Unprecedented Number of Non-Governmental Organizations from Asia-Pacific Region

Join United Nations Department of Public Information

 

On 30 June, at the first biannual meeting of the Non-Governmental Organizations Committee, 62 non-governmental organizations were associated with the United Nations Department of Public Information.  This brings to 1,588 the number of non-governmental organizations that work with the Department in the area of communications and information.

United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, Kiyo Akasaka, welcomed the large and diverse group: “I am delighted to see the increase in geographical diversity of non-governmental organizations associated with the Department of Public Information with applications from all the different regions of the world.”  The organizations presented for review their work on a wide range of issues, including on global health; improvement of the quality of life for indigenous, underprivileged and marginalized peoples; substance abuse; ensuring safe birthing environments; non-violence and human rights; poverty alleviation; and more.

Among the non-governmental organizations newly associated, 32 were from Australia, 5 were from the Philippines and 3 were from Pacific islands.  For the first time, the Committee associated organizations from Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu, recognized as small island developing States — low-lying island nations that share similar physical and structural challenges to their development, which have been a priority on the United Nations agenda.

The new additions contribute to solidifying the trend of increasing geographic diversity among the non-governmental organizations affiliated with the Department of Public Information, a result of the Department’s recently revised policy, whereby priority is given to associating organizations based in the region hosting the Annual United Nations DPI/NGO Conference.

The 2010 Conference is taking place in Melbourne, Australia from 30 August to 1 September, resulting in a surge of interest from non-governmental organizations from the Pacific region.  The United Nations Information Centres have played a key role in the process, in particular the Information Centres in Canberra and Manila, in encouraging participation in the sixty-third Annual Conference and partnership with the Department of Public Information.

In building new relationships with various regional non-governmental organizations, particularly in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe, the Department is hoping to see participation and involvement in the work of the United Nations thrive and grow.

Following are the newly associated non-governmental organizations listed alphabetically and by regional groups:

African States: Action Aides aux Familles Demunies (Mali); African Youth Movement (Nigeria); Interfaith Peacebuilding Initiative (IPI) (Ethiopia); Widows Development Organization (WiDO) (Nigeria).

Asia and the Pacific States:  Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Foundation (Australia); Asian NGO Coalition (Philippines); Association of Prevention and Harm Reduction Programs (Australia); Australian Association of Yoga in Daily Life (Australia); Australian Breastfeeding Association (Australia); Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) (Australia); Australian Indigenous Doctors Association (Australia); Australian Volunteers International (Australia); Birthing Kit Foundation Australia (Australia); Burnet Institute (Australia); Cancer Council of Australia (Australia); Caring and Living as Neighbors (CLAN) (Australia); Caritas Australia (Australia); ChildFund Australia (Australia); Childhope Asia Philippines (Philippines); Civil Society Forum of Tonga (Tonga); Diabetes Australia (Australia); Fred Hollows Foundation (Australia); Gusenghwe Inc. (Republic of Korea); High Resolves (Australia); and Human Rights Law Resource Centre (Australia).

Also: International Brain Education Association (Republic of Korea); International Women’s Development Agency (Australia); Medical Action Group (MAG) (Philippines); National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organization (NACCHO) (Australia); National Children’s and Youth Law Centre (Australia); National Heart Foundation of Australia (Australia); National Stroke Foundation (Australia); Oaktree Foundation (Australia); One Health Organisation (Australia); Oxfam Australia (Australia); Pacific Institute of Public Policy (Vanuatu); Pacific Islands Association of NGOs (PIANGO) (Fiji); Philippine Legislators Committee on Population and Development Inc. (PLCPD) (Philippines); Philippines NGO Council on Population Health and Welfare (PNGOC) (Philippines); Plan International Australia (Australia); Results Australia (Australia); Save the Children Australia (Australia); Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (Australia); Vision 2020 Australia (Australia); World Vision Australia (Australia); Youth Empowerment Against HIV/AIDS (YEAH) (Australia).

Latin American and Caribbean States: Corporaciòn Agua para la Gente (Honduras); FOCO-INPADE (Argentina); Fundaciòn ProEmpleo Productivo A.C. (Mexico);

Western European and Other States:  Close the Gap (Belgium); Council for Responsible Genetics (United States); Crisis Action (United Kingdom); Food for the Poor (United States); International Center for Transitional Justice (United States); Intersections International (United States); KROC Institute for International Peace, University of Notre Dame (United States); Memorial De la Shoah (France); Railroad Street Youth Project (United States); U Thant Institute (United States); World Corrosion Organization (United States);

Middle East:  AMEL Association (Lebanon); International Islamic Relief Organization (Saudi Arabia);

For further information, please contact DPI/NGO Relations at tel.: +1 212 963 6842; e-mail: dpingo@un.org.  The Directory of non-governmental organizations associated with the Department of Information is also available at http://www.un.org/dpi/ngosection/index.asp.

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For information media • not an official record