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Social and Sustainable Development

Breakfast dialogue addresses the role of youth in the sustainable development agenda

The tenth in an ongoing series of informal breakfast dialogues co-convened by the Baha'i International Community, International Movement ATD Fourth World and Women's Environment and Development Organization focused on the role of youth in the development agenda. Opening remarks were delivered by Ambassador Dr. Palitha Kohona, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN, and by Mr. Ahmad Alhendawi, the UN Secretary General’s Envoy on Youth (view programme). Among other things, the discussion focused on the challenges facing youth today (e.g.

BIC Attends 46th Commission on Population and Development

As part of its ongoing involvement at the United Nations, the Baha'i International Community's United Nations Office participated in this year's Commission on Population and Development. The 46th such Commission, held from 22-26 April, focused on "New trends in migration: demographic aspects." One of our delegates to this Commission, Mr. Geoffrey Cameron, took the time to discuss issues, such as trends in migration, the intersection between migration and development, as well as the benefits of re-framing the migration discourse.

BIC Presents Concepts from Synthesis Report in Copenhagen at Leadership Meeting on Inequalities

In February, UN Women and UNICEF, supported by the governments of Denmark and Ghana, convened a Leadership Meeting in Copenhagen on Addressing Inequalities in the Post-2015 Development Agenda as a culmination of the Inequalities Global Thematic Consultation  In the months prior to the Leadership Meeting, as members of the UNICEF and UN Women's Inequalities Advisory Group and representing the Beyond 2015 Campaign, Bani Dugal and Ming Hwee Chong assisted the Advisory Group in going through online inputs and thematic papers to produce an inequalities synthesis report.

Breakfast dialogue addresses gender equality as an essential element of sustainable development

The ninth of an ongoing series of informal breakfast dialogues co-convened by the Baha'i International Community, International Movement ATD Fourth World and Women's Environment and Development Organization focused on the importance of addressing gender equality in a sustainable development agenda. Opening remarks were delivered by Ms. Saraswathi Menon (UN Women) and Ms. Shannon Kowalski (International Women's Health Coalition). Among other themes, participants highlighted the need for people-centred and inclusive policies, structural barriers to gender inequality, the nexus between peace and security, and the ethical dimensions of the development agenda.

Representative Attends Global Consultation on Governance

From 28 February - 1 March, the United Nations convened a global consultation on "Governance and the post-2015 development agenda" at the Pan-African Parliament in Midrand, South Africa. Pursuant to the Baha'i International Community’s involvement in the United Nations’ post-2015 development agenda, Mr. Daniel Perell attended the event alongside 250 attendees from a variety of agencies to discuss themes and offer recommendations on  governance and its role in the post-2015 agenda.

BIC statement explores a new concept of empowerment

Concepts of empowerment that pit one group against another should be discarded in favor of a new vision where social transformation is approached as a collective enterprise in which all people are able to participate.

That was among the main themes of a statement issued by the Baha'i International Community (BIC) to the recently concluded UN Commission on Social Development.

"The impulse to rectify social inequalities is unquestionably noble, but us/them dichotomies only perpetuate and reinforce existing divisions," said the statement, which was titled "Empowerment as a Mechanism for Social Transformation."

NGOs briefed on outcome of Copenhagen Leadership Meeting on Inequalities

The Baha'i International Community hosted an NGO briefing on the Copenhagen Leadership Meeting that took place last week on the synthesis report of the Global Consultation on Addressing Inequalities (webcast) in the post-2015 development agenda.

Breakfast dialogue focuses on multilateralism in the context of the Post-2015 Development Agenda

The seventh of an ongoing series of informal breakfast dialogues, organized by the Baha'i International Community and the International Movement ATD Fourth World, focused on ideal global governance and reframing multilateralism for decision making [program]. Opening remarks were delivered by Hon. Mr.

Member States and Commission Delegates Convene for Informal Discussion on Empowerment

In an effort to explore more fully the priority theme of the Commission for Social Development, the Baha'i International Community brought together members of the UN community and delegates to the Commission for two evening dinner discussions to explore the concept of empowerment. Member States and representatives from UN agencies and civil society organizations discussed the means and ends of empowerment and the role of individuals, communities and institutions.The second evening discussion, co-sponsored by UN Foundation, brought together young professionals participating at the Commission.

Empowerment in Action: Baha'i Delegates Share Perspectives from Cambodia and Honduras

Baha'i International Community delegates to the Commission for Social Development, Mr. Hou Sopheap, Executive Director of the Cambodian Organization for Research, Development and Education and Ms. Judith Therese Eligio-Martinez, Program Coordinator for the Bayan Association in Honduras, shared perspectives from the work of their organizations. (View video of event.) The success of their programs is rooted in the concept of ‘learning by doing’. The delegates shared how their educational and capacity-building programs empower individuals and communities of their villages in Cambodia and Honduras.

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