US SERVAS AT THE UN |
PEACE & TRAVEL
The United Nations is central to global efforts to solve problems that challenge humanity. United States Servas is accredited at the United Nations as a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) and is committed to working in the areas of peace and travel.
Shelley Walden of Scituate represented Servas at the 57th Annual NGO Conference. Read her reflections.
NGO's at the United Nations
NGO's work together with the UN and each other to further their mutual goals. Some of these goals include: maintenance of international peace and security, humanitarian assistance to victims of disaster, protection of human rights, advancement of international law; eradication of poverty and economic and social development.
NGO Reps attend briefings, conferences, and committee meetings and represent a broad spectrum of human endeavors. There are civil organizations (Rotary), medical organizations (Doctors Without Borders), human right organizations (Amnesty International), religious organizations (National Council of Jewish Women), peace organizations (Pax Christie), youth organizations (Girl Scouts), and many, many more. United States Servas is a Peace through Travel organization and focuses on these topics.
NGO's are affiliated with the United Nations in either the Department of Public Information (DPI) or with the Economic Cultural and Social Council (ECOSOC). Requirements for affiliation with DPI are to disseminate information from the United Nations and other NGO's to the organization’s membership and to the public through newsletters, web sites, and other vehicles. ECOSOC NGO’s are required to share their expertise with the UN. For example, Servas made a contribution to the UN by holding a briefing on Responsible Tourism in New York in November 2000, and Noema Chaplin, US Servas Main UN Rep gave a presentation on US Servas at the World Summit on Peace through Tourism in Geneva in February 2003.
How to Get Involved
Throughout the year, individual members of United States Servas can become involved by visiting the United Nations. Please make arrangements well in advance of your visit to join our Reps at a Thursday morning briefing. Information on active participation in issues, such as writing to elected officials is published in the US Servas newsletter. To get involved, contact the main US Servas representative to the UN, Noema Chaplin at noemachaplin@yahoo.com.
US Servas UN Reports
Spring 2005: United States Servas Involvement in Achieving the UN MDG's
Spring 2004: US Servas Participation in the Millennium Development Goals
Autumn 2003: 56 Annual United Nations DPI / NGO Conference
Summer 2003: US Servas Promotes Millennium Goals While Furthering the Cause of Peace
Spring 2003 I: US Servas Applies for ECOSOC Membership at the UN
Spring 2003 II: US Servas Arab-American Peace Initiative
Winter 2003 I: Report from Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development
Winter 2003 II: Tourists Flock to World Heritage Sites
Winter 2003 III: UN World Summit on Peace Through Tourism
Autumn 2002 I: UN Designates 2002 The Year of Ecotourism
Autumn 2002 II: US Servas participates in International Decade for a Culture of Peace 2000-2010
Autumn 2002 III: The Ribbon International UN September 11th Peace Initiative
Spring 2002: Introduction from Sharon L. Wallenberg, US Servas Main UN NGO Rep
Links to UN and NGO information
United Nations Overview in Brief
UN Millennium Development Goals
NGO's affiliated with the Department of Public Information (DPI)
NGO's affiliated with the Economic Cultural and Social Council (ECOSOC)
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