Website to Permit Broader Participation in UN World Summit

August 22, 2005

Today I found a very important web site and I wanted to it share with visitors to our site.

I was first taken with the beauty and impact of the site's graphics. But when I looked into it further I saw it also has tremendous potential for the human rights community.

The press release announcing it stated:

"With some 170 heads of state and government expected in New York in less than a month for the United Nations 2005 World Summit, civil society groups working with the UN Department of Public Information (DPI) have launched a Website to voice their views on how to strengthen the world body as it confronts the challenges of poverty and global security."

The Website, at www.undpingoconference.org, features an interactive discussion area, which went live Monday, to debate issues that will be addressed at the 58th Annual DPI (UN Department of Public Information)/NGO (non-governmental organization) Conference. 'Our challenge. Voices for Peace, Partnership and Renewal,' is scheduled to take place at UN Headquarters in New York from September 7-9, 2005.

The intention of the site is to provide to the general public, who are otherwise excluded from the activities of this conference, access to what is going on within the conference.

The site enables online participants to pose questions, which may be taken up by panel speakers. Online discussion areas will make it possible for comments, questions and answers to be displayed, during and after the Conference.

The press release goes on to state:

"The website will host live a webcast of the panel discussions which will feature Shirin Ebadi, 2003 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Ann Veneman, Executive Director of UNICEF, Juan Somavia, Director-General of International Labor Organization, Anwarul Chowdhury, UN High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States, Fatou Bensouda, Deputy Prosecutor, International Criminal Court, Gareth Evans, President and Chief Executive, International Crisis Group, Paul van Tongeren, Executive Director, European Center for Conflict Prevention and Bill Pace, Executive Director of World Federalist Movement."

This is a brilliant use of the capability of the Internet to extend to all of us the opportunity to be heard and to make a difference.