Bahá’í World/Volume 16/The Bahá’í Faith and the United Nations

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V

THE Bahá’í FAITH AND THE UNITED NATIONS

1. THE BEGINNINGS OF BAHA’I' RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNITED NATIONS

IN the spring of 1947 the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada was accredited to the United Nations Office of Public Information as a national non-governmental organization qualified to be represented through an observer. A year later the eight National Spiritual Assemblies then existing were recognized collectively as an international non-governmental organization under the title ‘Bahá’í International Community’. These eight Assemblies were those of the United States and Canada; the British Isles; Germany and Austria; Egypt and Sudan; ‘Iráq; Iran (Persia); India, Pakistan and Burma; and Australia and New Zealand. Each National Spiritual Assembly in its application established the National Assembly of the United States as its representative in relation to the United Nations.

A significant action was taken in July 1947 when the United Nations Special Palestine Committee addressed a letter to Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, Head of the Bahá’í Faith, resident at the Bahá’í World Centre in Haifa, requesting an expression of the Bahá’í attitude to the future of Palestine. In his reply, Shoghi Effendi made it clear that ‘Our aim is the establishment of universal peace in the world and our desire to see justice prevail in every domain of human society, including the domain of politics.’ The Guardian also pointed out his concern that ‘the fact be recognized by whoever exercises sovereignty over Haifa and ‘Akká, that within this area exists the spiritual and administrative centre of a world Faith, and that the independence of that Faith, its right to manage its international affairs from this source, the rights of Bahá’ís from any and every country of the

globe to visit it as pilgrims (enjoying the same privilege in this respect as Jews, Muslims and Christians do in regard to visiting J erusalem) be acknowledged and permanently safeguarded.’

With this communication the Guardian enclosed a summary of the history and teachings of the Bahá’í Faith which the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada reprinted and distributed widely.

In addition to participation in a number of international and United States regional conferences, four Bahá’í documents were formally submitted: ‘A Bahá’í Declaration of Human Obligations and Rights’, 1947; ‘A Bahá’í Statement on the Rights of Women’, 1947; and ‘The Work of Bahá’ís in Promotion of Human Rights’, 1948; on 9 November 1949, a letter was addressed to the United Nations to formulate a method of worship acceptable for use in its future prayer building.

The period 1954 to 1963 was a highly eventful one, marking an increase of strength through the participation of the newly elected National and Regional Assemblies. These years witnessed, as well, the desperate appeal to the United Nations to save the lives of the Persian Bahá’ís. As in previous years, the Bahá’í International Community sent delegates to many international, regional and state conferences.

In 1956 Shoghi Effendi appointed a special committee to be called into action for matters of international importance.

During the period of the Ten Year Crusade the Bahá’í observers accredited to the United Nations were the Hand of the Cause Ugo R. Giachery, Europe; Mrs. O. H. Blackwell, United States; and Mrs. Mildred R. Mottahedeh, International.

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When the United Nations wrote its Charter in 1945 in San Francisco, the member nations realized that changing world conditions might necessitate changes in its Charter. It therefore arranged for a Charter Revision Conference to be convened in 1955. In anticipation of this significant event each Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly was solicited for suggestions which might be incorporated in Bahá’í proposals for Charter revision.1 Bearing these suggestions in mind, a carefully conceived pamphlet representing the first united effort of all the National Spiritual Assemblies in a non-Bahá’í field was prepared. Entitled ‘Proposals for Charter Revision Submitted to the United Nations by the Bahá’í International Community’, a copy of this pamphlet, together with a covering letter written by the executive secretary, Mr. Horace Holley, was sent to each of the delegates at the Conference. In addition, copies were presented to officials of many universities, to librarians, and newspaper men.

Preceding the opening of the Charter Revision Conference, a ‘Festival of Faith’ was held in San Francisco. Mr. Arthur L. Dahl, Jr., ‘ The full text of the Bahá’í International Community pro posals for charter revision appears in The Bahá’í World, vol. XV, pp. 376—377 and in other earlier volumes

THE Bahá’í WORLD

representing the Bahá’í Faith, read a prayer taken from the words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Fifteen thousand people were present at the Festival and the programme was both televised and broadcast by several nations, as well as being widely covered by the press.

The Bahá’í International Community was represented in many international, regional and local conferences of United Nations nongovernmental organizations. Bahá’í delegations attended international conferences held in the New York and the Geneva headquarters of the United Nations.

In May 1959, at the New York headquarters, a United Nations Conference for nongovernmental organizations was held on the problems of technical aid given by the United Nations and its specialized agencies in the social and economic fields. In connection with those in the social field, a delegation representing the Bahá’í International Community and the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís Of the United States presented a resolution recommending that non-governmental organizations endeavour to obtain endorsements of the Genocide Convention from their respective organizations.

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2.TIIEIJAIIAKIIIJTEHKBUKTICHQAJJCXDRJBJLHNITHT AND THE UNITED NATIONS

1954 IN May 1955 there broke loose a sudden, violent storm of persecutions against the Bahá’í community in Iran, threatening its very existence. Cables to the fiiéh and the Prime Minister from Bahá’ís all over the world brought no cessation of the hostility and the widespread massacre of the Persian Bahá’ís, threatened in the press and in public meetings, became a real danger.

In July 1955 Shoghi Effendi cabled the Bahá’í International Community to lodge with the United Nations an appeal for immediate assistance. A committee consisting of five Bahá’ís, each from a different country, proceeded within thirty-six hours to Geneva where the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations was then meeting and engaged in ceaseless efforts to have their case presented. A competent lawyer was retained to frame the appeal.

The appeal, together with the evidence of the persecutions, was presented to the SecretaryGeneral, Dag Hammarskjold, to all members of the Economic and Social Council who had been interviewed, to the Human Rights Commission, to the specialized agencies, and to the international non-governmental organizations. A press conference was held and the news of the appeal circulated. Unable to do more, the members of the committee returned to their homes to launch a publicity campaign to arouse the public conscience.

Only a few days before the scheduled massacre the intervention of the Secretary-General, the efforts of prominent Bahá’ís in Iran, the appeals of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States to the American State Department, and the publicity campaign that had been launched, brought an immediate end to the physical persecutions and lifted the danger that threatened to engulf the Bahá’í community in the cradle of the Faith.

Economic reprisals against the Persian Bahá’ís continued. They were still denied the fundamental religious right of assembly for

1963

worship, their centres were still being held by the government and Bahá’ís who had been summarily dismissed from civil service or from teaching posts had not been reinstated. After months of attempts by individual Bahá’ís in Tihran and many appeals by American Bahá’ís to their State Department, Shoghi Effendi instructed the Bahá’ís to launch another appeal to the United Nations.

Dr. Amin Banani and Mrs. Mildred Mottahedeh who were members of the original committee again went to Geneva in July 1956 and after speaking individually with the delegates of the Economic and Social Council aroused the sympathy of Dr. Jose Vicente Trujillo, the delegate from Ecuador and Chairman of the Social Commission, who opened the session of that commission with the following words:

‘ . . . In regard to prevention of discrimination against religious minorities, we have received many complaints. One of these, which, in my estimate, is of great importance, regards the curtailment of rights of a religious group in a country which is an honored member of the United Nations and which has a good record in human rights matters—I am referring to the complaints of a new religious group called the Bahá’ís which have been distributed to the Secretary-General and other delegates. I believe this matter should receive the close attention of the Subcommittee on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities and should receive equal attention with other instances of religious discrimination. This new religion should be respected like all other religions in the world.’

Although the Persian National Bahá’í Convention could not be held in 1957 as restrictions on assemblage were still continuing, nevertheless the appeal was successful and the Government of Iran responded favourably. All but a few administrative headquarters were eventually recovered including the national Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds. The most joyful news was of

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the restoration of the House of the Báb inShiréz and of His shop in Bilshihr.1

On 10 April 1959 representatives of the Bahá’í International Community presented to the president of the Human Rights Commission, Ambassador Ratnakirti Gunewardene of Ceylon (Sri Lanka), a statement endorsing the Genocide Convention.

Mr. H. Borrah Kavelin, chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States, read on behalf of the Bahá’í International Community a statement embodying the following resolution:

‘Since the teaching and practice of the oneness of mankind is the cornerstone of the religion revealed by Bahá’u’lláh, His followers throughout our jurisdiction recognize the vital importance of the Genocide Convention for assuring the protection of small and helpless races and peoples.’

Ambassador Gunewardene, in his reply, stated in part: ‘I am greatly impressed by the endorsement of the Genocide Convention by

1 Further details of these appeals and the successful outcome appear in The Bahá’í World, vol. XIII, pp. 292—296, 789—791l

Partial view ofskyline of New York. In the leflforeground is seen the United Nations complex.

THE BAHA’l WORLD

eighty National and Regional Assemblies of the Bahá’ís, coming as they do from countries and territories all over the globe. This is a most powerful expression of world opinion. It makes us feel that our work here in the United Nations is supported indeed not only by the Governments, but by the people themselves . . .’ Approximately one hundred nongovernmental organizations of India were represented at the second Indian National Conference of Non-Govemmental Organizations on United Nations Information held at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, from 3 to 5 April 1959. The Bahá’í International Community was represented by Mrs. Shirin Fozdar, Dr. K. K. Bhargava, Mr. R. R. Williams and Mr. P. C. Auplish. Among the most important resolutions passed by the conference were those on peace, universality, universal education for peace and a world language. Several resolutions sponsored by the Bahá’í delegates were also passed. The United Nations Office of Public Information, in co-operation with the executive committee of the non-governmental organizations, called a meeting at United Nations headquarters in May 1960 to discuss problems of co

Ofifices of the Bahá’í International Community are located in the adjacent Carnegie Foundation building at 345 East 46th Street.

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operation ‘with the United Nations family in so far as its programme affects the new nations’. Mr. Eugene Moye and Mrs. Mildred Mottahedeh were nominated as delegates and Mrs. Harriett Wolcott attended as observer. Mr. Charles Wolcott participated as secretary of the Bahá’í International Community.

During the final plenary session the nongovernmental organizations were invited to submit statements regarding their work in the ‘new nations’. Excerpts from the statement submitted on behalf of the Bahá’í International Community are set out below:

‘Community centres have been established both in rural and urban areas. In the urban areas, vigorous assistance has been provided to the primitive peoples enabling them to integrate successfully into these more highly developed societies.

‘Since a fundamental principle of the Bahá’í Faith is education for all, schools at various scholastic levels form an important part of a continuously expanding educational programme for adults as well as children.

‘Each Bahá’í community endeavours to develop in its members a world point of view leading to a broader understanding of the fundamental oneness of the human race. This serves to eliminate the traditional prejudices between nations, races and religions.

‘Since so many of our aims and those of the United Nations are identical, Bahá’í communities all over the world support a vigorous programme explaining the structure and purposes of the United Nations, an important part of which is the annual observance of United Nations and Human Rights Days.

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‘In the field of Human Rights, the equality of men and women has been firmly established in every Bahá’í community. In many of these communities situated in primitive areas where the status of women has been very low, women are now increasingly being elected to serve on governing bodies. Bahá’ís are active in the promotion of all fundamental Human Rights, even to the extent of the sacrifice of their own lives to preserve and uphold these principles on which the ultimate peace and security of all peoples depend"

In 1962, for the second time in the nine-year period covered by this report, persecution of Bahá’ís made it necessary to appeal to the United Nations for redress. On 12 April 1962 a number of the Bahá’ís of Morocco were arrested and imprisoned and were not finally arraigned before the Regional Court of Nador until 31 October. On 10 December they were tried in the Criminal Court of Nador. Death sentences were imposed upon three, five were sentenced to life imprisonment, and one was sentenced to imprisonment for fifteen years.

As the session of the General Assembly of the United Nations was to close on the evening of 21 December, telegrams were sent to thirty-five delegations appealing for help under the Genocide Convention, which is a part of International Law. The Bahá’í International Community wrote to U Thant, SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations, and the British United Nations Association, quite independently, cabled U Thant requesting his intervention.1

’ Further details concerning the Moroccan affair are reported in The Bahá’í World, volt XIII, pp. 288—289.

[Page 332]33 32 THE BAHA i WORLD

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United Nations Conference on ‘New Perspectives on World Population’ held in New York;

16 May 1973. At the presiding table are seen (from the left): Mr. F. Bradford Morse, Under secretaryfar Political and General Assembly Affairs; Dr. Kurt Waldheim, Secretary-General

of the United Nations, addressing the meeting; Dr. Victor de Araujo, Chairman Qf the meeting;

Mr. Genichi Akatam', Assistant Secretary-Generalfor Public Information; Mr. Vladimir P.

Pavlichenko, Director of the External Relations Division; and the Rev. Melvin Hawthorne, Rapporteur.

M r. Gem'chi Akatam' (left), Assistant Secretary—Generalfor Public Information, is seen conferring

with Dr. Victor de Araujo, accredited representative of the Bahá’í International Community to

the United Nations, during the two-day United Nations Conference on ‘New Perspectives on World Population’ held in New York ,' 16 May 1973.

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3. THE Bahá’í INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND THE UNITED NATIONS

1963 1973

VICTOR DE ARAUJO

AN important step occurred in the development of the Bahá’í relationship to the United Nations in the period 1963—1973, when, under the guidance of the Universal House of Justice, the Bahá’í International Community sought and obtained, on 27 May 1970, consultative status, categoryII,1 with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

In 1967, the Universal House of Justice had assumed the direction of the work of the Bahá’í International Community with the United Nations, a responsibility shouldered for so many years, with great distinction, by the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States; and, in view of the volume and scope of these activities, decided to appoint a full-time representative of the Bahá’í International Community to the United Nations. Mrs. Mildred Mottahedeh, who had performed devoted and distinguished part-time service in that office for nearly twenty years, asked to be relieved of the heavy responsibility, and Dr. Victor de Araujo was appointed in her place.

Accreditation with the Economic and Social Council, a relationship established by Article 71 of the Charter of the United Nations, marked a new stage in the relationship of the Bahá’í International Community with the United Nations. The Bahá’í International Community could now participate in all sessions of the Economic and Social Council and its subsidiary bodies, and could attend United Nations global and regional conferences and seminars organized under the jurisdiction of ECOSOC. Here, Bahá’í representatives would be able to present pertinent written and oral statements. The Bahá’í International Community would also now be ‘consulted’ on studies being undertaken

‘ Consultative status, category ll. is given to ‘organizations which have a special competence in, and are concerned specifically with, only a few of the fields of activity covered by the Council, and which are known internationally within the fields for which they have or seek consultative status'.

by the United Nations or on the substance of those United Nations resolutions which asked for the views of non-governmental organizations in consultative status.

The first official participation of the Bahá’í International Community in attending sessions of the ECOSOC or its functional commissions or committees came about in the late summer of 1970 at the twenty-third session of the SubCommission on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities. Later, the Bahá’í International Community attended, in New York or in Geneva, the annual sessions of the Economic and Social Council (the spring session in New York and the summer one in Geneva), of the Commission on Human Rights and its Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, of the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations, and the biennial sessions of the Commission for Social Development and the Commission on the Status of Women.

As a result of its consultative status and its known concern for human rights, the Bahá’í International Community was invited to send representatives to two special United Nations seminars for member-states in observance of International Year for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, 1971. At the first one, held in Yaounde, from 16 to 29 June, the Bahá’í International Community presented two statements explaining the Bahá’í point of view towards race and emphasizing the general principles concerning the oneness of mankind. The second special seminar was held in Nice, from 24 August to 6 September, 1971. The Bahá’í participants were twice given the opportunity to present the Bahá’í viewpoint on specific subjects being discussed, drawing a great deal of attention and favourable comments from many government delegates. Again, as an outcome of its consultative status, the Bahá’í

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International Community was invited to participate in the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, held in Stockholm, during the first two weeks of June 1972. A Bahá’í statement presented before one conference session resulted in the improvement of some conference recommendations. The Bahá’í delegation also contributed to a joint statement submitted to the conference by the representatives of many non-governmental organizations. A special pamphlet, The Environment and Human Values—A Bahá’í View, was prepared for the occasion and distributed to the 1,500 government delegates and 600 observers in attendance. The Bahá’í International Community was also actively represented at the Environmental Forum held in conjunction with that United Nations conference, where many non-governmental groups came together to present their views and discuss environmental issues.

Since the sessions of the Economic and Social Council and its commissions and committees take place both at UN headquarters in New York and at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Mrs. Janet Lindstrom and Dr. Marco G. Kappenberger were appointed respectively representative and alternate representative for the Bahá’í International Community in Geneva. In addition, Dr. ‘Aziz Navidi was named Bahá’í International Community representative for the continent of Africa.

In July 1972 Mrs. Mary Sawicki was appointed full-time executive assistant to Dr. de Araujo. A larger headquarters was also sought and found, across from the United Nations, at 345 East 46th Street.

Soon after obtaining consultative status, the Bahá’í International Community became a member of the Conference of NonGovernmental Organizations in Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council, and participated actively, both in New York and in Geneva, in the work of committees organized by that conference in the areas of human rights, status of women and development.

One new area of Bahá’í—United Nations cooperation concerned youth. In 1970, the Bahá’í International Community participated in the World Youth Assembly, a conference convened under United Nations auspices, at UN headquarters, as part of the observance of the

THE BAHA’I WORLD

twenty-fifth anniversary of the United Nations, to explore issues of common concern to youth and the UN. Later, the Bahá’í International Community worked closely with the UN headquarters Youth Caucus, a group of representatives and observers designated by a number of international non-governmental youth and youth-related organizations and cosponsored a statement submitted to the Economic and Social Council recommending the establishment of an international university.

The relationship of the Bahá’í world to the United Nations Office of Public Information (OPI), begun in 1948, continued to expand during this period. The Bahá’í International Community and many of its memberafiiliates—national Bahá’í communitiesparticipated in two important regional conferences of non-governmental organizations sponsored by OPI in 1970 and 1972, the first, for the continent of Africa, in Addis Ababa, in February 1970; and the second, for South and Central America, and the Caribbean, in Buenos Aires, in August 1972.

The participation of the Bahá’í world in United Nations Day and Human Rights Day programmes continued to grow in this period, assisted each year by new National Spiritual Assemblies and their communities. The Bahá’í International Community, through suggestions in circular letters, and mailings of United Nations information and materials, constantly encouraged National Spiritual Assemblies to make use of these two occasions to demonstrate close co-operation with the aims and activities of the United Nations, thereby helping to fulfill the goal of the Nine Year Plan of strengthening the ties of the Bahá’í world with the UN. Accordingly, Bahá’í communities throughout the world supported the UN in its Observances of International Year for Human Rights (1968), International Education Year (1970) and International Year for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1971). The UN Office of Public Information continued to warmly recognize and welcome the close cooperation of the Bahá’í world in educating the public regarding the aims of the United Nations and its activities directed towards global peace and unity.

The Bahá’í International Community continued to participate fully in the annual conferences organized for non-governmental orga [Page 335]INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF Bahá’í ACTIVITIES

nizations at UN headquarters by the United Nations Office of Public Information. The Bahá’í International Community representative also attended regularly the weekly Septemberthrough-May briefings organized by the Office of Public Information on current developments in the full range of United Nations programmes. In this period closer ties were forged between national Bahá’í communities and the United Nations Information Centres (UNIC), overseas branches of the Office of Public Information. Many National Spiritual Assemblies became listed with the appropriate UNIC, an informal type of accreditation comparable to the more formal relationship of the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States with the United Nations Office of Public Information in New York. Bahá’í International

Community co operation with the Office of Public Information was further recognized through the election of Dr. Victor de Araujo to membership on the Executive Committee of Non-Governmental Organizations with OPI. He served as vicechainnan during 1969 and as chairman during 1971 and 1972.

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As in the past, the Bahá’í International Community office in New York assisted with matters of protection and recognition of the Bahá’í world community. One of the important assignments given by the Universal House of J ustice to its representative was the presentation on behalf of the Universal House of Justice of The Proclamation Of Bahc'z’u’llc'zh to fifty-six Heads of State via their ambassadors to the United Nations. With but few exceptions, for reasons beyond control, all the fifty—six ambassadors received this historic document. In addition, under the direction and guidance of the Universal House of Justice, contacts were made on many occasions with the United Nations Missions and Secretariat. Here again a growing understanding of the non-political and constructive nature of the Bahá’í International Community in the work of the UN, aided by its consultative status, made access to key United Nations officials easier when a clear presentation of the Bahá’í position was called for to foster the official recognition of the Faith or to prevent discrimination against a Bahá’í community.

The National Bahá’í Women’s Committee of Mauritius sponsored a forum on ‘The Status of

Women in Today’s Society’, at Quatre-Bornes, as part of the Mauritian Bahá’ís’ observance of

International Women‘s Year. Guest speakers on this occasion were [Vim Lea Nys (right) of

Belgium, an international Bahá’í travelling teacher; Mr. H. Tirvendadum, Chairman of the

Administrative Commission of the Municipality of Quatre-Bornes; and the Hon. Mrs. R. Poonoosamy, M inister for Women's Aflairs; 6 September 1975.

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EQUALITY OF MEN

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A selection of Bahd’z' literature in English, French, German, Italian, Kanarese, Spanish and Swedish, prepared and distributed by the Bahá’í International Community in the period

1973—1976.

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THE BAHA’I INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND THE UNITED NATIONS

1973 1976

VICTOR DE ARAUJO

STRENGTHENING of the relationship between the Bahá’í International Community and the United Nations continued during 1973—1976 with a noticeable increase in the range and depth of Bahá’í co-operation. The Bahá’í International Community explored new avenues of participation in United Nations areas of social and economic development, as it worked closely with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), its functional commissions, committees and associated bodies. Not only was it represented at sessions of UN bodies concerned with issues of human rights, social development, status of women, environment, human settlements, world food, science and technology, population, law of the sea, crime prevention, narcotic drugs, youth, the family and the United Nations University, but it also furnished information, submitted statements and published brochures on most of these subjects. In addition, the Bahá’í International Community participated in United Nations Years, in world conferences and congresses, in regional conferences and in seminars concerned with the socioeconomic problems of our planet, as well as in preparatory and follow-up meetings and activities.

Throughout this period the Bahá’í International Community continued to encourage National Spiritual Assemblies to observe, through their communities, special UN events, such as World Population Year (1974) and International Women’s Year (1975), as well as to plan United Nations Day and Human Rights Day programmes to educate the public about the aims and activities of the UN and the role of the Bahá’í world community in achieving global unity and peace. The number of National Spiritual Assemblies reporting such participation increased during the period to 38 in 1973, to 42 in 1974 and to 63 in 1975, as Bahá’í communities discovered compatible ways of fostering both

their own goals and those of the United Nations in areas of common concern. Besides working closely with the Bahá’í International Community and its representatives in United Nations Conferences and seminars taking place in their country or area, National Spiritual Assemblies were also of great assistance in providing, through their Publishing Trusts, for the publication of Bahá’í International Community brochures issued for special UN Years, conferences or Observances. In addition, national Bahá’í communities themselves prepared for such occasions pamphlets and other materials, and published articles in their journals or newsletters, sometimes devoting whole issues to these events, as in the case of International Women’s Year.

The Bahá’í International Community found, during these years, many opportunities to explain to UN delegates, representing by 1976 more than 140 independent countries and over ninety per cent of the peoples of the planet, as well as to members of the UN Secretariat, how its interest in the goals of the United Nations Charter—world peace, universal human rights, and the full social and economic development of the peoples of the planet—was rooted in the Bahá’í teachings, principles and laws, and how these Bahá’í guidelines were relevant to a lasting solution of the world’s problems. In addition, the Bahá’í International Community was able to point to the way of life evolving in Bahá’í communities around the world as an embodiment of the Bahá’í teachings.

During this period, the Bahá’í International Community added to its existing consultative status with ECOSOC and its afiiliation with the UN Office of Public Information, two new relationships: an affiliation with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), headquartered in Nairobi; and consultative status with the United Nations Children’s Fund

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THE Bahá’í WORLD

United Nations Seminar on ‘The Promotion and Protection of the Human Rights of National,

Ethnic, and Other Minorities’, held in Olm'd, Yugoslavia; 25 June—8 July, 1974. Seen in the

centre, left to right, are the representatives of the Bahá’í International Community, Dr. M arco G. Kappenberger and Mr. Faad Katirai.

(UNICEF). The association with UNEP, begun in 1974, marks a continuation of the Bahá’í concern for the environment, expressed earlier through participation of the Bahá’í International Community in the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment (1972). To act as liaison with UNEP in Nairobi, the Bahá’í International Community appointed as its representative Mr. Bonaventure Wafula, and as alternate representatives Mrs. Ruth Vuyiya and Dr. H. Tim Rost.

The Bahá’í International Community received consultative status with UNICEF, a member of the UN family concerned for over thirty years with the well-being of the world’s children, on 8 March 1976. This accreditation was most welcome, and promises to offer many opportunities for closer ties of the Bahá’í world with the United Nations.

In the autumn of 1975, Mr. Will. C. van den Hoonaard, a member of the Bahá’í community of Canada, joined the Bahá’í International Community United Nations Office serving as alternate representative to Dr. Victor de

Araujo. This addition brought the staff of the Bahá’í International Community in New York, by Riḍván of 1976, to six persons, four serving full-time and two part-time. When Mrs. Janet Lindstrom found it necessary to resign as representative of the Bahá’í International Community to the United Nations in Geneva, Dr. Marco G. Kappenberger was appointed to replace her. Mrs. Mahshid Fatio was then named alternate representative.

Human Rights

The Bahá’í International Community throughout the lifetime of the United Nations has co-operated extensively with the UN in the field of human rights through world-wide annual Observances of Human Rights Day, human rights conferences, seminars, awards, programmes and publications. As a dimension of its consultative status, during 1973-1976, it was able to expand its substantive contributions to the human rights work of the UN. Besides participating in yearly sessions of the Commission on Human Rights and the Sub [Page 339]INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF BAHA’l ACTIVITIES

Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and the Protection of Minorities, the Bahá’í International Community took part in UN governmental seminars on the rights of minorities and of youth, submitted information on three human rights studies, issued a special publication for the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (10 December 1973), and began its co-operation with the UN Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1973—1983), launched on that anniversary.

In addition to offering constructive suggestions on human rights issues discussed at the meetings of the commission and its subcommission, the Bahá’í International Community shared the Bahá’í understanding of human rights and obligations in the information it submitted to the UN Division of Human Rights (at the request of that department of the UN Secretariat) for three studies conducted by the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and the Protection of Minorities: on discrimination against indigenous populations, on the rights of persons belonging to religious and linguistic minorities, and on the prevention and punishment of the crime of genocide. At all times, the Bahá’í position of non-interference in political affairs was made clear.

During this period, the Bahá’í International Community was also invited to take part in two United Nations seminars concerned with human rights. The first one, on ‘Youth and Human Rights’, was held in San Remo, Italy, August/September 1973; the second, on the ‘Promotion and Protection of Human Rights of National, Ethnic, and other Minorities’, took place in Ohrid, Yugoslavia, June/July 1974. On both occasions, the Bahá’í International Community contributed statements stressing the aims and values that must underlie the rights and responsibilities of youth and of minorities, if those segments of society are to fulfil their destinies in helping bring into being a united and peaceful world society.

As a contribution to an increased awareness of the nature of human rights, the Bahá’í International Community prepared and distributed widely in UN circles on the occasion of the twenty—fifth Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights—Human Rights Day, 1973—a brochure entitled Divine

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Law: Source of Human Rights—A Bahá’í View. This pamphlet, drawing on significant passages from the Writings of Baha’u’llah and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, focussed on an element neglected in that important UN Declaration: the source of human rights and responsibilities in divine law. The pamphlet set forth the Bahá’í understanding that justice is the cornerstone of human rights, that its standard for our age and the source of divine law is Baha’u’llah, and that ‘the establishment of universal human rights is directly dependent on mankind’s response to this divine gift for human transformation’.

The Bahá’í International Community also joined with other non-governmental organizations on that anniversary in presenting to the United Nations Secretary-General and to other UN bodies and officials concerned with human rights a statement assuring them of their deep interest and co-operation in UN human rights programmes. In addition, the Bahá’í International Community participated on that occasion in a three-day Human Rights Conference held at UN headquarters in New York on the initiative of non-governmental organizations.

The Bahá’í International Community showed steady interest in the work of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the UN body created by the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination to oversee implementation by governments of the provisions of that Convention. It also began its participation in the UN Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1973—1983), a natural outcome of the Bahá’í conviction that the elimination of all prejudice is essential for world peace. Already the action of Bahá’ís and Bahá’í communities in eradicating from the hearts of human beings the seeds of prejudice and discrimination, whether racial or otherwise, represents in the most fundamental sense, support of the goals of this programme. In addition, the Bahá’í International Community began to inform its member communities about this UN programme, and to encourage them to observe occasions such as Human Rights Day with activities focussing on the need to eliminate the divisive force of racism and racial discrimination in order to achieve the unity of mankind. Plans have been made for participation by the Bahá’í International Community in the World Conference to Combat

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Racism and Racial Discrimination, scheduled for 1978, the mid-point of the programme of the UN Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination.

The range of Bahá’í co-operation with the human rights work of the United Nations can be seen in a compilation prepared by the Bahá’í International Community during this period, entitled ‘A Pattern for Justice’. Comprising excerpts from pamphlets, statements and information presented by the Bahá’í International Community to the United Nations during 1973 and 1974, this compilation outlines the Bahá’í view on a new standard of justice; on social and economic justice for all peoples; on the elimination of the crime of genocide; and on the rights of minorities, of indigenous populations, of the family, of women and of youth.

Status of Women

During this three-year span, the Bahá’í International Community co-operated closely

Q

Regional Conference of Non—Govemmental Organizations, organized by the Office of Public

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with the United Nations to improve the status of women. This involvement began with the participation of the Bahá’í International Community in the twenty-fifth session of the Commission on the Status of Women in New York, early in 1974, and intensified throughout International Women’s Year (1975) and beyond. Three statements, one presenting Bahá’í views on the education necessary to achieve the equality of the sexes, another describing the worldwide Bahá’í efforts to make better known the United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women and the third suggesting goals and programmes for International Women’s Year (IWY), were submitted to the commission at this session. In addition, the Bahá’í International Community co-sponsored with other non-governmental organizations two statements bearing on items included in the agenda of the commission. From extensive conversations with delegates—in the conference room, and at luncheons and

Information of the United Nations in co-operation with the Economic and Social Commission

for Asia and the Pacific, held in Bangkok, Thailand; 27—29 May 1975. Seen above are the

representatives of'the Bahá’í International C ammunity, (left to right) .' Mr. Firaydtin M itha’qiydn (Laos), Mr. Vicente Samaniego (Philippines), and Mrs, Shanta Sundram (Malaysia).

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Seminar on ‘The Participation of Women in Economic, Social and Political Development:

Obstacles that Hinder their Integration’, held in Buenos Aires, Argentina; 22—30 March 1976.

The representatives of the Bahá’í International Community, Mrs. N ylza Taetz and Mrs. Dolores

C abal/ero. are seen on the lefl and right, respectively; in the centre, Ana Richter th/ie United Nations Secretariat.

receptions—the Bahá’í representatives were able to glean a most favourable response to the Bahá’í contributions and views.

Earlier, in June 1973, the Bahá’í International Community had taken part in a seminar in London on an issue related to the condition of women: that of ‘The Family in a Changing Society’. A Bahá’í statement, circulated to all participants, emphasized the importance of the family as the nucleus of an evolving single world society, and stressed the importance of the mother in the family and the equality of rights, status and opportunities for men and women.

In preparation for International Women’s Year, the United Nations organized a series of meetings in which the Bahá’í International Community took part. The Bahá’í world community was represented at three regional seminars on the ‘Integration of Women in Development with Special Reference to Population Factors’, one for Asia and the Far East, in Bangkok in May 1974; one for Africa, in Addis Ababa in June 1974; and one for Latin America, in Caracas in April/May 1975. In all cases, the Bahá’í view on the importance of equality of opportunities, rights and responsibilities for both sexes was made clear. The Bahá’í In ternational Community also participated in the first of a series of seminars planned to keep the momentum of International Women’s Year alive throughout the UN Decade for Women (1976—1985), a meeting held in Buenos Aires early in 1976 to discuss the obstacles that hinder the participation of women in economic, social and political development.

The Bahá’í International Community was most ably represented at the International Women’s Year Conference in Mexico City, June/July 1975, and a large delegation of Bahá’í women participated in a Non-Governmental Organizations Tribune which took place concurrently. An official statement presented to the Conference pointed to the need of education for men and women that goes ‘beyond intellectual development or the acquisition of skills’, and which has as an essential characteristic ‘a wider and deeper understanding of the purpose and value of human life’, and referred to the high priority that the education of women has in the Bahá’í world community. The document further referred to a study submitted to the twentyfifth session of the Commission on the Status of Women by the Bahá’í International Community, entitled ‘Preliminary Enquiry into the

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Status of Women in the Bahá’í World Community’. This survey, attempting to establish how well Bahá’í communities were implementin g the principle of the equality of the sexes, was based on replies from eighty-one of the 113 National Spiritual Assemblies canvassed, and indicated ‘that all Bahá’í communities teach equality of the sexes and act to eliminate prejudice and discrimination against women; and that within the Bahá’í International Community “great advances have already been made towards equality of the sexes".’

The enquiry further suggested that ‘women already participate actively in voting for local and national Bahá’í administrative bodies—an easy process for them since there is no electioneering or nominations, and the ballot is secret; and they are elected to serve on such bodies. Women take part also in consultationthe process by which decisions are arrived at in Bahá’í community affairs—since they are able to rid themselves of feelings of inferiority and lack of worth brought about by an overemphasis on material values, through their understanding of the spiritual nature of human life.’

A pamphlet, Equality ofMen and Women—A New Reality, conveying the scope of this Bahá’í principle promulgated by Baha’u’llah over one hundred years ago, was prepared for International Women’s Year and distributed in English, French and Spanish, at the conference and at the tribune. A Bahá’í exhibit was arranged at the tribune with a background display of three panels in black with a spread-winged white bird of peace in the centre. Beneath the wing on each panel were quotations from the Bahá’í Writings on the themes of IWY! equality, development and peace.

Preceding International Women’s Year, the Bahá’í International Community sent circular letters to National Spiritual Assemblies explaining the goals of IWY, encouraging participation in the programme, and enclosing pertinent UN and Bahá’í materials. Further circulars and mailings were made in 1975, urging Bahá’í communities to observe IWY through United Nations Day and Human Rights Day activities. More important, the co-operation of the Bahá’í world community in activities to promote the goals of International Women’s Year was the subject of specific guidance by the Universal House of Justice, which in its message of 25 May

THE BAHA’l WORLD

1975 to National Spiritual Assemblies mentioned the Five-Year Plan goal, given to eighty of these national institutions, ‘to organize Bahá’í activities for women’. It also stressed that ‘the entire Bahá’í world is committed to encouraging and stimulating the vital role of women in the Bahá’í community as well as in society at large’.

In that message, the Universal House of Justice also instructed Bahá’ís during International Women’s Year to ‘initiate and implement programmes which will stimulate and promote the full and equal participation of women in all aspects of Bahá’í community life, so that through their accomplishments the friends will demonstrate the distinction of the Cause of God in this field of human endeavour’.

The world—wide results of Bahá’í—UN cooperation during International Women’s Year were most gratifying. Over sixty National Spiritual Assemblies reported activities during that year, and already the Bahá’í world community is engaged in continuing the impetus of this contribution of Bahá’í men and women to the equality of the sexes in a variety of activities during United Nations Decade for Women. This Decade was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly at its 30th session (1975).

In preparation for International Women’s Year and for the World Conference in Mexico City, and during IWY, Bahá’í International Community representatives worked closely with special Non-Governmental Organizations committees, both in New York and in Geneva, and co-signed three statements in co-operation with other non-governmental organizations for presentation to the IWY World Conference. In addition, the Bahá’í International Community took part in a workshop sponsored by the New York committee, for which it submitted a statement on ‘Programmes to Improve the Status of Women’. This paper was included in a folder of contributions by non-governmental organizations t0 the goals of IWY, and was presented to Mrs. Helvi Sipila, Assistant SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations and Director of the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs.

Population

When the United Nations, concerned with the rapid increase in the population of the planet, predicted to reach eight billion by the

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o... y_ , ..

,5‘3‘ An informalphotograph of some of the Bahá’í’ delegates who participated in the United Nations

International Women’s Year Conference and the related Tribune in Mexico City; 19 June 2 July 1975. Back row, left 10 right .' Dorothy Nelson, Jane Faily, Sheila Bandm', Edris Rice- Wray,

Carmen de Burafato. Front row: Catherine M’boya, Shirin Fozdar, J yotz' M unsifi". M issing from the photograph are Shomais Afndn and Dr. Elsie Austin.

year 2,000, proclaimed 1974 World Population Year, the Bahá’í International Community office with the United Nations approached the Universal House of Justice for guidance as to whether, or to what degree, the Bahá’í world should co-operate with the United Nations in this field of activity. The Universal House of Justice approved of the participation of the Bahá’í International Community in World Population Year and its related activities, warning however, in its reply, that ‘in our approach we must always remember that increase of population and a deliberate limiting of the size of families for the purpose of solving problems arising therefrom is not dealt with in the Writings’.

As further guidance, the House of Justice quoted the following passage from a letter written to an individual: ‘We have not discovered any specific reference in the texts to the problem of population explosion in its relationship to birth control. . . . A study of our teachings, however, indicates that in the future

there will no doubt be a general improvement of standards of life and of health, but there will also be the full exploitation of unused and as yet unsuspected resources of the planet along with the control and tapping of its sources of raw material, with a great increase in productivity.’ The House of Justice added, as further assistance in formulating the Bahá’í approach to the population issue, that ‘other principles found in our teachings indicate probable means to be employed in the future for the solution of these problems such as, the spiritual solution of the economic problem, the abolition of extremes of poverty and wealth, promoting the realization of the oneness of mankind, and universal education’.

Accordingly, the Bahá’í International Community took part in the World Population Conference held in Bucharest in August 1974, and in the Population Tribune sponsored by non-governmental organizations and held in the same city concurrently. It also participated in an International Youth Population Conference

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held in Bucharest a few days earlier. For the conference and the tribune, the Bahá’í International Community prepared a pamphlet entitled One World, One People—A Bahá’í' View, circulating it to participants. The brochure stressed the need for world unity as a prerequisite to the solution of the world’s economic and social problems, including that of population, and cited Bahá’í Writings illustrating the characteristics needed by the individual and by society to resolve the complex problems now afi’licting the planet.

The Bahá’í world community expressed its support for World Population Year through United Nations and Human Rights Day activities which presented the problem of an increasing world population within the broad Bahá’í view. The Bahá’í International Community not only conveyed to National Spiritual Assemblies the guidance it had received from the Universal House of Justice, but in addition supplied those institutions with Bahá’í and UN materials for programmes they might wish to plan.

The Bahá’í International Community continued to express its concern for the population issue, viewed by the United Nations after the World Conference within the total pattern of economic and social development, beyond World Population Year. Consequently, it took part in the eighteenth session of the Population Commission, which met in New York early in 1975 to follow up on actions taken at the World Conference, including the World Plan of Action approved in Bucharest, and intended to continue to follow closely UN activities in this field.

World Food

In 1974, the United Nations recognized the seriousness of the inadequate food supplies of millions of persons not only by rushing emergency supplies to the alflicted areas, but by calling for a world conference to develop a plan of action that would prevent future disasters. This conference met in November 1974 in Rome. The Bahá’í International Community, which had already shown its concern for world food problems by co-sponsoring a statement with other non-governmental organizations to the preparatory committee for the conference, sent representatives to the conference. It not only distributed widely to delegates at the conference the Bahá’í brochure, One World, One

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Representatives of the Balzd’z' International Community attending the United Nations

World Population Conference held in

Bucharest, Romania; 19—30 August 1974.

Left to right: Dr. Victor de Araujo, Miss

Anneliese Bopp, Dr. Marco G. Kappenberger, Mr. André M cLaug/zlin.

People—A Bahá’í' View, prepared earlier for the World Population Conference, but circulated a statement offering appropriate Bahá’í recommendations. The paper emphasized that ‘effective medium and long-range plans for solving the world food problem must rest on a conviction, by the individual and society, of the organic oneness of humanity, and a commitment to education and work that will be of service not only to one’s fellow citizens, but to mankind as a whole’, and suggested, among other considerations, that ‘agriculture must be acknowledged as a vital human occupation and given a position of prestige in society’.

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Bahá’í International Community cooperation in this area of important UN work has continued through participation in the sessions of the World Food Council, the executive organ created by the conference to co-ordinate UN activities in the field of food and to oversee the implementation of the decisions reached at the Rome conference. The World Food Council met for the first time in Rome in 1975 and will continue to meet yearly.

Narcotic Drugs

In November 1974 the Bahá’í International Community replied to an enquiry from the United Nations Division of Narcotic Drugs as to whether the Bahá’í world community was interested in its United Nations activities in the fight against drug abuse, by presenting to that division a statement on the ‘Co-operation of the Bahá’í International Community in the Fight Against Drug Abuse’. This paper brought together pertinent Bahá’í Writings explaining the law of Bahá’u’lláh on ‘total abstinence from all alcoholic drinks, from opium, and from similar habit—forming drugs’, and included recent statements by the Universal House of Justice and the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States on hallucinogenic drugs. In pointing out that ‘today Bahá’ís in over 70,000 world-wide centres are committed to the law of their Faith that forbids the use of alcoholic beverages, opium, and other habit-forming drugs’, the reply stressed that ‘Bahá’í communities are already making an important contribution to the work of the United Nations in its fight against drug abuse, through the lives of their own members’, and concluded by mentioning that ‘ . . . Bahá’ís also actively participate, whenever they find opportunity, in drug education programmes. Further, since Bahá’ís believe that religion and science must be in harmony, as facets of one reality, it is now possible to add to the logical explanations found in the Bahá’í Writings for the prohibition of alcohol and drugs, scientific evidence, mounting every year in quantity and depth, establishing persuasively the damage done to the human body, and consequently to the human consciousness, by the use of such substances.’

Since then the Bahá’í International Community has participated in two sessions of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs—a body entrusted by the Economic and Social Council

345

(ECOSOC) with the task of assisting and advising it on the control of narcotic drugs and on the problems of alcoholism—in 1975 and early 1976 in Geneva.

Crime Prevention

For some time the Bahá’í International Community has been observing with interest the United Nations activities in the field of crime prevention. The time seemed appropriate therefore to seek an invitation to the fifth United Nations Congress on Prevention of Crime and Treatment of Offenders, taking place in September 1975 in Geneva. Again, Bahá’í consultative status with the Economic and Social Council made participation possible. The Bahá’í International Community representatives to the congress were able to express to many delegates—prominent lawyers, judges and law professors—the Bahá’í view on the kind of education needed to prevent crime and to protect society.

This new area of Bahá’í involvement in the activities of the United Nations is most important in the light of the moral and spiritual dimensions of world criminality, and the Bahá’í contribution will continue through Bahá’í International Community participation in biennial sessions of the Committee on Crime Prevention and Control—the functional branch of ECOSOC charged with this area of its workand in future UN Congresses on Prevention of Crime and Treatment of Offenders.

Environment

The Bahá’í International Community continued its interest in world environment problems through its participation in the sessions of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The first session of the Council took place in Geneva, in 1973 (a Bahá’í statement was presented at that time), with the next two in 1974 and 1975 in Nairobi In addition, the Bahá’í International Community participated in environment meetings of non-governmental organizations—a World Assembly was held in Geneva in 1973, and later sessions took place yearly in Nairobi before the meeting of the Governing Council of UNEP. A Bahá’í statement on ‘Goals for a Global Education’, circulated at the 1975 NGO meeting, acknowledged the need for ‘00ordinated and comprehensive education on a

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United Nations Seminar on ‘Youth and Human Rights”, held in San Remo, Italy; 28 August 10 September 1973. Representing the Bahá’í International Community were Mr. Foad Katirai and Mr. Solzrab Youssefian.

global basis, including global environment education’, to meet effectively the critical environment problems; but pointed out that environmental education and issues ‘must be treated within the wider context of global education and global unity’. Using quotations from the Bahá’í Writings to illustrate its points, the paper stressed that truly effective environmental education must rest on ‘the development of individual and group virtues and qualities’, since ‘the reform of man’s inner life must be accompanied by a reform of man’s social institutions’. The result will be a higher global civilization in the framework of a new world order.

Human Settlements: Habitat

The Bahá’í International Community was invited to take part in three regional conferences—for Asia and the Far East, for Africa and for Latin America—on the problem of human settlements, organized by the United Nations to prepare the way, through consultation at regional levels, for the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements: Habitat, scheduled for Vancouver, May/June 1976. The preparatory conference for Asia was held

June 1975, in Tihran; the conference for Asia and the Far East took place in Cairo, the same month; and the conference for Latin America was held in Caracas, June/July 1975. Concern for human settlements (or ‘Habitat’, its new name), an offshoot of deliberations at the Stockholm Environment Conference, offered the Bahá’í International Community further opportunity to share the view that the underlying moral and spiritual needs of human beings must be nourished by a human settlement or community for full happiness.

During this period, the Bahá’í International Community also attended sessions of the preparatory committee for the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements, held in New York in 1975 and 1976, and began preparations for participation in that conference.

Economic and Social Development

1,,

The co-operation of the Baha 1 International Community with the United Nations for economic and social development continued to be evident during the period 1973—1976. Bahá’í representatives attended the yearly sessions of the Economic and Social Council (in the spring

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in New York, and in the summer in Geneva), as well as the sessions of the Committee on Review and Appraisal, a committee of ECOSOC established to consider how well the International Strategy for the Second Development Decade (19705) was being implemented. To express further its interest in the Decade, the Bahá’í International Community co—sponsored with other non-governmental organizations, three statements to the second session of the Committee on Review and Appraisal: one on the integration and participation of women in development, another on the general policy of the International Development Strategy and a third on environment considerations.

During this period, the Bahá’í International Community continued to work closely with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), both at the New York headquarters and in the field. The Bahá’í International Community also followed closely the seventh Special Session of the General Assembly on Development and International Co-operation, held in the autumn of 1975 to discuss the implementation of the New International Economic Order, as well as taking part in a NonGovernmental Organizations Forum held concurrently.

In the specific area of social development, the Bahá’í International Community took part in the biennial sessions of the Commission for Social Development, in 1973 and 1975 in New York. At the 1975 session, the Bahá’í Views were offered in a statement on the practical implications of popular participation for development. The Bahá’í paper stressed the need for ‘a basic change of values and attitudes on the part of each individual and his social group, rooted in a deeply—held conviction of the organic oneness of humanity’, and mentioned in addition some of the elements necessary to achieve this popular participation: the development of moral and spiritual values, the harmony of science and religion, the eradication of prejudice, the training of all peoples in the arts and sciences, and the adoption by everyone of a trade or profession or other form of gainful employment. The statement cited also the importance of the development of the mind through an unfettered search for knowledge and the welcome expression of each person’s understanding and views through the process of consultation at local and national levels.

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Science and Technology

The interest of the United Nations in the role of science and technology in the social and economic development of the planet had seemed at an appropriate time, in light of the Bahá’í principle of the harmony between science and religion, a natural avenue of involvement and co-operation for the Bahá’í International Community. When, in 1975, the Bahá’í International Community was invited by the Division of Human Rights to submit its observations for a UN study on ‘The Balance Which Should Be Established Between Scientific and Technological Progress and the Intellectual, Spiritual, Cultural and Moral Advancement of Humanity’, it complied by explaining the Bahá’í view that ‘spiritual and cultural values not only determine the use of scientific discovery; they also help create the milieu and social atmosphere which foster one kind of development and research as opposed to another’. The statement further elucidated that ‘imbalance between material progress and spiritual progress can be seen to exist in every society in the world, regardless of its political philosophy or type of social organization’, and that ‘many economic and social scientists now realize that intangibles, in the form of value-judgements, attitudes, and behaviour patterns on the part of groups and individuals, can and do profoundly affect human progress’.

As a result of this initial step, the Bahá’í International Community subsequently attended in Geneva, still in 1975, the twenty-first session of the Advisory Committee on Science and Technology in Development, a body of the Economic and Social Council composed of experts serving in their professional capacity. Later, in New York early in 1976, the Bahá’í International Community attended the third session of the Committee on Science and Technology in Development, ECOSOC’s governmental policy-making body on these matters‘ A subject of high priority at both meetings was the planning of a World Conference on Science and Technology for Development, to take place in 1979.

Law of the Sea

When, late in 1973, the United Nations convened the first session of the third Conference on the Law of the Sea, the Bahá’í International

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Dr. ‘Azt’z Navidt' represented the Bahá’í International Community at the United Nations ‘ World

C ongress on World Peace through Law”, held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast; 2631 August 1973.

Dr. Navidi is seen above reading a statement presenting the Bahá’í view of worldpeace. Present

at the Congress were 2,000 leadingfiguresfl'om more than 100 countries. The Bahá’í statement

was reproduced in the Abidjan daily newspaper and Dr. Navidz’ was interviewed on radio about the Bahá’í teachings.

Community attended several of these preparatory meetings. Since this conference had as its objective the establishment of world order and world law to govern the seas and oceans, the Bahá’í International Community expressed interest in taking part in subsequent sessions. It did take part in the later sessions in Geneva and in New York, and will continue to follow developments closely.

While to date no Bahá’í statements have been presented on the complex set of issues to be resolved before a law of the sea can become a reality, through conversations with delegates the Bahá’í representatives have found occasion to convey the basic Bahá’í interest in the regulation of human affairs through global solutions and international bodies responsive to the concerns of all humanity.

Youth

The Bahá’í International Community continued to show its concern for the contribution

of youth to world peace, human rights, and economic and social development, by strengthening its relationship with the Social Development Division of the UN Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs; by participating in a seminar on ‘Youth and Human Rights’ (already referred to); and by continuing to take part in the work of the UN Headquarters Youth Caucus and its task forces on environment, the UN University and youth employment opportunities at the UN. In addition, through the Caucus, it co-ordinated a display at an annual OPI/NGO Conference, replied to a questionnaire on youth and the environment, and joined with other nongovernmental organizations in sponsoring annually an International Directory for Youth Internships.

United Nations University

The Bahá’í International Community has established contact with the United Nations

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University (UNU), and fostered this relationship in part through the UN Youth Caucus. It joined members of the Caucus in submitting to the sixth session of the UNU in Caracas, in January 1976, a report on the ‘Association of Young People with the Work of the UN University’. Further, it co-sponsored with other non-governmental organizations several statements to the UNU and to ECOSOC offering suggestions on the full utilization of the potential of youth by that UN institution.

On the occasion of the first meeting of UNU experts to discuss the problem of world hunger, the Bahá’í International Community wrote to the Rector of that University, in September 1975, expressing full support for the work of the UNU and offering the Bahá’í views on the world food problem, as well as on the solution to social and economic problems.

Co-operation with Non-Governmental Organizations

The Bahá’í International Community continued its co-operation with non-governmental organizations (NGOS) quite extensively during this period. Several joint activities and cosponsored statements have been cited in the context of Bahá’í involvement in specific economic and social areas of UN activity. In addition, it should be mentioned that the Bahá’í International Community continued to take active part in the annual conference of nongovernmental organizations sponsored yearly by the United Nations Office of Public Information (OPI) in New York. Dr. Victor de Araujo, representative of the Bahá’í International Community to the United Nations, concluded his term as chairman of the Executive Committee of the Non-Governmental Organizations with OPI in May 1973, and, as pastchairman, served on that body, ex officio, for one more year.

349

In May 1975, the United Nations Office of Public Information sponsored a conference for non-governmental organizations in Asia, the Far East and the Pacific in Bangkok. The Bahá’í communities of Thailand, Laos, the Philippines and Malaysia were represented. The Bahá’í delegates took active part in various workshops, made several statements, and established warm ties with representatives of other nongovernmental organizations and members of the UN Secretariat.

The Bahá’í International Community also worked closely with the Conference of NonGovernmental Organizations in Consultative Status with ECOSOC, taking part in the thirteenth General Assembly of NGOs, the triennial session of that Conference, held in Geneva, in March 1976. It also co-operated with other NGOs in committees organized by that Conference in New York and Geneva, on the following areas of United Nations activity: economic and social development, human rights, status of women, population, world food, environment and human settlements. The Bahá’í representatives were often praised for their constructive contributions to the work of those committees.

The Bahá’í International Community was represented at two conferences sponsored by the World Peace Through Law Center, a nongovernmental organization in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, and attended by prominent world lawyers, judges and professors of law: the first in Abidjan, in August 1973, on ‘World Peace through Law’, and the second in Washington, DC, in October 1975, on ‘Law of the World”. At these events, the Bahá’í participants shared extensively, in meetings and through informal conversations, the Bahá’í view on world unity and world law.

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Ix.)

Annex I

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SPECIAL UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCES, CONGRESSES AND SEMINARS IN WHICH THE Bahá’í INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY PARTICIPATED 1973—1976

. World Population Conference; Bucharest, Romania;

19—30 August 1974. Reps.: Victor de Araujo, Anneliese Bopp, Marco G. Kappenberger, Foad Katirai.

. World Food Conference; Rome. Italy; 6—16 November

11.

1974. 12 Reps.: Ezzat Zahrai, Manuela Fanti.

. World Conference of the International Women’s Year; Mexico City, Mexico; 19 June—Z July 1975.

Reps.: Dorothy Wright Nelson, Shirin Fozdar. l3

. Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (First session, New York, U.S.A., 1973; Third session, Geneva, Switzerland, 17 March—10 May 1975; Fourth session, New York. 15 Marche7 May 1976). 14 Reps.: Victor de Araujo, Will. C. van den Hoonaard.

Fifth UN Congress on the Prevention of Crime and Treatment of Offenders; Geneva, Switzerland; 1—15 September 1975.

Reps.: Marco G. Kappenberger, Anneliese Bopp. 15 Regional Preparatory Conference on Human Settlements for Asia, the Pacific and Western Asia; Ṭihrán,

1rén; 14—19 June 1975.

Rep.: John Jameson Bond.

Regional Preparatory Conference on Human Settle- 16 ments for Africa; Cairo, Egypt: 21—26 June 1975.

Rep.: John Jameson Bond.

. Latin American Regional Preparatory Conference for Habitat: the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements; Caracas, Venezuela; 30 June—4 July 1975.

Rep.: Rafil Pavén.

. Interregional Seminar on the Family in a Changing Society: Problems and Responsibilities ofits Members; 17 London, United Kingdom; 1831 July 1973.

Reps.: Léa Nys, Shomais Afnan. . Seminar on Youth and Human Rights; San Remo.1ta1y; 28 August—10 September 1973. Reps.: Foad Katirai, Sohrab Youssefian. Annex 11

Regional Consultation for Asia and the Far East on the Integration of Women in Development with Special Reference to Population Factors; Bangkok, Thailand; 13—17 May 1974.

Rep.: Shantha Sundram.

. Regional Seminar for Africa on the Integration of

W omen in Development with Special Reference to Population Factors; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 3—7 J une 1974. Reps.: Alasebu Gebre Sellassie, Elfinesh Worku.

. Seminar on the Promotion and Protection of the

Human Rights of National. Ethnic and Other Minorities; Ohrid, Yugoslavia; 25 June—S July 1974. Reps.: Marco G. Kappenberger, Foad Katirai.

. Interregional Seminar on National Machinery to Accel erate the Integration of Women in Development and to Eliminate Discrimination on Grounds of Sex; Ottawa, Canada; 4~17 September 1974.

Reps.: Carol A. Bowie, Judy Gibson.

. Regional Seminar for Latin America on the Integration

of Women in Development with Special Reference to Population Factors; Caracas, Venezuela; 28 April2 May 1975.

Reps.: Carole G. Woodard, Martha F. Posner.

. Regional Conference of Non-Governmental Organi zations Organized by the Office of Public Information of the United Nations in Co-operation with the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific; Bang‘ kok, Thailand; 27—29 May 1975.

Reps.: Firaydt'm Mithéqiyén (Laos). Shantha Sundram (Malaysia), Vicente Samaniego (Philippines), Chusiri Frakdian (Thailand).

. Seminar on the Participation of Women in Economic,

Social and Political Development: Obstacles that Hinder their Integration; Buenos Aires, Argentina; 22—30 March 1976.

Reps.: Nylza Taetz, Dolores Caballero.

STATEMENTS, REPORTS AND OTHER PUBLICATIONS PRESENTED BY THE Bahá’í INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO THE UNITED NATIONS 1973—1976

Statement to the first session of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme; May 1973.

‘Comments on Resolution 1 (XXIV) of the Commission on the Status of Women‘entitled “Influence of Mass Communication Media on the Formation of a New Attitude towards the Role of Women in Present Day Soeiety“.‘ Statement to the United Nations Branch for the Promotion of Equality of Men and Women; 12 July 1973.

Statement to the United Nations Inter-rcgional Seminar on the Family in a Changing Society; Problems and Responsibilities ofits Members; London, United Kingdom; 18—311uly1973.

Statement to the United Nations Division of Human Rights on “Study of the Problem of Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations’; 28 August 1973.

5.

Statement to the United Nations Seminar on Youth and Human Rights; San Remo. Italy; 28 August—lO September 1973.

. Statement to United Nations Division of Human Rights

on ‘Study on the Rights of Persons Belonging to Ethnic. Religious and Linguistic Minorities‘; 31 August 1973.

. Statement to the United Nations Division of Human

Rights on ‘Study of the Question of the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide‘; 5 November 1973.

. Statement to the twenty-fifth session of the United

Nations Commission on the Status of Women on ‘Work Programme and Medium Term Plan‘. United Nations document E/CN.6/NGO/247; 26 December 1973.

. ‘Preliminary Enquiry into the Status of Women in the

Bahá’í World Community.’ Report to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women and the

[Page 351]12.

INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF Bahá’í ACTIVITIES

Mr. Will C. van den Hoonaard, a member of the Canadian Bahá’í community, who joined the Bahá’í International Community United Nations ofice in New York in the autumn of 1975, serving as alternate representative to Dr. Victor de Araujo.

Branch for the Promotion of Equality of Men and Women; 7 January 1974.

. Statement to the twenty-flfth session of the United

Nations Commission on the Status of Women on ‘International Women’s Year’, United Nations document E/CN.6/NGO/251; 11 January 1974.

. Statement to the twenty-fifth session of the United

Nations Commission on the Status of Women, on ‘Implementation of the Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women and Related Instruments’, United Nations document E/CN.6/NGO/252; 11 January 1974.

Statement to the United Nations Regional Consultation for Asia and the Far East on the Integration of Women in Development with Special Reference to Population Factors; Bangkok, Thailand; 13—17 May 1974.

. ‘A Digest of Bahá’í—UN Activities 1973’. Report to the

Non-Govemmental Organizations Section of the United Nations Office of Public Information; 24 June 1974.

. ‘Bahá’í—United Nations Programmes 1973’. Report to

the Non-Govemmental Organizations Section of the United Nations Oflioe of Public Information.

. ‘Co-operation of the Bahá’í International Community

with the United Nations during 1973.’ A Summary to the Non-Govemmental Organizations Section of the United Nations Office of Public Information.

. Statement to the United Nations Seminar on the Pro motion and Protection of Human Rights of National, Ethnic and other Minorities; Ohrid, Yugoslavia; 25 June—S July 1974.

. Statement to the World Food Conference on ‘National

and International Programmes of Action‘, United Nations document E/CONF.65/NGO/8; 5 November 1974‘

. ‘Co-operation of the Bahá’í International Community in

the Fight Against Drug Abuse.’ Statement to the United Nations Division of Narcotic Drugs; 14 November 1974.

. Statement to the twenty-fourth session of the United

Nations Commission for Social Development on ‘Pop 20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

25.

26.

27.

28.

ular Participation and Its Practical Implications for Developments‘, United Nations document E/CN.5/NGO/117; 3 January 1975.

‘Global Education and the Environment.’ Statement to the Workshop on Education and the Environment of the third session of the International Assembly of NonGovemmental Organizations Concerned with the Environment; Nairobi, Kenya, 13716 April 1975. Statement to the World Conference for International Women’s Year; Mexico City, Mexico; 19 June—Z July 1975.

Statement to the United Nations Division of Human Rights on ‘The Balance Which Should Be Established Between Scientific and Technological Progress and the Intellectual, Spiritual, Cultural and Moral Advancement of Humanity’; 7 July 1975.

‘Programmes to Improve the Status of Women.’ Statement presented to Mrs. Helvi Sipila, Assistant SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations and Director of the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs; 12 November 1975.

Divine Law: Source of Human Rights—A Bahá’í View, pamphlet published in English (1973).

One World, One Peaple—A Bahá’í View, pamphlet published in English and Danish (1974).

Equality anen and Women: A New Reality, pamphlet published in English, French, Spanish, Swedish, and Kanarese (1975).

The Environment and Human Values—A Bahá’í View, pamphlet published in English (1974, rev. ed.)

‘A Pattern for J ustice,’ compilation comprising excerpts from pamphlets, statements and information presented to the United Nations on human rights, the elimination of the crime of genocide, the rights of minorities, of indigenous populations, of the family, rights of women, rights of youth, social and economic justice for all peoples (1973—1974).