IFCW

The agenda will include (i) an update on CoNGO’s Civil Society Development Forum (CSDF) 2009, (ii) an update on CoNGO’s Board meeting held on 9 and 10 November 2009 in Vienna, (iii) information from CoNGO’s International Secretariat, and (iv) information from CoNGO’s Geneva-based Substantive Committees.

The meeting, under the First Vice-President’s chairmanship, will take place on 20 November 2009 from 16:00 to 18:00 hours at CoNGO’s Conference Room in Geneva (Avenue de la Paix 11, CH-1202 Geneva).

The memorandum calling for this meeting is available here.

Please confirm participation to CoNGO’s International Secretariat.

***

CoNGO Committees: NGO Committee on the United Nations International Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, Membership Meeting, 19 November 2009, New York

The NGO Committee on the United Nations International Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples will hold its next membership meeting on 19 November 2009 from 13:00 to 15:00 hours at the Hardin Room at the UN Church Center, 777 United Nations Plaza, in New York.

For more information, please visit the Committee website: www.ngo-ip.org.

CoNGO Committees: NGO Committee on Human Rights, Working Group on Human Rights Education and Learning, Meeting, 24 November 2009

The Working Group on Human Rights Education and Learning of the NGO Committee on Human Rights (Geneva) has scheduled its next meeting on 24 November 2009 from 11:00 to 13:00 hours in Rooms 2 and 3 at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva.

For more information, please contact Mr Kazunari Fujii, Chair of that Working Group.

CoNGO Committees: NGO Committee on Human Rights, Meeting, 24 November 2009, Geneva

The NGO Committee on Human Rights (Geneva) has scheduled its next meeting on 24 November 2009 from 14:00 to 17:00 hours in Room 3 at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva.

For more information, please contact Mr Warren Hansen, Secretary of that Committee.

CoNGO Committees: NGO Committee on the Status of Women, NGO Global Women’s Forum – Early Registration Now Open, 27 – 28 February 2010, New York

The NGO Committee on the Status of Women (New York) has opened an early registration opportunity for participants at its NGO Global Women’s Forum, which is scheduled for 27 and 28 February 2009 in New York. Taking place during the 15^th anniversary of the Beijing World Conference on Women, the Forum is to contribute to the preparation of NGO representatives expecting to participate in the Session of the 54^th UN Commission on the Status of Women.

More information is available here.

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UN/IO Events and Announcements:

43^rd Session of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 2 – 20 November 2009, Geneva

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) announced that the ongoing 43^rd Session of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, will be concluded on 20 November 2009.

Information on NGO participation is available here.

General information about this event, including the provisional agenda and annotations and a copy of the “note by the Secretary-General on the states parties to the covenant and the status of submission of reports”, is available here.

43^rd Session of the Committee against Torture, 2 – 20 November 2009, Geneva

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) announced that ongoing 43^rd Session of the Committee against Torture, held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, will be concluded on 20 November 2009.

Information about NGO reporting is available here.

General information, including the provisional agenda, is available here.

8^th African Regional Conference on Women (Beijing +15), 16 – 20 November 2009, Banjul, The Gambia

The UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the Government of the Gambia are convening the 8^th African Regional Conference on Women (Beijing +15). The Conference is scheduled from 16 to 20 November 2009 at the Paradise Suites Hotel and the Kairaba Beach Hotel Conference Centre in Banjul, the Gambia.

More information, including registration modalities, is available here.

Expert Group Meeting on “Practical Strategies to Promote Social Integration: Lessons Learned from Existing Policies and Practices”, 17 – 19 November 2009, Accra, Ghana

An expert group meeting on “Practical Strategies to Promote Social Integration: Lessons learned from existing policies and practices” will be organised by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN/DESA), Division for Social Policy and Development (DSPD). The meeting is part of the preparations for the 48^th Session of the Commission for Social Development.

The outcomes of the meeting will serve as inputs to the work of that Commission, in particular to contribute to policy-oriented sessions aiming at the promotion of social integration.

For the complete agenda, please click here.

“A Place to Call Our Own: Land Disputes and the Rights of the Poor”, UNU-ONY Panel Discussion (live, interactive webcast available), 19 November 2009, New York

The United Nations University at the UN, New York (UNU-ONY), in cooperation with the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), is organising a panel discussion entitled “A Place to Call Our Own: Land Disputes and the Rights of the Poor”.

The event is scheduled on 19 November 2009 from 13:15 to 14:30 hours (EST) in Conference Room 6 at UN HQ. Live, interactive webcast will be available.

More information, including registration details for the webcast, is available here.

“A Commemoration of the 20^th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child”, 20 November 2009, New York

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and civil society partners are convening a commemoration of the 20^th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The event will take place on 20 November 2009 from 10:00 to 12:00 hours at the Trusteeship Council Chamber at UN HQ in New York.

The event will feature statements by high-level UN officials, testimonials from youth, and a discussion with civil society leaders.

More information is available here. Please note that online registration for this event is mandatory.

“ICT 4 All Forum”, Tunis +4, 24 – 25 November 2009, Hammamet, Tunisia

To celebrate the 4^th anniversary of the Second Phase of the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS), the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the African Development Bank, among others, are partnering in organising the event “ICT 4 All Forum”. The Forum is scheduled on 24 and 25 November 2009 in Hammamet, Tunisia.

More information is offered at the event’s website: www.ict4allforum.tn.

“The WTO, the Multilateral Trading System and the Current Global Economic Environment”, 7^th WTO Ministerial Conference, 30 November – 2 December 2009, Geneva

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has scheduled its 7^th WTO Ministerial Conference, with the general theme “The WTO, the Multilateral Trading System and the Current Global Economic Environment”, from 30 November to 2 December 2009 in Geneva.

Information about NGO participation is available here.

General information about this event is available here.

6^th Session of the Universal Periodic Review Working Group, 30 November 2009 – 11 December 2009, Geneva

The Secretariat of the Office of the Human Rights Council announced that the 6^th Session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group will take place from 30 November to 11 December 2009 in Room XX at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The first meeting will commence at 10:00 hours on 30 November 2009.

Information about NGO participation is available here.

More information about this Session is available here.

Accreditation

Requests for accreditation should be sent to the Secretariat of the Human Rights Council, i.e. to upraccreditation@ohchr.org or fax number +41-22-917-9011 (during the Session: +41-22-917-0494).

“Representatives without a UNOG or UNHQ identification badge should apply in person at the “Pregny Gate” security entrance (Palais des Nations, Avenue de la Paix 8 – 14); upon presentation of identification and a copy of the request for accreditation, a photo-badge valid for the Session will be issued.

(…) The accreditation office at the “Pregny Gate” for the UPR Session is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. from Monday to Friday.”

High-Level UN Conference on South-South Cooperation, 1 – 3 December 2009, Nairobi

The UN General Assembly announced that a conference is to be held “at the highest possible level” on the theme “Promotion of South-South Cooperation for Development”.

The conference will comprise plenary meetings and interactive multi-sector stakeholder roundtables on two sub-themes: “(i) Strengthening of the role of the United Nations system in supporting South-South and triangular cooperation; and (ii) South-South and triangular cooperation for development: complementarities, specificities, challenges and opportunities”.

More information is available here: www.southsouthconference.org.

UN Climate Change Conference – COP15, 7 – 18 December 2009, Copenhagen

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has scheduled its UN Climate Change Conference – COP15 – from 7 to 18 December 2009 at the Bella Center in Copenhagen. A series of UNFCCC meetings have taken place throughout 2009 which are designed to lead to an effective international response to climate change at that conference.

General information and background documentation about COP15 are available at www.unfccc.int.

UNFCCC information on civil society participation is available here.

The umbrella organisation “People’s Climate Action” has been established to serve as a strategic and practical platform for NGO activities before and during the conference. The organisation’s website is: www.peoplesclimateaction.dk.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark has launched www.cop15.dk, which provides, inter alia, practical information about COP15, including details on alternative housing, news and venue specifics.

The provisional agenda is available here.

45^th Session of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, 18 January – 5 February 2010, Geneva

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women will hold its 45^th Session from 18 January to 5 February 2010 in Room XVI at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

Information about NGO participation is available here.

General information, including the provisional agenda, is available here.

48^th Session of the Commission for Social Development, 3 – 12 February 2010, New York – Deadline for written statements: 20 November 2009

The Commission for Social Development has scheduled its 48^th Session from 3 to 12 February 2010 at UN HQ in New York.

The deadline for submission of written statements by NGOs is 20 November 2009.

More information about this event is available here.

Civil Society Events and Announcements:

“Wer (ver-)sorgt in Zeiten der Krise? Feministische Blicke auf die Finanzkrise und Care-Ökonomie”, Panel Discussion, 19 November 2009, Vienna

The Vienna Institute for International Dialogue and Cooperation (VIDC) is organising a panel discussion entitled “Wer (ver-)sorgt in Zeiten der Krise? Feministische Blicke auf die Finanzkrise und Care-Ökonomie” (Who provides supplies/care in times of crisis? A feminist perspective on the financial crisis and the care economy).

The event is scheduled on 19 November 2009 from 18:30 to 21:00 hours at the Albert Schweitzer Haus in Vienna.

More information about this event is available here.

“Women in Europe: Reaching Parity”, Conference, 19 November 2009, Brussels

The Robert Schuman Foundation and others are organising a conference entitled “Women in Europe: Reaching Parity” on 19 November 2009 at the European Parliament in Brussels.

More information, including background documentation and registration details, is available here.

“Child Participation in Juvenile Justice”, Two-Day Seminar, 19 and 20 November 2009, Geneva

On the occasion of Defence for Children International’s 30^th anniversary and the 20^th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, a seminar is being held on 19 and 20 November 2009 at the Maison des Associations, Rue des Savoises 15, in Geneva.

The theme of this anniversary symposium is “Child Participation in Juvenile Justice”.

The programme for the event is available for downloading here.

The event brochure may be downloaded here.

More information about the event is available via www.defenceforchildren.org.

“The Role of Parents, Response from Adults”, World Day for the Prevention of Child Abuse, 19 November 2009, Geneva

The Women’s World Summit Foundation is organising its 10^th annual conference on the progress in the prevention of child abuse on 19 November 2009 at the Centre International de Conférences Genève (CICG).

This year’s theme is “the role of parents, response from adults”.

The programme for this event is available for downloading here.

More information, including the programme, registration details and links to earlier years’ conference reports, is available here.

“En attendant Copenhague et l’Année internationale de la biodiversité”, Conference, 20 November 2009, Carouge (Geneva)

The Université de Genève is organising a conference entitled “En attendant Copenhague et l’Année internationale de la biodiversité” (Waiting for Copenhagen and the [UN] International Year of Biodiversity).

The event is scheduled on 20 November 2009 from 13:20 to 18:00 hours at the Uni Rondeau in Carouge (Geneva).

The flyer is available here.

The programme is available here.

“Social Protection in Developing Countries: a Quiet Revolution?”, Lecture and Panel Discussion, 24 November 2009, Vienna

The Vienna Institute for International Dialogue and Cooperation (VIDC) is organising a lecture and panel discussion entitled “Social Protection in Developing Countries: a Quiet Revolution?”. The event will take place on 24 November 2009 at 19:00 hours in the Aula, Altes AKH Wien, Alser Strasse 4/Spitalgasse 2, 1090 Vienna.

For more information, please contact Ms Anna Pultar (+43-(1)4277-49708).

“Climate for a New Consensus: Politics for a Fairer Globalisation”, Annual South Asia Conference 2009, 23 – 24 November 2009, New Delhi

The “Centre for Trade & Development” is organising its Annual Asia Conference 2009 from 23 to 24 November 2009 at Silver Oak, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. The event is entitled “Climate for a New Consensus: Politics for a Fairer Globalisation”.

More information, including background details, registration specifics and the tentative agenda, is available here.

“Men and Women Unite to End Violence against Women”, WWSF Conference, 25 November 2009, Geneva

On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the Women’s World Summit Foundation (WWSF) is organising a conference entitled “Men and women unite to end violence against women” on 25 November 2009 from 17:15 to 19:30 hours at the Maison du Faubourg, Rue des Terreaux du Temple, in Geneva.

The programme and registration form are available here.

Information about WWSF’s campaign “16 days of activism to end violence against women in Switzerland” is available here.

More information and contact details are available at www.woman.ch.

“’Humane’ Violence? ‘Non-Lethal’ Weapons in Policy, Practice and Law”, Lunch-Time Seminar, 26 November 2009, Geneva

The Geneva Forum is organising a lunch-time seminar entitled “’Humane’ Violence? ‘Non-Lethal’ Weapons in Policy, Practice and Law”. The event will take place on 26 November 2009 from 13:00 to 15:00 hours in Room XI at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

A sandwich lunch will be served outside the seminar room.

To register, please contact Mr David Ahmed, mentioning if assistance in accessing the Palais des Nations is needed.

“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.

e-ASiA 2009, Annual ICT Conference, 2 – 4 December 2009, Colombo, Sri Lanka

The Centre for Science, Development and Media Studies (CSDMS) and India Technology Agency (ICTA), Sri Lanka, are organising the annual e-ASiA 2009 conference from 2 to 4 December 2009 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

More information is available here.

“Le financement des ONG : un éclairage transfrontalier”, NGO Colloquium, 3 December 2009, Annemasse, France

The “Cité de la Solidarité Internationale” is organising a colloquium entitled “Le financement des ONG : un éclairage transfrontalier” (Financing of NGOs: a Cross-Border Perspective). The event will take place on 3 December 2009 at the Complexe Martin Luther King in Annemasse, France.

For contact and registration details, please click here.

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.

“Crime Prevention across the World: Taking Stock, Evaluation, and Future Perspectives”, 15^th Anniversary of ICPC, 7 – 9 December 2009, Montreal and Quebec

To mark its 15^th anniversary, the International Centre for the Prevention of Crime (ICPC) will organise a symposium on the evolution of crime prevention policy and practice and issues within and between countries over the last 15 years. The successes and challenges of developing and implementing strategic and effective crime prevention in urban and rural areas, such as the impacts of issues related to urbanization, migration and the privatization of security, will be highlighted throughout the programme.

The event will take place from 7 to 9 December 2009, on the occasion of the 20^th Anniversary of the First European and North American Conference on Urban Safety and Crime Prevention, which led to the founding of the Centre.

For more information and NGO registrations, please click here.

“Penal Reform and Human Rights: 20 Years On”, PRI Symposium, 11 December 2009, Geneva

Penal Reform International (PRI) is organising a celebration of its 20^th anniversary (1989 to 2009) entitled “Penal Reform and Human Rights: 20 Years on – What has been achieved so far? Key challenges for the next 20 years”. The event is scheduled for 11 December 2009 from 17:00 to 21:00 hours at the ICRC Museum in Geneva.

The flyer for this event is available for download here.

To RSVP for this event, please send an e-mail to headofsecretariat@penalreform.org.

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

International NGO Journal – Call for Papers