Observations from Krista Haroutunian
(ARS-Detroit-Maro chapter)
on the United Nations DPI/NGO Conference

in New York 2004,
with assistance from Silva Sedrakian

(ARS-Watertown-Lola Sassouni)

The Day 1 morning session included all of the participants from the worldwide organizations in the United Nations General Assembly Room - the room that we see on television. There were speeches from all of those involved in the leadership of the conference, including a welcome from the President of the Fifty-Eighth Session of the UN General Assembly, as well as a video speech from Secretary-General Kofi A. Annan. All of these opening remarks were focused on the importance that the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) have in each of their home countries not only in helping the Civil Society but in advancing the 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as adopted by the UN.

The afternoon session had the focus of explaining what progress had been made in accomplishing the MDGs. The assembled panel members gave an explanation for each of their home regions. Particularly outspoken, and well-received by most of the audience, was the speaker Farida Allaghi who was born in Libya and had lived in Saudi Arabia for 20 years. She as well as the other speakers from other regions in the world (Phillipines, Russia, United Kingdom) were able to explain to the assembled groups what their region was experiencing at the moment not only concerning MDG progress, but also additional regional information that is not always easy to obtain except face to face. I was struck by the brutal honesty of these panelists in admitting where their home countries/regions were failing to meet expectations and how they thought progress was being accomplished and ways progress could be accomplished more effectively.

Day 2's morning session was equally enlightening in that the panel spoke about the difficulties in overcoming MDG obstacles. Speakers were from Senegal, United Kingdom, Hungary, and China. All of the presentations addressed how difficult it was to actually accomplish the goals set out by the UN because of years of political and social baggage. The bottom line appeared to be that good governance of a country was key to the shift in a country's direction, as well as transparency of governmental functions, rule of law and equal participation by women. Although this oversimplifies the afternoon session - each speaker was able to give unique perspectives into the slow shifts occurring in their respective regions. The presentation given by NGO representatives from China and Senegal emphasized the importance of women's role in strengthening the civil society and their participation in decision making processes which affect their daily life.

Day 3's morning session panel discussed how we, as NGO representatives, could take what we were learning at the conference home to our respective countries and organizations. Although not an easy task the focus seemed to center on involving youth activities, corporate sponsorships, and raising the MDG profile in our own groups. The methodology is also very different depending on if a country is industrialized or not.

The Day 1 workshop I attended covered How to Effectively Communicate with the Media. Basic tips on communicating properly with the media were explained and developed with the ultimate point being that it is our responsibility as NGO members to get news items to the press and present them in a way that properly frames the human interest of our activities.

The Day 2 workshop was co-sponsored by the Armenian Relief Society, with the topic of HIV/AIDS Education, Prevention and Care with Special Emphasis on Engaging Boys and Men as Full Partners. Carol Bova, Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Nursing University of Massachusetts, spoke about her work in Armenia and what she saw as obstacles and positive progress in a smaller and less afflicted by HIV/AIDS country like Armenia. The other 3 panelists, coming from UNICEF, UN, and Ambassador from Zambia to the U.S., were experts in the region of Africa. Although all agreed that a more widespread participation to treating the disease by each respective culture and especially by men along with the women (as women contract the disease more easily than men) the nuance involved as to region and culture are crucial in understanding how to effectively work within a given area. Carol is discovering ways to reach past the capital city of Yerevan and into the mountainous regions with medical information and the incredibly important information as to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment.

In conclusion, the various panels and discussions taking place during those days should help ARS and its members to be creative on how they can contribute to the progress of MDGs in Armenia. Armenia needs to build a strong civil society in order to overcome its challenges for next coming years.

As a participant in the Conference I had the distinct privilege of meeting Ungherouhis from California, New York, Massachusetts, Canada, and Lebanon. I am very grateful to Shakeh Basmajian from Eastern Regional, as well as all of the leadership from ARS, for the opportunity to attend this conference. Because of this UN Conference I had the opportunity to meet and share with other women in other chapters, Regionals and Central Executive of ARS in a way that is impossible if all are not in the same place at the same time. Additionally, while getting to know one another in ARS, we all were able to meet people, literally, from around the world at the various sessions, workshops, and gatherings. ARS was also fortunate in being one of the larger delegations present - making all of the Ungherouhis very proud to be ARS members. But being at the conference really gave those present as NGO members the sense of being part of something much bigger than ARS - we are all part of the approximately 600 groups that are helping people worldwide with the issues affecting us all worldwide. In addition, a key lesson from this conference was that the ARS members in the diaspora can see how what we do can have an impact not only on Armenia but on other groups too because of the contacts maintained between the NGOs worldwide between conferences.