From Tuesday, December 17th to Thursday, December 19th, 2024, the 2024 International Conference of Non-Governmental Organisations (ICNGO) took place in Paris. Pax Christi International was represented by Ghislain Le Ray, Bérengère Savélieff, and Yann Henry, Pax Christi International Representatives to UNESCO, and Lise Brument, Pax Christi International Communications Assistant. The theme of the conference, occurring every two years, was “Building Capacity for Action“.
Programme
During the Conference, all NGOs joined sessions of dialogue with different UNESCO Sectors: Education, Communication, Culture, and Human and Social Sciences. For instance, the dialogue with the Education Sector focused on Education for Peace, Human Rights, and Sustainable Development with Cecilia Barbieri, Chief of Section of Global Citizenship and Peace Education, and Julia Heiss, Section of Education for Sustainable Development, Education Sector of UNESCO.
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- Ghislain Le Ray talking to Alain Rouy of the Mouvement de la Paix and Vice-President of the International Peace Bureau
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- Ghislain Le Ray and Bérengère Savelieff talking to Isabelle Chaperon, President of CCIC
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- Youth Workshop
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- NGO Hub
The event also featured sessions focusing on UNESCO’s current priorities, under different formats: Priority Africa, Priority Gender Equality, Youth and the Ocean. These discussions allowed all to gain insights into the work that was done and upcoming opportunities to engage. In addition, a few hours were dedicated to the sharing of good practices between UNESCO, national Commissions and NGOs, through a workshop, a panel discussion, and a NGO Hub, during which organisations could present their projects and build new contacts. During this session, the Working Group on Inter-faith Dialogue and Peace and the Working Group for the Celebration of the annual International Day of Peace – both groups of which Pax Christi International is a member – presented their work. During this session, we also introduced 12 proposals for a New Foundation of International Institutions by distributing a flyer.
Outcome of the Conference
During the ICNGO, the new members of the UNESCO-NGO Liaison Committee were elected for a two-year period. Pax Christi International extends its congratulations to Ms. Svetlomira Stoyanova, new chair, and to the NGOs elected to the Liaison Committee: Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW), Fondation Marocaine pour la Promotion de l’Enseignement Préscolaire (FMPS), Higher Health, International Association for Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE), International Association of Film and Television Schools (CILECT), International Music Council (IMC), Latin American Social Sciences Council (CLACSO), Rotary International, SDSN Association, and World Association for Small and Medium Enterprises (WASME).
Ghislain Le Ray speaking on Behalf of Pax Christi International
Last but not least, the NGOs approved two sets of recommendations, one regarding the Collective contribution of NGOs to the preparation of the UNESCO Draft Programme and Budget for 2026-2029 (43 C/5). Pax Christi International was particularly attentive to include references to nonviolence and the fight against all forms of violence as means to build peace, and of the need to address climate change as a driver of conflicts. The second recommendation serves as guidelines for the new Liaison Committee in its mandate – particularly asking for increased cooperation and participation opportunities and better coordination.
© Photos: Yann Henry, Lise Brument
