IFCW

CoNGO Civil Society Development Forum (CSDF) 2009 – New York Component – “Implementing the Internationally Agreed Goals and Commitments in regard to Global Public Health”, 15 – 16 October 2009

Registration now open

Update: CoNGO Committee Chairs (New York) are to meet on 22 September 2009 from 15:15 to 17:30 hours at the 10^th floor conference room of the Church Center in New York for the preparation of CSDF 2009-New York Component.

As we have announced in our E-Updates since 20 May 2009, CoNGO will organise a follow-up Civil Society Development Forum (CSDF) 2009 – the New York Component – on 15 and 16 October 2009. Registration for this event is now open online.

The Geneva Component of our Forum, held from 2 to 4 July 2009, i.e. prior to ECOSOC’s 2009 Substantive Session, debated on the following six topics (under the central theme: “Threats to the Health and Sustainable Development of Nations (Civil Society Proposals on Global Public Health in the Context of the Global Economic Crisis)”):

· Responding to health inequities at local and international levels;

· Dealing with the shortage of health care workers;

· Addressing the increase in non-communicable/chronic disease;

· Financing global access to health, including health technologies;

· Ensuring the right to health for women throughout the life-cycle; and

· Promoting prevention and treatment of HIV-AIDS.

The Outcome Document of the Geneva Component can be downloaded here.

The New York Component is expected to pursue a further in-depth debate on these six topics and the Geneva Outcome Document, mainly in light of the conclusions and recommendations of the Annual Ministerial Review as reflected in the Ministerial Declaration. The specific output of that civil society debate is to be translated into a set of succinct action points for subsequent consideration by governments, the United Nations System and civil society.

The event is being held in collaboration with the Office for Economic and Social Council Support and Coordination (OESC), UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN/DESA), and with the support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

An announcement will follow shortly, to invite organisations to submit online action points and comments on the Outcome Document and the Ministerial Declaration in preparation for CSDF 2009-New York Component.

More information about this event will be available at www.ngocongo.org shortly. During the days leading up to the New York Component of CSDF 2009, this website will be updated on a regular basis.

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CoNGO Committees: NGO Working Group on Human Rights Education and Learning, “World Programme for Human Rights Education - From the First Phase to the Second Phase”, 18 September 2009, Geneva

The NGO Working Group on Human Rights Education and Learning (Geneva) is organising a side-event to the 12^th Session of the Human Rights Council, entitled “World Programme for Human Rights Education – From the First Phase to the Second Phase”. The event will take place on 18 September 2009 from 13:00 to 15:00 hours in Room XXIII at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

The flyer, including information on speakers and contact details, is available here.

CoNGO Committees: NGO Committee on Peace, “International Day of Peace”, 21 September 2009, Vienna

The NGO Committee on Peace (Vienna) and the UN Information Service (UNIS) are organising an observance of the International Day of Peace (21 September). The event will take place on 18 September 2009 at 10:00 hours at the Peace Bell at the Vienna International Centre (VIC) Memorial Plaza.

For more information, please send an email to reno@wvnet.at.

CoNGO Committees: NGO Committee on Human Rights, “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Human Rights Council”, 22 and 30 September 2009, Geneva

The CoNGO Secretariat and the NGO Committee on Human Rights (Geneva) are organising a series of events with NGO and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ (OHCHR) experts focusing on the Human Rights Council, its Special Procedures and the Universal Periodic Review. The second and third meetings are scheduled as follows:

22 September 2009: “The Universal Periodic Review, how it works and how to contribute”,

30 September 2009: “Wrap-up of the 12^th Session of the Human Rights Council”.

The flyer for this series of meetings, containing information on speakers and contact details, is available here.

CoNGO Committees: NGO Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns, Monthly General Meeting and Guest Speaker Presentation, 24 September 2009, New York

The NGO Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns (New York) has scheduled its next monthly general meeting on 24 September 2009 from 12:00 to 14:00 hours at DC1, One UN Plaza, 14^th floor Conference Room. This meeting will also feature a guest speaker presentation by Andrew Harvey, Oxford scholar and founder of the Institute for Sacred Activism.

For more information, please visit www.csvgc-ny-org or send an email to info@csvgc-ny.org.

CoNGO Committees: NGO Committee on Ageing, “Commemorating the 10^th Anniversary of the International Year of Older Persons: Toward a Society for all Ages” – 19^th International Celebration of the International Day of Older Persons, 8 October 2009, New York

At the margins of the International Day of Older Persons, the NGO Committee on Ageing (New York) is organising an event entitled “Commemorating the 10^th Anniversary of the International Year of Older Persons” on 8 October 2009 from 9:30 to 16:30 hours at the Economic and Social Council Chamber at UN Headquarters in New York.

Interested organisations may register online.

More information about this event is available on the Committee’s comprehensive new website: www.ngocoa-ny.org.

CoNGO Committees: NGO Committee on the Status of Women, NGO Interactive Roundtables on the UN-ECE Beijing +15 Regional Review Meeting, 30 – 31 October 2009, Geneva

The NGO Committee on the Status of Women (Geneva) is organising an event entitled “NGO Interactive Roundtables on the UN-ECE Beijing +15 Regional Review Meeting” on 30 and 31 October 2009 at the Maison des Associations, Rue des Savoises 15, in Geneva.

For more information, please send a message to ngocswgeneva@gmail.com.

UN Events and Announcements:

Modalities for Acquiring UN Grounds Passes in New York for ECOSOC-Accredited NGOs – Updated Information

The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN/DESA) has recently created an online guide for ECOSOC-accredited NGOs on procedures for obtaining grounds passes for entering UN Headquarters premises in New York.

The online guide is available here (click on “UN Grounds Pass for ECOSOC NGOs”).

“Climate Change and Development: Global Responses and Policy Challenges” – Panel Discussion, 18 September 2009, New York

The UN Non-Governmental Liaison Service (UN/NGLS) and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN/DESA) are arranging a panel discussion entitled “Climate Change and Development: Global Responses and Policy Challenges” on 18 September 2009 from 13:15 to 14:45 hours in Conference Room 7 at UN Headquarters in New York.

The event will also draw attention to UN/DESA’s publication World Economic and Social Survey (WESS) 2009 entitled “Promoting Development, Saving the Planet”, and in preparation for the UN Secretary General’s high-level event on climate change on 22 September 2009.

For more information, please send an email to delaubadere@un.org.

12^th Session of the Human Rights Council, 14 September – 2 October 2009, Geneva

The 12^th Session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) is now in progress (14 September – 2 October 2009) at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

Information about this event, including the agenda, can be accessed here.

The proceedings of this 12^th Session can be followed via webcast.

Information about NGO participation, accreditation, submission of statements and contact details for the event may be found here. Guidelines on how to log into the HRC Extranet are also available through that link.

52^nd Session of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, 14 September – 2 October 2009, Geneva

The 52^nd Session of the Committee on the Rights of the Child was opened on 14 September and will continue until 2 October 2009. The event takes place at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

More information, including the agenda, the programme of work, and a listing of State reports for consideration, is available here.

“Global Problems, Global Solutions: Towards Better Global Governance”, WTO Public Forum 2009, 28 – 30 September 2009, Geneva

Entitled “Global Problems, Global Solutions: Towards Better Global Governance”, the World Trade Organization (WTO) has scheduled its Public Forum 2009 from 28 to 30 September 2009 at WTO Headquarters in Geneva.

The themes of this event include:

(i) finding global solutions to global problems: the way forward towards global governance;

(ii) the role of WTO and the Doha Round negotiations in the midst of the current financial crisis;

(iii) the impact of the global economic crisis on developing countries, in particular LDCs, and the role of trade financing; and

(iv) the main challenges facing the multilateral trading systems and reflections on the post-crisis agenda for WTO.

The online registration form is available here. The deadline for registering is 23 September 2009.

More information about this event, including the programme, is available here.

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights will hold a consultation on operationalizing the framework for business and human rights presented by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises. The meeting is scheduled on 5 and 6 October 2009 in Room XVIII at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

More information is available here.

7^th Session of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, 5 – 16 October 2009, Geneva

The Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action has scheduled its 7^th Session from 5 to 16 October 2009. The first meeting of this 7^th Session will take place at 10:00 hours in Room XXI at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

Open Consultation on the Financial Mechanisms: Meeting the Challenges of ICT for Development, 8 – 9 October 2009, Geneva

The UN Group on the Information Society (UNGIS) is organising the event “Open Consultation on the Financial Mechanisms: Meeting the Challenges of ICT for Development” from 8 to 9 October 2009 at Palexpo in Geneva.

The registration form is available here.

“Minorities and Effective Political Participation”, 2^nd Session of the UN Forum on Minority Issues, 12 – 13 November 2009, Geneva

The 2^nd Session of the UN Forum on Minority Issues has now been scheduled for 12 and 13 November 2009 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The thematic focus of this Forum is on “Minorities and Effective Political Participation”. NGOs in consultative relationship with ECOSOC may participate, as well as other NGOs and organisations representing minorities “whose aims and purposes are in conformity with the spirit, purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations”. More information about accreditation procedures is available here.

The concept note for this event may be downloaded here.

More information about this event is available on the Forum’s website.

Civil Society Events and Announcements:

Geneva Disarmament Seminar at the United Nations – “Raising awareness for tomorrow’s leaders in an interfaith and intercultural environment”, 22 September 2009, Geneva

On the occasion of the International Day of Peace (21 September), the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) and the Geneva Interfaith and Intercultural Alliance, among others, are organising the Geneva Disarmament Seminar at the United Nations – Raising awareness for tomorrow’s leaders in an interfaith and intercultural environment. The seminar-workshop will take place on 22 September 2009 from 15:00 to 18:00 hours in Room XII at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

More information about this event is available here.

“Réchauffement climatique et droits humains” – 7^th Gathering for Human Rights, 28 September 2009, Geneva

The “Département des institutions” and the “Chancellerie d’Etat” of Geneva are organising the 7^th Gathering for Human Rights with the theme “Réchauffement climatique et droits humains” (Global Warming and Human Rights) on 28 September 2009 at the Centre de conferences de Varembé in Geneva. The event will be held with the presence of Ms Micheline Calmy-Rey, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, and chaired by Mr Laurent Moutinot, member of the State Council of Geneva.

For more information, please contact the Centre d’accueil Genève internationale.

“Perspektiven jenseits von Krieg und Krise II – Nahrungsmittelhilfe, Armutsverwaltung und Entwicklungspolitik im israelisch-palästinensischen Konflikt”, Conference, 29 – 30 September 2009, Vienna

A conference entitled “Perspektiven jenseits von Krieg und Krise II – Nahrungsmittelhilfe, Armutsverwaltung und Entwicklungspolitik im israelisch-palästensischen Konflikt” (Perspectives beyond War and Crisis II – Food Aid, Assisting the Poor and Development Policy in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict) is being organised by the Vienna Institute for International Dialogue and Cooperation (VIDC).

More information is available here.

Coping and Resilience 2009, International Conference, 3 – 6 October 2009, Dubrovnik-Cavtat, Croatia

The Coping and Resilience 2009 International Conference will be held from 3 to 6 October 2009, in Dubrovnik-Cavtat, Croatia. The conference will convey knowledge and practices on coping and resilience in response to a variety of adverse life circumstances that individuals and communities face. Visit the conference website for programme topics and registration and submission guidelines.

Conference on Development and Information Technologies, 23 – 24 October 2009, Castelldefels, Barcelona

The Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (Open University of Catalonia, UOC) will be holding a Conference on Development and Information Technologies on 23 and 24 October 2009 at the Internet Interdisciplinary Institute (IN3) in Castelldefels, Barcelona. The Conference, organised by the UOC and co-financed by the Agència Catalana de Cooperació al Desenvolupament, will be on “Mobile Phones and Internet in Latin America and Africa: What benefits for the most disadvantaged?”

If interested in submitting a paper for this event, please visit the UOC website.

International Peace Bureau Annual Conference, 13 – 15 November 2009, Washington D.C.

The International Peace Bureau Annual Conference will be held from 13 to 15 November 2009, in Washington D.C. The provisional title for the conference is “Rolling back militarism: a task for the global movement”.

The programme will include a central event (the weekend conference) and additional activities before and after, depending on the wishes of partners and participants. Suggestions are welcome. This is intended to be a participatory event, including a top-class range of speakers, cultural presentations and opportunities to interact with key people in Washington D.C. and beyond. Check out the IPB initial announcement for more information.

World Day for the Prevention of Child Abuse, Call for Registration, 19 November 2009

The Women’s World Summit Foundation is campaigning to prioritize the prevention of abuse and violence against children. Launched in 2000, the World Day for the Prevention of Child Abuse (19 November) is intended to create a global culture towards the worldwide prevention of child abuse.

For more information on the campaign and how to register, visit the campaign’s website.

“The Forgotten Children: A major European Conference addressing the subject of Children of Parents with a Mental Illness”, 26 – 27 November 2009, Vilnius, Lithuania

The European Federation of Associations of Families of People with Mental Illness (EUFAMI), in association with Lietuvos Sutrikusios Psichikos Žmoniu Globos Bendrija (LSPŽGB), its Lithuanian family member association, will host “The Forgotten Children: A major European Conference addressing the subject of Children of Parents with a Mental Illness” from 26 to 27 November 2009 in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Details on the conference programme, registration and accommodation arrangements can be found on the conference website.

2009 Parliament of the World’s Religions, 3 - 9 December 2009, Assembly Meeting, Melbourne, Australia

The Parliament of the World’s Religions will hold its 2009 assembly from 3 to 9 December 2009 in Melbourne, Australia. The gathering is expected to bring together more than 8,000 people of faith, spirit and goodwill from around the world. For more information about the upcoming 2009 assembly, visit the Parliament of the World’s Religions website.

Information on the Council for the Parliament of the World’s Religions event held in Labouisse Hall, UNICEF House, on 8 January 2009 in New York, as well as photos, can be viewed here.

Campaigns and Initiatives

People’s Decade for Nuclear Abolition – Campaign

www.peoplesdecade.org

Countdown to Copenhagen Campaign

www.churchworldservice.org/site/PageServer?pagename=how_adv_copenhagen

Decent Work - Decent Life Campaign

www.decentwork.org

Global Campaign against Poverty

www.whiteband.org

Appeal and Petition for a Nuclear Weapon-Free World

www10.plala.or.jp/antiatom/en/WC/e07wc/e-20070902_dec_riso.html

Launch of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe’s Human Rights Prize – Call for Nominations