UNA-NYC to be Represented at UN Conference on Implementing Development Goals Set by World Leaders

Several members of the Board of Directors, Gloria J. Browne-Marshall, Aenne Chene, Bruce Eaken, Sherrie Murphy and Desiree Watson of the United Nations Association of New York (UNA-NYC) as well as the Executive Director, Ann Nicol and Kevin Jefferson of UNA-NYC Young Professionals for International Cooperation (YPIC) have been selected to represent the United Nations Association of New York at the 57th Annual United Nations Department of Public Information/Non-Governmental Organization Conference to be held at UN headquarters in New York City, 8 to 10 September, 2004. Secretary General Kofi A. Annan will address an expected 2000 NGO delegates at the opening session in the General Assembly Hall. Entitled, "Millennium Development Goals: Civil Society Takes Action," the conference will focus on the roles of NGOs civil society and governments in the implementation of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which were adopted by 189 UN Member States in their high-level millennium session in 2000.

Centered around the most critical problems causing tensions in the world today, the MDGs are designed to give people worldwide the tools to care for themselves in healthy, sustainable environments. Specific MDG targets are set to: alleviate poverty, treat and prevent the spread of the HIV/Aids epidemic, provide universal primary education and gender equality, reduce child and maternal mortality rates, lower by half the number of people who suffer from hunger and lack access to safe drinking water, empower women, and create a global partnership to foster good governance and economic development in the least developed countries, including opening world markets to their goods.

UNA-NYC is a non-profit organization, and it's mission is to raise the profile of the United Nations and advance its work. UNA-NYC provides educational and outreach programs to the public, increasing public awareness and knowledge of global issues and their relations to the UN system and builds support for constructive US policies on matters of global concern.

Conference delegates will attend five plenary sessions with governmental, UN Agency, NGO, civil society and local community leaders to assess the progress each sector has made on the Goals. Emphasis will be placed on reviewing successful programs to be replicated, possible strategies for raising resources required for the implementation of the MDGs and heightening public awareness of the Goals. After networking at interactive Midday Workshops, delegates will consider drafting a recommended plan of action for use by the NGOs and other civil society members to help meet the Millennium Development Goals by the target date of 2015.

The DPI/NGO Conference is organized by the United Nations Department of Public Information in partnership with the NGO/DPI Executive Committee.