A special round table of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC) will be held at Utah Valley University on October 2, 2017. The discussion, “Joint Advocacy of the Mountain Women and Agenda at the United Nations,” will focus on the combined efforts of NGOs and UVU to promote the cause of mountain women at the UN during the 62nd session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW62) held at the UN Headquarters March 12-23, 2018. The round table discussion will be hosted by the Utah International Mountain Forum (UIMF), a coalition of student clubs at UVU (www.utahimf.org). UIMF members have raised funds and arranged activities for the distinguished panelists as part of the engaged learning initiative.
During the event Dr. Baldomero Lago, CIO/Vice Rector for Global Engagement at UVU, will present a new UVUN Partnership initiative between UVU and the United Nations Department of Public Information (UN DPI), which will provide UVU students a variety of great opportunities for engaged learning at the United Nations, primarily through scholarships and research.
Round table participants, Dr. Andrew Taber, executive director of the Mountain Institute (TMI), Washington, D.C., and Dr. Jed Shilling, member of the Board of Trustees of TMI, will brainstorm together with Dr. Rusty Butler, main representative of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences and Mrs. Wendy Jyang, president of Utah China Friendship Improvement Sharing Hands and Development and Commerce, on how to jointly advocate during CSW62 the cause of the mountain women and the results of the international Women of the Mountains Conferences hosted by UVU since 2007. Their ultimate goal is to do one of three things: 1) make a statement during the general discussions at CSW62; 2) host a side event together with one of the mountain countries; 3) or host a parallel event together with NGOs accredited under the UN.
A student delegation representing the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the Woodbury School of Business, the College of Science, and the College of Health and Public Services, along with faculty mentors, plan to present the benefits of the engaged learning model for gender advocacy to the hosts and participants of the CSW62 in March of next year.
Matthew Rands, President of UIMF, said: “This gathering at UVU will allow our students to get prepared for the highly competitive environment in the presence of thousands of prominent worldwide NGOs at the CSW62 and will make the voices of mountain women heard during this highest gender-focused forum of the United Nations.”
Fourth region (Section 1)