

Activities of the Bahá'í­ International Community related to the work of the United Nations during the period October 1989 through September 1993

New York, U.S.A.

June 1994

Introduction

The Bahá'í­ International Community is engaged in a wide range of activities serving the social, economic, and spiritual needs of peoples. During the period under review, the Community has grown from 151 to 165 national/regional affiliates and from five to six million members, comprising a cross-section of humanity. Its cooperation with the United Nations system was bolstered by the addition of an Office for the Advancement of Women and an Office for the Pacific Region, and by the expansion of activities in New York and Geneva. Bahá'í­ representation groups strengthened relations with the UN Center for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs in Vienna; with UNEP in Nairobi; with ECA in Addis Ababa; with ECLAC in Santiago; with ESCAP in Bangkok; and with FAO in Rome.

Meetings, Conferences, and Statements

During these four years, the Community was represented at approximately 90 meetings of the UN system, including major UN conferences, sessions of ECOSOC -- its regional and functional commissions, committees, and working groups -- and other UN bodies. It contributed to those bodies and gatherings over 70 statements and reports on such issues as the advancement of women, sustainable development, education, health, and human rights.

Advancement of Women

Through its Office for the Advancement of Women, the Bahá'í­ International Community took part in annual sessions of the Commission on the Status of Women and the Commission on Social Development; participated in UN conferences and seminars concerning women; and supported preparations for the International Year of the Family. It submitted reports and statements on the family, refugee women, girl children, partnership with men, alleviating rural poverty, and the importance of involving women in decision-making, in sustainable development, and in the peace process. As Chairman of the NGO Committee on the Status of Women and a member of the Facilitating Committee for NGO Forum '95, the Bahá'í­ International Community is heavily involved in NGO preparations for UN Fourth World Conference on Women and the parallel NGO Forum, while encouraging and coordinating participation by national Bahá'í­ communities. Efforts to implement the Nairobi Forward-Looking Strategies included a Bahá'í­ project funded by UNIFEM. The two-year project "Traditional Media as Change Agent" used music, drama, stories and dance to stimulate village-wide discussions about women's roles. By including men as partners in a dynamic process to change attitudes, the venture succeeded in improving the status of women in the project areas in Bolivia, Cameroon and Malaysia. Finally, as Convenor of "Advocates for African Food Security: Lessening the Burden on Women" -- a coalition of NGOs, UN agencies, and intergovernmental organizations -- the Community helped raise awareness in policy makers of the critical role of women farmers in ending the food crisis in Africa.

Environment, Development, Education & Health

The Bahá'í­ International Community, through its Office of the Environment, participated fully and substantially in the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), contributing a number of statements; attending all UNCED preparatory meetings and many NGO conferences; helping to plan and carry out the parallel Global Forum; donating through its national affiliate a Peace Monument to the citizens of Rio; and addressing the plenary of the Earth Summit itself. The Bahá'í­ International Community attended all regular sessions of the UNEP Governing Council, the Commission on Sustainable Development, and the second ministerial session of the World Climate Conference. Statements on environment and development addressed the importance of NGOs to the UNCED process, the oneness of humanity, the Earth Charter, international legislation, world citizenship, and partnership between men and women. The Bahá'í­ International Community contributed substantially to the World Conference on Education for All (EFA) and all follow-up activities. It was instrumental in establishing the EFA Network and assisted with two major UNICEF conferences: one in Zimbabwe on "Child Development in Africa, "and one in New York on the "Education of the Girl Child." Primary health care activities have been undertaken by a number of national Bahá'í­ communities in Africa and Asia, and the Bahá'í­ International Community, which established working relations with WHO in 1989, supported the development of a model training program for community health workers. The Bahá'í­ International Community participated in annual sessions of the World Health Assembly (Geneva) and the accompanying Technical Discussions, and in annual sessions of the Executive Boards of WHO and UNICEF. It also participated substantially in the International Conference on Nutrition and its preparatory process. Statements addressed the girl child, the prevention of drug abuse, teacher preparation, educating girls, educational models, literacy, and basic education delivery systems.

Human Rights and Refugees

The Bahá'í­ International Community contributed to deliberations on a wide range of issues during annual sessions of the Commission on Human Rights and its Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities. It participated in the Working Group on Indigenous Populations, and submitted proposals on draft instruments to the Working Group on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, and the Working Group on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National, Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. It participated in the World Conference on Human Rights and in all sessions of the Preparatory Committee as well as regional preparatory meetings in Tunis, San Jose, and Bangkok. Statements during this period addressed the right to development, combating racism, protection of minorities, freedom of religion or belief, rights of the child, rights of women, individual responsibility to protect human rights, rights of indigenous populations, extreme poverty, obstacles to human rights progress, and the indivisibility of rights. The Community also worked with the UN High Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR), attending yearly sessions of the UNHCR Executive Committee, and participating in the formal consultations and informal meetings between the UNHCR and its NGO operational partners.

NGO Community Work

An active participant in the NGO community at the UN in New York, Geneva, and Vienna, the Community served as officers on UN/NGO committees and working groups on the family, the status of women, Vienna NGO Forum '93, Beijing NGO Forum '95, human rights, freedom of religion or belief, development, and rights of the child, as well as on the Special Committee of International NGOs on Human Rights. It also served as Secretary of the Board of CONGO and as a member of the Board of the NGO Committee on UNICEF.

Information Activities

The Bahá'í­ International Community continued to inform its affiliates worldwide about the UN and its activities, encouraging Bahá'í­ communities to initiate activities in support of special UN programmes, decades, years or days. It also helped plan and carry out annual DPI/NGO conferences in New York. Its quarterly Newsletter, ONE COUNTRY, has carried information about UN activities to more than 25,000 readers in at least 150 countries. UN-related stories included comprehensive before and after coverage of the UN Conference on Environment and Development; coverage of the 1993 World Conference on Human Rights; and a story about lead-up activities for the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women. ONE COUNTRY also devoted stories to the work of the Advocates for African Food Security, a UNICEF NGO forum in Zimbabwe, and the joint UNIFEM-Bahá'í­ development project in Bolivia, Cameroon, and Malaysia. The last issue in 1993 was published in English, French, Chinese, Russian, Spanish and German.

Annex I to the 1993 Quadrennial Report

Participation in Conferences and Other Meetings Sponsored by the United Nations

1. Sessions of the Economic and Social Council and Its Subsidiary Bodies

Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)


  - 5/91 Regular Session, New York 

  - 6/92 Substantive Session, New York 

  - 6/93 Substantive Session, Geneva 


Commission on Human Rights


  - 1/90 46th session, Geneva [6 statements] 

  - 1/91 47th session, Geneva [4 statements] 

  - 1/92 48th session, Geneva [4 statements] 

  - 1/93 49th session, Geneva [5 statements] 


Working Group on Drafting a Declaration on the Rights and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms


  - 1/90 Geneva 

  - 1/91 Geneva 

  - 1/92 Geneva 

  - 1/93 Geneva


Working Group on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National, Ethnic, Religious, and Linguistic Minorities


  - 2/90 Geneva 

  - 2/91 Geneva 

  - 12/91 Geneva


Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities


  - 8/90 42nd Session, Geneva [3 statements] 

  - 8/91 43rd session, Geneva [2 statements] 

  - 8/92 44th session, Geneva [1 statement] 

  - 8/93 45th session, Geneva [2 statements]


Pre-sessional Working Group on Indigenous Populations


  - 7/90 Geneva [2 statements] 

  - 7/91 Geneva 

  - 7/92 Geneva 

  - 7/93 Geneva 


Commission on Social Development


  - 2/91 32nd Session, Vienna [1 statement] 


Commission on the Status of Women


  - 3/90 34th session, Vienna [2 statements] 

  - 3/91 35th session, Vienna [2 statements] 

  - 3/92 36th session, Vienna [3 statements] 

  - 3/93 37th session, Vienna [2 statements]


Commission on Sustainable Development


  - 6/93 1st session, New York [1 statement] 

Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)


  - 1990 25th session, Addis Ababa 

  - 1991 26th session, Addis Ababa 

  - 1992 27th session, Addis Ababa 


Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)


  - 1990 Caracas 

  - 1991 Mexico City 

  - 1992 Santiago 


Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)


  - 1990 46th session, Bangkok 

  - 1991 47th session, Seoul 

  - 1992 48th session, Beijing 

  - 1993 49th session, Bangkok 


2. United Nations System Meetings Other Than ECOSOC

UN High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) -- Executive Committee


  - 1990 41st session, Geneva 

  - 1991 42nd Session, Geneva 

  - 1992 43rd session, Geneva 

  - 1993 44th session, Geneva 


UNICEF Executive Board


  - 1990 New York 

  - 1991 New York [1 statement] 

  - 1992 New York 

  - 1993 New York 


UN Environment Programme Governing Council


  - 1990 Special Session, Nairobi 

  - 1991 Regular Session, Nairobi 

  - 1992 Special Session, Nairobi 


World Health Assembly


  - 1990 43rd session, Geneva 

  - 1991 44th session, Geneva 

  - 1992 45th session, Geneva 

  - 1993 46th session, Geneva 


WHO Executive Board


  - 1990 85th session, Geneva 

  - 1991 87th session, Geneva 

  - 1992 89th session, Geneva 

  - 1993 91st session, Geneva 


Third Committee of the UN General Assembly


  - 1990 45th session, New York 

  - 1991 46th session, New York 

  - 1992 47th session, New York 

  - 1993 48th session, New York 


3. United Nations Conferences and Special Meetings by Topic

3.1 Education/Health


  - 1990 World Conference on Education for All by the Year 2000, sponsored by UNESCO, UNICEF, and the World Bank, Jomtien, Thailand, March 1990. [4 statements; 1 survey] 

  - 1990 UNESCO-IBE (International Bureau of Education) 42nd International Conference on Education, Geneva, Switzerland, September 1990. 

  - 1991 UNESCO Sub-Regional Meeting on Literacy in Francophone Africa, Porto Novo, Benin, October 1991. 

  - 1991 UNESCO International Consultative Forum on Education for All by the Year 2000, Paris, December 1991. 

  - 1992 UN Conference on Education, Dhaka, Bangladesh, February 1992. 

  - 1992 UNESCO Meeting on "Action Strategies for Meeting Basic Literacy Needs," Santiago, Chile, April 1992. 

  - 1992 UNESCO-International Bureau of Education (IBE) Conference on Education, Geneva, September 1992. 


3.2 Environment/Development


  - 1990 The Bergen Conference, a regional preparatory meeting for the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) Bergen, Norway, May 1990. 

  - 1990 First Preparatory Committee (PREPCOM) for the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), Nairobi, August 1990. [1 statement] 

  - 1990 ESCAP/NGO Media Symposium on Communication for Environment Bangkok, Thailand, October 1990. 

  - 1990 World Climate Conference sponsored by World Meteorological Organization (WMO), UNEP, UNESCO, FAO, and the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU) Second Ministerial session, Geneva, November 1990. 

  - 1991 The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for a Framework Convention on Climate Change, 1st session, Washington, DC, USA, February 1991. 

  - 1991 Second Preparatory Committee (PREPCOM) for the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), Geneva, April 1991. [2 statements] 

  - 1991 Third Preparatory Committee (PREPCOM) for the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), Geneva, August 1991. [1 statement] 

  - 1991 UNCTAD Trade and Development Meeting, Geneva, September 1991. 

  - 1992 Fourth Preparatory Committee (PREPCOM) for the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), New York, April 1992. [1 statement; 2 comments] 

  - 1992 Earth Summit/UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), Rio de Janeiro, June 1992. [1 statement; 5 other contributions] 

  - 1992 Preparatory Committee for the International Conference on Nutrition, Geneva, August 1992. 

  - 1992 Expanded Programme on Immunization (Week Study Course), Geneva, September 1992. 

  - 1992 United Nations International Conference on Nutrition, Rome, December 1992. 


3.3 Human Rights 



  - 1990 UN Asian/Pacific Workshop on International Human Rights Issues, Manila, Philippines, May 1990. 

  - 1990 Second UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries (UNCTAD), Paris, France, September 1990. 

  - 1990 UN International Seminar on Political, Historical, Economic, Social and Cultural Factors Contributing to Racism, Racial Discrimination and Apartheid, Geneva, December 1990. 

  - 1991 UN Consultation on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Geneva, May 1991. 

  - 1991 First Preparatory Committee of the UN World Conference on Human Rights, Geneva, September 1991. [1 statement] 

  - 1992 Second Preparatory Committee of the UN World Conference on Human Rights, Geneva, March 1992. [2 statements] 

  - 1992 Third Preparatory Committee of the UN World Conference eon Human Rights, Geneva, September 1992. 

  - 1992 Regional Meeting for Africa, UN World Conference on Human Rights, Tunis, Tunisia, November 1992. 

  - 1993 UN Seminar on appropriate indicators to measure achievements in the progressive realization of economic, social and cultural rights, Geneva, January 1993. 

  - 1993 Regional Meeting for Latin America and the Caribbean, UN World Conference on Human Rights, San José, Costa Rica, January 1993. 

  - 1993 Regional Meeting for Asia, UN World Conference on Human Rights, Bangkok, Thailand, March 1993. 

  - 1993 Fourth Preparatory Committee of the UN World Conference on Human Rights, Geneva, April 1993. 

  - 1993 United Nations World Conference on Human Rights, Vienna, June 1993. [4 statements] 

  - 1993 UN Seminar on appropriate indicators to measure achievements in the progressive realization of economic, social and cultural rights, Geneva, December 1993. 


3.4 Women/Family 



  - 1990 UN World Summit on Children, New York, September 1990. [1 report] 

  - 1991 ESCAP South Asian and Pacific Ministerial Conference on Social Welfare and Social Development, Manila, October 1991. 

  - 1991 UN Regional Symposium on Co-operation between ESCAP and NGOs for Rural Poverty Alleviation, Bangkok, Thailand, December 1991. [1 report] 


4. Meetings and Conferences to Support UN Initiatives in the Areas of Education; Environment/Development; Human Rights; Peace; UN; and Women and Family

4.1 Education/Health 



  - 1990 Fourth Regional Workshop on Health Education, Noumea, New Caledonia, November 1990. 

  - 1990 Book Voyage presentation to the UN Secretary-General for International Literacy Year, New York, December 1990. 

  - 1990 7th session of the UNESCO Collective Consultation of NGOs on Literacy and Adult Education; Hamburg, Germany, December 1990. 

  - 1991 International Task Force on Literacy, Bonn, Germany, February 1991. [2 reports] 

  - 1991 NGO Regional Consultation on Education for All, Santiago, Chile, April 1991. 

  - 1991 Committee of Representatives of Governments and Administrations (CRGA) of the South Pacific Commission (SPC), Noumea, New Caledonia, May 1991. [1 statement] 

  - 1991 NGO Media Symposium, Manila, October 1991. 

  - 1991 UNICEF/NGO Forum on Local and Global Child Development, Kadoma, Zimbabwe, November 1991. 

  - 1991 8th session of the UNESCO Collective Consultation of NGOs on Literacy and Adult Education; Paris, December 1991. 

  - 1992 NGO Regional Consultation on Education for All, Santiago, Chile, April 1992. 

  - 1992 Conference of the South Pacific Commission, October 1992. 

  - 1992 9th session of the UNESCO Collective Consultation of NGOs on Literacy and Adult Education, December 1992. 


4.2 Environment/Development 



  - 1990 Danube Meeting, a regional NGO preparatory meeting for UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), Budapest, March 1990. 

  - 1990 Landegg Academy's Youth Symposium, "The Environment: Protecting Our Birthright," Landegg, Switzerland, April 1990. 

  - 1990 North American Conference On Religion and Ecology (NACRE) Washington, D. C., USA, May 1990. 

  - 1990 7th Informal Consultation on Cooperation with NGOs in the WHO Programme on Prevention and Control of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Geneva, May 1990. 

  - 1990 International NGO/Primary Health Group, Geneva, May 1990. 

  - 1990 ECO '92 Public Forum, sponsored by the Centre For Our Common Future with the UNCED Secretariat, Nairobi, August 1990. 

  - 1990 World Congress of Local Governments for a Sustainable Future (sponsored by UNEP, the International Union of Local Authorities and the Center for Innovative Diplomacy, New York, September 1990. 

  - 1990 Earth   - &  -  Spirit Conference, Seattle, Washington, October 1990. 

  - 1990 Citizen's Consultation On The UN Conference on Environment and Development, Washington, D. C., USA, October 1990. 

  - 1990 General Assembly of the World Conservation Union (IUCN), Perth, Australia, November 1990. [1 statement] 

  - 1991 ECO '92 Public Forum, sponsored by the Centre For Our Common Future with the UNCED Secretariat, Mexico City, March 1991. 

  - 1991 Seminar on the UN World Decade for Cultural Development sponsored by the NGO Committee for Sustainable Development and UNESCO, New York City, May 1991. [1 statement] 

  - 1991 Women and Children First, Geneva, May 1991. 

  - 1991 International NGO Planning Meeting for UNCED, Rio de Janeiro, May 1991. 

  - 1991 International NGO/Primary Health Group, Geneva, May 1991. 

  - 1991 NGOs and Social Movements Event Planning Meeting, Rio de Janeiro, June 1991. 

  - 1991 ECO '92 Public Forum, sponsored by the Centre For Our Common Future with the UNCED Secretariat, Moscow, June 1991. 

  - 1991 World Women's Congress for a Healthy Planet, Miami, Florida, USA, August 1991. [1 statement] 

  - 1991 International Environmental Law Conference, The Hague, August 1991. [1 statement] 

  - 1991 Preparatory Meeting of Religious Communities on UNCED and the Earth Charter, organized by the World Council of Churches, Geneva, August 1991. 

  - 1991 Rio International Conference on Environmental Law, Rio de Janeiro, October 1991. 

  - 1991 Globescope Americas Assembly, organized by the Global Tomorrow Coalition, Florida, USA, October 1991. 

  - 1991 Global Assembly of Women and the Environment: Partners in Life sponsored by UNEP and WWF, Florida, USA, November 1991. 

  - 1991 The Role of Agriculture in a Changing World, Landegg Academy, Switzerland, November 1991. 

  - 1991 International Youth Preparatory Committee for YOUTH '92, San José, Costa Rica, November 1991. 

  - 1992 Second Global Structures Convocation organized by a coalition of NGOs, Washington, DC, USA, February 1992. 

  - 1992 ECO '92 Public Forum, sponsored by the Centre For Our Common Future with the UNCED Secretariat, New York City, February 1992. 

  - 1992 World Youth Preparatory Forum for UNCED, San José, Costa Rica, March 1992. 

  - 1992 International NGO/Primary Health Group, Geneva, May 1992. 

  - 1992 Earth Summit/Global Forum, Rio de Janeiro, June 1992. [4 statements and a Peace Monument] 

  - 1992 Joint Conference on Social and Economic Development and the Bahá'í­ Village, Landegg Academy, Switzerland, September 1992. 

  - 1993 Environment and Development, First Call for Children, Warsaw, March 1993. 

  - 1993 International NGO/Primary Health Group, Geneva, May 1993. 

  - 1993 Fourth Pacific Island Leaders' Conference, Tahiti Nui, June 1993. [1 statement] 


4.3 Human Rights 



  - 1990 Baltic Sea Rally on Minorities and Human Rights, Bornholm, Denmark, July 1990. [1 statement] 

  - 1990 International Abolitionist Federation - 30th Congress, Geneva, September 1990. 

  - 1991 Third International Conference on Ways to Implement the 1981 UN Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination based on Religion or Belief, New Delhi, India, January 1991. 

  - 1993 International NGO Forum on Human Rights (CONGO), Vienna, June 1993. 

  - 1993 International NGO Consultation on Racism, Xenophobia, Ethnic and Racial Intolerance and Conflicts in preparation for the Third UN Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, Geneva, September 1993. 


4.4 Peace 



  - 1990 First International Dialogue on the Transition to a Global Society, Landegg, Switzerland, September 1990. 

  - 1990 8th General Conference of the Asian Buddhist Conference for Peace, Ulan-Bator, Mongolia, September 1990. [1 statement] 

  - 1990 Together for Peace, The UN and the NGOs in a Changing World (CONGO), Geneva, October 1990. 

  - 1991 World Peace Day Association: A Priority for Peace, Geneva, June 1991. [1 statement] 

  - 1991 Meeting of Peace Messenger Organizations, Dagomys, USSR, June 1991. [2 statements] 

  - 1992 16th meeting of the Committee of Representatives of Governments and Administrations (CRGA) of the South Pacific Commission, Noumea, New Caledonia, May 1992. [1 statement] 

  - 1992 Third International Dialogue on the Transition to Global Society: The Transition to a Just Society, Switzerland, September 1992. 


4.5 United Nations/NGOs 



  - 1990 UNICEF NGO Forum, New York, April 1990. 

  - 1991 18th General Assembly of the Conference of NGOs (CONGO), Geneva, October 1991. 

  - 1991 UNICEF NGO Forum, Kadoma, Zimbabwe, November 1991. 

  - 1992 CONGO Round Table on "Understanding the role of international NGOs: challenges and opportunities for the UN and NGOs"New York, April 1992. [1 statement] 

  - 1992 UNICEF NGO Forum, New York, April 1992. 

  - 1993 UNICEF NGO Forum, New York, April 1993. 

  - 1993 ECOSOC review of relations with NGOs, Geneva, September 1993.


4.6 Women/Family 



  - 1990 Advocates For African Food Security, Symposium V, New York, November 1990. 

  - 1991 Planning Committee Consultation for NGO Activities in Relation to the UN Fourth World Conference on Women (1995), Vienna, March 1991. 

  - 1991 Advocates for African Food Security, Symposium VI, New York, September 1991. [1 statement] 

  - 1991 Association of Women in Development (AWID) Conference, New York, November 1991. 

  - 1991 Learning Together/Working Together, conference organized by AWID, Washington, DC, USA, November 1991. 

  - 1992 Planning Committee Consultation for NGO Activities in Relation to the UN Fourth World Conference on Women (1995), Vienna, March 1992. 

  - 1992 Conference on the Role of Women in a United Europe, Landegg, Switzerland, October 1992. 

  - 1992 Fourth International Seminar "Family and Environment: A Partnership," sponsored by the NGO committee on the Family, Vienna, Austria, November-December 1992. 

  - 1993 World NGO Forum Launching the International Year of the Family (IYF), sponsored by NGO Committee on the Family and the UN IYF Secretariat, Malta, November 1993. [1 pamphlet] 


Annex II to the 1993 Quadrennial Report

Bahá'í­ International Community Statements, Reports, and Other Contributions toward the Work of the United Nations


1. Written statement to the 46th session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, under item 24 of the provisional agenda, on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief. Geneva, Switzerland; 25 January 1990. [UN document E/CN.4/1990/NGO/5] 

2. Written statement to the 46th session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, under item 17 (b) of the provisional agenda, on the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Second Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination. Geneva, Switzerland; 25 January 1990. [UN document E/CN.4/1990/NGO/7] 

3. Written statement to the 46th session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, under item 20 of the provisional agenda, on the Report of the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities at Its 41st session. Geneva, Switzerland; 26 January 1990. [UN document E/CN.4/1990/NGO/6] 

4. Oral statement to the 46th session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, under Agenda item 8 on the Question of the Realization of the Right to Development. Geneva, Switzerland; 9 February 1990. 

5. Oral statement to the 46th session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, under Agenda item 23 on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Elimination of all Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination based on Religion or Belief. Geneva, Switzerland; 12 February 1990. 

6. Oral statement to the 46th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights on the Question of the violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in any part of the world (agenda item 12); Geneva, Switzerland; February 1990. 

7. Joint statement submitted by the Advocates for African Food Security to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, 34th session, under Agenda item 4 Priority Themes: Development: Negative effects of the international economic situation on the improvement of the status of women. Vienna, Austria; 26 February-9 March 1990. 

8. Oral statement to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, 34th session, under Agenda item 4 Priority Themes: (a) Equality: Equality in political participation and decision-making. Vienna, Austria; 26 February-9 March 1990. 

9. Survey of Bahá'í­ Education Programmes, published in January 1990 for distribution at the World Conference on Education for All. Jomtien, Thailand; 5-9 March 1990. 

10. "NGOs and Literacy: Meeting Basic Learning Needs -- The Experience of Bahá'í­ Communities," Round table discussion paper presented at the World Conference on Education for All. Jomtien, Thailand; 5-9 March 1990. 

11. "The Teacher's Situation: The Determining Factor of a Quality Education for All," Round table discussion paper presented at the World Conference on Education for All. Jomtien, Thailand; 5-9 March 1990. 

12. "The Education of Girls: Constraints and Policy Measures," Round table discussion paper presented at the World Conference on Education for All. Jomtien, Thailand; 5-9 March 1990. 

13. "New Delivery Systems for Basic Education," Round table discussion paper presented to the World Conference on Education for All. Jomtien, Thailand; 5-9 March 1990. 

14. Report submitted to the United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women, Vienna, Austria for use in preparation of background document on machinery for the integration of women in development, to be discussed at the 1991 session of the Commission on the Status of Women. Published in "Women 2000" No. 2, 1991. 

15. Oral statement to the 8th session of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations, under agenda item 4: Standard-setting activities: evolution of standards concerning the rights of indigenous populations. Geneva, Switzerland; 23 July-3 August 1990. 

16. Oral statement to the 8th session of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations, under agenda item 5: Review of developments pertaining to the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous populations (agenda item 5). Geneva, Switzerland; 23 July-3 August 1990. 

17. Statement to the Baltic Sea Rally on Minorities and Human Rights. Bornholm, Denmark; 27 July 1990. 

18. Statement on the importance of involving non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the UNCED process, presented to the first substantive session of the Preparatory Committee for the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). Nairobi, Kenya; 6-31 August 1990. 

19. Oral statement on Protection of Minorities to the 42nd session of the United Nations Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities. Geneva, Switzerland; 15 August 1990. 

20. Oral statement to the 42nd session of the United Nations Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities on the Question of the violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in any part of the world (agenda item 6). Geneva, Switzerland; August 1990. 

21. Oral statement to the 42nd session of the United Nations Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities on Measures to combat racism and racial discrimination and the role of the Sub-Commission (agenda item 5(a)). Geneva, Switzerland; August 1990. 

22. "The Common Goal of Universal Peace in Buddhism and the Bahá'í­ Faith," a paper delivered to the Asian Buddhist Conference for Peace. Ulan Bator, Mongolia; 16-25 September 1990. 

23. Statement on the Proposed World Conservation Strategy for the 1990's, delivered to the General Assembly of the World Conservation Union (IUCN). Perth, Australia; 26 November 1990. 

24. "A Bahá'í­ perspective on drug abuse prevention" by A.M. Ghadirian, Bahá'í­ International Community, Professor, McGill University, Montreal, Canada, in Bulletin on Narcotics Vol. XLIII, No. 1, 1991, published by the United Nations International Drug Control Programme. 

25. Report on Bahá'í­ International Community activities in support of International Literacy Year, 1990, presented to the International Task Force on Literacy. Bonn, Germany; 4-8 February 1991. 

26. Report on the Book Voyage, a project of the International Task Force on Literacy in support of International Literacy Year, 1990, culminating in New York on 10-11 December 1990. Report presented to the International Task Force on Literacy. Bonn, Germany; 4-8 February 1991. 

27. Joint NGO statement on the International Year of the Family to the 32nd session of the Commission on Social Development. Vienna, Austria; 11-20 February 1991. 

28. Joint NGO statement to the 47th session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights under Item 24. Status of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Geneva; 24 February 1991. 

29. Oral statement to the 47th session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights on the Question of the violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in any part of the world (agenda item 12). Geneva; February 1991. 

30. Written statement to the 47th session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights on the Rights of persons belonging to national, ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities (agenda item 20). Geneva, February 1991. 

31. Oral statement to the 47th session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights on Implementation of the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief (agenda item 22). Geneva, February 1991. 

32. Joint statement to the 35th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, priority theme: Peace: Refugee and displaced women and children. Vienna, Austria; 27 February to 5 March. 

33. Joint statement by the Advocates for African Food Security: lessening the burden for women to the 35th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, under agenda item 4: Monitoring the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women. Vienna, Austria; 27 February to 5 March. 

34. Comments on the Questionnaire annexed to the Special Rapporteur's progress report on "Possible ways and means of facilitating the peaceful and constructive solutions of situations involving minorities." Geneva, Switzerland; March 1991. 

35. Joint NGO statement to the second session of the Preparatory Committee (PREPCOM) for the United Nations Conference on the Environment and Development (UNCED) on the interrelationship between population and environment and development and the essential role of women in these processes. UNCED PREPCOM 2, Geneva, Switzerland; 18 March-5 April 1991. 

36. "Elements for Inclusion in the Proposed 'Earth Charter' offered to the Preparatory Committee of The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED)." Geneva, Switzerland; 5 April 1991. 

37. UNICEF Questionnaire for database on NGO's in consultative status, submitted to the UNICEF NGO Office in Geneva, 11 April 1991. 

38. Listing for the Bahá'í­ International Community submitted to the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR) for their directory of NGO's. Geneva, Switzerland; 20 April 1991. 

39. Statement on the Girl Child, presented to the 1991 Session of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Executive Board, under agenda item "Women in development." New York City, USA; 22 April 1991. 

40. Statement on Health and Nutrition presented to the Committee of Representatives of Governments and Administrations (CARGA) of the South Pacific Commission (SPC). Noumea, New Caledonia; 27-31 May 1991. 

41. "Culture and Development: A Survey of the Bahá'í­ Experience," presented at a seminar on the UN World Decade for Cultural Development, sponsored by UNESCO and the NGO Committee for Sustainable Development at UN Headquarters. New York City, USA; May 29, 1991. 

42. Statement to the World Peace Day Association on "A Priority for Peace -- 1991"; Geneva, Switzerland; 4 June 1991. 

43. Written contribution to a document being prepared by the World Peace Day Association for presentation to the Meeting of Peace Messenger Organizations. Dagomys, USSR; 10-14 June 1991. 

44. Oral statement by the Bahá'í­ International Community and the NSAs of Brazil and Belgium to the Meeting of Peace Messenger Organizations; Dagomys, USSR; 10-14 June 1991. 

45. Proposal for the Improvement of the working methods of the Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities with regard to the role of NGOs; Geneva, Switzerland; August 1991. 

46. Oral statement to the 43rd session of the Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, on the question of the violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in any part of the world; Geneva, Switzerland; August 1991. 

47. Women and Men: Partnership for a Healthy Planet. Statement presented to the World Women's Congress for a Healthy Planet; Miami, Florida, USA; 8-14 August 1991. 

48. International Legislation for Environment and Development. Statement presented to the International Environmental Law Conference; The Hague; 12-16 August 1991. 

49. International Legislation for Environment and Development. A Statement presented to Working Group III of the Third session of the Preparatory Committee for The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). Geneva, Switzerland; August 1991. 

50. Joint statement from the Advocates VI Symposium; 5 September 1991. 

51. Oral intervention for the first session of the Preparatory Committee for the World conference on Human Rights. Geneva, Switzerland; 11 September 1991. 

52. Contribution to the Report on Institutional Proposals by the Secretary General of the Conference, Paragraph 89, prepared for presentation to United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) PREPCOM 4, Working Group III, Agenda item 4, New York, USA, 2 March-3 April 1992; contribution submitted 13 December 1991. 

53. Report submitted to the United Nations Regional Symposium on Co-operation between the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for Rural Poverty Alleviation, focusing on disadvantaged women. Bangkok, Thailand; 16 December 1991. 

54. Written statement to the 48th session of the Commission on Human Rights on the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Second Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, submitted under Agenda item 14. Geneva, Switzerland; February 1992. 

55. Oral statement to the 48th session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights on the rights of persons belonging to national, ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, presented under agenda item 18. Geneva, Switzerland; February 1992. 

56. Oral statement to the 48th session of the Commission on Human Rights on Implementation of the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, presented under agenda item 22. Geneva, Switzerland; February 1992. 

57. Oral statement to the 48th session of the Commission on Human Rights on the Question of the violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in any part of the world, presented under agenda item 12. Geneva, Switzerland; 19 February 1992. 

58. Joint statement on Priority Themes: Equality (Elimination of de jure and de facto discrimination against women) and Development (Integration of women in the process of development) to the 36th session of the Commission on the Status of Women's. Vienna, Austria; 20 February 1992. [E/CN.6/1992/1.] 

59. Written statement on partnership between women and men for sustainable development, submitted under Priority Theme Development, to the 1992 Commission on the Status of Women; Vienna, Austria; 11 March 1992. 

60. Oral statement about the effects of gender discrimination on girl children, submitted under Priority Theme Equality, to the 1992 Commission on the Status of Women; Vienna, Austria; 17 March 1992. 

61. Oral statement urging the inclusion of the principle of the oneness of humanity in the preamble to the Earth Charter, presented to Working Group III of PREPCOM 4 for the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). New York, USA; 4 March 1992. 

62. Comments on "An approach Paper: Rio de Janeiro Charter/Declaration on Environment and Development" given to representatives of Working Group III at PREPCOM 4. (16 March, 1992) 

63. Comments on L.20/Rev.1 -- Rio de Janeiro Charter/Declaration on Environment and Development presented to representatives of Working Group III at PREPCOM 4; New York, USA; 2 March-3 April 1992. 

64. Joint statement about regional meetings presented under agenda item 10 to the World Conference on Human Rights Preparatory Committee Second Session; Geneva, Switzerland; 30 March-10 April 1992. 

65. Joint statement on the human rights of women authored by the Bahá'í­ International Community and presented under agenda item 5 to the World Conference on Human Rights Preparatory Committee Second Session; Geneva, Switzerland; 30 March-10 April 1992. Presented 6 April 1992. 

66. Written description of the Bahá'í­ International Community, submitted to the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for a Round Table on "Understanding the role of international non-governmental organizations: challenges and opportunities for the United Nations and Non-Governmental Organizations"; New York, USA; 9 April 1992. 

67. "Restructuring the International Order,"Oral statement to the sixteenth meeting of the Committee of Representatives of Governments and Administrations (CRGA) of the South Pacific Commission; Noumea, New Caledonia; 18-22 May 1992. 

68. "The Most Vital Challenge," statement to the plenary of the United Nations Conference of Environment and Development (UNCED, Earth Summit '92); Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; 4 June 1992. 

69. "Tomorrow Belongs to the Children: Contribution to Earth Summit '92," Bahá'í­ publication, supported by UNICEF and sponsored by Asmï¿½ (Masour Association for Family Welfare and Education). 

70. "The Earth Charter/Rio de Janeiro Declaration and the Oneness of Humanity," presented to the NGO Forum; Rio; June 1992. 

71. "Spiritual Foundations for an Ecologically Sustainable Society" -- Bahá'í­ International Community republication of an article originally published in The Journal of Bahá'í­ Studies (vol. 2, no. 1). 

72. Values, Institutions and Leadership for a Sustainable Future: Towards a Framework for Developing Moral Leadership, prepared by Eloy Anello. A reflection document from a Symposium sponsored by the Bahá'í­ International Community '92 Global forum; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; June 1992. 

73. Peace Monument, a gift to the people of Rio de Janeiro from the Bahá'í­ International Community and the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'í­s of Brazil, inaugurated at the '92 Global Forum, Rio de Janeiro, 14 June 1992. 

74. Statement on the violation of human rights in any part of the world, delivered to the United Nations Sub-Commission on the Protection of Minorities; Geneva, Switzerland; 15 August 1992. 

75. Submission to members of the Human Rights Committee entitled "The Compliance of the Islamic Republic of Iran with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as it may concern the human rights situation of the Bahá'í­ community in Iran"; Geneva, Switzerland; October 1992. 

76. "Cultural Development: A Bahá'í­ Perspective" A speech delivered to the South Pacific Conference by Tinai Hancock, Director Bahá'í­ International Community Office for the Pacific Region; 28 October 1992. 

77. "From UNCED to IYF: The Human Family," a document presented to the Fourth International Seminar "Family and Environment: A Partnership," sponsored by the NGO Committee on the Family; Vienna, Austria; 30 November-1 December 1992. 

78. "The Earth One Country, Mankind its Citizens," an article submitted by the Office of the Environment and appearing in Masterworks of Man and Nature: Preserving Our World Heritage, published by Harper MacRae with editorial assistance from UNESCO and IUCN. 

79. Written statement to the 49th session of the Commission on Human Rights on 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; Geneva, Switzerland; February 1993. 

80. Oral statement on extreme poverty presented to the 49th session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, Agenda item 7: Question of the realization in all countries of the economic, social and cultural rights contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and study of special problems which the developing countries face in their efforts to achieve these human rights, including: problems related to the right to enjoy an adequate standard of living; foreign debt, economic adjustment policies and their effects on the full enjoyment of human rights and, in particular, on the implementation of the Declaration on the Right to Development; Geneva, Switzerland; 12 February 1993. 

81. Oral statement to the 49th session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, agenda item 22: Implementation of the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination based on Religion or Belief; Geneva, Switzerland; 18 February 1993. 

82. Joint NGO statement presented to the 49th session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, under agenda item 24 (a): Status of the Convention on the Rights of the Child; Geneva, Switzerland; 8 March 1993. 

83. Oral statement to the 49th session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, agenda item 12 : Question of the violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms; Geneva, Switzerland; 10 March 1993. 

84. Written statement to the 37th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, agenda item 5, Priority themes: Peace: Women and the Peace Process; Vienna, Austria; 15-26 March 1993. 

85. Joint NGO statement on partnership between women and men, presented under "Preparations for the Fourth World Conference on Women" to the 37th session of the Commission on the Status of Women; Vienna, Austria; March 1993. 

86. Submission to members of the Human Rights Committee entitled "The Implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by the Islamic Republic of Iran as it may concern the situation of the Bahá'í­ community; Geneva, Switzerland; March 1993." 

87. Written statement submitted to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights at its 8th session; Geneva, Switzerland; 10-28 May 1993. 

88. Rebuttal to the statement made by the Iranian Delegation to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; Geneva, Switzerland; 19 May 1993. 

89. Updated entry for Development Education: A Directory of Non-Governmental Practitioners, prepared by the Non-Governmental Liaison Service office; Geneva, Switzerland; 26 May 1993. 

90. "Approaching Men to Improve Lives for Women" article about the BIC/UNIFEM project appearing in UNIFEM News; June 1993. 

91. Statement to the World Conference on Human Rights on the obstacles to progress in the area of human rights and ways to overcome them, agenda item 9; Vienna, Austria; 14-25 June 1993. 

92. Statement to the World Conference on Human Rights on the relationship between development, democracy and the universal enjoyment of all human rights, keeping in view the interrelationship and indivisibility of economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights, agenda item 10; Vienna, Austria; 14-25 June 1993. 

93. Statement to the World Conference on Human Rights on the challenges to the full realization of all human rights of women and men, including those of persons belonging to vulnerable groups, agenda item 11; Vienna, Austria; 14-25 June 1993. 

94. Joint statement to the World Conference on Human Right on promoting religious tolerance Presented by the Bahá'í­ International Community on behalf of the non-governmental organizations affiliated with the NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief; Vienna, Austria; 14-25 June 1993. 

95. World Citizenship: A Global Ethic for Sustainable Development, a concept paper shared at the first session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development; New York, USA; 14-25 June 1993. 

96. World Citizenship: A Global Ethic for Sustainable Development, a statement to the Fourth Pacific Islands Leaders Conference; Tahiti Nui; 24-26 June 1993. 

97. The Bahá'í­ Question: Iran's Secret Blueprint for the Destruction of a Religious Community, an examination of the Persecution of the Bahá'í­s of Iran 1970-1993; June 1993. 

98. Report to the United Nations Human Rights Committee on the Implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by the Arab Republic of Egypt as it may concern the situation of the Bahá'í­ community; July 1993. 

99. Oral statement presented to the United Nations Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, on the question of the violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in any part of the world; Geneva, Switzerland; August 1993. 

100. Oral statement on religious tolerance presented to the UN Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities; Geneva, Switzerland; August 1993. 

101. Bahá'í­ International Community Activities Contributing to the Attainment of the Goals Set by the World Summit for Children. Report to the 2nd meeting of the Chief Executive Officers of the World Summit for Children; October 1993. 

102. Rebuttal to the statement made by the Iranian Delegation to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 19 May 1993; 1 November 1993. 

103. The Family in a World Community, a pamphlet first distributed at the World NGO Forum Launching the International Year of the Family (IYF); Malta; November 1993. 

104. Written comments on 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 1994 Commission on Human Rights in accordance with resolution 1993/92 of the Commission on Human Rights; 3 December 1993.


BIC Document #94-0601