natural disaster

Linking Criminal Justice & the SDGs: Corruption Creates Wicked Legacies at Hazardous Sites

10th Session of the Conference of the Parties UN – Vienna official side event

Link :  us02web.zoom.us/j/81890759866

Meeting ID: 818 9075 9866

Kenncode: 599775

Programme

Welcome & Introduction: Ilona Graenitz, Chairperson Vienna NGO Committee on Sustainable Development “Prerequisites for achieving the SDGs”

Presentation: Univ. Prof. Drin. Verena Winiwarter, BOKU, Institute of Social Ecology “Eliminating and cleaning up of wicked legacies at hazardous sites by supporting transparent, public information and fighting corruption, thus providing a sound basis for achieving the SDGs”

Follow-up activities and a question/answer session to follow.

About wicked legacies at hazardous sites:

Advancing towards the Agenda 2030 goals hinges on progress with target “16.5: Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms” Corruption can lead to significant and serious environmental problems, if it jeopardizes the care, maintenance and clean-up of toxic legacy sites. These environmental problems can in particular impact women. The event makes a case for action and calls for a debate on an additional SDG Target, respectively indicators to draw attention to the dangers of toxic legacy sites worldwide; particularly in abandoned mines. The SDGs can only be achieved, if stocks as well as flows of toxic substances and pollutants are reduced and finally eliminated. Abandoned toxic sites and mines present not only challenges to the environment and people, but also a growing threat, as mines worldwide may increasingly be used for storing CO2 with possibly hazardous results due to chemical reactions. It is of utmost importance to clean up this toxic legacy and manage related risks, as this process is particularly vulnerable to corruption. A panel of experts will offer insight into the risks of toxic legacy sites; the problems of developing legal framework to minimize long-term environmental contamination and its negative impact on human health; and discuss the challenges of minimizing corruption in issues involving specialized technical knowledge. In order to underpin the rule of law and to expedite legal action respecting the “Polluter Pays” principle, the founding of an international High Court for Environment and Health under UN auspices is proposed.

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

Linking Criminal Justice & the SDGs: Corruption Creates Wicked Legacies at Hazardous Sites

10th Session of the Conference of the Parties UN – Vienna official side event

Link :  us02web.zoom.us/j/81890759866

Meeting ID: 818 9075 9866

Kenncode: 599775

Programme

Welcome & Introduction: Ilona Graenitz, Chairperson Vienna NGO Committee on Sustainable Development “Prerequisites for achieving the SDGs”

Presentation: Univ. Prof. Drin. Verena Winiwarter, BOKU, Institute of Social Ecology “Eliminating and cleaning up of wicked legacies at hazardous sites by supporting transparent, public information and fighting corruption, thus providing a sound basis for achieving the SDGs”

Follow-up activities and a question/answer session to follow.

About wicked legacies at hazardous sites:

Advancing towards the Agenda 2030 goals hinges on progress with target “16.5: Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms” Corruption can lead to significant and serious environmental problems, if it jeopardizes the care, maintenance and clean-up of toxic legacy sites. These environmental problems can in particular impact women. The event makes a case for action and calls for a debate on an additional SDG Target, respectively indicators to draw attention to the dangers of toxic legacy sites worldwide; particularly in abandoned mines. The SDGs can only be achieved, if stocks as well as flows of toxic substances and pollutants are reduced and finally eliminated. Abandoned toxic sites and mines present not only challenges to the environment and people, but also a growing threat, as mines worldwide may increasingly be used for storing CO2 with possibly hazardous results due to chemical reactions. It is of utmost importance to clean up this toxic legacy and manage related risks, as this process is particularly vulnerable to corruption. A panel of experts will offer insight into the risks of toxic legacy sites; the problems of developing legal framework to minimize long-term environmental contamination and its negative impact on human health; and discuss the challenges of minimizing corruption in issues involving specialized technical knowledge. In order to underpin the rule of law and to expedite legal action respecting the “Polluter Pays” principle, the founding of an international High Court for Environment and Health under UN auspices is proposed.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

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

Helping Children & Families Thrive in All Circumstances {in honor of the October 1989 adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child}

Please join us [at the NGO Committee on the Family] as we discuss important aspects of family life, in honor of the October 1989 adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Concept Note

In 1989, Member States adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child, a landmark treaty intended to ensure the protection and wellbeing of children around the world. In the intervening time, nearly every country has ratified the treaty, signaling commitment to its core principles of the best interest of the child, non-discrimination, right to life, survival, and development, and the right of the child to be heard. The Convention also notes that “the family, as the fundamental group of society and the natural environment for the growth and well-being of all its members and particularly children, should be afforded the necessary protection and assistance so that it can fully assume its responsibilities within the community.”

Since the Convention’s adoption, children’s welfare has improved greatly. Child poverty and mortality before age five have halved since then, and school attendance has risen. Countries have directed more attention, resources, and legislation to reducing child vulnerability and respecting the rights of children. Yet challenges remain. Poverty, natural disasters, conflict, family separation, and now a global pandemic affect children’s wellbeing. Times of crisis place stress on families and put children at risk. How can we ensure that children, even those in vulnerable situations, thrive?

This month, we are pleased to host two expert speakers who will address children’s vulnerability and ways to ensure that children and their families are supported to thrive in all circumstances and despite challenges. Ms. Rima Salah has extensive experience in the protection of children and peace and conflict resolution, through several leadership roles in United Nations entities, including serving as served as Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General in the Peacekeeping Mission in Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT), Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and as a member of the UN High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations. Mr. Nuno Crisostomo has worked for child welfare with various non-governmental organizations, with the Portuguese government, and, from 2001, with UNICEF, most recently as an Emergency Specialist in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We hope you will join us as we learn from these two distinguished experts on this important topic.

Please RSVP to attend at https://forms.gle/KajCCPdPak3XtWms7.

Meeting information will be sent out after the RSVP deadline to all registered attendees.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on the Family, please visit ngofamilyny.org.

Helping Children & Families Thrive in All Circumstances {in honor of the October 1989 adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child}

Please join us [at the NGO Committee on the Family] as we discuss important aspects of family life, in honor of the October 1989 adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Concept Note

In 1989, Member States adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child, a landmark treaty intended to ensure the protection and wellbeing of children around the world. In the intervening time, nearly every country has ratified the treaty, signaling commitment to its core principles of the best interest of the child, non-discrimination, right to life, survival, and development, and the right of the child to be heard. The Convention also notes that “the family, as the fundamental group of society and the natural environment for the growth and well-being of all its members and particularly children, should be afforded the necessary protection and assistance so that it can fully assume its responsibilities within the community.”

Since the Convention’s adoption, children’s welfare has improved greatly. Child poverty and mortality before age five have halved since then, and school attendance has risen. Countries have directed more attention, resources, and legislation to reducing child vulnerability and respecting the rights of children. Yet challenges remain. Poverty, natural disasters, conflict, family separation, and now a global pandemic affect children’s wellbeing. Times of crisis place stress on families and put children at risk. How can we ensure that children, even those in vulnerable situations, thrive?

This month, we are pleased to host two expert speakers who will address children’s vulnerability and ways to ensure that children and their families are supported to thrive in all circumstances and despite challenges. Ms. Rima Salah has extensive experience in the protection of children and peace and conflict resolution, through several leadership roles in United Nations entities, including serving as served as Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General in the Peacekeeping Mission in Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT), Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and as a member of the UN High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations. Mr. Nuno Crisostomo has worked for child welfare with various non-governmental organizations, with the Portuguese government, and, from 2001, with UNICEF, most recently as an Emergency Specialist in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We hope you will join us as we learn from these two distinguished experts on this important topic.

Please RSVP to attend at https://forms.gle/KajCCPdPak3XtWms7.

Meeting information will be sent out after the RSVP deadline to all registered attendees.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on the Family, please visit ngofamilyny.org.