

Quadrennial Report to the UN Economic & Social Council (ECOSOC) 1998-2001

New York, USA
1 June 2002

Introduction. The Bahá'í­ International Community, with over five million members, approximately 17,000 local communities and 182 national and regional communities worldwide is committed to peace and engaged in a wide range of activities. These activities include, but are not limited to, fostering grassroots participation in sustainable development initiatives, advancing the status of women, educating children, and promoting and protecting human rights. Its affiliates support the goals of the UN Charter and celebrate UN decades, years and days. The Community maintains offices and paid full-time staff at the UN in New York and Geneva. Volunteer Bahá'í­ representatives serve at ECA in Addis Ababa, at ECLAC in Santiago, and at ESCAP in Bangkok; and at UN offices in Nairobi, Rome and Vienna.

Summary of Activities Supporting the Work of the UN. The Community monitored all routine and special sessions of the UN General Assembly, and annual sessions of ECOSOC, its commissions, sub-commissions, committees, and working groups, contributing as appropriate. Commissions monitored included those on Human Rights (with its Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights), the Status of Women, Sustainable Development, Human Settlements, Crime Prevention, and Social Development, as well as regional commissions in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, and Latin America and the Caribbean. The Community also participated in meetings sponsored by ILO, UNDP, UNEP, UNESCO, UNHCHR, UNHCR, UNICEF, WHO, and the World Bank. From January 1998 to December 2001, the Community attended over 170 UN-sponsored meetings, contributing approximately 40 statements and position papers, including 11 joint statements. (See Annexes for complete lists of meetings and statements. Statements can be accessed at http://www.bic-un.bahai.org.) Special contributions in areas of interest are highlighted below.

Advancement of Women. The Community was instrumental in bringing girls to address the 1998 preparatory committee for the UN Special Session "Women 2000." It cosponsored activities with the Division for the Advancement of Women at the Commission for the Advancement of Women and with UNIFEM at meetings of the Committee monitoring implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). At the Special Session on HIV/AIDS, it distributed a statement on the role of gender equality in dealing with HIV/AIDS. Other statements during this period addressed women's health, the effect of racism on women, creating an empowering environment for girls, educating girls, institutional mechanisms for the advancement of women, and support for UNIFEM. The Community has encouraged affiliates to establish Offices for the Advancement of Women to help implement the Declaration and Plan of Action from the Fourth World Conference on Women. Approximately 60 such offices have been established. It also convened the Advocates for African Food Security: Lessening the Burden for African Women Farmers, a coalition of NGOs and intergovernmental agencies.

Environment, Development, & Global Prosperity. The Community participated actively in all sessions of the World Faiths Development Dialogue sponsored by the World Bank and the Archbishop of Canterbury. It served on the Steering Group for the Dialogue, commented on the Bank's World Development Report 2000/2001, offered a statement on participation, and major position papers on Valuing Spirituality in Development, and Religious Values and the Measurement of Poverty and Prosperity. It participated in the 3rd and 4th World Youth Forums, serving on the Planning Bureaus for both. The Community has sought to involve national affiliates in the implementation of Agenda 21 and has launched a global campaign in support of the UN Decade for Human Rights Education, distributing a Human Rights Education resource manual and CD-ROM in 5 languages and training representatives of 99 national Bahá'í­ communities.

Human Rights. The Community participated in the World Conference Against Racism, its preparatory process, and NGO activities, serving as one of 12 NGOs on the NGO Coordinating Committee for the Conference and NGO Forum. The Community offered a statement to the conference on the oneness of humanity and distributed a booklet documenting the Bahá'í­ community's efforts toward race unity. Written and oral statements called for an end to racism and torture and advocated the protection of minorities, the right to education, the right to development, the rights of the child, freedom of religion, and religious tolerance. Documents were also submitted to the Commission's country and thematic rapporteurs. The Community also monitored Sub-Commission Working groups on indigenous populations and minorities, and Commission working groups on defending human rights, and making the Commission more effective. At UN Headquarters the Community co-sponsored a celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1998.

NGO Community Work. An active participant in UN/NGO activities, the Community co-chaired the Millennium Forum in May 2000 and addressed the Millennium Summit on behalf of those participating in the Millennium Forum. In New York it chaired NGO committees on human rights, freedom of religion or belief, UNICEF, and UNIFEM. It chaired task forces on UN Reform, Increasing Access to the UN, National Machineries for the Advancement of Women, and Restructuring the NGO Committee on UNICEF, and co-chaired the Global Forum of the NGO Committee on UNICEF. In Geneva it served as Chair of the Sub-group on literacy and media for the NGO Group for the Rights of the Child, and as Vice Chair of the Sub-Committee on Racism for the NGO Committee on Human Rights. It also served in Geneva as Secretary of the Board of CONGO (Conference of NGOs in Consultative Status), the NGO committee on the Status of Women, its Working Group on girls, and the coordinating Committee of the NGO Forum for Health.

Information Activities. ONE COUNTRY, the Community's newsletter (copies attached), is published quarterly in English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Russian and German. The English edition alone reaches some 35,000 readers in more than 200 countries and territories. ONE COUNTRY has reported on such major meetings as the World Conference Against Racism; the Millennium Summit, the Millennium Forum; Copenhagen + 5, Beijing + 5 and the World Faiths Development Dialogue. It has highlighted spiritually-based social and economic development efforts and addressed in its book reviews and editorials such issues as women's equality, globalization, world government, religious tolerance and sustainable development.

Submitted by Bani Dugal Gujral, Principal Representative
 Bahá'í­ International Community

Annex I

Participation as Observer at Conferences and Other Meetings Sponsored by the United Nations System 1998-2001

UN General Assembly

1998 -- Special Session devoted to the Fight Against the Illicit Production, Sale, Demand, Trafficking and Distribution of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, New York, June 1998

1998 -- 53rd session, New York, October-November 1998

1999 -- 54th session, New York, October-November 1999

2000 -- Special Session, "Women 2000: Gender Equality, Development and Peace for the 21st Century, " New York, 5-9 June 2000


  - Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) serving as the 3rd Prepcom for UN GA special session "Women 2000," NYC 3-17 March 2000


2000 -- Special Session, "World Summit for Social Development and Beyond," (WSSD +5), Geneva, 26-30 June 2000


  - Second session of the Preparatory Committee for the Special Session of the General Assembly, WSSD +5, NYC, 3-14 April 2000

  - Informal Consultations of the Preparatory Committee for the Special Session of the General Assembly (WSSD +5), Inter-session, 17-23 May 2000Millennium Forum and Millennium Summit Follow-up, Annual DPI Meeting for NGOs, NYC 10 May 2001


2000 -- 55th session, New York, September-November 2000


  - Third Committee of the UN General Assembly, New York, October-November 2000


2000 -- Millennium Summit, New York, 6-8 September 2000


  - We the Peoples: Millennium Forum, New York, 22-26 May 2000. 
  - Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders, New York, 28-31 August 2000


2001 -- Special Session on HIV/AIDS, NY, 25-27 June 2001


  - First Round, Open-Ended Informal Consultations for the UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS, NYC, 26 February-2 March 2001

  - Second Round, Open-Ended Informal Consultations for the UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS, NYC, 21-25 May 2001


2001 -- 56th session, October-November 2001


  - Third Committee of the General Assembly, NY - 8 October-28 November 


2001 -- Special Session on Children (scheduled for September but postponed until May 2002)


  - First Preparatory Committee, NYC, 30 May-2 June 2000

  - Second Preparatory Committee, NYC, 29 January-2February 2001

  - NGO Consultation for the 2nd PrepCom, NYC, 28 January 2001

  - Third Preparatory Committee, NYC 11-15 June 2001

  - NGO Consultation Day for 3rd PrepCom, NYC, 10 June 2001 


Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

1998 -- ECOSOC, Geneva, July 1998

1999 -- ECOSOC, Geneva, 5-30 July 1999

2000 -- ECOSOC, Geneva, June-July 2000

2001 -- ECOSOC, NYC, 2001

2001 -- ECOSOC & NGO Forum, Geneva, 2-31 July 2001

UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

1998 -- 7th session, Vienna, Austria, April 1998

1999 -- 2nd session, Ad Hoc Committee on the Elaboration of a Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime, Vienna, March 1999.

UN Commission on Human Rights

1998 -- 54th session, Geneva, 16 March - 24 April 1998.


  - 13th session of the CHR Human Rights Defenders Working Group (Working Group on the Drafting of a Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms), Geneva, 23 February 1998.


1999 -- 55th session, Geneva, 22 March - 30 April 1999.


  - Inter-sessional open ended Working Group on enhancing the effectiveness of the Mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights, Geneva, 28 September - 1 October 1999. 

  - Inter-sessional open ended Working Group on enhancing the effectiveness of the Mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights, Geneva, 6-10 December 1999. 


2000 -- 56th session, Geneva, March-April 2000


  - Informal day of consultations, 56th session, Geneva, 15 September 2000


2001 -- 57th session, Geneva, 19 March-27 April 2001


  - Informal day of consultations, 57th session, Geneva, 25 September 2001


Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights

1998 -- 50th session, Geneva, 3-28 August 1998


  - 4th session, Working Group on Minorities, Geneva 25-29 May 1999.


1999 -- 51st session, Geneva, August 1999


  - 5th session, Working Group on Minorities, Geneva 25-31 May 1999.


2000 -- 52nd session, Geneva, 31 July - 18 August 2000


  - Working group on Indigenous Populations, Genvea, 24-28 July 2000


2001 -- 53rd session, Geneva, 30 July - 17 August 2001


  - Working Group on Minorities, Geneva, 14-18 May 2001

  - Working Group on Indigenous Populations, 23-27 July 2001


UN Commission on the Status of Women

1998 -- 42nd session, NYC, 2-13 March 1998


  - NGO Consultation in preparation for the CSW, NYC, 28 February 1999

  - "Building National Machinery for the Advancement of Women: the Role of Civil Society," Panel co-sponsored with the Division for the Advancement of Women, 3 March 1999


2000 -- 44th session, NYC, 28 Feb-17 March 2000


  - NGO Consultation in preparation for the CSW, NY Feb 2000


2001 -- 45th session, NYC 6-16 March 2001
  * NGO Consultation in preparation for the CSW, NYC, 5 March 2001




UN Commission for Social Development

1998 -- 36th session, NYC, 10-20 February 1998

1999 -- 37th session, NYC, 9-19 February 1999

2000 -- 38th session, NYC, 8-17 February 2000

2001 -- 39th session, NYC, 13-23 February 2001

UN Commission on Sustainable Development

1998 -- 5th intersessional, NYC, 23 Feb - 6 March 1998

1998 -- 6th session, NYC, 20 April - 1 May 1998

1999 -- 7th session, NYC, 19-30 April 1999

2000 -- 8th session, NYC, 24 April - 5 May 2000

2001 -- 9th intersessional, NYC, 16-27 April 2001

2001 -- 9th intersessional Ad Hoc Working Groups, NYC, 6-16 March 2001

2001 -- 10th session, acting as the First Preparatory Committee for the Summit on Sustainable Development, NYC, 30 April- 2 May 2001

UN Economic Commission for Europe

1999 -- Regional Hearings for the Millennium Assembly, Geneva, 7-8 July 1999

UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean

1998 -- 27th session, Aruba, May 1998

1999 -- 28th session,

UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

1999 -- 55th Session, Bangkok, Thailand, 22-28 April 1999


  - High level meeting to review implementation in Asia and the Pacific of the Beijing Platform for Action, Bangkok, 26-29 October 1999.


UN Human Rights Committees

Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women

1998 -- 18th session, NY, 19 January-6 February 1998

1998 -- 19th session, NY, 22 June-2 July 1998

1999 -- 20th session, NY, 18 January - 5 February 1999

1999 -- 21st session, NY, 7-25 June 1999

2000 -- 22nd session, NY 17 Jan - 4 Feb 2000

2000 -- 23rd session, NY, June 2000

2001 -- 24th session, NY, 15 Jan-2 Feb 2001

2001 -- 25th session, NY, 2-20 July 2001

Committee on Social, Economic and Cultural Rights


  - 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001


Committee on the Rights of the Child


  - 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001


Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination


  - 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001


Human Rights Committee


  - 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001


ILO (International Labour Organization)

2001 -- 89th session, Geneva, 5-21 June 2001

UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund)

1998 -- Executive Board meeting, NYC, 1-5 June 1998

1999 -- Executive Board meeting, NYC, 19-22 & 25 January 1999

1999 -- Executive Board meeting, NYC, 7-11 June 1999

2000 -- Executive Board meeting, NYC,

2001 -- Executive Board meeting, NYC, 4-8 June 2001

2001 -- Executive Board, second session, NYC, 10-14 December 2001

UNHCHR (UN High Commissioner for Human Rights)

1998 -- Meeting concerning the Basic Principles on Reparation and other Standards before the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, Sponsored by the International Commission of Jurists, Geneva, 20 March 1998.

1998 -- Fifth Meeting of Special Rapporteurs/Representatives/Experts and Chairpersons of Working Groups of the Commission on Human Rights, Geneva, 28 May 1998

1998 -- Enriching the Universality of Human Rights: Islamic Perspective on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: A seminar of experts, Geneva, 9-10 November 1998.

1999 -- Draft Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparations for Victims of Violations of International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, sponsored by the International Commission of Jurists, Geneva, 27 May 1999.

1999 -- Sixth Meeting of Special Rapporteurs / Representatives / Experts and Chairpersons of Working Groups of the Commission on Human Rights, Geneva, 31 May-3 June 1999.

1999 -- Eleventh meeting of the Chairpersons of the Human Rights Treaty Bodies, Geneva, 31 May-4 June 1999.

1999 -- Workshop on The Draft Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Geneva, 26 February 1999.

1999 -- Draft Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparations for Victims of Violations of International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Geneva, 27 May 1999

1999 -- Sixth Meeting of Special Rapporteurs/Representatives/Experts and Chairpersons of Working Groups of the Commission on Human Rights, Geneva, 31 May - 3 June 1999

1999 -- Eleventh meeting of the Chairpersons of the Human Rights Treaty Bodies, Geneva, 31 May-4 June, 1999.

2000 -- Inter-sessional open ended Working Group on enhancing the effectiveness of the Mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights, Geneva, 19 January 2000.

2000 -- Inter-sessional open ended Working Group on enhancing the effectiveness of the Mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights, Geneva, 7-11 February 2000

2000 -- Expert seminar on remedies available to the victims of acts of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and on good national practices in this field, Geneva, 16-18 February 2000

2000 -- Meeting of persons chairing the human rights treaty bodies, 12th session, Geneva, 5-8 June 2000

2001 -- Expert Seminar on Human Rights and extreme poverty, Geneva, 7-9 Feb. 2001

2001 -- Expert workshop on Justiciability of economic, social and cultural rights, Geneva, 5-6 Feb 2001

2001 -- Annual meeting of Special Rapporteurs, Geneva, 20 June 2001

UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)

1998 -- 49th session of the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's Programme (Excom), Geneva, 5 October 1998

1998 -- Pre-Executive Committee Meeting with NGOs (Pre-Excom), Geneva, 30 August - 2 September 1998

1999 -- 50th session of the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's Programme (Excom), Geneva, 4-8 October 1999

1999 -- Pre-Executive Committee Meeting with NGOs (Pre-Excom), Geneva, 29 September - 1 October 1999.

2000 -- Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's Programme (Excom), Geneva, 2-6 October 2000

2000 -- Pre-Executive Committee Meeting with NGOs (Pre-Excom), Geneva, 27-29 September 2000

2001 -- Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's Programme (Excom), 52nd session, Geneva, 1-5 October 2001

2001 -- Pre-Executive Committee Meeting with NGOs (Pre-Excom), sponsored by UNHCR, Geneva, 24-26 September 2001

World Bank

1998 -- World Faiths Development Dialogue, sponsored with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Lambeth Palace, London, England, 18-19 February 1998.

1998 -- World Bank Conference on Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Development, Washington, D.C., 28-29 September 1998

1998 -- World Faiths Development Dialogue meeting with World Bank Officials, Rome, Italy, 6-7 December 1998.

1999 -- World Faiths Development Dialogue, Johannesburg, South Africa, January 1999

1999 -- "Values, Norms and Poverty" - A Consultation with Civil Society on Poverty and Development, World Development Report, workshop, Johannesburg, South Africa, 12-14 January 1999.

1999 -- World Faiths Development Dialogue Conference in Washington, DC (Lambeth II), 11-12 November 1999.

2000 -- Steering Group Meeting of the World Faiths Development Dialogue, Washington, D.C., 17 April 2000

2000 -- World Bank briefing on the Comprehensive Development Framework (CDF), NYC, 18 July 2000

WHO (World Health Organization)

1998 -- 51st World Health Assembly, Geneva, May 1998

1999 -- 52nd World Health Assembly, Geneva, May 1999

2000 -- 53rd World Health Assembly, Geneva, May 2000

2000 -- UNICEF/WHO (World Health Organization) Joint Committee on Health Policy, 2000

2000 -- WHO Women's Health and Development Unit

2001 -- 54th World Health Assembly, Geneva, May 2001

UN Conferences, Summits, Ministerial Meetings and Seminars

1998 -- "African Women and Economic Development: Investing in Our Future," sponsored by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 28 April-1 May 1998

1998 -- "Educating Girls: A Development Imperative," International Conference on Girl's Education sponsored by UNICEF, USAID, & the Inter-American Development Bank, Washington, D.C., 6-8 May 1998.

1998 -- UN Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, Rome Italy, 15 June-17 July 1998

1998 -- World Youth Forum of the United Nations System, Third Biennial session, Braga, Portugal, 2-7 August 1998.

1998 -- World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth, First Session, Lisbon, Portugal, 8-12 August 1998


  - Consultations in Preparation for the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth, 2nd session, NYC 4-6 February 1998 

  - International Youth NGO Meeting, NYC 7-8 February 1998.

  - Consultations in Preparation for the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth, 3rd Session, NYC, 24-26 June 1998


1998 -- "National Machineries for Gender Equality," Expert Group meeting sponsored by UN Division for the Advancement of Women & ECLAC, Santiago, Chile, 31 August - 4 September 1998

1998 -- "Women and Health - Mainstreaming the Gender Perspective into the Health Sector," Expert Group meeting sponsored by the UN Division for the Advancement of Women and WHO, Tunis, Tunisia, 28 September-2 October 1998

1999 -- Millenium Young People's Congress, sponsored by UNEP, UNESCO, Peace Child International, & the State of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, 25-29 October 1999.

2000 -- UNED Forum International Advisory Board, sponsored by the United Nations Environment and Development Forum, initial meeting, New York, 28 April 2000

2001 -- Global Movement for Children: The Role of Religions (an inter-religious consultation) sponsored by UNICEF and WCRP (World Conference on Religion and Peace), New York, 24-26 April 2001

2001 -- International Environmental Architecture for Sustainable Development: The Role of UNEP, sponsored by UNED Forum, LEAD International, World Federalist Movement, World Humanity Action Trust and hosted by BIC UNO, NY, 1 May 2001

2001 -- Third International Conference on the Least Developed Countries, sponsored by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the European Union, Brussels, May 2001


  - Preparatory Committee Second Session, NYC, 5-9 February 2001

  - Preparatory Committee Third Session, NYC, 2-6 April 2001


2001 -- World Youth Forum of the United Nations System, Fourth Session, Dakar, Senegal, 6-10 August 2001


  - International Youth NGO Consultation, NYC, 6-7 February 1999

  - Planning meeting of the Fourth World Youth Forum, NYC, 14-15 October 1999


2001 -- World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance (WCAR), Durban, SA, 31 August-7 September 2001


  - First Preparatory Committee, World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, Geneva, 1-5 May 2000.

  - Expert Seminar for Africa - World Conference Against Racism, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 4-6 October 2000

  - Regional Preparatory Meeting for Europe - World Conference Against Racism, Strasbourg, France, 9-13 October 2000

  - Expert Seminar for Latin America -World Conference Against Racism, Santiago, Chile, 25-27 October 2000.

  - Regional Preparatory meeting for the Americas -- and its NGO Forum - World Conference Against Racism, Santiago, Chile, 3-7 December 2000

  - NGO Regional Preparatory Meeting for Africa, Botswana, 8-12 January 2001 

  - Informal Consultations on the WCAR, Geneva 15-16 January 2001

  - Regional Preparatory Meeting for Africa   - &  -  its NGO Forum, Dakar, Senegal, 29 January-2 February 2001

  - NGO Regional Preparatory Meeting for the Americas, Ecuador, 13-17 February 2001

  - Asian Regional Preparatory Meeting   - &  -  its NGO Forum, Iran, 18-21 February 2001 (BIC delegation denied visas)

  - Open-ended Working Group for the WCAR, Geneva, 6-9 March 2001

  - Inter-sessional open-ended working group on the WCAR, Geneva, 7-11 May 2001

  - Second Session of the Preparatory Committee, Geneva, 21 May - 1 June 2001

  - Third session of the Preparatory Committee, Geneva, 30 July - 10 August 2001

  - Youth Summit - WCAR, Durban, South Africa, 26-27 August 2001

  - NGO Forum - WCAR, Durban, South Africa, 28 August - 1 September 2001

  - Panel on Religious Intolerance, organized by BIC with 3 other NGOs, keynote speaker Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion and Belief, Mr. Abdelfattah Amor


2001 -- International Consultative Conference on School Education in Relation with Freedom of Religion and Belief, Tolerance and Non-discrimination, Madrid, 23-25 November 2001

2001 -- Ministerial meeting of State parties to the 1951 convention and/or its 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees, sponsored by UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) & Mission of Switzerland, Geneva, 12-13 December 2001


  - Preparatory Session for the Ministerial meeting of State Parties to the 1951 convention and/or its 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees, Geneva, 20-21 September 2001


2001 -- International Conference on Financing for Development (upcoming),


  - Preparatory Committee Second Substantive Session, 13-23 January 2001, NYC


2001 -- World Summit on Sustainable Development (upcoming),


  - Tenth Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development, acting as the First Preparatory Committee for the Summit, NY, 30 April- 2 May 2001


NGO Conferences on UN Themes

1998 -- CONGO Africa Consultation, sponsored by CONGO Secretariat, Geneva, 13 January 1998.

1998 -- CONGO Africa Consultation, sponsored by CONGO Secretariat, Geneva, 6 February 1998.

1998 -- Beijing Seminar on the Follow-up Action to the Fourth World Conference on Women, sponsored by the All-China Women's Federation, Beijing, China, 18-22 June 1998

1998 -- The Oslo Conference on Freedom of Religion or Belief, sponsored by the Co-operation Council of Faith and Lifestance Societies, Olso, Norway, 11-15 August 1998.

1998 -- Forum 98: 50 years after the Declaration of Human Rights, Geneva, 28-30 August 1998.

1998 -- Food Security as a Human Right, sponsored by Advocates for African Food Security, BIC Office, NY, 15 September 1998

1998 -- Which Way for Women and Development? Debating Concepts, Strategies and Directions for the 21st Century, sponsored by CUNY Grad School and University Center, Borough of Manhattan Community College, NY 15-17 October 1998

1998 -- Universality of Human Rights: The Evidence, sponsored by the Special Committee of NGOs on Human Rights, Geneva, 30 November - 1 December 1998

1999 -- Human Values - a living reality: In the Light of Human Rights, sponsored by the Human Values Caucus, Geneva, 18 March 1999.

1999 -- World Conference on Religion and Peace, Seventh World Assembly, Amman, Jordan, 22-29 November 1999.

1999 -- Globalisation and Iran: Promoting Universal Human Values, sponsored by the Human Values Caucus, Geneva, 30 June 1999.

1999 -- NGOs for Women 2000: A Panel Discussion-Beijing +5: Setting Targets, NYC, 22 November 1999.

2000 -- "Women's Right to Education: Building Global Leadership for the 21st Century," workshop cosponsored by the Association of International Educators, 2000

2000 -- Seminar on Social Development, sponsored by ICSW and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, UNICEF House, NY 7 February 2000

2000 -- Official Launch of the Earth Charter, sponsored by the Earth Charter Commission, The Peace Palace, The Hague, The Netherlands, 29 June 2000

2001 -- Seminar on Social Development, sponsored by ICSW & the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, UNICEF House, NY, 11 February 2001

Annex II

Bahá'í­ International Community Statements to United Nations Conferences, Commissions, & Related Consultative Gatherings 1998-2001

1. Written Statements by the Bahá'í­ International Community

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]

Current Situation of the Bahá'í­s in Iran, statement to the 54th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, Geneva, 16 March - 24 April 1998. [E/CN.4/1998/NGO/13]

Rights of the Child, statement to the 54th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights. Geneva, 16 March - 24 April 1998. [E/CN.4/1998/NGO/15]

Current Situation of the Bahá'í­s in Iran, statement to the 55th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights. Geneva, March 22 to April 30, 1998. [E/CN.4/1999/NGO/12]

Protection of Minorities, statement to the 55th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights. Geneva, March 22 to April 30, 1998. [E/CN.4/1999/NGO/14]

The Bahá'í­ Institute of Higher Education: A Creative and Peaceful Response to Religious Persecution in Iran, statement to the 55th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights. Geneva, March 22 to April 30, 1998. [E/CN.4/1999/NGO/13]

Women and Health, statement to the 43rd session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. New York, 1-19 March 1999. [E/CN.6/1999/NGO/4]

The right to education, statement to the 56th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights. Geneva, 20 January 2000. [UN document #E/CN.4/2000/NGO/13]

Gender and all forms of discrimination, in particular racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, statement submitted to the 45th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. New York, 6-16 March 2001. [E/CN.6/2001/NGO/7]

One Human Race, statement submitted to the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance. Durban, South Africa, 31 August - 7 September 2001. [A/CONF.189/10/Add.2]

2. Oral Statements by the Bahá'í­ International Community

Creating an enabling environment for empowering girls, statement to the 42nd session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. New York, 2-13 March, 1998.

The situation of the Bahá'í­s in Iran, statement to the 55th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights. Geneva, 7 April 1999.

Situation of the Bahá'í­ Community in the Islamic Republic of Iran, statement to the 56th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights. Geneva, 20 March - 28 April 2000.

The Situation of the Bahá'í­ Community in Egypt, statement to the 52nd session of the UN Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights. Geneva, 31 July -18 August 2000.

Situation of the Bahá'í­s in Iran, statement to the 57th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights; Geneva, 29 March 2001.

Situation of the Bahá'í­s in Egypt, statement to the 57th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights. Geneva, 4 April 2001  Sustainable Development: The Spiritual Dimension, statement to the 1st session of the Preparatory Committee of the World Summit on Sustainable Development. New York, 30 April -2 May, 2001.

3. Joint Statements Either Writtenor Signed by the Bahá'í­ International Community

The Situation of the family, a joint written statement signed by 8 NGOs and submitted by the Bahá'í­ International Community to the 36th session of the UN Commission on Social Development. New York, 1-20 February 1998. [E/CN.5/1998/NGO/8]

Right to Development, joint oral statement to the 54th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, Geneva, 24 March 1998.

Institutional Mechanisms for the Advancement of Women, joint oral statement by the NGO Committee on the Status of Women's Task Force on Institutional Mechanisms for the Advancement of Women to the 43rd session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. New York, 1-19 March 1999.

Media and the Rights of the Child, a joint oral statement signed by 18 NGOs and presented by the Bahá'í­ International Community to the 55th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights. Geneva, 15 April 1999.

UNIFEM's efforts "to turn resolutions into realities," a joint written statement of the NGO Committee on UNIFEM, submitted to the 44th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. New York, 1-19 March. [E/CN.6/2000/NGO/4]

Girls: the women of tomorrow, joint written statement circulated at the 44th session of the Commission on the Status of Women under agenda item 3: follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women. New York, 28 February -2 March 2000. [#E/CN.6/2000/NGO/7]

We the Peoples Millennium Forum Declaration and Agenda for Action: Strengthening the United Nations for the 21st Century, a joint statement produced by the Millennium Forum, New York, 22 - 26 May 2000.

Commitment to Global Peace, a joint declaration of those gathered at the Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders, New York, August 28-31, 2000.

In support of UNIFEM (United Nations Development Fund for Women), a joint written statement presented to the 45th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. New York, 6-16 march 2001. [E/CN.6/2001/NGO/1]

Proposed language for the Draft Programme of Action of the WCAR, a joint proposal submitted to the Working Group for the Draft Programme of Action of the WCAR by the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and signed by the Bahá'í­ International Community and 4 other NGOs. Durban, South Africa, 3 September 2001.

Joint NGO Proposal on follow-up language, WCAR Program of Action, para. 230, signed by the Bahá'í­ International Community and 6 other NGOs. Durban, South Africa.

4. Other Bahá'í­ International Community Contributions to UN-Sponsored Meetings

Participation, a statement read at the World Faiths Development Dialogue, hosted by the President of the World Bank and the Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth Palace, London, England, 18-19 February 1998.

Valuing Spirituality in Development: Initial Considerations Regarding the Creation of Spiritually Based Indicators for Development, published version of a paper presented to the meeting of religions and the World Bank. Lambeth Palace, London, 18 - 19 February 1998

Religious Values and the Measurement of Poverty and Prosperity, a paper prepared for "Values, Norms and Poverty: A Consultation on the World Development Report 2000." Workshop co-sponsored by the World Bank, the World Faiths Development Dialogue, Cornell University, the MacArthur Foundation, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, and the Swiss Development Corporation. Johannesburg, South Africa, 12-14 January 1999

The Role of Religion in Establishing Peace, an oral statement to the Millennium World Peace Summit. New York, August 28-31, 2000

Message of the Millennium Forum Declaration, oral statement to the Millennium Summit by the Co-Chair of the Millennium Forum. New York, 8 September 2000.

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, a statement submitted in response to a request from Mary Robinson, High Commissioner for Human Rights for a possible publication by the Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders the World Summit on the Elimination of Racism. Submitted 21 March 2001

Overcoming Corruption and Safeguarding Integrity in Public Institutions: A Bahá'í­ Perspective, a paper prepared at the request of the US Government and presented at the Global Forum on Fighting Corruption II. The Hague, Netherlands, 28-31 May 2001.

HIV/AIDS & Gender Equality: Transforming Attitudes and Behaviors, a statement prepared for distribution at the UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS. New York, NY, June 25-27, 2001.

One Same Substance: Building a Global Culture of Racial Unity: The worldwide Bahá'í­ community's record of example and action, a booklet prepared for the UN World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance. Durban, South Africa, 31 August - 7 September 2001.

Belief and Tolerance:"Lights Amidst the Darkness," a statement presented both in writing and orally to the International Consultative Conference on School Education in relation with Freedom of Religion and Belief, Tolerance and Non-discrimination. Madrid, Spain, 23-25 November 2001.

Annex III

Bahá'í­ International Community Membership 1998-2001

The Bahá'í­ International Community, with international headquarters in Haifa, Isreal, has over 5 million members in approximately 17,000 organized local communities in 235 countries and territories. They are organized as 182 national (or regional) affiliates (associations). Affiliates as of December 2001 are as follows:


  - Africa: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Repbulic, 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, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Yemen Republic.

BIC Document #01-0601