APA at the U.N. Annual Report

APA at the United Nations

2015 Annual Report of the APA at the UN/NGO Representation

2015 Annual Report of the APA UN/NGO January, 2016 Page 2 of 26

Table of Contents

MEET THE APA UN/NGO REPRESENTATION ......................................................................................... 3

VISION AND STRATEGIC GOALS FOR APA UN/NGO .............................................................................. 4

HIGHLIGHTS OF 2015 ........................................................................................................................... 4

REPRESENTATION AT THE UN: ELECTED AND APPOINTED POSITIONS ................................................... 5

ANNUAL REPORT ................................................................................................................................ 5

YEAR IN REVIEW .................................................................................................................................. 6

APA UN/NGO REPRESENTATION ACTIVITIES WITH UN/NGO COMMITTEES .......................................... 9

ACTIVITIES OF THE APA UN/NGO REPRESENTATIVES AND INTERNS AT THE UN AND UN-‐RELATED EVENTS .............................................................................................................................................. 10

COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN PARALLEL EVENT .............................................................................. 10 EASTERN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION INTERN SYMPOSIUM ............................................................................ 10 PSYCHOLOGY DAY AT THE UNITED NATIONS 2015 ........................................................................................... 11 2015 INTERNATIONAL DAY OF OLDER PERSONS AT THE UNITED NATIONS ............................................................ 11 DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION INTERN BRIEFING ................................................................................. 12 APA UN/NGO SYMPOSIUM, AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONVENTION ............................. 13 DPI/NGO BRIEFING, 26TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD ................................ 13 OTHER EVENTS AT THE UNITED NATIONS ATTENDED BY APA UN/NGO REPRESENTATIVES AND INTERNS .................. 13

APA UN/NGO PUBLICATIONS .................................................................................................................... 14

APA UN/NGO GRADUATE STUDENT INTERN PROGRAM ..................................................................... 15

APPENDICES ....................................................................................................................................... 17


Meet the APA UN/NGO Representation

Janet A. Sigal, Ph.D. (2010-‐2017) Main Representative to the United Nations, ECOSOC Professor Emeritus of Psychology,

Fairleigh Dickinson University Fellow, APA Divisions 1, 35, and 52 Past President Division 1, 2013-‐2014 Member-‐At-‐Large, Division 52 Member, Psychology Day Planning Committee 2013, 2014,

2015, 2016 Chair of NGO Committee on Ageing NY 2015-‐2017 Past Vice Chair of Programs, NGO Committee on Ageing, NY Member, IDOP Planning Committee Member at Large, NGO Committee on the Family, NY Roseanne Flores, Ph.D. (2012-‐2017) APA Representative to the United Nations, ECOSOC Associate Professor, Hunter College, Graduate Center,

City University of New York Co-‐Chair, Psychology Day 2016 Member, NGO Committee on the Rights of the Child, NY Member, Steering Committee on Children’s Rights, NGO

Committee on the Rights of the Child Member, Psychology Day Planning Committee 2013, 2014,

2015 Member, Coalition for Psychology in Schools and Education,

APA Past Chair, Children Youth and Families, APA Ayorkor Gaba, Psy.D. (2014-‐2019) APA Representative to the United Nations, ECOSOC Senior Project Director, University of Massachusetts Medical

School Clinical Supervisor, Rutgers Psychological Clinic, Rutgers

University Member, NGO Committee on the Family, NY, Membership

Subcommittee Member Program Co-‐Chair, Psychology Day Planning Committee 2016 Member, Psychology Day Planning Committee 2015, 2016

Juneau Gary, Psy.D. (2010-‐2016) APA Main Representative to DPI Professor, Kean University Co-‐Editor, "UN Matters" Column,

Psychology International Newsletter Member, Psychology Day Planning Committee 2013, 2014,

2015, 2016 Rashmi Jaipal, Ph.D. (2012-‐2017) APA Representative to the United Nations, ECOSOC Professor Emeritus, Bloomfield College Co-‐Chair, Psychology Day 2016 Co-‐Chair, Psychology Day 2014 Member, Psychology Day Planning Committee 2015 Member, Committee on Sustainable Development Co-‐Chair of Global Partnerships Working Group on

Implementation of Sustainable MDGs Member, Migration Committee Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Nélida Quintero, Ph.D. (2014-‐2019) APA Representative to the United Nations, ECOSOC Architect, Private Practice Co-‐Chair, International Day of Older Persons, NGO Committee

on Ageing 2016 Member, Psychology Day Planning Committee 2015, 2016 Member, NGO Committee on Ageing, NY Member, IDOP Planning Committee 2015, Fundraising

Subcommittee and Logistics Subcommittee

Neal Rubin, Ph.D. (2010-‐2016) APA Representative to DPI Professor and University Fellow, Argosy University, Chicago Past President, Division 52, APA, 2012 Coordinator, Psychology Day 2015 Member, Psychology Day Planning Committee, 2013, 2014,

2016 Co-‐Editor, "UN Matters" Column, Psychology International

Newsletter


Vision and Strategic Goals for APA UN/NGO

There are four major goals for the APA UN/NGO for 2016: 1. In accordance with part of the Vision Statement of the American Psychological Association

(APA), the APA UN/NGO will “[promote] psychological knowledge… to facilitate the resolution of personal, societal and global challenges in… international contexts.” Advocacy will occur primarily through individual members’ participation in their NGO committees.

2. In accordance with a second component of the American Psychological Association vision to act as: “An effective champion of the application of psychology to promote human rights, health, well-‐being and dignity,” we will continue to advocate for human rights for vulnerable populations through our work on UN NGO committees.

3. The APA UN/NGO has developed a close relationship with the El Salvador Mission to the United Nations, in particular His Excellency the Ambassador, as well as His Excellency the Ambassador of the Palau Mission to the United Nations. In 2016, we will continue outreach to other Missions to the United Nations, beginning with co-‐sponsors of Psychology Day 2016.

4. We will Inform and communicate with APA constituents and members about issues related to the UN as well as APA UN/NGO activities through the UN Matters Column and the annual symposium at the APA Convention. We also have begun a constructive dialogue with CIRP as part of this effort.

Highlights of 2015

1. Psychology Day at the United Nations (April, 2015): The theme was: Reducing Health Inequalities Within and Among Countries: Psychology’s Contributions to the United Nations Post-‐2015 Global Agenda. The event attracted over 400 people and was co-‐sponsored by two UN Missions, whose Ambassadors made remarks. – See Appendix A

2. UN Commission on the Status of Women Side Event Developed and Co-‐Sponsored by the APA (March, 2015): Women in Crisis Situations: Current challenges to the implementation of the Beijing Declaration. – See Appendix C

3. Department of Public Information at the United Nations, Intern Briefing (May, 2015) – See Appendix B: This briefing was a significant event since it is unusual for only interns to participate in a briefing. The theme was: Future Psychologists: Impacting the Sustainable Development Goals and Global Issues. This event was significant because it is unusual for only interns to participate in a briefing. The event continues the efforts of Psychology NGOs to establish the legitimacy and credibility of psychology and psychologists as valuable contributors to addressing the 2015 UN global agenda. – See Appendix B

4. Eastern Psychological Association Intern Symposium (March, 2015): The UN and the Sustainable Development Goals: How Psychology can Contribute. The APA UN interns organized and presented papers outlining specific psychology contributions to the UN agenda.

5. APA UN/NGO symposium (August, 2015): Reducing inequality within and among countries: Psychological contributions to the UN’s Post 2015 Global Agenda. APA Representatives and Interns participated in this symposium, also available for CE credit.


Representation at the UN: Elected and Appointed Positions in NGO Committees

Janet A. Sigal: Elected Chair of the NGO Committee on Ageing, NY; Member at Large for the NGO Committee on the Family; Co-‐Chair of the Mission Outreach Subcommittee, and Co-‐Chair of the Logistics Subcommittee of the Psychology Day Planning Committee, 2015,2016.

Rashmi Jaipal: Co-‐Chair of Psychology Day 2016; Co-‐Chair of the Mission Outreach Subcommittee, and Co-‐Chair of the Logistics Subcommittee of the Psychology Day Planning Committee, 2015; Co-‐organizer of Side Events for the NGO Committee on Migration; Chair-‐Elect of the Psychology Coalition at the United Nations (PCUN).

Roseanne Flores: Co-‐Chair of Psychology Day, 2016; Co-‐Chair for the Program Subcommittee, Psychology Day 2014 and 2015; Steering Committee for the NGO Committee on Children’s Rights.

Ayorkor Gaba: Co-‐Chair of the Program Subcommittee, Psychology Day 2016; Member of the Program Subcommittee and the Mission Outreach Subcommittee, Psychology Day 2015.

Nélida Quintero: Co-‐Chair of the International Day of Older Persons, 2016; Chair of the Finance Subcommittee, Psychology Day, 2015, 2016.

Neal Rubin: Coordinator of the 2015 Psychology Day; Co-‐Editor of the UN Matters Column for the Psychology International Newsletter.

Juneau Gary: Member of the Program Subcommittee and the Logistics Subcommittee, Psychology Day 2015, 2016; Co-‐Editor of the UN Matters Column for the Psychology International Newsletter.


2015 ANNUAL REPORT

The APA UN/NGO has had a very productive year in 2015. The APA UN/NGO has continued its advocacy for human rights at the UN including for children, women, older persons, indigenous people and other vulnerable groups. After being elected as Chair of the NGO Committee on Ageing/NY, Dr. Sigal has worked with Representatives from several Missions to advocate for a Convention on Human Rights for Older Persons. Dr. Jaipal, who was elected as Co-‐Chair of Psychology Day at the UN, 2016, has been working on the NGO Migration Committee in the light of the current Migrant Crisis. She has also continued her outreach to Missions, and is the Chair-‐Elect of PCUN. Dr. Flores, who was elected as the Co-‐Chair of Psychology Day at the UN, 2016, has continued her work on advocacy for children through her participation on the Steering Committee on the NGO Committee of Children’s Rights. Dr. Gaba who is the Co-‐Chair of the Program Subcommittee for Psychology Day 2016, is an active member of the NGO Committee on the Family. Dr. Quintero has just been elected as Co-‐Chair of the International Day of Older Persons (IDOP) for the NGO Committee on Ageing/NY. Dr. Rubin and Dr. Gary have written several columns for UN Matters. Dr. Rubin was the Coordinator for Psychology Day 2015. Dr. Gary organizes attendance at the DPI Briefings, and was the Co-‐Coordinator of the NGO Intern DPI Briefing in May.

Throughout 2015, the APA UN/NGO joined several NGO committees including the Family Committee, the Ageing Committee, the Mental Health Committee, the Committee on the Status of Women, the Committee on Children’s Rights, the Committee on Sustainable Development and the Migration Committee. Members of the APA UN/NGO also were represented on the Executive Boards of various NGO committees. APA UN/NGO members planned programs for these NGO committees, gave presentations at general meetings, and helped to plan major events such as the International Day of Older Persons, People of African Descent, and the 26th Anniversary of Children’s Rights. All APA UN/NGO members participated in the Planning Committee for Psychology Day 2015, and are now participating, in leadership positions, in the planning for Psychology Day 2016.

Members of the APA UN/NGO participated in the selection of 6 outstanding graduate student interns for 2015-‐2016. One graduate student is from India, and one from Pakistan. Our other interns include graduate students whose families originally were from Ethiopia, Guyana, India and the United States.

Year in Review

January APA UN/NGO orientation for new Representative Dr. Nélida Quintero.

Dr. Gaba and Dr. Jaipal presented at a meeting of the NGO Committee on the Family: The Effects of Globalization and Trauma on Families in Developing Countries: India and Nigeria. (January 22, 2015) – See Appendix F

General Meeting for the NGO Committee of Ageing/NY: Older Persons in Challenging Situations. The program included speakers from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees and the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations. (January 8, 2015)

Dr. Gary submitted a proposal for an Intern Briefing to the Department of Public Information (DPI) and it was accepted.


February Dr. Jaipal co-‐organized and presented at a parallel event for the Commission on Social Development: Cross-‐Cultural Challenges and Benefits of the Integration of the Refugee Population into the Host Society. The parallel event was co-‐sponsored by APA, the NGO Committee on Migration and several other NGOs. (February 4, 2015) – See Appendix H

March Commission on the Status of Women parallel event developed and co-‐sponsored by the APA at the UN/NGO: Women in Crisis Situations: Current Challenges to the Implementation of the Beijing Declaration. (March 19, 2015) – See Appendix C

Eastern Psychological Association Intern Symposium: The UN and the Sustainable Development Goals: How Psychology can Contribute. (March 7, 2015)

April Eighth Annual Psychology Day at the UN: Reducing Health Inequalities Within and Among Countries: Psychology’s Contributions to the United Nations Post-‐2015 Agenda. Dr. Rubin was the Coordinator of Psychology Day 2015. Co-‐sponsors included the Permanent Mission of El Salvador to the United Nations and the Permanent Mission of Palau to the United Nations. (April 30, 2015) – See Appendix A

UN Association of Young Professionals Conference: Global Mental Health Panel (April 18, 2015)

May Dr. Gary and Dr. Jaipal coordinated the DPI Intern Briefing with the UN Department of Public Information: Future Psychologists: Impacting the Sustainable Development Goals and Global Issues. The Briefing was webcast live (May 14, 2015). – See Appendix B

June UN Matters Column, Psychology International: Global Awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorder: Impact and Interventions was published. Written by Dr. Gary and Dr. Rubin.

Intern interviews

July Open-‐ended Working Groups on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

August APA UN/NGO Symposium, American Psychological Association Annual Convention; Reducing Inequality Within and Among Countries: Psychological Contributions to the UN’s Post 2015 Global Agenda.. (August 8, 2015)

New Intern Orientation (August 27, 2015)

September UN Matters Column, Psychology International: Contributions of APA Interns at the United Nations: Youth Informing the Post-‐2015 Global Agenda. (Dr. Gary and Dr. Rubin).

The Center for Global Health and Diplomacy and the United Nations Office for South-‐South Cooperation: Sustainable Health Models for Development. (September 24, 2015)

2015 General Assembly (September 25-‐27, 2015) Formal adoption of post 2015 agenda

UN Sustainable Development Summit, High Level Plenary Meeting of General Assembly (September 25) UN SD Summit Panels with Heads of State on Social Harmony, New Rural Development Paradigm, UN Reforms (September 26)


UN SD Summit Panels on Sustainable Energy, Civil Society participation (NGLS) (September 27)

October 25th Annual Celebration of the International Day of Older Persons: Sustainability and Age

Inclusiveness in the Urban Environment. This event was co-‐sponsored by the NGO Committee on Ageing/NY, the Permanent Mission of Argentina to the United Nations, and over 25 other Missions to the United Nations. Dr. Sigal gave an introductory statement. (October 15, 2015) – See Appendix D

High Commissioner for Human Rights at the Hunter College Roosevelt House of Public Policy: Challenges to Human Rights in 2015 and Beyond. (October 19, 2015)

November Confronting the Silence: Perspectives and Dialogue on Structural Racism against People of African Descent Worldwide. (November 3, 2015) – See Appendix G

Commemorating the 26th Anniversary of the Convention of the Rights of the Child: Right to Water for Women and Children. (November 19, 2015) – See Appendix E

Interns attended the Fourth Youth-‐led DPI/NGO Briefing: Youth at the Forefront: Bridging the Gap between Climate Change and Climate Action. (November 12, 2015)

Teresa Ober (APA Administrative Assistant) submitted an Intern EPA Symposium Proposal. The proposal has is titled The United Nation’s Agenda on Human Rights: Issues Facing International Psychology. The proposal has been accepted for EPA 2016.

December DPI NGO in partnership with the Subcommittee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination of the NGO Committee on Human Rights, SPSSI, and PCUN: Combatting Racism in the 21st Century. (December 3, 2015) – See Appendix I

UN Matters Column: United Nations Celebrates 70 years and Uses Psychological Science to Confront World Challenges. Written by Dr. Gary, Dr. Rubin and Dr. Jaipal.

The APA/NGO submitted a proposal for a parallel event at the 60th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women. The proposal was accepted for CSW, 60.

Mission Outreach Meetings with Ambassadors to discuss co-‐sponsorship for Psychology Day. Dr. Jaipal, Dr. Sigal, and Dr. Quintero met with H.E. Ambassador Zamora of the Permanent Mission of El Salvador to the UN to discuss Psychology Day. Ambassador Zamora agreed to co-‐sponsor Psychology Day. H.E. Dr. Otto, Ambassador of the Permanent Mission of Palau, also agreed to co-‐sponsor Psychology Day.

Dr. Jaipal met with a Representative from the European Union to discuss a Migration Committee Side Event.


APA UN/NGO Representation Activities with UN/NGO Committees

http://www.ngocongo.org/committees/

The following summarizes representative activities of some of the committees of which APA/UN NGO Representatives are members.

NGO Committee on the Family

The Family Committee held monthly meetings during 2015. Dr. Sigal and Gaba are both members of the Committee. Dr. Gaba and Dr. Jaipal gave a presentation at a Family Committee Meeting: The Effects of Globalization and Trauma on Families in Developing Countries (India and Nigeria). Other Family Committee programs included speaker Bahira Sherif Trask, Ph.D.: Changing Families, Changing Societies: How Women, Aging and Cultural Diversity are Transforming our World; Claudia Williams, Ph.D., Dr. Parthener Olivia Pinder, MD., and Allan Shedlin: Engaging and Supporting Families So their Children Thrive; Dr. Susan Roylance, and Renata Kaczmarska, Social Affairs Officer, DESA: The Family as the Fundamental Agent for Achieving the Goals of the 2030 Agenda. APA Interns participated in a Family Committee Program on legal issues impacting the family in April, 2015. Presentations included the effect of statelessness in Kuwait and how women are impacted by incarceration.

NGO Committee on Ageing held the 25th Annual Celebration of the International Day of Older Persons (IDOP)

The theme for IDOP was “Sustainability and Age Inclusiveness in the Urban Environment” and the event was held on October 15th, 2014. The event was attended by more than 250 diplomats, UN staff, and interested guests. The Ageing Committee organized the event in collaboration with the United Nations Ageing Unit/DESA, and it was co-‐sponsored by the Permanent Missions of Argentina, and over 25 other UN Missions. Several of the APA Representatives and APA interns were present at the event. The Committee held general meetings monthly in 2015 including Older Persons in Challenging Situations with presentations of UN staff from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees and the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations. The Committee on Ageing Subcommittee on Intergenerational Relationships presented a program on History Alive! related to arts education and creativity for older adults. Dr. Sigal is the Chair of the Committee, and Dr. Quintero is the Co-‐Chair of IDOP 2016.

NGO Committee on the Status of Women

In March, the APA UN/NGO co-‐sponsored a side event for the 59th Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations, Women in Crisis Situations: Current Challenges to the Implementation of the Beijing Declaration. The side event attracted over 100 people.

NGO Committee on Children’s Rights

The committee sponsored the 26th Anniversary of the Convention of the Rights of the Child in November.

NGO Committee on Sustainable Development

The Committee on Sustainable Development was involved in many Open Working Groups of the General Assembly on Sustainable Development Goals during 2015. The Committee also held monthly meetings Dr. Jaipal is the Co-‐Chair of Global Partnerships Working Group on Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).


Activities of the APA UN/NGO Representatives and Interns at the UN and UN-‐related Events Commission on the Status of Women Parallel Event (March 19, 2015) – See Appendix C

Women in Crisis Situations: Current Challenges to the Implementation of the Beijing Declaration Moderator: Janet A. Sigal, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Psychology, Fairleigh Dickinson University, APA, Main Representative to the United Nations

Panelists: • Corann Okorodudu, Ed.D., Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Africana Studies,

Rowan University, SPSSI Representative to the United Nations. The Impact of the Ebola Epidemic in the Implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action: Challenges for Liberian Women and Children.

• Noor Baker, B.A., Teachers’ College, Columbia University, APA Intern at the United Nations, 2014-‐2015. Current Research on the Mental Health of Syrian Refugees

• Ayorkor Gaba, Psy.D., Senior Project Director, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, APA Representative to the United Nations. The Village has Fallen: Nigerian Women in Crisis

Discussant: Shari E. Miles Cohen, Ph.D., Senior Director, Women’s Program Office, American Psychological Association Q & A Moderator: Roseanne Flores, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology, Human Rights Faculty at Hunter College, and Doctoral Faculty of Psychology at the Graduate Center, City University of New York, APA Representative to the United Nations Co-‐Sponsored by the American Psychological Association, the International Council of Psychologists, and the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues.

Eastern Psychological Association Intern Symposium (March 7, 2015) International Symposium: The UN and the Sustainable Development Goals: How Psychology Can Contribute Chair: Emily A. A. Dow, The Graduate Center, City University of New York (CUNY) Presentations: • Jin Hashimoto, Teachers College, Columbia University, APA Intern at the United Nations

2014-‐15, Mainstreaming Psychology in our International Society • Dalal Alhomaizi, Teachers College, Columbia University, APA Intern at the United Nations

2014-‐15, The United Nations and Mental Health Parity Issue • Noor Baker, Teachers College, Columbia University, APA Intern at the United Nations 2014-‐

15, How the UN Supports Mental Health Services for Migrant and Displaced Populations • Leah Kaylor, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY, APA Intern at the United Nations

2014-‐15, Human Trafficking and the United Nations’ Global Agenda • Eri Imahori, Teachers College, Columbia University, APA Intern at the United Nations 2014-‐

15, Promoting Early Childhood Education in Developing Nations • Roxane Caires, Steinhardt School, New York University, APA Intern at the United Nations

2014-‐15, Gender Inequality: How the United Nations is Addressing the Issue of Women in Custody

Discussant: Janet A. Sigal, Ph.D., Fairleigh Dickinson University


Psychology Day at the United Nations 2015 (April 30, 2015) – See Appendix A

Reducing Health Inequalities Within and Among Countries; Psychology’s Contributions to the United Nations Post-‐2015 Global Agenda UN WebTV Recording Accessible at: http://webtv.un.org/www.unwomen.org/en/executive-‐board/documents/second-‐regular-‐session-‐2014/watch/eight-‐annual-‐psychology-‐day-‐at-‐the-‐united-‐nations/4208943952001 Introduction: Neal S. Rubin, Ph.D., ABPP, Chair of the Eighth Annual Psychology Day at the United Nations. Opening Remarks: H.E. Ambassador Ruben I. Zamora, Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of El Salvador to the United Nations. Keynote Speaker: Brian D. Smedley, Ph.D., Executive Director, National Collaborative on Health Equity, Advancing Health Equity: Addressing the Needs of Marginalized Populations through a Focus on Social Determinants. Panel Moderator: Roseanne Flores, PhD., American Psychological Association

Speakers: • Barbara C. Wallace, Ph.D., Professor, Teachers College, Columbia University, African

and Global Indigenous Perspectives on Health and Psychological Well-‐Being: Toward a Health-‐Psychological Science for Healing from the Trauma of Racism and/or Oppression

• Tahereh Ziaian, Ph.D., Professor, Division of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, The Impacts of Inequality on the Efficacy of Health Care Among Underserved Populations: Migrant and Refugee Mental Health in Australia

• Bonnie K. Nastasi, Ph.D., Professor, Tulane University, Promoting Psychological Health and Well-‐Being of Children, Youth and Families under Stressful Conditions: Engaging Local Communities in Cultural Construction of Programs

• George Ayala, Psy.D., Executive Director, Global Forum on MSM & HIV (MSMGF), Structured Violence and Its Impact on Achieving UNAIDS’ Accelerated HIV Targets Among Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) Worldwide

Discussant: H.E. Ambassador Dr. Caleb Otto, Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Palau to the United Nations Q & A: Miriam Vega, Ph.D., Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues Closing Remarks: Neal S. Rubin, Ph.D., ABPP, NGO Representative to the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI Representative for the American Psychological Association), Professor and University Fellow, Illinois School of Professional Psychology, Argosy University, Chicago, Illinois.

2015 International Day of Older Persons at the United Nations (October 15, 2015) – See Appendix D

Sustainability and Age-‐Inclusiveness in the Urban Environment Introductions: Janet A. Sigal, Ph.D., Chair, NGO Committee on Ageing/NY Cynthia Stuen, Ph.D., and Frances Zainoeddin, Co-‐Chairs, IDOP, 2015 Statements from Mr. Ban Ki-‐Moon, United Nations Secretary General; H.E. Mogens Lykketoft, President, General Assembly of the United Nations; H.E. Mateo Estreme, Deputy Permanent Representative of Argentina to the United Nations; Ms. Rosemary Lane, Chief, DESA Focal Point on Ageing, United Nations


Keynote Address: Dr. Joan Clos, Executive Director, UN-‐Habitat World Ageing Report, 2015: Mr. Jorge Bravo, Chief, Population and Development Section, Population Division, DESA Panel: What are the Key Components for Age-‐Inclusiveness and Sensitive Urban Environments? Moderator: Ms. Jan Person, Global Chair, Huairou Commission

Panelists: • Dr. Eugenie Birch, Chair, UN Habitat’s World Urban Campaign • Dr. Toshio Obi, Director, e-‐Government Research Center, Waseda University, Japan • Ms. Louisette Fomba, Director, National Development Partners (NADEP), Cameroon • Mr. Hirotaka Koike, Chair, Children and Youth Partner Constituent Group of General

Assembly of Partners (GAP) for HABITAT III, UN Major Group for Children and Youth Updates at the United Nations: Progress Report on the Open-‐Ended Working Group on Ageing: Mateo Estreme, Deputy Permanent Representative of Argentina to the United Nations Video: “What Older Persons are Saying about their Lives and their Future: Tribute to the Centenarians” Co-‐sponsored by the NGO Committee on Ageing/NY in Partnership with DESA/Focal Point of Ageing, Permanent Mission of Argentina to the United Nations, the 25 member Group of Friends of Ageing, and the Permanent Missions of Japan, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, and the United States Mission to the United Nations.

Department of Public Information Intern Briefing (May 14, 2015) Psychologists: Impacting the Sustainable Development Goals and Global Issues UN WebTV Recording Accessible at: http://webtv.un.org/topics-‐issues/global-‐issues/volunteerism/watch/future-‐psychologists-‐impacting-‐the-‐sustainable-‐development-‐goals-‐and-‐global-‐issues-‐dpi-‐ngo-‐briefing/4238378731001 Moderator: Saji Thomas, UNICEF

Speakers: • Jin Hashimoto, Teachers College, Columbia University, APA Intern at the UN 2014-‐15,

The Importance of Mental Health in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals: Experiences from an International Internship

• Leah Kaylor, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY, APA Intern at the UN 2014-‐15, Psychological Impact of Human Trafficking and Sex Slavery Worldwide: Research, Empowerment and Intervention

• Eri Imahori, Teachers College, Columbia University, APA Intern at the UN 2014-‐15, Economic Disparity and Family Disruption in an Uncertain World: Psychological Interventions to Promote Reintegration and Resilience

• Dalal Alhomaizi, Teachers College, Columbia University, APA Intern at the UN 2014-‐15, Speak up to End the Silence on Stigma and Mental Illness in Kuwait: An Anti-‐Stigma Awareness Campaign in Progress

• Roxane Caires, Steinhardt School, New York University, APA Intern at the UN 2014-‐15, Youth, Gender and Social Exclusion in the Criminal Justice System: Psychological Interventions for Social Justice


APA UN/NGO Symposium, American Psychological Association Annual Convention (August 8, 2015)

Reducing Inequality Within and Among Countries: Psychological Contributions to the UN’s Post 2015 Global Agenda Chair: Janet A. Sigal

Presentations: • Nélida Quintero, Ph.D., Janet A. Sigal, Ph.D., Dalal Alhomaizi, Leah Kaylor, and

Samantha Holdren, Sexual Violence, Culture, and Discrimination Against Women • Roseanne Flores, Ph.D. Roxane Caires, and Eri Imahori, Examining Global Inequality

Through the Lens of Children’s Rights • Rashmi Jaipal, Ph.D., Ayorkor Gaba, Psy.D., and Jin Hashimoto, Equality, Justice and

Universal Health Care: Challenges of Implementation of the UHC in Developing Countries • Neal Rubin, Ph.D., Juneau Gary, Psy.D., and Noor Baker, Human Rights and Climate

Justice in the 21st Century DPI/NGO Briefing, 26th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (November 19, 2015) – See Appendix E

Right to Water for Women and Children Opening Song: “Turn the World Around” Opening Story: “The Woman who Outshone the Sun” Presented by Therese Folkes Plair, Singer, Storyteller Speakers: • Angie Saleh, UNICEF, WASH Section • Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Expert from UNICEF discussing the topic from a global

perspective • Jason Klein, Program Specialist overseeing seven Westchester County Parks • Connecting Children to Nature: Conservation through Learning • Closing Story: “KOLOWISSI: Water Snake, adapted from a Zuni Tale, North American” • Presented by Laura Simms, Storyteller, Writer, Artist

Other Events at the United Nations Attended by APA UN/NGO Representatives and Interns

• CSW59 DPI NGO (March 9-‐20, 2015, United Nations Headquarters) – See Appendix C

• Briefing: Women Taking the Lead: Designing and Monitoring Sustainable and Gender-‐Responsive Infrastructures. Organized by the Department of Public Information (DPI), Huairou Commission, NGO Committee on Sustainable Development, Urban Design Lab of the Earth Institute at Columbia University and UN Habitat. (March 12, 2015)

• Side Event: Habitat III, Beijing+20 and the City We Need. Organized by UN-‐Habitat, UN Women, Huairou Commission. (March 12, 2015)

• Side Event: Public Space: Opportunities and challenges for Empowering Women. Organized by UN-‐Habitat, UN Women, Action Aid International, Huairou Commission, Plan International, Red Mujer and Habitat LAC, Women in Cities International. (March 13, 2015)


o New York City Urban Thinkers Campus: Road Map to the City We Need (October 24, 2015, United Nations Headquarters)

• The Urban Thinkers Campus is a special initiative of the World Urban Campaign and UN-‐Habitat. The ideas developed at the UTCs will feed into the World Urban Campaign’s City We Need process, and the agenda and outcome document of the Habitat III Conference: The New Urban Agenda.

• United Nations Academic Impact Fifth Anniversary: United Nations Academic Impact at Five: The Next Generation of Global Citizens (November 10, 2015, United Nations Headquarters)

• NGO Committee on Mental Health: Promoting Health and Well-‐Being: Integrating Physical and Mental Health (November 12, 2015, United Nations Headquarters

• High-‐Level Meeting for the Ten-‐year Review of the World Summit on Information and Society (WSIS+10) (December 14-‐17, 2015, United Nations Headquarters)

APA UN/NGO Publications UN Matters Column, Psychology International (http://www.apa.org/international/pi/index.aspx) The role of APA’s UN Department of Public Information (DPI) representatives is to inform the APA membership about relevant UN and international activities as well as offer psychological expertise for UN activities and initiatives. As part of this initiative, an online column through APA’s Office of International Affairs, called Psychology International is published quarterly. The column, UN Matters, informs the APA membership about topical issues of interest occurring at the UN or through its initiatives.

• Global awareness of autism spectrum disorder: Impact and Interventions (Dr.Rubin & Dr. Gary; June 2015). http://apa.org/international/pi/2015/06/autism-‐spectrum.aspx.

• Contributions of APA Interns at the United Nations: Youth informing the post-‐2015 global agenda (Dr.Rubin & Dr. Gary; September 2015). http:////apa.org/interntional/pi/2015/09/united-‐nations-‐interns.aspx.

• United Nations celebrates 70 years and uses psychological science to confront world challenges (Dr. Rubin & Dr. Gary, with Rashmi Jaipal; December 2015). http://apa.org/international/pi/2015/12/world-‐challenges.aspx.

• Still Giving Away a World of Psychology (Dr. Craig N. Shealy; March 2015). http://www.apa.org/international/pi/2015/03/index.aspx.


APA UN Graduate Student Intern Program

Every year the APA UN/NGO representation invites six current graduate students to participate in its work at the United Nations. It is an opportunity for graduate students to get hands-‐on experience at the United Nations in addressing the psychological needs of the global population. We are pleased to announce that we have six new interns for the APA UN/NGO during the 2015-‐16 academic year. These interns were selected from a large group of candidates, and were interviewed and offered the position in late Spring 2015.

Emnet Gammada, The Graduate Center, CUNY Emnet Gammada is a second year doctoral student at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York where she studies clinical psychology with an emphasis in neuropsychology. Along with her family, she emigrated from Ethiopia to Canada when she was 8 years old. Ms. Gammada is intrigued by the juxtaposition of normality in abnormality and the abnormality in normality as a result of her studies in psychopathology along with her observations of a lack of acknowledgement of those with diverse cultural backgrounds. She is interested in exploring the impact of cultural variables on help-‐seeking behaviors and examining barriers to healthcare access. Exploring these topics has given her an appreciation of the interaction between advocacy and education, not only in theory but in practice as well. As an APA intern at the United Nations, Ms. Gammada has further come to appreciate the importance of building synergy between government, NGOs, academia, and civil society and firmly believes that academics should assume social responsibility and strive to build global citizenship. Ms. Gammada aims to bring psychological perspectives and science to global policies and maintains that the protection of human rights is the fundamental basis upon which policy should be formed. She has been active in attending the meetings for the Committee on Ageing and is interested in exploring the neurological underpinnings of adult development with the hopes to improve the rights of older persons through her work.

Mahathi Kosuri, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY Mahathi Kosuri is a second year M.A. student from New York studying Forensic Mental Health Counseling at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She previously attended George Washington University where she received a B.A. in Psychology and Public Health. Ms. Kosuri is a part of research projects that focus on sexual violence, race and cultural psychology, and psychology and law. She has worked with marginalized populations such as the homeless, incarcerated and recently released offenders, severely mentally ill, and the HIV/AIDS infected. She wishes to continue working with at-‐risk populations on an international level. Ms. Kosuri has completed a master’s thesis in which she explored American perceptions of child victims of sexual exploitation. She continues to study child rights as a member of the UN Committee on Children’s Rights and regularly attends committee meetings and events such as the Right to Water for Women and Children. Ms. Kosuri is participating in the planning committee for Psychology Day at the UN 2016. also has attended other events and exhibitions that are of her own personal interests, such as the “Not In My Life” Film screening, the exhibition “The International Outlaw”, and the symposium on “The Changing Dynamics of Islamophobia and its Implications on Peaceful and Inclusive Societies”. Ms. Kosuri intends to continue her work on the rights for children and all humans as she pursues a doctorate in Clinical Psychology in the following year.

Amanda Persaud, Fairleigh Dickinson University Amanda Persaud is currently a third year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Ms. Persaud graduated as a Commonwealth Honors College Scholar with


distinction from the University of Massachusetts-‐Amherst with a B.A. in Psychology. Born and raised in New York, she was always aware of and fascinated by the unique human experiences within the ever-‐evolving and shifting cultural landscape around her. These dynamics sparked an interest in social justice, and as a graduate student, Ms. Persaud’s scholarly interests include the intersection between policy and psychology. Specifically, she is interested in utilizing psychological science to inform and reform social and political policies both in the United States and abroad. In addition, Ms. Persaud is also interested in eradicating barriers to mental healthcare with underserved populations. As a graduate student intern with the American Psychological Association at the United Nations, Ms. Persaud is actively involved in the NGO Committee on the Family and the NGO Child Rights Committee. She also assists the APA U.N. representatives in the organizing and planning of events, such as annual Psychology Day at the UN. Through this internship, Ms. Persaud has developed a global perspective on the diverse areas that psychology can contribute to the United Nation’s global agenda.

Amrita Rathi, Teachers College, Columbia University Amrita Rathi is a second-‐year M.A. candidate in the Psychology in Education program at Teachers College, Columbia University, and she expects to graduate by May 2016. Before coming to the U.S. for higher education, she earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in business studies from Mumbai, India. Her scholarly interests include studying depression and mood disorders, as well as the psychology of spirituality. Ms. Rathi’s professional focus includes working with non-‐profit organizations and NGOs in integrating business and psychology to promote sustainable development and social justice. Her current work as an APA intern at the United Nations includes attending and participating in various NGO committee meetings and events at the UN. Additionally, she is actively involved in subcommittees for organizing Psychology Day at the UN.

Rebbia Shahab, Teachers College, Columbia University Rebbia Shahab is currently in the second year of her Masters program at Columbia University in Clinical Psychology. Her field of interest is loss and trauma, and she aims to study them from a neuroscientific point of view. At the UN, she has been working for the projects of the Mental Health Committee and has also been a part of the team responsible for organizing Psychology Day. Ms. Shahab is from Pakistan and did her undergraduate from Lahore University of Management Sciences.

Lianna Trubowitz, New York University Lianna Trubowitz is a second-‐year student in the General Psychology M.A. program at New York University. She graduated with double-‐major B.A. in Journalism and International Studies with a concentration in Psychology, from Northwestern University. As a research assistant at the Brooklyn College of the City University of New York she studies the interaction between chronic illness and anxiety and depression, particularly in children and adolescents. In the past, she has studied PTSD, depression, and traumatic brain injury among veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan while a research assistant at the NYU Langone Medical Center. As an APA intern at the United Nations, Ms. Trubowitz is continuing to focus on the effects of stress and trauma on children and adolescents through her work with the Migration, Family, and Mental Health Committees. She also is involved in the Psychology Day, 2016 Planning Committee.


Appendices

Appendix A


Appendix B


Appendix C


Appendix D

U

NITE

D

NA

TION

S INTERNATIONAL DAY OF 2015

OLDER PERSONS Sustainability and Age-Inclusiveness in the Urban Environment

Organized by the NGO Committee on Ageing in New York in partnership with United Nations

Department of Economic and Social Affairs Focal Point on Ageing

Join us in celebrating the 25th International Day of Older Persons

Thursday, 15 October 2015 (10 am – 1 pm)

ECOSOC Chamber, UNHQ, New York

Messages from: Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations H.E. Mr. Mogens Lykketoft, President of the 70th session of the General Assembly

Welcome address: H.E. Ms. Maria Cristina Perceval, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the

Permanent Mission of Argentina to the United Nations Keynote Video message: Dr. Joan Clos, Executive Director, UNHABITAT Panel discussion ‘Key components for age inclusiveness in urban environments’

Moderator: Ms. Jan Peterson, Global Chair, Huairou Commission Panelists: Dr. Eugenie Birch, Chair, World Urban Campaign Dr. Toshio Obi, Director, e-Government Research Center, Waseda University, Japan Ms. Louisette Fomba, Director, National Development Partners, Cameroon Mr. Hirotaka Koike, UN Major Group for Children and Youth Updates and recent developments

Mr. Mateo Estreme, Deputy Permanent Representative of Permanent Mission of Argentina Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs Fundraising Luncheon ‘Changing how we view older persons’

CIBO Restaurant, 2nd Avenue (between 41st and 42nd street), 1:30 - 3.30 pm

REGISTRATION REQUIRED ONLINE BY 9 OCTOBER www.ngocoa-ny.org

This event is sponsored by

The Permanent Mission of Argentina to the United Nations, the Group of Friends of Older Persons and other co-sponsors to be listed in final programme, with generous support from AARP, Global Coalition on Aging,

Pfizer Corporation and Skanska

UNIDOP 2015 Co-Chairs Spread the word! Cynthia Stuen <[email protected]> Follow us on @UN4Ageing Frances Zainoeddin <[email protected]> Use hashtags #UNIDOP #ForPeople for your tweets


Appendix E

Commemorating the 26th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child

RIGHT to WATER for WOMEN and CHILDREN

Thursday, November 19, 2015

1:30 to 3:00PM Venue: Salvation Army Auditorium, 221 East 52nd Street, New York

Welcome

“The connection between the Feminine and Water dates back to prehistoric times. Generation after generation, women have had a more holistic and symbiotic relationship with their surroundings and have been the positive

agents of change in protecting aquatic resources in their communities.”

Therese Folkes Plair, singer, story-teller Opening Song: “Turn the World Around”

Story: “The Woman who outshone the sun” (La mujer que brillaba aun mas que el sol) From a poem by Alejandro Cruz Martinez. Martinez was a young

Zapotec activist who was killed in 1987 organizing Zapotecs to regain their lost water rights.

Angie Saleh, UNICEF WASH Section Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Expert from UNICEF She will be discussing the topic from a global perspective

Jason Klein, Program Specialist overseeing seven Westchester County Parks

Connecting Children to Nature: Conservation Through Learning Even in Westchester County, a water-rich area of New York, attitudes towards water conservation and related

environmental preservation vary tremendously across geographic and socio-economic boundaries. With a history of industrialization and urbanization misuse and pollution of the local waterways became common.

Creating connections with nature in area youth fosters an understanding and respect for natural resources that will last a lifetime.

Discussion/Q and A

Laura Simms, storyteller, writer, artist Story: KOLOWISSI: Water Snake

adapted from a Zuni Tale, North American

Goal #6 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all”

http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/70/1&Lang=E Article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child

http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CRC.aspx http://www.unicef.org/crc/index_understanding.html

www.unicef.org http://www.unicef.org/wash/index_43084.html

NGO Committee on Children’s Rights and NGO Committee on the Status of Women


Appendix F


Appendix G

Confronting the Silence: Perspectives and Dialogue on Structural Racism Against People of African Descent Worldwide

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

UN Secretariat Conference Building, ECOSOC Chamber United Nations Headquarters, NYC

1:30 PM - 3:30 PM The racial profiling, police brutality, voting restrictions, and mass imprisonment of African Americans and other people of African Descent not just in the United States, but around the world, is a moral outrage. As Unitarian Universalists, our dedication to global justice, equity, and dignity leads us to join hands across lines of race, class, age, and geography and work for an end to the injustices faced by black people in our communities, so that every person is treated equally. Welcoming Remarks

• Mr. Ivan Šimonović, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Video Messages

• Mr. Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights • Ms. Michaelle Jean, Secretary-General, Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie

Keynote Speakers • Mr. Harry Belafonte, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador • Ms. Mireille Fanon-Mendès France, Chairperson of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent • Mr. Mutuma Ruteere, Special Rapporteur on Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance

Panelists International Perspective

• Ms. Gay McDougall, Member of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination Latin America and Caribbean Perspective

• Ms. Cheryl Sterling, Ph.D., Director, Black Studies Program, The City College of New York • Ms. Ramona Hernández, Ph.D., Director, CUNY Dominican Studies Institute & Professor of Sociology, The City

College of New York North American Perspective

• Ms. Alicia Garza, Black Lives Matter • Mr. Steven W. Hawkins, Executive Director of Amnesty International USA • Ms. Samaria Rice, mother of Tamir Rice who was fatally shot by police as a 12-year-old • Mr. John Crawford, father of John Crawford III who was fatally shot by police as a 22-year-old • Ms. Nicole C. Lee, Mothers Against Police Brutality

European Perspective • Mr. Christian Ahlund, Chair of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance

Moderator • Mr. Bruce Knotts, Director of the Unitarian Universalist Association United Nations Office


Appendix H


Appendix I


Appendix J

UNDPINGO Relations @UNDPINGO #DPINGO #HumanRightsDay UNDPINGO

Webcast: webtv.un.org Website: outreach.un.org

In recognition of the 50th anniversary of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Culture Rights this briefing will focus on “Freedom”

highlighting the four freedoms that underlie the Universal Declaration for Human Rights and the two covenants (the ICCPR and the ICESCR) –

freedom from fear, freedom of speech, freedom of worship and freedom from want.

THURSDAY, 10 DECEMBER 2015

11 a.m. — 12:30 p.m.

Conference Room 4

RSVPRSVPRSVP

SAVE THE DATESAVE THE DATESAVE THE DATE

Blending discussion with various multimedia clips, Blending discussion with various multimedia clips, Blending discussion with various multimedia clips, and interactive performances, includingand interactive performances, includingand interactive performances, including special performance by students of the Carrie E. Tompkins special performance by students of the Carrie E. Tompkins special performance by students of the Carrie E. Tompkins Elementary School, CrotonElementary School, CrotonElementary School, Croton---Harmon, New York,Harmon, New York,Harmon, New York, recitals of Articles from the Declaration for Human Rights recitals of Articles from the Declaration for Human Rights recitals of Articles from the Declaration for Human Rights by by by Annique Wong, Annique Wong, Annique Wong, Yale University, Yale University, Yale University, and and and Michael KorzennyMichael KorzennyMichael Korzenny, St. John's University , St. John's University , St. John's University

MODERATOR Anthony Cardon, Human Rights Officer, Office

of the High Commissioner for Human Rights SPEAKERS

Richard Bennett, Director, Amnesty International

Pamela Wridt, UNICEF (Invited) Daniel Perell, United Nations Representative,

Baha’I International Community Representative,

International Organization for Migration (IOM)

Documents

APA at the U.N. Annual Report