Y’S
MEN INTERNATIONAL
EUROPE
AREA CONVENTION 2009
THE
UNITED NATIONS’ SYSTEM AND Y’S MEN CONSULTATIVE STATUS ROLE
Rolando Dalmas
A) THE UNITED NATIONS
The
UN was established on 24 October 1945 in Geneva, Switzerland.
Currently
192 States are the members of the General Assembly.
The
purpose and the principle of the UN system can be found in its two key
documents:
- The UN Charter
(1945) and
- The Universal
Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
UN
main areas of attention are:
· Peace
· Refugees
· Human
rights and education
· Development
· Natural
disaster
· Health
· Environment
and space
The three main topics currently
discussed by the Chief Executive Board – attended by all Heads of UN agencies
and chaired by the Secretary General – are:
·
The global climate change
·
The world food market
·
The latest financial crisis
The UN system, with all its
political and internal problems, has survived for more than 60 years, and has
provided an arena where many countries, rich and poor, could express their
views and contribute towards a better future.
B) THE UNIVERSAL
DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted and
proclaimed on 10 December 1948.
Then the UN Assembly called upon all Member countries to
publicize the text of the Declaration and "to cause it to be disseminated,
displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational
institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or
territories”
The
Universal Declaration of Human Rights is based on the concept that “whereas recognition
of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members
of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the
world”.
Article 1: All human beings are
born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and
conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
C) THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL
The
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), deals with almost all international and
global issues except those that are highly political and security related.
These lasts are dealt by the Security Council.
ECOSOC
is the main UN organ linking the civil society and NGOs (as YMI) with the UN
system.
In
order to take stock of the experience and expertise of the NGOs, ECOSOC established
the consultative mechanism. Currently 3172 NGOs are listed. In 2006 Y’s Men
International obtained Special Consultative Status of ECOSOC. The WA of YMCAs was
granted the status in 1947.
D) MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS
During the past decade the international
community has demanded that the UN system be restructured to be able to respond
to the changing needs, particularly improve coordination among the agencies at
the field level and also at the heads of agency level.
As a consequence of that, common
global issues have been pursued. There has been various initiatives focusing on
global issues and bringing together actors of different background to work
together.
These initiatives converged into
the 2000 Millennium Development Goals. In a lapse of 15 years, eight main
objectives are to be achieved by the year 2015. They are:
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E) THE Y'S MEN’S CLUB AND THE UN SYSTEM
How can
Y’s Men be active within the UN system?
First: To have the Consultative
Status is not for us to be benefited with projects and material resources. It
is for share our experience as an NGO in the different fields of our
expertise. This is the main reason why ECOSOC established the consultative
mechanism.
Second: At the same
time, being part of the ECOSOC consultative mechanism, our Movement is enriched
at all levels and we are internationally projected with a more relevant image
and identity.
Third: YMI, with its 1,600 Clubs
and 30,000 volunteers positioned throughout the world, has a unique structure
and opportunity to provide new services in the changing world.
Fourth: The implementation of
the Millennium Development Goals set out by the UN in 2000 is an important framework
for the international community and NGOs like Y’s Men. Our Rollback Malaria
campaign directly contributed to one of the eight objectives laid out in the 2000
Millennium Development Goals. (Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases.)
Fife: Given our funding of the
RBM program through the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red
Crescent Societies (IFRC), YMI may wish to maintain relationship with this
important international non-governmental actor whose work encompasses both
humanitarian and development work and have their support from the national Red Cross
and Red Crescent movements.
Six: Until 2015 when the 2000 Millennium
Development Goals come to an end, Y’s Men at all levels, and in particular at
Club level, should continue to take part in it. It would be wise that Y’s Men
at all levels evaluates how their planned programmes and activities are linked
to the eight Millennium Development Goals.
Seven: Global climate change
(one of the main agendas of the Chief Executive Board) may be selected as one
of YMI’s global themes until 2015. This theme can be linked to a few of the eight
Millennium Development Goals.
Eight: Contributing to the 2000 Millennium
Development Goals process through concrete activities is one thing. Another
form of contribution is through advocacy and publicity. Can our Clubs find ways
to support 2000 Millennium Development Goals by publicizing and promoting them
within their communities?
Nine: The world is changing and
Y’s Men has to change, giving relevant answers to the main today problems in
our local and global communities. Instead of being satisfied with keeping up
with the change, YMI should demonstrate what a combined capacity and wisdom of
a global and mature citizen’s network can do.
Ten: Having Y’s Men clubs around
the globe, with members representing different communities, profession, faith and
experiences, and helping one another for a common cause, is an irreplaceable
asset.
Eleven: IHQ, situated in the international
city of Geneva, has easy access to the international actors (UN, WAY, IFRC,
ICRC, ICVA, etc.) and see how regional and global issues evolve.
Twelve: Given the Special
Consultative Status, YMI has to maintain its credibility in its relationship
with ECOSOC. The latter evaluates the performance of the enlisted NGOs based on
the submitted reports.
UN\UN
Presentation EUR Area Convention 09