GA President helps launch new DPI/NGO briefing format
Posted: Tuesday, 13 January 2009, New York
| Author: iSeek
General Assembly President Miguel d'Escoto
Brockmann will be the first featured guest in a
new series of DPI/NGO briefings entitled “May
I Ask a Question?” which will take place this
Thursday, 15 January, at 10:15 a.m. in the
Dag Hammarksjöld Auditorium.
This new format will feature one main speaker—usually an influential leader within the UN
community–who will take questions from the audience.
The event will be moderated by Mr. Kiyo Akasaka, Under-Secretary-General for
Communications and Public Information (DPI).
The new format is the result of the NGO Relations Cluster’s consideration of ways to enhance
the weekly briefings and to make them more relevant to the NGO community and their
work.
According to organizers, President d’Escoto’s inspirational words and dialogue with civil
society will set the tone and guide the work between DPI and NGOs for the year.
The DPI/NGO Relations Cluster, part of DPI’s Outreach Division, holds weekly briefings on
topics relevant to the United Nations and associated NGOs. Briefings are held every
Thursday.
Usually the briefings are divided into two parts: a video screening and a panel
discussion. Panel discussions typically feature speakers: experts on the subject matter, a
UN representative, a government representative and NGO representative.
The NGO Relations Cluster is DPI’s link to the 1,650 non-governmental Organizations (NGOs)
associated with the Department and supports their efforts to interact effectively with the United
Nations in their areas of expertise. It also facilitates the exchange of information and
developing partnerships with civil society.