UNANIMA Programs
July 2009
International Mother Earth Day
The United Nations General Assembly recently adopted a unanimous resolution designating April 22nd
each year as:
International Mother Earth Day
President Evo Morales, the first indigenous president of Bolivia, highlighted that “Not just human
beings have rights, but the planet has rights,” and drew attention to the fact that “What’s happening
with climate change is that the rights of Mother Earth are not being respected.”
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC)
Bonn Working Group Meeting
Looking into the future and trying to imagine the consequences of climate change is a daunting task.
What will be our reality in 2020, in 2050? Will the changes predicted by scientists come about: drought,
floods, severe storms, crop failure, coastal inundation, etc.? The Bonn UN Youth Delegation epitomized for
me the group most aware of the magnitude of the task that the present generation faces … From past
acquaintance with the UN Youth Group at the Conference on Sustainable Development, these youth are intensely
involved in the climate issues and articulate in lobbying for interventions they have researched. Their
dedication and seriousness is impressive and a challenge to the older generation to have faith in the future.
… The role played by indigenous people in this conference, and their frequent mention in the negotiating
text is acknowledgement that finally their ancient wisdom of collaborating with Mother Earth is being heard
after decades of disregard. Hearing the indigenous people’s presentations in the many side events spoke to
their determination to play their role. In 2007, the Bali Action Plan adopted the four key elements that
defined the climate change program: mitigation, adaptation, finances and technology. From that conference,
indigenous people were given an opportunity to address the effects of climate change at the grass roots, on
their home lands.
… One final observation, many discussions and compromises are still needed for a final climate change
protocol. What the final agreement will be is still uncertain. Will the developed countries take
responsibility for the historic results of the industrial revolution? Will the developing countries learn
from the mistakes of the past? Will we learn to live as one people, sharing the resources of our earth?
What I see as positive is that women, youth, indigenous peoples had a place at this momentous discussion.
May their voices be honored.
Kathleen Ries, CSA
For more information:
http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2009/awglca6/eng/08.pdf
Summary of Bonn talks:
http://www.iisd.ca/climate/sb30/
This conference was a preparatory session for the Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change in December this
year. The primary purpose of Copenhagen is to design a treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol which will expire
in 2012.
Advancing Global Health in the Face of Crisis
The Secretary-General’s Forum highlighted the increased vulnerability of women and children in the developing
world as a result of the global health crisis. Women and children are specifically vulnerable because of high
maternal and child mortality rates as a result of under-nutrition, lack of access to maternal health services,
preventable diseases, and other preventable medical conditions.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke about the importance of focusing on maternal health. He said that over
half a million deaths occur each year related to child birth, many of which are preventable. Dr. Margaret Chan,
Director-General of WHO, also discussed the importance of focusing on women in poverty to avert health crises
… She said that our world is dangerously out of balance, characterized by part of the world feeding itself into
obesity while another part of the world is in want of food.
Amber Baker, UI Office
Financial and Economic Crisis and its Impact on Development
The UN Conference on the Financial and Economic Crisis and its Impact on Development was re- scheduled for
24 – 26 June, 2009.
News of the global financial crisis greets us every day. But we know that the world’s poorest nations and
peoples are experiencing the most severe consequences of a crisis sparked by the rich, a crisis in which they
had no part in creating, The crisis is anticipated to drive another 125 million into poverty and exacerbate
levels of hunger and disease. In addition to setting back progress toward achieving the MDGs, developing countries
are facing rising unemployment and a widening external financing gap.
Details on the outcomes of this conference will be included in our August update.
Report of the Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, May 2009
In outlining many of the abuses of women’s political, economic and social rights, the Rapporteur, Yakin Ertürk,
highlighted some of the impacts of globalizations in increasing violence against women: jeopardizing access to
food, food security and water, limiting rights to land and housing; the negative aspects of the feminization of
migration.
UNHCR PreExcom Consultations with NGOs, Geneva – June 29-July 1
The major topics to be addressed are:
Internationally Displaced Persons Displacement in Urban Settings Forgotten and Protracted Refugee Situations Durable Solutions: NGOs and Resettlement.
Louise will be attending this meeting.
Preparation for the Commission on Social Development
Please consider completing the survey on social integration. This can be completed on line on the Non
Government Services (NGLS) website at
http://www.un-ngls.org/socialintegration/
Stop the Demand
UNANIMA International’s STOP THE DEMAND for Trafficking in Women and Children materials are available.
If anyone would like to order them please fill in the order blank posted on the website
and send a cheque or money order (if possible, in US $) to:
UNANIMA International
Attn: Catherine Ferguson
211 East 43rd St., Rm 1207
New York, NY 10017
USA
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