ARS INC., PARTICIPATES IN UNITED NATIONS DPI/NGO CONFERENCE
WATERTOWN,
Mass.—The Armenian Relief Society (ARS) was among 540
registered non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) and 1,879
representatives attending the 59th Annual UN DPI/NGO
Conference at the United Nations in New York from Sept. 6-8.
ARS Inc. representatives Valentine Berberian, Harriet
Kazarian, Carol Jaffarian, Lalai Manjikian, Odeh Kraskian,
and Sossi Essajanian attended the conference which was
entitled, “Unfinished Business: Effective Partnerships for
Human Security and Sustainable Development.” The conference
afforded the group the opportunity to meet with
representatives from other NGOs and present the ARS’s work
in Armenia and abroad.
The ARS representatives attended sessions centering on the
UN’s Millennium Development Goals and how countries can
achieve financial and ecological sustainability. The ARS
representatives divided into subgroups in order to attend as
many competing sessions and workshops as possible.
On Sept. 6, ARS representatives attended a workshop
entitled, “United Nations Effective Partnerships with Civil
Society” sponsored by the UN’s DPI/NGO section.
Representatives from various UN departments, agencies and
programs such as the UNEP, UNODC, UNU, and ECOSOC, discussed
their work and collaboration with NGOs and civil society,
emphasizing the practices and strategies to achieve the
Millennium Development Goals and the constructive engagement
between civil society and UN NGOs necessary to promote and
implement those goals.
The ARS representatives also attended a workshop,
“Mobilizing Youth About the HIV/AIDS Epidemic: An Innovative
Health Communication Partnership.” The event presented the
International Organization for Migration-commissioned Art
Center College of Design that collaborated on a public
awareness campaign. The project aimed at empowering affected
communities and NGOs to facilitate behavior change.
On the evening of Sept. 6, the ARS representatives attended
the conference reception hosted by the NGO/DPI Executive
Committee where they networked with other NGO
representatives in a more informal setting. The reception
took place on the fourth floor of the United Nations
building with an imposing view over the Hudson River. A jazz
ensemble set the tone for a relaxing ambiance while
delegates from all over the world conversed and exchanged
information related to their respective NGOs.
On Sept. 7, ARS representatives attended a workshop
entitled, “Forgiveness: Partnering with the Enemy,”
presented by the American Psychological Association. The
workshop centered on forgiveness and reconciliation after
violence in such cases as the South African apartheid, the
Rwandan genocide, and the Armenian Genocide. Many speakers
gave specific instances of people coming to terms with their
aggressors. Panelist Dr. Saths Cooper, a former prisoner of
Robben Island, described his experience going from victim to
advocate.
The ARS representatives also attended a Sept. 7 afternoon
roundtable session entitled, “Human Security: Responsibility
to Protect and Peacebuilding Commission.” In light of the
2005 World Summit that established an international
responsibility to protect populations from genocide, war
crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity,
governments have accepted that they must act earlier in
response to crises in their own countries. Speakers
addressed how partnerships between civil society and the
State must be reinforced to achieve the set goals. The
panelists provided examples to ensure that the security
development goals are met. The emphasis was on the following
three aspects linked to human security related to conflict:
to prevent, to react/respond, and to rebuild. The speakers
included Juan Mendez, special advisor to the
Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide, and Eugenie
Mukeshimana, a Rwanda genocide survivor.
“Attending the UN/DPI conference has only reinforced my
belief that the ARS has an important role to play on the
world stage,” said ARS representative Lalai Manjikian. “By
being an active presence at this conference and other UN
activities, the ARS can ensure its involvement and
contribution to the humanitarian arena internationally.”
The ARS Inc. has been an active NGO at the United Nations
for many years, having achieved been recognized as a
non-governmental organization nearly 30 years ago. The ARS,
Inc. is a member of UN DPI and has roster status with the UN
Economic and Social Council. The ARS is also actively
involved in various important UN committees, including the
NGO committee on UNICEF, the NGO Committee on HIV/AIDS, the
NGO Committee on the Status of Women and WANGO.
The 59th Annual DPI/NGO conference addressed a number of
pressing issues related to human security and sustainable
economic development. This year, once again, the ARS Inc.
was represented at the conference, engaging in the important
issues faced by civil society and establishing contacts with
other NGOs so important to advancing the ARS’s voice as an
important UN NGO participant.
The ARS, Inc. was established in 1910 and is a non-profit
organization with 18,000 members in 23 countries around the
world. For more information about the ARS, Inc. visit
www.ars1910.org or call (617) 926-5892.
Sept. 27, 2006