The M.A. Math at United Nations
 The
MA Math was a lively participant at the 61st Annual DPI-NGO, organized
by the Department of Public Information in cooperation with the
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) community, the United Nations
Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Office
of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Government of France.
This
year's Conference commemorated the 60th Anniversary of the adoption in
Paris of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and held at the
UNESCO headquarters in Paris from September 3rd to 5th 2008. Over 1,100
representatives from 65 countries attended.
 The
aim of the Conference was to highlight effective ways in which civil
society, in partnership with other actors, can contribute to the
advancement of human rights at the international, regional, national
and local levels.
In addition to opening and closing sessions, five round tables were
featured, with representatives of the United Nations, governments,
civil society and the private sector. They were followed by "break-out
sessions" where the moderator and expert panelists participated in a
more in-depth dialogue with NGOs.
MA
Math Representatives from New York and Paris attended the conference,
helped with the preparations on the Planning Committee, and co-m oderated a Break-out session planned by the Outreach Committee titled:
From Vulnerability toward Empowerment, exchanging personal experiences and knowledge on the path to empowerment.
The
MA Math Representatives made a compelling presentation on the Farmer
Relief Project at this break-out session. The initiative was noted as a
best practice to empower populations in extreme poverty and restore
their Human Rights.
 The
top UN official responsible for communications and information,
Under-Secretary-General Kiyo Akasaka, said the world is not in a
satisfactory state of affairs as to how the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights is being implemented.
He pointed to
violence against women and children, the lack of opportunities for
children, particularly young girls and boys with 10 million people not
attending school in the world. He said more than one billion people are
living in extreme poverty; two billion people or more are deprived of
the decent life without access to clean water and sanitation.
"I
think this is the right moment, the right year, for us all, together
with all the partners and particularly NGOs to reaffirm our commitment
to the declaration of Human Rights and all the rights embodied in this
declaration. And I think this conference will provide us with a golden
opportunity because there are so many NGO representatives and so many
important people gathered here in Paris."
"All
human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are
endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another
in a spirit of brotherhood."
- Article One of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
This quote could have come from Mata Amritanadamayi, and it is not
surprising that the work of the Math was cited at the DPI conference in
Paris as a best practice in advancing Human Rights.
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