PROJECT ONE BILLION - PATRONAGE FROM THE UN

UNCLAS ROME 003024

SIPDIS


DEPT FOR OES PDAS AROCK
FOR OES/FO JBYRNES
FOR OES/IHA ACRODDY

HHS FOR NIH/FOGARTY CENTER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO KSCA IT UN
SUBJECT: PROJECT ONE BILLION - PATRONAGE FROM THE UN

Reftel: Gallagher-Milliken email 01/07/04


1. This is an action request, see paragraph 4.


2. Background: Project 1 Billion (P1B) - named for the
more than 1 billion persons affected by mass violence
embodied in the experience of war, ethnic conflict, torture
and terrorism - has been under way since an initial meeting
of officials from seven post-conflict Ministries of Health,
scholars, scientists and international policy makers from
more than 20 countries in September 2002 in Saraje
vo. P1B
is sponsored by the Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma
(Harvard University),Caritas of Rome, Istituto Superiore di
Sanita (Italian National Institute of Health),Istituto
Studi Superiori Assunzione, Fulbright New Century Scholar
Program and the World Bank, with the support of the World
Health Organization (WHO),the Italian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, and the Italian Ministry of Health. The Project is
organizing an International Congress of Ministers of Health
for Mental Health and Post-Conflict Recovery to be held in
Rome on December 3-4, 2004. Approximately 50 countries will
be invited to endorse a science-based mental health Action
Plan and Book of Best Practices that could be implemented
and disseminated worldwide. In fact, post-trauma stress
disease (PTSD) is without doubt the greatest long-term
effect of war. It affects economic and political recovery
from conflict. As victims pass their stress on to their
children, it will have multi-generational results.
According to P1B data, even poor countries can help PTSD
victims without using expensive psychiatrists, hospitals and
medicines. Traditional healers, low budget health workers,
clergy, teachers and others can be trained to counsel
individuals and families and to run groups that alleviate
stress. The conference has received moral and financial
support from the GOI, local and regional authorities, the
International Organization for Migration, and private
companies.


3. The conference brochure has a list of government
institutions (e.g. the President of the Italian Republic)
and international organizations (e.g. the Red Cross)
supporting the concept behind the initiative (the so-called
"Patronage list"). Conference organizers believe that UN
support would increase the visibility and prestige of the
initiative. Embassy Rome also believes that this is a good
idea. Per reftel, Post knows that OES/IHA was supportive of
P1B, even if could not allocate funds for the initiative.
Ambassador Sembler supports the project and agreed to give
opening remarks at a meeting introducing the P1B to the post-
conflict countries ambassadors in Rome last April. The
Science section is helping the organization committee,
though acting "behind the scenes" (the Embassy - or other
USG organizations - will not be in the patronage list).


4. Action request: Department is asked to contact
appropriate UN officials to seek UN agreement to officially
support Project 1 Billion. Sembler


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2004ROME03024 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED