Advocacy in action: Annual 2006 DPI/NGO Conference at the United Nations.

ACEI was again represented at the annual DPI/ NGO conference, along with 1,600 participants from around the world. The mood this year was somber and quite serious, possibly in response to the uncertainty created by the Middle East crisis that was raging while the conference was taking place. The conference theme of "Unfinished Business: Effective Partnerships for Human Security and Sustainable Development" indicated that NGO/UN partnerships are at the core of achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

In past DPI/NGO conferences and in this one, the dynamic and vibrant NGO community was present. Kofi Annan, in his parting words to the NGO community, spoke about the "passion and compassion" that guides NGO work. He had recently returned from a peacekeeping diplomatic meeting in the Middle East, and his poignant and heartfelt statements deeply touched the NGO audience. He described the NGO movement as "an international community to improve humanity that represents the voice of citizens ... and often leads on issues like child labor, human rights, HIV/AIDS, and poverty." He told us, "Your growing power and common democratic ideals are fostering change. You have the capacity to push the envelope and say things we can't say.... I see a world of opportunities for work between us. I see a UN that celebrates the NGO revolution and the global citizen. It always starts with a dream." The NGO community presented Annan with a scroll in recognition of his support for NGOs, and presented a bouquet of flowers to his wife. With tears in his eyes, Annan thanked us and reminded us that the UN was a dream that became a reality.

Building on the conference's theme, many international speakers contributed a range of ideas and perspectives. Raymond Sommereyns, Director of the Outreach Division of the UN/DPI, stressed the three pillars of the Summit: 1) peace and security, 2) sustainable development, and 3) ensuring a life of dignity and respect for human rights. Alvaro Garcia, Vice President of Bolivia, spoke about NGOs creating a new vision for development that is pluralistic, complex, and multifaceted. He emphasized a post-modern view recognizing many paths to development, and eliminating extortion and neocolonialism. Garcia said that there are other ways of measuring progress, well-being, and development, ones that result in strengthening the rights of all people. He stated that each country and region should have its own path to development, respecting pluralism and the right to universal wealth. Katsutoshi Kaneda, Senior Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs in Japan, spoke about a "people-centered" approach to development, and the importance of integrating development with security, and a respect for human rights.

Mal Nahu Ribadu, Executive Chairman of Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, focused on corruption and the failure of governments to efficiently and ethically promote development. He urged NGOs to take a stand against corruption and become engaged in finding solutions. Rina Lopez Bautista, President of the Knowledge Channel in the Philippines, gave a presentation on the use of mass media to provide access to universal education. Her broadcast television network educates 2.7 million public school students, many of whom live in poverty and in rural areas. Nancy Neal Hinson, a member of the Senior Management Team at Head Start, from Spokane, Washington, presented issues related to early childhood education. She spoke about underprivileged children and the need for active parent engagement, especially for very young children. Hinson additionally emphasized that education to promote mutual understanding is the first step to peace.

Vicki Soames, UN NGO representative of the International ATD Fourth World Movement, led a panel on "A Participatory Approach to Poverty Eradication." She encouraged us to go and meet people who are suffering from poverty. Soames identified the need for a shift in our thinking, to help everyone understand that "to eradicate poverty, we must respect every single person in the world." NGOs should provide a voice for the poor and focus on long-term solutions. Soames said that the Draft Declaration on Indigenous Peoples will be coming before the General Assembly. She urged us to actively engage with poor countries, and to listen to the people.

As always, the annual DPI/NGO conference at the UN presents us with the broad global vision of challenges and possibilities. Clearly, we can't do it all, but we can focus on one or two of the MDGs and become activists. We will continue to mobilize communities and to create new dreams. Collectively, we realize that grassroots efforts start in our hearts and are implemented in the schools where we work and live.

--Nancy Brown, ACEI Representative to the UN