DI at the UNGA Hearings with NGOs

Defend International (DI) participated in the General Assembly Interactive Hearings with NGOs which took place at United Nations Headquarters in New York on 14-15 June 2010. President of DI Widad Akrawi attended the meetings as an observer and encourager.


Informal Interactive Hearings of the General Assembly with Non-governmental organizations, Civil society organizations and the Private sector

DI was approved by the United Nations Department Of Economic And Social Affairs to participate in the General Assembly Interactive Hearings with Non-governmental organizations, Civil society organizations and the Private sector which took place at United Nations Headquarters in New York on 14-15 June 2010.

The purpose of this meeting was "to provide input to the preparatory process for the "MDG summit" (High-level Plenary Meeting) on 20-22 September 2010, the UN General Assembly, in resolution A/RES/64/184 asked the President of its 64th session, H.E. Dr. Ali Abdussalam Treki, to convene "Informal Interactive Hearings of the General Assembly with Non-governmental organizations, Civil society organizations and the Private sector."

President of Defend International Widad Akrawi attended the General Assembly meetings as an observer. She also participated in a number of side events that allowed politicians and NGO representatives to voice their opinions and wishes.

Prior to the hearings the President of the General Assembly had formed a "Task Force" of representatives of civil society and the private sector to advise him on the format and participation at the Hearings.

Over 760 speaking nominations were received for only 52 available speaking roles.


Background

The MDG 2010 summit is a significant opportunity to support collective efforts in order to reach the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. The focus will be on accelerating progress towards the achievement of all the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. Through a comprehensive review the progress made at the international level on the development goals will be evaluated and an "action-oriented outcome" should be adopted by Member States.

Two "Co-facilitators", the Ambassadors of Senegal and Denmark to the United Nations in New York, will lead the inter-governmental negotiating process on the outcome document. The Co-facilitators are now in the process of developing the outcome document for the summit. The draft was released during the Hearings.

The General Assembly highlighted the importance of the inputs from Non-governmental organizations, Civil society organizations and the Private sector.

Furthermore, the resolution "requests the President of the Assembly to prepare a summary of the hearings, to be issued as an Assembly document prior to the High-level Plenary Meeting." The outcome of the hearings will thus constitute a formal input into the political process leading to the summit itself.


Themes of the Hearings

• Thematic Session 1, Building a better tomorrow: local actions, national strategies and global structures (Monday 14 June, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.)

• Thematic Session 2, Equal and inclusive partnerships: Accountability in the fight against poverty (Monday 14 June, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.)

• Thematic Session 3, Sustaining development and withstanding crises , the following candidates were selected (Tuesday 15 June, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.)

• Thematic Session 4, From voice to policy: 1660 days left (Tuesday 15 June, 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.)

• The floor was then opened for an exchange of views with Member States.

Photos

To see DI photos click here or visit the following link:
http://www.defendinternational.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=323&Itemid=73

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