GFDD Continues to Support CoNGO as a Member of the Board

The Confederation of NGOs ( CoNGO ), an organization in consultative relationship with the United Nations, held its General Assembly from March 1-3, 2018. The Assembly was held both at the International Convention Center in Geneva, as well as in the John Knox Center. Before the meeting, the 2014-2018 Board members held a work meeting to discuss the various points of interest included in the institution’s agenda. This meeting was held at the John Knox Center on
Wednesday, February 28, 2018, in the afternoon.

This 26th General Assembly was marked by a special commemorative event to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of CoNGO. Members and invited guests met on March 1, 2018 at the International Convention Center in Geneva to discuss the full work agenda filled with informative and cultural items. Welcome remarks
were delivered by CoNGO president (2011-2018) Cyril Ritchie, who also proceeded to present two renowned artists – Dr. Rama Mani and Paul Grant – who headed the presentation “Shared Human Values to Enact Collective Transformation.” Both delighted invited guests by combining mesmerizing music and real life testimonies of transformation from around the world. The performance pays tribute to the common human values of the UN and civil society that are essential to realize
the UN’s mandate of freedom from fear, freedom from want, and freedom to live in dignity.

As part of the event’s program, the Executive Director of the Museum of the United Nations, Jan Mattsson, presented the audience with a clear vision of this ambitious project, whose goal is to provide the world with an online platform that will provide access to the United Nations, its history and current activities. The Museum will be based in Denmark (https://www.unlivemuseum.org/).

The head table of the first part of the Assembly was presided by CoNGO president Cyril Ritchie; first vice president of the organization, Soon-Young Yoon; vice president Wolfgang Beiglboeck, headquartered in Vienna, CoNGO Secretary, the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD), represented by the director of its New York office, Yamile Eusebio, and the Treasurer
of the International Federation of Business and Professional Women (IFBPW), represented by Ms. Liz Benham.

CoNGO members met during March 2-3 at the John Knox Center, where the discussion centered on the various points of interests of the organizations represented at the event. On March 3, members elected the organization’s new president, Liberato Bautista, as well as other officials that will accompany CoNGO’s new leader during his
administration.

The following are the new members of the Board leadership, beginning on March 3, 2018:

• First Vice President : Cyril Ritchie
• Second Vice President: Martina Gredler
• Vice Presidents: Dianova International and Ordo Supremus Militaris Templi Hierosolymitani (OSMTH)
• Secretary: Global Foundation for Democracy and Development
• Treasurer: International
  Humanist and Ethical Union

The positions of Vice Presidents are held on a personal basis, while the Secretary and Treasurer are institutional representatives. All are members of the CoNGO Board.

GFDD has been a CoNGO Board member since 2014, when it became the organization’s Secretary.

About CoNGO:
The Conference of NGOs (CONGO) vision is to be the primary support and platform for a
civil society represented by a global community of informed, empowered and committed NGOs that fully participate with the UN in decision-making and programs leading to a better world, a world of economic and social justice. Their mission is to facilitate through various means the development of a dynamic and informed world-wide NGO community able to influence policies and actions at all levels of the United Nations.
www.ngocongo.org