History: 1947 - Present

History Timeline

Highlights 1940s

1947 Bahá'í Community of the United States and Canada officially recognized by the UN Office of Public Information as a national non-governmental organization and granted observer status

The Bahá'í Community presents A Bahá'í Declaration of Human Obligations and Rights[1] to the Human Rights Commission as a contribution to the preparatory work on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Response[2] of the Head of the Bahá'í Faith, Mr. Shoghi Effendi, to a letter from the chairman of the UN Special Committee on Palestine regarding the relationship of the Bahá'í Faith to Palestine

1948 Bahá'í International Community (BIC), representing an initial eight national Bahá'í affiliates, recognized collectively by the UN Office of Public Information as an international non-governmental organization, under the title “Bahá'í International Community”

Highlights 1950s

1955 >In anticipation of the UN Charter Revision Conference, the Bahá'í International Community (BIC) submits its Proposals for Charter Revision[3] to the UN Secretary-General

>Sudden storm of persecutions against Bahá'ís in Iran breaks out – wanton murder, rape, imprisonment, desecration of Bahá'í graves, dismissal of Bahá’ís from all civil service and destruction of Bahá'í sacred sites; BIC launches an international campaign to protect the rights of Bahá’ís in Iran

1956 >UN Social Commission refers case of the persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran to the Sub-Committee on Prevention and Protection of Minorities stating that “this new religion should be respected like all others religions in the world.”

1959 >On behalf of Bahá’ís in over 80 countries and territories, BIC presents the President of the Human Rights Commission a statement endorsing the Genocide Convention. BIC states that “Nations, races and religious groups are called upon to enrich, through their own inherent gifts, the common treasury of civilization. Therefore, the destruction of any one of them impoverishes the whole of the human race.” The President of the Commission calls it a “most powerful expression of world opinion.”

Highlights 1960s

1965 >Bahá'í International Community (BIC) marks the twentieth anniversary of the UN and presents each official with a crafted wooden box bearing on its cover the globe with the message, “The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens,” from the writings of the Founder of the Bahá'í Faith, Bahá’u’lláh

>The statement, The Proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh[4] is presented to 56 Heads of State

>The first full-time BIC representative to the UN is appointed

1967 >Permanent BIC office established in New York

Highlights 1970s

1970 >Bahá'í International Community (BIC) is granted consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council

>First official BIC participation in functional Commission of the Economic and Social Council

>BIC Representative is elected to the executive board of the Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations

> Many national Bahá'í communities become listed with UN Information Centers

1972 >BIC statement, The Environment and Human Values is presented at the UN Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm, Sweden

>BIC co-sponsors a statement to the Commission on the Status of Women supporting the proclamation of 1975 as International Women’s Year

1973 >BIC releases a special publication on the occasion of the 25^th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, titled Divine Law: Source of Human Rights – A Bahá'í View

Highlights 1980’s

1974 >Bahá'í International Community (BIC) begins formal association with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and appoints a representative in Nairobi

>BIC conducts a survey on the status of women in Bahá'í communities worldwide. The results of the survey, based on replies from 81 national assemblies, are reported to the UN as a contribution to preparations for International Women’s Year (1975)

1975 >BIC urges the UN General Assembly to adopt a Draft Declaration for the Elimination of Religious Intolerance

>BIC participates in the International Women’s Year Conference in Mexico City and releases a statement titled Equality of Men and Women – A New Reality[5]

>International leadership of the Bahá'í Faith encourages national Bahá'í communities to organize activities to promote the advancement of women stressing that “the entire Bahá'í world is committed to encouraging and stimulating the vital role of women in the Bahá'í community as in society at large.” Extensive involvement of national Bahá'í communities in advancing the goals of the International Year for Women.

1976 >BIC granted consultative status with United Nations Fund for Children (UNICEF)

>BIC submits recommendations to UN study on the balance between scientific and technological progress and the intellectual, spiritual, cultural, and moral advancement of humanity

>Message from UN Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim to the International Bahá'í Conference in Paris: “Non-governmental organizations such as yours, by dealing comprehensively with the major problems confronting the international community and striving to find solutions which will serve the interests of all nations, make a very substantial and most important contribution to the United Nations and its work.”

1978 >BIC sends delegation of African, European, Korean, and Indian backgrounds to participate in the World Conference to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination

>BIC publishes statement, Building a Unified Community on the occasion of the UN Conference on Human Settlements

1979 >BIC activities expand in areas of science and technology; narcotic drugs; crime prevention and disarmament

>BIC participates in 10^th special session of the UN General Assembly on world disarmament and distributes statement The Promise of Disarmament and Peace[6] >Iranian Revolution breaks out and the persecution of the Bahá'í community in Iran intensifies. BIC cables Prime Minister Bazargan expressing the dismay of the Bahá'í International Community at the attacks and requesting the Bahá'í religious minority be granted full recognition and protection in the new constitution (request is denied)

>Ninety-four National Spiritual Assemblies participate in activities to celebrate the UN International Year of the Child through Bahá'í programs and publications on behalf of children

Highlights 1980s

1980 >Representatives of the Bahá'í International Community participate in the Second World Conference of Women in Copenhagen, Denmark and its preparatory conferences in Paris, New Delhi, Macuto (Venezuela) and Lusaka (Zambia)

1981 >Establishment of the European Branch Office of the Bahá'í International Community (BIC) in Geneva, Switzerland

>BIC makes its first appeal to the Commission on Human Rights to address the situation of the Bahá'í community in Iran and releases a publication, The Bahá’ís in Iran – A Report on the Persecution of a Religious Minority

>BIC contributes Bahá'í perspective on the drafting of a Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief; on the drafting of a Convention for the Rights of the Child; on the elaboration of a Declaration on the Right to Development; and on the promotion and protection of the rights of indigenous populations.

1984 >In preparation for the International Year of Peace (1986), the governing body of the Bahá'í Faith releases a statement The Promise of World Peace[7]. The statement is formally presented to the UN Secretary-General, Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar, on behalf of the worldwide Bahá'í community as well as some 200 Heads of State and high-ranking officials (by 1989, the statement had been translated into 76 languages)

>Refugee Desk is established in the BIC Geneva office to coordinate relations with the Office of the High Commissioner to assist Iranian Bahá'í refugees seeking asylum. A Bahá'í International Refugee Office is established in Canada. (By 1994, over 10,000 Iranian Bahá'í refugees are successfully resettled from Pakistan and Turkey.)

>The Commission on Human Rights appoints a special representative to study and report on the human rights situation in Iran

1985 >A 10-member BIC delegation attends the World Conference on the Decade for Women in Nairobi, Kenya where it presents a report on the advancement of the status of women in Bahá'í communities during the Decade for Women (based on responses from 77 national Bahá'í communities) and prepares a Bahá'í exhibit on women and development.

>BIC youth delegation attends the International Youth Conference during the International Year of Youth in Kingston, Jamaica and releases the statement, The Contribution of Youth to Peace[8]

>The General Assembly adopts a resolution on the human rights situation in Iran with specific references to the situation of the Bahá'ís

>BIC formalizes representation with UN Environment Programme and the UN Center for Human Settlements

>BIC releases major report, Activities in the Bahá'í World Community to Improve the Status of Women during the United Nations Decade for Women[9] reviewing Bahá'í activities and setting community goals in advancing the status of women worldwide. A comment from a New Zealand Bahá'í community in the report states, “The success of [women’s] efforts is due to a sense of dignity, spiritual assurance, education and the recognition of the role of women in all avenues of society. Since many women are involved in all aspects of Bahá'í administration and community life, this appears to be the area where the principle of equality bears the most fruit.”

1987 >UN Secretary-General designated the BIC and five of its National Assemblies – Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Kenya, and Lesotho – as “Peace Messengers” – an honor bestowed upon 300 organizations worldwide

1989 >BIC Office for the Environment is established in New York

>BIC establishes working relations with the World Health Organization

Highlights 1990s

1991 >Bahá'í International Community (BIC) representative Ms. Mary Power is elected to Chair NGO Committee on the Status of Women

>A BIC office for the Pacific Region established in Suva, Fiji

1992 >The BIC Office for the Advancement of Women is established in New York; BIC delivers statement to the Commission on the Status of Women titled, Equality and the Girl Child[10]

>BIC invited to address plenary session of the UN Conference on Environment and Development (Earth Summit) and participates extensively throughout the summit process (including over 140 Bahá’ís from all continents); BIC initiates construction of an hourglass-shaped ‘Peace Monument’ – a five-meter-high sculpture containing the soils of more than 40 nations, inscribed with the words, “The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens,” and offered as a monument to the Summit.

>With support from UNICEF, BIC publishes the book, Tomorrow Belongs to the Children: Contribution to the Earth Summit ’92 which brings together concerns of children from more than 25 countries and includes virtually every religious cultural background

>BIC collaborates with UNIFEM to deliver a project in Cameroon, Bolivia and Malaysia using traditional media to explore and change the community’s attitudes about women

1994 >On the occasion of the International Year of the Family, BIC sponsors an international symposium on Strategies for Creating Violence-Free Families[11] in collaboration with UNICEF and UNIFEM

1995 >BIC participates in the World Summit for Social Development and releases the statement The Prosperity of Humankind [12]outlining the Bahá'í perspective on the nature, purpose, and actors in the development process

>Over 500 Bahá’ís (including 50 youth) representing more than 50 countries participate in the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China; BIC serves on the Global NGO Forum Facilitating Committee

>On the occasion of the 50^th anniversary of the UN, BIC releases its recommendations for the future of the UN in a major document titled Turning Point for All Nations[13] which is formally presented to the Under Secretary-General

>BIC addresses the Summit on the Alliance between Religions and Conservation.

1997 >BIC launches the Human Rights Education Initiative with over 100 national affiliates worldwide to support the UN Decade for Human Rights Education

1998 >BIC participates in the World Bank’s World Faiths and Development Dialogue and releases a major statement titled, Valuing Spirituality in Development: Initial Considerations Regarding the Creation of Spiritually-Based Indicators for Development[14]

>BIC participates in the World Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) in Istanbul, Turkey; the Turkish Bahá'í community sponsors campaign to promote concept of world citizenship; BIC addresses conference plenary with the statement Sustainable Communities in an Integrating World[15]

>BIC assists with the establishment of over 30 national Bahá'í offices and committees to promote the advancement of women

1999 >BIC participates in the third Session of the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Cape Town, South Africa

Highlights 2000s

2000 >Bahá'í International Community (BIC) representative Mr. Techeste Ahderom serves as co-chair of NGO Millennium Forum and addresses the Millennium Summit on behalf of the NGO community.

2001 >BIC representative addresses the International Consultative Conference on School Education in relation with Freedom of Religion and Belief, Tolerance, and Non-Discrimination in Madrid.

>BIC publishes One Same Substance: Building a Global Culture of Racial Unity[16] for distribution at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance in Durban, South Africa

2003 >BIC cosponsors regional conference in India on “Education: The Right of Every Girl and Boy,” with UNICEF, UNESCO, and major international non-governmental organizations

2004 >BIC chairs NGO Committee on the Status of Women and facilitates the participation of over 2,500 NGO representatives at the Commission on the Status of Women

2005 >BIC Representative addresses the Conference on Gender Mainstreaming and the Millennium Development Goals, co-sponsored by the Pakistani Prime Minister’s office and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs

> Ms. Bani Dugal, Principal Representative to the UN, speaks at the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on panels dealing with global governance, gender equality, and values in leadership

>BIC issues statement on the right to freedom of religion or belief titled, Freedom to Believe[17] in response to the 2004 United Nations Development Programme Human Development Report titled, “Cultural Liberty in Today’s Diverse World.” The statement serves as the catalyst for a BIC-hosted Symposium[18] with His Excellency Piet de Klerk, Ambassador at Large for Human Rights at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ms. Asma Jahangir, UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief; and Ms. Felice Gaer, Director of the Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights.