UN Year of the Child (IYC): Summary of Peace Meditation involvement 1977 – 79

Filed under Significant events & meetings | Summaries of related posts | UN Anniversaries

International Year of the Child (IYC)

 

In December of 1976, the United Nations General Assembly

Proclaimed 1979 as the International Year of the Child.

 

Honoured guests at a reception for !YC sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Panama to the U.N. at the Jharna-Kala Gallery (left to right); Ms. Nina Sibal, First Secretary. Permanent Mission of lndia to the U.N.; H.E. Mr. Alejandro D. Yango. Permanent Representattive of the Philippines; Sra. Emilia Castro de Barish, Alternate Permanent Representatiue of Costa Rica; H.E. Ms. Ana Esther de la Maza Vasquez, Alternate Representative of the Dominican Republic; H. E. Dr. J. E. lllueca, Permanent Representative of Panama; Sri Chinmoy; Mr. Seigfeld Wemers, Permanent Mission of Surinam (in background); Dr. Omar Jaen, Delegation of Panama; Lic. Pedro Briln Martinez, Delegation of Panama; Ms. Maryanne Nsubuga, Charge d ‘Affaires . a.i., Permanent Mission of Seycelles; Mr. Williams, Delegation of Panama; and H.E. Mr. E. Esquea-Guerrero, Permanent Representative of the Dominican Republic to the U.N.

A number of activities were undertaken by the Meditation Group at the UN under the leadership of Sri Chinmoy

 

The Honourable Geraldine Ferraro, Congresswoman from New York: – at the USA National Visitor Center Wash DC, Programme to honour the International Year of the Child, 23 May,1979 .

and by members of the Sri Chinmoy Centers NGO around the world in cooperation with local governments and other organizations to show support for the IYC. This was a wonderful experience for a number of individuals who later became involved in supporting other special events such as: the 40th anniversary of the UN in 1985; the International Year of Peace in 1986 and subsequent initiatives such as the World Harmony run. Link to more details is sub-pages below:

Add thumbnail photo before or after each entry -can do a table format?

A. Excerpts from UN GA resolutions and other official documents (e.g. UNESCO, UNICEF ) requesting NGO and public involvement in IYC.


B. Meditation Group held UNCEF Bazaar in UN Secretariat for IYC – Opened by ASG for IYC – Oct 1977


C. Presentation of  painting dedicated to IYC by Representative of  Government of India and world tour to raise awareness of IYC


D. Programme for IYC at the USA National Visitor Center in Washington DC. Guest Speakers Representative Geraldine Ferraror, USA Parks Dept.


E. Dedication of IYC in Washington DC Park and Garden in California


F. Reception for UN Ambassadors at Gallery in Manhattan in support of IYC, Hosted by the Permanent Representative of Panama to the United Nations.


G. Song Dedicated to IYC and Children’s Contest

IYC Song .”This Is My Year”: National Champs

 

H. Related UN Day, Proclamations, Athletic and other events around the world

30 April -Meditation Group choir invited to perform in a celebration of the International Ycar of the Child, held in Riverside Church in Manhattan

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Note on top Image.

Taken from the lapel pin produced by the UNICEF National Committee in the Philippines to show support for the International Year of the Child. Pin personally presented to members of the Meditation Group by the then UNICEF Representative in the Philippines. Years later when sincerely admired by James Grant who had since become the Executive Director of UNICEF, he was offered the pin by the staff member from his jacket. He said, no you should keep it. You have worn if for so many years, I know you will protect it. With my travel it will eventually be lost if I accept it. James Grant supported the IYC as a representative of national government to Executive Board of UNICEF before he became UNICEF Executive Director.

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Site Note:

A version of this page was also published as: ” 1979 International Year of the Child (IYC)

at a World Harmony Run site:

http://www.worldharmonyrun.org/un_initiatives/year_of_child