PROMOTING STABILITY IN POST-CONFLICT SITUATIONS: PROSPECTS FOR THE PROPOSED PEACEBUILDING COMMISSION
Date: Thursday November 10, 2005
Time: 1:00-2:30 p.m.
Location: United Nations Church Center
777 United Nations Plaza, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10017

RSVP: Full contact information to -
Jessica Hartl, UNA-USA
202-462-3446
jhartl@unausa.org

Featured Speakers

Jamal Benomar
Special Advisor
Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery, United Nations Development Program

Thant Myint-U
Senior Officer in the Executive Office of the Secretary General
United Nations

Parvina Nadjibulla
Program Specialist on Human Rights, Peace and Security
General Board of Global Ministries
The United Methodist Church

Background

With progress towards the creation of the Peacebuilding Commission hailed as one of the successful outcomes of the 2005 World Summit, expectations have been running high that the Peacebuilding Commission will be up and running by the end of the year. With inter-governmental negotiations, led by Tanzania and Denmark, now under way to finalize details, the international community is watching closely to see whether the UN is able to realize one of its key reform efforts. Key outstanding issues include: establishment, involvement of the host country, reporting lines, agenda setting, and membership of the organizational committee. Once it is implemented, however, it remains to be seen how the Commission actually will impact the work of UN institutions already dealing with many aspects of the peacebuilding process. This distinguished panel will reflect on the need for a peacebuilding function at the UN, update us on progress towards the December 31st deadline set in the outcome document, and enlighten us on how the Commission will impact the work that they do. Fifteen minute presentations will be followed by forty-five minutes of discussion.

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About the Council of Organizations

The Council of Organizations is a division of the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA), the nation's largest grassroots foreign policy organization and the leading center of policy research on the United Nations and global issues.

UNA-USA's reach extends to millions of Americans through its Council of Organizations, a coalition of over 100 nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) with interests in education, religion, labor, sustainable development, human rights, health and women's issues that all share the common goals of making the American public more knowledgeable about global issues and the U.N. and strengthening the U.S. - U.N. relationship.

With the United Nations showing an ever-increasing interest in working with civil society and NGOs, the Council of Organizations plays a critical role in offering opportunities for leaders from the NGO community to develop partnerships with the United Nations and each other.

With Executive Committees in Washington, D.C. and New York the Council sponsors monthly briefings featuring U.N. ambassadors, academics, U.S. government officials, distinguished NGO leaders and top Secretariat officials which keep the NGO community informed while offering a forum to share educational information and advocacy plans regarding issues on the U.N. agenda. The Council also works to support the United Nations by educating its members about the U.N. system through joint community work with local affiliates of organizations.

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For information on the Council of Organizations, or to inquire about NGO membership, visit www.unausa.org/council or contact: Jessica Hartl, Coordinator, Council of Organizations, 202-462-3446 or jhartl@unausa.org.