Featured GALLERY: CSW Event 2009

URI-UN Events Honoring

The 2009 UN International Year of Reconciliation

The United Religions Initiative at the United Nations (URI-UN) has chosen to focus on the 2009 UN International Year of Reconciliation, highlighting this important year for both the UN NGOs and people of faith worldwide through a series of events on the general theme of “The Journey to Reconciliation.”

Thursday, Jan. 29^th            Interfaith Service for Reconciliation and Peace

Church Center of the United Nations, Chapel, 9:15-10:15am

Organizers: Deborah Moldow, World Peace Prayer Society UN Representative and Monica Willard, URI UN Representative

Partners: The Office of the Chaplain, the Committee of Religious NGOs and the NGO Committee on Human Rights

Program: URI-UN welcomes members of the Trail of Dreams World Peace Walk, a Cooperation Circle of the URI, and blesses the last leg of their 3-1⁄2 year journey with a World Peace Prayer Ceremony.

Thursday, Jan. 29^th            Journey to Peace: Nonviolence • Reconciliation • Human Rights

Church Center of the United Nations, Hardin Room, 11^th Floor, 12-3pm

Organizer: Audrey Kitagawa, Chair, Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns-NY

Partners: The CONGO Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns-NY (monthly meeting), the Committee of Religious NGOs and the NGO Committee on Human Rights

Program: Launching the 2009 International Year of Reconciliation, the Gandhi-King Season for Nonviolence, and the 2009 International Year of Human Rights Learning

Guest Speakers: Mr. Rolf Carriere and Mr. Mel Duncan, Senior Advisor and Founder and Executive Director of the Nonviolent Peaceforce: An Alternative to Military Intervention, and Ms. Audri Scott Williams and members of the Trail of Dreams World Peace Walk. Final group meditation with the flags of the world.

Thursday, Feb. 5^th            Sustainable Peace: The 2009 Year of Reconciliation

            DPI NGO Briefing

Dag Hammarskjold Auditorium, United Nations, 10am-12noon

Organizer: Monica Willard, URI UN Representative

Program: Stories of reconciliation around the world, with Native American music by Jackie Wolf Tice

Guest Speakers: H.E. Amb. Maria Rubiales de Chamorro of the Mission of Nicaragua; Judge Felicitas Hoffmann of Germany, SER; Ms. Jacqueline Murekatete of Rwanda, Miracle Corners of the World; Ms. Claudia Abate, Foundation for Post Conflict Development (FPCD); Moderator, Maria Luisa Chavez, UN Department of Public Information.

Thursday, Feb. 12^th            The Journey to Reconciliation: Social Integration as a Step on the Journey

Commission on Social Development Side Event

Conference Room B, 1:15-2:45pm

Organizers: Carol Zinn, Sisters of St. Joseph and Monica Willard, URI UN Representative

Program: Deep reflection on achieving reconciliation through the Appreciative Inquiry process

Wednesday, Mar. 4^th            Equal Sharing of Responsibilities Between Women and Men, Including Caregiving in the Context of HIV/AIDS and the Blessings of Forgiveness and Reconciliation

Commission on the Status of Women Side Event

ICO Center, 323 E. 47^th Street, 1:00-3:00pm

Organizer: Sr. Anele Heiges, International Public Policy Institute

Partner: International Public Policy Institute (IPPI)

Guest  Speakers: Panel works with colleagues in Kenya and the Kenya immigrant community in New Jersey

Monday, May 4th            Journey to Reconciliation: Reconciliation as a Key to Sustainability

Commission on Sustainable Development Side Event

UN Conference Room 6, 1:15-2:45pm

Organizer: Martha Gallahue of the National Service Conference of the American Ethical Union and Michelle Kim of Franciscans International

Partners: International Public Policy Institute, CSVGC-NY Eco-Spirituality Working Group, CSVGC-NY Universal Ethics Working Group, and the Earth Values Caucus

Guest Speaker: Mr. Sami Areikat, of the UN Division for Sustainable Development of the Dept. of Economic and Social Affairs, plus Appreciative Inquiry process.

Monday, May 18^th            The Journey Toward Reconciliation

Indigenous Forum Side Event:

UNEP-NY Conference Room, 11:00am-1:00pm

Organizer: Betsy Stang, the Wittenberg Center for Alternative Resources

Partners: The CONGO Committee on International Decade for the World's Indigenous People, the Wittenberg Center for Alternatives Resources, Earthkeepers Working Group

Guest Speakers: Grace Smith Yellow Hammer, Dineh Elder; Ethelyn Secakuku, Hopi Elder; Lorena Banyacya, Hopi Elder; Yoland Trevino, Indigenous Maya (and chair of URI Global Council); and Sara James, Qwichen Elder (by phone)

Thursday, May 28^th            Reconciliation: Healing the Wounds with Naomi Tutu

UNICEF – Danny Kaye Visitors Center, 2:00-4:00pm

Organizer: Monica Willard, URI UN Representative

Partners: The Values Caucus and the NGO Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns-NY

Guest Speakers: Mr. Stephen Hanmer, Partnerships Manager for Civil Society Partnerships Outreach at UNICEF, and Ms. Naomi Tutu, Peace Jam International           

Tuesday, October 27^th            Reconciliation with Our Earth: Wisdom from Faith Traditions

UN Week of Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns Event

Church Center for the United Nations, 2^nd Floor, 1:00-4:00pm

Organizer: Michelle Kim, Franciscans International

Partners: CSVGC-NY Eco-Spirituality Working Group, CSVGC-NY Spiritual History of the United Nations Working Group, CSVGC-NY Women Rising Working Group

Guest Speakers: Giovanna Czander (Italy), Ph.D., Dominican College, Swami Parameshananda (India), Bharat Sevashram Sangha, Sunera Rahman, Upper Westchester Muslim Society, Rabbi Roger Ross, The New Seminary, Chung Hyun Kyung, Ph.D. (Korea), Union Theological Seminary, Rev. Tim Miner, OUnI, of the Council of Interfaith Congregations of the U.S.