Dr. Nadim Khouri
Deputy Executive-Secretary
Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)
Opening Statement
UN Lions Day
UN House, 6 March 2013
Mr. Amine Hacha, Chairman of the Lions Clubs District 351,
Mr. Nabil Rousse, District 351 Governor,
Excellencies
Mr. Robert Watkins UN Resident Coordinator for Humanitarian
Coordination for Lebanon, Represented here by Mr. Alexander Costy, Head of Office, UN RC for Lebanon
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to the UN House in Beirut as we host the Lions Club District 351’s celebration of “Lions Day with the UN”.
I will suggest that we have three objectives today as we host this celebration: (i) reaffirm the global and principled framework for partnerships between the UN and Civil Society and the private sector towards development; (ii) explore ways that we can jointly bring these partnerships closer to the present crises that rock and transform our region today; and (iii) at a local level, build on the experience on the ground to see celebrate successes and scale up these successes.
GLOBAL
The UN’s partnership with Lions Club International goes back to the post World War II period, since the early days of the United Nations. Ever since then, the Lions Clubs have long been partnering with various UN Agencies in providing humanitarian aid around the world. This invaluable support has been reinforced by their participation in the UN Global Compact and their dedication to enacting the core values underlined by this compact. Let me go into enumerating some of the basic commitments and objectives of participants in the Global Compact. They are summarized in 10 principles that need to be pursued within each institution’s sphere of influence, whether private firm or civil society organization. The ten principles are in the areas of human rights, labor policies, the environment and anti-corruption. You can see the ten principles displayed on the slide. Civil Society Organizations such as Lions Clubs have a membership of private citizens who in their everyday business endeavors can demonstrate their adherence to these principles at the same time that they promote them in their Lions activities.
In addition to the UN Global Compact, the UN system is now engaging the Civil Society Organizations through new frameworks for joint work. There is now in New York a United Nations Office for Partnerships. This Office serves as a gateway to engage corporations, foundations and civil society to achieve development goals. In particular, this includes achieving the MDGs, with priorities in children’s issue, population and women, environment, peace, security and human rights and financial contributions.
REGIONAL
Lions International has focused its development engagement in helping attain the MDGs. These global endeavors laid strong foundation for joint work in the region. And that is the second objective I mentioned: Lions, and your District in particular, has a regional dimension—so do some of the UN entities—such as ESCWA. Can we explore new avenues for regional work?
The region is currently facing a set of socio-economic challenges and calling for us to tailor our work towards meeting their needs. Lions District 351 and UN regional and country teams should join efforts in these times when our region needs us the most. Lions’ District 351, manages activities in Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq. Countries covered by ESCWA and other organizations with a regional mandate.
LOCAL
Finally, at the local level, whether in Lebanon or any of the three countries covered by Lions District 351, Lions has achieved tangible results on the ground. Today, we will hear about peace initiatives for youth, health improvement to the needy and other successes achieved by Lions, sometimes in partnership with the UN and others. We are well represented here by the UN-Country Team for Lebanon, they will present an overview of the UN System and priorities in Lebanon. Our hope is that this exchange, built on concrete success on the ground will help define new areas of interaction in Lebanon and in the region.
Again, I would like to welcome you all in the UN House, wish you a successful ceremony and a fruitful discussion.