Honorary President and IOI Representative in Geneva attend meetings in Palais des Nations in January and February

The IOI is an NGO in special consultative status with ECOSOC, and thus, eligible to attend meetings held by the relevant UN bodies in the Palais Des Nations, as are the UNOG Director-General's annual meetings with civil society.

In February, United Nations Director-General in Geneva, Ms Tatiana Volovay, addressed NGO representatives in the annual meeting in February, highlighting the priorities for 2025: notably achievement of SDGs, implementation of the Pact for the Future and the Global Digital Compact, a comprehensive framework for global governance of digital technology and artificial intelligence. Ms Volovay also mentioned the challenges ahead and that to fulfill the SDGs there is a financial gap of some four trillion dollars globally to address all issues; she also stressed the importance of the role of women in multilateral diplomacy and climate change actions. Ms Volovay updated the representatives about the ongoing construction work at the UNOG buildings. Despite the limitations in the meeting room spaces, 8500 conferences were accommodated in 2024 with many more important meetings and conferences expected in 2025.

Awni Behnam, Honorary President,  and Behzad Alipour Tehrany, Representative in Geneva, IOI, attended this in-person meeting at the Palais des Nations, on trade, investment, climate and sustainable development with participation of UNCTAD Directors and experts to discuss key elements in accelerating implementation of climate goals in line with the Paris Agreement that requires the parties to prepare and update successive Nationally determined Contributions. The meeting concerned aspects of the topic including various modes of transportation, including marine transport, finance and investments, and the private sector role in sustainable use of materials and energy.