A Network Platform of Venezuelan Civil Society Organizations has been created

This coalition shall articulate civil society organizations and shall promote peaceful cohabitation in a scenario of democracy.  Its first task shall be to evaluate the compliance of the UN´s Development Objectives for the Millennium in Venezuela.

Caracas, June 4, 2013.- For the purposes of articulating the acts by Venezuelan civil society groups and promoting spaces for peaceful cohabitation contributing to reinforce democracy, a group of organizations of civil society in Venezuela have created a coalition entitled Plataforma de Redes de Organizaciones de la Sociedad Civil Venezolana (in English, Network Platform of Venezuelan Civil Society Organizations) which includes more than 450 civil organizations.

Diana Vegas, member of the platform´s coordinating group and chair of the social group Centro al Servicio de la Acción Popular (Cesap for its acronyms in Spanish), explained that “the platform shall dedícate its efforts to being recognized for its capacity to articulate, make visible, promote and defend civil society as an indispensable element for cohabitation in democracy and social justice”.

As its first task, Plataforma shall carry out an evaluation on the Venezuelan state´s compliance to the Millennium Development Objectives as set forth by the UN, also known as the Millennium Goals, which should be completed by 2015.

The Millennium Development Objectives were promoted by the United Nations Organization (UN) in 2000, to contribute to the eradication of extreme poverty and famine; universal access to primary education; gender equality; reducing child mortality; reducing maternal mortality; curbing the spread of HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; guaranteeing a sustainable environment and fostering development. Venezuela, as a UN member state, pledged to work on these goals and achieve them before 2015.

With less than 3 years for the arrival of 2015 and due to the pertinent fact that citizens should know what is the panorama on the compliance or not of the Millennium Development Objectives in Venezuela, the Plataforma de Redes de Organizaciones de la Sociedad Civil Venezolana announced a meeting to be held, entitled ¨The Situation in Venezuela regarding the Millennium Objectives:  Today and beyond 2015″, which is to take place next Thursday June 13, 2013.

This activity shall reunite representatives of social organizations, academics and other non- governmental players, who shall be consulted on the effectiveness of the Millennium Development Objectives and the topics which should be included in the post-2015 agenda, based on the progress attained in the implementation of the Millennium Development Objectives and any new challenges. Likewise, they shall reflect on the tasks in the hands of organized civil society to follow up on the compliance of said objectives.

“This Platform represents a very important resource not only to record the loopholes in the compliance of these objectives but also to recognize and acknowledge any advances which have been accomplished”,  Vegas explained.

The Plataforma de las Organizaciones de la Sociedad Civil de Venezuela shall have a promotions group comprising the following civil associations: Sinergia,  the Red Venezolana de Organizaciones para el Desarrollo Social (in English, the Venezuelan Network of Organizations for Social Development, or REDSOC for its acronyms in Spanish), the Grupo Social Centro al Servicio de la Acción Popular (in English, the Social Group Center for Popular Action Service – CESAP for its acronyms in Spanish), the Federación de Instituciones Privadas de Atención al Niño, al Joven y la Familia (in English, the Federation of Private Child, Youth and Family Care Institutions – FIPAN for its acronyms in Spanish), the Red de Organizaciones Ambientales de Venezuela (in English, the Network of Environmental Organizations of Venezuela – Red ARA for its acronyms in Spanish), the Observatorio Venezolano de los Derechos de las Mujeres (in English, the Venezuelan Observatory for Women´s Rights), Acción Campesina and Venezuela sin Límites. It shall group civil organizations and Venezuelan networks working on environmental issues, human rights, education, healthcare and other issues.

 

Contact for the media: Luisa Torrealba, Telephone number: 0414-1828252 and Diana Vegas: 04143233268

E-mail: [email protected]

Twitter: @metasmilenioven