civil society

He for She at Home: Gender Equality and the Family

We are pleased to invite you to attend our virtual event during the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), “He for She at Home: Gender Equality and the Family” on Thursday, March 25 from 1:30 to 3:00 pm.

This session will explore how the family empowers women and girls, particularly when men within the family value gender equality. As this is a UN event you must register to attend live by Wednesday, March 10 through the NGO CSW system. This is a 2-step process. Click here to begin the registration, then wait for an e-mail from NGO CSW/NY to complete your profile.  Once you have completed your profile, click here to register for this event.
 
Our excellent speakers, a couple:
  • Carolyn Pape Cowan, PhD is Adjunct Psychology Professor, Emerita, UC Berkeley. She co-directed three longitudinal intervention studies of how family relationships affect children’s adaptation. Co-author of When Partners Become Parents: The Big Life Change for Couples and co-editor of Fatherhood Today: Men’s Changing Role in the Family and The Family Context of Parenting in Children’s Adaptation to Elementary School, Pape Cowan consults internationally about the development, evaluation, and policy implications of family intervention results.  
  • Philip A. Cowan, PhD is Psychology Professor, Emeritus, UC Berkeley. He served as director of the clinical psychology program and the Institute of Human Development and co-directed three longitudinal intervention studies of links between family relationship quality and children’s development. He is the author of Piaget with feeling, co-author of When Partners Become Parents: The Big Life Change for Couples, co-editor of four additional books and monographs and numerous scientific articles on implications for family policy.
Hope to see you there!
NGO Committee on the Family New York

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on the Family-NY, please visit ngofamilyny.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women-NY, please visit ngocsw.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women-Vienna, please visit ngocswvienna.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women-Geneva, please visit ngocsw-geneva.ch

Civil Society Forum ahead of UNECE RFSD 2021

Hi friends,

Our yearly civil society forum ahead of UNECE’s Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (RFSD) will take place online, so we have split up our strategy meeting into two parts and an orientation session over the spacing of two days. Please note that you do need to register to all three sessions latest 7 March 2021 to receive the zoom access link. Below is an overview of the various sessions:

March 8 Agenda

10:00 am CET/4:00 am EST – Orientation

Are you new to this space? Come along and learn about the Regional Civil society Engagement Mechanism (RCEM), how to do advocacy online, how to navigate the regional forum, and what are the latest updates on HLPF Review? Register here!

12:00 pm CET/6:00 am EST – Strategy Meeting part 1

Civil society will collectively focus on developing common positions which can be used to shape their collective advocacy during the official sessions of the Regional Forum on Sustainable Development, the peer-learning tables and side events. These positions will also be shared with the global civil society engagement mechanism: Major Group and other Stakeholders. Register here.

March 9 Agenda

12:00 pm CET/6:00 am EST – Strategy Meeting part 2

The second part of our strategy meeting is split into two parts, the first part is a strategic session with UN Agencies and Member States, the second part is open to civil society only and will be used to strategize around SDGs monitoring, with a focus on local, national and regional dynamics. Register here.

If you have any questions around accessibility of the meeting or if you have issues registering, please contact our accessibility coordinator for the civil society forum: Martyna Balciunaite (martyna.balciunaite@eud.eu). The sessions will have Russian, French and Spanish translations.

We hope to see as many of you there as possible!

UNECE- RCEM

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Financing for Development, please visit ngosonffd.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development-NY, please visit ngocsd-ny.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development-Vienna, please visit ngocsdvienna.org.

From Science to Practice: The Role of Research in Tackling COVID-19 and Achieving the SDGs

From Science to Practice: The Role of Research in Tackling COVID-19 and Achieving the SDGs

Organizations in International Geneva produce a wide range of policy relevant research on how to continue progress on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development while also responding to the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. How can we ensure that this research is received by policymakers in governments, the private sector and civil society? Join the online discussion on March 11.

Programme

  • Welcome remarks
    Samir Yeddes, Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations in Geneva
  • From Science to Practice: Research and Knowledge to Achieve the SDGs
    Maggie Carter, UNRISD
  • Insights from International Geneva on Human Well-Being and Capabilities
    Sophie Plagerson, Independent Consultant
  • Covid-19 and Vulnerable Groups: Findings from Europe
    Eva Bortolotti, UNDP Geneva
  • Strengthening Science-Policy Collaborations for Sustainable Development
    Nicolas Seidler, Geneva Science-Policy Interface

Moderator: Maggie Carter, UNRISD

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee for Rare Diseases, please visit ngocommitteerarediseases.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Social Development, please visit ngosocdev.org.

Informal Meeting of the GA Plenary on Syria with President of the GA

Dear Civil Society Partners,

The UN Human Rights Office in NY wishes to inform you about an upcoming informal meeting of the plenary of the General Assembly on Tuesday, 2 March 2021, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the General Assembly Hall of the UN Headquarters. The meeting will allow a high-level panel to brief on the human rights situation in the Syrian Arab Republic pursuant to A/RES/74/169. The meeting will be open and webcast on UN Web TV with interpretation in all official languages.

Further information, including with respect to the modalities for interested civil society representatives to submit questions to the high-level panel, is included in the correspondence below from the President of the General Assembly.

Sincerely,

UN Human Rights NY

 

Excellency,

I have the honour to inform you that I will convene an informal meeting of the plenary of the General Assembly on Tuesday, 2 March 2021, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the General Assembly Hall of the UN Headquarters. The meeting will allow a high-level panel to brief the General Assembly pursuant to A/RES/74/169, operative paragraph 37, in which the General Assembly,

“Urgently request[ed] the convening of a high-level panel discussion, funded by voluntary contributions, led by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights, the Commission of Inquiry and Syrian civil society to brief the General Assembly at its seventy-fifth session on the situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic, and encourages United Nations monitoring and reporting to help this panel to further document violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of human rights, including those that may amount to crimes against humanity and war crimes, to provide recommendations to facilitate improvements in civilian protection and accountability measures, and to feature witness testimony of Syrian human rights defenders and other Syrian voices through appropriate and safe means”.

In addition to briefing on the situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic the panel will focus on:

(i) violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of human rights, including those that may amount to crimes against humanity and war crimes, in particular arbitrary detention, torture, the missing and disappeared, with a focus on women, peace and security; and,

(ii) recommendations to facilitate improvements in civilian protection and accountability measures.

The high-level panel will be moderated by Ms. Ilze Brands Kehris, Assistant SecretaryGeneral for Human Rights and Head, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in New York. Ms. Brands Kehris will also present OHCHR’s role in documentation, accountability, and engagement with key counterparts including the United Nations, humanitarian partners and accountability mechanisms such as the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic (COI), the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM), the Syrian Government, and civil society. The high-level panel will be comprised of the following six panelists from the COI and civil society:

  • Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, Chair, COI
  • Karen Koning AbuZayd, Commissioner, COI
  • Hanny Megally, Commissioner, COI
  • Mazen Darwish, President, Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression;
  • Sabah Hallaq, Syrian League for Citizenship
  • Wafa Moustafa, Families for Freedom.

The meeting will be open and webcast on UN Web TV with interpretation in all official languages. Each panelist will have up to 7 minutes to deliver his/her remarks. The floor will then be open for up to 3-minute interventions and/or questions. Please note that there will be no pre-established list of speakers for this meeting. For planning purposes only, delegations are encouraged to register their interest to speak by 5:00 p.m. EST on Friday, 26 February 2021 via e-mail to Mr. Igor Bondiuk (igor.bondiuk@un.org), Human Rights Adviser, copying Ms. Hila Wesa (wesa@un.org), Team Leader for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs.

Civil society representatives interested in submitting questions to the high-level panel are requested to do so by 5:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday, 24 February 2021, via e-email to Ms. Giorgia Passarelli (passarellig@un.org), Human Rights Officer at OHCHR. The moderator will select some of the questions for the panelists to answer during the discussion.

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Volkan BOZKIR

View this meeting via UN Web TV here on March 2, and read the full schedule of General Assembly Plenary and Related Meetings here.

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Human Rights, please email the co-chairs at bknotts@uua.org or bobbinassar@gmail.com. For more information on the NGO Committee on Disarmament, Peace, and Security, please visit ngocdps.wordpress.com.

Economist Group’s 8th Annual World Ocean Summit: Accelerating a Sustainable Ocean Economy

Since 2012 The Economist‘s World Ocean Summit has been the pre-eminent global platform for leaders in business, finance, government, and civil society to debate the greatest challenges facing the seas, share bold strategies to help tackle them, and form partnerships that will mobilize the action needed to build a sustainable ocean economy.

The 2020 “ocean super year”, of a series of major conferences and events, was disrupted by the pandemic. In 2021 it will therefore be an even more urgent move from theory to action.

The 8th annual edition, now a fully virtual event, will aim to change the way business is done in the ocean, shaping and accelerating how governments, businesses, and civil society work together to create a sustainable blue economy.

The virtual week offers the opportunity to access five days of highly curated content and the chance to make meaningful connections no matter where you are in the world.

Plenary sessions and action-oriented industry tracks include: Aquaculture, Energy, Plastics, Fishing, Shipping, and Tourism.

Register here and explore the full agenda here

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Financing for Development, please visit ngosonffd.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development-New York, please visit ngocsd-ny.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development-Vienna, please visit ngocsdvienna.org

UNAIDS Zero Discrimination Day

On Zero Discrimination Day, 1 March, we celebrate the right of everyone to live a full and productive life—and live it with dignity. Zero Discrimination Day highlights how people can become informed about and promote inclusion, compassion, peace and, above all, a movement for change. Zero Discrimination Day is helping to create a global movement of solidarity to end all forms of discrimination.

On Zero Discrimination Day this year, UNAIDS is challenging the discrimination faced by women and girls in all their diversity in order to raise awareness and mobilize action to promote equality and empowerment for women and girls.

To learn more, visit unaids.org/en/zero-discrimination-day.

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Spirituality, Values, and Global Concerns-NY, please visit csvgc-ny.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women-NY, please visit ngocsw.org. For more information on the NGO Committee for Rare Diseases, please visit ngocommitteerarediseases.org.

NGO Committee on Ageing-NY: Making the Case for a Convention on the Rights of Older Persons

The NGO Committee on Ageing-NY draws attention to its upcoming program meeting:

The meeting will provide a status report on the work of the Open-ended Working Group on Ageing and will discuss the meaning of an international legal instrument (a convention) for the rights of older persons, how we can advocate for a convention – what do we say and how do we say it. REGISTRATION is required.

Program:

Welcome and announcements: Dr. Cynthia Stuen, Chair of NGO Committee on Ageing

  • Moderator: Ms. Frances Zainoeddin, Vice-Chair, NGO COA

Brief overview and update of work of the Open-ended Working Group on Ageing: What does a convention/international legal instrument mean, in the UN context? What is its expected impact?

  • Ms. Susan Somers, President, International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse

It’s About Rights! Finding opportunities to make a case for older people’s rights and a UN convention during COVID-19 (see link to HelpAge Toolkit – helpage.org/what-we-do/un-convention/):

  • Ms. Bridget Sleap, Senior Rights Policy Adviser, HelpAge International

Building a case for a UN convention – how to frame messages

  • Ms. Laura Pares, Communications Adviser, HelpAge International

Q & A

Closing Remarks

  • Dr. Sandra Timmermann, International Federation on Ageing

Thanks to International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse for hosting this Zoom meeting. If there are any questions or problems with registration contact Susan at sbsomers5@gmail.com

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Ageing-NY, please visit ngocoa-ny.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Ageing-Geneva, please visit ageingcommitteegeneva.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Ageing-Vienna, please visit ngoageingvie.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Intergenerational Solidarity, please email the vice chair at susanneseperson@gmail.com.

[Civil Society Briefing] “Childhood After Atrocity Crimes: Hope for Peace, Dignity and Equality”

Civil Society Briefing “Childhood after Atrocity Crimes: Hope for Peace, Dignity and Equality”

Register here: bit.ly/39Kzaau

Experts examine the approaches taken to support children who survived the Holocaust and consider how these approaches contributed to models adopted for contemporary practice for working with young people who have survived atrocity crimes.

The briefing is organized by the Outreach Programme on the Holocaust and the Civil Society Unit of the United Nations Department of Global Communications.

SPEAKERS

Ms. Hawa Diallo, Chief, Civil Society Unit, Department of Global Communications

Dr. Beth B. Cohen, Social Historian and Author

Professor Theresa S. Betancourt, Boston College School of Social Work

Ms. Divina Maloum, Founder, Children for Peace

POEM

Lament of Syria

by Ms. Amineh Abou Kerech, Winner, Betjeman Poetry Prize 2017

For more information about the 2021 Holocaust Remembrance please visit: https://www.un.org/holocaustremembrance

If you have questions please contact: education-outreach@un.org

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Children’s Rights, please visit childrightsny.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Human Rights, please email the co-chairs at bknotts@uua.org or bobbinassar@gmail.com. For more information on the NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief, please visit unforb.org.

2021 Shine the Light Human Trafficking Conference: Root Causes & Intersections on Human Trafficking

Dear Colleagues,

We invite you to our VIRTUAL 2021 Shine the Light Human Trafficking Conference: Root Causes and Intersections on Human Trafficking.  The conference, which is free of charge, will be held over two afternoons, March 8 (12noon to 3:00 pm EST), and March 9 (12noon to 1:30 pm EST).  We also are organizing a Call to Action Day on Trafficking for March 9.

Register at http://bit.ly/2021traffickingconference

Building on the success of our previous in-person Human Trafficking Conferences in 2018 and 2019, this year’s participants will hear from survivors, service providers and other experts.  An additional advocacy panel will share easy and ongoing actions that can be taken to combat trafficking.

Our co-sponsors this year are the Columbian Center for Advocacy and Outreach, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – Justice Team, the U.S. Coalition of Sisters Against Human Trafficking, and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Office of Migration and Refugee Services.

Monday, March 8, 12:00 – 3:00 pm EST & Tuesday, March 9, 12:00 – 1:30 pm EST

Advance registration required. Register online here or call 301-622-6838

On Day 1, we will begin with an overview of human trafficking that speaks to the various root causes. Panel presentations on both sex and labor trafficking with domestic and international components will follow.  On Day 2, we will focus on advocacy campaigns and how all of us can make a difference.  Additional details are available on our Conference webpage.

Conference attendees will have the opportunity to engage in Q&A with panelists both days.

Speakers confirmed to date include:

Sr. Norma Pimentel, MJ, Executive Director, Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley; Sr. Winifred Doherty, RGS, United Nations Representative for the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd; Diana Fimbres, Program Manager for Strategic Initiatives on Labor Trafficking, Polaris; Hilary Chester, PhD, Associate Director, Anti-Trafficking Program, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops; Lawrence Couch, Director, National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd; Sr. Ann Scholz, SSND, PhD, Associate Director for Social Mission Leadership Conference of Women Religious; Scott Wright, Director, Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach; and current Members of Congress. As in previous conferences, trafficking survivors with their powerful stories will be pivotal contributors to the day.

We also encourage you to spread the word – share this invitation with your colleagues and networks and share this postcard on social media. If you would like further information, please reach out to Fran Eskin-Royer (associatedirector@gsadvocacy.org) or me (nacdirector@gsadvocacy.org).  Thank you.

Sincerely,

Lawrence E. Couch, Director

National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd

301-622-6838 (o) | 240-463-0660 (c) | www.gsadvocacy.org

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the Committee of Religious NGOs at the United Nations, please visit rngos.wordpress.com. For more information on the NGO Committee on Children’s Rights, please visit childrightsny.org. For more information on the Alliance of NGOs on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, please visit crimealliance.org.

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