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Communications Workshop
Summary The first DPI/NGO Communications Workshop this year looked at possible ways of linking DPI-associated NGOs with United Nations Information Centres (UNICs) worldwide. The morning panel discussion provided an overview of the existing network of UNICs worldwide by Ms. Carolyn Schuler Uluc, Officer-in-Charge, Information Centres Service (ICS), Strategic Communications Division (SCD) in DPI and Mr. Nyi Aye, Chief, Information Management Unit, ICS, SCD, DPI. Ms. Afsané Bassir-Pour, Director, United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe (UNRIC), SCD, DPI; and Ms. Jadranka Mihalic, Director, United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Mexico City, SCD, DPI, who joined the event via Internet connection, spoke from experience and provided practical examples of cooperation with NGOs in their client countries. Mr. Juan Carlos Brandt, Chief, NGO Section, Department of Public Information, moderated the morning session. Ms. Carolyn Schuler Uluc provided the NGOs with a brief history of UNICs and explained the nature of their work providing some specific examples. She said that while the Department of Public Information brought a global message to the world, UNICs gave the message a local accent. Two important aspects of UNICs partnership with NGOs were the opportunity for NGOs to network globally and the fact that UNICs and NGOs were mutually supportive relationships. She stressed the importance of UNICs ability to reach out to their local civil society. She noted that educational outreach was a top priority on UNICs agenda, which was reflected in regular briefings for students and teachers as well as working with administrators to create new programs in UNICs’ client countries. Mr. Nyi Aye spoke about the importance of various tools that NGO’s could use for networking and communication purposes at no cost. He mentioned Skype, Facebook, Google groups, and other tools that could be used from one computer to another – anywhere in the world – to communicate either by tele or video conference like today’s briefing. He explained how the use of technology brought colleagues together and DPI closer to new audiences. Ms. Afsané Bassir-Pour discussed the many ways in which UNICs work with NGOs and communicate with them daily. She said that UNICs connected people working on the same issues and in some instances might be able to use their vast media contacts to help organize press conferences for NGOs. She made a specific reference to the “Know Your Rights 2008” campaign (http:// knowyourright2008.org), designed to inform and engage civil society on human rights issues. Ms. Bassir-Pour also spoke about projects promoted by NGOs and mentioned there were more than 1200 human right projects launched by NGOs each year. Ms. Jadranka Mihalic spoke about the importance
of UNIC Mexico’s work in all three client countries, Mexico,
Cuba and the Dominican Republic. Organizing events while spreading
the UN agenda was one of the main tasks for her office. She noted
that NGOs have the opportunity to collaborate on many different
projects when they work with UNICs and added that UNICs particularly
support the efforts taken with regards to the rights of indigenous
peoples. There are 90 different indigenous languages in Mexico and
UNIC Mexico works on providing translations of UN materials and
radio programmes in various languages. Ms. Mihalic concluded by
saying that there was a long tradition of collaboration between
UNICs and NGOs and a long road of opportunity. The afternoon session of the Communications Workshop
looked at the ‘Stand Up’ campaign as a case study of
how best to link UNICs with NGOs to join resources for a common
goal. A list of UNICs and DPI-associated NGOs working in the same
geographical area was provided. The participants of the brainstorming
session presented their ideas of possible ways to use this information
to connect NGOs with corresponding UNICs as well as how best to
use this information for promotional activities in the future (e.g.
the annual DPI/NGO Conference). Mr. Manuel Rios-Torres urged NGOs to take advantage of UNICs and discussed how to engage DPI and UNICs with each other. He showed two short films that demonstrated the 43.7 million people worldwide that participated in the ‘Stand Up’ campaign in October 2007. Mr. Rios-Torres noted the ‘Stand Up’ campaign promoted the awareness and brought attention to the issue of poverty. He added that the campaign broke a Guinness World record and participants were from all over the world. However, he stressed what was most important was “breaking the record of broken promises” in regards to the MDG. He cited the number of participants in the campaign almost doubled from 23 million in 2006 to 43.7 million in 2007 and noted that the largest number of participants were from the eastern hemisphere. Ms. Oisika Chakrabarti noted the importance of NGOs getting involved in some of the 6,540 events held annually around the globe. Ms. Chakrabarti discussed the various marketing techniques used while promoting the ‘Stand Up’ campaign. She mentioned the translation of the official campaign materials into numerous local languages, SMS/Text messaging, MySpace and Facebook to target younger audiences. She mentioned some of the anticipated changes for this year’s ‘Stand Up’ campaign in October 2008, such as holding the event on the weekend to engage a larger population of people. She encouraged NGOs to register for the event at www.standagainstpoverty.org. Ms. Joan Kirby noted the new Outreach Sub-Committee was established for the 2008 DPI/NGO conference in Paris. She said the new Sub-Committee changed focus, but not substance. She stressed the importance of reaching out to a wider audience. In relation to the Conference theme, Ms. Kirby also discussed the importance of working on solutions with regards to human rights violations as well as highlighting specific violations. During the brainstorming session, a question was
asked regarding the ‘Stand Up’ campaign and its specific
goals. Mr. Rios-Torres said that the goal of the campaign was to
raise awareness of the MDGs and make political leaders remember
the promises they made. Ms. Chakrabarti added that the goals of
the ‘Stand Up’ campaign were raising global consciousness
and creating policy pressure. She noted the campaign not only works
for the poor, but with them. A campaign similar to the ‘Trickle
Up’ Program was suggested, which helps the lowest income people
worldwide take their first step out of poverty by giving funds to
form small businesses.
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