The Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CoNGO) held a series of commemorative events in celebration of its 75th anniversary at four United Nations centers in Vienna (April), Bangkok (May), New York (October), and Geneva (December) throughout 2023. Furthermore, CoNGO hosted six global thematic webinars. All ten events celebrated CoNGO’s core mission - to facilitate and encourage member state to engage inclusively with civil society organizations accredited to the UN in the planning and decision-making processes of intergovernmental debates.
As a Representative of PPSEAWA International to CoNGO, I was honored to take part in the planning process for the webinars in 2022-2023, and thrilled that PPSEAWA was a co-sponsor on the 75th Anniversary events throughout the year!
The first CoNGO 75th Anniversary commemorative event took place at the Vienna International Center in collaboration with the United Nations Office (UNOV) in Vienna, Austria, on 28 April 2023. Liberato Bautista (CoNGO President) welcomed participants, along with high-ranking officials - Mrs. Ghada Fathi Waly (Director General of UNOV and Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime/UNODC), Nikhil Seth (UN Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of the UN Institute for Training and Research/UNITAR), Helga Konrad (Former Austrian Federal Minister of Women’s Affairs and Executive Director of the Anti-Trafficking Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe), and Manfred Nowak (Secretary-General of the Global Campus of Human Rights in Venice and Professor of International Human Rights at Vienna University). PPSEAWA, as a CoNGO Vice-President, appreciates the special contribution of fellow board member Martina Grendler (CoNGO Second Vice President) with the arrangements.
The second commemorative event was hosted by CoNGO’s Regional Committee in Asia-Pacific (RCAP) on 19-20 May 2023, at Siam University in Bangkok, Thailand. There was a well-received open panel on how Business and Labour can achieve human rights and sustainable development. The panel was followed by a commemorative ceremony and a reception hosted by Siam University. PPSEAWA deeply appreciates the support of Dr. Pornchai Mongkhonvanit, Siam University President, which has been unwavering since RCAP’s inception in 2017. We are especially indebted to PPSEAWA International President Mondhiya Bhangsbha and CoNGO First Vice President Cyril Ritchie for RCAP’s success. The annual RCAP meeting has strengthened the access of NGOs in this region to the United Nations deliberations on the Sustainable Development Goals, and provided a forum for intra-regional learning and cooperation. Valuable input is collected at RCAP, on the progress of grass-roots organizations on specific goals for the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) held later at the UN headquarters in New York.
The third commemorative event was held in New York City, United States, on 27 October 2023. Greetings and statements by high-level United Nations officials expressed appreciation to non-governmental organizations for helping many communities across the world make progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Leaders of NGO committees shared their inspirations and challenges, including: Ivy Koek (co-chair of NGO Committee on the Status of Women), Margo LaZaro (president of NGO Committee on Sustainable Development), and Sylvie Jaqueline Ndongmo (president of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom). We also recognize Amy Banker (Representative of PPSEAWA to the UN in New York) for hosting this event at her residence, just blocks away from the UN!
The fourth and final commemorative celebration was held at the Main Hall of the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland, on 15 December 2023. This final Anniversary event celebrated two milestones – the 75th Anniversaries of both CoNGO and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Reverend Dr. Kenneth Mtata (World Council of Churches, Programme Director for Public Witness and Diakonia) delivered the keynote address on behalf of the WCC. He called on governments to “seriously tackle the grave human rights violations that occur in various parts of the world.” A notable comment on violations of women’s human rights came from the keynote address by Lina Nykanen-Rettaroli (Senior Technical Lead for Human Rights, World Health Organization). She pointed out that disparities in health care access for basic needs affect women in low income countries the most - they have the worst health outcomes in relation to childbirth related causes.
CoNGO President Liberato Bautista closed concluded the fourth event commemorating the 75th anniversary year with a call to commit to the motto of “making the change, now”.