Chinese Language Day

Language Days at the United Nations seek to celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity as well as to promote equal use of all six official languages throughout the Organization. Under the initiative, UN duty stations around the world celebrate six separate days, each dedicated to one of the Organization’s six official languages.

Why April 20?

The date for the Chinese day was selected from Guyu (“Rain of Millet”), which is the 6th of 24 solar terms in the traditional East Asian calendars, to pay tribute to Cangjie. Cangjie is a very important figure in ancient China, claimed to be an official historian of the Yellow Emperor and the inventor of Chinese characters. Legend has it that he had four eyes and four pupils, and that when he invented the characters, the deities and ghosts cried and the sky rained millet. From then on, Chinese people celebrate the day Guyu in honour of Cangjie. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually begins around April 20.

For more information about this UN observance, the five other official languages, and relevant events, please visit un.org/zh/observances/chinese-language-day/english.

________________________________________________________________________________________

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

54th session of the Commission on Population and Development

Dear NGO representatives,

In the context of the fifty-fourth session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD), the co-facilitators, Ms. Cristina Popescu (Romania) and Mr. Nizar Kaddouh (Lebanon), would like to invite you to an online informal consultation with NGOs on the zero draft of the resolution on population, food security, nutrition and sustainable development (attached).

The consultation will take place Thursday, 1 April 2021 from 9.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. New York time (EDT).

The weblink for the consultation is: https://undesa.webex.com/undesa/j.php?MTID=m6218bcc8c492f6b946c20d9f79492

The meeting will be open from 08.30 am onwards. Please call in before the meeting starts to test your equipment.

Kind regards

Population Division, UN DESA

______________________________________________________________________________________________

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

COVID-19, Youth Livelihood, and Mental Health: A Global Youth Voice for Resilience and Recovery

COVID-19, Youth Livelihood, and Mental Health: A Global Youth Voice for Resilience and Recovery

The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted young people across the world. From decreased access to quality education to sudden loss of employment, young people are at greater risk of distress now. Urgent actions need to be taken immediately with better policies and practices.

Prior to COVID-19, mental health conditions already took the lives of young people worldwide. If necessary actions are not taken with better policy and practice, this public health crisis will put youth further into severe and prolonged psychological, social, and economic distress. Let’s learn from global experts and practitioners how we could address this issue best!

Register for our side event at the United Nations #ECOSOCYouthForum2021 now. Let’s together promote the positive mental health of young people!

______________________________________________________________________________________________

CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Mental Health, please visit ngomentalhealth.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Children’s Rights, please visit childrightsny.org. 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.

77th session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia & the Pacific (ESCAP)

The seventy-seventh session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) will be held at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok and via videoconferencing from 26 to 29 April 2021 under the theme, “Building back better from crises through regional cooperation in Asia and the Pacific.”

The theme study for the 77th Commission session analyses the socio-economic impacts of the pandemic in countries of Asia and the Pacific, takes stock of action so far, and sets out a policy agenda for building back better grounded in regional cooperation and centered around four critical interconnected areas: broadening social protection, investing in a sustained recovery, strengthening connectivity and supply chains; and mending a broken relationship with nature.

Meeting at the ministerial level, the members of the Commission will discuss and decide on important issues pertaining to inclusive and sustainable economic and social development in the region and make recommendations to its subsidiary bodies and to the Executive Secretary. The proceedings will include regional perspectives, initiatives and subregional cooperation for scaled up actions in response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and take stock of its socioeconomic impact.

The Commission will also review the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific, consider issues vital to the inclusive and sustainable development of least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and Pacific island developing States, and discuss management issues such as the proposed programme plan of ESCAP for 2022.

Credentials and Registration:

Each delegation is required to submit a letter of credentials, duly signed by the appropriate authority of the respective Government or organization, at the earliest convenience and no later than 16 April 2021 to oes.unescap@un.org. Only delegates who appear on the credentials will be recognized in the list of participants.

Once letter of credential has been submitted, all participants are requested to register online as soon as possible.

Only the names of duly accredited and registered participants will be included in the list of participants. For more information, please email the Office of the Executive Secretary at oes.unescap@un.org.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Social Development, please visit ngosocdev.org. 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-NY, please visit ngocsd-ny.org.

The Critical Roles of Geriatric Nursing and a Focus on Health Education in Improving Future Care of Older People

IFA Global Cafe: In Conversation with Dr. Tara A. Cortes “The critical roles of geriatric nursing, and how professionals need to focus on education of health to improve the future care of older people”

The current COVID-19 pandemic calls out the need for significant changes in both the systems and delivery of health and social care. In both traditional and nontraditional settings, models that bring together advanced practice nurses and physicians creates real opportunity for change in the policy and practice in geriatric care.

Better healthcare, better outcomes and lower cost can best be achieved by allowing all professionals to function to their full scope of practice. It is critical to bring the voice of nursing to a different forum to allow leaders to disseminate messages, increase collaboration, and further enhance discipline.

This Global Cafe takes place at 07:00 am (Eastern Standard Time) on Friday 2 April 2021 (additional time zones below):

Geneva, Switzerland: 12:00
Lagos, Nigeria: 12:00
New Delhi, India: 16:30
Perth, Australia: 19:00

Register here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMvceigpzstH9HAnOu8Y-1X4ipHXWRjgXI3

This Global Cafe 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 facebook.com/intfedageing and resources will be available at: ifa.ngo/ifa-virtual-town-hall-resources.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

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

{POSTPONED} Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5)

POSTPONED

Fifth UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5), Doha, Qatar

The world’s Least Developed Countries are in a race to deliver the global development goals by 2030. This new decade needs to usher in a new global partnership to close the divide.

A major conference will be held in Doha in January 2022 to help build an ambitious new programme for action for LDCs and will be held at a critical time, as the final decade of action for the 2030 agenda gathers pace. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, LDC5 will now be held from January 23 – 27, 2022.

For information about the preparatory process, past conferences, how to participate, and more, explore un.org/ldc5.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

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 Social Development, please visit ngosocdev.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.

Global Alliance for the Rights of Older Persons’ workshop for the 11th Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing session (OEWG11)

The Global Alliance for the Rights of Older Persons (GAROP) and the NGO Committee on Ageing-NY are pleased to invite you to a workshop for the 11th virtual Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing session (OEWG11) on Thursday, March 25, 2021 – 7:00 – 9:00 EST (12:00-14:00 CET)

This preparatory event will be hosted with support by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA).

Objectives of the meeting:

To build a common understanding of the current status of the OEWG process
To discuss our shared goals for the outcomes of OEWG11
To agree on collective action that NGOs can take throughout the week

Working language: The workshop will be run in English and there will be no interpretation provided. We are planning to have some breakout sessions and chat information accommodate French and Spanish speakers during the workshop.

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUrcOqurDgqGtYpv8a1l9hmk3UpeWbUaen6

Draft Programme:

Welcome and opening remarks

Acknowledgements – Dr. Kiran Rabheru (Chair, GAROP) & Dr. Cynthia Stuen (Chair, NGO COA-NY)
Opening remarks – Ambassador Squeff, Chair of the OEWG

Scene-setting and connecting

Updates about the session (Amal Abou Rafeh, UNDESA)
Q&A

Developments since OEWG10

Intersessional events/outcomes
COVID-19 and political momentum

Breakout rooms: English / French / Spanish

Preparing our strategy for participation in OEWG11

Expectations and objectives for the session
Ways in which civil society can participate and have impact:
- Visibility
  - Age With Rights and social media
  - Side events
- Reviewing the timetable for the week ahead

Contacts: Susan Somers, NGO Committee on Ageing NY: sbsomers5@aol.com and/or Ellen Graham, GAROP Coordinator: ellen.graham@rightsofolderpeople.org

______________________________________________________________________________________________

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

Redefining Leadership, Re-Envisioning Faith and Reconstructing Humanitarianism

Dear Religions for Peace Leaders,

We are so pleased that many of you have already registered for the UN Commission on the Status of Women (UN CSW 65). If you have not already registered on the NGO/CSW platform, please be informed that the event will be live-streamed on 25 March at 9AM ET from our Facebook page.

Kindly be sure to select our event, “Redefining Leadership, Re-Envisioning Faith, and Reconstructing Humanitarianism” on 25 March here. To join the webinar, please select the button “Join Meeting,” which will appear exactly at 9:00 am ET.

Program Agenda

Moment of Silence

PART I: WELCOME AND OPENING REMARKS

Prof. Azza Karam, Secretary General, Religions for Peace

PART II: A CONVERSATION ON WOMEN IN PUBLIC LIFE: REDEFINING LEADERSHIP

Moderated by Prof. Azza Karam, Secretary General, Religions for Peace

Dr. Mary McAleese, Former President, Republic of Ireland; Advisor to the Religions for Peace Secretary General
H.E. Sima Samar, Former Minister of Women’s Affairs; Member, Religions for Peace Standing Commission on Advancing Gender Equality, Afghanistan
Mr. Humberto Carolo, Executive Director, White Ribbon Campaign Canada, MenEngage Network, Religions for Peace Standing Commission on Advancing Gender Equality, Canada
Hon. Ela Gandhi, Trustee, Gandhi Development Trust and Religions for Peace Co-President, South Africa
Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President, Union for Reform Judaism and Religions for Peace Honorary President, United States

PART III: A CONVERSATION ON RE-ENVISIONING FAITH AND RECONSTRUCTING HUMANITARIANISM

Moderated by Grand-Mother Marie-Josée Rankin-Tardif, President, Kina8at Together; Elder from the Anicinape (Algonquin) Tradition, Canada

Rev. Clement Joseph, Secretary General of the Social Mission of Haitian Churches; Secretary General, Religions for Peace-Haiti, Haiti
Rt. Rev. Francisco Duque-Gomez, Anglican Bishop and leader of Religions for PeaceColombia, Colombia
Ms. Nageeba Hassan Tegulwa, Board Member, Women of Faith Uganda, Executive Member, African Women of Faith Network; Board Member, ACRL; Member, IWCC, Uganda
Ms. Fatima Hallal, Junior Researcher, Hartford Seminary-Interreligious Relations; Member, International Youth Committee, Lebanon

PART IV: Q&A

PART V: CLOSING REMARKS

Prof. Azza Karam, Secretary General, Religions for Peace

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Mr. Pietro Bartoli at pbartoli@rfp.org or Ms. Lexie Ruth Mitchell at lrmitchell@rfp.org.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

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 Freedom of Religion or Belief, please visit unforb.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.

Pan-African Psychology Union Leadership Summit

On March 16, join global and continental leaders on Zoom to discuss psychology in your country, Africa, and the rest of the world.

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEpdO6trTsrGdT7YjBQusmmGwMRKnaUywr3

PAPU’s mission is to be a collaborative union of psychological societies and psychologists in Africa committed to scholarship and human development in our communities, countries, Africa and the World. Learn more about the Pan-African Psychology Union here.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Social Development, please visit ngosocdev.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Mental Health, please visit ngomentalhealth.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

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

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.

social development

Recent Posts