The M.A. Math at United Nations
 The MA Math was a lively participant at the 61st Annual DPI-NGO, organized by the Department of Public Information in cooperation with the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) community, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Government of France.
This year's Conference commemorated the 60th Anniversary of the adoption in Paris of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and held at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris from September 3rd to 5th 2008. Over 1,100 representatives from 65 countries attended.
 The aim of the Conference was to highlight effective ways in which civil society, in partnership with other actors, can contribute to the advancement of human rights at the international, regional, national and local levels.
In addition to opening and closing sessions, five round tables were featured, with representatives of the United Nations, governments, civil society and the private sector. They were followed by "break-out sessions" where the moderator and expert panelists participated in a more in-depth dialogue with NGOs.
MA Math Representatives from New York and Paris attended the conference, helped with the preparations on the Planning Committee, and co-m oderated a Break-out session planned by the Outreach Committee titled:
From Vulnerability toward Empowerment, exchanging personal experiences and knowledge on the path to empowerment.
The MA Math Representatives made a compelling presentation on the Farmer Relief Project at this break-out session. The initiative was noted as a best practice to empower populations in extreme poverty and restore their Human Rights.
 The top UN official responsible for communications and information, Under-Secretary-General Kiyo Akasaka, said the world is not in a satisfactory state of affairs as to how the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is being implemented.
He pointed to violence against women and children, the lack of opportunities for children, particularly young girls and boys with 10 million people not attending school in the world. He said more than one billion people are living in extreme poverty; two billion people or more are deprived of the decent life without access to clean water and sanitation.
"I think this is the right moment, the right year, for us all, together with all the partners and particularly NGOs to reaffirm our commitment to the declaration of Human Rights and all the rights embodied in this declaration. And I think this conference will provide us with a golden opportunity because there are so many NGO representatives and so many important people gathered here in Paris."
"All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood."
- Article One of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
This quote could have come from Mata Amritanadamayi, and it is not surprising that the work of the Math was cited at the DPI conference in Paris as a best practice in advancing Human Rights.
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