Chief Executive Officers, Presidents, and Representatives of
　Non-Governmental Organizations associated
　with the United Nations Department of Public Information

　Lyutha Al-Mughairy, Chief
　Public Liaison Service, Department of Public Information

　Paul Hoeffel, Chief
　NGO Section, Department of Public Information

Invitation to the 53rd Annual DPI/NGO Conference: “Global Solidarity: The Way to Peace and International Cooperation”

　We are pleased to invite you to attend the fifty-third Annual Non-Governmental Organization (NGOs) Conference organized by the NGO Section of the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI) in cooperation with the Executive Committee of Non-Governmental Organizations associated with DPI. The conference will be held at United Nations Headquarters in New York, from Monday to Wednesday, 28 to 30 August 2000.

　This yearﾕs conference, whose working title is Global Solidarity: The Way to Peace and International Cooperation, will explore ways in which civil society can develop partnerships with the United Nations and Governments to ensure the implementation of the action plans that were agreed upon during the conferences of the 1990s. Civil society has repeatedly demonstrated that it possesses the will, the expertise, the organization and the support of hundreds of millions of people around the world to ensure that promises are kept and concrete results achieved.

　The conference will review the best practices and lessons learned from recent experiences and identify new campaigns ﾐ emphasizing the importance of broad-based campaigns that bring together multiple issues ﾐ which can be organized to capitalize on these action plans and successes. It will look at existing campaigns, and explore new areas where progress can be made. What makes for a successful campaign? How can cross-cutting sectoral concerns be unified? How can they be replicated from country to country? How do we set priorities? What kind of working relationships between civil society, the United Nations and Governments will ensure sustained success? The conference will also explore the role of civil society in policy formulation and implementation in relation to the growing number of situations where humanitarian intervention is called for.

　The conference will open on 28 August, in the General Assembly Hall, with addresses by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the President of the 54th General Assembly. After keynote addresses, the Conference will feature single morning and afternoon panels, as well as numerous Midday NGO Workshops. Speakers will include eminent personalities, high-level government and UN officials, and representatives of civil society from all regions of the world, among them representatives of NGOs, academia, the private sector and the media. Last year, over 1,700 people from 47 countries, representing 442 NGOs, attended, and we expect an even greater number this year.
　You may extend this invitation to members and staff of your organization, especially those involved in the production of your public information materials. We also encourage community leaders, educators, youth, and the media to attend. Please note that we must limit the number of participants from any one organization to no more than five in order to allow others to participate.

　All participants, including those who already have a UN grounds pass, are required to preregister for the conference. Please register early in order to ensure timely receipt of your confirmation letter. Also, be advised that the DPI/NGO Section is in no position to assist NGO representatives in obtaining U.S. visas, and we cannot fax confirmation letters to U.S. embassies. Arrangements for travel, visa, and accommodations, as well as all expenses incurred, must be provided for entirely by the participants or their sponsoring organization. All registration forms must be received no later than 14 July 2000. Please complete the attached registration form and return to the NGO Section of the Department of Public Information:

DPI/NGO Resource Centre, Room L-1B-31
United Nations
New York, NY 10017 USA
Fax: (212) 963-2819

　Please check our web site at www.un.org/dpi/ngosection for updated information on the Conference. We look forward to seeing you at the Conference.