International Day of Happiness
Organized by the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI)
in association with the Permanent Mission of Bhutan to the United Nations
Wednesday, 20 March 2013, 1:15 – 2:30 p.m.,
Conference Room 3 (North Lawn building)
Live webcast: webtv.un.org
A conversation on
“Happiness and wellbeing: Essential for a sustainable
future”
Welcome
H.E. Ambassador Lhatu Wangchuk, Permanent
Representative of Bhutan to the United Nations
Introductory remarks
Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal, Under-Secretary-
General for Communications and Public
Information
Discussion
H.E. Ambassador Dr. Hamid Al-Bayati,
Permanent Representative of Iraq to the United
Nations
H.E. Ambassador Anwarul Karim Chowdhury,
former Under-Secretary-General and High
Representative of the United Nations
Dr. Judy Kuriansky, Department of Counseling
and Clinical Psychology, Columbia University
Teachers College
Dr. Jo Anne Murphy, Office of Global Learning,
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Latoya Ferns, Student, Durham University, UK
Musical prelude
UNSRC Jazz Society
The General Assembly, by its resolution
A/RES/66/281, has proclaimed 20 March as the
International Day of Happiness. The resolution
recognizes the “relevance of happiness and wellbeing
as universal goals … and the importance of
their recognition in public policy objectives; and
the need for “a more inclusive, equitable and
balanced approach to economic growth that
promotes sustainable development, poverty
eradication, happiness and the well-being of all
peoples.”
The adoption of the resolution followed a highlevel
meeting on “Wellbeing and happiness”,
held at UN Headquarters on 2 April 2012. The
main sponsor of the high-level meeting was the
Kingdom of Bhutan. The meeting concluded
that, while material prosperity is important, it is
far from being the only determinant of wellbeing.
The conversation, a joint initiative of the
Permanent Mission of Bhutan and UNAI, will
explore happiness as a universal goal and
aspiration for people around the world. Open to
all. To attend, please register by sending an email
to [email protected] (subject: IDH).
UNAI aligns world’s universities and colleges with
the United Nations and with each other for
promoting United Nations ideals and goals. For
more, please visit outreach.un.org/unai
Contact: [email protected]; 212- 963-6555
“We need a new economic paradigm that
recognizes the parity between the three pillars
of sustainable development. Social, economic,
and environmental well-being are indivisible.
Together they define gross global happiness.”
Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General