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organizations with NGO status at the United Nations. Please contact member parties regarding the
positions of their respective organizations on matters expressed in this online journal.
September 29, 2002
Posted 8:02 PM
by Mary
Outgoing UN human rights chief to head Ethical Globalization Initiative
10 September – On the eve of her final day as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson today announced plans to head a new project called the Ethical Globalization Initiative.
"For the past number of years, I have been very focused on seeking to implement the legal framework of human rights commitments made by governments," she told reporters in Geneva. "I now want to further this work by taking this normative framework into the debate on globalization."
Mrs. Robinson said the effort would also aim to help developing countries - particularly those in Africa - to secure adequate resources to fund their national human rights protection systems. "The 'North' must provide support in an appropriate way while recognizing the right and responsibility of States to shape their own national capacity," she said.
During the 15-month project, Mrs. Robinson will be based in New York and will undertake various engagements in close contact with governments and elements of civil society.
The Ethical Globalization Initiative is being launched by three organizations: the Aspen Institute and the State of the World Forum, both based in the United States, and the International Council on Human Rights Policy, which is headquartered in Switzerland.
September 23, 2002
Posted 10:44 PM
by Mary
Humanist Response to Bush's Appeal to the United Nations
The American Humanist Association heartily applauds George Bush's invocation of International Law in his request to the United Nations that it require Iraq to resume weapons inspections which Iraq discontinued in defiance of a UN Security Council Resolution, as well as his insistence Iraq meet all of its obligations to the UN, openly and cooperatively, without delay.
This is an ethical position for the United States to take. We are certain that this position will be met with international approval. The next step is to be taken by the UN Security Council. May it move quickly and resolutely.
Respect for, and the building of, an international approach to dealing with the complicated problems we face as Nations is a strong, vital Humanist principle. This, along with the requirement for unfettered access to information is absolutely essential for responsible decision-making.
Even more, taking the initiative to behave in a responsible and ethical manner is perhaps the most basic of all Humanist principles. We categorically approve of this tremendous move by the Bush Administration, which has taken a major step to allay the fears of peace lovers the world over in its acknowledgment that we in the United States, although an unparalleled world power, have come to recognize that we are but one Nation in the International Family of Nations.
May the US continue to provide responsible leadership in this respect, and keep in its sights the best long-range goal
that of harmony in the Family, while doing its utmost in an ethical manner to safeguard all of us against the aberration of international terrorism.
May all Nations join with the US in its efforts so long as the US chooses to distinguish itself from existing and abhorrent examples of state terrorism, and continues to remain respectful of international Law.
Humanists are proud that the United States has long been honored by dozens of developing Nations in their wish to
emulate our best ethical and democratic principles, by establishing in their own countries a form of democracy similar to ours.
May the US consider the implications of this ideal world leadership based upon democracy and not upon military power, and wish to continue as a model for other Nations. As the US insists that its sovereignty be respected so must it respect the sovereignty of another nation, regardless of the serious nature of its complaints against that nation.
It is Fitting and honorable for the US to bring its concerns to the United Nations. This is the International Forum for solving the world's problems.
In the words of our Humanist Manifesto II: "We urge recognition of the common humanity of all people. We further urge the use of reason and compassion to produce the kind of world we want—a world in which peace, prosperity, freedom, and happiness are widely shared. Let us work together for a humane world by means commensurate with humane ends."
Humanist Society of Metropolitan New York,
Beth Lamont, Mary Beaty
September 19, 2002
Posted 9:03 AM
by Mary
NGO Representatives of the world, participating in the 55th UN DPI/NGO Annual Conference, hereby approve and sign on the following statement on Iraq, after meeting in an emergency session at the Church Center across from the United Nations:
Expressing our deep sorrow and sympathy for all the civilian victims of 9/11 tragedy and the U.S. bombing in Afghanistan;
Recalling that Article 2(3) of the UN Charter requires all Member states to "settle their international disputes by peaceful means;"
Recalling that Article 2(4) of the UN Charter requires all Member states to "refrain in the international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state;"
Convinced that the U.S. administration’s new war plans against Iraq pose grave threats to international peace and security as well as to the Iraqi people and the world community as a whole, and any pre-emptive military strikes against Iraq will constitute an illegal act of aggression;
Recognizing that for the past twelve years, the UN’s economic sanctions against Iraq have probably contributed to the untimely deaths of more than one million Iraqi civilians, and such sanctions have been maintained in violation of international human rights and humanitarian laws, including the UN Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Genocide Convention, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child; and
Resolving to prevent a dangerous war of aggression against Iraq with disastrous consequences for the Iraqi people, the entire world community, and the United Nations itself,
We condemn the open threats of President Bush and other U.S. officials to attack, invade or overthrow the government of Iraq, which threats clearly violate the basic principles of the UN Charter and international law;
We call upon the UN officials and bodies to condemn the U.S. threats of pre-emptive military strikes and take immediate actions to stop any further U.S. military attacks against Iraq, including an unconditional acceptance of the recent invitation of the Iraqi government to discuss further UN inspections in Iraq; 3) We call upon the Security Council to lift all economic sanctions against Iraq, including the so-called "smart sanctions," immediately to ensure the fundamental human rights of Iraqi people to life;
4) We urge the government of Iraq to abide by international law, establish friendly and peaceful relations with its neighbors, and play a constructive role in the peace-building process in the Middle East;
5) We urge all Member governments, UN agencies, civil society, NGOs, and people of the world to refuse to participate or cooperate with any U.S. government plans to initiate further military attacks or invasion of Iraq; and
6) We decide to forward a copy of this statement to the UN Secretary General, all missions to the UN, President of the United States, and the media.
Dated: September 11, 2002
New York, New York
(This Statement was co-signed by 52 NGO groups participating in the meeting, including FOR, Promoting Enduring Peace, Peace Action, NGO Peace Caucus/UN-NY, US Peace Council, Voices in the Wilderness, Maryknoll Sisters, American Humanist Association, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, Pax Christi International, Peace Links, etc.)
Fellowship of Reconciliation
September 15, 2002
Posted 2:03 PM
by Mary
An Era of Women Leaders Ends at the U.N.
By Barbara Crossette, WEnews correspondent
Womensnews.org
The 1990s saw a record number of U.N. agencies led by women. But when Mary Robinson stepped down as high commissioner for human rights yesterday, the decade of women leaders came to a close.
(WOMENSENEWS)--The face of power in the United Nations was transformed in the 1990s as women took over leadership of six important agencies and Canadian Louise Frechette was named the organization's first deputy secretary general. But it wasn't just a matter of numbers. These women found common cause in expanding women's rights and, although they were based far apart--in New York, Rome and Geneva--they became close colleagues and friends, setting aside time to meet over a meal when United Nations business brought them together anywhere in the world.
"It was just fabulous," said Catherine Bertini, the American who headed the World Food Program, the largest international food-relief organization. "It was a special group." That era, if glorious, was also brief.
When Mary Robinson stepped down on Wednesday as United Nations high commissioner for human rights, she became the third of those pioneering women to leave the system. Sadako Ogata retired last year as United Nations high commissioner for refugees and Bertini ended her run as executive director of the World Food Program this spring. All three have been replaced by men.
Gro Harlem Brundtland, a former prime minister of Norway, said she will not seek a second term as director general of the World Health Organization when her first term ends next year. No successor has been chosen.
So far, only Nafis Sadik, who as the first woman to head a major agency, transformed the United Nations Population Fund from a non-controversial family-planning agency to an organization fighting for women's reproductive rights, was succeeded by another woman when she retired two years ago.
Apart from Brundtland, soon to depart from the World Health Organization, and the population fund's new executive director, Thoraya Obaid, a Saudi Arabian national, there is only one other woman now at the head of a major agency, Carol Bellamy, the executive director of UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund. Bellamy, an American, was a former New York City Council president and United States Peace Corps director.
September 1, 2002
Posted 11:01 AM
by Mary
The website of the American NGO Coalition for the ICC (AMICC) has now launched! AMICC is a comprehensive repository of information about the United States and the International Criminal Court, including coverage of:
* The American Servicemembers Protection Act (ASPA) and other ICC legislation;
* Article 98(2) agreements;
* Congress members' ICC voting records and letters to constituents;
* Draft codes of conduct for prosecutors and council appearing before the ICC;
* Local and national advocacy campaigns; and
* Peacekeeping and the ICC
Posted 9:31 AM
by Mary
JOHANNESBURG, Aug 27: THE UN World Summit is in danger of being “hijacked by major corporations and a ‘secret deal’ between the European Union and the United States”, a coalition of organisations charged.
"What we are seeing is quite literally a corporate takeover of this process. So far corporate accountability has been dropped from the implementation text at the summit," Daniel Mittler, spokesman for Friends of the Earth International warned at a Press conference.
"Key negotiations in Johannesburg are in danger of being stitched up by a controversial deal struck between US trade officials and trade mandarins in the EU Commission," Oxfam and the World Wide Fund for Nature said in a statement. Oxfam's Antonio Hill said the coalition, which also includes Greenpeace and Consumers International, were concerned about preliminary weekend discussions over the socalled "chairman's text".
The chairman's text is the action plan delegates hope to finalise at the end of the summit for meeting goals of preserving the environment and erasing poverty, first outlined in the Agenda 21 blueprint at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.
"The Eco-Equity Coalition has two serious problems with the discussions over the weekend: First with the process and transparency and secondly with the substance," Hill said. "The chairman's text has fundamentally become the same as what the EU and United States have been saying. The debate now is now over some small issues which become mere window-dressing."
New Straits Times, Aug 27, 2002
Posted 9:18 AM
by Mary
"National strategies, for example on reducing greenhouses gases, are of limited use. Global warming does not stop at national borders. Germany is a pioneer in climate protection, and we urge the other member states of the UN to join us in ratifying the Kyoto protocol. In particular, I call upon the US to live up to its responsibility for climate protection and to make a contribution to reducing greenhouse gases commensurate with its size." Statement by Gerhard Schroeder, to be read at the Summit.
The Guardian, August 30, 2002
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"War does not determine who is right--only who is left." - Bertrand Russell
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