

 

IN THE INFORMATION AGE’ AT HEADQUARTERS 29 NOVEMBER

 

Leaders from Government, the private sector, science and technology, media, entertainment and sports from around the world will gather at the United Nations on Wednesday, 29 November to convey the message that the global community is one family with common values.

Speakers at the global forum “Our Common Humanity in the Information Age:  Principles and Values for Development” include former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General; Louise T. Blouin Foundation President Louise Blouin; actress Julia Ormond; surgeon and bestselling author Dr. Mehmet C. Oz; Google Foundation President Larry Brilliant; and BBC News Washington correspondent Katty Kay.

The core values of the 2000 Millennium Declaration -- freedom, solidarity, equality, tolerance, respect for nature and shared responsibility -- will be addressed by writers such as Benjamin R. Barber, author of Fear's Empire:  War, Terrorism and Democracy in an Age of Interdependence and Karen Armstrong, author of The Great Transformation: The Beginning of Our Religious Traditions.  They will be discussed by civil society leaders such as Tensie Whelan, Executive Director of the Rainforest Alliance.

Also participating are United Nations Millennium Project Director Jeffrey Sachs, historian Stephen Schlesinger, evolution biologist and futurist Elisabet Sahtouris, Inter Press Service founder and Chairman Roberto Savio, Hillier Architecture founder and President Robert Hillier, FAIA, Festival de Fès Director-General Faouzi Skali and Allan Bradley, President of the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, one of the world’s leading centres of genome sequencing and analysis.

The premise of this day-long event is that the six core values of the Millennium Declaration have not been given enough prominence, but their application would go a long way in resolving geopolitical difficulties and ensuring collective security.  They also form a bedrock for development efforts, and can be given wide currency in the new information era.

The forum will open at 10 a.m. in Conference Room 4, with a welcome address by General Assembly President Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa and keynote addresses by Economic and Social Council President Ali Hachani, Mr. Ahtisaari, United Nations Development Programme Administrator Kemal Derviş, World Bank Vice-President Katherine Sierra and Ms. Blouin.  Shashi Tharoor, Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, will chair the event.

Six interactive dialogues will focus on freedom, solidarity, equality, tolerance, respect for nature and shared responsibility to seek the foundation for collective action.

“We need to revive and strengthen within the world community the spirit of cooperation based on these principles and values,” said panellist Sarbuland Khan, Executive Director of the Global Alliance for ICT and Development.  “Our collective security and vision for shared development hinge on a spirit of cooperation based on these principles and values”.

Taking full advantage of information and communication technology, the public will have an opportunity to listen and contribute their opinions, thoughts and objections simultaneously and virtually.  The forum has linked the United Nations physical event with web-based information and communication technology.  Forum discussions will be webcast live on the Internet and include interactive chat rooms.

A blog website has been set up at http://och-forum.blogspot.com.  It features background information and guide questions to stimulate discussion on the themes of the meeting.

The overall goal is to generate interactive participation and substantive debate on the core values addressed at the event, while showcasing the opportunities offered by information and communication technology.

The event is organized by the Global Alliance for ICT and Development in partnership with the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations Global Compact, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Fund for International Partnerships, Pace University, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, United Nations Millennium Project, World Federation of United Nations Associations, World Bank, United Nations Department of Public Information, Alliance of Civilizations, Congress of Racial Equality, Friends of the United Nations, Institute for a Culture of Peace, International Council for Caring Communities, United Nations Non-Governmental Organizations Informal Regional Network and World Peace Prayer Society.

Youth Forum on Our Common Humanity in the Information Age

A Youth Forum on Our Common Humanity in the Information Age, sponsored by Friends of the United Nations, will be held at the United Nations on Tuesday, 28 November as a prelude to the day-long conference.

The Forum will be an interactive “think tank” experience for selected college students and young professionals who are passionate about advancing the United Nations development agenda using the newest communications technologies.  Participants include students from many universities, including Columbia, Brandeis, Harvard, Rutgers, New York and Georgetown.  Six exceptional youth leaders will facilitate the discussions and bring the voices of youth to each of the six panels on 29 November.

Reception for ‘Our Common Humanity’

Friends of the United Nations, in association with the Congress of Racial Equality, will host a reception in celebration of “Our Common Humanity in the Information Age” on 29 November from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the third floor of the General Assembly building.

The first Common Humanity Awards, honouring lifetime achievement in the cause of humanity and peace, will be given out.  This year’s honourees are Mr. Ahtisaari, former president of Finland, former United Nations Under-Secretary-General and tireless peace mediator; and UNIFEM, the United Nations Development Fund for Women, which is celebrating its thirtieth anniversary.

Stars of the Broadway musical “The Color Purple” will offer musical entertainment, and daytime television star Susan Lucci will be on hand to add to the festivities.  In addition, the Congress of Racial Equality will recognize the New York City Police Department for providing more than 60 years of safety to the United Nations and its diplomats.  Journalists are invited to the reception.

For further information, or to arrange an interview, please visit http://www.un-gaid.org/commonhumanity or contact Enrica Murmura, Global Alliance Secretariat, tel.: 212 963 5913, e-mail: murmura@un.org or Edoardo Bellando, Department of Public Information, tel.: 212 963 8275, e-mail: bellando@un.org.

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For information media • not an official record