private sector accountability

World Wildlife Day

The animals and plants that live in the wild have an intrinsic value and contribute to the ecological, genetic, social, economic, scientific, educational, cultural, recreational and aesthetic aspects of human well-being and to sustainable development.

World Wildlife Day is an opportunity to celebrate the many beautiful and varied forms of wild fauna and flora and to raise awareness of the multitude of benefits that their conservation provides to people. At the same time, the Day reminds us of the urgent need to step up the fight against wildlife crime and human-induced reduction of species, which have wide-ranging economic, environmental and social impacts. Given these various negative effects, Sustainable Development Goal 15 focuses on halting biodiversity loss.

Read more about why the UN commemorates World Wildlife Day and how to get involved here.

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

Artificial Intelligence: Ethical Dimensions of the Virtual World

Dear colleagues,

You are warmly invited to an online dialogue on “Artificial Intelligence: Ethical Dimensions of the Virtual World” during a side event for the Commission on Social Development, hosted by the Bahá’í International Community’s United Nations Office, the United Arab Emirates and NGO Committee on Social Development. The details for the event are:

The growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI) raises fundamental questions about the type of societies we want to build and the kinds of lives they support. This online dialogue will explore vital questions of values, vision, ethics, and purpose with regard to AI, and ways that they are being addressed in social, technological, and political terms.

Panelists:

  • Major Hamad Khatir, Director of International Partnership, Ministry of Interior of the United Arab Emirates
  • Ms. Eline Chivot, Senior Adviser on Digital Policy for the European People’s Party
  • Ms. Yu Ping Chang, UN representative on behalf of the Secretary General’s Special Advisor on Technology
  • Dr. Douglas Allen, Associate Professor of the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver

We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday.

Sincerely,

Daniel Perell
Representative to the United Nations
Bahá’í International Community

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Social Development, please visit  ngosocdev.org. 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 Education, Learning, and Literacy, please visit facebook.com/NGOCELLatUN.

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.

[Public Briefing] Inter-agency Task Force on Financing for Development on the Global Economic Context

Public briefing of the Inter-agency Task Force on Financing for Development on the Global Economic Context

Dear colleagues,

What does our economic future hold in these uncertain times?

Join us and experts from the IMF, UN DESA and other members of the Inter-agency Task Force on Financing for Development on 3 February 2021, 10.00-11.30 NY time to discuss perspectives on the prospects of the world economy, as well as updates on the 2021 Financing for Sustainable Development Report (FSDR).

Please kindly find the connection details of this public briefing below. More information on this briefing and updates on the 2021 FSDR can be found on our website.

We look forward to the participation of all delegations and stakeholders and welcome your contributions to the dialogue!

Kind regards,

Navid Hanif,

Director, Financing for Sustainable Development Office

Join on your computer or mobile app: Click here to join the meeting

Join with a video conferencing device: unitevc@m.webex.com

Video Conference ID: 122 086 784 4

Alternate VTC dialing instructions | Learn More | Meeting options

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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.

ESD and Climate Emergency: Bend the curve for climate change

UNESCO World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development – Pre-conference workshops

Since COVID-19 outbreak, the world’s attention has been focused on the pandemic and the coordination of the emergency response to the crisis. Meanwhile, major sustainable development challenges, including the greatest challenge of our times – climate change – remain unresolved.

Human activities such as burning fossil fuels, cutting down rainforests and farming livestock are responsible for the rise of the earth’s temperature. The only way to counter climate change is to transform our lifestyles and establish sustainable patterns of consumption and production worldwide.

Education has been recognized as a crucial element to counter climate change and is one of the priority areas of Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) because it has the power to transform the way people feel, think and behave. Education contributes to raising awareness on the physical mechanisms and the emergency of climate change and its impacts. Education empowers people to take action by promoting values, problem solving and critical thinking skills.

But, concretely, how can this happen? How can Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) contribute to urgent action for green and sustainable societies in light of the climate emergency?

This workshop will raise the parallels between the pandemic and climate emergency and discuss how the lessons learned from the public response to the Covid-19 crisis can help ‘flatten the curve of climate change,’ in particular through ESD’s contribution. This installment will also address the aforementioned question looking at examples from youth action and from formal education, and will review some recent data.

Register here: https://unesco-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_C482BnaSQVWNpW5f5EYIRQ

Read more: https://en.unesco.org/themes/education-sustainable-development/ESDfor2030-workshops

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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 Education, Learning, and Literacy, please visit facebook.com/NGOCELLatUN.

Human Rights Council 46th Session

46th Session of the Human Rights Council: February 22 to March 23, 2021

The Human Rights Council holds no fewer than three regular sessions a year, for a total of at least ten weeks. They take place in March (four weeks), June (three weeks) and September (three weeks). If one third of the Member States requests so, the Human Rights Council can decide at any time to hold a special session to address human rights violations and emergencies.

Please note that in response to the COVID-19 pandemic situation, there will be no access to the Public Gallery during HRC46. We invite you to follow the Council proceedings live at the following link: http://webtv.un.org/live/

Read more about the Human Rights Council and access the slated Programme of Work for its 46th session here: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/RegularSessions/Session46/Pages/46RegularSession.aspx

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Human Rights, please email the co-chairs at bobbinassar@gmail.com or bknotts@uua.org. For more information on the NGO Committee for Rare Diseases, please visit ngocommitteerarediseases.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development-NY, please visit http://ngocsd-ny.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development-Vienna, please visit ngocsdvienna.org.

[NGO CSW] Global Mental Health in a Pandemic: Understanding the Impact of Covid-19 on Women’s Psychosocial Wellbeing

Join our first Monthly Meeting of 2021! The purpose of this session is to raise awareness, and to provide resources regarding issues related to women’s mental health challenges experienced during this unprecedented period of COVID-19 restrictions. The discussion will focus on sharing insights on the disproportionate psychosocial health outcomes of the pandemic, and to provide strategies to better manage.

Register here!

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women-New York, 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. 

COVID-19 & Older People Virtual Town Hall Series

As the world reflects on the impact that COVID-19 has had on older people in the context of the Decade of Healthy Ageing, advocating for the rights of older persons is more important than ever before. Leadership and solidarity of Member States and civil society at the UN OEWGA (March 29 – 1 April 2021) toward a common agenda and roadmap for a UN Convention on the Rights of Older People is urgently needed.

This town hall takes place at 07:00 am (Eastern Standard Time) on Friday 8 January 2021 (additional time zones below):

Geneva, Switzerland: 13:00
Lagos, Nigeria: 13:00
New Delhi, India: 17:30
Perth, Australia: 20:00

Register here!

This town hall will be recorded and streamed live on Facebook. Should you be unable to participate, a recording will be available on the IFA Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/intfedageing/ and resources will be available at: https://ifa.ngo/ifa-virtual-town-hall-resources/

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Ageing-Vienna, please visit ngoageingvie.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Ageing-New York, please visit ngocoa-ny.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Ageing-Geneva, please visit ageingcommitteegeneva.org.

[deadline to participate] 31st UNGA Special Session

Dear colleagues,

As you are aware, the General Assembly decided to host its 31st Special session in response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on 3 and 4 December 2020. The modalities of participation for the session are established in resolution 75/4.

In order to participate in the Special Session, the following categories of relevant entities not in consultative status with ECOSOC must express their interest and apply for special accreditation.

  • Non-governmental organizations
  • Civil society organizations
  • Academic institutions
  • Private sector organizations

The deadline for the expression of interest to participate in the Special Session is set for 16 November 2020, s. Accreditation is now open at the following link: https://indico.un.org/event/35461/

As per resolution 75/4, stakeholder applications will be reviewed by Member States. Accredited entities will be informed and receive further instruction to finalize their registration, as representatives will need to register individually to secure their participation in the event.

Please feel free to share this information with interested partners and colleagues.

Kind regards,

OHCHR New York Office

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Human Rights, email the co-chairs at bknotts@uua.org or bobbinassar@gmail.com. For more information on the NGO Committee on Rare Diseases, please visit ngocommitteerarediseases.org. 

[#GGKP webinar] Green Jobs and a Just Transition: Country Perspectives from Argentina, South Africa and ILO

Please join #GGKP for an important and timely webinar,

Green jobs and a just transition: Country perspectives from Argentina, South Africa and ILO

Why must green jobs be central in national recovery strategies?

What sectors are leading in green jobs creation? What are some new green job profiles?

How can governments support workers during a green transition? What are key social protections as job profiles change or shift to new green sectors?

How can businesses lead in the green jobs transition, and how can going green make a business more competitive?

On 18 November (2-3:30pm CET), join the GGKP for a discussion on how governments and business can lead a just transition to greener economies featuring country perspectives from Argentina and South Africa. The discussion will be moderated by Moustapha Kamal Gueye, Coordinator of the Green Jobs Programme at the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

The ILO Guidelines for a just transition to environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all provide a policy framework for inclusive, employment-centered green transitions for workers, enterprises and communities. This webinar is the third in a five-part #GGKPwebinar series held under the project, Green Economy Transformation in Cooperation with the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) – Synergies between low-emission pathways and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) through its International Climate Initiative (IKI), and is implemented jointly by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and UN Environment.

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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-Vienna, please visit ngocsdvienna.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development-New York, please visit ngocsd-ny.org.

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