Multilingualism Thematic Meeting
2023-06-12 09:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
The NGO Committee on Language and Languages and the Study Group on Language and the United Nations together with the Permanent Missions of Andorra, Burundi, Canada, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, and Spain and the Permanent Observer Mission for the International Organization of la Francophonie will hold a special meeting with the theme of Building Common Understanding through Multilingualism.
The four-hour meeting will take place in a virtual environment to maximize opportunities for participation globally. The President of the General Assembly and other senior leaders, Member States, Representatives of the Group of Francophone Ambassadors and of the Group of Friends of Spanish, Observer Missions, UN entities, ECOSOC-accredited civil society organizations with a focus on multilingualism, and scientific experts will deliver statements in relation to the aims of the thematic meeting.
The meeting will take place on 12 June 2023 from 09:00-13:00 EDT/New York via Zoom. Interpretation in the six official languages of the United Nations will be organized by the NGO Committee on Language and Languages using volunteer civil society interpreters. Esperanto interpretation will be provided by the Universal Esperanto Association.
Interested individuals from UN entities, civil society, academia, intergovernmental organizations, among others may register to observe the meeting by completing this general registration form no later than 9 June. The concept note is available in English, French, and Spanish below.

The concept note is available in English, Esperanto, French, and Spanish below.

Concept Note – EN
Concept Note – EO
Concept Note – ES
Concept Note – FR

CoNGO Notes: For information about the collaborative work of NGOs on the above issues, visit the substantive committees under the auspices of CoNGO. For specific information about the NGO Committee on Language and Languages, email its Chair:

Chair: Francis M. Hult | Universal Esperanto Association | UEA | fmhult@umbc.edu

Launch Event: Maastricht Principles on the Human Rights of Future Generations
2023-07-13 15:30 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Church Center for the UN, 777 United Nations Plaza, 2nd Floor, New York, NY, 10017-3521, United States
PLEASE REGISTER HERE.
HERE’S THE DIRECT LINK TO FOLLOW ONLIZE VIA ZOOM: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_sUGt06LUTtycW8rb4IU6Hw
INTERPRETATION IN ENGLISH, SPANISH AND FRENCH AVAILABLE ONLINE.
EVENT WILL BE LIVE STREAMED ON CoNGO YouTube Channel

Facilitation: Liberato Bautista (CoNGO–Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations)

Panelists:
H.E Mariza Chan Valverde (Ambassador of Costa Rica to the UN in New York)
Mr. Thomas Lammar (Counsellor, Human Rights, Permanent Mission of Luxembourg to the United Nations)

Mr. Carroll Muffett (Center for International Environmental Law)
Dr.Jur. Ana María Suárez Franco (FIAN)
Mr. Christian Courtis (Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights)
Mr. Jan Lönn (NGO Committee on Development, Geneva, and ISMUN)
CONCEPT NOTE
Already in the 1970s and 1980s, there was a growing understanding that a ”business as usual” model was exposing the Earth, present generations (particularly children and youth) as well future generations. In recent times, these threats have multiplied. They include the triple environmental crisis of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss; the exceeding of “planetary boundaries” through unsustainable patterns of production and consumption; global health threats such as the Covid-19 pandemic; inadequately controlled and regulated new technologies; the scourge of war and the deployment of weapons of mass destruction, global conflict and the outbreak of war; and the erosion of long-established norms of democratic governance and civil and political rights in many countries. These and a range of other developments are posing profound threats to the ability of future generations to enjoy all internationally recognised human rights.
Despite the gravity of the human rights threats faced by future generations and a rapidly evolving scholarship on this subject, there has not been enough attention to the human rights of future generations within the UN and other multilateral fora. The time was thus ripe to build on three prior Maastricht initiatives that made major contributions to the development of human rights law: The Limburg Principles on the Implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1986); the Maastricht Guidelines on Violations of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1997); and the Maastricht Principles on Extraterritorial Obligations of States in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (2011). The fourth Maastricht project thus focuses on addressing the major gap in human rights protection – the human rights of future generations.
The Maastricht Principles, adopted on the 3rd of February 2023, seek both to consolidate and develop existing human rights standards to enhance the protection and fulfillment of the human rights of future generations. They provide a valuable guide to ensure that any action to strengthen solidarity with future generations is in line with international human rights law. It is hoped that the Principles will influence national and regional international governance processes, decision-making, standard-setting and jurisprudence, as well as promote social mobilization to advance the human rights of future generations. Their legal foundations can be found in international instruments, national legislative frameworks, and in Indigenous Peoples’ laws.
Human rights experts will present the motivation, the main debates and processes that led to their adoption, and key themes in the Principles. They will discuss with States representatives opportunities to better protect these human rights, including in the context of UN processes, such as the ongoing advisory proceedings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) concerning human rights and intergenerational equity in the context of climate or the preparation of the Summit of the Future to be convened by the UN Secretary-General in 2024.
Reference: The Maastricht Principles on the Human Rights of Future Generations (Extract from the Report “Spotlight on Global Multilateralism,” Global Policy Forum)

IFA Global Cafe | Registration OPEN for Friday 4 August 2023
2023-08-04 07:00 - 08:00 (America/New_York)
Greetings,
Are you interested in advancing human-centred policies that address the needs of ageing populations? The International Federation on Ageing invites you to join us for our upcoming Global Cafe sessions. These sessions provide an opportunity for participants to engage in meaningful dialogue and share insights on a range of topics related to ageing. As an organization, we are committed to viewing all workstreams through the lens of the four action areas of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing, and in doing so, we strive to develop a common agenda that influences and shapes age-related policies.
We cordially invite you to participate in our forthcoming Global Cafe event, which offers an opportunity to engage in a significant discourse. Our upcoming session will center on “Education and advocacy to improve access to care,” featuring esteemed guest Mr. Seth Ginsberg, Co-founder and President Global Healthy Living Foundation.
We would be honoured to have you join us for this enlightening conversation.

Date and Time:

Friday, 4 August 2023
7:00 – 8:00 a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time)

Moderator:

Dr. Jane Barratt
IFA Secretary General

Register for the IFA Global Café

For any questions or concerns please contact apatrick@ifa.ngo
Kind regards,
Communications Team
International Federation on Ageing

CoNGO Notes: For information about the collaborative work of NGOs on the above issues, visit the substantive committees under the auspices of CoNGO.

Invitation to Participate Virtually: ASPBAE International Youth Day Celebration
2023-08-11 00:00 (America/New_York)
Dear Colleagues,
Greetings of peace and solidarity!
In celebration of the International Youth Day (IYD), ASPBAE is organising a virtual conversation involving youth representatives from the Asia Pacific on 14 August (Monday) at 14:00-16:00 Manila.
The theme of this year’s IYD is ‘Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World’ as such, ASPBAE’s event will feature short presentations and sharing of initiatives advancing education for sustainable development with the involvement and engagement of young people.

To join our online event, please click the zoom meeting link below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82738152388?pwd=[REDACTED]

Meeting ID: 827 3815 2388
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Thank you and looking forward for your participation!

Sincerely,

ASPBAE Secretariat
Unit 106 Sterten Place Condominium, 116 Maginhawa Street,
Teachers Village East, Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines.
Tel/Fax: 632 8441 4594
Email: aspbae@gmail.com
Web: http://www.aspbae.org

CoNGO Notes: For information about the collaborative work of NGOs on the above issues, visit the substantive committees under the auspices of CoNGO. Visit here for specific information:
NGO Committee on Children’s RightsCo-Chair: Margaretha Jones | International Humanist and Ethical Union | marjones@nyc.rr.com
Co-Chair: Therese Folkes Plair | tfpisc@hotmail.com
NGO Committee on Intergenerational Solidarity
Vice Chair: Susanne Seperson | Generations United | susanneseperson@gmail.com

Third CoNGO Global Thematic Webinar: Gender Justice, Youth, and Intra-/Intergenerational Justice and Solidarity for Future Generations
2023-08-31 09:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York)
Register here for online participation.
The webinar will be conducted in English, Spanish, French and Arabic.
CONCEPT NOTE
(Version 4.5)
1. The Civil Society Summit on Substantive Issues, “Shaping the Future: The UN We Need for the World We Want,” by CoNGO on 8 October 2021, highlighted global justice among all humanity’s significant global critical concerns. The Summit brought together over 1,000 participants worldwide to contribute experience and competencies, share doubts about our current world, and collectively articulate aspirations and proposals we must achieve for the world we want. The Civil Society Summit was rich in outlining concepts and actions needed to shape the future.
2. As a direct outcome, the CoNGO General Assembly resolved to use the outcome of the Summit—the Synthesis Report—as a substantive basis for CoNGO’s programmatic direction, especially highlighting it in 2023, CoNGO’s 75th anniversary year. It agreed to convene a series of six high-level global thematic webinars throughout 2023 to highlight and engage a global constituency on the critical themes articulated at the Summit and to elaborate on the agenda, responses, and actions necessary to “define the present, shape the future, and make the change now.” This latter phrase is the anniversary’s theme.
3. The first webinar (March 2, 2023) focused on social justice, particularly migration, racial, and health justice. The second webinar (June 5, 2023) focused on pursuing global justice and solidarity, particularly realizing Agenda 2030, sustainable development and humanitarian action. This third iteration of the thematic webinar series (August 31, 2023) focuses on gender justice, youth and intergenerational solidarity, with a specific highlight on the responsibility of the present generation to protect and promote the human rights of future generations. The fourth webinar scheduled for Sept. 7 will focus on peace and the threats to the security and sustainability of people and the planet. Other webinars will focus on UN-NGO relations in revitalizing multilateralism and addressing the erosion and shrinking of civil spaces for democratic discourse.
4. The Synthesis Report emphasized the intersections of gender and other issues. Peace is not only the absence of war but the presence of justice in society. It stressed that “gender equality and justice foster conditions that make peace possible for all…Gender equality and justice foster conditions that make peace possible for all.” It also asserted that “the climate-gender-youth intersection requires our full engagement, recognizing that women and girls consistently carry the main social burdens” and that “a people-centered approach [is] crucial [in]…address[ing] the existing inequities in access to health, education, social protection and employment.” “Financing must also be gender-transformative,” the report added. “Human security includes protection for the vulnerable, gender justice, redress for victims, empowerment for rights holders and accountability for perpetrators of human rights violations. Human security is closely linked with Agenda 2030 and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.”
5. This third webinar will explore further what the Synthesis Report meant by advocating for Governments “to endorse (and fund) the Secretary-General’s intention to appoint a Special Envoy for Future Generations.” It is recalled that the 2014 CoNGO General Assembly supported a similar proposal, then entitled Ombudsman for Future Generations). CoNGO will “engage its membership in the shaping and empowering future generations as envisaged by the UN SG’s “Our Common Agenda,” including the proposed convening in 2024 of a Summit of the Future. “A robust, responsible and responsive UN – and multilateralism itself – must invest in our children and youth,” the Synthesis Report stressed. These will guide discussions on intergenerational solidarity for future generations, including an outcome document that NGOs want to address both in the drafting process and the substance of what is planned as the “Pact for the Future.” The webinar will also examine the key takeaways of the ECOSOC Youth Forum 2023 proposals.
6. The keynote presentations will address the webinar topics, while three panels will address specific issues. Panel 1 will focus on gender justice in a transformed multilateralism. This panel will address gender equality as a fundamental human right and how a multilateral approach to gender justice with a transformative framework will influence societies’ economic, political, and social transformation. Panel 2 is a roundtable discussion with nine young people about the sources of their fears today and their hopes for the future. Panel 3 will explore the main principles that should serve as fundaments to ensure that states’ human rights obligations frame solidarity with future generations. The panel will address the tensions between the rights of present and future generations, will define how the human rights of future generations should relate to the present, especially in the context of an unequal world, will explore how to apply intra- and intergenerational justice to public policies and legislative processes, and how to protect the use of the concept of solidarity with future generations in a way that does not undermine women’s rights and gender justice.
PROVISIONAL PROGRAM
9:00 Anniversary Greetings by CoNGO 75th-Anniversary Honorary Co-Chairs

Gillian Sorensen (Former UN Assistant Secretary-General for External Relations)
Patrick Rea (ret.) (Grand Master Emeritus, Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem, OSMTH)

9:04 Opening Remarks

Liberato Bautista (President of CoNGO and Assistant General Secretary for United Nations and International Affairs of The United Methodist Church—General Board of Church and Society | Philippines | USA)

9:10 Keynote Addresses
The keynotes will connect UN and NGO perspectives on gender, youth and intra- and intergenerational justice and solidarity with a view in mind to contributing to the sharpening of both the discourse and action plans related to the UN Secretary General’s “Our Common Agenda,” the SDG Summit (2023), the UN Summit of the Future (2024) and related conferences and documents.
Moderator: Liberato Bautista (President, CoNGO)
Panelists:

Jayathma Wickramanayake (UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth | Sri Lanka)
Kim Won-soo (Rector, Global Academy for Future Civilizations, Kyung Hee University | International Advisory Board Chair, Taejae Future Consensus Institute | Former UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs | Republic of Korea)
Hibaaq Osman (CEO and Founder, Karama; Member, UN Women’s Global Civil Society Advisory Group | Somalia)
Abramo A. Chabib (Executive Director, Italian Diplomatic Academy | Italy)

9:45 Panel 1: Gender Justice in a Transformed Multilateralism
This panel will address gender equality as a fundamental human right in achieving peaceful societies with full human potential and sustainable development. To achieve gender equality, a multilateral approach to gender justice with a transformative framework will influence societies’ economic, political, and social transformation. Gender inequality is intergenerational as oppression and discrimination pass on from a young girl to womanhood, institutionalizing the systemic oppression of women. Gender is part of the broader socio-political-economic-cultural context analysis, which includes class, race, poverty level, ethnic group, sexuality, reproductive rights and age. To have a secure, sustainable, and transformative future, gender justice must be addressed at socio-political-economic levels in all countries.
Moderator: Pamela Morgan (Co-Chair, NGO Committee on Status of Women, New York; Zonta International | USA)
Panelists:

Elizabeth Cox (Former Regional Head, Pacific Multi-Country Office of United Nations Women | Australia)
Indai Sajor (Senior Gender Advisor | Former Convenor, Women’s International War Crimes Tribunal | Philippines)
Sylvie Jacqueline Ndongmo (International President, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, WILPF | Cameroon)
Lilly Be’Soer (Founder and Director, Voice for Change | Member, UN Women’s Civil Society Advisory Group | Papua New Guinea)

10:25 Q&A
Rapporteur: Mara Cohen (Montclair State University | New Jersey, USA)
10:35 Panel 2:
Youth: Sources of Their Fears Today and Their Hopes for the Future
Any talk of the future cannot escape a discussion with young people about the present, significantly if the present and the future affect their lives today. This panel will address the sources of fears of young people today and how that is affecting their current lives and their hopes. Nine young professionals will converse with the CoNGO President about their fears today and hopes for the future. The panel is organized so that youth may also demonstrate their strategic role in addressing issues perpetuating gender inequality by promoting gender justice, which is the systemic redistribution of and access to power and opportunities for people of all genders without discrimination. The youth should play a significant role in breaking the inequalities between young women and men in responsibilities assigned, activities undertaken, access to and control over resources, and decision-making opportunities. If the hope of the future is in the youth, then their present condition matters, and the fight must be waged today against these inequalities that permeate all aspects of their lives.
Moderator: Liberato Bautista (CoNGO President)
Roundtable Discussion with French Young Professionals:

Elia Chevrier (Law, culture and international relations)
Jessica Champenois (Local and international solidarity, cooperation and social innovation)
Lea Hadjadene (Political scientist, social policy and innovation | education, migration and discrimination)
Victoria Charreyron (Human rights and international criminal justice)
Alice Lureau (Marine Protected Areas Project Officer | French Biodiversity Agency)
Chloe Moullec (Political scientist, international relations, diplomacy and conflict resolution)
Alice Fouillouze (Specialist in human-nature relationship and systemic societal changes for sustainability)
Cyprien Brabant (Industrial ecology, engineering, carbon emissions reduction, CSR)
Diane Ducleaux (Expert in international law, common law and the American legal system)

Live Intervention:

Angelica Tostes (World Student Christian Federation | Student Christian Movement | Brazil)
Pauline Masylgeline Mbong (Young WILPF Communications and Campaign Co-coordinator | Cameroon)

11:25 Q&A
Rapporteur: Kangwa Mabuluki (General Secretary, All Africa Theological Education by Extension Association | Former Co-General Secretary, World Student Christian Federation | Zambia)
11:30 Panel 3: Intra- and Intergenerational Justice and Solidarity for Future Generations
This panel will explore the main principles that should serve as fundaments to ensure that states’ human rights obligations frame solidarity with future generations. The panelists will speak about how to solve the tensions between the rights of present and future generations and define how the human rights of future generations should relate to the present, especially in the context of an unequal world. Panelists will explore how to apply intra- and intergenerational justice to public policies and legislative processes, considering both the short and long term. The panel will also explore how to protect the use of the concept of solidarity with future generations in a way that does not undermine women’s rights and gender justice. The panel recognizes that gender equality is, first and foremost, a human rights issue. Equality and non-discrimination, regardless of gender and race, are fundamental human rights principles. If we don’t address the violence and systemic discrimination against women today, the cycle of violence is bound to be repeated, and future generations will continue to suffer.
Moderator: Ana Maria Suarez Franco (FIAN International | Colombia | Switzerland)

The Maastricht Principles on the Human Rights of Future Generations: Prof Sandra Liebenberg (Distinguished Professor & HF Oppenheimer Chair in Human Rights Law, Stellenbosch University | South Africa)
A Universal Declaration of Human Responsibilities of the Present Generations Towards Future Generations: Kenneth Stokes (President & CEO, World Sustainability Forum | USA)
Youth Perspective: Lucy Plummer (Youth Engagement Consultant & Practitioner – Social and Environmental Issues & UN Affairs, Soka Gakkai International | United Kingdom)

12:00 Q&A
Rapporteur: Susanne Seperson (Vice Chair, NGO Committee on Intergenerational Solidarity, Generations United: USA)
12:10 Break for Rapporteurs
12:15 Rapporteur’s Report in View of an Outcome Document
Lead Rapporteur: Cyril Ritchie (CoNGO First Vice President)
12:25 Closing Remarks by Liberato Bautista (President of CoNGO)
12:30 Webinar ends
HELPFUL RESOURCES

Our Common Agenda
Synthesis Report of the CoNGO Civil Society Summit on Substantive Issues
The Maastricht Principles on the Human Rights of Future Generations
UNESCO Declaration on the Responsibility of Present Generations Towards Future Generations
A Universal Declaration of Human Responsibilities of the Present Generations Towards Future Generations
Young People’s Proposals for the 2023 SDG Summit (Key Takeaways from the Youth and the SDGs Online Consultation

Fourth CoNGO Global Thematic Webinar on Peace, Human Security and Sustainability for People and the Planet
2023-09-07 09:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York)
Time Zone Calculator
Register here for online participation.
The webinar will be conducted in English, Spanish, French and Arabic.
CONCEPT NOTE

The Civil Society Summit on Substantive Issues, “Shaping the Future: The UN We Need for the World We Want,” by CoNGO on 8 October 2021, highlighted global justice among all humanity’s significant global critical concerns. The Summit brought together over 1,000 participants worldwide to contribute experience and competencies, share doubts about our current world, and collectively articulate aspirations and proposals we must achieve for the world we want. The Civil Society Summit was rich in outlining concepts and actions needed to shape the future.

As a direct outcome, the CoNGO General Assembly resolved to use the outcome of the Summit—the Synthesis Report—as a substantive basis for CoNGO’s programmatic direction, especially highlighting it in 2023, CoNGO’s 75th anniversary year. The assembly agreed to convene a series of six high-level global thematic webinars throughout 2023 to highlight and engage a global constituency on the critical themes articulated at the Summit and to elaborate on the agenda, responses, and actions necessary to implement the anniversary theme: “defining the present, shaping the future, and making the change now.”

The first webinar (March 2, 2023) focused on social justice, particularly migration, racial, and health justice. The second webinar (June 5, 2023) focused on pursuing global justice and solidarity, particularly realizing Agenda 2030, sustainable development and humanitarian action. The third iteration of the webinar series (August 31, 2023) will focus on gender justice, youth and intra- and intergenerational justice and solidarity for future generations. This fourth webinar will focus on peace, human security and the threats to the security and sustainability of people and the planet. Other webinars will focus on UN-NGO relations in revitalizing multilateralism and addressing the erosion and shrinking of civil spaces for democratic discourse.

This fourth webinar will continue what previous webinars explored—engaging CoNGO’s constituency into a deeper dive into the UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s “Our Common Agenda,” including the proposed convening in 2024 of a Summit of the Future, which is projected to offer what is being called the “Pact for the Future.” The webinar will also examine the UN SG’s Policy Brief on A New Agenda for Peace. The policy brief included recommendations “to achieve more “effective multilateral action for peace and security, based on international law, for a world in transition.” The policy brief also outlines “an extensive and ambitious set of recommendations that recognize the inter-linked nature of many of the challenges we face. A New Agenda for Peace is framed around the core principles of trust, solidarity, and universality that are the foundations of the Charter and of a stable world. It presents twelve concrete sets of proposals for action in five priority areas.”

The CoNGO Civil Society Summit of October 2021 made the following recommendations that have only gained importance in the interval. “Peace is the basis of all, be it the inner peace of the person, her outer peace with her surroundings, peace among nations, and peace with our environment – our surroundings such as plants, animals, climate. If peace is missing, progress on all the other SDGs is immediately lost…No country, item, or other Goal is as fundamental, as paramount, as peace…All SDGs are interwoven: we must start with peace.” World Academy of Art and Science understands that a growing sense of insecurity pervades the lives of people around the world. Peace is an essential precondition for human security, but it is no longer a sufficient standard for governing international relations. People everywhere aspire for security at the personal level and the national security that addresses the needs and aspirations of every individual. The concept of Human Security affirmed by the UN General Assembly Resolution includes food, health, economic, political, ecological, community and individual. It is a people-centered approach that unites all 17 SDGs and the cross-cutting theme that links the peace, security, health and well-being of humanity with the stability and health of the planet.

The Webinar on September 7 will take place some ten days before the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development under the auspices of the UN General Assembly (also known as the SDG Summit). The Webinar discussions will address the Political Declaration to be adopted by the Summit and contribute to any final emphases. The following are relevant considerations. Paragraph 20 of the draft Political Declaration states, “Sustainable development cannot be realized without peace and security, and peace and security will be at risk without sustainable development. We reaffirm the need to build peaceful, just and inclusive societies that provide equal access to justice and that are based on respect for human rights (including the right to development), on effective rule of law and good governance at all levels and on transparent, effective and accountable institutions.” Paragraph 26 of the draft Political Declaration states, “In many parts of the world, armed conflicts and instability have persisted or intensified, causing untold human suffering and undermining the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals. Our efforts to prevent and resolve conflicts and foster peaceful, just and inclusive societies have often been fragmented, insufficient, and hindered in the current global context.”

PROGRAM AND SCHEDULE
9:00 AM Anniversary Greetings by CoNGO 75th-Anniversary Honorary Co-Chairs

Gillian Sorensen (Former UN Assistant Secretary-General for External Relations | USA)
Patrick Rea (Grand Master Emeritus, Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem, OSMTH | USA)

9:04 AM Opening Remarks

Liberato Bautista (President of CoNGO | Fellow, World Academy of Art and Science (WAAS) | Assistant General Secretary for United Nations and International Affairs, General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church | Philippines and USA)
Garry Jacobs (President and CEO of World Academy of Art and Science (WAAS) |Executive Chair of HS4A Campaign | USA and India)

9:18 AM Keynote Speeches:
Moderator: Alberto Zucconi (President, Person Centered Approach Institute, Italy | Chair, Board of Trustees, World Academy of Art and Science (WAAS) | Secretary General, World University Consortium | Italy )

Ivan Šimonović (Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Croatia to the United Nations in New York | Croatia)
Usha Rao-Monari (Former UN Under-Secretary-General and UNDP Associate Administrator | India)
Lilia Solano (Vice Minister for Dialogue, Equality, and Human Rights, Republic of Colombia | Colombia)

Rapporteurs: Cyril Ritchie (First Vice President, CoNGO | Switzerland) and Janani Ramanathan (Secretary General, World Academy of Art and Science | Senior Research Analyst, The Mother’s Service Society | Director, World University Consortium | India)
9:55 AM Panel 1: Human Security
Moderator: Isabella D. Bunn (Research Fellow in Governance and Global Ethics, University of Oxford | United Kingdom)
Panelists:

Phoebe Koundouri (Professor, Economics and Director of ReSEES Laboratory, School of Economics, Athens University
of Economics and Business | Director, Sustainable Development Research Unit, ATHENA Information
Technology Research Center | Co-chair, SDSN Europe | Greece)
Donato Kiniger-Passigli (Vice President, World Academy of Art and Science (WAAS) | Co-Chair of HS4A Campaign | Italy)
Ketan Patel (Chairman, Force for Good | CEO, Founder, Greater Pacific Capital | Formerly Managing Director,
Head of Strategic Group, Goldman Sachs | Formerly Partner, KPMG | United Kingdom)

Rapporteur: Hiro Sakurai (Soka Gakkai International | Japan and USA)
10:30 AM Q&A
10:40 AM Panel 2: Sustainable Peace
Moderator: Alyn Ware (Peace educator and nuclear disarmament consultant | Co-Founder of UNFOLD ZERO | Aotearoa-New Zealand and Czech Republic)
Panelists:

Saber Hossain Chowdhury (Special Envoy to Honorable Prime Minister on Environment and Climate Change | Chairman,
Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change | 28th President, Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) | Bangladesh)
Rebecca A. Shoot (Executive Director, Citizens for Global Solutions | USA)
Jonathan Granoff (President, Global Security Institute; Permanent Observer to the UN, International Anti-Corruption Academy | USA)
Dora Damjanovic (Ambassador for HS4A Campaign | Junior WAAS Fellow | Croatia)

Rapporteur:

Helga Kerschbaum (Second Vice Chair, NGO Committee on Peace Vienna | Pax Romana | International Catholic Movement for Intellectual and Cultural Affairs and International Movement of Catholic Students | Austria)

11:12 AM Q&A
11:22 AM Panel 3: Sustainability of People and the Planet
Moderator: Christopher Ferguson (International Visiting Professor at the Universidad Reformada, Barranquilla, Colombia | Canada)
Panelists:

Amanda Ellis (Senior Director Global Partnerships, Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory | Executive Director, Asia-Pacific, Arizona State University Global Institute of Sustainability and Innovation | WAAS Fellow | New Zealand | USA)
Alexandra M. Goossens-Ishii (Programme Coordinator for environment, climate change and biodiversity | Soka Gakkai International | SGI | Switzerland)
Beatriz Schulthess (Founder and President of Indigenous Peoples Ancestral Spiritual Council | Member of Indigenous Qulla/Kolla Nation | Honorary President of Religions for Peace | Costa Rica)
Luisa Romero Muñoz (Kofi Annan Changemaker | Kofi Annan Foundation | Colombia)

Rapporteurs:

Lucy Sant’Anna Takagi (Affiliate UN Representative, Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues | SPSSI | USA)
Maria Riehl (Chair, NGO Committee on Peace, Vienna | Women’s Federation for World Peace International | Austria)

12:02 AM Q&A
12:12 PM Report of the Chief Rapporteurs:

Cyril Ritchie (CoNGO) and Janani Ramanathan (WAAS)

12:22 PM Closing Remarks
Liberato Bautista and Garry Jacobs

Call for Registration: Workshop: Leveraging civil society engagement at the CND thematic discussions in October
2023-09-07 15:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Dear Civil Society Representatives,
The UNODC Civil Society Unit, in cooperation with the Vienna NGO Committee on Drugs (VNGOC) is pleased to invite you to participate in the online workshop “The Road Towards 2024 – how to effectively engage in the CND thematic discussions”, which will be held online on 7 September 2023 from 3pm to 4.30pm CET (Vienna time) via Zoom.

The online training is intended for civil society organizations interested in participating in the upcoming thematic discussions of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) and will explain how civil society organisations can meaningfully engage. Aimed especially at NGO representatives who haven’t previously participated in CND thematic discussions the workshop will also give guidance on the speaker selection process including tips on submitting relevant abstracts.
Agenda
· Opening remarks by Ms. Mirella Dummar Frahi, Chief, UNODC Civil Society Unit
· Overview of the processes towards the CND mid-term review in 2024 and civil society engagement therein
· Topics of the October thematic discussions & discussion guide: challenges to focus on
· Applying for a speaking slot at the thematic discussions – How To

Simultaneous interpretation will be available in French, Russian and Spanish, and there will be plenty of room for questions & answers throughout the workshop.
Register on Zoom to receive your individual link to join the meeting:
https://bit.ly/3Ky4z1K
We are looking forward to welcoming you at the event.
Kind regards,

The UNODC Civil Society Unit
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
Vienna, Austria
T. +43 1 26060-5582 or +43 1 26060-4620
E. unodc-ngounit@un.org

CoNGO Notes: For information about the collaborative work of NGOs on the above issues, visit the substantive committees under the auspices of CoNGO. Visit here for specific information about the Vienna NGO Committee on Drugs.

A Life Free from Violence, Abuse and Neglect in Older Age (A Human Rights Council Side Event)
2023-09-15 14:00 - 15:00 (Europe/Helsinki)
Click HERE to join.

TRILATERAL PARTNERSHIP OF REGIONAL FAITH-BASED NETWORKS FOR THE SDGs: High Level Meeting at the SDG Summit 2023
2023-09-18 13:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York)
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TRILATERAL PARTNERSHIP OF REGIONAL FAITH-BASED NETWORKS FOR THE SDGs:
HIGH-LEVEL MEETING AT THE SDG SUMMIT 2023

“INSPIRING FAITH, HOPE AND TRANSFORMATIVE ACTION
TO ACCELERATE PROGRESS TOWARDS THE SDGs”
NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 18, 2023

CONCEPT NOTE
Background
The 2023 SDG Summit of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), under the auspices of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), will serve as a critical platform to review and follow up on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As the world grapples with multiple and interlocking crises, such as climate change, conflicts, poverty, inequality, and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, it becomes imperative to respond with transformative and accelerated actions to achieve the SDGs by the target year 2030.
Eight years after the adoption of the 2030 Agenda and the 17 SGDs, most of the world’s low- income countries (LICs) have been struggling to achieve even a single goal, including the two key targets: the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger by 2030. The Sustainable Development Report (SDR), released by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) on June 21, 2023, has singled that there is a risk that the gap in SDG outcomes between the LICs and the world’s high-income countries (HICs) will be larger in 2030 than when the goals were universally agreed upon in 2015. Half way to 2030, the SDGs are seriously off track, with the poor and highly vulnerable countries suffering the most.
In the face of this scenario, there is a need to instill faith and hope and embrace moral and spiritual imperatives to advance the SDGs with a sense of purpose and resilience. Recognizing the power of interreligious cooperation, the Trilateral Partnership of Regional Faith-based Networks for the SDGs, from Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean, has emerged as a catalyst for the faith engagement with the 2030 Agenda. In line with this goal, the Trilateral Partnership is preparing for a high-level meeting to be held during the 2023 SDG Summit. The High-Level Metting aims to leverage the expertise, experiences, and collective strength of these regional networks to inspire faith and hope, promote moral and spiritual imperatives, and provide high-level political advocacy for transformative action.
The 2023 SDG Summit paves the way for the highly anticipated Summit of the Future, scheduled for 2024, which holds the potential to breathe new life into the multilateral system so that it can deliver on the promises of the United Nations Charter and the 2030 Agenda. The Summit of the Future will be a once-in-a-generation opportunity to enhance cooperation on critical challenges and address gaps in global governance, reaffirm existing commitments including to the SDGs
and the United Nations Charter, and move towards a reinvigorated multilateral system that is
better positioned to positively impact people’s lives.
Objectives

Review and Reflection: The High-Level Meeting will offer a space for the Trilateral Partnership to review and reflect on the progress made in implementing the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. It will also examine the challenges faced, lessons learned, and best practices collected from the regional faith-based networks and their member organizations, highlighting their unique contributions and approaches.

Accelerating Action: It will explore strategies and initiatives that can accelerate the implementation of the SDGs in the face of multiple crises, though actionable recommendations for transformative actions that can be undertaken by religious communities and faith-based and interreligious organizations, including children, youth and women interfaith networks.

Strengthening Collaboration: It will provide a platform for fostering collaboration and synergy among the Trilateral Partnership, regional faith-based networks for the SDGs and their member organizations, United Nations (UN) agencies, governments, and other stakeholders. Participants will identify opportunities for joint initiatives, knowledge sharing, and resource mobilization to enhance the impact of multi-religious cooperation on implementing the SDGs.

Inspiring Resilience, Faith and Hope: It will affirm actions and processes that inspire resilience and empower religious individuals and communities, including children, youth and women, to take action towards the SDGs. It will recognize the need to nurture faith and hope and tap into moral and spiritual imperatives as sources of motivation and strength in the face of challenges. This objective includes providing a platform for sharing stories of resilience, highlighting the transformative power of faith and hope in driving SDGs efforts.

Format and Activities

Opening Remarks: Eminent speakers, including representatives from the Trilateral Partnership, the United Nations, and relevant other organizations, will deliver opening remarks, underscoring the pressing need and significance of inspiring faith and hope and expediting efforts towards the realization of the 2030 Agenda.

Panel Discussions: The High-Level Meeting will feature interactive panel discussions with representatives from the regional faith-based networks for the SDGs and their member organizations, and UN agencies, sharing their experiences, challenges, and success stories in implementing the SDGs. Panelists will explore innovative approaches, partnerships, and strategies that have proven effective in addressing crises and driving sustainable development.

Closing Remarks: The concluding remarks will identify practical actions for transformative change and will summarize the key outcomes and recommendations from the High-Level Meeting, emphasizing the commitment of the Trilateral Partnership, regional faith-based networks for the SDGs and their member organizations, and other faith-based and interreligious organizations to inspire faith and hope, nurture resilience, and to accelerate action towards the 2030 Agenda.

Children and Youth’s Visual Presentations: Members from children and youth interfaith networks will be encouraged to create videos to share their perspectives on the SDGs, providing a powerful medium to convey their messages, experiences, and aspirations.

High-Level Political Advocacy: A dedicated segment will focus on generating high-level political advocacy for transformative actions towards the SDGs. Participants will engage in discussions to formulate a statement to be presented to decision-makers and policymakers at the 2023 SDG Summit and beyond.

Networking Opportunities: The High-Level Meeting will provide networking space, allowing participants to connect, share experiences, and explore potential collaborations for advancing the SDGs.

Expected Outcomes

Enhanced Awareness: The High-Level Meeting will increase awareness among decision- makers, policymakers, and stakeholders about the critical role of religious communities and faith-based and interreligious organizations in achieving the SDGs and responding to multiple crises.

Actionable Recommendations: It will produce actionable recommendations and high- level political guidance for transformative actions, providing a roadmap for stakeholders to accelerate progress towards the SDGs.

Strengthened Collaboration: It will foster collaboration and partnerships between the Trilateral Partnership and other stakeholders, leading to joint initiatives and resource mobilization to achieve the SDGs.

Policy Influence: It will contribute to the policy discourse at the 2030 SDG Summit, ensuring that the voices and perspectives of religious communities and faith-based and interreligious organizations are integrated into decision-making processes and actions for the SDGs.

Renewed Sense of Resilience, Faith and Hope: By tapping into faith and hope, and moral and spiritual imperatives, it will ignite a collective motivation and strength, ultimately driving impactful and sustainable progress towards the SDGs.

Participants
The High-Level Meeting will bring together representatives from the Trilateral Partnership, regional faith-based networks for the SDGs and their member organizations, religious communities and other faith-based and interreligious organizations, UN agencies, governments, civil society organizations, academia, and other stakeholders engaged in SDGs initiatives.
Date, Time, and Venue
It is scheduled to be held on September 18, 2023, at 1:30-6:00 pm, during the 2023 SDG Summit, at the Baha’i International Community (BIC) New York Office. This shall be preceded by light lunch at 1:00 pm.
Organizing and Cooperating Organizations
The High-Level Meeting is jointly organized by the Trilateral Partnership and regional faith-based networks for the SDGs, from Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean, in cooperation with Religions for Peace, Arigatou International, the International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID), the International Partnership on Religion and Sustainable Development (PaRD), ACT Alliance, World Vision International (WVI), the Baha’i International Community (BIC) and the Soka Gakkai International Office for United Nations (SGI).
The Trilateral Partnership brings together regional faith-based networks for the SDGs to build synergy for engagement and advocacy to advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). It is composed by the Africa Faith Leaders Initiative on SDGs (AFLI), the Asia-Pacific Faith-Based Coalition for Sustainable Development (APFC), and the Interreligious Alliance for the 2030 Agenda in Latin America and the Caribbean.
It provides a platform to: a) Build internetwork synergy to enable effective engagement and stronger coordination to ensure that all voices of faith actors are heard in all stages of follow up and review of the SDGs implementation at the global, regional and national levels; b) Strengthen regional and national partnerships of religious communities and faith-based and interreligious organizations for greater impact in advocacy for the SDGs; and c) Reflect on their engagement in the HLPF and the Regional Forums for Sustainable Development.
The Trilateral Partnership acts to amplify the voices of individuals and communities left behind, and to bring togheter and strengthen the efforts of the regional faith-based networks for the SDGs in pursuit of a fairer, more equitable world where men, women, boys, and girls, regardless of nationality or ethnicity, religion, gender, language or other status, can experience life free from the adversities of deeply running poverty, injustice, inequality, and threats to the environment.

Peace BAR Festival at Kyung Hee University
2023-09-21 09:00 - 16:30 (Asia/Tokyo)
Peace BAR Festival 2023
Peace or Collapse: Planetary Society at an Inflection Point
You are cordially invited to the Peace BAR Festival (PBF), a celebration to commemorate the UN International Day of Peace.
In celebration of the 42nd UN International Day of Peace, PBF 2023 presents the theme, “Peace or Collapse: Planetary Society at an Inflection Point.” As our global civilization navigates a profound period of transition, human society searches for solutions. Indeed, we stand at the intersection of crisis and opportunity on a level never before experienced.
The palpable climate catastrophes, escalating environmental and ecological crises, growing fear about nuclear conflict, uncertainties surrounding artificial intelligence, potential threats posed by advanced technology, and the recent acknowledgement of unidentified aerial phenomenon (UAP) after a prolonged period of debates – these represent just some of the global challenges stemming from the volatile synthesis of the earth and the human race, of nature and civilization. As these threats spread at an alarming speed, the survival of the human species, as well as reflection about what that survival would entail, demand our collective attention.
Confronting a tempest of the kind our civilization has never faced before, is it even possible to carve out a sustainable future? Which options must we consider, and which avenues remain unattainable? What should be reinforced, and what abandoned? As humanity grapples with a combination of crises and opportunities unprecedented in our history, it is our duty today to answer these questions, as part of our responsibility for the future.
Along with the global task with which humanity has been entrusted, PBF 2023 aims to formulate new narratives of hope and new types of praxis. We hope you will join us at an event that envisions a sustainable future for the future generation, and a better future for human civilization.

Program of Peace BAR Festival 2023

Peace or Collapse: Planetary Society at an Inflection Point
Date: Thursday, September 21th, 2023

Host
Kyung Hee University System

Organizer
Kyung Hee University Global Academy for Future Civilizations, Kyung Hee Cyber University Global Academy for Future Civilizations, Kyung Hee University Healthcare System Global Academy for Medical Science and Civilization

Commemoration for the International Day of Peace
Sept. 21th (Thursday) 09:00-09:30 (Korean Standard Time)
The vastness of the universe and the planet Earth and human society within it, along with climate, AI, nuclear issues, and UAP, compel us to profoundly reflect on the consciousness and politics that have driven human history. Beyond the recognition of the reality full of crisis and the lethargy of politics, what do we need to invent anew? What kind of human history will we rewrite alongside the narratives of Kant’s “neighborly love” and Hans Jonas’s “responsibility to future generations”?
Kyung Hee first proposed and led the creation of the United Nations International Day and Year of Peace. Through PBF 2023, we hope to explore a new paradigm of consciousness and politics for the future of global society. Kyung Hee University’s Miwon Institute of Peace and Chemistry, Kyung Hee University’s Future Civilization Institute, Kyung Hee Cyber University’s Future Civilization Institute, and Kyung Hee University Medical Center’s Medical Science and Civilization Institute will collaborate to find a new path for a transitional civilization.

1. Opening Announcement

Won-soo Kim,Rector of the Global Academy for Future Civilizations, Kyung Hee University

2. Progress Report on the International Day of Peace

Won-soo Kim,Rector of the Global Academy for Future Civilizations, Kyung Hee University

3. Welcoming Remarks

Inwon Choue,Chancellor of the Kyung Hee University System “The Future at a Crossroad, Horizons of Holistic Existence”

4. Commemorative Music

“Magnolia Blossoms”College of Music, Kyung Hee University Je Veux Vivre, Charles-François Gounod

Commemorative Lecture
Sept. 21 (THU) 09:30-10:00 am (Korean Standard Time)
Science and technology, including artificial intelligence and biotechnology, have changed every aspect of human life. They have advanced civilization. The future of civilization as imagined by humans has turned into a threat to human life itself. The uncertain future of superintelligence, the possibility of nuclear war, and the catastrophic climate crisis.
With this in mind, we invited Nick Bostrom, Professor of Philosophy at the University of Oxford, UK, to give a talk on the future of artificial intelligence. The topic of the lecture is “Challenges Along Path to AI Utopia”. Dr. Bostrom will discuss how to make science and technology compatible with universal human values and ethics, and how to contribute to the realization of peace in human society beyond specific countries and corporations.

1. Theme

Challenges Along Path to AI Utopia

2. Lecturer

Nick Bostrom,Professor of Philosophy at the University of Oxford

3. Moderator

Won-soo Kim,Rector of the Global Academy for Future Civilizations, Kyung Hee University

Commemorative Dialogue for the International Day of Peace
Sept. 21 (THU) 10:00-11:30 am (Korean Standard Time)
The universe has endowed us with infinite possibilities, but Earth’s resources are finite. As long as humans continue to face the existential threat of destroying the planet themselves, they will lose their future. Only a consciousness revolution on the planetary level, a major shift in politics, can change the historical civilizational framework. It was not the powerful or the victorious who changed human history. It was the efforts of millions of people. Both universities and citizens must recognize the crisis of the current situation and take action for a better future in their responsibility to the future. In this program, world-renowned scholars such as Inwon Choue, Chancellor of Kyung Hee University System, Nick Bostrom, Professor of Philosophy at Oxford University, and G. John Ikenberry, Eminent Scholar at Kyung Hee University, discuss what they believe is a new paradigm for consciousness and politics.

1. Theme

Peace or Collapse: Consciousness and Politics at an Inflection Point

2. Panel

Inwon Choue, Chancellor of the Kyung Hee University System
Nick Bostrom, Professor of Philosophy at the University of Oxford
G. John Ikenberry, Professor of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University

3. Moderator

SangJun Kim, Professor in the Graduate School of Public Policy and Civic Engagement, Kyung Hee University

Round Table Discussion Commemorating International Day of Peace
Sept. 21 (THU) 14:00-16:30 pm (Korean Standard Time)
There is an urgent need for a new transition plan to respond to a future society in crisis. The SDGs, which have been aiming for peace in human society along with material and economic prosperity, are being challenged by the urgency of the existential crisis of the global community, and a new direction is being called for. What should global citizens think and do to create a world where all beings living on Earth live together in harmony and peace? We will find the answer in the future vision and action plan for the Post-SDGs.

1. Theme

Path to Global Citizenship: Toward Post-SDGs

2. Presenters

Liberato C. Bautista, President, Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations(CoNGO)
Atsufumi Yokoi, Vice President, Okayama University | UNESCO Chairholder in Research and Education for Sustainable Development
Yao Yao, Director of China National Agency

2. Discussion

Daeshik Jo, Secretary General, Korea NGO Council for Overseas Development Cooperation
Woo-Kyun Lee, Co-Chair, Sustainable Development Solutions Network Korea
Dong-Ju Choi, President, Korea Academic Council on the United Nations System

3. Moderator

Ryan Song, Professor of law at Kyung Hee University, Graduate School of Legal Affaris/Law School

Download Brochure

CoNGO Notes: For information about the collaborative work of NGOs on the above issues, visit the substantive committees under the auspices of CoNGO.

See below for specific information:

NGO Committee on Disarmament, Peace and Security
NGO Committee on Disarmament (Geneva)
Chair: Hayley Ramsay-Jones | Soka Gakkai International | hayley.rj@sgi-ouna.org
NGO Committee on Peace in Vienna
Chair: Maria Riehl | WFWPI | mariariehl@gmx.at

(New York Event) Fulfilling the Promises of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for Older Persons: Across Generations ( Commemorating the United Nations International Day of Older Persons 2023)
2023-10-02 10:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
The celebration of the United Nations International Day of Older Persons is coming up on Monday, October 2nd. For those of you who registered to attend in person, we look forward to seeing you. If you will be following the event online Monday morning at 10am EDT, here is the link to UN Web TV:
UNIDOP on UN Web TV

Seventy-five years ago, this year, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, a monumental document in the history of human rights. Written by representatives from around the world with different legal, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds, it is the first document articulating the fundamental human rights that are meant to be universally protected. In recognition of this milestone, and looking to a future that delivers on the promise to ensure that all persons, including all older persons, fully enjoy their human rights and fundamental freedoms, the 33rd commemoration of the United Nations International Day of Older Persons will focus on the theme of “Fulfilling the Promises of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for Older Persons: Across Generations”.
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CoNGO Notes: For information about the collaborative work of NGOs on the above issues, visit the substantive committees under the auspices of CoNGO. Visit here for specific information about the NGO Committee on Ageing, New York, NGO Committee on Ageing Vienna, and NGO Committee on Ageing Geneva.

(Vienna Event) Violence and Abuse Affecting Older Persons: Prevention and Intervention (Commemorative Event for 2023 International Day of Older Persons)
2023-10-02 14:00 - 17:00 (Europe/Helsinki)
This is an in-person event. For those persons not able to attend in person,
an event a link will be sent to watch the recording of the presentations.
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CoNGO Notes: For information about the collaborative work of NGOs on the above issues, visit the substantive committees under the auspices of CoNGO. Visit here for specific information about the NGO Committee on Ageing, New York, NGO Committee on Ageing Vienna, and NGO Committee on Ageing Geneva.

"Civic Space and Sustainable Peace" - event with Special Rapporteur Clément Voule
2023-10-11 13:15 - 14:45 (America/New_York)
In-Person Registration
Online Registration

CoNGO Notes: For information about the collaborative work of NGOs on the above issues, visit the substantive committees under the auspices of CoNGO.

Hybrid meeting of the NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief
2023-10-25 10:30 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
Dear Friends,

We extend our warmest greetings and hope you have had a productive fall season. It is with great pleasure that we invite you to a hybrid meeting of the NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief on Wednesday, October 25th, from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm EDT. We will be pleased to hear from Dr. Nazila Ghanea, United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, who will discuss her forthcoming semiannual report and answer questions from members of the Committee. To attend this event either in person or virtually, please register in advance at the link below. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0ocOmrrzIqGNJCOwqeFksLpKOOu-Hd7utr

We are also pleased to share with you an invitation to Committee members from our friends at the Bahá’í International Community’s United Nations Office to participate in an event on the same day, from 1:00 to 2:30 pm EDT. For additional information and to register for this event, please click the registration link on the attached flyer. Please indicate your intention to participate in one or both events by registering by Wednesday, October 19th.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out. We hope you will be able to join us and look forward to seeing many of you at next week’s meetings.

Warm regards,

Jonathan K. Ammons
President

NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief
ngoforbny@gmail.com
917.288.7707 (mobile)

CoNGO Notes: For information about the collaborative work of NGOs on the above issues, visit the substantive committees under the auspices of CoNGO. Visit here for specific information about the NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief and NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion and Belief (Geneva).

INVITATION | Virtual Meeting on Girls' Education in Afghanistan With Dr. Sakeena Yacoobi
2023-10-26 13:15 - 14:30 (America/New_York)
You can register for the event here: https://forms.gle/1uUGj6twAQqBusDg8

CoNGO Notes: For information about the collaborative work of NGOs on the above issues, visit the substantive committees under the auspices of CoNGO. Visit here for specific information:

NGO Committee on Education, Learning and Literacy
NGO Working Group on Human Rights Education and Learning (Reports to the NGO Committee on Human Rights) (Geneva)
Chair: Claire de Lavernette | International Organization for the Right to Education and Freedom of Education | OIDEL | cdlavernette@oidel.org.

NGO Committee on Status of Women/New York
NGO Committee on Status of Women Vienna
NGO Committee on Status of Women Geneva
