Newswise — Secure World Foundation is pleased to announce that the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) has granted the Foundation special consultative status.
This privileged standing was approved by ECOSOC at its Substantive Session of July 2010, adopting the recommendation of the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).
“We deeply appreciate receiving this special consultative status,” said Ben Baseley-Walker, SWF’s Legal and Policy Advisor. “We strongly support the work of ECOSOC and the UN system and look forward to supporting the Committee and other UN bodies over the coming years.”
In addition to ECOSOC special consultative status, Secure World Foundation (SWF) has been a permanent observer to the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space since June 2008.
Positive and fruitful partnership
In a letter advising Secure World Foundation of its new status, Andrei Abramov, Chief of the NGO Branch of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs Office for ECOSOC Support and Coordination, explained:
“Your consultative status opens the door for your organization to actively engage with the ECOSOC and its subsidiary bodies, as well as with United Nations Secretariat, programs, funds and agencies.”
Abramov encouraged the Foundation to actively participate in the work of the Council which will allow the organization to consult with Member States and the UN system and effectively implement the provisions of the consultative relationship.
Range of activities
Secure World Foundation is engaged in a range of substantive activities that contribute to the work of the UN’s ECOSOC as well as other UN bodies, such as:
-- Disaster management and emergency response
Developing improved disaster management and mitigation and emergency response is a major need for the improvement of international economic, social and health problems. In May, SWF partnered with the United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER, co-sponsoring a workshop, “Building Upon Regional Space-based Solutions for Disaster Management and Emergency Response for Africa.”
-- Policy development
Developing appropriate policies for the development of national space activities requires taking into account respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. For example, SWF co-sponsored in November 2009 a workshop with the UN-affiliated El Centro Regional de Enseñanza de Ciencia y Tecnología del Espacio para América Latina y el Caribe (CRECTEALC) in Mexico City focused on developing space policies in Latin America.
-- Protection of Earth and its citizens
This past January, SWF partnered again with the Mexican organization CRECTEALC and the Association of Space Explorers to examine the question of how the international community might best respond to an asteroid that was found to be on a collision orbit with Earth. Although the chances of a major asteroid striking Earth are small, a potential impact could be extremely destructive. Hence, it is important to plan for an international response.
-- Science and technology education
Secure World Foundation is involved in international cultural and educational cooperation - a capacity-building effort in line with ECOSOC’s mandate to further educational cooperation. In this regard, SWF is completing work on educational planetarium shows focused on how spacecraft operate in Earth orbit. These unique shows are designed to educate a wide audience throughout the world about the science of orbits and space operations. Both shows will be distributed to planetariums around the world, including those in developing countries.
For information regarding Secure World Foundation’s UN activities, contact:
Dr. Ray Williamson, Executive DirectorSecure World FoundationPhone: (303) 554-1560 Cell Phone: (303) 501-0430Email: [email protected]
Ben Baseley-Walker, Legal and Policy AdvisorSecure World FoundationPhone: (202) 462-1840Email: [email protected]
About Secure Foundation
Secure World Foundation (SWF) is headquartered in Superior, Colorado, with offices in Washington, D.C. and Vienna, Austria. SWF is a private operating foundation dedicated to the secure and sustainable use of space for the benefit of Earth and all its peoples.
SWF engages with academics, policy makers, scientists and advocates in the space and international affairs communities to support steps that strengthen global space security. It promotes the development of cooperative and effective use of space for the protection of Earth’s environment and human security.
The Foundation acts as a research body, convener and facilitator to advocate for key space security and other space related topics and to examine their influence on governance and international development.
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