More Books by BIC

1928 Sep 11 The Case of Baha'u'llah's House in Baghdad before the League of Nations
1947 Feb 01 A Bahá'í Declaration of Human Obligations and Rights
1947 Jul 01 The Faith of Bahá'u'lláh - A World Religion
1947 Jul 15 Letter to the United Nations Special Committee on Palestine
1955 May 23 Proposals for Charter Revision Submitted to the United Nations by the Bahá'í International Community
1974 Jan 14 Suggestions and Proposals for International Women's Year
1974 Jan 15 Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
1975 Jun 19 International Women's Year
1979 Aug 20 Science and Technology for Human Advancement
1980 Aug 26 The Right to Development- Exploring Its Social and Cultural Dimensions
1980 Jul 14 Universal Values for the Advancement of Women
1980 Oct 18 Spiritual and Social Values for Rural Development
1981 Oct 01 Quadrennial Report to the UN Economic & Social Council (ECOSOC) 1977-1981
1982 Jun 01 The Promise of Disarmament and Peace
1982 Sep 01 Proposals for an Effective International Campaign Against Traffic in Drugs
1983 Aug 01 Combating Racism
1984 Nov 19 Equality, Development and Peace in Latin America and the Caribbean
1984 Oct 08 Equality, Development and Peace in Africa
1985 Apr 06 The Contribution of Youth To World Peace
1985 Apr 16 Women's Concerns
1985 Feb 21 Role of Youth in Human Rights
1985 Feb 26 Preparation for Life in Peace
1985 Jan 25 Question of a Convention on the Rights of the Child
1985 Jul 10 The Spiritual Basis of Equality
1985 Jul 15 Activities in the Bahá'í World Community to Improve the Status of Women
1985 Jun 10 Struggle Against Hunger
1985 Mar 19 Building a Just World Order
1985 May 06 Preparation for Life in Peace - The Contribution of Women
1985 May 20 Peace and Development
1985 May 20 Preparation for Life in Peace - The Role of Youth
1985 Oct 01 The Promise of World Peace
1985 Oct 09 Social Welfare and Social Development
1986 Apr 17 The Bahá'í International Community and World Peace
1986 Apr 22 Development Decade
1986 Feb 14 Prevention and Control of Drug and Substance Abuse - A Bahá'í Perspective
1986 Jul 07 Education for Peace and Unity
1986 Jun 03 International Youth Year
1986 Jun 20 Quadrennial Report to the UN Economic & Social Council (ECOSOC) 1981-1985
1986 May 26 International Year of Peace
1986 Nov 03 Economic Development
1987 Aug 24 The Relationship Between Disarmament and Development
1987 Feb 23 Social Integration
1987 Jan 07 The Family - A Bahá'í Perspective
1987 Jun 17 Ending Drug Abuse
1987 Mar 03 Eliminating Religious Intolerance
1987 Sep 09 Social Progress
1988 Aug 01 Rights of Indigenous Populations
1988 Aug 03 Combating Racism
1988 Aug 06 Human Rights and Disability
1988 Feb 17 Eliminating Religious Intolerance
1988 Feb 19 Eliminating Torture
1988 Mar 16 Education for Peace
1988 Mar 17 Rural Women
1988 May 23 Health, Education, and the Role of Women
1988 Oct 10 Participation of Women in the South Pacific
1988 Sep 27 The Integration of Women in the Social and Economic Development of Latin America and the Caribbean
1989 Feb 08 Eliminating Racism
1989 Feb 09 Right to Development
1989 Feb 15 Creating a Universal Culture of Human Rights
1989 Mar 02 Promoting Religious Tolerance
1989 Mar 29 Women Farmers and Food Security
1989 Mar 30 Women and Development
1989 Nov 06 Strategies for the Advancement of Women in Africa
1990 Aug 06 Environment and Development
1990 Aug 15 Protection of Minorities
1990 Feb 09 Right to Development
1990 Feb 26 Advocates for African Food Security - Lessening the Burden for Women
1990 Feb 27 Equality in Political Participation and Decision-Making
1990 Jan 25 Eliminating Religious IntoleranceStatement to the 46th session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights
1990 Jan 26 Combating Racism
1990 Jan 27 Protection of Minorities
1990 Mar 06 NGOs and Literacy (Meeting Basic Learning Needs - The Experience of Bahá'í Communities)
1990 Mar 07 The Education of Girls - Constraints and Policy Measures
1990 Mar 08 The Teacher's Situation - The Determining Factor of a Quality Education for All
1990 Mar 09 New Delivery Systems for Basic Education
1990 May 01 Report on the Status of Women in the Bahá'í Community
1990 May 10 Quadrennial Report to the UN Economic & Social Council (ECOSOC) 1986-1989
1990 Nov 28 World Conservation Strategy for the 1990's
1990 Sep 06 Women and Development in the Pacific
1990 Sep 07 Participation and Development in the Pacific
1990 Sep 16 The Common Goal of Universal Peace in Buddhism and the Bahá'í Faith
1991 Apr 05 Earth Charter
1991 Apr 17 The Girl Child
1991 Aug 13 International Legislation for Environment and Development
1991 Dec 16 Report on Rural Poverty Alleviation Efforts in Asia and the Pacific, Focusing on Activities for Disadvantaged Women
1991 Feb 04 Activities in Support of International Literacy Year - 1990
1991 Feb 24 Rights of the Child
1991 Feb 25 Promoting Religious Tolerance
1991 Feb 28 Peace and Refugees
1991 Jan 15 A Bahá'í Perspective on Drug Abuse Prevention
1991 Jan 21 Rights of Persons Belonging to National, Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities
1991 Jun 10 Toward the 21st Century and Peace
1991 Mar 01 Advocates for African Food Security- Lessening the Burden for Women
1991 May 30 Health and Nutrition
1991 Nov 08 Women and Men - Partnership for a Healthy Planet
1992 Apr 06 Women's Rights as Human Rights
1992 Dec 01 The Earth One Country, Mankind Its Citizens
1992 Feb 07 Rights of Minorities - Comments on the Draft Declaration
1992 Feb 10 Creating a Climate of Religious Tolerance
1992 Jun 04 Sustainable Development and the Human Spirit
1992 Jun 08 Moral Leadership
1992 Mar 04 The Earth Charter-Rio De Janeiro Declaration and the Oneness of Humanity
1992 Mar 11 Women and Development
1992 Mar 12 Women and Development
1992 Mar 17 Equality and the Girl Child
1992 May 18 Restructuring the International Order
1993 Apr 05 Equality of Men & Women - A New Reality
1993 Aug 03 Ending Religious Intolerance
1993 Dec 03 Rights & Responsibility to Promote Human Rights
1993 Feb 12 Human Rights and Extreme Poverty
1993 Feb 18 Eliminating Religious Intolerance
1993 Jan 18 Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
1993 Jun 01 Approaching Men to Improve Lives for Women
1993 Jun 14 World citizenship - A Global Ethic for Sustainable Development
1993 Jun 15 Obstacles to Progress in Human Rights
1993 Jun 16 Development, Democracy and Human Rights
1993 Jun 17 Women's Rights
1993 Jun 18 Promoting Religious Tolerance
1993 Jun 24 World Citizenship - A Global Ethic for Sustainable Development
1993 Mar 08 Rights of the Child
1993 Mar 15 Women and the Peace Process
1993 Mar 16 Women and Men in Partnership
1993 Mar 18 Overview of Activities Related to Women
1993 Nov 25 The Family in a World Community
1993 Oct 22 World Summit for Children - Report October 1993
1994 Aug 17 Human Rights and Extreme Poverty
1994 Aug 19 Protection of Minorities
1994 Aug 22 Toward a Development Paradigm for the 21st Century
1994 Aug 23 The Role of Education, Media and the Arts in Social Development
1994 Aug 24 The Role of Religion in Social Development
1994 Feb 20 Rights of Women
1994 Jan 21 Global Action Plan for Social Development
1994 Jul 05 Family and Social Development
1994 Jun 01 Quadrennial Report to the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), 1990-1993
1994 Jun 05 Traditional Media as Change Agent
1994 Jun 21 Arrangements for Consultations with Non-Governmental Organizations
1994 May 23 The Violence-Free Family^% Building Block of Peaceful Civilization
1994 May 26 Creating Violence-Free Families
1994 May 27 World Summit for Children Follow Up
1995 Aug 07 Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities
1995 Aug 26 The Greatness Which Might Be Theirs - Women in the Informal Sector in Malaysia
1995 Aug 26 The Greatness Which Might Be Theirs - Bahá'í Law and Principle^% Creating Legal and Institutional Structures for Gender Equality
1995 Aug 26 The Greatness Which Might Be Theirs - Educating Girls—An Investment in the Future
1995 Aug 26 The Greatness Which Might Be Theirs - Ending Violence Against Women
1995 Aug 26 The Greatness Which Might Be Theirs - Introduction
1995 Aug 26 The Greatness Which Might Be Theirs - Primary Health Care and the Empowerment of Women
1995 Aug 26 The Greatness Which Might Be Theirs - Protection of Women's Rights
1995 Aug 26 The Greatness Which Might Be Theirs - Religions as an Agent for Promoting the Advancement of Women at all Levels
1995 Aug 26 The Greatness Which Might Be Theirs - The Girl Child -- A Critical Concern
1995 Aug 26 The Greatness Which Might Be Theirs - The Status of Women in the Bahá'í Community
1995 Aug 26 The Greatness Which Might Be Theirs - UNIFEM-Bahá'í Project Raises Community Consciousness
1995 Dec 12 Bahá'í International Community and International Organizations
1995 Feb 01 Ending Violence Against Women
1995 Jan 10 Promoting Religious Tolerance
1995 Jan 31 Rights of Minorities
1995 Jul 31 The realization of economic, social and cultural rights
1995 Mar 03 The Prosperity of Humankind
1995 Mar 06 The Prosperity of Humankind (Oral Statement)
1995 Mar 09 Educating Girls and Women
1995 Mar 17 The Declaration and Programme of Action for Social Development
1995 May 03 Conservation and Sustainable Development in the Bahá'í Faith
1995 Oct 01 Turning Point For All Nations
1995 Sep 13 The Role of Religion in Promoting the Advancement of Women
1996 Apr 30 Two Bahá'í International Community Projects - Cameroon and Zambia
1996 Jun 07 Sustainable Communities in an Integrating World
1996 Mar 15 The United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education
1997 Mar 01 United Nations Decade on Human Rights Education
1998 Feb 13 Rights of the Child
1998 Feb 18 Valuing Spirituality in Development
1998 Feb 19 Meaningful Participation in the Development Process
1998 Jun 01 Quadrennial Report to the UN Economic & Social Council (ECOSOC) 1994-1997
1998 Mar 03 Empowering Girls
1999 Jan 11 Protection of Minorities
1999 Jan 12 Religious Values and the Measurement of Poverty and Prosperity
1999 Jan 29 The Bahá'í Institute Of Higher Education - A Creative And Peaceful Response To Religious Persecution In Iran
1999 Mar 01 Women and Health
1999 Mar 22 Protection of Minorities
2000 Aug 29 The Millennium World Peace Summit - A Bahá'í Perspective
2000 Jan 20 The Right to Education
2000 Jun 06 Bahá'í International Community - History of Active Cooperation with the United Nations
2000 Sep 08 Statement to The Millennium Summit
2001 Apr 30 Sustainable Development - the Spiritual Dimension
2001 Aug 31 One Same Substance - Consciously Creating a Global Culture of Unity
2001 Jan 08 The Impact of Racism on Women
2001 Jun 01 Quadrennial Report to the UN Economic & Social Council (ECOSOC) 1998-2001
2001 Jun 25 HIV-AIDS & Gender Equality - Transforming Attitudes and Behaviors
2001 Mar 21 International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
2001 May 28 Overcoming Corruption and Safeguarding Integrity in Public Institutions - A Bahá'í Perspective
2001 Nov 23 Belief and Tolerance Lights Amidst the Darkness
2002 Aug 26 Religion and Development at the Crossroads - Convergence or Divergence
2004 Mar 01 The role of men and boys in achieving gender equality
2005 Apr 01 Freedom to Believe - A Response to the United Nations Development Programme 2004 Human Development Report
2005 Apr 30 Baha'i International Community Response to the Secretary General's Report
2005 Dec 01 Quadrennial Report to the United Nations Economic and Social Council
2005 Mar 14 Situation of the Bahá’ís in the Islamic Republic of Iran
2005 Oct 01 Freedom to Believe - Upholding the Standard of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
2005 Oct 02 The Search for Values in an Age of Transition
2005 Oct 03 The Search for Values in an Age of Transition -- A Study Guide
2006 Jan 01 A New Framework for Global Prosperity
2006 Jul 02 Beyond Legal Reforms - Culture and Capacity in the Eradication of Violence Against Women and Girls
2006 Mar 27 Treatment of the Followers of the Bahá'í Faith in the Islamic Republic of Iran
2007 Feb 26 Transforming Values to Empower the Girl Child
2007 Jun 26 Initiatives for the Global Dialogue --Human Rights and Religious Diversity
2007 Mar 12 Situation of the Bahá’ís in Iran
2007 Mar 13 Situation of the Bahá’í minority in Egypt
2007 Sep 01 Guiding Principles on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights
2007 Sep 07 Transforming Values to Empower the Girl Child
2007 Sep 20 Integrating gender perspectives into the work of the Human Rights Council
2007 Sep 24 Situation of the Bahá’ís in Egypt
2008 Aug 12 Iran Intensifies Disinformation and Attacks on Bahá’ís
2008 Dec 01 Seizing the Opportunity - Redefining the challenge of climate change
2008 Dec 15 Forum on Minority Issues
2008 Feb 01 Mobilizing Institutional, Legal and Cultural Resources to Achieve Gender Equality
2008 Feb 06 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights
2008 Feb 11 Full Employment and Decent Work
2008 Feb 14 Eradicating Poverty^% Moving Forward as One
2008 Jun 06 Oral Statement to the Eight Session of the Human Rights Coucil
2008 Mar 13 The Eradication of Violence against Women and Girls
2008 Mar 14 Current situation of the Bahá’ís in the Islamic Republic of Iran
2009 Apr 20 Statement to the 2009 Durban Review Conference
2009 Feb 04 Reclaiming Freedom of Conscience, Religion or Belief to Promote Social Integration
2009 Feb 28 Striving Towards Justice - Transforming the Dynamics of Human Interaction
2010 Feb 03 Transforming Collective Deliberation^% Valuing Unity and Justice
2010 Jan 31 Statement of the Bahá’í International Community in response to the trial of 16 individuals on 30 January 2010
2010 Jun 08 Situation of the Bahá'ís in Iran – item 4
2010 Jun 10 UPR – Islamic Republic of Iran – item 6
2010 Mar 15 Affirming the right of individuals to designate and define their own beliefs
2010 Mar 15 Status of Imprisoned Bahá’ís
2010 May 03 Rethinking Prosperity - Forging Alternatives to a Culture of Consumerism
Free Interfaith Software

Web - Windows - iPhone








BIC : 2005 Dec 01 Quadrennial Report to the United Nations Economic and Social Council
Introduction.

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

Summary of Activities Supporting the Work of the UN.

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

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

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

Advancement of Women.

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

Human Rights.

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

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

Development and Global Prosperity.

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

NGO Community Work.

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

Information Activities.

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

ANNEX I
Bahá'í International Community

Participation[2] at Sessions, Conferences and other Meetings

held by or related to the United Nations system
2002 - 2005
UN General Assembly
2002
Special Session on Children, 8-10 May 2002

Second Ad Hoc Committee for the Negotiation of a Convention Against Corruption,

Vienna, 17-28 June 2002
57th Session, New York, October-November 2002

Third Committee, New York, September - November 2002

2003
58th Session, New York, September-November 2003
Third Committee, New York, October-November 2003
2004
59th Session, New York, October-November 2004
Third Committee, New York, October-November 2004
2005

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

Third Committee, New York, October -November 2005

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

Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
2002 ECOSOC, New York, July 2002
2003 ECOSOC, Geneva, July 2003
2004 ECOSOC, New York, July 2004
2005 ECOSOC, New York, July 2005
UN Commission on Human Rights
2002
58th Session, Geneva, 18 March - 26 April 2002
2003
59th Session, Geneva, 17 March - 25 April 2003

Working Group for the protection of all persons from enforced disappearances, Geneva,

6-17January 2003

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

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

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

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

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

4-8 October 2004
2005
61st Session, Geneva, 14 March - 22 April 2005

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

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

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

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

Working Group of independent experts on people of African descent, Geneva,

3-7 February 2003

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

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

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

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

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

UN Commission on the Status of Women
2002
46th Session, New York, 4-15 March 2002
2003
47th Session, New York, 3-14 March 2003

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

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

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

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

5 March 2003
2004
48th Session, New York, 1 -12 March 2004

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

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

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

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

2005

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

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

UN Commission for Social Development
2002
40th Session, New York, 11-27 February 2002
2004
42nd Session, New York, 4-13 February 2004
2005
43rd Session, New York, 8-18 February 2005

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

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

UN Commission on Sustainable Development
2002
10th Session, New York, 30 April - 2 May 2002
2004
12th Session, New York, 19 April - 30 May 2004

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

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

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

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

Economic Commission for Latin America & the Caribbean

2004

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

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

UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

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

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

UN Treaty Monitoring Bodies

Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women – Sessions

2002
New York, 14 January - 1 February 2002
New York, 3-21 June 2002
Exceptional Session, New York, 5-23 August 2002
2003
New York, 30 June - 18 July 2003
2004
New York, 6-23 July 2004

Committee on Social, Economic and Cultural Rights– Sessions

2002
Geneva

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

2002
Geneva
2004
Geneva
2005
Geneva

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

2003
Geneva
Human Rights Committee – Sessions
2002
Geneva
2004
Geneva
UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund)
2002
Executive Board meeting, New York, 3-7 June 2002
2003
Executive Board meeting, New York, 2-6 June 2003

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

UNHCHR (UN High Commissioner for Human Rights)

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

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

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

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

UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)

2002

Executive Committee of the High Commissioner’s Programme (Excom), 53rd session,

Geneva, 30 September - 4 October 2002

Pre-Executive Committee Meeting with NGOs sponsored by UNHCR, Geneva,

25-27 September 2002
2003

Executive Committee of the High Commissioner’s Programme (Excom), 54th session,

Geneva, 29 September - 3 October 2003
World Bank

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

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

2002

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

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

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

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

4 September 2002

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

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

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

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

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

2003

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

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

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

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

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

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

2004

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

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

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

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

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

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

2005

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Consultative Meetings prior to the Establishment of the Human Rights Council

2005

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

Third Assembly for Human Rights, Geneva, 10 October 2005

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

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

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

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

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

NGO and Government Sponsored Events on UN Themes
2002

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

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

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

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

First Social Forum, Geneva, 25-26 July 2002

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

Conference: Global Peace Initiative of Women Religious and Spiritual Leaders, Geneva,

7-9 October 2002

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

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

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

2003
UN NGO/DPI Briefing, 15 May 2003

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

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

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

2004

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

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

World Social Forum, Geneva, 22-23 July 2004

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

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

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

2005

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

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

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

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

Indonesia, 19 April 2005

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

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

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

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

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

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

27 September 2005

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

ANNEX II
Bahá'í International Community

Statements to United Nations Conferences, Commissions

Related Consultative Gatherings
2002 - 2005

1. Written statements by the Bahá'í International Community

2002

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

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

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

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

2003

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

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

2004

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

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

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

2005

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

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

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

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

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

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

2. Oral statements by the Bahá'í International Community

2002

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

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

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

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

2003

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

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

2004

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

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

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

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

2005

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

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

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

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

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

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

2002

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

2003

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

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

2004

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

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

2005

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

Annex III
Bahá'í International Community
Membership
2002 - 2005

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[2] Participation as observer unless otherwise noted.

PDF Version of this report
BIC Document #05-1201

Table of Contents: Albanian :Arabic :Belarusian :Bulgarian :Chinese_Simplified :Chinese_Traditional :Danish :Dutch :English :French :German :Hungarian :Italian :Japanese :Norwegian :Persian :Portuguese :Romanian :Russian :Spanish :Turkish :Ukrainian :