Lynn Staley, elementary education professor, will participate Sept. 9-11 in the "Rebuilding Societies Emerging from Conflict: A Shared Responsibility." She is representing the Association for Childhood Education, a Maryland-based, non-government agency.

The conference will explore the role of the international community in supporting societies and local populations emerging from conflict.

"I will be meeting with representatives of other non-government agencies to look at strategic steps to help those who are suffering," said Staley, an Anderson resident. "Children and their families suffer horribly as a result of conflicts. Look at the children in Afghanistan. We have seen what has happened to their lives over the years of civil war.

"Many people think that conflict is an adult issue, but many children are being armed in wars around the globe," she said. "There is a great deal we can do to help children and we must take to those steps."

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Han Seung-soo, President of 56th session of the U.N. General Assembly, and Mary Robinson U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, are the dignitaries who are expected to address the opening session of the conference.

Since her appointment to the U.N. as a non-government agency representative last year, Staley said her students have benefited from her regular trips to the United Nations. She travels to New York each month to attend conferences and committee meetings.

"Ball State President (Blaine A.) Brownell has emphasized the need to look at education from a global standpoint and to internationalize our programs," Staley said. "After each trip I bring back information about children and families from around the globe. My students have been eager to learn about the issues youngsters face."

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, contact Staley at ltaley@bsu.edu or (765) 285-8568.)