Bahá’í World/Volume 17/The Bahá’í Faith and the United Nations

←Previous

The Bahá’í World Volume 17

Next→

[Page 229]

INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA‘I ACTIVITIES

229

V

THE Bahá’í FAITH AND THE UNITED NATIONS

1. SUMMARY OF THE YEARS 1947-1976

IN the spring of 1947 the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Cahada 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 nongovernmental 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 Rabbéni, 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 Jerusalem) 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.

The period 1954 to 1963 was a highly eventful one, making 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’í’s.‘ 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.

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.2 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

‘ For a detailed account of this action see The Bahá’í World, vol. XIII, p. 329.

1 The full text of the Bahá’í International Community proposals for charter revision appears in The Bahá’í World, vol. XV, pp. 376—377 and in other earlier volumes.

[Page 230]230

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.

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

In July 1955Shoghi EffendicabledtheBahá’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.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.

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-operation ‘with the United Nations family in so far as its programme affects the new nations’.

The statement submitted on behalf of the Bahá’í International Community was comprehensive and noted ‘vigorous assistance’ to primitive peoples to help them integrate into the more developed societies surrounding them; educational programmes for adults and children; encouragement of a world point of view serving to eliminate traditional prejudices of nation, race and religion; annual observances of United Nations and Human Rights

1 For a full account see The Bahá’í World, vol. XIII, pp. 789—791.

THE BAHA’l WORLD

Days; active promotion of Human Rights and the equality of men and women.

In 1962 persecution of Bahá’ís made it necessary to appeal again 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.2

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, category II,3 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.

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 Yaoundé, 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

2 For a full account see The Bahá’í World, vol. XIII, pp‘ 288—289.

3 Consultative status, category 11, 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‘.

[Page 231]INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA‘I ACTIVITIES

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 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 nongovernmental 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. fie Araujo. A larger headquarters was also sought and found, across from the United Nations, at 345 East 46th Street, New York.

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

231

organized by that conference in the areas of human rights. status ofwomen and development.

One new area of Bahá’í—United Nations co-operation 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 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 co-sponsored 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, as did participation of the Bahá’í world in United Nations Day and Human Rights Day programmes assisted each year by new National Spiritual Assemblies and their communities.

Bahá’í International Community cooperation with the Office of Public Information was further recognized through the election of Dr. Victor de Araujo to membership on the Executive Committee of NonGovernmental Organizations with OPI. He served as vice—chairman during 1969 and as chairman during 1971 and 1972.

The Bahá’í International Community found 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

[Page 232]232

Community added to its existing consultative status with ECOSOC and its affiliation 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 (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.

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).

As in the past, the Bahá’í International

THE Bahá’í WORLD

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 Justice to its representative was the presentation on behalf of the Universal House of Justice of The Proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh to fifty-six Heads of State via their ambassadors to the United Nations. With but few exceptions, for reasons beyond control, all the fiftysix 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 nonpolitical 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.

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 socio-economic problems of our planet, as well as in preparatory and follow-up meetings and activities.‘

1 For a full account of these activities see The Bahá’í World, vol. XVI.

[Page 233]INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT Bahá’í ACTIVITIES

233

2. THE Bahá’í INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND THE UNITED NATIONS 1976—1979

VICTOR DE ARAUJO

B ETWEEN Riḍván 1976 and Riḍván 1979, the Bahá’í International Community continued the steady growth of its consultative relationship with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and its association with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the U.N. Office of Public Information (OPI)—which became the Department of Public Information (DPI) on 1 January 1979.

During this period, the Bahá’í International Community took part in the 1977, 1978 and 1979 sessions of the Committee on Nongovernmental Organizations, the functional committee of ECOSOC in charge of fostering the U.N. relationship with non-governmental organizations in the economic and social fields. The 1978 session of this committee was especially significant, since it reviewed the work of non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council for the previous four years. The Bahá’í International Community report, covering the period from May 1973 through September 1 977, was fully approved. It showed an impressive roster of activities undertaken in the spirit of cooperation with the U.N.: participation in U.N. conferences, seminars, and regular meetings; preparation and publication of information, reports, statements, and brochures; as well as dissemination of information on the U.N. through a variety of programs in observance of special U.N. days and years, and through the media, both Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í.

The Bahá’í International Community kept working closely, through personal contact by its representatives, with U.N. offices and officials at U.N. Headquarters in New York—as well as with the U.N. offices in Geneva and Nairobi— and, with the assistance of representatives of its member Bahá’í communities, with U.N. field offices around the world. It continued to offer the Bahá’í viewpoint on global

social and economic issues of serious concern to the United Nations—extending now its cooperation to additional issues of deep U.N. interest, such as disarmament and the wellbeing of children— as it took part in worldwide U.N. conferences and seminars, and in the regular periodic meetings of the Economic and Social Council, its functional commissions and committees, and other U.N. bodies.

Most gratifying was the increased awareness and participation of national Bahá’í communities, through their National Spiritual Assemblies, U.N. representatives and committees, in fostering the ties of the Bahá’í world with the United Nations, not only through national and local Bahá’í U.N. activities, but also by providing the assistance of knowledgeable Bahá’ís who helped to prepare statements and pamphlets examining the implications of the Bahá’í teachings for the solution of specific world issues, as well as representing the Bahá’í International Community at conferences. In addition, the involvement of National Spiritual Assemblies in countries where U.N. conferences or meetings took place by furnishing Bahá’í personnel and services to ensure more effective Bahá’í participation, brought a clearer understanding of how each Bahá’í community shares in the Bahá’í International Community’s consultative status relationship with ECOSOC and UNICEF.

Bahá’í communities continued dun'ng this period to plan programs for special United Nations days, years, and decades—such as United Nations/World Development Information Day, Human Rights Day, Universal Children’s Day, World Environment Day, the International Year of the Child (1979), the Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1973—1983), and the U.N. Decade for Women: Equality, Development, and Peace (1976—1985). Yearly reports surveying the worldwide contribution of the Bahá’í world community to the observance of such occasions, in addition to the substantive

[Page 234]234

contributions being made by the Bahá’í International Community in its consultative status with ECOSOC and with UNICEF, as well as in its association with UNEP, were submitted to the United Nations during this period, and were gratefully acknowledged.

As government delegates and United Nations personnel increasingly witnessed the Bahá’í presence, through the diversity of Bahá’í delegates, as well as the Bahá’í statements (almost always circulated as UN. documents), they were becoming aware not only of the worldwide spread of the Bahá’í community, but also of the total Bahá’í view—one resting on a new spiritual and moral foundation—so essential for a lasting solution of the world’s problems and the building of a world civilization.

In fact, several expressions of recognition and appreciation of the Bahá’í role in its association with the United Nations were registered during this period. For instance, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Kurt Waldheim, sent a message to the International Bahá’í Conference in Paris, of 3 August 1976, wishing the Bahá’í’s success in their deliberations and commenting that ‘Nongovernmental organizations such as yours, by dealing comprehensively with the major problems confronting the international community and striving to find solutions which will serve the interests of all nations, make a very substantial and most important contribution to the United Nations and its work’.1

In turn, Mrs. Helvi Sipila, Assistant Secretary—General, Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs, sent special messages to the 1977 Asian Bahá’í Women’s Conference in New Delhi, India, and to the 1978 West African Bahá’í Women’s Conference in Monrovia, Liberia. While outlining to the conferences the direction of the work of the United Nations in fostering the advancement of women, Mrs. Sipiléi spoke warmly of the Bahá’í contribution to this effort. To the Asian Conference, she wrote that ‘When the Bahá’í International Community sends a representative to the United Nations, when a Bahá’í Community anywhere in the world focuses its attention on the UN and the Decade for Women, when a single Bahá’í does what he or she can do to help, it has a ripple effect on ‘ The full text of the message appears on p. 140.

THE Bahá’í WORLD

the total worldwide co-operation of individuals, groups and governments.’

In greeting the participants at both conferences, Mrs. Sipila also expressed her awareness of the Bahá’í work on behalf of women. She even concluded her message to the West African Conference by saying: ‘I know that the Bahá’í community supports fully the goals of the United Nations Decade for Women. Many of your communities are striving to achieve the objectives of the World Plan because they closely parallel the goals of your own community. This West African Women’s Conference is an historic event. I take this opportunity to salute the West African Bahá’í Women’s Conference and Bahá’í communities everywhere.’

In addition, a number of letters from United Nations officials acknowledging reports, information, statements, and brochures mailed by the Bahá’í International Community indicated the appreciation with which the efforts of the Bahá’í world to assist the UN. in its aims and activities were being regarded. One official remarked that the report of worldwide Bahá’í activities was ‘an impressive testament to the work of the Bahá’í International Community’; another, that ‘the activities of the Bahá’í International Community on behalf of the United Nations are worthy of special commendation.’ One other report was greeted with the acknowledgement that it ‘eloquently attests the serious and effective work the Bahá’ís undertake to redisseminate information about the many facets of the work of the United Nations’ and that ‘we count a great deal on the Bahá’í International Community’s support of the United Nations.’ A newsletter, sent by the Bahá’í International Community to stimulate Bahá’í co-operation with UNICEF, drew this comment: ‘If the response is as efficient and as warm as seems to be typical of Bahá’í Communities, I am afraid we will be inundated with requests for information! ! ! ’

Attracted by the words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in The Reality ofMan, one high UN. official, Mr. Robert G. Mfiller, Director and Deputy to the Assistant Secretary-General, Office for Inter-Agency Affairs and Coordination, observed in his book, MostofAll, They Taught Me Happiness, that his experience in prison reminded him of the testimony of a religious leader, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, who spent many years in prison. He then quoted a passage from

[Page 235]INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES

235

Some participants in United Nations Day observance, Porto Alegre, Brazil; October 1977.

Lefi‘ to right: Mr. R. Taetz; Counsellor Mas’tid Kimmsz’; Mrs. Nylza Taetz; Mrs. Dercy Furtado, State Congresswoman; Professor Maria J. P. Motta.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s talk on ‘Joy and Pain’:

‘1 mysel f was in prison forty years—one year alone would have been impossible to bear—nobody survived that imprisonment more than a yearlBut, thank God, during all those forty years I was supremely happy! Every day, on waking, it was like hearing good tidings, and every night infinite joy was mine. Spirituality was my comfort, and turning to God was my greatestjoy. Ifthis had not been so, do you think it possible that I could have lived through those forty years in prison?"

One striking instance of UN. awareness of the Bahá’í presence appeared in the United Nations Headquarters house organ, Secretariat News, which ran a full article on ‘The Bahá’í’s’ in its issue of 31 October 1978. Describing the nature and range of the activities of the Bahá’í International Community, this piece included photographs of Bahá’í-UN. activities around

‘ Robert Muller, Most of All, They Taught Me Happiness (Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1978), p. 55. The words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá are taken from The Reality of Man (Wilmette, Illinois: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1962 ed.), p. 17.

the world. Secretariat News is read by some fourteen thousand United Nations staff members in New York and abroad.

The sections that follow offer some details of the intensive and expanding work of the Bahá’í International Community with the United

Nations.

Human Rights

The Bahá’í International Community continued during this period to participate in the yearly sessions of the Commission on Human Rights and its Sub-commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and the Protection of Minorities, as well as to encourage its member communities to observe Human Rights Day, 10 December, as an occasion for programs to educate the public on the rights and responsibilities of all peoples living on one planet and in a global society. It kept the UN Division of Human Rights informed of such worldwide Bahá’í activities through yearly reports. It also advised the Division of the overall contribution which the Bahá’í International Community was making to the UN Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination

[Page 236]236

(1973—1983) through the implementation, in the lives of Bahá’ís everywhere, of the principle of the organic oneness of humanity and the systematic abolition of all prejudice, including that based on race.

To further stress its concern for the abolition of racial prejudice, the Bahá’í International Community took an active part in the World Conference to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, held in Geneva, Switzerland, August 1978. Its four-person delegation, of African, European, Korean, and East Indian backgrounds, representing the three main races, was in itself an illustration of the unity in diversity of the Bahá’í world community, and attracted much interest and many positive comments, allowing the Bahá’ís rich opportunities to explain the Bahá’í view of oneness and its application to the conference proceedings.

A Bahá’í statement confirming the positive and constructive Bahá’í view of the oneness of humanity and the need to promote and protect the rights of peoples of every ethnic background was circulated to conference participants. It expressed comprehensively the Bahá’í point of view on how it is possible to eliminate prejudice and discrimination of any kind, with proper education, proper attitudes and values, and proper motivation.

Later, the Bahá’í International Community marked the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 10 December 1978, by sending the World Conference statement—along with the Bahá’í pamphlet, Divine Law: Source of Human Rights—A Bahá’í View, prepared for the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Declaration—to every delegate attending the thirtythird United Nations General Assembly, to acquaint them with the creative Bahá’í program for the unification of the human race.

In September 1978, the Bahá’í International Community took part in a UN. seminar on ‘National and Local Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights’, held in Geneva, Switzerland. At one of the meetings, the Bahá’í delegate offered the suggestion that non-governmental organizations could undertake among their members and society in general programs to change attitudes and values, by teaching from earliest childhood the reality of the organic oneness of humanity, the inter THE BAHA’I WORLD

dependence of all peoples, and the need for systematic efforts on the part of individuals and their institutions to eradicate all kinds of prejudice. Stressing that the ‘only standards of justice valid today are those applicable to the whole human race’, he cited the experience of Bahá’í communities of many years.

Environment

Besides attending the yearly sessions of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the meetings for non-governmental organizations prior to those sessions, all held in Nairobi, Kenya, the Bahá’í International Community took part in two major conferences concerned with environmental problems: the UN. Water Conference in Mar del Plata, Argentina, March 1977, convened to examine how it might be possible to supply water to all people by 1990; and the UN. Conference on Desertification in Nairobi, Kenya, August-September 1977, organized to find ways of preventing the spread of deserts on the planet, and wherever possible, to take action to restore desert areas to fertility. The latter conference, which was less technical in nature, offered more possibilities for Bahá’í participation. A series of film showings, lectures, and panel discussions on topics relevant to the conference consultations was arranged, as a public service to the people of Kenya, at the National Bahá’í Center in Nairobi. In addition, the Bahá’í delegates made many contacts with the conference participants, sharing the Bahá’í views on the basic problems underlying the destruction of the environment and resulting desertification.

The Bahá’í International Community submitted to UNEP, at the request of that U.N. body, a report on environmental activities of the Bahá’í world during 1975, 1976, and 1977, and a report on environmental development and development management. It also presented a paper on ‘Global Cooperation and the Environment’ to the 1977 non-governmental organizations session, stressing among other points that ‘more human beings should come to realize and think deeply about the fact that man is organic with the world and that his inner life and his environment interact upon each other.’ The statement explained further that ‘effeetive counteraction of mankind’s present headlong rush toward environmental disaster

[Page 237]INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA’l ACTIVITIES

will take place when man’s inner life, his attitudes and values, undergo profound changes’, changes that include a full realization of the interdependence of humanity with its environment, as well as an understanding that we are, ‘as human beings, basically one and interdependent.’ Such a realization also requires ‘fundamental changes in the inner lives, attitudes, and values of men and women everywhere.’

Human Settlements: Habitat

The United Nations Conference on Human Settlements took place in Vancouver, Canada, May-June 1976. The Bahá’í International Community worked closely with the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada in the preparation of a statement conveying the Bahá’í view on the kind of human settlement that is needed to provide for the happiness of people, and also in the selection of a Bahá’í delegation. Both the conference and the parallel non-governmental organization Forum offered countless opportunities for the Bahá’í delegates to talk to prominent government and non-governmental participants, with many opportunities to dis cuss the Bahá’í solution.

j U

Some participants in the United Nations Day observance, San Salvador, El Salvador; October

237

The Bahá’í statement, published as a pamphlet entitled Building a Unified Community, was circulated to the conference as an official U.N. document, as well as widely distributed as a brochure. The publication offered a Bahá’í glimpse of the community of the future, centered on a House of Worship with its surrounding humanitarian institutions to nurture the fundamental spiritual and moral needs of the settlement’s inhabitants. The pamphlet, in fact, began by suggesting that ‘A human settlement must first answer the question, “What is the purpose of our lives, as human beings, on this planet?” ’ and proceeded to explore the nature of a human settlement in which the physical, rational, and spiritual facets of human nature could be developed, with an understanding that ‘the community should reflect the basic purpose of human life, which in essence is to know and to worship God, and to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization.’ The brochure also examined the characteristics and values which the community should stimulate in its members, as well as the support which it should give, through its administrative body. While realizing that ‘the ultimate richness of an organically united humanity and the character

I 976. Left to right: Mr. and Mrs. Edward Diliberto; Thelma O’Con, United Nations director; Counsellor Artemus Lamb; Mrs. Dee Lamb, representative 0 f the Bahá’í community to the United Nations; Susan Leigh.

[Page 238]238

of individual and collective life within a future world community can now be only dimly imagined,’ the statement concluded by asserting that ‘the immediate steps that the responsible leaders of a needy humanity should now adopt, can be clearly discerned, and should be pursued with faith, courage, and determination.’

The Bahá’í International Community has continued its interest in finding answers to the complex issues of HABITAT through participation in the first and second sessions of the Commission on Human Settlements—a body established by the HABITAT Conference— respectively in New York and Nairobi. One further expression of the Bahá’í International Community’s interest in problems of human settlements was its participation in the Third Conference on Urban and Regional Research, sponsored by the Committee on Housing, Building, and Planning of the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) held in Warsaw, Poland, May 1976. Although this conference was of a highly technical nature, the Bahá’í presence marked the Bahá’í concern for problems affecting the living conditions of peoples throughout the world.

Economic and Social Development

The Bahá’í International Community continued its involvement in the general area of UN. activities to promote the social and economic development of the peoples of the planet, through participation in the two yearly sessions of the Economic and Social Council in New York and Geneva (the first portion of the 1976 summer session was in Abidjan, Ivory Coast), as well as in the biennial sessions of the Commission for Social Development. It also followed closely the special preparatory meetings convened for the elaboration of an International Development Strategy for the 19805, so that it might offer the Bahá’í view at an appropriate time.

In addition, the Bahá’í International Community took part in the UN. Conference on Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries in Buenos Aires, Argentina, August-September 1978, a major meeting to explore joint action by developing countries to solve their social and economic problems; and in a regional meeting dealing with overall problems of economic and social development: the

THE BAHA’t WORLD

eighteenth session of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLA) in La Paz, Bolivia, April 1979. On both occasions, the Bahá’í International Community representatives had full opportunity to meet the delegates and discuss formally and informally the Bahá’í views on the topics being considered.

Science and Technology

Looking ahead to its participation in the 1979 United Nations Conference on Science and Technology for Development (UNCSTD), the Bahá’í International Community attended in Geneva and New York the regular yearly sessions of UN. committees concerned with the appropriate application of science and technology to assist developing countries, as well as meetings of a special committee to plan for UNCSTD. It also accepted appointment to the Board of the NGO Committee on Science and Technology for Development and participated in the planning of the Non-governmental Organizations’ Forum, an event to be held parallel to the UN. Conference.

As a further expression of its interest in UNCSTD, the Bahá’í International Community and the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States co-sponsored a special meeting for members of the United Nations Secretariat, missions, and non-governmental organizations, in which a prominent Bahá’í scientist explored the possibility that technology, unless correctly used, might well fail to satisfy the

“total needs of the human being.

Narcotic Drugs

Cooperation with the UN. in the prevention of drug abuse intensified during this period. Not only did the Bahá’í International Community participate in the 1977, 1978, and 1979 sessions of the Commission of Narcotic Drugs in Geneva, but it also submitted to the Commission reports with information on worldwide Bahá’í activities to educate Bahá’ís as well as the public about the problems of drug abuse and alcoholism, and on the cooperation of Bahá’í communities with civil authorities and organizations concerned with this matter. In addition, at the 1979 session, the Bahá’í representative, in a supplementary oral statement, stressed the need for individual commitment to

[Page 239]INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT Bahá’í ACTIVITIES

eradicate drug abuse, derived from the conviction ‘that man is a noble and spiritual being, whose purpose in life is to develop his latent potential for service to humanity.’ This commitment, the representative said, must be fostered within the family and reinforced by the community.

In addition, in August 1976 the Bahá’í International Community had participated in the Second World Congress for the Prevention of Alcoholism and Drug Dependency in Acapulco, Mexico, a conference sponsored by the International Commission for the Prevention ofAlcoholism, a non-governmental organization with UN. consultative status. A statement on the Bahá’í view that basically ‘there is no chemical solution to problems which are fundamentally spiritual’ was included later as an annex to a report submitted to the 1977 session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs.

Crime Prevention

The Bahá’í International Community continued to participate in the meetings of the Committee on Crime Prevention and Control. It attended the fourth and fifth sessions, held respectively in 1976 and 1978 in New York and Vienna. Beyond that, it sent representatives to two of the regional preparatory meetings for the 1980 Sixth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders: for Asia and the Pacific,May 1978, Manila, Philippines; and for Latin America, March 1979, San José, Costa Rica. These special meetings afforded the Bahá’í’ delegates excellent opportunities to share the Bahá’í view on the essential moral and spiritual dimensions of the problem of criminality. In fact, at the closing ceremonies of the Manila meeting, the Bahá’í participant was able to offer for the success of the Sixth U.N. Congress on Crime Prevention, a Bahá’í prayer for mankind, and to share the following pertinent passage from the Bahá’í Writings expressing, in the words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the answer to crime prevention:

‘Observe how many penal institutions, houses 0 f detention and places 0 f torture are made ready to receive the sons of men, the purpose being to prevent them, by punitive measures, from committing terrible erimes—whereas this very torment and pun 239

ishment only increaseth depravity, and by such means the desired aim cannot be properly achieved. Therefore must the individual be trained from his infancy in such a way that he will never undertake to commit a crime, will, rather, direct all his energies to the acquisition ofexcellence and will look upon the very commission of an evil deed as in itsel f the harshest of all punishments, considering the sinfitl act itselfto be far more grievous than (my prison sentence. For it is possible so to train the individual that, although crime may not be completely done away with, still it will become very razre.’l

Status of Women

In addition to taking part in the twenty-sixth (1976) and twenty-seventh (1978) sessions of the Commission on the Status of Women, and in preparations for the 1980 women’s conference to be held at the mid—point of the UN. Decade for Women (1976—1985), the Bahá’í International Community participated in two regional conferences on the integration of women in development: one for Asia, in Kathmandu, Nepal, February 1977; and one for Africa, in Nouakchott, Mauritania, September-October 1977.

The Bahá’í International Community continued, during the Decade for Women, to cooperate with UN. programs and activities to achieve the equality of men and women. It not only kept the UN. Branch for the Advancement of Women informed of the work being done by Bahá’í communities—through its mid—1976 report, for instance, of the activities of over sixty national Bahá’í communities during International Women’s Year (IWY) and a later report, in reply to a UN. questionnaire, on the Bahá’í activities from 1975 to 1978 which had bearing on the implementation of the World Plan of Action for Women—but it also kept before the UN. bodies working to improve the status of women, through such statements as those to the Commission on the Status of Women and to the African and Asian regional conferences, an understanding of the basic Bahá’í teachings on the equality of men and women and their implications for the development of the full potentialities of members of both sexes in building a world order.

' Bahd’! Education: A Compilation (Wilmette, Illinois: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1977), p. 23.

[Page 240]240

As Bahá’í communities—through the fulfillment of the Bahá’í goal of organizing activities to integrate women more fully into Bahá’í community life'—increased their involvement in changing the basic attitude towards women in society, the possibility grew for closer cooperation at community level with United Nations agencies and regional economic commissions, as the Bahá’í International Community began to share with personnel working with programs for women, information regarding such Bahá’í projects.

Children (UNICEF)

During this period, the Bahá’í International Community exercised its consultative status with UNICEF through participation in the annual UNICEF Executive Board meetings—1976 and 1978 in New York, and 1977 in Manila, Philippines—and through involvement in UNICEF activities with nongovernmental organizations to promote the well-being of children and mothers. Dr. Victor de Araujo became a member of the Steering Committee of the NGO Committee 011 UNICEF for 1976—1977 and 1977—1978; and Mrs. Mary Sawicki, for 1978—1979. Mrs. Sawicki also became Associate Editor of the NGO/UNICEF Newsletter. Dr. Will van den Hoonaard, in turn, chaired a special committee to review UNICEF films for use by nongovernmental organizations and the public. The Bahá’í International Community participated in the work of the NGO/UNICEF committees on Women in Development, Public Information (and its related Film Committee), Nutrition, Primary Health Care, and the International Year of the Child (IYC). One specific activity was a unique joint UNICEF/NGO pilot project for village water in Kenya, 8 venture initiated at the international level by nongovernmental organizations and UNICEF, with the participation of non-governmental organizations in Kenya, including the Bahá’í community.

In addition, the Bahá’í International Community encouraged Bahá’í communities around the world to observe Universal Children’s Day, and to plan programs not only for that yearly event, but also for the International Year of the Child, for which UNICEF was the

‘ See ‘Survey of Activities of Bahá’í Women in the Five Year Plan’, p. 202.

THE BAHA'I‘ WORLD

coordinating agency. Alerting its worldwide affiliates of this special year to focus on the needs of children, the Bahá’í International Community encouraged Bahá’í communities everywhere to express their deep concern for children, already evident in their programs for the education of Bahá’í children, to the world at large through special activities. Plans under way suggested that IYC had struck a creative chord.

The relationship between the Bahá’í International Community and UNICEF promises to be a warm and deepening one; and during this period several articles on the Bahá’ís—and Bahá’í events—were featured in the NGO/UNICEF Newsletter. Examples: an article on Mrs. Laura Dreyfus-Barney,2 who was a founder of the UNICEF Advisory Committee of International Non-governmental Organizations (the present NGO Committee on UNICEF); a story on the participation of the Bahá’í International Community members in Universal Children’s Day; and a feature on the Bahá’í farming and agriculture project in Panchgani, India.3

Health

It was through its consultative status with UNICEF that the Bahá’í International Community was invited to take part in an International Conference on Primary Health Care, in Alma Ata, U.S.S.R., September 1978, cosponsored by UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO). A short paper on ‘The Technical and Operational Aspects of Primary Health Care‘ was delivered by the Bahá’í International Community representative as a contribution to the consultation in the final session of one of the three major committees, and the pertinent ideas presented formed the basis of two of the final conference recommendations. Since then, the Bahá’í International Community has, through its membership in the UNICEF/NGO Committee on Primary Health Care, pursued its deep concern in achieving the goal of the Alma Ata Conference, that of reaching an acceptable level of health for all the peoples of the world by the year 2000.

Disarmament The Bahá’í International Community entered a new era of cooperation with the

2 See ‘In Memoriam’, The Bahá’í World, vol. XVI, p. 535. 3 See ‘Rural Development in India‘, p. 227.

[Page 241]INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT Bahá’í ACTIVITIES

241

Some participants in the observance of the International Year Ofthe Child, Karachi, Pakistan;

December I 979. The observance was jointly sponsored by the Bahá’z’ Youth Committee and

the Local Spiritual Assembly ofKarachi. The week-longprogramme comprised many events,

including a history quiz, involved 200 participants, and attracted an attendance ofapproximately 500 people.

United Nations when it participated in the tenth special session of the United Nations General Assembly, convened in New York, May—June 1978, to seek ways to achieve general and complete world disarmament.

While the Bahá’í view on disarmament and peace had been offered at the founding of the United Nations through wide distribution to U N. delegations of the brochure, The Baha Peace Program, the Bahá’í International Community now prepared a new statement, entitled ‘The Promise of Disarmament and Peace’, outlining the Bahá’í view of the responsibility of individuals and governments to work for peace in the world. Although the statement was made available to participants in the Special Session by the U. N. Secretariat, the Baha ”i International Community sent copies of the brochure to prominent government representatives attending the session and to high UN. officials, with a covering letter. Later that year, on the occasion of United Nations/World Development Information Day, 24 October, ‘The Promise of Disarmament and Peace’ was

mailed, with a complimentary card, in the appropriate language—either English, French, or Spanish—to all delegates (some three thousand) attending the thirty-third regular session of the General Assembly.

‘The Promise of Disarmament and Peace’ offered an introduction and selected passages from the Bahá’í Writings, arranged under the headings of ‘Disarmament, Peace, and True Civilization’, ‘The Oneness of Mankind’, and ‘A World Super-State’. The preface stressed that disarmament is ‘essential for the abolition of war as a solution to human problems’ and that ‘it is a goal for both governments and peoples.’ While recognizing that there is no easy road to world peace, the statement observed that disarmament demands an increase in the awareness of governments and peoples of the ‘organic oneness of the human race’, as well as the creation of a world federation with enough arms and armed forces at its command ‘to prevent one nation from attacking another or, if this occurs, to put down the aggressor’. The statement concluded by

[Page 242]242

observing that while national governments bear a responsibility to prevent war, it is ultimately also the task of each person to establish ‘true world unity and peace’—a condition in which ‘individual and social well—being will be expressed in a civilization reflecting spiritual values of love, compassion, and justice.’

Law of the Sea, World Food, Population, Youth, and UN. University

The Bahá’í International Community continued to follow the deliberations of the Third Conference on the Law of the Sea, in sessions that took place from August 1976 through March 1979, alternating between New York and Geneva, as representatives of the world’s governments, through extensive and complex negotiations, tried to reach a comprehensive global agreement regulating the seas and oceans of the planet. The Bahá’í representatives made many contacts with delegates, to whom they were able to express the Bahá’í interest in an international régime for the sea, as a precursor of an eventual world federation for the whole planet.

The Bahá’í International Community likewise continued to show its interest in the efforts of the UN. to provide adequate food for all the world’s peoples, by sending representatives to the yearly sessions of the World Food Council (both the earlier preparatory and the later ministerial-level meetings) in Rome, 1976; in Rome and Manila, 1977; and in Mexico City, 1978. The basic Bahá’í view on the solution of world problems through unity, as well as the importance of agriculture as a human activity, which had been expressed earlier at the World Food Conference, were brought to the attention of the participants on many occasions, both officially and through informal discussions.

Bahá’í concern for the long-range U.N. plan to resolve the many-faceted issue of world population was also expressed during. this period through participation in the nineteenth (1977) and twentieth (1979) sessions of the Population Commission. The Bahá’í International Community also kept alert to developments in the UN. work with youth, as well as to the expansion of the programs of the United Nations University, seeking opportunities to be of assistance in proffering the Bahá’í answers.

THE BAHA'I’ WORLD

Public Meetings

One new approach to cooperation between the Bahá’í International Community and the United Nations began in 1976 with a series of four to six yearly public meetings on issues of deep concern to the UN. These lectures, given by highly qualified Bahá’ís from the United States and Canada, were co-sponsored by the UN. offices of the Bahá’í International Community and of the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States. The topics broached were quite varied: the prevention of violence, the development of human potential, racial discrimination, the world economy, communications, the family, lifc-long education, education for development, the education of children for one world, the future of technology, the unfoldment Of the potential of women, and the building of a unified community. These meetings, attended by guests from the UN. missions, the UN. Secretariat, and members of non-governmental organizations, were offered as a contribution to the global solution of issues of on-going concern to the United Nations.

Cooperation with Non—Govemmental Organizations

The cooperation of the Bahá’í International Community with other non-governmental organizations working with the UN. took the form of participation in the activities of the Conference of Non-governmental Organizations in Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council and its many committees in New York and in Geneva, such as those on development, disarmament, world food, and the status of women. The Bahá’í International Community was also active in the Youth Caucus and the United Nations University Task Force, both in New York, as well as in co-sponsoring from time to time statements with other non-governmental organizations for presentation to UN. bodies, when these documents were not openly or implicitly political in nature or tone. In addition, the Bahá’í International Community continued its participation in the Annual Conference of Nongovernmental Organizations arranged by the Office of Public Information (CPI) and the OPI/NGO Executive Committee. Mr. Will. C. van den Hoonaard, Alternate Representative of the Bahá’í International Community to the United Nations, was, in fact, elected Secretary

[Page 243]INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT Bahá’í ACTIVITIES

of the Executive Committee for 1977—1978 and chosen as Vice-Chairman for 1978—1979. Mr. van den Hoonaard was also co-chairman of the 1979 Annual Conference.

As for participation in conferences sponsored by non-governmental organizations, besides the Second World Congress for the Prevention of Alcoholism and Drug Dependency, mentioned in the section on Narcotic

243

Drugs, the Bahá’í International Community attended the Conference on the Law of the World, the biennial meeting of the World Peace Through Law Center, in August 1978, as well as the Colloquium and Seminar on Rural Women, sponsored by the International Council of Women, in February 1978. Both meetings took place in Manila, Philippines.

ANNEX I

SPECIAL UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCES, CONGRESSES AND SEMINARS IN WHICH THE Bahá’í INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY PARTICIPATED 1976—1979

1. United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (HABITAT); Vancouver, Canada; 31 May—ll June 1976.

Reps.: Professor John Jameson Bond, Mrs. Sheila Banani, Dr. Glen A. Eyford, Mrs. Lei Chapman, Mr. Donald R. McLaren, Mr. Kenneth Goldstone.

2. United Nations Water Conference; Mar del Plata, Argentina; 14—25 March 1977.

Rep.: Mr. Carlos Talenti.

3. United Nations Conference on Desertification; Nairobi, Kenya; 29 August—9 September 1977. Reps.: Mr. Peter Vuyiya, Mr. Bonaventure Wafula, Dr. H. T. D. Rost, Mrs. Ruth Vuyiya, Dr. Richard St.Barbe Baker (adviser).

4. World Conference to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination; Geneva, Switzerland; 14—25 August 1978.

Reps.: Dr. Marco G. Kappenberger, Mr. Peter Vuyiya, Mrs. 800 Fouts, Miss Jyoti Munsiff.

5. United Nations Conference on Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries; Buenos Aires, Argentina; 30 August—12 September 1978.

Rep.: Professor Ricardo Sehvartzman.

6. International Conference on Primary Health Care; Alma Ata, U.S.S.R.; 6—12 September 1978.

Reps.: Dr. Alfred K. Neumann, Miss Anneliese Bopp.

7. Tenth Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly Devoted to Disarmament; New York, USA; 23 May—28 June 1978.

Reps.: Dr. Victor de Araujo, Dr. Will. C. van den Hoonaard, Mrs. Mary Sawicki, Mrs. Betty de Araujo.

8. Third Conference on Urban and Regional Research, European Economic Commission; Warsaw, Poland; 5—13 May 1976.

Rep; Mr. Hans-Ulrich Schmidt.

9. Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (Fifth session, New York, U.S.A., 2 August—17 September 1976; Sixth session, New York, 23 May—lS July 1977; Seventh session, Geneva, Switzerland, 28 March—12 May 1978, and New York, 21 August—lS September 1978; Eighth Session, Geneva, 19 March—27 April 1979).

Reps.: Dr. Victor de Araujo, Dr. Will. C. van den Hoonaard, Dr. Marco G. Kappenberger, Mrs. Mahshid Fatio, Mr. Stephen Vickers.

10. Asia and Pacific Regional Preparatory Meeting for the Sixth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders; Manila, Philippines; 15—19 May 1978.

Rep.: Mr. Wilfredo U. Bugia.

11. Latin-American Regional Preparatory Meeting for the Sixth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders; San Jose, Costa Rica; 31 July—4 August 1978.

Rep.: Mr. Wallace D. Baldwin.

12. Regional Conference on the Implementation of National, Regional, and World Plans of Action for the Integration of Women in Development; Nouakchott, Mauritania; 27 September—Z October 1977.

Reps.: Mrs. Thelma Khelghati, Mrs. Laura Hill.

13. United Nations Seminar on the ‘Participation of Women in Political, Economic, and Social Development, with Special Emphasis on Machinery to Accelerate the Integration of Women in Development’; Kathmandu, Nepal; 15—22 February 1977.

Reps.: Mrs. Zena Sorabjee, Dr. Penelope Walker.

14. United Nations Seminar on ‘National and Local Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights’; Geneva, Switzerland; 18—29 September 1978. Rep.: Mr. James C. Taylor.

ANNEX II

STATEMENTS, REPORTS AND OTHER PUBLICATIONS PRESENTED BY THE Bahá’í INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO THE UNITED NATIONS 1976—1979

1. Submission to the UNESCO study on ‘The Effect of Rhodesian Policy on Education, Science, Culture, and Information’; 14 May 1976.

2. Building a Unified Community. Pamphlet prepared for the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements: HABITAT; Vancouver, Canada; 31 May—ll June 1976.

3. ‘Environmental Activities of the Bahá’í International Community for the Years 1975. 1976, and 1977'. Report submitted to the United Nations Environment Program 10 June 1976.

4. ‘Bahá’í International Community Activities During International Women’s Year: An Overview‘. Report submitted to the United Nations Branch for the Promo [Page 244]244

tion of the Equality of Men and Women; 15 June 1976.

5. ‘The United Nations Decade for Women’s Equality, Development, and Peace, 1976—1985: Implementation of the Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women’. Statement submitted to the twentysixth session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women; U.N. document E/CN.6/NGO/264; 15 September 1976.

6. ‘Participation of the Bahá’x’ International Community in the “Implementation of the Program for the Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination”: Report to the United Nations Division of Human Rights’. December 1976.

7. Report submitted to the United Nations Division of Narcotic Drugs; 23 December 1976. Circulated before the twenty-seventh session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs as UN. document E/CN.7/599/Add.1; 13 January 1977.

8. ‘Survey of United Nations Day and Human Rights Day Activities in 1974 Undertaken by the Bahá’í International Community’. Report submitted to the United Nations Office of Public Information; J anuary 1977.

9. ‘United Nations and Human Rights Observances and Activities Undertaken by Worldwide Bahá’í Communities, 1975’. Report submitted to the United Nations Office of Public Information; 15 February 1977.

10. Statement to the United Nations Regional Seminar on the Participation of Women in Economic, Social, and Political Development with Special Emphasis on Machinery to Accelerate the Integration of Women in Development; Kathmandu, Nepal; 15—22 February 1977.

11. ‘Global Cooperation and the Environment'. Paper presented at the International Assembly of Nongovernmental Organizations Concerned with the Environment; Nairobi, Kenya; 7—8 May 1977.

12. Statement to the United Nations Regional Conference on the Implementation of National, Regional, and World Plans of Action for the Integration of Women in Development; Nouakchott, Mauritania; 27 September—Z October 1977.

13. ‘A Summary of Bahá’í—UN. Activities During 1976 Sponsored by National Affiliates of the Bahá’í International Community‘. Report submitted to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the Office of Public Information, and the Division of Human Rights; 15 October 1977.

14. ‘Environment and Development and Environmental Management’. Report submitted to the United Nations Environment Program; 17 October 1977.

THE Bahá’í WORLD

15. Report submitted to the Committee on Nongovernmental Organizations of the United Nations Economic and Social Council on activities of the Bahá’í International Community during the period May 1973 through September 1977; UN. document E/C.2/R.49/Add.70; 21 November 1977.

16. Statement to the twenty-seventh session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women; U.N. document E/CN.6/NGO/279; 17 March 1978.

17. ‘The Promise of Disarmament and Peace’. Statement to the tenth special session of the United Nations General Assembly devoted to disarmament; 23 May—28 June 1978.

18. Statement to the World Conference to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination; Geneva, Switzerland; 14—25 August 1978.

19. ‘An Overview of Bahá’í—UN. Activities During 1977 Sponsored by the Bahá’í International Community and Its National Affiliates’. Report submitted to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Afifairs, the Office of Public Information, and the Division of Human Rights; 15 August 1978.

20. ‘Technical and Operational Aspects of Primary Health Care’. Statement to the International Conference on Primary Health Care; Alma Ata, USSR; 6—12 September 1978.

21. Statement to the United Nations Seminar on National and Local Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights; Geneva, Switzerland; 18—29 September 1978.

22. ‘The Bahá’ís’. United Nations Secretariat News, 31 October 1978, pp. 6 & 7.

23. ‘Views of the Bahá’í International Community on the Draft Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief’. Statement submitted to the United Nations Division of Human Rights; 10 November 1978.

24. ‘Report of the Bahá’í International Community on Its Activities in the Prevention of Drug Abuse’. Report submitted to the United Nations Division of Narcotic Drugs; 10 November 1978.

25. Statement to the twenty-eighth session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs; 12—23 February 1979.

26. ‘Reply of the Bahá’í International Community to the Questionnaire on Implementation During the Period 1975—1978 of the World Plan of Action Adopted at the World Conference of the International Women’s Year’; submitted to the United Nations Branch for the Advancement of Women; 4 April 1979.

ANNEX III

RELATIONSHIP OF THE BAHA’T INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO THE SOUTH PACIFIC COMMISSION

The Bahá’í International Community participated in the eighteenth South Pacific Conference, in Noumea, New Caledonia, 6—13 October 1978. This was the yearly meeting of the South Pacific Commission, an intergovernmental body established to promote the economic and social welfare and advancement of the peoples of the twenty South Pacific island countries and territories within its zone of action.

The Bahá’í International Community, which was represented by Dr. Victor de Araujo and Mr. Ta Makirere, with the assistance of the National Spiritual Assembly of the

South West Pacific Ocean, presented both a written and an oral statement to the Conference, outlining the Bahá’í view on ‘Practical Spiritual Bases for Development’.

This first Bahá’í participation in the activities of this Pacific body resulted in a later invitation to the Bahá’í International Community to attend a regional meeting of the South Pacific Commission, also held in Noumea, in March 1979, to discuss further a Pacific approach to rural development. Again, the Bahá’í views were ably shared, this time by Mrs. Tinai Hancock.

[Page 245]INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA'I ACTIVITIES 245

A United Nations Day display sponsored by the Bahá’ís Of Moen, Truk Islands (an island group in the central Caroline Islands, West Pacific Ocean.) The display was mounted in December I 976.

Health educator Nancy B. Mondschein, right, alternate representative at UN headquarters

for the National Spiritual Assembly Ofthe Bahá’ís Ofthe United States, an affiliate 0 fthe Bahá’í

International Community, works as an interne at UNICEF headquarters for Mrs T. Memet

Tanumidjaja, UNICEF Senior Advisor Family Welfare, shown on lefi‘, who is preparing a

study on the use ofday care centres as a means of extending UNICEF basic services to rural communities.

[Page 246]246 THE Bahá’í WORLD

Governor George R. Ariyoshi of Hawaii signing the document proclaiming 18 September

1977 as World Peace Day, an observance sponsored annually by the National Spiritual

Assembly Ofthe Bahá’í’s of the Hawaiian Islands. Observing are (right) Miss Lani Tamanaha and (lefi‘) Mr. Tracy Hamilton.

BAHA”: CENTRE

many -~( ‘4‘“? v

~ ’ am I“

Bahá’ís who participated in thé dedication of the locl Hazfratu’l-Quds, Annandale, Demerara, Guyana; 27 June 1976.