MELBOURNE: Armenian Relief Society of Australia representatives Suzy Sarafian, Lucy Pampalian and Carolin Keverian will join over 2,000 global civil society activists at the 63rd annual UN Department of Public Information/Non-Governmental Organisations Conference titled, "Advance Global Health: Achieve the MDGs".

The three day Conference will take place at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Center from Monday, August 30, to Wednesday, September 1.

The 63rd UN DPI/NGO Conference is being organised in partnership with the United Nations Department of Public Information, the NGO/DPI Executive Committee and the government of Australia.

The conference aims to promote ways in which civil society, in partnership with those in business, academia, philanthropy, media and medicine, can work together to create the conditions which contribute to improve global health.

The Armenian Relief Society supports global health initiatives by working towards the alleviation of poverty, upholding human rights, and promoting basic education, health care, women's rights, and child welfare.

"Our goal is to make people aware of how global health is not simply the management of disease. Global health requires conditions which promote health, such as sustainable peace, poverty reduction, education, gender equality, basic human rights and freedom from fear," stated Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General, World Health Organization.

Founded in 1910, the Armenian Relief Society is a humanitarian organization with over 15,000 members operating in 29 countries, including Australia with over 300 members. The ARS, Inc. is on the roster with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

"2010 marks the Centenary of the ARS which we are celebrating under the credo of 'One Hundred Years of Devoted Service'," said Suzy Sarafian, ARS Australia Chairperson.

"During our second centenary we will continue to live by our creed 'With the people - for the people'," she added.