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U N I T E D   N A T I O N S / N A T I O N S   U N I E S THE SECRETARY-GENERAL — MESSAGE ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE RIGHT TO THE TRUTH CONCERNING GROSS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AND FOR THE DIGNITY OF VICTIMS 24 March 2012 Today we pay tribute to the memory of Monsignor Oscar Arnulfo Romero, who was murdered in El Salvador on this day in 1980 for refusing to be silent in the face of violence, abuse and injustice. The International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims is also a time to laud the brave individuals across the world who have devoted their lives to the protection and realization of human rights despite the many grave risks that their work all too often entails. The dramatic and transformational events of the past year, marked by widespread popular uprisings against long-entrenched dictators, showed yet again the acute need to preserve and reveal the truth about human rights violations committed during periods of repression and conflict. To deny victims this vital knowledge is to deny them justice, dignity and recognition of – as well as reparations for – their suffering and loss. The implications reverberate well beyond individuals who have been directly affected by attempts to cover up human rights abuses. The rights to truth and justice are central to ending impunity for gross violations of human rights. In cases of enforced disappearance, families have the right to know the fate and whereabouts of their loved ones. In all instances, honouring this right puts others on notice that violations cannot stay hidden for long. I am proud that the United Nations supports a range of truth-seeking mechanisms that can play a powerful role in documenting gross human rights violations, including truth and reconciliation commissions, international commissions of inquiry and fact-finding missions. These are central to our quest for justice and stability. I also welcome the recent decision by the United Nations Human Rights Council to appoint a new Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence. On this International Day, let us work to help all victims realize their right to truth and to protect all those who fight to see the truth prevail.

U N I T E D   N A T I O N S  / N A T I O N S   U N I E S THE SECRETARY-GENERAL — MESSAGE ON THE 18TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GENOCIDE IN RWANDA Today, we mark the 18th anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda.  We remember the more than 800,000 innocent people who lost their lives. This year’s theme is “learning from history to shape a bright future”. Rwanda has learned from the appalling tragedy of 1994.  So has the world. Rwanda is making progress towards building a more peaceful and just society.  The international community is striving to ensure that similar tragedies never happen again. The United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda delivered the first-ever verdicts in relation to genocide by an international court, and continues to pursue justice and accountability. The International Criminal Court has become an effective deterrent for would-be perpetrators of grave crimes. To all those around the world who persist in suppressing their fellow citizens crying out for dignity and freedom, we send a clear message: justice will be done.  Impunity must become a relic of the past. We are also working to strengthen conflict prevention and mediation, and to uphold the responsibility to protect. Preventing genocide is a collective obligation. Let us continue to work together to ensure a future forever free of genocide. This would be the most fitting way to remember those lost in Rwanda 18 years ago, and to honour the resilience of the survivors.

Click the link to see the Journal of the United Nations published on 30 November 2011 To see the Statement by Mr. François Crépeau, Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants to the 66th session of the General Assembly, click the link.

United Nations ATOP Joins CoNGO Committee on Mental Health A Report on September 2011 Meeting Katherine Kaze The United Nations CoNGO Committee on Mental Health and the Health Committee met in collaboration on 8th September in the UN Center to present a symposium on “The Global Challenge of chronic Disease: Interaction of Physical and Mental Illnesses.” Presentations maintained the relevance of mental illnesses as contributors to physical malaise, and stressed the importance of connecting such studies to teachings in the field of medicine. UN Representative Katherine Kaze, of the Association for Trauma Outreach and Prevention of Meaningfulworld, was present pursuant to the psycho social interests of the organization. ATOP of Meaningfulworld has long shown support for the Mental Health Committee, participating as early as its first meeting. The panel consisted of four distinguished speakers. Dr. James J Strain, MD, spoke about the connection between depression and disease, specifically cardiovascular disease, stroke, and cancer. He maintained that depression travels with other physical illnesses, affecting the individual’s desire to libido, energy levels, eating and sleeping patterns, as well as emotional traits. These physical symptoms are often present with disease. Statistics showed that 15 to 20% of all individuals in the US with forms of heart disease also reported depression. Depression was proven to be a risk factor for heart disease, with almost the same relative risk as smoking. As described by Strain, in depressed patients ACTH travels to the adrenal gland, which activates more platelets in the blood, thus disturbing the regular flow of blood to the heart. Dr. Strain stressed the importance of looking at mental illness as a systemic illness and a part of medicine. In support of his suggestion, he cited a scientific statement by American Heart Association in September 2008 has said every patient in coronary care should be assessed for depression. His hypothesis predicts similar findings for related psychological conditions, such as anxiety. Dr. Deborah Chyun, PhD, concurred with Dr. Strain, choosing instead to focus on causes and prevention of illness. She noted that the most common risk factors for chronic disease are drug use, infectious agents, genetic agents, and psychosocial factors. In her study, psychosocial factors contributed the most to heart disease. The psychosocial factor of aggression was shown to especially contribute to a heart disease. Dr. Chyun recommended a population based strategy of health promotion, not just one which gears to individuals at risk. She stressed the need for a multi-factorial approach, and cited how chronic illnesses cause a loss of income in developing countries such as Russia and China, estimated up to 1 trillion US Dollars. Board certified Dr. Edward Huey, MD, led a presentation relating neural diseases to cardiovascular health. Following his speech, Dr. Gail Melkus, EdD, spoke specifically about the relation between neural disorders and diabetes, another prevalent illness around the world. Dr. Melkus reported that at least 60% of people with diabetes have reported depressive symptoms at some point in their lives. This example cited the reverse of the hypotheses of her colleagues, suggesting that depression was caused by the physical problem, not vice versa. Diabetes, which causes weight gain, causes lower self-esteem and possibly depression. The purpose of the symposium was to stress the interconnectedness of mental and physical health. The speakers present at the UN Church Center sought to drive home that mental illness must be assessed along with physical disorders. The statistics provoked enthusiastic reception, and evidenced that the present argument was a valid concern for the health community at large. ATOP of Meaningfulworld is in agreement with presented statistics, which reaffirm the notion that psycho social factors ultimately have bearing on physical symptoms. Physical experience is certainly accompanied by mental reflection, and by healing one, we help promote the wellness of the other. An active, healthy lifestyle can surely benefit from a positive social environment and communication with the individual. For more information kindly visit our website: www.meaningfulworld.com

United Nations Presentation on Child Welfare and Child’s Rights 9 June 2011 Jennifer De Mucci The CoNGO Committee on Child Rights held its monthly meeting on 9 June from 3:30pm-5:00pm in the 7th floor conference room at UNICEF. This meeting marked the final gathering of the committee until September. The meeting commenced with a presentation from guest speaker, Ira Lustbader, Esq. Mr. Lustbader is the Associate Director of New York-based Children’s Rights, a US advocacy group working to “reform the failing child welfare systems and fighting to enshrine in the law of the land every child’s right to be protected from abuse and neglect and to grow up in a safe, stable, permanent home.” Mr. Lustbader presented the grim picture of the current state of affairs within the United States in regards to the mistreatment of children within the foster care system. He reported there are over 3.3 million cases of reported abuse within the United States and 450,000 of these abused children are within the state run foster care system. He spoke of a case in which an infant suffered severe abuse within the foster homes and was in and out of foster care within 11 months. Another tragic case consisted of a severely abused foster child who moved from shelter to shelter and whose situation was ignored by case workers. According Mr. Lustbader, many of the problems which arise within the system are due to overworked and undertrained staffers who poorly monitor both the foster homes and facilities. Oftentimes, suspected abuse does not get investigated. Additionally, younger children are not matched within foster care based on their individual needs, and often separated from their parents or siblings. Moreover, basic education services are not available to these children, and many often end up homeless or incarcerated once they have aged out of the system at 18. The trauma from constant moving coupled with the trauma resulting from frequent abuse prevents many of these children from having a chance at a positive and healthy future. Following Mr. Lustabader’s presentation, the members of the committee were stirred by the emotional stories of children abused within the faulty child welfare system, yet also made hopeful at the fact that there is a team of dedicated individuals who are diligently campaigning to pressure the state to reform its policies of child welfare. The remainder of the committee meeting focused on planning for upcoming events. Immediate focus is on the High Level Meeting of Youth to be held at the United Nations on July 25th and 26th. Committee member, Mahroo Moshari of the Manhattan Multicultural Counseling has organized a side event highlighting: “Youth Interfaith Dialogue for Mutual Understanding.” ATOP representative, Jennifer De Mucci has volunteered to aid Ms. Moshari in the organization of these side event which is in line with ATOP’s mission toward promoting meaningful dialogue amongst peoples of different faiths and backgrounds, empowering the youth, and instilling the value of sacred activism.

General Assembly Distr.: General 28 March 2011 Implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS Mobilizing for impact: five recommendations The present report contains the following five recommendations for all stakeholders: (a) Champion a prevention revolution that harnesses the energy of young people and the potential of new modes of communication that are transforming the world, rescinds punitive laws that block effective responses and ensures that people are empowered to protect themselves, their partners and their families from HIV; (b) Forge a revitalized framework for global solidarity to achieve universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by 2015; (c) Break the upward trajectory of costs and deliver more effective, efficient and sustainable programmes; (d) Ensure that our responses to HIV promote the health, human rights, security and dignity of women and girls; (e) Commit to forging robust mutual accountability mechanisms Introduction 1. In 2001, the number of people living with HIV was increasing, therapies revolutionizing the HIV response in high-income countries were virtually unavailable in the most severely affected countries and total resources spent on HIV activities in low- and middle-income countries amounted to only about 10 per cent of spending in 2009. The epidemic was reversing decades of development progress in sub-Saharan Africa, threatening stability and security, and exacerbating global inequity in health. 2. The 2001 special session resulted in a visionary Declaration that included time-bound targets in the response. The special session gave rise to a major global health financing institution, namely the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Pledging additional steps to strengthen the response, Member States embraced a complementary set of commitments in the 2006 Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS, including the pledge to achieve universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. 5. The year 2011 is a historic marker in the global response; it allows the international community to review the progress of the last decade and marks 30 years into the epidemic. 6. This report assesses progress and gaps in the response, based on data submitted by 182 countries and on national and regional reviews on universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.1 Key findings include the following: HIV prevention. The number of people newly infected with HIV declined by 19 per cent in the decade before December 2009, with at least 33 countries experiencing a decline in HIV incidence of at least 25 per cent and 10 high prevalence countries achieving the global goal of reducing HIV prevalence among young people by at least 25 per cent. Antiretroviral therapy. As at December 2010, more than six million people were estimated to be receiving antiretroviral therapy in low- and middle income countries. Yet the majority of people in need still lack access. Towards an HIV-free generation. Global coverage for antiretroviral prophylaxis to prevent the vertical transmission of HIV has exceeded 50 per cent.. Human rights. About three in 10 countries worldwide still lack laws prohibiting HIV-related discrimination. Financing the response. Funding for HIV programmes has dramatically increased, helping drive an overall surge in global health financing (see figure I). Nonetheless, in 2009, international HIV assistance declined for the first time, mirroring reductions in other forms of development aid. II. Thirty years of AIDS: reviewing the past, looking towards the future Sub-Saharan Africa remains the most severely affected region, accounting for 68 per cent of all people living with HIV, 69 per cent of new infections and 72 per cent of AIDS deaths. The epidemic, however, has not spared other regions; more than 10.8 million people are living with HIV outside sub-Saharan Africa. It continues to deepen poverty, increase hunger, slow progress on maternal and child health and exacerbate other infectious diseases. 8. The epidemic particularly affects women and girls. In 2009, women represented a slight majority (about 51 per cent of all people living with HIV and about 60 per cent of all people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa). The 2001 and 2006 Declarations: a framework for unprecedented progress 11. The 2001 Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS helped to galvanize global resolve to reverse the epidemic. Outcome indicators were established to monitor implementation of the targets adopted in 2001, with countries submitting biennial progress reports to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). Civil society and people living with HIV have played an especially critical role in tracking progress in implementing the 2001 and 2006 Declarations, evaluating national policy responses and contributing to country-specific reviews. 12. More than 110 countries established clear, time-bound national targets for service coverage. Although most countries are unlikely to have met their targets for 2010, advances over the last decade definitively demonstrate that universal access is both feasible and essential for long-term success. III. Towards a world with zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths In 2010, UNAIDS articulated a new vision for the response, that of a world with zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. This new vision is intentionally ambitious, reflecting the high aspirations of a people centered global movement. A. Zero new infections Although global HIV incidence is now declining, many countries have failed to satisfy prevention commitments. As a result, the epidemic continues to outpace the response, with two people newly infected for every individual who started antiretroviral therapy in 2009. Progress in preventing vertical transmission 17 As at December 2009, 15 countries had achieved the target set in the 2001 Declaration of at least 80 per cent coverage of antiretroviral prophylaxis among pregnant women living with HIV, and an additional seven countries in sub-Saharan Africa reported coverage between 50 per cent and 80 per cent. Countries in Eastern Europe and Central Africa have achieved especially high coverage. As a result of scaled-up prevention services, the number of children newly infected declined by 24 per cent globally from 2004 to 2009. 18. Eliminating vertical transmission requires far greater, and more rapid, advances to increase coverage and administer more effective regimens. Enhanced efforts

ATOP UN Representatives meet with Ambassador of Iraq to the UN United Nations, 24 February 2011 Dr. Ani Kalayjian On 24 of February the Committee on Spirituality, Values, and Global Concerns (CSVGC-NY) held its monthly membership meeting. CSVGC-NY honored the Ambassador of Iraq to the UN, His Excellency Mr. Hamid Al-Bayati. Ambassador Al-Bayati gave an insightful and dynamic presentation to the members of CSVGC-NY. Ambassador talked about the current situation in Iraq, advances in peace, advances in empowerment of women, and integration and harmony between minority groups. He also talked about his newly published book From Dictatorship to Democracy: An insider’s account of the Iraqi Opposition to Saddam. Although Mr. Hamid Al-Bayati is the Ambassador today, for many years he lived in exile in London, where he worked with other opponents of Saddam Hussein’s regime to make a democratic and pluralistic Iraq a reality. As former Western spokesman for the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), and as a member of the executive council of the Iraqi National Congress, two of the main groups opposing Saddam’s regime, he led campaigns to alert the world to human rights violations in Iraq and win support from the international community for the removal of Saddam. As important Iraqi diplomat and member of Iraq’s majority Shia community, he offers firsthand accounts of the meetings and discussion he and other Iraqi opponents to Saddam held with American and British diplomats from 1991-2004. His Excellency reported that he is in the process of writing another book on similarities of all three Abrahamic religions of: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. A very active and engaging question and answer period followed Ambassador’s presentation. ATOP and ACRPC UN Representatives present were: Dr. Kalayjian, Jennifer De Mucci, Katherine Kaze, Ambassador Alimole, Rev. Joseph Pearce Farrelle.

Civil Society Declaration for the UN High Level Meeting on AIDS ZERO DRAFT April 20, 2011 On April 8, 2011 over 400 civil society activists gathered in New York for a one-day hearing with UN Member States on progress toward reaching Universal Access to HIV treatment, prevention, care, and support.   This Civil Society Hearing took place as UN Member States began drafting a new Outcome Document on HIV, to be adopted at a United Nations High Level Meeting on AIDS on June 8, 2011. The stark reality is 33.3 million people are currently living with HIV, at least 9.35 million people today are in urgent medical need of, but have no access to antiretroviral treatment (ART), and in 2009 2.2 million adults were newly infected with HIV.  In light of this, advocates are calling for a renewed and urgent commitment from member States to reach Universal Access goals by 2015. During the Hearing, civil society advocates stressed that in pursuing Universal Access goals the international community must prioritize public health over politics. They urged Member States to make available to their citizens the full complement of evidence-based HIV prevention, care, treatment, and support technologies and tools—regardless of possible objections on moral, legal, or political grounds—as a commitment to the human right to health. The Outcome Document that will emerge from the UN High Level Meeting on HIV AND AIDS must acknowledge global failures to reach Universal Access by 2010, re-commit to upholding and implementing priorities in the global AIDS response articulated by key existing global frameworks on HIV, including the UNAIDS 2011-2015 Outcome Strategy, and commit to bold, new targets. HUMAN RIGHTS The UN High Level Meeting Outcome Document must commit Member States to the realization of the human rights to health and non-discrimination for all people, particularly key affected populations and the youth among those populations. These populations include people living with HIV, women and girls, young people, sex workers and their clients, transgender people, men who have sex with men, people who use drugs, migrants and mobile populations, refugees,  prisoners, and people with disabilities. Member States must: 1.      Reaffirm commitments to a human rights approach to addressing HIV and AIDS and to respect, protect, and fulfill the human rights of people living with, affected by, and vulnerable to HIV and AIDS. 2.      Ensure that the key affected populations listed above play a meaningful role in the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support programming. Create an enabling environment that promotes and protects the human rights of women in the context of HIV and AIDS, including by enacting and/or reinforcing penal, civil, labour, and administrative sanctions in domestic legislation to punish and redress the wrongs done to women and girls who are subjected to any form of violence, whether in the home, the workplace, the community or society[1], protects women living with HIV from forced and coerced sterilization, ensures that women can exercise their right to have control over matters related to their sexuality in order to increase their ability to protect themselves from HIV infection[2], guarantees access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services, and ensures women’s equal access to property and inheritance. 4.      Repeal laws, policies, and practices that block effective responses to AIDS, including laws that criminalize same-sex relationships, the unintentional transmission of or exposure to HIV, use and possession of drugs (for personal use), and sex work. 5.      Include and budget for programs in national HIV strategies that promote and protect human rights, including programmes to reduce stigma and discrimination, sensitize police and judges, train health care workers in nondiscrimination, confidentiality and informed consent, monitor and improve the impact of the legal environment, know your rights campaigns, legal literacy, and legal services. 6.      Promote laws and policies that protect the rights of young people, particularly those living with HIV from key affected populations, in order to significantly reduce the stigma and discrimination they face and create an environment for safe disclosure and the full enjoyment of their rights. 7.      Recognize the vulnerabilities to HIV experienced by migrant and mobile populations and develop and support linked regional and global frameworks that acknowledge and protect their human rights to treatment, prevention, care, and support. TREATMENT AND PREVENTION Success to date in increasing access to life saving ART, although incomplete, shows that Universal Access goals are within our grasp.  Ten years of experience about how to successfully treat and prevent HIV, and emerging evidence of the prevention benefits of treatment, should energize the global AIDS response to pursue the achievable goal of ending AIDS in our lifetime. Member States must: Reach 100% of the projected 18.3 million people estimated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as eligible for ART by 2015. Develop and meet new strategies and targets for increased voluntary, consensual, and rights-based HIV counseling and testing with linkages to HIV services including inexpensive, simple point of care diagnostics for adult and early infant diagnosis of both HIV and tuberculosis (TB). 10.  Adopt and maximize utilization of public health flexibilities as described in the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) in order to lower the price of essential medicines (including for HIV, TB, and hepatitis C) and reform national laws and reject bilateral and regional trade agreements that exceed the standard for intellectual property rights protection and enforcement set out in TRIPS and hinder access to low-cost, high-quality medicines. 11.  Expand effective, targeted evidence-based prevention to achieve a 50% reduction in sexual HIV transmission by 2015 through the provision of an essential package of HIV and sexual and reproductive health services and education programmes for all communities, including people living with HIV, women and girls, young people, sex workers and their clients, transgender people, men who have sex with men, people who use drugs, migrants and mobile populations, refugees,  prisoners, and people with disabilities. 12.  Increase access to HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support for women in all of their diversity together with comprehensive sexual and reproductive

Symposium on Preventing Genocide through Embracing our Ancestral DNA: Transforming Generationally Transmitted Restrictions of Ethnicity, Nationality and Belief Systems to Positive Lessons and Wisdom at the United Nations www.meaningfulworld.com 201-941-2266 Press release The Armenian American Society for Studies on Stress and Genocide (AASSSG) held its annual symposium on Preventing Genocide entitled, “ Embracing our Ancestral DNA: Transforming Generationally Transmitted Restrictions of Ethnicity, Nationality and Belief Systems to Positive Lessons and Wisdom,”  on Thursday 7th of April, 2011 at the United Nations, from 3 – 6 P.M. The program began with a warm welcome from Dr. Ani Kalayjian, Chair of the symposium and President of AASSSG and the Association for Trauma Outreach and Prevention (ATOP) of Meaningfulworld.  Dr. Kalayjian introduced her new CD, “Ancestral Healing From War to Peace” and instructed everyone to close their eyes and to listen as we took an emotional journey from the Garden of Eden to the present day while processing all the past traumas.  Dr. Kalayjian in her inspiring words on the CD reminded us that shared sorrow is half sorrow while shared joy is double joy; and forgiveness is not only the best revenge, it is the best practice for self-healing. At the end of the CD meditation, Se. Kalayjian presented a photo diary of the dark side of humanity, starting with Genocide of the Armenians to today, challenges in Darfur.  Then Dr. Dan Booth Cohen was invited to speak about “Healing Through Family Constellations.”  He is a Psychologist that uses family constellations to heal his clients. He asserted that trauma is inherited and that the memories of our grandparents and great-grandparents are inside us.  He went on to explain that when we tap into our unconscious mind and work somatically, we will experience the feelings of our ancestors.  He concluded that women need to be encouraged to take an active role in the peace process because they are equal to men in their humanity, intelligence, and compassionate energy. The next speaker Mrs. Sally Kader, Chairperson, US Federation for Middle East Peace, gave her discourse on, “The Role of Women in Healing Generational Wounds.”  She related the impact of September 11th on our lives and how people need to dispel erroneous beliefs about certain religious groups.    She conducts Inter Faith dialogue groups to help people learn about each other’s religion in a safe environment.  She concluded that different religions share the same lessons of love, compassion and forgiveness.    At the United Nations Conference for Women, where 192 countries are represented, all women have the same concerns.  She informed us that United Nations Resolution1325 insists that women be a part of the building of a country and be a part of the government.  In her closing remarks, Ms Kader stated that there is hope for the future. Then, Dr. Edmund L. Gergerian, benefactor of the Krieger essay contest for high school and college students presented a summary of the contest.  He explained that for the past sixteen years, AASSSG has held this contest asking students to write about “What the Legacy of Genocide Means to Me?”  This award was established in honor of his late uncle, Father Krikor Guerguerian, aka Krieger.  Father Guergerian survived the Genocide of Armenians and collected hundreds of documents about the Genocide. The winners of the essay contest read their inspiring conclusions.  One student reminded us that we must continue the work of AASSSG, preventing Genocide and healing the wounds of past Genocides. Then Dr. Kalayjian introduced our final speaker and recipient of the 2011 AASSSG Outstanding Achievement Award, Donald Wilson Bush.  He is President of the Woodrow Wilson Legacy Foundation, Inc. and a descendant of President Woodrow Wilson.  His presentation was titled, “From School Yard to Diplomatic Mission, It Takes Leadership to Stop Bullying.”  In his talk he explained how bullying is not only going on in schoolyards, but is now omnipresent in our culture of technology & leadership.  Bullying can lead to Genocide with perpetrators holding dominance over another group. Mr. Bush urged everyone to say no to bullying and reclaim the space of the public square in nonviolent, and civil terms. The program ended with a question and answer period and a demonstration by Dr. Cohen on family constellations using volunteers from the audience working on the denial of Ottoman Turkish Genocide and inviting volunteers to take on the roles of the Armenians as well as Turks.    It was a transformative journey. At the end of the symposium, the students expressed their desire to become proactive in helping to promote Armenian Genocide recognition.  They asked Dr. Kalayjian, “Where do we sign up to help?” A group of over one hundred diverse people had gathered at the UN (from 14 years old to 84 years young) to witness the commitment to preventing Genocide, learning from the past, acknowledging what we have done wrong, commitment to non-violence, responsibility for self-healing, as well as healing each other. This symposium was co-sponsored by The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Armenia to the United Nations, Association for Trauma Outreach & Prevention (ATOP), AASSSG, Meaningfulworld.com, The Armenian Constitutional Rights Protective Centre of Armenia, Armenian General Benevolent Union of America, Voices for Freedom, and Health, Transformation & Spirituality, a Working Group of CONGO Community on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns – NY (CSVGC) at the United Nations. Your support it appreciated, our organizations are charitable humanitarian organizations and your donations are tax-deductible.  Kindly donate on line at: www.meaningfulworld.com.

ATOP Newsletter 2010 # Committee on Aging The Committee on Ageing (NY) held  its 24th General Meeting  at the United Nations Church Center, 777 UN Plaza (44th  Street & 1st Avenue), New York on 6 January 2011. The meeting was in preparation for the 49th Session of  the Commission for Social Development. The NGO Committee on Ageing works to raise awareness of the opportunities and challenges of global ageing. The Committee urges all UN member States within the framework of the United Nations to integrate the condition of Older Persons within national policies on Development. Speakers are the meeting included Mr. Steve O’Neil, Treasurer, NGO Committee on Social Development and Ms. Luz Melon, First Secretary, Mission of Argentina to the United Nations.  The Committee expressed appreciation for the continued support of the government of Argentina in furthering the cause of the organization in the United Nations and its Agencies. ATOP of MeaningfulWorld, a not-for-profit origination in consultative relationship with the United Nations was represented by its United Nations Main Representative, Dr. Ozichi Alimole. ATOP’s main service areas include post-conflict interventions, disaster relief and education on mind-body-spirit connections. DPI Briefing: 13 January 2011 Disaster Relief and Preparedness: Haiti: A Year Later The Department of Public Information/Non-Governmental Organization (DPI/NGO) of  the United Nations hosted its weekly briefing on 13 January, 2011. The venue of the event was the North Lawn Building. The purpose of the briefing was to review the situation in Haiti a year after the earthquake that raised Port-au-Prince to the ground  on January 12, 2010.  Guest Speakers at the event included David Garden, Bruno Lemarquis, Denise Brown and Taina Bien-Aime. The Briefing was moderated by Ms. Maria-Luisa Chavez, Chief, NGO Relations, Department of Public Information, and United Nations. While our ATOP tam spearheaded by our President Dr Kalayjian is conducting a one year follow-up in Haiti working on assessing the continued needs, educating the community in healing and empwerment, and training social workers, psychologists, and teachers. The UN was trying to invite Dr Kalayjian to be one of the speakers, but video conferencing efforts wee unsuccessful. The various speakers who had first experience of the Haitian tragedy expressed their regret  that in spite the enormous work that had been done, a lot still needed to be done in terms of disease control, provision of shelter and security. The speakers deplored the high-level of crime in Haiti and inadequate and the large-scale insecurity of which women are the most vulnerable.  Theyemphasized the need for  international support to help rebuild dilapidated infrastructures and restore basic sanitation.  (Photo Available) ATOP of Meaningful World was represented by its United Nations Main Representative, Dr. Ozichi Alimole, and VP Jennifer De Mucci. 14 January, 2011: Pre-Assembly Meeting of the 24th General Assembly of  Conference of Non-Governmental Organization (CoNGO) with Consultative Relationship with the United Nations The pre-General Assembly Meeting was held at the United Nations Church Center on January 14, 2011. The 24th General Assembly meeting proper was help at the Salvation Army from 17 – 20 January, 2011. The highlights of the 24th General Assembly were the election of a new President and Board and the comprehensive review of the challenges facing the organization.  The meeting also discussed procedural and strategic issues including the reduced physical and intellectual access of CoNGO members to the United Nations. The members agreed that “the space for participation of NGO and Civil Society Organizations at the United Nations was shrinking, in terms of both physical space and political participation.” It was resolved the new CoNGO leadership should initiate early measures at the appropriate level in the United Nations to address the issue of access. (Photo available). ATOP of MeaningfulWorld was represented at the 24th Session of the CoNGO by its UN Main Representative, Dr. Ozichi Alimole and the Newsletter Editor, Mr. Oleg Voronov. DPI/NGO, 31 January 2011. Unexpected Saviors: The Role of Turkey in Assisting Victims During the Holocaust This solemn briefing was held at the North Lawn Building on January 31, 2001 instead of the Salvation where it was previously scheduled. It was a solemn gathering in Commemoration of the Holocaust Remembrance. Most the speakers who included Jewish historian scholars and professions recounted the story of a tragic past. Some of also paid tribute to Turkey for its role in saving hundreds of Jews from Hitler’s evil-driven madness. There were heroic accounts of Turkish diplomats and consuls in German occupied countries who used their diplomatic status to save thousands of Jews during the Holocaust. Those brave individuals persistently defied Nazi pressure to deport Turkish Jews to Eastern Europe for extermination. ATOP of MeaningfulWorld was represented at the briefing by its UN Main Representative, Dr. Ozichi Alimole. (Photos Available)