On Monday, June 11 at 7:30 am during the 2012 biannual convention of the League of Women Voters, 65 interested and/or passionate UN advocates attended the UN Caucus led by UN Observers Rosalee Keech and Mary Fox.
Congratulations to Mary Fox, 1st LWVUS Alternate UN Observer on her appointment as Chair of the UN's 2012 International Day of Older Persons. This year's program celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Madrid International Plan of Action adopted by the Second World Assembly to respond to the opportunities and challenges of the ageing population in the 21st century.
The League of Women Voters of Florida, Oxfam Canada and the Global Democracy Programs of the League of Women Voters Education Fund have joined efforts to organize "Un dialogo entre mujeres: Cuba" (A Dialogue Among Women: Cuba). This dialogue will take place in Tampa, Florida on Friday, May 11 at 12:00 pm in the Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel. The idea for this dialogue arose from the ongoing efforts of the LWVF's program "Sisters Across the Straits" and the LWVEF's ongoing efforts to highlight the importance of women in areas of decision-making. Our two guests from Cuba are Dr.
DESCRIPTION:
Work with other UN and Alternate Observers to participate in areas of interest including Women in the Political Process, Climate Change & Sustainability, Women's Rights, Children's Rights, the Elderly's Rights, Preventing Violence vs Women and Girls. Attend UN sessions and provide information to League members, represent the League at the UN and the UN at the League.
Time Commitment: 1-2 days per week from September thru June.
LOCATION: UN Headquarters and surrounding area, NYC.
The Broader Middle East and North Africa nations include Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, UAE, West Bank/Gaza and Yemen.
For the first time since 2004, the United States has assumed the G-8 Presidency for 2012 and, in that role, has co-chair responsibilities for the Broader Middle East and North Africa (BMENA) initiative. The BMENA initiative is a multilateral effort to promote cooperation between the G-8 and BMENA governments and civil society to advance reform efforts throughout the region. The United States has invited Tunisia to serve as BMENA co-chair, marking the first time that two democracies have led the initiative.
To assist the government co-chairs in developing themes, agendas, and concrete efforts to promote reform in the MENA region, each country selects an NGO partner. The NGO partners coordinate closely with each other and with the co-chair governments in support of BMENA activities, culminating in the ministerial-level Forum for the Future, which will be held in Tunisia in December 2012.
The League has accepted the invitation to partner with the United States as its 2012 BMENA Initiative NGO partner. The role of the League is to organize 10 preparatory meetings that will take place in 8 different countries between April and October, efforts which will culminate with the ministerial meeting in December. The League efforts are going by a team of three headed by Zaida Arguedas. The League’s Global Democracy Program worked in Egypt and in Tunisia in 2011 and has strong ties with local organizations.
See the final publication of the 8th Forum for the Future 2011 below.
The Broader Middle East and North Africa nations include Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, UAE, West Bank/Gaza and Yemen.
Letter from Ms Michelle Bachelet, Under Secretary General and Executive Director of UN Women, on the occasion of UN Women's first anniversary.
Leagues from New Castle (NY) and from New Jersey visit the UN. Mary Fox, Judy Schachter and Jennifer Mebes Flagg arranged the lecture and tour. For more information on visiting the UN with the League, please contact unobserver@lwv.org.
UN Observer, Rosalee Keech, delivered her annual report to the LWVUS Board of Directors at a luncheon held in Washington, DC, March 24, 2012. Please check the report below.