UNESCO
published, in March 2007, the Sextennial
Report that BPW International has to submit
to the General Conference every six years.
This report must show the contributions
made to UNESCO’s activities by International
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), 2001-2006
and the results of the cooperation with
the organizations that have operational
relations with UNESCO.
The
report begins with an important reflection
on the influence of civil society that has
increased in a special manner in the past
two decades. These developments suggested
to the United Nations system a revision
of the international decision-making mechanisms.
The base was the June 2004 report of the
former President of Brazil, Fernando Henrique
Cardoso. In that report he recommended four
lines of action to improve relations between
the United Nations and civil society: looking
outward, working with many stakeholders,
connecting the local with the global and
helping to bring democracy into the twenty-first
century.
UNESCO
has historically maintained special links
with NGOs and has built strategic partnerships
with a number of them. In the discussions
on the relations between UNESCO and non-governmental
organizations, the report pays attention
to current practices in other intergovernmental
organizations. UNESCO adopted a Directive
in 1995 in order to strengthen the cooperation
with non-governmental organizations. Now
UNESCO maintains official relations with
a total of 335 NGOs: 19 NGOs with formal
associate relations; 67 NGOs with formal
consultative relations and 249 NGOs with
operational relations. - one of which is
the International Federation of Business
and Professional Women (BPW International).
NGOs
have appreciated very much the revitalization
of the Executive Board’s Committee
on International Non-Governmental aspects.
One agenda for the NGO Committee Meeting
of the Executive Board was to enhance the
collaboration among UNESCO, NGOs and National
Commissions that have the role to improve
UNESCO’s objectives at regional and
country levels.
BPW
International now has the opportunity to
nominate representatives to UNESCO at country
level. There are 46 countries where both
BPW affiliates and UNESCO country offices
are present, which are:
Argentina,
Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bulgaria,
Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo,
Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, France, Germany,
Ghana, Haiti, India,, Ireland, Italy,
Jamaica, Japan, Latvia, Mexico, Mongolia,
Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria,
Pakistan, Palestinian Authority, Philippines,
Poland, Republic of Korea, Republic
of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation,
Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Switzerland,
Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago,
Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States
of America, Uruguay, and Zimbabwe. |
So
for the countries mentioned above, if your
federation or associate club is up-to-date
with its international dues and is interested
in nominating a representative to UNESCO,
please kindly send the name, address and
profile (curriculum vitae) of your nominee
to presidents.office@bpw-international.org
no later than 31 October 2007. In this way,
BPW International can establish contact
between regional and country levels of UNESCO
offices, the Regions and the National Federations
and coordinating bodies of UNESCO Clubs,
Centers and Associations and strengthen
BPW influence accordingly.
Annarosa
Colangelo
1st Vice-President 2005-2008 |
