2025 United Nations Ocean Conference | Open Call for Side Events
2025-02-24 - 2025-04-21
2025 United Nations Ocean Conference
Open Call for Side Events
The high-level 2025 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development (the 2025 UN Ocean Conference) will be held in Nice, France, from 9 – 13 June 2025, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica.
Member States, Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs), UN Entities and other accredited non-governmental stakeholders are hereby invited to submit their proposals for side events to be held in connection with the UNOC3 Conference, either in-person or virtually.
Side events will be an opportunity for all participants to share knowledge and solutions to accelerate implementation of SDG 14, identify new and emerging issues, exchange national and local experiences and practices, and showcase voluntary commitments for the Voluntary Ocean Commitments database.
The call for UNOC3 side events is now open!

To apply for an in-person side event inside the Conference Venue (Blue Zone): https://bit.ly/UNOC3BlueZoneSideEventForm. Deadline: 14 March 2025.

To apply for an off-site side event at alternative locations in Nice: https://bit.ly/UNOC3OffSiteSideEventForm. Deadline: 21 April 2025.

To apply for a virtual side event: https://bit.ly/UNOC3VirtualSideEventForm. Deadline: 21 April 2025.

Important!

Before applying, please carefully read the Guidelines and check questionnaire sample HERE.

Side events should be closely related to the main theme of the 2025 UN Ocean Conference: “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean”. They should address innovative ways and means to support the implementation of SDG 14.

Priority for side events within the Conference Venue (Blue Zone) will be given to those organized by Member States and those organized in partnership by several networks/organizations. Due to the limited space available in the Conference Venue (Blue Zone), all interested parties are strongly encouraged to collaborate with other accredited entities in the organization of side events.

The Conference Secretariat will review submissions and only notify those organizers whose events have been approved.

For questions regarding side events, please contact unoc2025@un.org indicating [Side Events] in the subject.
For more information about the 2025 UN Ocean Conference, check here: https://sdgs.un.org/conferences/ocean2025
Sign up here to receive regular updates and information about the 2025 UN Ocean Conference

ECOSOC Youth Forum
2025-04-15 - 2025-04-17
In preparation for the ECOSOC Youth Forum 2025, to be held on 15-17 April, I am pleased to inform you that the official guidelines for organizing the side-events at the Youth Forum are posted on the ECOSOC Youth Forum website. The deadline to submit applications is 5 March 2025.
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24th Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
2025-04-21 - 2025-05-02
Date: 21 April 2025 – 02 May 2025 Location: UNHQ
The twenty-fourth session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues will take place from Monday, 21 April, to Friday, 2 May 2025.
REGISTER VIA INDICO
The theme of the twenty-fourth session will be: “Implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples within United Nations Member States and the United Nations system, including identifying good practices and addressing challenges”
The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) is a high- level advisory body to ECOSOC with the mandate to deal with indigenous issues related to economic and social development, culture, the environment, education, health, and human rights. More specifically, the Permanent Forum:
provides expert advice and recommendations on Indigenous issues to the Council, as well as to programmes, funds and agencies of the United Nations, through ECOSOC;
raises awareness and promotes the integration and coordination of activities related to Indigenous issues within the UN system;
prepares and disseminates information on Indigenous issues; promotes respect for and full application of the provisions of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and follow up the effectiveness of this Declaration (Art. 42 UNDRIP)

SIDE EVENT PFII Women: Holding Our Identity
2025-04-23 10:00 (America/New_York)
Register Here

CoNGO Regional Committee in Asia-Pacific (RCAP) Meeting in Bangkok
2025-04-25 - 2025-04-26
CONFERENCE OF NGOs IN CONSULTATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNITED NATIONS (CoNGO)
Regional Committee in Asia-Pacific (RCAP)
Bangkok, Thailand – April 25-26, 2025
Venue: Siam University, 38 Phetkasem Road, Phasi Charoen, Bangwa, 10160, Bangkok
University Building 19, 18 th Floor, Telephone +66(0)2867.8088
CLICK FOR PROGRAMME AND REGISTRATION

The CoNGO Regional Committee in Asia-Pacific (RCAP) will meet again in Bangkok, Thailand for its 2025 Session on April 25-26, 2025.
The three attached documents will give you the information you need to decide to participate and to provide inputs on achievements towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
You are most cordially invited.
Register soon to ensure receipt of supplementary documentation.
RCAP 2025 Notification and Invitation to AP NGOs-CSOs
RCAP 2025 Programme, Logistics, Registration_final
RCAP Terms of Reference – 2025
Cyril Ritchie
First Vice President, Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations in
Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CoNGO)

FFD4 Forum: Side Event on human rights and Financing for Development
2025-04-28 04:45 - 18:00 (America/New_York)

Extractives, critical mining and land grabbing from the lens of Indigenous peoples
2025-04-29 13:15 - 14:45 (America/New_York)
Dear Colleagues and Friends,

On behalf of NGO Mining Working, we cordially invite you to participate in our virtual side event on “Extractives, critical mining and land grabbing from the lens of Indigenous peoples” on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, from 1.15 to 2.45 P.M. EDT. We thank many of you who have already registered for the event.

The link to register: https://us06web.zoom.us/…/register/E0F6EoczQ0aCK3TEmsz4xg

Please have a look at the attached flyer and concept note. We appreciate sharing this event with your network circle. Thank you.

Kind regards,

Paul Rahmat
VIVAT International, New York

Virtual debrief meeting following HRC58
2025-04-30 15:00 - 16:15 (Europe/Paris)
Dear Committee Members,
I would like to share a warm reminder about an upcoming online debriefing session that we are co-organising with GAROP on Tuesday, 30 April, from 15:00 to 16:15 CEST. This is an open event for NGO representatives who wish to gain further insight into the important resolution recently adopted by the Human Rights Council and to explore the way forward.

Register: HERE
View the preliminary HERE

(please note the programme may be updated)
The session will feature remarks from members of the core group of States that led the resolution’s negotiation, representatives from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and other relevant actors. There will also be time for collective exchange and dialogue.
We hope many of you will be able to join us for this important conversation.
Warm regards,
Alejandro

Alejandro Bonilla Garcia
Chair
NGO Committee on Ageing (Geneva)

IMCHK Asia Pacific Conference and ICMCI Asia Pacific Hub Meeting
2025-05-08 - 2025-05-09
Dear Colleagues,
Join Thought Leaders, thinkers and doers already committed to driving change at the IMCHK Asia Pacific Conference and ICMCI Asia Pacific Hub Meeting on 8 and 9 May
Thoughts Leaders and many more like :
Prof Dave Snowden
Mr Walter Vieira
Mr Tony Rinaudo
Prof Simon Ho
Dr Gregg Li
Dr Michael Kwong
Prof Joseph Hui
Prof Dominic Chan
Dr Kanie Siu
Dr Terence Chung
Dr Thomas Tang
You will walk away with skills, insights, above all relationships and connections!
Digital is great – but transformation happens in the room
Lets meet, connect and spark the ideas that will ripple out into action
The future is calling – will you answer ?
IMCHK Asia Pacific Conference & ICMCI Asia Pacific Hub Meeting 2025
Thrive in disruption , elevate your game and transform with Prof Dave Snowden’s
Blueprint to conquer uncertainty
Apart from the above, IMCHK has collaborated with CIO Connect to run a half-day Masterclass with world-renowned expert Professor Dave Snowden, who is one of the Keynote Speakers in the IMCHK Asia Pacific Conference 2025.
Your Masterclass leader : Professor Dave Snowden is a globally recognised expert in complexity theory, strategy, and decision-making. Founder of The Cynefin Company, he pioneered a natural science-based approach to organisations, drawing on themes such as anthropology and complex adaptive systems theory. His HBR paper ‘ A Leader’s framework for decision making’ published in 2007 won that year’s Academy of Management’s award for the publication that provides the most significant contribution to the practice of management in the field of Organizational Behaviour.
The Cynefin framework has revolutionized management science, influencing governments and industries worldwide. A former IBM executive, he led the Institute for Knowledge Management and created the Cynefin Centre for Organisational Complexity. A passionate and engaging speaker, Snowden is known for his pragmatic cynicism, deep insights, and ability to tackle complex challenges.
This intensive half-day masterclass equips leaders and decision-makers with practical tools to thrive in complex environments. Participants gain access to methods developed through the Cynefin Centre’s collaboration with the European Union’s Future Systems Directorate—resources that are backed by a worldwide community of practitioners and an open-source wiki that remains available to all participants after the session.
Venue: The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, Kellett Island, Causeway Bay
Date: Wednesday 7 May 2025 8.00am – 12.30pm
AGENDA:
8.00 am Registrations and Coffee
8.30 am Breakfast served
9.00 am Part 1 Mapping Complexity
10.00 am Short break
10.15 am Part 2 Actionable Intelligence
11.15 am Short break
11.30 am Part 3 People and Technology
12.30 am *End of MasterClass*
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
Mapping Complexity: Understanding where you are and what can be changed
Actionable Intelligence: Finding signals others miss
People and Technology: Balancing human judgment with artificial intelligence
WHY ATTEND
Immediate Application: Leave with tools you can implement immediately to improve decision-making under uncertainty
Future-Proofing: Develop capabilities that enhance organizational resilience in unpredictable environments
Continued Support: Gain access to an open-source wiki and a worldwide community of practitioners
Expert Guidance: Learn directly from the principal author of the EU-endorsed complexity management handbook
MASTERCLASS DETAILS
Format: Half-day intensive session
Materials: Comprehensive handbook developed with the European Union’s Future Systems Directorate
Access: Ongoing access to community resources and open-source wiki
Space is limited to ensure optimal learning experience and personalised attention.
PRICE US$ 500
Please send email to Les.Hales@cio-connect.com to reserve your place and, upon acceptance, you will receive a confirmation with payment instructions.

High-Level Meeting on the Rights of Older Persons
2025-05-08 08:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)

International Day of the Families 2025
2025-05-15 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Dear Friends of the NGO Committee on the Family – New York,

Mark your calendars now for our next super event coming up in May
to celebrate the
International Day of the Families 2025!

“IYF+30: Celebrating Progress, Highlighting Concerns”

THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2025

3:00 – 4:00 pm ET
Via zoom

“IYF+30: Celebrating Progress, Highlighting Concerns”

This event will bring together a panel of stakeholders to discuss the development and implementation of relevant family-oriented policies and programs and discuss good practices to support the objectives of the IYF. Speakers will consider the current state of family-oriented policies through the lens of their particular expertise with an eye to highlighting points of progress during the last three decades as well as identifying current areas of greatest concern.
Speakers:
Dr. Teresa Okafor – DIRector of the Foundation for african cultural heritage
Dr. Ahmed Aref – Doha international family institute
Dr. Spencer James – director of the global families research initiative

Registration will be available soon!

______________________________________
NGO Committee on the Family New York
Website: http://www.ngofamilyny.org/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NGOFAMILYNY
Email: ngofamilycommittee@gmail.com
X (Twitter): NGO Family Committee New York

International Day of Families 2025 “IYF+30: Celebrating Progress, Highlighting Concerns"
2025-05-15 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Register Here
Dear Friends of the NGO Committee on the Family – New York,

Mark your calendars now for our next super event coming up on
Thursday, May 15, 2025
to celebrate the
International Day of the Families 2025!

“IYF+30: Celebrating Progress, Highlighting Concerns”

THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2025

3:00 – 4:00 pm ET
Via zoom

This event will bring together a panel of stakeholders to discuss the development and implementation of relevant family-oriented policies and programs and discuss good practices to support the objectives of the IYF. Speakers will consider the current state of family-oriented policies through the lens of their particular expertise with an eye to highlighting points of progress during the last three decades as well as identifying current areas of greatest concern.
Speakers:
Dr. THeresa Okafor – DIRector of the Foundation for african cultural heritage
Dr. Ahmed Aref – Doha international family institute
Dr. Spencer James – director of the global families research initiative
REGISTER HERE: https://forms.gle/Mman1dnRGwMkS3PT9

Concept Note

A Collective Feminist Agenda for People and Planet? Global Convening and Strategy Session on Economic and Climate Justice
2025-05-17 - 2025-05-18
A Collective Feminist Agenda for People and Planet?
Global Convening and Strategy Session on Economic and Climate Justice
Rabat, Morocco, 17-18 May 2025
Organized by:
MENAFem Movement for Economic Development and Ecological Justice and
Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO)

In collaboration with: Akina Mama wa Afrika, Bretton Woods Project, Center for Economic and Social Rights, Christian Aid, and Gender and Development Network (GADN). Additional partners TBC
Link to Register Interest → https://forms.gle/SAoaiZz7NWwPTnjU8
Kindly note we won’t be able to accommodate all registrations. The organizers will confirm attendees by mid-March.
View Concept Note:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gr-i5IhLvJW7wldIqkPlSUsOGeEYfuLTudSt2NtdQGM/edit?usp=sharing

CoNGO Officers and Board Meeting
2025-05-19 - 2025-05-20 | John Knox Center, Geneva, Switzerland

34th Session: Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice: Side Events Co-Sponsored by the Alliance of NGOs on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice
2025-05-19 - 2025-05-23

WHA78 Parallel Event "The Path Ahead: Strengthening Universal Health Coverage in a Transforming World"
2025-05-20 14:00 - 16:30 (Europe/Helsinki)
WHA78 parallel event
Forum topic:
Reshaping Universal Health Coverage – The Path Ahead: Strengthening Universal Health Coverage in a Transforming World
Date & Time:
Tuesday May 20th, 2025 14:00 to 16:30 (Geneva time)
Location: Hotel President Wilson (Quai Wilson 47, 1211 Genève)
RSVP: https://stuf.ngo/2025-wha-reshaping-uhc

In an era of evolving global health priorities—and with WHO adaptation, budget constraints, and multilateral support in flux—this forum brings together global leaders, scholars, and civil society representatives. Through diverse national perspectives including the USA, Europe, Taiwan, South Asia/India, and Africa/Senegal, we will explore ways to sustain and transform Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Opening Ceremony of the Exhibition "Siolence" (VIC Rotunda)
2025-05-20 14:00 - 17:00 (Europe/Vienna) | VIC Rotunda, Vienna, Austria

Emerging Threats Against Women and Girls in the Digital Era: Artificial Intelligence and Gaslighting (A Soroptimist International and CoNGO Side Event)
2025-05-21 16:30 - 17:30 (America/New_York) | Vienna International Centre, Wagramer Str.5, 1220 Vienna, MOE100
Concept Note

Daring new communities: Living solidarity in an individualised society | BAGSO, the German National Association of Senior Citizens’ Organisations
2025-05-22 14:30 - 16:30 (America/New_York)
Dear All,
I am pleased to invite you to an upcoming online event organized by BAGSO, the German National Association of Senior Citizens’ Organisations, as part of the international series “An engaged civil society as engine for an age-friendly society.”
📅 Thursday, 22 May 2025
🕝 14:30–16:30 CET
💻 Online event (with simultaneous interpretation in English and German)
The event, titled “Daring new communities: Living solidarity in an individualised society,” will bring together representatives from across the UNECE region to explore inspiring intergenerational initiatives and innovative forms of community living.
I will participate as a speaker during the session “Living solidarity – between human rights and policy”, where I’ll address the topic of intergenerational fairness in financing social systems — a key issue for advancing inclusive, rights-based ageing policies.
You can find the full programme and more information on BAGSO’s website:
https://www.bagso.de/english
Register HERE
I look forward to your participation in what promises to be an enriching and forward-looking discussion.
Warm regards,
Alejandro

Guardianship Risks: How to Prevent Abuse (A CCPCJ side event)
2025-05-23 10:00 - 11:00 (Europe/Vienna) | Vienna International Center, Vienna, Austria

4th Civil Society Dialogues - Global Forum on Migration and Development
2025-05-27 - 2025-05-28
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Dear friends and partners of the GFMD Civil Society Mechanism,
Just a friendly reminder that the 4th Thematic Dialogues are taking place on 27-28 May!
Having held three dialogues that focused on:

The challenges and opportunities concerning the six thematic priorities of the Colombia Chairship;
Elements for successful policies and practices;
Civil society priorities and strategic engagement.

The upcoming 4th Thematic Dialogues will now turn to building alliances and finding common ground within civil society to issue a collective call to action for governments and key partners.
The objectives of the 4th Thematic Dialogue are:

Ground our civil society advocacy in the current realities of migration;
Articulate the significance of the GFMD on a global scale;
Identify key components for a civil society call to action.

To accommodate different time zones, each dialogue will have two sessions, as follows:
Day 1 — Tuesday, 27th May
Beyond dialogue? The GFMD’s role in today’s migration context

First Session: 9 – 10:30 GMT+2 (check your time zone here)
Second Session: 17:00 – 18:30 GMT+2 (check your time zone here)

Day 2 — Wednesday, 28th May
From Words to Action: Civil Society’s path to mobilising governments and allies

First Session: 9 – 10:30 GMT+2 (check your time zone here)
Second Session: 17:00 – 18:30 GMT+2 (check your time zone here)

Interpretation will be available in English, Spanish, and French for all sessions.

Click the buttons below to register!

Day 1 — 27th May

Register for Day 1 at 9:00 AM GMT+2

Register for Day 1 at 5:00 PM / 17:00 GMT+2

Day 2 — 28th May

Register for Day 2 at 9:00 AM GMT+2

Register for Day 2 at 5:00 PM / 17:00 CEST

FAQ
Read the GFMD Brochure

WAAS Talks on Global Peace Offensive: Nanotechnologies for Human Security
2025-05-29 16:30 - 18:00 (America/New_York)
Dear colleague,
The World Academy of Art and Science (WAAS) is inviting you to attend the next webinar in the series WAAS Talks on Global Peace Offensive: Nanotechnologies for Human Security, which will be held Online on April 29, 2025 from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm CET.
The Registeration link for the webinar is:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_GBRqxujvTjSlm8f2ekbA-A

DATE CHANGE: UN Women Civil Society B+30 Meeting (Virtual)
2025-05-30 10:00 - 23:30 (America/New_York)
Important Updates on Civil Society Participation in Upcoming UN Processes
DATE CHANGED: UN Women & Civil Society 5th Meeting on Beijing+30
Since the Zero Draft of the CSW Revitalization will be shared by the Co-Facilitators on Wednesday, 28 May 2025, UN Women thought that it would be more fruitful to have the convening after the release of the Zero Draft.
Therefore the virtual UN Women & Civil Society Fifth Meeting on Beijing+30 (CSW Revitalization) will be moved to tomorrow, Friday, 30 May 2025, from 10:00am to 11:30am ET.
You can register to attend here.
For those who have already registered, the Zoom link sent to you remains valid.

NGO Committee on Aging - General Assembly and Committee Meeting
2025-06-05 13:30 - 15:30 (Europe/Helsinki)
Dear colleagues,

In anticipation of our upcoming General Assembly (GA) meeting to be held on Thursday, 5 June 2025 via Zoom from 13:30-15:30, please find attached the following documents:

2025 GA Draft Agenda
2024 CoA Annual Report
Membership/Finance report
2024 GA minutes

Please note that the Auditor report will be forwarded to you at a later date.

And for your reference, here again is the Zoom invite for our meeting next week.

NGO Committee on Ageing Geneva is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: NGO Committee on Aging – General Assembly and Committee Meeting
Time: Jun 5, 2025 13:30 Zurich
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87681381726?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 876 8138 1726
Passcode: [REDACTED]

2025 UN Ocean Conference
2025-06-09 - 2025-06-13
2025 UN OCEAN CONFERENCE
June 9-13, 2025, Nice, France
Our Ocean, Our Future, Our Responsibility

“The ocean is fundamental to life on our planet and to our future. The ocean is an important source of the planet’s biodiversity and plays a vital role in the climate system and water cycle. The ocean provides a range of ecosystem services, supplies us with oxygen to breathe, contributes to food security, nutrition and decent jobs and livelihoods, acts as a sink and reservoir of greenhouse gases and protects biodiversity, provides a means for maritime transportation, including for global trade, forms an important part of our natural and cultural heritage and plays an essential role in sustainable development, a sustainable ocean-based economy and poverty eradication.”
– political declaration of the 2022 united nations ocean conference

About the Ocean Conference
How to participate and register
The high-level 2025 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development (the 2025 UN Ocean Conference) will be co-hosted by France and Costa Rica and held in Nice, France, from 9 – 13 June 2025.
The overarching theme of the Conference is “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean”. The Conference aims to support further and urgent action to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development and identify further ways and means to support the implementation of SDG 14. It will build on existing instruments to form successful partnerships towards the swift conclusion and effective implementation of ongoing processes that contribute to the conservation and sustainable use of the ocean.
The Conference will involve all relevant stakeholders, bringing together Governments, the United Nations system, intergovernmental organizations, international financial institutions, other interested international bodies, non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, academic institutions, the scientific community, the private sector, philanthropic organizations, Indigenous Peoples and local communities and other actors to assess challenges and opportunities relating to, as well as actions taken towards, the implementation of Goal 14.
The Conference will build on the previous UN Ocean Conferences, hosted by Sweden and Fiji in 2017 in New York and by Portugal and Kenya in 2022 in Lisbon.

In Championing Peace, We Can Only Win TOGETHER - NGO Committee of Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns - NY
2025-06-11 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
Friends of CSVGC-NY!
You’re Invited: CSVGC-NY June General Meeting
Tuesday, June 11 | 1:00–2:00 PM (EDT) | Hybrid Format
📍 In person: Legion of Good Will
12 E 41st Street, RM 1402, New York, NY 10017

Join us this month as we celebrate the United Nations International Day of Play with the uplifting theme:
“In Championing Peace, We Can Only Win Together.”
We’re delighted to welcome Luciana Ferraz as our guest speaker — a Brazilian sociologist and international consultant in integral health, positive consciousness, and meditation. Luciana also serves as the national coordinator of Brahma Kumaris Brazil, an NGO in consultative status with ECOSOC.
The program will also feature:
🕊️ Keeper of the Sacred – A reflective moment with Martha Gallahue
📌 Important CSVGC-NY updates and interactive dialogue
We warmly encourage you to attend in person to enjoy community connection — and a special treat of Brazilian Cheese Bread and Guaraná, generously provided by the Legion of Good Will.
All are welcome! Let’s come together in the spirit of peace, play, and shared values.
Can’t join us in person? You’re welcome to join virtually via GoogleMeet.
Join Here

Geopolitical Instability and the Value of Multilingualism
2025-06-13 08:30 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
**Call for Participation**

The Study Group on Language and the United Nations presents
Geopolitical Instability and the Value of Multilingualism
A Virtual Symposium on 13 June 2025

The world is experiencing what many are calling a polycrisis precipitated by climate change, geopolitical conflicts, political instability, social inequalities, economic challenges, misinformation, environmental degradation, health emergencies, and more. It would be easy in this time of turmoil to dismiss multilingualism as a minor concern and distraction—a luxury we cannot afford or simply a low priority until the world has other crises under control.
Yet, it is through language that we understand our world, create and share knowledge, and communicate with one another. The only way we can address the world’s current problems is through meaningful dialogue about solutions.
In a polycrisis, we must seek polysolutions like multilingual communication. Linguistic diversity brings with it a diversity of people and ideas from communities across the globe. How can we ensure that they are all included and that no possibilities are missed or voices unheard simply because of a lack of language capacity?
The present symposium draws attention to the value of multilingualism for the United Nations, Member States, non-governmental organizations, civil society, the private sector, and other stakeholders in light of the confluence of contemporary geopolitical crises. The symposium follows a panel format through which experts present their perspectives, engage in dialogue with each other, and prompt general discussion with participants.

Event Details

The symposium will take place virtually on 13 June 2025.

Friday, 13 June

08:30-12:00 – New York
14:30-18:00 – Geneva
15:30-19:00 – Nairobi
19:30-23:00 – Bangkok

Interpreting will be provided in English, French, and Spanish. A detailed programme is attached.

Registration

The symposium is open to United Nations staff members, delegates of Member States and staff members of missions, government officials of all levels, university researchers and students, NGO representatives, members of civil society, and others with an interest in multilingualism There is no cost to attend the symposium, but preregistration is required. Register here as soon as possible, but no later than 12 June.

Symposium Sponsors

The symposium is hosted by the Study Group on Language and the United Nations in collaboration with the NGO Committee on Language and Languages, a substantive committee of the Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CoNGO), the Esperantic Studies Foundation (ESF), and the Consortium for Language Policy and Planning (CLPP).

Human Rights Council to Hold its Fifty-Ninth Regular Session
2025-06-16 - 2025-07-09
The United Nations Human Rights Council will hold its fifty-ninth regular session from 16 June to 9 July 2025 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
The session will open at 10 a.m. on Monday, 16 June under the presidency of Ambassador Jürg Lauber of Switzerland. The opening will be addressed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, who will present his annual report. The Council will be meeting in room XX of the Palais des Nations.
Over almost four weeks, the Council will consider more than 60 reports presented by the Secretariat of the United Nations and the High Commissioner for Human Rights, human rights experts and other investigative bodies on numerous topics and relevant to the situation of human rights in more than 40 countries. In total, the Council will hold 32 interactive dialogues.
During the session, the Council will hold interactive dialogues with the High Commissioner on his annual report under agenda item two; on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela under agenda item four; and on Ukraine and Colombia under agenda item 10.
The Council will hold enhanced interactive dialogues under agenda item two with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan and on the oral update of the Fact-Finding Mission on the human rights situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Under agenda item four, the Council will hold an enhanced interactive dialogue with the High Commissioner on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, with the participation of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar.
On climate change, the Council will hold its annual panel on the adverse impacts of climate change on human rights, followed by an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on climate change. The Council will also hold its annual panel on technical cooperation and capacity-building.
Under agenda item three, the Council will hold its annual panel discussion on women’s rights, and a panel on safe drinking water and sanitation. It will also hold interactive dialogues on summary executions, freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, transnational corporations, education, health, leprosy (Hansen’s disease), sexual orientation and gender identity, migrants, internally displaced persons, prevention of genocide, trafficking, extreme poverty, discrimination against women and girls, violence against women and girls, judges and lawyers, and international solidarity.
The Council will also hear the presentation of the Secretary-General’s interim report on the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine, under agenda item 10. Further, it will hold interactive dialogues with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea and the Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and in Israel, under agenda item two; and with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burundi under agenda item four. The Council will also hear oral updates from the Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan under agenda item two and from the Commission of Inquiry on Syria under agenda item four.
Additionally, the Council will hold interactive dialogues under agenda item seven with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, and under agenda item nine with the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. Under agenda item 10, it will hold an interactive dialogue with the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic.
The final outcomes of the Universal Periodic Review of 14 States will also be considered, namely those of Italy, El Salvador, Gambia, the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Fiji, San Marino, Kazakhstan, Angola, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Madagascar, Iraq, Slovenia, Egypt, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
A detailed agenda and further information on the fifty-ninth session can be found on the session’s web page. Reports to be presented are available here. All meetings of this session are broadcast on UN Web TV.

First Week of the Session
The fifty-ninth regular session will open on Monday, 16 June under the presidency of Ambassador Jürg Lauber. After the opening, the Council will begin considerations under agenda item two, and the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, will present his annual report. Subsequently, the Council will hold an enhanced interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, and an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea. This will be followed by an enhanced interactive dialogue on the oral update of the Fact-Finding Mission on the human rights situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
On Tuesday, 17 June, the Council will hold an interactive dialogue on the High Commissioner’s annual report, followed by an interactive dialogue with the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and in Israel. At the end of the day, it will hear the presentation of an oral update by the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan.
On Wednesday, 18 June, the Council will commence discussions under agenda item three on the promotion and protection of all human rights, holding interactive dialogues with the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and the Special Rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, which will conclude on Thursday, 19 June. This will be followed by interactive dialogues with the Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises, the Special Rapporteur on the right to education, and the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.
On Friday, 20 June, the Council will hold interactive dialogues with the Special Rapporteur on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy (Hansen’s disease) and their family members, the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, and the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons.

Second Week of the Session
In its second week, the Council will conclude its interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons on Monday, 23 June. It will then hold interactive dialogues with the Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide, the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, and the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights.
The Council will start Tuesday, 24 June, with the first part of its annual discussion on women’s rights, focusing on gender-based violence against women and girls in conflict, post-conflict and humanitarian settings. This will be followed by an interactive dialogue with the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls. In the afternoon, the second part of the annual discussion on women’s rights will be held, focusing on the commemoration of the International Day of Women in Diplomacy and on overcoming barriers to women’s leadership in peace processes.
On Wednesday, 25 June, the Council will hold interactive dialogues with the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences, the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, and the Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity.
The Council will start Thursday, 26 June, with a panel discussion on the realisation of the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, followed by the presentation of reports under agenda item three. In the afternoon, it will start its consideration of reports under agenda item four on human rights situations that require the Council’s attention, hearing the presentation of an oral update by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, followed by interactive dialogues with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, and on the oral update of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burundi.
On Friday, 27 June, the Council will hold an enhanced interactive dialogue on the report of the High Commissioner on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, and the oral update of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar. This will be followed by an interactive dialogue on the High Commissioner’s report on the situation of human rights in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and the presentation of the High Commissioner’s oral update on the situation of human rights in Nicaragua.

Third Week of the Session
The Council will begin its third week on Monday, 30 June, with its annual panel discussion on the adverse impacts of climate change on human rights, focusing on facilitating just transitions in the context of addressing the impacts of climate change on human rights. This will be followed by an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change. It will then hear the presentation of the report of the Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises on the thirteenth session of the Forum on Business and Human Rights under agenda item five on human rights bodies and mechanisms.
The Council will next start its consideration under item six of the outcomes of the Universal Periodic Review of Italy, El Salvador, Gambia, the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Fiji, San Marino, Kazakhstan, Angola, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Madagascar, Iraq, Slovenia, Egypt, Bosnia and Herzegovina, which will conclude at the end of the day on Wednesday, 2 July.
On Thursday, 3 July, the Council will hold an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, under agenda item seven on the human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories. This will be followed by an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, under agenda item nine on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance.
In the afternoon, the Council will begin discussions under item 10 on technical assistance and capacity-building, with interactive dialogues on the oral presentation of the High Commissioner regarding his Office’s periodic report on the situation of human rights in Ukraine, and on the interim report of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights in the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine. This will be followed by an interactive dialogue on the High Commissioner’s report on the enhancement of technical assistance and capacity-building to assist Colombia in the implementation of the recommendations made by the Commission for the Clarification of Truth, Coexistence and Non-Repetition.
On Friday, 4 July, the Council will hold its annual panel discussion on technical cooperation and capacity-building, focusing on the role of technical cooperation and capacity-building in strengthening national structures which play a role in promoting and safeguarding human rights, particularly national human rights institutions and national mechanisms for implementation, reporting and follow-up.
This will be followed by an interactive dialogue on the oral update of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic.
In the afternoon, the Council will hear the presentation of the report of the High Commissioner relating to cooperation with Georgia. It will then start taking action on draft resolutions and decisions.

Fourth Week of the Session

The final week of the Council will be devoted to taking action on draft resolutions and decisions and the appointment of a member of the Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development and a member of the Working Group on arbitrary detention. The session will conclude on Wednesday, 9 July.

The Human Rights Council
The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system, made up of 47 States, which is responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe. The Council was created by the United Nations General Assembly on 15 March 2006 with the main purpose of addressing situations of human rights violations and making recommendations on them.
The composition of the Human Rights Council at its fifty-ninth session is as follows: Albania (2026); Algeria (2025); Bangladesh (2025); Belgium (2025); Benin (2027); Bolivia (2027); Brazil (2026); Bulgaria (2026); Burundi (2026); Chile (2025); China (2026); Colombia (2027); Costa Rica (2025); Côte d’Ivoire (2026); Cuba (2026); Cyprus (2027); Czechia (2027); Democratic Republic of the Congo (2027); Dominican Republic (2026); Ethiopia (2027); France (2026); Gambia (2027); Georgia (2025); Germany (2025); Ghana (2026); Iceland (2027); Indonesia (2026); Japan (2026); Kenya (2027); Kuwait (2026); Kyrgyzstan (2025); Malawi (2026); Maldives (2025); Marshall Islands (2027); Mexico (2027); Morocco (2025); Netherlands (2026); North Macedonia (2027); Qatar (2027); Republic of Korea (2027); Romania (2025); South Africa (2025); Spain (2027); Sudan (2025); Switzerland (2027); Thailand (2027); and Viet Nam (2025).
The term of membership of each State expires in the year indicated in parentheses.
The President of the Human Rights Council in 2025 is Jürg Lauber (Switzerland). The four Vice-Presidents are Tareq Md Ariful Islam (Bangladesh), Razvan Rusu (Romania), Claudia Puentes Julio (Chile), and Paul Empole Losoko Efambe (Democratic Republic of the Congo). Mr. Efambe also serves as Rapporteur of the Geneva-based body.
The dates and venue of the fifty-ninth session are subject to change.
Information on the fifty-ninth session can be found here, including the annotated agenda and the reports to be presented.
For further information, please contact Pascal Sim (simp@un.org), Matthew Brown (matthew.brown@un.org) and David Díaz Martín (david.diazmartin@un.org)

Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media;
not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

HRC59 side event: "Promotion and Protection of the Right to Development”
2025-06-18 12:00 - 13:00 (Europe/Paris)
Dear friends and colleagues,

Greetings from the United Nations Association of China (UNA-China), a non-governmental organization in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations since 2000.
On the occasion of the 59th session of the Human Rights Council, UNA-China and Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations at Geneva will co-host a side event entitled “Promotion and Protection of the Right to Development”, on June 18, 12:00-13:00 CET, in Room XXVII, at Palais des Nations, Geneva. This event will invite Chinese and foreign experts to discuss the pressing challenges and practical efforts in terms of promoting and protecting the right to development. The concept note for this event is enclosed hereafter for your reference.
We sincerely invite you to attend this side event in person and participate in interactive discussion. The working language will be English.
Please be advised that in order to enter Palais des Nations, you need to request for accreditation through the online platform https://indico.un.org/event/1010973/, get your accreditation approved and obtain a digital badge. Once the accreditation has been granted (it normally takes 1-3 working days to process a request), a digital badge will be emailed to you. You can activate the badge at the Pregny Gate, Palais des Nations. For more information, please refer to the webpage https://www.ungeneva.org/en/about/practical-information/opening-hours.
We look forward to your participation!
Best regards,
Secretariat
United Nations Association of China
Email: secretariat@unachina.org
Web: www.unachina.org

Briefing for Civil Society on the 15th UN Crime Congress and its Preparations
2025-06-18 14:00 (Europe/Helsinki)
Dear Stakeholders,

The Alliance of NGOs on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, with the support of the UNODC Civil Society Unit, is organizing a Briefing for Civil Society on the 15th UN Crime Congress and its Preparations.

The briefing will offer an important opportunity to learn more about the upcoming 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, scheduled to take place in 2026. It will cover key themes, objectives, and participation modalities for civil society engagement in the lead-up to and during the Congress.

Following the briefing, participants are welcome to attend an informal membership meeting of the Alliance.

Details of the Event:
📅 Date: Wednesday, 18 June 2025
🕑 Time: 2:00 p.m.(CEST, Vienna time, UTC+2)
💻 Venue: Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86366243883?pwd=[REDACTED]

We look forward to your participation.
With kind regards,
UNODC Civil Society Unit
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
Vienna, Austria
E. unodc-ngounit@un.org
W.  https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/ngos/cst.html
