wfn.org | UN General Assembly President Urges Greater

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Involvement by "Civil Society"

November 19, 2000
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
http://www.stanet.ch/APD

U. N. General Assembly President Urges Greater 
Involvement by "Civil Society"

Vienna, Austria.      The President of the United 
Nations General Assembly, Ambassador Harri Holkeri, 
urged much greater involvement of non-government 
organizations (NGOs) in U.N. affairs in a speech to 
an international assembly in Vienna, Austria, on 
November 6.

In his keynote address to the General Assembly of the 
Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations in 
Consultative Status with the U.N. (CONGO), Holkeri, 
a former Prime Minister of Finland, pointed to the 
long history of partnership between civil society 
and the U.N. and the need to expand this.

"It is impossible to list all the areas where civil 
society has played a crucial role," he said, "but I 
would like to mention a few key sectors, such as 
promoting peace and human rights, enhancing development, 
fighting for democracy, and speaking out for gender 
equality. All are areas of key concern to the United 
Nations and member states. "

Attending the meeting on behalf of the Seventh-day 
Adventist Church, Jonathan Gallagher, United Nations 
liaison director, said that such comments are an 
invitation to alert the U.N. to the many projects 
carried out by the church and its agencies for 
the betterment of humanity.

"So much of what Adventists do would be endorsed by 
the U.N.," he commented. "Our practical involvement 
in literacy and education projects, health instruction 
and medical programs, development and relief aid, our 
commitment to religious freedom and human rights-all 
these reflect common goals we share. As a major 
player in such areas we have a duty to contribute to 
society beyond our own community, and in practical ways 
demonstrate the values and beliefs we are committed to."

Holkeri closed with a commitment to make his ideas a 
reality: "I pledge my co-operation with and support 
for initiatives being developed by civil society that 
are inclusive of all elements--NGOs, academics, religious 
leaders and the business community; initiatives which are 
regionally and gender balanced, and cover all levels 
from the global to the grassroots."