UN DPI/NGO Conference: "Our Challenge: Voices for Peace, Partnerships, and Renewal".

From September 7-9, 2005, I had the privilege of representing ACEI and joining 1,788 representatives from 121 countries at the 58th Annual Department of Public Information/Non-Governmental Organization (DPI/NGO) Conference at the United Nations, titled "Our Challenge: Voices for Peace, Partnerships, and Renewal." The Secretary General, Kofi Annan, stated that this conference had "special significance because it was the last civil society event at the United Nations headquarters before the 2005 World Summit, one of the largest gatherings of Heads of State and Government ever." The DPI/NGO Conference focused on the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals and on United Nations renewal. Throughout the conference, speakers and representatives from around the world addressed the issue of partnerships between the civil society and the United Nations, encouraging us as the civil society to raise our voices and join together in our role as advocates. The Secretary General reminded conference participants that the original United Nations Charter includes consultation with civil society, and that our presence gives true meaning to the document's opening phrase, "We the people."

The call to advocacy was the main message to us as the civil society, particularly in light of the outcomes of the World Summit. Kofi Annan emphasized that we have a key role to play and that the United Nations is depending on us to assess the summit's outcome document to see if it goes far enough, and to ensure that our world leaders and governments get results. In addition, Shashi Tharoor, Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information at the United Nations, assured us that our voices are being heard regarding the eradication of poverty, the promotion of the Millennium Goals, and the strengthening of human rights principles. He spoke openly from his heart when he added, "You are our support, you are our backbone, and you are often our conscience. You are not just welcome here at the United Nations, we need you."

Although there were many presentations at the Conference, the overall theme of active advocacy was the most meaningful for ACEI's membership. At all levels of the educational enterprise, whether we are teachers, administrators, parents, or professors, we tend to become consumed with teaching, or conducting research, or managing the complex daily problems that arise in our schools. We need to focus on our immediate tasks while also focusing on the big picture. The time has come for us to broaden our efforts and make an impact on public policy for the benefit of children, youth, and families. As a profession, we can work collectively to shape the educational policy environment as well as address child-related issues such as nutrition, sanitation, and health care. ACEI members are encouraged to engage in advocacy initiatives at the international, national, and local levels of community. For those of us already involved in advocacy, we need to enroll our colleagues and friends, and build wider constituencies.

Information about the outcome of the World Summit is available at www.un.org/summit2005/ and to learn more about the Millennium Development Goals: Priorities for Children, go to www. unicef.org.

Nancy Brown, ACEI Representative to the United Nations