APA Activities at the UN

May

• Co-sponsor on workshop submission to the 63rd Annual UN DPI/NGO Conference, 30 August–1 September 2010, Melbourne, Australia: Health Care Outreach to the Poor as an Experiential Context for Human Rights Education (Sponsored by the Order of St. Augustine)

• Panel Side Event during the meetings of the Commission on Sustainable Development, organized by APA Representatives in Collaboration with the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development and a number of UN-accredited NGOs. Title: Consumption and Mother Earth. Speakers included psychologist, Dr. David Krantz, Columbia University Center for Environmental Decisions. The panel explored changes in consumption behaviors from a range of perspectives — psychological, legal, theological, sociological. View the Program and Speakers (PDF, 306KB).

April

• APA signed on to a discussion paper, Climate Change: Summary and Recommendations to Governments 2010 (PDF, 33KB), developed by the CoNGO Committee on Sustainable Development for distribution to UN Missions and other entities during the UN Commission on Sustainable Development meetings in May, 2010.

• HIV/AIDS Caucus, co-sponsored by the United Nations (UN) Non Governmental Committee on HIV/AIDS and the American Psychological Association (APA). This parallel event to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women-54 (CSW-54), “Beijing + 15” was attended by more than 70 individuals, representing 25 countries. Audience members made action recommendations in the areas of education, empowerment, health care, involvement of men and boys, and local/international policy. Access the HIV/AIDS Caucus report (PDF, 25KB).

March

• Commission on the Status of Women: CSW54. Ngo Committee on HIV/AIDS (Organized and facilitated the HIV/AIDS Caucus)

• APA nominated Associate Representative Bea Krauss for a speaking role at the Informal Interactive Hearings of the General Assembly with Civil Society to address the Millenium Development Goal referring to AIDS

• Keynote Talk by APA intern Cidna Valentin at the CoNGO Committee on HIV/AIDS

• APA Main Representative Deanne Chitayat elected Chair of the Planning Committee of the Civil Society Development Forum, which will take place May 3-8.

February

• Annual Psychology Day at the United Nations

November

• APA endorsed letter from UN NGO Committee on Sustainable Development: Climate Change: Summary and Recommendations to Governments (PDF, 33KB) prepared by the Committee on Sustainable Development.

September

• APA contributed language to Committee on Sustainable Development draft paper on Climate Change

March

• APA sent comments on the draft Durban Review Conference Outcome document (PDF, 168KB) to the Council of NGOs in Consultative Status at the United Nations (CoNGO).

• Valuing the Caregiver — the Emotional and Physical Stress of Caregiving: HIV/AIDS
  Parallel event at the Commission on the Status of Women, sponsored by APA and APA/UN Representative Deanna Chitayat, Chair

December

• World AIDS Day: HIV and Young People Leadership for Change
  Thursday, December 4, 2008
  
  Hosted by The Permanent Mission of Thailand to the United Nations with support from the United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS); the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA); and the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Status with the United Nations (CONGO) Committee on HIV/AIDS. Chair: H. E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai. Speakers included Ms. Kalindy Bolivar (Latin American Network for Sexual and Reproductive Rights (RedLAC), Ecuador; Mr. Ramy Nasr, Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Youth Peer Education Network, Egypt: Ms. Raissa Kaneza, World Association of Girl Guides and Scouts, National Youth Council, Burundi; Ms. Cheryl B. Mwaria, PhD, Professor of Anthropology, Hofstra University, NY.

November

• Child advocates from the American Psychological Association (APA), the Child Welfare League of America and American Academy of Pediatrics briefed Congress on the Campaign for U.S. Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Harold Cook, PhD, APA's UN Representative, talked about the CRC's relevance to children's health issues in the United States.

• Second Annual Psychology Day at the United Nations

October

• International Day of Older Persons
  October 2, 2008 
  APA-NGO Representative, Janet Sigal, co-chaired the day; and Associate Representative, Norma Simon, served as one of two associate chairs. Florence Denmark presented opening remarks to the audience.

September

• The UN Secretary-General and the President of the UN General Assembly convened an event on the Millennium Development Goals at the UN Headquarters in New York on September 28, 2008.

• 61st Annual Conference for Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) associated with the United Nations Department of Public Information (UNDPI) was held in Paris at UNESCO Headquarters. The conference was titled “Reaffirming Human Rights for All: The Universal Declaration at 60” and organized in partnership with the NGO/DPI Executive Committee, UNESCO, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Government of France. Sponsored by the International Association of Schools of Social Work with the UN NGO Committee on Mental Health and the American Psychological Association; Caraes Brothers of Charity, Rome and Belgium; International Association of Applied Psychology; International Council of Women; International Federation of Social Workers; International Federation on Ageing; International Psychoanalytic Association; Soroptimist International; World Association for Psychosocial Rehabilitation; World Council of Psychotherapy; World Federation for Mental Health; and Zonta International.
  
  Presenters included: Professor René Stockman, PhD: President, Caraes Brothers of Charity, Rome and Belgium; Janel Gauthier, PhD: Professor, Universite Laval, Ecole de Psychologie, Quebec Canada; Tara Pir: CEO & Executive Director, Multicultural Counseling & Educational Services, Los Angeles, California USA; Waseem Alladin; Editor in Chief, Counselling Psychology Quarterly: Jennifer Kloes; Executive Director, Global Youth Connect; and Judy Kuriansky, PhD: UN Representative, International Association of Applied Psychology, and World Council for Psychotherapy.

June

• Meeting of the UN NGO Committee on Human Settlements, organized by APA Representative Harold Takooshian. Speaker: Henry J. Stern, described his work with New York Civic and insights into complex urban politics.

May

• APA Representative nominated to attend the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) Forum in Geneva, Switzerland. CSTD analyses relevant issues and provides appropriate recommendations and policy options to the General Assembly. It is a United Nations forum for examining science and technology questions and their implications for development; advancing understanding on science and technology policies — particularly with respect to developing countries and; formulating UN system recommendations and guidelines on science and technology.

April

• Media and its Impact on Children and Family
  Panelists: John Broughton, Professor, Department of Arts and Humanities, Teachers College, Columbia University; Erica Kochi, Senior Communications Officer, Head of the Innovation Unit in UNICEF’s Division of Communications. MODERATOR: APA Representative, Harold Cook, Co-Chair of the NGO Committee on the Family — NY, The International Union of Psychological Science and the American Psychological Association.

March

• Eliminate Racism: Prevent Mass Atrocities (as part of the Human Rights Dialogue Series in Celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights).
  Organized by APA Representative Corann Okorodudu. Panel Presenters: Rodney Leon, President and co-Founder of Aariris Architects, Designer, African Burial Ground National Monument, NY; Yvette Rugasaguhunga, Survivor of the Rwandan Genocide; Payam Akhavan, Professor of Law, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Mark Weitzman, Simon Weisenthal Center, NY, Ervin Staub, Professor of Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst and the American Psychological Association; Ben Majekodunmi, Human Rights Officer, Office of the UN Special Representative on the Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities.

• With all the important issues that face NGOs working with the United Nations today, how can NGO committees and individuals best share their work with others through publication? In this free workshop for NGO reps, a panel of expert editors described why and how to go beyond “speaking” to publish articles, chapters, or books on our international work.  These include Paul Dukes and Anne Duffy (of Taylor & Francis), Uwe P. Gielen (President, APA Division of International Psychology), APA Representative Harold Takooshian (International Psychology Bulletin) and Parviz Morewedge.

January

• APA was elected to the Executive Board of the Council of NGOs in Consultative Relations at the United Nations (CONGO) at the annual CONGO meeting in early December at UN headquarters in Geneva. The CONGO Executive Committee represents all NGOs who have consultative status at the UN. It promotes the active role of NGOs in policy formation, program development, program monitoring and review.

December

• Families and HIV/AIDS: An Interactive Dialogue
  Sponsored by the NGO Committee on the Family and the NGO Committee on HIV/AIDS. Moderated by Deanna Chitayat,PhD, NGO Committee on HIV/AIDS and the American Psychological Association; Harold Cook, PhD, co-chair NGO Committee on the Family – NY, the American Psychological Association and the International Union of Psychological Science. SPEAKER: Beatrice Krauss, PhD, Hunter College, City University of New York.

• Placing Mental Health and Psychosocial Well-Being for Children on the UN Agenda (at the Meeting, Commemorating the World Fit for Children +5)
  A panel organized by the Non-Governmental Organization's Committee on Mental Health (NGO CMH) Working Group on Children and Mental Health. SPEAKERS: Corann Okorodudu (APA representative to the UN), Rowan University, “The Convention on the Rights of the Child as a Framework for Integrating Mental Health and Psychosocial Well-Being into Creating A World Fit For Children”; AmandaMelville, Child Protection Programme Officer, UNICEF, "Interagency Standing Committee Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings" and their Implications for Children”; ChristinaBlanc, Barnard College, "Violence against Children and the World Fit for Children".

• Panel discussion:"Creating Preventive Measures to Eradicate Violence Against Women and Girls at the Individual, Community and State Levels"
  Mike Wessells, Senior Child Protection Advisor, Christian Children’s Fund and Michael L. Penn, Clinical Psychologist & Associate Professor of Psychology, Franklin & Marshall College were among the speakers in a panel discussion sponsored by the UN missions of the Netherlands and France and organized by the Bahá’í International Community and the Christian Children’s Fund.

November

• Emerging Themes from NGOs on the World Fit for Children (+5) Commemoration
  Based on the Report of the Secretary General follow-up to the special session of the General Assembly on Children. APA prepared comments on the draft statement on behalf of the NGO Committee on UNICEF. 

• AIDS: Eliminating Stigma and Discrimination
  A briefing in observance of World AIDS Day (December 1st) co-sponsored by the UN Department of Public Information, Non-Governmental Organizations (DPI-NGO), UNAIDS and the NGO Committee on HIV and AIDS. SPEAKERS: Ms. Anatasia Kamlyk, Representative, UN Plus; Dr. JessieMbwambo, Muhimbili Medical School and National Hospital, Tanzania; Dr. Beatrice Krauss, Hunter College Schools of the Health Professions and its Center for Community and Urban Health. View the full PowerPoint Presentation (PDF, 752KB) by psychologist Dr. Beatrice Krauss.

October

• First Annual Psychology Day at the United Nations
  Organized by a multiorganization committee and chaired by Florence Denmark, Main APA Representative at the UN and Chair UN/NGO Committee on Ageing.
  View complete list of speakers (PDF, 12KB).

• The Psychological Impacts of Natural Disasters
  A briefing addressing critical issues such as psychological support systems, relief coordination efforts, and the needed contribution of NGOs. Dr. Gerard A. Jacobs, Director, Disaster Mental Health Institute, Ms. Anne Cubile, Policy & Guidance Management, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Mr. Charles P. Bernimolin, Officer, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and Mr. NassimAgazade, Critical Incident Stress Management Unit, Department of Safety of Security, United Nations provided the audience with a balanced and informative understanding of the subject. View a summary of the briefing and the webcast. View a summary of the PowerPoint presentation (PDF, 298KB) by Dr. Jacobs.

September

• APA Report of the NGO Representatives at the United Nations
  Written by Florence L. Denmark, Main APA Representative at the UN. Describes the specific activities and leadership positions of the APA representatives and the activities of the various UN NGO committees and the role of APA NGO representatives, listed by committee or activity. Also included is a report about the weekly DPI Briefings and plans for Psychology Day at the United Nations. Read the full report (PDF, 166KB).

• Family Issues at the United Nations: Work Ahead
  Organized by Harold Cook, Co-Chair, NGO Committee on the Family (New York). SPEAKER: Mr. Eric Olson, Focal Point on the Family, Division for Social Policy and Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

March

• 51st Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women -- Gender-Based Violence: Consequences Across the Life Span
  Sponsored by the Subcommittee on Violence Against Women of the NGO Committee on the Status of Women NY. SPEAKERS: Leslie Wright, Chair, Violence Against Women Subcommittee; Charlotte Bunch, Expert Panel for Secretary General's report; Dr. Gilda Glasinovich, Peru, UN Technical Advisor on Gender and Immigrant Populations; Florence Denmark, PhD, Pace University, Main Representative American Psychological Association.

• Non-violence Resolution of Conflict Within the Family: Special Focus on the Girl Child
  Sponsored by the NGO Committee on the Family, Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, Unanima International. MODERATOR: Harold Cook, Co-Chair the NGO Committee on the Family – NY,  American Psychological Association , and the International Union of Psychological Science. PRESENTERS: Anna Maria Vilca Mamani, from Peru; Maria Soledad Cortez de Santiago, from Peru; Vanesa de los Milagros, Youth from Peru; Julia da Silva, Director, Violence Prevention Program, American Psychological Association.

February

• 51st Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women -- AIDS-Related Violence and Discrimination Against Women and Girls
  Sponsored by the American Psychological Association (APA), Society for Women and AIDS in Africa SWAA, NGO Committee on HIV/AIDS, International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS), Sub-Committee for the Elimination of Racism, NGO Committee on Children’s Rights. SPEAKERS: Mark Winiarski, PhD, HIV/AIDS Advisor to American Psychological Association UN Representatives, New York, NY; Sandra Lewis, PsyD, Professor of Psychology and Director of African-American Studies, Montclair State University, Upper Montclair, New Jersey; Bernice Heloo, M.Ed, President, Society for Women and AIDS in Africa, Accra, Ghana; Agnes Cyril Msoka, MSc, International Coordinator, Society for Women and AIDS in Africa, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania; Umra Omar, BA, International Coordinator, American Psychological Association Office on AIDS, Nairobi, Kenya.

• In Preparation for the 51st Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women--Roundtable on Discrimination Against the Girl Child
  SPEAKERS: Her ExcellencyJoyce Kafanabo, Minister Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Tanzania; Dr. Rita Chi Ying Chung, Prof. of Psychology and Counseling, George Mason University; Ted Bunch, Director of Safe Horizons Domestic Violence Program.

November

• World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse
  Dissemination events — Public Interest Directorate, including briefing sheet.