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Support the call for an International Year of Participation!

Imagine a whole year that celebrates public participation through international events, collaboration and capacity building. You can help make it happen.

The International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) is partnering with UNESCAP to create a proposal to the UN for an International Year of Participation.

We are inviting civil society organisations, business, academia, individuals and media associations to support a call for international recognition and focus on participation to increase social, economic and environmental outcomes for all, including our most vulnerable communities, and the achievement of the SDGs.

A draft Resolution is available, that builds on previous UN and related resolutions – supporting the call for an International Year of Participation.

We ask that you:

  1. Show your support for a call for an International Year of Participation by completing the form below – if you haven’t done so already;
  2. Forward a copy of the International Year of Participation letter, from here, to your networks; and
  3. Send a copy of the DRAFT Resolution, available here, to your Government ministers.

Together, we have the opportunity to make an International Year of Participation a reality, and facilitate the transformational change required to achieve the SDG’s; empower our most vulnerable groups to increase their level of social equality, inclusion and participation; and build international cooperation and partnerships in tackling the huge socio-economic impacts of a global health crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Why an International Year of Participation?

Participation is central to achieving the SDGs and is intrinsic to Goal 16: Peace, Justice and strong Institutions and Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

An International Year of Participation could promote action on four fronts:

  1. Build awareness and focus attention on an enabling environment for engagement and public participation;
  2. Build capacity for engagement, benefitting from proven methods;
  3. Mobilise engagement and public participation to support the 2030 Agenda and achievement of the SDGs; and
  4. To contribute to the health and wellbeing of all and build peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet.

 

Show your support!

Complete the form below to let us know you support the call for an International Year of Participation. Don’t forget to let us know if you’re signing up as an individual or on behalf of your organisation*. Thanks in advance!

When completing this form you will be added to our marketing database to stay up-to-date with the latest information.

*Note: if you work in the public sector, you’ll likely need approval from your media and communications team before signing up on behalf of your organisation. In the meantime, feel free to sign up as an individual.

 

What’s happened so far?

We’ve received support from 175 Australian organisations, and 22 from New Zealand. A further 109 organisations from Europe, South Africa, United States, West Africa, Indonesia, North America, South America, South Asia, Caribbean, North Africa, East Africa Finland and Egypt. That’s a total of 306 so far! (As of August 2020).

See the list of some of our supporters on this page.

We already have an existing partnership with UNESCAP to promote systematic, quality engagement of stakeholders and the public.

In 2015, United Nations countries adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 SDGs. The SDGs seek to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind. Businesses, government and individuals around the world have since been mobilised to meet these ambitions targets by 2030.

 

Promote your support

Once you have completed the form, you may wish to include a statement in your organisation’s Sustainability Report (an example is provided below).

Example statement – Sustainability report

{INSERT ORGANISATION NAME} is supporting the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) call to the United Nations to create an International Year of Participation towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development and its framework of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in building more inclusive and engaging societies. {INSERT ORGANISATION NAME} supports the call to help build awareness and focus attention on other aspects of an enabling environment, build capacity for engagement, and help support the achievement of the SDGs. {INSERT ORGANISATION NAME} will be included as a supporting organisation in the IAP2 proposal to the United Nations calling for an International Year of Participation.

Thank you for being part of this journey.