28 November 2001

BONN: Sharon Capeling-Alakija, Executive Coordinator of the United Nations Volunteers programme (UNV) will be in Madrid and Barcelona to speak on progress made worldwide during the UN International Year of Volunteers (IYV 2001).

Ms. Capeling-Alakija will give the keynote Opening Speech on 29 November at the fifth National Volunteer Congress in Salamanca, at which over 1,000 participants are expected. Prince Felipe of Asturias, Eminent Person for IYV 2001, will formally inaugurate the conference, which will gather representatives of volunteer organizations, national and regional government as well as leading figures of Spanish intellectual and academic life, such as renowned philosopher Fernando Savater.

On 30 November, Ms. Capeling-Alakija will give the keynote closing address at Conference "Volunteering for International Development", co-organized by UN Volunteers and the Foundation "La Caixa". The conference will explore, inter alia, some of the more recent volunteer trends, such as the use of information technologies (including the UN Information Technology Service -- UNITeS -- the UN Secretary-General’s initiative to bridge the digital divide) and corporate volunteerism.

"I am pleased by the increasingly close relationship between UNV and Spain, both in terms of international development as well as by working together to foster and promote volunteer activity," said Ms. Capeling-Alakija. "We are relying on Spain's ongoing support and participation to carry forward the momentum and objectives of the International Year of Volunteers both within its borders adn at the international level."

UNV is the volunteer arm of the United Nations system and is currently the focal point for the IYV 2001. This year has dramatically raised the profile of volunteer activity in some of the areas of most concern today globally such as HIV/AIDS, conflict prevention and resolution, human rights and democracy.