2016 United Nations NGO Report

Sunray Meditation Society

 

July 14, 2016

Sunray is a non-governmental (NGO) in association with the Department of Public Information of the United Nations. Sunray supports the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and is most involved with the NGO Committee on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

 

NGO Committee Name

The Second Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples ended in 2014.The United Nations General Assembly did not vote for another decade. This action necessitated our committee name change; we are now the NGO Committee on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. We are pleased to inform that we have a Facebook page by that name. Please ‘like’ us.

 

International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

Every year on August 9 the International Day is celebrated at the United Nations Headquarters and throughout the world. For 2015 the focus was “Post 2015 Agenda: Ensuring indigenous peoples’ health and well-being”. The Committee co-sponsored this program. For 2016 the International Day will be focused on Indigenous Peoples and Education.

 

Committee Events

Nov. 19, 2015 – Program –Guest Speakers, Elina Horo, Fellow, Human Rights Advocate Programme, Columbia University, Co-ordinator of Adivasi Women’s Network, President of the Women and Gender Resource Center in Jharkhand. Sandra Creamer, Fellow, Human Rights Advocate Programme, Columbia University, Queensland Indigenous Lawyers Association. Elsa Stamatopoulou, Ph.D. Director, Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Program at the Institute for the Study of Human Rights.

 

15^th Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigineous Issues

We co-sponsored with the Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Department of Public Information and other NGOs the Welcoming Reception and Cultural Event on May 10, 2016 We also co-sponsored a side event on May 19, 2016, “Recognizing the rights of Indigenous communities around the world in conflict transformation and peaceful communities”.

 

The Committee meets monthly at or near UN Headquarters in New York City and all are invited. I am most grateful to Venerable Dhyani Ywahoo and her ancestors for providing the vision and path that we may work together for manifesting peace and justice. May this work be of benefit to all.

Sandy Sheridan, Sunray UN/NGO Representative