Deputy Secretary General Louise Frechette cited recent successes of NGOs in the international arena, such as their instrumental efforts on behalf of the treaty to ban landmines, the establishment of an International Criminal Court, and next year's observance of the International Year of Older Persons. "NGOs are the leading edge of civil society," Ms. Frechette asserted. "[They] are increasingly involved in international affairs and ... are bringing new life and meaning to the idea of an international community."

Dr. Afaf Mahfouz, President of CONGO, emphasized the Conference's vital role in assisting the work of NGOs at the UN. "Our mission at the Conference of NGOs is to facilitate collective efforts by NGOs to participate in the work of the United Nations. NGOs with consultative status are able to participate along with governments in shaping United Nations discussions and resolutions, and CONGO is there to help. CONGO does not take position on substantive issues ..." she said, "our job is to ensure that there are representative NGO voices at the table whenever these issues are being discussed."

Mr. Kensaku Hogen, Under Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, said: "As an organization that is only three years younger than the United Nations, CONGO has, itself, borne witness to the dramatic changes in world affairs that have occurred in the last fifty years - the end of the Cold War, the widening recognition of the importance [of protecting] the environment, and the continuing pursuit of human rights and social justice. Through the tireless efforts of NGOs like CONGO, a dynamic exchange of ideas on issues of world concern is taking place."

The efforts of NGOs are also leading to the development of shared global values such as freedom, liberty, solidarity, fraternity, responsibility, human rights, and nonviolence, asserted Nitin Desai, Under Secretary-General, Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

Ambassador Penelope Wensley, Australian Ambassador to the United Nations, challenged NGOs to define their role carefully as they go about their work at the UN. NGOs and governments must form mutually dependent partnerships - governments will be unable to face the challenges of the future without NGOs, she said, but NGOs depend on governments as well. These partnerships derive their strength from the differences between governments and NGOs, between their complementary aims and methods. In the next few years the UN will face new challenges to its credibility and relevance as a governmental body. NGOs must think carefully about what their role will and should be in supporting the goals and work of the UN.

Charlotte Bunch, Executive Director of the Center for Women's Global Leadership, took up this challenge in her address. The role of NGOs in the UN-NGO partnership, she said, must be to represent the voices of civil society on international issues. By performing this vital representative function NGOs will help the UN further establish its credibility as a world body, and working with UN member states will be able to foster creative solutions to the problems we face as an international community. NGOs (and CONGO in particular) must remain vigilant, however, in striving to represent all sectors of civil society, and not just those sectors which have the means and ability to make their views heard. NGOs also must remember that governments have a unique and indispensable role to play in the arena of social action. As NGOs become more active in implementing UN policies, they must not become a substitute or alternative to governments carrying out their rightful responsibilities and obligations.

Dr. Nafis Sadik, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund, emphasized the role NGOs have played in the success of the UN world conferences, particularly at the UN International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo in 1994. In their participation at the conference and in translating the ideas of the conference into action, NGOs have been essential to the ICPD process. "Together, I believe we can and we must increase the essential participation of all NGOs in the ICPD implementation," she said, "and translate the ideas from the abstract to the concrete. I believe that only when women achieve their rightful place in society, when all children, girls and boys, are educated, when men accept full responsibility as parents and partners, and when the needs of the poor and disenfranchised are addressed, can we be hopeful for a brighter and safer future for our children and for this planet. We need [NGOs] to help us achieve those goals."

The 50th anniversary fell in the same year as the 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, of which Secretary-General Kofi Annan stated in a Message to CONGO that "NGOs were every bit its authors as the delegates who cast the final votes." He went on to declare that "non-governmental organizations - thousands of dedicated individuals and citizens' groups - are indispensable partners in the global quest for peace, development and human rights ... The forces of civil society are making possible a kind of diplomacy, solidarity and coordinated action unthinkable just a few years ago."

CONGO released a commemorative publication at the celebration, also entitled "CONGO At Fifty: A Reaffirmation of Commitment." The publication contains a collection of essays from noted members of the UN-NGO community, illustrating the contributions CONGO has made to UN-NGO relations over the past half-century.

Other distinguished speakers at the event included Sudha Acharya, All India Women's Council, Chair of the Task Force on CONGO's 50th Anniversary; Ambassador Emilia Castro de Barrish, Costa Rican Ambassador to the United Nations; Under Secretary-General Olara Otunnu, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict; Beatrice von Roemer, Representative to the United Nations for the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions; Shashi Tharoor, Director of Communications and Special Projects in the Office of the Secretary-General; Miles Stoby, Executive Director of the United Nations Fund for International Partnerships; Techeste Ahderom, Chairperson of the NGO Committee on Human Rights; and Angela King, Assistant Secretary-General and Special Advisor to the Secretary-General on Gender Issues, who served as moderator during a section of the program. Ms. Vinie Burrows, of the Women's International Democratic Federation, engaged the audience with a recitation of several inspirational poems.

These speakers were complemented by an hour-long portion of the program entitled "United Nations and NGOs Together: A Thought From You." This lively discussion included a number of distinguished representatives from UN member states, the UN Secretariat, and NGOs, who were called on to voice their thoughts on CONGO and CONGO's role in facilitating the UN-NGO relationship. The topic of these "thoughts" covered experiences these representatives have had with CONGO in their work at the UN, their opinions on CONGO's role in the UN-NGO relationship, and the discussion of some of the issues CONGO is currently confronting.

Since its founding in 1948, CONGO has worked to ensure that NGO voices are heard throughout the international arena by facilitating the participation of NGOs in United Nations debates and decisions. Based in New York and Geneva, CONGO also maintains a presence in Vienna. CONGO's membership is comprised of national, regional and international nongovernmental organizations in consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). CONGO associate members are drawn from other organizations with other forms of affiliation with the United Nations system. Members represent a vital range of interests, including human rights, gender issues, peace and disarmament, social justice, governance, environmental concerns and sustainable development. CONGO and its members collaborate with the larger community of non-governmental organizations through standing NGO committees, which follow issues of substantive interest to NGOs.