FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: dchitayat@aol.com
Psychologists Celebrate the 4th Annual Psychology Day at the United Nations
Universal Access to Education to be Addressed as Major Initiative
March 15, 2011: Psychologists who represent NGOs (non-governmental organizations) at the United Nations will hold the 4th Psychology Day at the United Nations on April 14.
The theme of this year's conference is “Reach Them, Teach Them: The Role of Psychology in Achieving Universal Access to Education.” Achieving universal education is one of the eight Millennium Development Goals that governments of the world agreed to reach by the year 2015.
Psychology Day at the United Nations is an annual event sponsored by psychology organizations that have Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) status with the UN Department of Public Information and the Economic and Social Council. The event offers UN staff, ambassadors and diplomats, NGO representatives and students, the opportunity to learn what psychologists contribute to the United Nations, to exchange ideas and to establish multi-stakeholder relationships on global issues.
“Providing universal education is fundamental to solving global problems,” said Deanna Chitayat, Co-Chair of the organizing committee for Psychology Day and Main Representative to the UN of the American Psychological Association, who will deliver opening remarks at the conference. “With 100 million children globally who are not attending primary school, psychologists must be in the forefront of finding out ‘Why?’ and answering ‘How?’”
Chitayat adds that besides education, issues addressed by psychologists at the UN range from ageing and trauma to social development, peace, human rights, organizational effectiveness, and rights of women, children, families, refugees and the disabled.
The keynote address on “The Pivotal Role of the Family in their Child’s Learning,” will be delivered by noted family psychologist Florence Kaslow. The morning session, held at UN headquarters in New York, constitutes a briefing by the UN Department of Public Information (DPI). Moderated by DPI Chief, NGO Relations, Maria-Luisa Chavez, panelists include the President of the InterAmerican Society of Psychology Maria Regina Maluf from Brazil, addressing methods to teach children endangered by poverty; research psychologist Pamela Ebert Flatteau from the IDA Science and Technology Policy Institute in Washington D.C., explaining the promise of instructional technology; Columbia University Professor Henry Levin, discussing the education of rural migrants in urban China; and Liberian refugee Foday Sacker, sharing personal experiences about education in war-torn Liberia.
Afternoon workshops at the Salvation Army building on East 52nd Street will address innovative ideas for education in Honduras, Madagascar, and Uganda; education in challenging settings, including Haiti and Africa; and applications of technology in education.
Admission is free. A reception after the sessions will be held at the nearby Alcala Restaurant for a small fee ($40, students $15). Registration is required but limited due to space and security issues. Go to: http://sites.google.com/site/unpsychday/
Psychological organizations supporting the event include the American Psychological Association, the International Association of Applied Psychology and the International Council of Psychologists.
For more information, contact dchitayat@aol.com or mberry@sirota.com
