

Introduction.

The Bahá'í International Community is an international non-governmental organization with affiliates[1] in over 180 countries and territories, which together represent over 5 million members of the Bahá'í Faith. As an international NGO, the Bahá'í International Community interacts and cooperates with the United Nations, its specialized agencies, with governments, as well as with inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations. The Community seeks to promote and apply principles – derived from the teachings of the Bahá'í Faith – which contribute to the resolution of current day challenges facing humanity and the development of a united, peaceful, just, and sustainable civilization. At this time, the work of the Community focuses on the promotion of a universal standard for human rights, the advancement of women, and the promotion of just and equitable means of global prosperity.

Summary of Activities Supporting the Work of the UN.

The Bahá'í International Community monitored all routine and special sessions of the General Assembly, and annual sessions of ECOSOC, its commissions, sub-commissions, committees, and working groups, contributing as appropriate. Commissions attended included those on Human Rights (and its sub-commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights), the Status of Women, Social Development, Sustainable Development, as well as regional commissions. The Community also participated in the UN Forum on Indigenous Issues, the UN Special Session on Children, the World Assembly on Ageing, the World Summit on Sustainable Development, the World Summit on the Information Society, the Global Forum on Internet Governance, the General Assembly World Summit, and the International Criminal Court Assembly of States Parties, among others.

Leading up to the General Assembly’s World Summit, the Bahá'í International Community closely followed negotiations and recommendations concerning UN reform, making submissions to the Commissions and UN offices as appropriate. BIC representatives were chosen by UN organizers from among many NGOs to participate in two pioneer events leading up to the World Summit: the UN Conference on Interfaith Cooperation and Peace and the General Assembly’s interactive hearings. Special contributions in areas of interest are highlighted below.

From January 2002 to December 2005, representatives of the Bahá'í International Community attended over 300 UN-sponsored meetings, contributing 29 statements and position papers, including 6 joint statements. (See Annexes I and II for complete lists of meetings and statements. Statements can be accessed at http://www.bic.org/.

Advancement of Women.

As Chair of the NGO Committee on the Status of Women, the Bahá'í International Community played a pivotal role in facilitating and organizing the participation of over 2,500 civil society representatives from nearly 600 NGOs at both the 48th and 49th sessions of the Commission on the Status of Women. The Community’s representatives also chaired the Commission on the Status of Women International Planning Group. The Bahá'í International Community’s Principal Representative addressed the International Conference on Gender Mainstreaming (co-sponsored by the Office of the Pakistani Prime Minister) and spoke on a UN High-Level Panel marking UN efforts to promote gender equality. The Community offered a statement on the Role of Men and Boys in achieving gender equality.

Human Rights.

The Bahá'í International Community took an active role in commemorating the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief. Leading up to this anniversary, the Community issued a statement stressing the importance of religious freedom, titled Freedom to Believe: Upholding the Standard of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This was followed by a BIC-hosted Symposium with expert speakers to discuss the status of this right under international law. BIC served as Co-Chair of the Faith and Ethics Network for the International Criminal Court, representing the Network at meetings with the International Criminal Court and UN officials.

The Community actively followed the work of the Human Rights Commission, meeting with special mechanisms on a regular basis and making statements pertaining to issues under consideration by the Commission. Representatives closely monitored the negotiations concerning the mandate of the proposed Human Rights Council and submitted recommendations for strengthening the human rights work of the UN.

Development and Global Prosperity.

In keeping with its goal of promoting just and equitable means of global prosperity, the Bahá'í International Community closely monitored debates and proposals for UN reform. Commenting on the Secretary General’s report, “In Larger Freedom,” the Community put forth concrete recommendations for strengthening the UN’s work in the area of human rights, gender, and development. On the 60th anniversary of the United Nations, the Community released a major statement, titled The Search for Values in an Age of Transition, in which it set out further recommendations for improving UN work in areas of collective security, development, human rights, and the promotion of democracy.

NGO Community Work.

As an active participant in UN/NGO activities, Bahá'í International Community representatives served as officers on over 10 NGO committees, most notably as Chair of the NGO Committee on the Status of Women (one of the largest NGO Committees), Chair of the NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Co-Chair of the Faith and Ethics Network for the International Criminal Court, Vice-President of the NGO Committee Against Racism and Racial Discrimination, Secretary of the NGO Committee for Social Development, and Convener of Advocates for African Food Security.

Information Activities.

ONE COUNTRY is the quarterly newsletter of the Bahá'í International Community. Each 16-page issue contains several in-depth feature stories on the United Nations, noteworthy social and economic development projects, environmental efforts or educational programs, along with an editorial that addresses world problems from a Bahá'í point of view. It is published in English, French, Chinese, Russian, German and Spanish, and is currently mailed to more than 30,000 readers in more than 170 countries. The newsletter has included articles on the Commission on the Status of Women, the Commission on Social Development, the General Assembly’s Interactive Hearings, the UN Conference on Interfaith Cooperation and Peace, as well as features about UN reform.

ANNEX I

Bahá'í International Community

Participation[2] at Sessions, Conferences and other Meetings

held by or related to the United Nations system 

2002 - 2005


UN General Assembly

2002

	

Special Session on Children, 8-10 May 2002

Second Ad Hoc Committee for the Negotiation of a Convention Against Corruption,
Vienna, 17-28 June 2002

57th Session, New York, October-November 2002

Third Committee, New York, September - November 2002


2003

	

58th Session, New York, September-November 2003

Third Committee, New York, October-November 2003


2004 

	

59th Session, New York, October-November 2004

Third Committee, New York, October-November 2004


2005 

	

60th Session, World Summit, New York, September-December 2005

Third Committee, New York, October -November 2005

Informal Interactive hearings with non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations and the private sector, New York, June 2005


Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

	

2002 ECOSOC, New York, July 2002

2003 ECOSOC, Geneva, July 2003

2004 ECOSOC, New York, July 2004

2005 ECOSOC, New York, July 2005


UN Commission on Human Rights

2002

	

58th Session, Geneva, 18 March - 26 April 2002


2003

	

59th Session, Geneva, 17 March - 25 April 2003

Working Group for the protection of all persons from enforced disappearances, Geneva, 
6-17January 2003

Intergovernmental Working Group on the effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, Geneva, 20-31 January 2003

Open-ended Working Group on the right to development, Geneva, 3-14 February 2003


2004

	

60th Session, Geneva, 15 March - 23 April 2004

Working Group on the effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, Geneva, 26 January - 6 February 2004

Inter-Sessional Open Ended Working Group mandated to elaborate a draft legally binding normative instrument for the protection of all persons from enforced disappearances, Geneva, 
4-8 October 2004


2005

61st Session, Geneva, 14 March - 22 April 2005

UN Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights

2002

	

54th Session, Geneva, 29 July - 16 August 2002

Working Group on Minorities, Geneva, 27-31 May 2002


2003

	

55th Session, Geneva, 28 July - 15 August 2003

Working Group of independent experts on people of African descent, Geneva, 
3-7 February 2003

Working Group on Minorities, Geneva, 12-16 May 2003


2004

	

56th Session, Geneva, 26 July - 13 August 2004

Working Group on Minorities, Geneva, 1-5 March 2004


2005

	

57th Session, Geneva, 25 July - 12 August 2005

Working Group on Minorities, Geneva, 30 May – 3 June 2005


UN Commission on the Status of Women

2002

	

46th Session, New York, 4-15 March 2002


2003

	

47th Session, New York, 3-14 March 2003

NGO Consultation in preparation for the CSW, New York, 2 March 2003

Ending Violence Against Women, Panel co-sponsored with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, New York, 4 March 2003

Women, Religion and HIV/AIDS, Panel co-sponsored with World Council on Religions for Peace, New York, 6 March 2003

You Can’t Beat a Woman – High and low tech ways to prevent violence against women, Panel co-sponsored with other non-governmental organizations at the UN, New York, 
5 March 2003


2004

	

48th Session, New York, 1 -12 March 2004

NGO Consultation in preparation for the CSW, New York, March 2004

The Role of Men and Boys in the Advancement of Women – from Myth to Reality, Workshop, New York, March 2004

1325 On Trial: A tribunal investigating the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 highlighting the role of men, Workshop co-sponsored with the Women’s National Commission of the United Kingdom, New York, March 2004

Pure, A One-Woman Play about Tahirih to celebrate International Women’s Day, New York, March 2004


2005

	

49th Session, New York, 27 February - 11 March 2005

NGO Consultation in preparation for the CSW, New York, March 2005


UN Commission for Social Development

2002

	

40th Session, New York, 11-27 February 2002


2004

	

42nd Session, New York, 4-13 February 2004


2005

	

43rd Session, New York, 8-18 February 2005

Civil Society Forum, Why Copenhagen Matters to the MDGs, co-sponsored with Division for Social Policy, DESA and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, New York, February 2005

Participation Works: International Success Stories in the Fight Against Poverty, Workshop, co-sponsored with International ATD Fourth World Movement, New York, February 2005


UN Commission on Sustainable Development

2002

	

10th Session, New York, 30 April - 2 May 2002


2004

	

12th Session, New York, 19 April - 30 May 2004

Reception for the UN Decade on Education for Sustainable Development, co-sponsored with UNESCO, New York, 26 April 2004


2005

	

13th Session, New York, 11-22 April 2005

The Role of Faith Communities in Education for Sustainable Development: Water, Sanitation and Human Settlements, Workshop, New York, April 2005

Engaging Faith Communities in the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, Workshop, New York, April 2005


Economic Commission for Latin America & the Caribbean

2004

	

30th Session, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 28 June - 2 July 2004

Partnerships for a New Era: Achieving the Millennium Development Goals, Seminar, Santiago, Chile, 1-4 June 2003


UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific



2004

	

60th Session, Shanghai, China, 22-28 April 2004

Thematic Working Group on Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality, Bangkok, Thailand, 3 June 2004


UN Treaty Monitoring Bodies

Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women – Sessions

2002

	

New York, 14 January - 1 February 2002

New York, 3-21 June 2002

Exceptional Session, New York, 5-23 August 2002


2003

	

New York, 30 June - 18 July 2003


2004

	

New York, 6-23 July 2004


Committee on Social, Economic and Cultural Rights– Sessions

2002

	

Geneva


Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) – Sessions

2002

	

Geneva


2004

	

Geneva


2005

	

Geneva


Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) – Sessions

2003

	

Geneva


Human Rights Committee – Sessions

2002

	

Geneva


2004

	

Geneva


UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund)

2002

	

Executive Board meeting, New York, 3-7 June 2002


2003

	

Executive Board meeting, New York, 2-6 June 2003

Second Regular Session of the Executive Board, New York, 15-19 September 2003


UNHCHR (UN High Commissioner for Human Rights)

	

Ninth Annual Meeting of Special Procedures, Geneva, 26 June 2002

Tenth Annual Meeting of Special Procedures, Geneva, 23-27 June 2003

Eleventh Annual Meeting of Special Procedures, Geneva, 21-25 June 2004

Twelfth Annual Meeting of Special Procedures, Geneva, 21-25 June 2005


UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)

2002

	

Executive Committee of the High Commissioner’s Programme (Excom), 53rd session, 
Geneva, 30 September - 4 October 2002

Pre-Executive Committee Meeting with NGOs sponsored by UNHCR, Geneva, 
25-27 September 2002


2003

	

Executive Committee of the High Commissioner’s Programme (Excom), 54th session, 
Geneva, 29 September - 3 October 2003


World Bank

	

Faith and Development Leaders Gathering: World Faiths Development Dialogue, Dublin, Ireland, 30 January - 1 February 2005


UN Conferences, Summits, Ministerial Meetings, Seminars and Related Events

2002

	

Stocktaking After Durban, event sponsored by OHCHR, Geneva, 22 March 2002

Combating Racism and Promoting Women’s Human Rights, event sponsored by OHCHR, Geneva, 10 April 2002

Second World Assembly on Ageing, Madrid, Spain, 8-12 April 2002

World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August -
4 September 2002

55th Annual UN-DPI-NGO Conference, New York, 9-11 September 2002

Seminar of Experts – African region, sponsored by OHCHR Anti-Discrimination Unit, Nairobi, Kenya, 16-18 September 2002

Briefing for Follow up to Special Session of the UN GA (UNGASS) and a World Fit for Children (WFFC), sponsored by UNICEF, Geneva, 1 October 2002

NGO-UNICEF Meeting for Western Europe, Geneva, 28-29 October 2002

Accelerating Progress on Girls’ Education, event sponsored by UNICEF, New York, 31 October 2002


2003

	

World Summit on the Information Society, PrepCom III, Geneva, 15-26 September 2003

World Summit on the Information Society, PrepCom IV, Geneva, 10-14 November 2003

World Summit on the Information Society, Phase I, Geneva, 8-12 December 2003

Implementation of the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, event sponsored by OHCHR and UNESCO, Paris, 19-20 February 2003

The Role of Men and Boys in Achieving Gender Equality, sponsored by the UN Division for the Advancement of Women, ILO and UNAIDS, Brasilia, Brazil, 21-24 October 2003

Education: The Right of Every Girl and Boy, co-sponsored by UNICEF and UNESCO, New Delhi, India, 2003


2004

	

Global Forum on Internet Governance, New York, 25-26 March 2004

Women, Democracy and Islam, Presentation by 2003 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Shirin Ebadi, sponsored by UNDP, New York, 2 June 2004

57th Annual UN Department of Public Information NGO Conference, Millennium Development Goals: Civil Society Takes Action, New York, 8-10 September 2004

Panel: Getting to Yes for the MDGs – How good are your global communication skills? Co-sponsored with WFUNA and the Universal Esperanto Association, New York, 10 September 2004

International Forum on Social Development: Equity, Inequalities, and Interdependence, New York, 5-6 October 2004

High-Level Commemorative Roundtable for the 25th Anniversary of the adoption of CEDAW by the UN General Assembly, New York, 13 October 2004


2005

	

In preparation for the General Assembly World Summit, New York (in September 2005):

Speaker, Civil Society Hearings, “Strengthening the United Nations”, June 2005

Speaker, Civil Society Hearings, “Freedom to Live in Dignity”, June 2005

World Summit on the Information Society, PrepCom 2, Geneva, 17-25 February 2005

World Summit on the Information Society, PrepCom 3, Geneva, 18-27 September 2005

World Summit on the Information Society Phase II, Tunis, Tunisia, 16 - 18 November 2005

Third Forum on Human Development, Cultural identity, democracy and global equality, co-sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France and the United Nations Development Programme, Paris, France, January 2005 

UN Commemoration of 30 Years of United Nations Efforts to Promote Gender Equality, New York, 4 March 2005

Conference on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace, New York, 22 June 2005

United Nations Educational, Social and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee Session, South Africa, 10-17 July 2005

International Criminal Court Assembly of State Parties, 4th Session, The Hague, Netherlands, 28 November - 3 December 2005


Consultative Meetings prior to the Establishment of the Human Rights Council

2005

	

The UN Reform Process, sponsored by the EU Commissioner for External Relations, New York, 14 September 2005

Third Assembly for Human Rights, Geneva, 10 October 2005

Informal Meetings of the Taskforce on the Human Rights Council, New York, November 2005

Informal Consultations of the Commission on Human Rights with the General Assembly President, Geneva, 22 November 2005

Francophone Seminar on the Human Rights Council, Geneva, 25-26 November 2005

The Status of the Human Rights Council, Panel Discussion organized by the UNHCHR, New York, 6 December 2005

Transforming the Commission on Human Rights into the Human Rights Council, sponsored by the UN Association of the United States, New York, 8 December 2005


NGO and Government Sponsored Events on UN Themes

2002

	

Regional Seminar – Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, Cultural Diversity and Universality of Human Rights, Rabat, Morocco, 9-12 May 2002

Panel Discussion with Board Members of the Center for Studies of the Holocaust and of Religious Minorities of Norway, New York, 30 May 2002

NGO Forum for the ECOSOC High Level Segment, New York, 14 June 2002

World Civil Society Forum, Geneva, 14-19 July 2002

First Social Forum, Geneva, 25-26 July 2002

Senior-level NGO Consultation on Follow-up to the UN Special Session on Children, sponsored by UNICEF, New York, 25-26 July 2002

Conference: Global Peace Initiative of Women Religious and Spiritual Leaders, Geneva, 
7-9 October 2002

Conference: The Role of Religion and Belief in a Democratic Society, Azerbaijan, 10-11 October 2002

Conference: Civil Society and the Democratization of Global Governance, sponsored by Montreal International Forum, Montreal, Canada, 13-16 October 2002

Dialogue of Cultures and Culture of Peace, sponsored by the Swiss Government and the African Academy for Peace, Geneva, 5 November 2002


2003

	

UN NGO/DPI Briefing, 15 May 2003

Conference: Clash or Consensus? Gender and Human Security in a Globalized World, Women’s Learning Partnership and Global Fund for Women, John Hopkins University (SAIS), Washington DC, 8-9 October 2003

Discussion with Yakin Ertürk, Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on violence against women, its causes and consequences, New York, 14 November 2003

Special Tea in honor of the two Grantees of UNIFEM’s Trust Fund to Eliminate Violence Against Women, 21 November 2003


2004

	

Parliament of World Religions, Barcelona, Spain 4-11 July 2004

Breakfast Roundtable on Gender Mainstreaming sponsored by the Canadian Mission, New York, 8 July 2004

World Social Forum, Geneva, 22-23 July 2004

Conference: Inter-Parliamentary Conference on Human Rights and Religious Freedom, Brussels, Belgium 5-8 August 2004

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, Panel Discussion co-sponsored by the International ATD Fourth World Movement and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, New York, 14 October 2004

Conference: “Women Defending Peace”, Geneva, 22-24 November 2004


2005

	

Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum, Davos, Switzerland, 26-30 January 2004

Development Conference on Socio-Economic Policies for Achieving the Millennium Development Goals, New York, 14-15 March 2005

International Conference on Gender Mainstreaming and the Millennium Development Goals, Islamabad, Pakistan, 28-30 March 2005

Asian-African Workshop on the Role of Women and Youth, Asian-African Summit, Jakarta,

Indonesia, 19 April 2005

Conference on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace, New York, 22 June 2005

Luncheon for the Third Committee Delegates to the UN General Assembly, New York, 23 June 2005

Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Regional Consultation on Violence Against Children, Cairo, Egypt, 27-29 June 2005

Conference: Global Conference from Reaction to Prevention: Civil Society Forging Partnerships to Prevent Violent Conflict and Build Peace, Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict, New York, 19-21 July 2005

Third Social Forum – Poverty and Economic Growth: Challenges to Human Rights, Geneva, 21-22 July 2005

Reception in honor of Ms. Ruth Bamela Engo-Tjega, Senior Economic Affairs Officer, Office of the Special Coordinator for Africa and the Least Developed Countries, New York, 
27 September 2005

Symposium: Freedom to Believe: Upholding the Standard of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, New York, 25 October 2005


ANNEX II

Bahá'í International Community

Statements to United Nations Conferences, Commissions

Related Consultative Gatherings

2002 - 2005

1. Written statements by the Bahá'í International Community

2002

	

Religion and Development at the Crossroads: Convergence or Divergence? Statement prepared for the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August – 4 September 2002

For the Betterment of the World, a written statement for the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August – 4 September 2002

Maintaining a Political Momentum for the Children’s Agenda, statement presented to the Senior-level NGO Consultation on Follow-up to the UN Special Session on Children, sponsored by UNICEF, New York, 25-26 July 2002 

Protection of Minorities, a written statement addressing agenda item 17 of the 54th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, Geneva, 16 March – 24 April 1998 [E/CN.4/1998/NGO/14]


2003

	

Situation of the Bahá’ís in Iran, statement to the 59th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, Geneva, 17 March – 25 April 2003

Statement on Religious Tolerance, statement to the 59th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, Geneva, 17 March – 25 April 2003


2004

	

Situation of the Bahá'ís in Iran, statement to the 60th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, Geneva, 15 March – 23 April 2004

Overcoming Corruption and Safeguarding Integrity in Public Institutions: A Bahá’í Perspective, statement to the 42nd Commission on Social Development, New York, 4-13 February 2004 

The Role of Men and Boys in Achieving Gender Equality, statement to the 48th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, New York, 1-12 March 2004 [E/CN.6/2004/NGO/1]


2005

	

Situation of the Bahá’ís in Iran, statement to the Committee on the Rights of the Child, Geneva, Switzerland, 10-18 January 2005

Bahá’í International Community Response to the Secretary General’s Report, ‘In Larger Freedom: towards development, security and human rights for all’, statement to UN-NGLS, New York, 20 April 2005

Freedom to Believe: Bahá’í International Community’s Response to the United Nations Development Programme 2005 Human Development Report, submitted to UNDP, New York, 30 April 2005

Freedom to Believe: Upholding the Standard of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, New York, 6 October 2005

The Search for Values in the Age of Transition, statement on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the United Nations, New York, 21 September 2005

A New Framework for Global Prosperity, statement submitted to the 44th session of the Commission for Social Development, New York, 8 November 2005, [E/CN.5 /2006/NGO/4]


2. Oral statements by the Bahá'í International Community

2002

	

The Situation of the Bahá'ís in the Islamic Republic of Iran, statement to the 58th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, Geneva, 18 March – 26 April 2002

The Situation of the Bahá'í Community in Egypt, statement to the 58th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, Geneva, 18 March – 26 April 2002

Statement on Minorities, presented to the 54th session of the UN Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, Geneva, 29 July – 16 August 2002

Statement on Minorities, presented to the 8th session of the Working Group on Minorities, Geneva, 27-31 May 2002


2003

	

Situation of the Bahá'ís in Iran, statement to the 59th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights; Geneva, 17 March – 25 April 2003

Situation of the Bahá'ís in Egypt, statement to the 59th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, Geneva, 17 March – 25 April 2003 


2004

	

Situation of the Bahá’ís in Iran, statement to the 60th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, Geneva, 15 March – 23 April 2004

Situation of the Bahá’ís in Egypt, statement to the 60th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, Geneva, 15 March – 23 April 2004

Situation of the Bahá’ís in Iran, statement to the 56th session of the UN Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, Geneva, 26 July – 13 August 2004

Intervention about the link between humanity’s coming of age and globalization, statement to the International Forum on Social Development: Equity, Inequalities, and Interdependence, New York, 5 October 2004


2005

	

Situation of the Bahá’ís in Iran, statement to the 61st session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, Geneva, 14 March – 22 April 2005

Situation of the Bahá’ís in Egypt, statement to the 61st session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, Geneva, 14 March – 22 April 2005

Situation of the Bahá’ís in Iran, statement to the 57th session of the UN Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, Geneva, 25 July – 12 August 2005

Situation of the Bahá’ís in Egypt, statement to the 57th session of the UN Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, Geneva, 25 July - 12 August 2005

Commemoration of 30 Years of United Nations Efforts to Promote Gender Equality – Observance of International Women’s Day, New York, 8 March 2005


3. Joint statements either written or signed by the Bahá'í International Community

2002

	

Oral joint statement of the NGO Committee on UNICEF, presented to the First Session of the 2002 UNICEF Executive Board, New York, 3 June 2002


2003

	

Joint statement of the NGO Committee on UNIFEM, presented to the 47th Commission on the Status of Women, New York, 3-14 March 2003

Joint letter of disappointment at the Commission’s failure to reach agreed conclusions from number of NGOs on the NGO Committee on UNIFEM and the NGO Committee on the Status of Women, to the Commission on the Status of Women, New York, 3-14 March 2003


2004

	

Oral Statement on behalf of the World Summit on the Information Society Ethics and Values Caucus, to the Global Forum on Internet Governance, New York, 25 March 2004

Joint statement of the NGO Committee on UNIFEM, to the 30th session of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, New York, 6-23 July 2004 [E/CN.6/2004/NGO/6 and E/CN.6/2004/NGO/32]


2005

	

Joint statement of the WSIS Ethics and Values Caucus, On behalf of Values and Ethics Caucus – Statement and Proposals for Subcommittee A Working Group, to PrepCom III of the World Summit on Information Society, Geneva, 18-27 September 2005


Annex III

Bahá'í International Community

Membership

2002 - 2005

The Bahá'í International Community, with international headquarters in Haifa, Israel, has over 5 million members in approximately 8,900 organized local communities in 235 countries and territories. They are organized as 178 national (or regional) affiliates. Affiliates as of December 2005 are as follows:

Africa: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo Republic, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Réunion, Rwanda, Sao Tomé-Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Europe: Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom.

America: Antigua-Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela.

Pacific: Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Mariana Islands, Marshall Island, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.

Asia: Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea Republic, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao PDR, Lebanon, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Yemen Republic.

[1] These affiliates are democratically elected nine-member councils called “National Spiritual Assemblies” that guide the affairs of the Bahá'í community in their respective region.

[2] Participation as observer unless otherwise noted.

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