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 academicimpact@un.org (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: academicimpact@un.org; 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