Activities and Events of the NGO Committee on “Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns”

2003 onwards

• “Faith in Diplomacy: The United Nations and the Challenges of the 21st Century“ Conference co-organised with Caux Initatives of Change. Keynote speaker:  former British diplomat Archie Mackenzie, former United Kingdom Ambassador, Assistant to Edward Heath in the Brandt North-South Commission and Vice-President of the UN Educational Trust for Scotland
• Daily Circle for Peace - Cercle pour la Paix, United Nations Geneva, Room No. 2064-66  Time: 6-6:30 PM - every day during the 59th Commission on Human Rights (17 March-24 April 2003)

• "Paths to Health: Traditional Medicine and the Spiritual Dimension in Health" Panel discussion co-sponsored with the Working Group on Health and Human Rights of the NGO Committee on the Status of Women. Guest Speakers: Dr. Ravi Narayan, Bangalore; Global Coordinator of the People’s Movement; Karin Maria Hennings; Executive Director, Sri Sri Ayurveda Europe

•"On the Spiritual Dimension of Human Development" Event organised by Deva Kaur at Hotel Beau-Rivage

• "Dialogue with Religious and Spiritual Leaders" Acharya Meenakshi Devi, Hindu woman leader, Event organised by Deva Kaur at Hotel Beau-Rivage

• "Development Work in India" His Holiness XIIth Gyalwang Drukpa „Beyond Fear“ and Sardarni Sahiba Sat-Kaur Khalsa, Secretary Religion Sikh Dharma of the Western Hemisphere. Event organised by Deva Kaur at Hotel Beau-Rivage

2004

• “Philosophical and Spiritual Perspectives on the Decent Work Agenda and other UN instruments”
Speaker:  Dr Dominique Peccoud, Special Adviser to the Director-General of  ILO for Socio-Religious Affairs. Discussant: Helen Sayers, Brahma Kumaris, World Spiritual University, Moderator: Dr Astrid Stuckelberger

• “Our contribution to the work of the UN”
Speakers: Tim Murithi, Programme Officer, Programme in Peacemaking and Preventive Diplomacy, UN Institute for Training and   Research (UNITAR); Conchita Poncini, IFUW and chairperson of the NGO Committee on the Status of Women; Moderator: Werner Peter Luedemann

• World Health Assembly : “Paths to Health: The Spiritual Dimension in Health” Speakers: Shekhar Dutt, Secretary Department Ayurveda – Ministry of Health, India; Dr Devender Kr Triguna, Board of Ayurvedic and Unani Systems of Medicine, Delhi; Kirit Parikh, Vice President ZANDU, Mumbai; Dr Manoj Kurian, World Council of Churches/Health and Healing; Moderator: Werner Peter Luedemann

2005

• Appeal: Call for the Spiritual Empowerment of the UN: Version available in English, French and Spanish  

• Circles for Peace: A monthly silent meditation for Peace and for the Empowerment of the UN

• April:  "27 Demilitarised States in the World: Utopia or Reality for the Right to Development with Peace and Security?" ; Panel Discussion organised during the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights, Palais des Nations, Geneva with Christophe Barbey
(APRED Ass. for Non-Militarisation and Demilitarisation and author of the book of the same title) and Conchita Poncini (IFUW Int. Fed. of University Women, Former Chair of Committee on the Status of Women, Convenor of the Working Group on Women's Employment and Economic Development)

• Creation of the CSVGC–Geneva website:  www.csvgc-geneva.org

• Establishment of Planned CSVGC Working Groups:
 
'Spiritual and Values Education' - Chairs Trevor Davies and Elly Pradervand
'Youth and Globalisation' - Chair Rudolf Schneider
Towards a Spiritual Forum at the UN' - Chairs to be appointed
'Sacred Traditions and Sacred Sites' - Chair Vita de Waal
'Common Denominators in Religions and Beliefs' - Chair Rudolf Schneider
'Science and Ethics' - Chair Astrid Stückelberger

If interested in any of the above reports, please contact Dr. Astrid Stückelberger on secretariat@csvgc-geneva.org