

Quadrennial Report to the UN Economic & Social Council (ECOSOC) 1994-1997

1 June 1998

Introduction. The Bahá'í­ International Community, with over five million members from all strata of society, organized as approximately 17,000 local communities and 175 national and regional communities 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, eliminating racism, and promoting and protecting human rights. Its affiliates worldwide support the goals of the UN Charter, participate in UN special programs, 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 the UN Center for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs in Vienna; at UNEP in Nairobi; at ECA in Addis Ababa; at ECLAC in Santiago; at ESCAP in Bangkok; and at FAO in Rome.

Global Conferences. The Community participated fully in the series of UN conferences on pressing global issues - the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (Cairo), the 1995 World Summit for Social Development (Copenhagen), the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing), and the 1996 Habitat II Conference (Istanbul). It contributed to conference prepcoms, to related NGO preparatory activities, to the conferences, and to the NGO forums. It is now promoting implementation of the resulting global action plans. Bahá'í­s from all over the world attended the NGO Forums in record numbers (over 250 from 40 countries in Copenhagen, 500 from 60 countries in Huairou, and 150 from 30 countries in Istanbul). Moreover, a number of individuals contributed several months of volunteer service to UN efforts to organize parallel NGO activities.

Ongoing work of the UN. Meanwhile, the Community continued its substantive involvement in the ongoing work of the UN. It monitored the main committees of the UN General Assembly, and annual sessions of ECOSOC, its commissions, sub-commissions, committees, and working groups, contributing as appropriate. Commissions monitored included the Commissions on Human Rights (with its Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities), the Status of Women, Sustainable Development, Human Settlements, 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 a number of special meetings sponsored by ILO, UNDP, UNEP, UNESCO, UNHCR. UNICEF, WHO, and the World Bank. From January 1994 to December 1997, the Community attended over 150 UN-sponsored meetings, contributing more than 80 statements and reports. (See Annexes for complete lists of meetings and statements. Many of the statements are available on the worldwide web at http://bic.org/statements-and-reports.) Contributions in key areas of interest are described briefly below.

Advancement of Women. For the International Year of the Family (1994), the Community initiated and co-sponsored with UNICEF and UNIFEM an International Symposium on Strategies for Creating Violence-Free Families. The symposium was replicated in the Caribbean and its recommendations were widely circulated. For the Beijing conference, the Community served on the Facilitating Committee for the NGO Forum in Huairou, China, conducted workshops at prepcoms and the Forum, published a booklet of position papers and case studies on issues identified in the Platform for Action, and offered a statement to the conference. The initial phase of the UNIFEM-funded Bahá'í­ project "Traditional Media as Change Agent," which successfully engaged men in improving the status of women in Cameroon, Bolivia and Malaysia, was concluded, and a video and training manual were produced. The Community continued as Convenor of "Advocates for African Food Security: Lessening the Burden on Women" - a coalition of NGOs, UN agencies, and intergovernmental organizations calling attention to the critical role of women farmers in feeding Africa. In 1996 the UN included reports on Bahá'í­ projects in Cameroon and Zambia in a publication prepared for the mid-term review of the New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990's. Other reports and statements during this period addressed women's human rights, violence against women, the family, children and the community, girl children, sexual exploitation of children, educating women and girls, the role of religion in the advancement of women, women and food security, and involving women in decision-making.

Environment, Development, Education & Health. The Community participated in processes preceding and including the 14th Special Session of the UN General Assembly on the implementation of Agenda 21, the 1994 Global Conference on Small Island Developing States (Barbados), the World Food Summit (Rome), and the 2nd Biennial World Youth Forum. The Community served on the Planning Bureau for the 2nd World Youth Forum. It participated in the Collective Consultation of NGOs on Literacy and Education for All, the World Health Assembly (Geneva) with its accompanying technical discussions, the Global Forum '94: Cities and Sustainable Development (Manchester), the World Business Forum (Habitat II), and Globalization and Citizenship: An International Conference sponsored by UNRISD. It monitored annual sessions of the UNICEF Executive Board and annual NGO/DPI Conferences in New York. Following key conferences, affiliates were encouraged to support national and local implementation of conference declarations and action plans. Statements during the period under review recommended changes to the Habitat II draft agenda and addressed a global strategy for social development, a development paradigm for the 21st century, the role of religion in social development, global prosperity, and sustainable communities in an integrating world.

Human Rights and Refugees. During annual sessions of the Commission on Human Rights and its Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, the Community contributed to deliberations on a wide range of issues. Both written and oral statements advocated the protection of minorities; the right to development; the rights of women, the child, and the girl child; freedom of religion; and human rights education. They decried the sale of children; child pornography and prostitution; extreme poverty; violence against women; and racism. The Community participated in working groups on indigenous populations, minorities, the right to development, the rights of the child, and agenda reform. It submitted proposals on draft instruments to the Human Rights Defenders' Working Group, reports to the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on the Rights of the Child, and documents to country and thematic rapporteurs of the Commission. The Community also attended yearly sessions of the UNHCR Executive Committee, and participated in consultations between UNHCR and its NGO operational partners.

NGO community work. An active participant in UN/NGO activities, the Community addressed the ECOSOC Open-ended Working Group on the Review of Arrangements for Consultations with NGOs Committee on NGOs on the issue of consultative relations. In New York it chaired NGO committees on the status of women (1994-95), human rights (1994-97), and the family (1994-96) and the CONGO Chairs Task Force on UN Reform and Increasing Access to the UN (1996 to present). In Geneva it chaired the NGO Working Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1994-95). It was Secretary of the CONGO Board in New York and held offices on NGO committees on UNICEF and the Status of Women (NY), human rights (GVA), and the family (Vienna); as well as the CONGO sub-committee on Freedom of Religion, Conscience and Belief (GVA). For the 50th Anniversary of the UN, the Community provided a 35-panel exhibit displayed in San Francisco and Geneva; published Turning Point for All Nations, a proposal for UN restructuring; and hosted a seminar on the subject attended by UN officials and one Head of State. It also participated in over 45 special NGO meetings in support of UN objectives.

Information Activities. ONE COUNTRY, the Community's newsletter, is published quarterly in English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Russian and German. It reaches some 30,000 readers in more than 170 countries. The creation of a web page (http://www.onecountry.org) and an email text distribution service (1country-request@bcca.org) have extended its circulation. ONE COUNTRY has reported on the major UN conferences held during the last four years (the Conference on Population and Development, the Social Summit; the Fourth World Conference on Women; Habitat II; and the World Food Summit), highlighting related NGO activities and Bahá'í­ participation. ONE COUNTRY has also monitored various human rights events and trends, 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, and sustainable development.

Submitted by

Techeste Ahderom, Principal Representative

Annex I

Participation as Observer at Conferences and Other Meetings Sponsored by the United Nations System 1994-1997

1. ECOSOC and Its Subsidiary Bodies

1994 -- Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), organizational session, New York, 1-4 February

1994 -- Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Substantive Session, New York, 27 June-29 July

1995 -- Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Substantive session, Geneva, 26 June-28 July

1997 -- Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC),Substantive Session, Geneva, 30 June-25 July

1994 -- ECOSOC Committee on NGOs, Inter-sessional meeting, New York, 13-14 July

1994 -- ECOSOC Open-ended Working Group on the Review of Arrangements for Consultations with NGOs, 1st session, New York, 20-24 June (1 statement)*

1994 -- ECOSOC Open-ended Working Group on the Review of Arrangements for Consultations with NGOs, New York, 7-8 November

1994 -- Commission on Human Rights (CHR), 50th session, Geneva, 31 January-11 March (2 oral statements & 2 joint statements)*

1994 -- Commission on Human Rights, 3rd special session (Rwanda), Geneva, 24-25 May

1995 -- Commission on Human Rights, 51st session, Geneva, 30 January-10 March (5 statements, 2 joint statements)*

1996 -- Commission on Human Rights, 52nd session, Geneva, 18 March-26 April (3 statements, 5 joint statements)*

1997 -- Commission on Human Rights, 53rd session, Geneva, 10 March-18 April (2 statements, 3 joint statements)*

1994 -- 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), 9th session, Geneva, 17-28 January (1 written submission)*

1995 -- CHR Human Rights Defenders Working Group, 10th session, Geneva, 16-27 January

1996 -- CHR Human Rights Defenders Working Group, 11th session, Geneva, 4-8 March

1997 -- CHR Human Rights Defenders Working Group, 12th Session, Geneva, 24-28 February

1994 -- CHR Working Group on the Right to Development, 3rd session, Geneva, 3-14 October

1995 -- CHR Working Group on the Right to Development, 4th Session, Geneva, 15-26 May

1995 -- CHR Working Group to Elaborate a Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Geneva, 21-30 November

1994 -- CHR Working Group on a draft optional protocol on involvement of children in armed conflicts for the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1st session, Geneva, 31 October-11 November

1994 -- CHR Informal open-ended working group on the organization of the work of the Commission (Working group on Agenda Reform), Geneva, 12-23 September

1997 -- CHR Intergovernmental Group of Experts on the Right to Development, 2nd Session, Geneva, 29 September-10 October

1995 -- CHR Expert Group meeting on the drafting of gender sensitive guidelines for the integration of the human rights of women into the United Nations human rights activities and programmes, sponsored by the UN, Geneva, 3-7 July.

1994 -- Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, 46th session, sponsored by the CHR, Geneva, 1-26 August (1 written, 2 oral statements)*

1995 -- Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities 47th session, Geneva, 31 July-25 August

1996 -- Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities 48th session, Geneva, 5-30 August

1997 -- Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities 49th session, Geneva, 4-29 August (1 statement)

1994 -- Sub-Commission Working Group on Indigenous Populations, 13th session, Geneva, 25-29 July

1995 -- Sub-Commission Working Group on Indigenous Populations, Geneva, 24-28 July

1996 -- Sub-Commission Working Group on Indigenous Population, Geneva, 29 July-2 August

1997 -- Sub-Commission Working Group on Indigenous Population, Geneva, 28 July-1 August

1995 -- Sub-Commission Working Group on Minorities, Geneva, 28 August-1 September

1996 -- Sub-Commission Working Group on Minorities, Geneva, 30 April-3 May

1997 -- Sub-Commission Working Group on Minorities, Geneva, 26 May-30 May

1997 -- Sub-Commission Working Group on Contemporary Forms of Slavery, 22nd session, Geneva 2-11 June

1994 -- UN Human Rights Committee, 51st session, Geneva, 4-29 July

1994 -- UN Human Rights Committee, 52nd session, Geneva, 17 October-4th November

1994 -- UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, 6th session, Geneva, 5-22 April 1994 (1 report)*

1994 -- UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, 7th session, Geneva, 26 September-14 October (1 report)*

1995 -- UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, 8th session, Geneva, 9-27 January

1996 -- UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, 11th session, Geneva, 8-26 January

1996 -- UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, 13th session, Geneva, 23 September-11 October (1 joint statement)

1994 -- Meeting of the Chairpersons of UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies, 5th session, sponsored by the UN Center for Human Rights, Geneva,19-23 September

1995 -- Meeting of the Chairpersons of UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies, 6th session, sponsored by the UN Center for Human Rights, Geneva, 18-22 September

1996 -- Meeting of the Chairpersons of UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies, 7th session, sponsored by the UN Center for Human Rights, Geneva, 16-20 September

1997 -- Commission on Human Settlements, 16th session, Nairobi, 28 April-8 May

1995 -- Commission for Social Development, 34th session, New York, 10-20 April

1997 -- Commission for Social Development, 35th session, New York, 25 February-6 March

1994 -- Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), 38th session, New York, 7-18 March

1995 -- Commission on the Status of Women(CSW), 39th session, New York, 15 March-4 April (1 statement; 1 joint statement)*

1996 -- Commission on the Status of Women(CSW), 40th session, New York, 11-22 March

1997 -- Commission on the Status of Women(CSW), 41st session, New York, 10-21 March (2 statements, 1 joint statement)*

1996 -- CSW Expert Group Meeting on Political Decision-Making and Conflict Resolution: The Impact of Gender Difference, preparatory meeting for 41st CSW sponsored by the UN Division for the Advancement of Women, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 7-10 October

1996 -- CSW Expert Group Meeting on Vocational Training and Lifelong Learning of Women, held in preparation for the 41st CSW, sponsored by the UN Division for the Advancement of Women, Turin, Italy, 2-6 December

1997 -- CSW Expert Group Meeting on Adolescent Girls and their Rights to prepare for 42nd CSW, sponsored by the UN Division for the Advancement of Women, Addis Ababa, 13-17 October

1997 -- CSW Expert Group Meeting on Gender-based Persecution, held in preparation for 42nd CSW, sponsored by the UN Division for the Advancement of Women, Toronto, 9-12 November

1994 -- Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), 2nd session, New York, 16-27 May

1995 -- Commission on Sustainable Development, 3rd session, New York, 10-28 April

1996 -- Commission on Sustainable Development, 4th session, New York, 18 April-3 May

1997 -- Commission on Sustainable Development, 5th session, PrepCom II for UN General Assembly Special Session "Earth Summit + 5," New York, 7-25 April

1997 -- CSD Ad Hoc Working Group, Intersessional/PrepCom for UN General Assembly Special Session "Earth Summit + 5," New York, 24 February-7 March

1995 -- Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), 30th session, Addis Ababa, 1-3 May

1996 -- Economic Commission for Africa, 31st session, Addis Ababa, 6-8 May

1997 -- Economic Commission for Africa, 32nd session, Addis Ababa, 2-5 May

1995 -- Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), 51st session, Bangkok, 24 April-1 May

1996 -- Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), 52nd session, Bangkok, 17-24 April

1997 -- Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), 53rd session, Bangkok, Thailand, 23-30 April

1994 -- Economic Commission for Latin American and the Caribbean (ECLAC), 25th session, Cartagena, Colombia, 20-27 April

2. Other United Nations System Meetings

1994 -- Third Committee of the UN General Assembly, 49th session, New York, October-December

1995 -- Third Committee of the UN General Assembly, 50th session, New York, October-December

1996 -- Third Committee of the UN General Assembly, 51st session, New York, October-December

1997 -- Third Committee of the UN General Assembly, 52nd session, New York, October-December

1997 -- UN General Assembly, 14th Special Session, "Earth Summit + 5," New York, 23-27 June

1994 -- UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's Programme ,45th session, Geneva, 3-7 October

1995 -- UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's Programme, 46th session, Geneva, 16-20 October

1996 -- UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's Programme, 47th session, Geneva, 7-11 October

1997 -- UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's Programme, 48th session, Geneva, 13-17 October

1994 -- UNICEF Executive Board Meeting, New York, 5-6 May

1995 -- UNICEF Executive Board Meeting, New York, 1-6 February

1995 -- UNICEF Executive Board Meeting, New York, 22-26 May

1996 -- UNICEF Executive Board Meeting, New York, 22-25 January

1996 -- UNICEF Executive Board Meeting, New York, 9-12 April

1996 -- UNICEF Executive Board Meeting, New York, 17-21 June

1997 -- UNICEF Executive Board Meeting, New York, 20-24 January

1997 -- UNICEF Executive Board Meeting, New York, 2-6 June

1997 -- UNICEF Executive Board Meeting, New York, 9-12 September

1994 -- World Health Assembly (WHA), 47th session, sponsored by WHO, Geneva, 2-12 May

1994 -- "Community Action for Health," WHA Technical Discussions, Geneva, 5-7 May

1997 -- World Health Assembly (WHA), 50th session, sponsored by WHO, Geneva, 5-14 May

1997 -- "A New Global Health Policy for the 21st Century: An NGO Perspective," Formal Consultation with NGOs organized by WHO, Geneva, 3 May

1997 -- Executive Board of WHO, 100th session, Geneva, 15-16 May

3. United Nations Global Conferences and Preparatory Meetings

1994 -- Second Preparatory Committee meeting for the UN Global Conference on Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, New York, 7-11 March

1994 -- The United Nations Global Conference on Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Barbados, 25 April-6 May

1994 -- International Conference on Population and Development

1994 -- Third Preparatory Committee for the International Conference on Population and Development, (Third ICPD PrepCom), New York, 3-22 April

1994 -- International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September

1995 -- World Summit for Social Development

1994 -- First Preparatory Committee for the World Summit for Social Development (First WSSD PrepCom), New York City, 31 January-11 February (1 statement)*

1994 -- Second Preparatory Committee for the World Summit for Social Development (2nd WSSD PrepCom), New York City, 22 August-2 September (3 statements)*

1994 -- Asian and Pacific Ministerial Conference in Preparation for the World Summit for Social Development, sponsored by ESCAP, Manila, Philippines, 12-18 October

1994 -- Intersessional Meeting (between sessions 2 and 3) of the Preparatory Committee for the World Summit for Social Development New York, 24-28 October

1995 -- Third Preparatory Committee World Summit for Social Development (Third WSSD PrepCom), New York, 16-27 January

1995 -- World Summit for Social Development (The Social Summit) Copenhagen, 6-12 March (1 statement)*

1995 -- UN Fourth World Conference on Women (FWCW)

1994 -- UN Commission on the Status of Women, 38th session, Prepcom for FWCW, NYC, 7-18 March

1994 -- Second Asian and Pacific Ministerial Conference on Women in Development, Regional Prepcom for FWCW sponsored by ESCAP, Jakarta, Indonesia, 7-14 June

1994 -- Youth Consultation-- Asia and the Pacific, Regional Youth preparations for FWCW sponsored by ESCAP, Jakarta, Indonesia, 7-14 June

1994 -- ECE Expert Meeting - High-Level Regional Preparatory Meeting For The Fourth World Conference On Women, Vienna, 24 June

1994 -- Youth Consultation for Latin America and the Caribbean, Youth Prepcom for FWCW sponsored by ECLAC, Mar del Plata, Argentina, 22-26 September

1994 -- Sixth Regional Conference on the Integration of Women into the Economic and Social Development of Latin America and the Caribbean, regional preparations for the FWCW sponsored by ECLAC, Mar del Plata, Argentina, 25-29 September

1994 -- ECE Intergovernmental Meeting - High-Level Regional Preparatory Meeting for the Fourth World Conference on Women, Vienna, 26-27 September

1994 -- Youth Consultation - Europe and North America, sponsored by ECE Vienna, 13-17 October

1994 -- ECE High-Level Preparatory Meeting for the Fourth World Conference on Women, Vienna, 17-21 October

1994 -- Arab Regional Preparatory Meeting for the Fourth World Conference on Women, ponsored by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), Amman, Jordan, 6-10 November

1994 -- African Youth Consultation, meeting in preparation for the FWCW sponsored by the ECA, Dakar, Senegal, 13-17 November

1994 -- Fifth African Regional Conference, sponsored by Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Dakar, Senegal, 16-23 November (1 workshop)

1995 -- UN Commission on the Status of Women, 39th session, New York, 15 March-4 April (1 statement)

1995 -- Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Bangkok, 24 April- 1 May

1995 -- United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women Beijing, 4-15 September (1 written statement; 1 booklet)*

1996 -- World Conference on Human Settlements-Habitat II

1994 -- First Preparatory Committee (First PrepCom)for Second UN Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Geneva, 10-22 April

1995 -- Second Preparatory Committee (Second PrepCom) for Second UN Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Nairobi, 25 April - 1 May

1996 -- Third Preparatory Committee (Third PrepCom), for Second UN Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), New York, 5-16 February (1 written intervention)*

1996 -- World Business Forum on Enterprise, The City & Sustainable Development, sponsored by the Secretary-General of Habitat II and Progressio Foundation of the Netherlands, Istanbul, Turkey, 30 May-2 June (3 statements)

1996 -- Second UN Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul, Turkey, 3-14 June

1996 -- World Food Summit, sponsored by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Rome, 13-17 November (1 joint statement)*

1996 -- 2nd Biennial World Youth Forum

1996 -- Second Bienniel Youth Forum of the UN System, sponsored by the UN Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development - Youth Unit and the Austrian Federal Youth Council (OBJR), Vienna, 25-29 November

4. Other United Nations Topical Conferences and Meetings

Education

1994 -- Round Table on Education for Tolerance and Mutual Understanding: the Role of Religions, sponsored by UNESCO - IBE, Geneva, 4 October

1994 -- 11th Collective Consultation of NGOs on Literacy and Education for All, sponsored by UNESCO, Nairobi, Kenya, 14-18 October

1995 -- 12th Collective Consultation of NGOs on Literacy and Education for All, sponsored by UNESCO, Tokyo, 5-9 September

Fiftieth Anniversary of the UN (UN-50)

1995 -- "Forum des peuples pour la paix" - Official ceremony in Geneva to mark the 50th Anniversary of the UN, sponsored by UN and the City of Geneva, 20 June

1995 -- Commemorative ceremony of the 50th anniversary of the United Nations, sponsored by the UN, Geneva, 5 July

Health

1994 -- Fourth Meeting of NGO Coordination Group for Ivermectin Distribution, sponsored by WHO, Geneva, 6-8 July

1995 -- Workshop on Population Ageing, sponsored by ECE; WHO; and the American Association of Retired Persons (NGO), Geneva, 13-14 February

1997 -- "Policy-Oriented Monitoring of Wquity in Health and Health Care," sponsored by WHO, Geneva, 29 September - 3 October

Human Rights

1994 -- Technical Meeting on the International Year and the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, sponsored by the Commission on Human Rights, Geneva, 20-22 July

1994 -- Workshop on the International Labour Organization (ILO) and Human Rights Advocacy, sponsored by ILO and the International Human Rights Documentation Network (INTERNET), Geneva, 3 August

1995 -- The Role of Religions in promoting Peace and Tolerance, sponsored by the UN, Geneva, 3 July

1996 -- Consultation with selected NGOs on how to improve the communication between the UN Centre for Human Rights and NGOs, sponsored by the UN, Geneva, 15 May

Refugees

1994 -- Pre-Executive Committee Meeting with NGOs (Pre-Excom), sponsored by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Geneva, 29-30 September

1995 -- Pre-Executive Committee Meeting with NGO's (Pre-Excom), sponsored by the UNHCR, Geneva, 12 - 13 October

1995 -- Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's Programme, 46th session, UNHCR, Geneva, 12-16 October

1996 -- Pre-Executive Committee Meeting with NGO's (Pre-Excom), sponsored by the UNHCR, Geneva, 3 - 4 October

1997 -- Pre-Executive Committee Meeting with NGO's (Pre-Excom), sponsored by the UNHCR, Geneva, 8 - 10 October

Sustainable Development

1994 -- World Hearing on Development, sponsored by the UN General Assembly under the auspices of the President of the 48th Session of the UN General Assembly, Ambassador S.R. Insanally of Guyana, New York, 6-10 June

1994 -- Down to Earth: Practical Applications of Ecological Economics, 3rd annual meeting, sponsored by UNEP, UNESCO, and the World Bank, San Jose, Costa Rica, 24-28 October

1995 -- UN International Seminar on Economic Restructuring and Social Policy, sponsored by UNRISD, New York, 10-13 February

1995 -- Special NGO meeting with ECOSOC on "The role of NGOs as partners in development," sponsored by ECOSOC, Geneva, 3 July

1997 -- Preparatory Gathering for the "World Religions/World Bank Meeting," sponsored by the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC) and the World Bank, Washington, DC, 28-29 May

1997 -- "Ethics and Values: A Global Perspective," sponsored by the World Bank, Washington, DC, 8 October

1997 -- Forum on Human Solidarity, Human Settlements and Global Ecosystems, an associated event of the Fifth Annual World Bank Conference on Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development, hosted by the World Bank and sponsored by the Human Solidarity Foundation, Washington, DC, 8 October

Women

1996 -- Sub-regional Conference of Senior Governmental Experts on the "Implementation of the Platform for Action adopted by the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, in Central and Eastern Europe," sponsored by the UN Division for the Advancement of Women and UNDP, Bucharest, Romania, 12-14 September

1996 -- Mid-term Review of the Implementation of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s (NADAF), sponsored by the UN Office of the Secretary General, New York, 16-20 September (Report on 2 projects, 1 joint statement)*

Youth

1997 -- Global Youth Forum, sponsored by UNEP, Seoul, Korea, 3-8 June

NGO Meetings and Conferences Supporting UN Initiatives

Health for All by the Year 2000

1997 -- "Health for All Means Women and Men - A Gender Perspective," sponsored by the NGO Committee on the Status of Women and the NGO Forum for Health, Geneva, 28 October

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

1994 -- Religion in Defence of Human Rights, sponsored by Interfaith International (NGO), Geneva, 11 August

1995 -- Workshop on Solutions to Contemporary Religious Intolerance, sponsored by the Committee of NGOs on Freedom of Religion, Conscience and Belief, Geneva, 15 August

1996 -- Minority Rights Group Roundtable, UN Centre for Human Rights, Geneva, 10 August

1997 -- NGO Roundtable on Child Labor, sponsored by the NGO Working Group on the Girl Child, Geneva, 9 June

1997 -- Minority Rights Group Roundtable, UN Centre for Human Rights, Geneva, 15, 18 August

Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees

1994 -- Inaugural meeting of the 12th international session of training to teaching human rights and peace, sponsored by the Association mondiale pour l'Ecole instrument de paix, Geneva, 4 July

1994 -- Seminar on International Humanitarian Law for NGOs, sponsored by the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva, 14 October

1997 -- Upholding Humanitarian Standards - the role of the international community, Webster University, Geneva, 19 June

1990:Education for All by the Year 2000

1994 -- Meeting of the Education For All Network to prepare for a meeting launching an EFA project in Eastern European, sponsored by the UNESCO NGO Standing Committee, 31 January

1990: World Summit for Children

1994 -- World Summit for Children, 3rd Meetings of Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), sponsored by the NGO Committee on UNICEF & others, Geneva, 25-27 May

1997 -- "Rebuilding the Community Around Children: Principles, Values & Resources," sponsored by the NGO Committee on UNICEF, Geneva, 12 March

1992: Earth Summit

1994 -- The Ethical Dimensions of Agenda 21, New York, 13-14 January

1994 -- World Conservation Union General Assembly (IUCN), Buenos Aires, Argentina, 18-26 January

1994 -- World Forestry Charter Gathering, 2nd recent session (1st in 1989), London, 28 July

1997 -- "The Rio + 5 Forum," sponsored by the Earth Council, Rio de Janeiro, 13-19 March

1994: Global Conference on Sustainable Development of Small Island States

1994 -- The United Nations Global Conference on Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States - NGO Forum ("The Village of Hope"), Barbados, 25 April - 6 May

1994: International Conference on Population and Development

1994 -- World Conference on Religion and Peace (WCRP) Multi-Religious Consultation on Issues of Population and Development, Geneva, 26-28 July

1994 -- International Conference on Population and Development - NGO Forum (ICPD NGO Forum), Cairo, Egypt, 5-13 September

1994:International Year of the Family

1994 -- International Symposium on Strategies for Creating the Violence-Free Family, initiated by the Bahá'í­ International Community and co-sponsored by UNICEF, and UNIFEM for the International Year of the Family; New York, 23-25 May (Keynote address, 1 report)*

1995 -- Symposium on Creating Violence-Free Families in the Caribbean co-sponsored by the Bahá'í­ International Community, UNIFEM, & UNICEF (convened by the Bahá'í­s of the East Leeward Islands as follow-up to the International Year of the Family), Antigua, West Indies, 24-26 May

1996 -- Integrating Family in Social Progress and Development: Implementing Family-Specific Recommendations of Global Conferences of the 1990s, 6th International Seminar, NGO Committee on Family, Vienna, Austria, 11-12 November

1995: World Summit for Social Development

1995 -- World Summit for Social Development NGO Forum 95, Copenhagen, 3 - 12 March

1995 -- Discussion on "The Role of Civil Society in Our Global Neighbourhood" sponsored by the International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA), Geneva, 26 April

1995 -- Human Dimension Seminar on Building Blocks for Civic Society: Freedom of Association and NGOs, sponsored by Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Warsaw, Poland, 4-7 April

1996 -- Globalization and Citizenship: An International Conference, sponsored by the UN Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) and a Consortium of Australian Universities, Geneva, 9-11 December

1995: Fourth World Conference on Women

1994 -- NGO Consultation '94, NGO Preparatory meeting for the FWCW, held prior to the UN Commission on the Status of Women, New York, 3-5 March

1994 -- Sixth Regional Conference of Pacific Women, sponsored by the South Pacific Commission, in preparation for the Asia/Pacific Regional Ministerial Meeting in Jakarta, Noumea, New Caledonia, 2-6 May

1994 -- Nordic Forum, regional NGO preparatory meeting for FWCW, sponsored by the Nordic Council of Ministers, Turku, Finland, 1-6 August (1 workshop; 1 talk)

1994 -- Latin America and the Caribbean NGO Forum, regional NGO preparations for FWCW, sponsored by ECLAC, Mar del Plata, Argentina, 20-24 September (1 workshop)

1994 -- Europe and North American NGO Forum, sponsored by ECE, Vienna, Austria, 13-15 October (1 workshop)

1994 -- Western Asia NGO Forum, regional NGO preparatory meeting for FWCW, sponsored by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), Amman, Jordan, 3-5 November

1994 -- Africa NGO Forum, regional NGO preparations for FWCW, sponsored by ECA,

Dakar, Senegal, 12-15 November (2 workshops)

1994 -- Asia/Pacific Regional NGO Symposium, sponsored by the NGO Asia/Pacific Working Group, Manila, Philippines, 16-20 November (1 workshop)

1995 -- NGO Forum on Women '95, Huairou, China, 30 August-8 September (1 booklet, 4 workshops)

1996 -- Seventh International Forum sponsored by the Association for Women in Development (AWID) on the theme "Beyond Beijing: From Words to Action" Washington, D.C., 5-8 September (1 panel)

1997 -- NGO Consultation in preparation for the UN Commission on the Status of Women, sponsored by the NGO Committee on the Status of Women, New York, 9 March

1997 -- Seventh Triennial Conference of Pacific Women, sponsored by the South Pacific Commission, Noumea, New Caledonia, 16-20 June

1995: The United Nations - Fiftieth Anniversary (UN-50)

1994 -- Renewing the United Nations System, sponsored by the Dag Hammarskjï¿½ld Foundation (Sweden) and the Ford Foundation (USA), Geneva, 15 September

1995 -- Round-table discussion with governments concerning May meeting of the ECOSOC Open-ended Working Group on the Review of the Arrangement for Consultations with NGOS. 19 May

1995 -- Turning Point for all Nations: an international seminar on United Nations Restructuring, sponsored by the Baha'i International Community, New York, 18 October (1 written statement)*

1995 -- UN and United Peoples, Partnership for Peace: Disarmament, development and Participatory Global Governance, sponsored by CONGO, New York, 8 October (1 oral presentation)

1996: World Food Summit

1996 -- NGO Forum for the World Food Summit, sponsored by FAO, Rome, Italy, 11-17 November

1996: Habitat II

1994 -- Global Forum '94: Cities and Sustainable Development, Manchester, United Kingdom, 24 June - 3 July

1996 -- Habitat II NGO Forum '96, Istanbul, Turkey, 30 May - 14 June

Annex II

Bahá'í­ International Community Statements, Reports, and Other Contributions Toward the Work of the United Nations 1994-1997

94

94-1 --   Comments on article 5 of the draft declaration on the right and responsibility   of individuals, groups and organs of society to promote and protect universally   recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms, submitted to the 9th   session of Human Rights Defenders Working Group 17-28 January 1994. [UN   doc # E/CN.4/1994/WG.6/1]

 94-2 --  A Global Strategy and Action-Plan for   Social Development, oral statement, distributed also in   written form, at the 1st Substantive Session of the Preparatory   Committee for the World Summit for Social Development, New York City,   31 January - 11 February 1994.

 94-3 --  Protection of minorities, a statement prepared for the   50th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights and distributed   in written form, Geneva, 31 January – 11 March 1994.

 94-4 --  Religious intolerance, a statement prepared for the 50th   session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, Geneva and distributed in   written form, 31 January – 11 March 1994.

 94-5 --  Human rights situation of the Bahá'í­s in Iran, an oral   statement on the Question of the violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms   in any part of the world to the 50th session of the UN Commission   on Human Rights, Geneva, 18 February 1994.

 94-6 --  Protection of minorities, including religious minorities,   an oral statement combining two statements prepared for the 50th   session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, Geneva, 31 January – 11   March 1994.

 94-7 --  Suggested wording for the Barbados Declaration – offered   to the resumed first session of the Preparatory Committee for the Global   Conference on Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,   New York, 7-11 March 1994.

 94-8 --  The Violence-Free Family: The Building   Block of Peaceful Civilization, keynote address by H. B. Danesh,   M.D. at the International Symposium on Strategies for Creating the Violence-Free   Family, co-sponsored by the Bahá'í­ International Community, UNICEF, and   UNIFEM, New York City, 23-25 May 1994.

 94-9 --  Report on Bahá'í­ International Community   activities in support of the goals set by the World Summit for Children,   submitted to the 3rd meeting of the Chief Executive Officers for the Summit,   "The Contribution of Youth to Lasting Peace - Follow-up to the World   Summit for Children," May 27, 1994.

 94-10 --  Quadrennial Report for 1990-1993 to   the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), submitted in accordance   with requirements for maintaining our consultative status.ï¿½ Lists of UN   meetings attended and statements made by the Bahá'í­ International Community   included as appendices. Submitted June 1994.

 94-11 --  Summary Project Overview, "Traditional   Media as Change Agent," prepared by Glovis for the Bahá'í­   International Community and UNIFEM, [UNIFEM/BIC GLO/91/W13]

 94-12 --  Arrangements for Consultations with   Non-governmental Organizations, oral statement to the first session   of the ECOSOC Open-ended Working Group on the Review of Arrangements for   Consultations with Non-governmental Organizations, New York, 20-24 June   1994.

 94-13 --  Update on the situation of the Bahá'í­s in Iran, distributed   to expert members of the Sub-Commission on the Protection and Prevention   of Discrimination Against Minorities, June 1994.ï¿½

 94-14 -- Human Rights and   Extreme Poverty, oral statement to the Sub-Commission on the Prevention   of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, Geneva,

1-26 August 1994.

 94-15 -- Human Rights of Bahá'í­s   in Iran, an oral statement on the Question of the violation of human   rights and fundamental freedoms in any part of the world to the Sub-Commission   on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, Geneva,

1-26 August 1994.

 94-16 -- Minorities a   written statement to the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination   and Protection of Minorities, Geneva,

1-26 August   1994 [UN# E/CN.4/Sub.2/1994/NGO/1].

 94-17 --  Toward a Development Paradigm for the   21st Century, comments on the Draft Declaration and Draft Programme   of Action for Social Development (A/CONF.166/PC/L.13), Presented at the   second session of the Preparatory Committee for the World Summit for Social   Development, 22 August - 2 September 1994, New York.

 94-18 --  The Role of Education, Media and the   Arts in Social Development, comments on the Draft Declaration   and Draft Programme of Action for Social Development (A/CONF.166/PC/L.13),   Presented at the 2nd session of the Preparatory Committee for   the World Summit for Social Development. New York, 22 August - 2 September   1994.

 94-19 --  The Role of Religion in Social Development, comments on the Draft Declaration and Draft Programme of   Action for Social Development (A/CONF.166/PC/L.13), presented at the 2nd   session of the Preparatory Committee for the World Summit for Social Development,   22 August - 2 September 1994, New York.

 94-20 --  Population, Sustainable Development and Spiritual Values: a   Bahá'í­ View, prepared by the Office of Public Information for the   World Conference on Religion and Peace in connection with the 1994 International   Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994.

 94-21 --  Overview of the Situation of the Bahá'í­ Community in the Republic   of Indonesia, prepared in response to questions from members of the   Committee on the Rights of the Child, distributed at the Committee’s 7th   session, Geneva, 26 September – 14 October 1994.

Joint statements

 94-22 --  Human Rights Defenders, a joint NGO statement by   the Federation internationale des ligues des droits de l’homme to the   50th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, under agenda   item (21) draft 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, 31 January – 12 March 1994.

 94-23 --  The Rights of Women, a joint NGO statement presented to   the 50th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, Geneva, 31 January   – 12 March 1994.

 94-24 --  Women’s Future: the Girl Child is Key, a joint NGO statement   presented by the World Federation of Methodist Women to the 50th   session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, under agenda item (22) rights   of the child, Geneva, 31 January – 12 March 1994.

 94-25 --  Summary report on the International   Symposium on Strategies for Creating the Violence-Free Family,   New York, 23-25 May 1994.ï¿½ Report prepared by UNICEF in cooperation with   the Bahá'í­ International Community and UNIFEM.

 94-26 --  Family and Social Development, a joint NGO statement submitted   by the NGO Committee on the Family to the 2nd Preparatory Committee for   the World Summit for Social Development, New York, 22 August - 2 September   1994.

1995

 95-1 --  Proposed text revisions for The Draft   Declaration and Draft Programme of Action (A/CONF.166/PC/L.22) offered to the   3rd Preparatory Committee for the World Summit for Social Development,   New York City, 16-27 January 1995.

 95-2 --  Religious Intolerance,   written statement submitted to the 51st session of the UN Commission   on Human Rights, Geneva, 30 January – 10 March 1995. [UN# E/CN.4/1995/NGO/11].

 95-3 --  Rebuttal to   the response of the Iranian Government to the Special Representative on   Iran (included in document E/CN.4/1994/50) and to the statement   of the Iranian Delegation to the Commission on Human Rights (on 9 March   1994). Rebuttal circulated by the UN at the 51st session of   the Commission on Human Rights, Geneva, 30 January – 10 March 1995. [UN   document # E/CN.4/1995/NGO/31]

 95-4 --  Minorities, written statement submitted to the   51st session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, Geneva, 30 January   – 10 March 1995. [UN DOCUMENT # E/CN.4/1995/NGO/18]

 95-5 --  Ending Violence Against Women,   oral statement presented to the 51st session of the Commission on Human   Rights, Geneva, 23 February 1995. Also published in ,   distributed in Beijing and at the NGO Forum in Huairou, China (August   – September 1995).

 95-6 --  The Situation of the Bahá'í­ Community   in Iran, an oral statement on the Question of the violation of human rights   and fundamental freedoms in any part of the world presented to   the 51st session of the Commission on Human Rights, Geneva, 1 March 1995.

 95-7 --  Drafting a Declaration on the Rights   and Responsibilities of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote   and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms,   an oral statement to the 51st session of the UN Commission   on Human Rights, Geneva, 7 March 1995.

 95-8 --  The Prosperity of Humankind,   a statement prepared by the Bahá'í­ International Community Office of Public   Information, and distributed at the World Summit for Social Development,   Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995.

 95-9 --  The Prosperity of Humankind,   a statement presented orally to the World Summit on Social Development,   Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995.

 95-10 --  Educating Girls and Women,   a statement distributed at the 39th session of the UN Commission   on the Status of Women, New York, March 1995. Also published in , distributed in Beijing and at the NGO Forum in Huairou,   China (August – September 1995).

 95-11 -- Realization of Economic,   Social and Cultural Rights, awritten statement distributed at the   47th session of the UN Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination   and Protection of Minorities, Geneva, 31 July - 25 August 1995. [UN document   # E/CN.4/SUB.2/1995/NGO/9]

 95-12 -- The Situation of   the Bahá'í­s in Iran, an oral statement on the Question of the violation   of human rights and fundamental freedoms in any part of the world presented   to the UN Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection   of Minorities, Geneva, 1 August 1995.

 95-13 --  The Question of Minorities,   an oral statement to the UN Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination   and Protection of Minorities, Geneva, 7 August 1995.

 95-14 --  Religion as an Agent for Promoting   the Advancement of Women at all Levels, published in ,   distributed at the Conference in Beijing and at the NGO Forum in Huairou,   China (August – September 1995).

 95-15 --  Primary Health Care and the Empowerment   of Women, published in , distributed   at the Conference in Beijing and at the NGO Forum in Huairou, China (August   – September 1995).

 95-16 --  Women in the Informal Sector in Malaysia, published in , distributed at the Conference   in Beijing and at the NGO Forum in Huairou, China (August – September   1995).

 95-17 --  Bahá'í­ Law and Principle: Creating   Legal and Institutional Structures for Gender Equality, published in ,   distributed at the Conference in Beijing and at the NGO Forum in Huairou,   China (August – September 1995).

 95-18 --  UNIFEM/Bahá'í­ Project Raises Community   Awareness, reprinted from ONE COUNTRY and published in , distributed at the Conference in Beijing and at the NGO Forum   in Huairou, China (August – September 1995).

 95-19 --  Protection of Women’s Rights,   statement to the World Conference on Human Rights published in , distributed at the Conference in Beijing and at the NGO   Forum in Huairou, China (August – September 1995).

 95-20 --  Women and the Broadcast Media: Legal   Strategies for Enhancing the Portrayal of Women, published in ,   distributed at the Conference in Beijing and at the NGO Forum in Huairou,   China (August – September 1995).

 95-21 --  The Girl Child: A Critical Concern,   statement to the April 1991 session of the UNICEF Executive Board published   in , distributed at the Conference in Beijing and   at the NGO Forum in Huairou, China (August – September 1995).

 95-22 --  The Status of Women in the Bahá'í­ Community, preliminary analysis of the findings of a 1994 survey by the   Bahá'í­ International Community Office for the Advancement of Women, published   in , distributed in Beijing and at the NGO Forum   in Huairou, August – September 1995.

 95-23 --  The Role of Religion in Promoting the Advancement of   Women, statement to the UN Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing,   13 September 1995. [UN document # NGO/98]

 95-24 --  Turning Point for All Nations,   a proposal for restructuring the United Nations submitted for consideration   on the occasion on the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations, New York,   October 1995.ï¿½



Joint statements

 95-25 --  Comments on the draft optional protocol   on the sale of children, child prostitution and pornography and the basic   measures required for their prevention and eradication,   a joint statement to the 51st session of the UN Commission   on Human Rights, Geneva, 30 January – 10 March 1995.

 95-26 --  The girl child,   a joint statement to the 51st session of the Commission on   Human Rights, presented on behalf of members of the NGO Working Groups   on the Girl Child in Geneva and New York; Geneva, 30 January – 10 March   1995.

 95-27 --  Education on the Convention on the   Rights of the Child: Guidelines, a publication of the NGO Group   for the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1995.ï¿½ ["Initiation   a la convention relative aux droits de l'enfant"; lignes directrices,   Groupe d'ONG pour la convention relative aux droits de l'enfant 1995].ï¿½   Published in English and French by the Bahá'í­ International Community,   the International Council of Women, and WFUNA, Geneva, March 1995.

 95-28 --  Support of UNIFEM, a   joint statement of NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC and UNIFEM,   to the 39th session of the Commission on the Status of Women,   15 March – 4 April 1995.

1996

 96-1 -- Creating   Violence-Free Families in the Caribbean, Antigua, 24-26 May, 1995,   a summary report of a symposium sponsored by the Bahá'í­ International   Community, UNICEF and UNIFEM.

 96-2 -- Recommended   changes to the Draft Habitat Agenda(A/CONF.165/PC.3/4) submitted to   the 3rd Preparatory Committee of the UN Conference on Human   Settlements, 5-16 February 1996.

 96-3 -- Submission   for the Annual Survey of Activities of Religious NGOs at the United   Nations: 1995 published by the Committee of Religious NGOs at the   United Nations, New York, February 1996.ï¿½

 96-4 -- Recommended   changes to the Draft Habitat Agenda(4 March 1996 Unedited Advanced   Text).

 96-5 --  UN Decade for Human Rights Education,   a written statement submitted to the UN Commission on Human Rights. Geneva,   March 1996. [E/CN.4/1996/NGO/28]

 96-6 -- The   Situation of the Bahá'í­s in Iran, statement on the Question of the   violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in any part of the   world presented in both oral and written form to the UN Commission on   Human Rights, Geneva, 16 April 1996.

96-7 --

Two Bahá'í­ International Community Projects: Cameroon And Zambia,

 published by the UN in the report on NGO activities prepared for the mid-term   review of the UN New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990's   (UN-NADAF), New York, 20-21 June 1996.

96-8 --  Recommended changes to the Draft Habitat Agenda, June   1996

96-9 --  Sustainable Communities in an Integrating World,   statement presented in both written and oral form to the Habitat II conference   and NGO Forum in Istanbul, Turkey, 3 –14 June 1996.ï¿½

96-10 --  International Day of the World's Indigenous People,   a statement presented at the celebration at UN Headquarters, New York,

BIC Document #98-0601