Informal plenary meeting of the General Assembly to mark the 30th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development
2024-04-29 15:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York)
EVENT: Informal plenary meeting of the General Assembly to mark the 30th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development
DATE: Monday, 29 April 2024, 3-6 pm
VENUE: Trusteeship Council Chamber, UN Headquarters, New York
In 1994, Governments came together in Cairo, Egypt at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and adopted its Programme of Action. This landmark agreement transformed global thinking on population and development and defined a bold agenda, placing people’s dignity and rights at its heart. The Programme of Action affirmed that inclusive and sustainable development requires a people-centred approach that addresses the needs, aspirations, and rights of all persons. The Programme of Action also recognized the critical role of civil society, including women- and youth-led organizations, and of the private sector in supporting its implementation.
Thirty years after the Cairo Conference, we shall take stock of the progress made in implementing the Programme of Action while also identifying areas where further action is needed. Reaffirming the importance of implementing the Programme of Action for achieving all Goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is important – in particular, for Goal 1 on ending poverty, Goal 3 on healthy lives and well-being, Goal 4 on quality education, Goal 5 on gender equality and women’s empowerment, Goal 10 on reduced inequalities and Goal 13 on climate action. The people-centred approach of the ICPD and the special attention it gives to vulnerable populations helps to ensure that no one is left behind.
Since 1994, the world has experienced new challenges and opportunities. Major occurrences in recent years – including the COVID-19 pandemic and rapid advancements in technology – have led the world to a crucial crossroad that necessitates recommitment to the values that underpin multilateralism. We must ensure that our approaches and our solutions are fit for purpose.
Thirty years after its adoption, we have seen tangible gains and progress from the implementation of the Programme of Action which include poverty reduction, life expectancy and food security.
Maternal deaths have declined, and access to primary education has expanded for both boys and girls.
However, progress has been uneven both within and among countries and the multifaceted crises facing the world today place many of the gains made so far, at risk. Amidst this, the Programme of Action remains a critical framework for addressing challenges and seeking opportunities in the area of population and development for the benefit of present and future generations.
With merely six years remaining until 2030, urgent and concerted efforts are required to steer the global community back towards a trajectory that aligns with our aspirations of a world where no one is left behind.
The upcoming Summit of The Future is an opportunity to actively generate transformative action that would see us scale up commitments towards the achievement of the sustainable development goals.

Objective
The meeting aims to mark the 30th Anniversary of the ICPD and will focus on leveraging the ICPD Program of Action in moving towards inclusive, resilient, equitable and peaceful societies that place people at the centre of development.

Format
The meeting will include an opening and a plenary segment. Member states wishing to deliver statements during the plenary segment are requested to inscribe through the e-delegate portal. The time limit for statements will be three minutes for individual delegations and five minutes for statements made on behalf of a group of States.
The meeting will be open to Member States and Observers, as well as the United Nations system and ECOSOC-accredited non-governmental organizations.
The event is open to representatives of NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC with active UN grounds passes. The meeting will also be broadcast live on UN Web TV

GA-ECOSOC Thematic Event “El Niño 2023-2024: Actions for the safety, sustainability and resilience of people and the planet”
2024-04-30 10:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York)
EVENT: GA-ECOSOC Thematic Event “El Niño 2023-2024: Actions for the safety, sustainability and resilience of people and the planet”
DATE: Tuesday, 30 April 2024, 10 am to 6 pm
VENUE: Trusteeship Council Chamber, UN Headquarters, New York

The General Assembly expressed its deep concern over the current El Niño phenomenon in resolution 78/152, and requested the President of the General Assembly and the President of the Economic and Social Council to co-organize a one-day dedicated thematic event no later than April 2024, with the support of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, the World Meteorological Organization and other relevant entities of the United Nations system, to discuss action-oriented recommendations to address the socioeconomic and environmental impacts of the current El Niño phenomenon on affected countries, in order to provide substantive input to the report of the Secretary-General to be submitted to the General Assembly at its seventy-ninth session.

Objective
This one-day dedicated thematic event will consider the improved opportunities that recent advancements in climate predictions bring and the range of actions required to turn enhanced scientific predictability into global, regional, national and local level plans and actions that minimize and address the socioeconomic and environmental impacts of the 2023-2024 El Niño phenomenon conditions on affected countries.

Format
The event will commence with an opening segment and a fireside chat, followed by a plenary segment, two panels and a closing.

Panel 1 will focus on: Actions to reduce El Niño 2023/24 risks.
Panel 2 will focus on: Long-term strategies to create the enabling institutional and policy environment required to take effective action.

Participation
The meeting will be open to Member States and Observers, the United Nations system, ECOSOC-accredited non-governmental organizations, and other relevant stakeholders.

Outcome
An informal Presidents’ summary will be submitted to provide substantive input to the report of the Secretary-General, in accordance with GA resolution 78/152, and will be circulated to all Member States and Observers.

NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC are invited to submit their Expression of Interest at: https://indico.un.org/event/1011313/ Statements must be limited to 2 minutes per person, to be delivered at the Thematic Event “El Niño 2023-2024 on 30 April 2024.

* Deadline: The deadline for submission of your statement is 24 April 2024 by 5:00 pm, Eastern Time. Final selection of the statements will be made by the Office of the President of the UN General Assembly. Selected NGOs will be notified by email before the event.

The event is open to representatives of NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC with active UN grounds passes. The meeting will also be broadcast live on UN Web TV

ASPBAE Virtual GAWE 2024 Regional Dialogue
2024-04-30 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
You are cordially invited to the ASPBAE Asia Pacific Regional Dialogue on Public Financing of Free Education Technology: Ensuring Equity, Inclusion, and Quality Education for the Most Marginalised.
30 April 2024
2-4 PM Manila Time
Virtual
Register now: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcld-GrqzkuHdHNH7AnU3O4zFkzWO5nVXvB
Join us as we discuss how education technology can be harnessed to support the right of all to quality education and transform education systems that will ensure equitable access for the most marginalised learners.
This online event is part of the Global Action Week for Education (GAWE), an annual international campaign week to advocate for improved national education policies and increased national education budgets organised by the Global Campaign for Education (GCE).
The concept note and draft programme are included below. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Please let us know if you haven’t received the meeting link.
Thank you and looking forward to your participation!
Warm regards to all,
ASPBAE Secretariat

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

9th session of Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development
2024-05-01 - 2024-05-02
DATE
01 – 02 May 2024

LOCATION
NEW YORK

The session was shortened due to UN liquidity crisis.
The ninth session of the Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development will take place in Conference Room 6, in UN HQ New York, on Wednesday 1 May and Thursday 2 May 2024, 10am to 1pm and 3pm to 6pm Eastern Time (ET).
Over the past years, the EMRTD has undertaken rigorous studies and dialogues on various dimensions of the right to development (RTD). At its ninth session, the EMRTD aims to assess its progress and foster meaningful exchanges of viewpoints and experiences among Member States and key stakeholders. Our deliberations will be enriched by insights from recent and ongoing negotiations, including the Third South Summit, the forthcoming Financing for Development Forum, the Conferences on Small Islands Developing States and on Landlocked Developing Countries, in addition to the Summit of the Future.
Recognizing the urgent challenges posed by multiple crises, the EMRTD remains steadfast in providing tangible contributions to support Member States in their negotiations. Our collective goal is to drive progress toward realizing the 2030 Agenda and ensuring the RTD for all.
The session will feature a general debate, a discussion on proposed studies, and four interactive dialogues with representatives from Member States, civil society, practitioners, and experts. We are committed to ensuring that these four dialogues are concrete, drawing upon effective experiences, good practices, and strategies to address pressing development needs.
Provisional agenda
Programme of work

See more info here.

The Family Policy and Population Research Forum 2024: Exploring Global Fertility Trends, Family Dynamics, and Solutions
2024-05-01 13:15 - 14:30 (America/New_York)
DEAR FRIENDS OF THE NGO COMMITTEE ON THE FAMILY, NY
This is a friendly reminder!
TODAY

*

The NGO Committee on the Family, NY
in partnership with the
Permanent Mission of Hungary to the UN

Has Organized

The Family Policy and Population Research Forum 2024:
Exploring Global Fertility Trends, Family Dynamics, and Solutions

TODAY, Wednesday, 1 May, 2024, 1:15-2:30 p.m.
Conference Room 8, UN Headquarters, New York

REGISTRATION TO ATTEND EVENT IN PERSON AT THE UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS IN NEW YORK CITY HAS CLOSED BUT THE EVENT CAN BE VIEWED ON THE UN Web TV.

REGISTER HERE: https://forms.gle/LRwRXj3NYjf4A1fP9
Live webcast available on UN Web TV: https://webtv.un.org/en

Concept Note attached below!

240415 Family Policy Forum – Concept Note

Community, Housing, and Infrastructure for All Ages: A “focus area” for the upcoming UN Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing (OEWGA) and a Count-down on OEWGA Final Preparations
2024-05-02 13:30 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
The NGO Committee on Ageing calls your attention to upcoming event:
Community, Housing, and Infrastructure for All Ages:
A “focus area” for the upcoming UN Open-Ended Working Group
on Ageing (OEWGA) and a Count-down on OEWGA Final Preparations
Thursday, May 2, 2024
1:30-3:00pm. EST
This is a virtual Program. (no registration required)

Click Here to Join the Zoom Meeting
This program will address one of the two “focus areas” of OEWGA 2024—accessibility, infrastructure and habitat—from an age-friendly, intergenerational perspective and how to create better environments and living arrangements for people of all ages. There will also be important updates on final preparations for OEWGA and how you can support our advocacy work for a legally binding international document to protect the human rights of older persons.

Business Meeting
Welcome–William Smith, PhD, Chair, NGO Committee on Ageing/NY
OEWGA Prep–Bethany Brown & Frances Zainoeddin, Co-Chairs, NGO CoA Human Rights

Program: Community, Housing and Infrastructure for People of All Ages
Speakers: Roy Earnest, MSW, Associate Director, Center for Age-Friendly Excellence-CAFÉ
Ilonka Walker, MA, Intergenerational Coordinator, Generations United
Moderator: Sandra Timmermann, EdD, NGO CoA Program Co-Chair; UN Representative, IFA
Summary and Closing: Robin Fenley, PhD, Vice Chair and Chair, NGO CoA Programs

Meeting materials for CoA GA Zoom meeting
2024-05-07 13:30 - 15:30 (America/New_York)
In anticipation of our upcoming General Assembly (GA) meeting to be held Tuesday via Zoom on 7 May 2024 from 13:30-15:30

Join here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85764000811?pwd=[REDACTED]

Special briefing of the WG on Crimes Affecting the Environment
2024-05-07 16:00 - 17:00 (Europe/Paris)
Register Here

Language Services and the European Union Special Briefing
2024-05-08 09:00 - 10:00 (America/New_York)
**Call for Participation**

Language Services and the European Union
Special Briefing

8 May 2024

The NGO Committee on Language and Languages will hold a special briefing on language services and the European Union on 8 May 2024.

With twenty-four official languages, the European Union (EU) is rich in linguistic and cultural diversity. Implementing multilingualism in the day-to-day work of EU institutions requires robust language services for interpretation and translation. This special briefing addresses the administration of these services (e.g., how they are funded; how resources, time, and workload are allocated; and how it is staffed) as well as practical considerations for implementing language services for highly multilingual intergovernmental work. Focusing specifically on the European Parliament, officials from the Directorate General for Logistics and Interpretation for Conferences and the Directorate General for Translation will discuss the provision of high-quality interpretation in meetings, training and succession planning that ensures sustainable and flexible service, managing interpretation processes, and strategic planning that transforms top-level vision into act on.

Format
The meeting will take place on 8 May 2024 from 09:00-10:00 EDT/New York via Zoom. It is anticipated that interpreting will be provided in English, French, and Spanish. Statements will be made by

Alison Graves
Director, Directorate General for Logistics and Interpretation for Conferences
European Parliament
Mads Nyegaard Outzen
Head, Strategy and Innovation Unit Directorate General for Translation
European Parliament

Open discussion following the statements will be moderated by Professor Francis M. Hult, Chair of the NGO Committee on Language and Languages.

Registration
Representatives of NGOs, UN Secretariat and agency staff, EU staff, colleagues from Member States, scholars, language professionals, and others interested in multilingual services are invited to register for the briefing using this general registration form no later than 7 May.

2024 UN Civil Society Conference
2024-05-09 08:00 - 2024-05-10 17:00 (America/New_York)
Join us at the 2024 UN Civil Society Conference in Nairobi.
The United Nations Civil Society Conference is the premier event on the civil society calendar at the United Nations. The Conference offers civil society organizations an opportunity to put a global perspective on a specific issue and brings together senior UN System officials, prominent international civil society organizations, youth changemakers, academia, public opinion makers, and international media to discuss issues of global concern. This international forum, expected to host some 1500 participants, will provide preliminary discussions and data ahead of the Summit of the Future in September 2024 at the UN Headquarters in New York.
Since 1947, sixty-eight civil society conferences have resulted in successful outcomes due to previous interactions with civil society organizations.

“Civil society organizations were present in San Francisco at the founding of the United Nations and have been an integral part of the United Nations ecosystem from the outset. As part of our consultations, civil society has called for better engagement with the United Nations system. I believe that it is essential for the United Nations to listen to, coordinate with, and engage with civil society.”
Our Common Agenda. Chapter V. Paragraph 121

More Info

Hybrid International Symposium on Education: Exploring the Global Reform Scripts of Development Partners: Comparative Retrospective Analyses
2024-05-09 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
Dear ASPBAE Members, Partners and Friends,

Warm greetings!

Sharing with you this hybrid event invitation for an international symposium on education co-organised and co-sponsored by a number of ASPBAE members and partners:

Event Title: Exploring the Global Reform Scripts of Development Partners: Comparative Retrospective Analyses.
Date and Time: 9 May 2024 (Thursday) / 10:00am – 12:00pm Japan Standard Time (JST/Kobe).

Event Focus: The symposium provides a forum for a retrospective reflection and discussion on education reforms in countries of the Global South that were implemented with external funding from development partners over the past forty years.
Zoom registration link: https://norrag.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAlc-GhqjgqHNGDjRx3KKJVoFF4DWlpnkxK#/registration

Feel free to share this with your networks and partners. Promotional materials are hereto attached/hyperlinked for distribution as you see fit:

News item
YouTube promotion video
X (Twitter) tweet
Facebook post
Mailchimp alert
Attached: Symposium program in English, Khmer, Russian and Arabic

Thank you and warm regards,
ASPBAE Secretariat

33rd CCPCJ: NGO briefing
2024-05-13, 2024-05-15
33rd CCPCJ: NGO briefing

Location: Room M-3 (1st floor, M-building), Vienna International Centre and online
13 May 2024, 09:15 –
15 May 2024, 10:00 (GMT+2)

Register Here

Decarbonising Organized Crime: The Role that Women and Girls Play in Accomplishing this Goal
2024-05-14 03:10 - 04:00 (America/New_York)
Registration

PDF Eflyer

Informal dialogue with the UNODC Executive Director
2024-05-15 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
Informal dialogue with the UNODC Executive Director
May 15th, 2024, 11:00 to 12:00 PM M-3
Join Online

Side event: The Corporate due diligence Directive
2024-05-15 13:00 - 13:50 (Europe/Paris)
Side event: The Corporate due diligence
Directive
May 15th, 2024: 1-1:50pm: In-Person, MOE 79
THE CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY DUE DILIGENCE DIRECTIVE FOR BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY AND SOCIETY – CHALLENGES AND CHANCES Organized by the ZONTA International with the support of the Südwind, the Graduate Women International, the Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations, the Business and Professional Women International, the NGO Committee on Status of Women, the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development and the Soroptimist International

CELEBRATING FAMILIES & THE FLOURISHING OF EARTH/ 30TH ANNIV. OF INTNL DAY OF FAMILY!
2024-05-15 14:00 - 15:15 (America/New_York)
On the Occasion of the 30th Anniversary of the International Day of the Family
The NGO Committee on the Family, NY

Invites you to attend
Celebrating Families and the Flourishing of Earth

With Guest Speaker
Dr. Marian Tupy
Wednesday, May 15, 2024, 2:00 PM – 3:15 PM ET
Zoom Online Event
Register Here
Concept Note

Marian Tupy, is the co-author (with Gale L. Pooley) of Superabundance: The Story of Population Growth, Innovation and Human Flourishing on an Infinitely Bountiful Planet. This outstanding, well documented, and superbly uplifting book is about human populations and human progress, historically, today and as a preview for tomorrow. Marian Tupy is also a senior fellow at the Cato Institute and founder of HumanProgress.org.

Informal dialogue with the CCPCJ Chair
2024-05-16 09:00 - 10:30 (Europe/Helsinki)
Informal dialogue with the CCPCJ Chair
Location: Room M-3 (1st floor, M-building), Vienna International Centre and online 16 May 2024, 09:00 – 10:00 (GMT+2)
Register Here

ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS AFTER NUCLEAR DISASTROUS ACCIDENTS: WHO IS RESPONSIBLE? WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES ON HEALTH, ON THE ENVIRONMENT?
2024-05-16 14:10 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS AFTER NUCLEAR DISASTROUS
ACCIDENTS: WHO IS RESPONSIBLE? WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES ON
HEALTH, ON THE ENVIRONMENT?
May 16th, 2024: 2:10 to 3:00 p.m. In person, Room: M0E05
Organized by the International Association of Democratic Lawyers with the support of NGO Committee on the Status of Women Vienna, the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development, the Alliance of NGOs on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and the Soroptimist International

NGO Committee on Sustainable Development VIENNA Hybrid Meeting
2024-05-21 15:30 - 17:00 (Europe/Paris)
Hybrid Meeting on May 21st, 2024, 3:30 pm – 5pm CET United Nations Vienna, Room C0229
Agenda
1. Welcome
2. Approval of the Agenda
3. Approval of the minutes of April 9 th , 2024
4. Briefing with Maria MEILER, Sustainability in Business Practice A look at the planetary boundaries, existing frameworks for sustainable management, the importance of sustainability for companies and the consequences of the new laws and directives CSRD, ESRS, CSDDD for companies
5. Wrap up of CCPCJ 33
6. Reports from member organisations
7. Next meetings and events
May 15th, 2024 : 1-1:50pm: Side event: The Corporate due diligence Directive
June 21st, 2024: 3pm: Vienna Climate Biennale 2024: Design with a purpose Festivalareal Nordwestbahnhof Nordwestbahnstraße 16 1200 Wien
Further meetings see attached calendar
8. AOB
Upcoming Meetings Spring 2024

Business Meeting of the Special NGO Committee to End Anti-Semitism and Promote Peace
2024-05-22 14:00 - 15:15 (America/New_York)
Business Meeting of the Special NGO Committee to End Anti-Semitism and Promote Peace
May 22, 2024 |. Thursday | 2:00 PM – 3:15 PM
VENUE: CHURCH CENTER FOR THE UNITED NATIONS
SUITE 7C, 777 UNITED NATIONS PLAZA, NEW YORK, NEW YORK

NGOs accredited to the UN (ECOSOC consultative and DGC associated) are invited to attend the business meeting of the Special NGO Committee to End Anti-Semitism and Promote Peace. The meeting will start with a presentation on what the NGO Committee is about and proceed with electing its first set of officers. It will also set a timeline for the drafting of the Committee’s By-Laws, set membership dues, and assign NGO leaders to play organizational roles as identified and needed. For more information about this Special Committee, email Dr. Susanne Seperson at susanneseperson@gmail.com.

Youth Peace Challenge 2024
2024-05-26 - 2024-07-07
The Youth Peace Challenge (YPC) is a global citizenship education program for youth leadership and stewardship for peace and 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development/SDGs including climate change (SDG 13) in the context of the UN Summit of the Future(SOTF) in New York on 22-23 September 2024.
General Theme: “Youth for Sustainable Future – Role of the youth for climate and peace”
How to Prepare : Read the SOTF 2024 Policy Briefs and Zero Draft declarations (Available at the provided Google Drive link)

Zero Draft Pact for the Future (26 January 2024)
No 1 Future Generations
Zero Draft Declaration for Future Generations (26 March 2024)
No 3 Meaningful Youth Engagement
No 9 A New Agenda for Peace

Who can participate?

Youths aged 15 to 30 (born between 1 Jan 1993 and 31 Dec. 2008) of any nationality
Refugees, asylum-seekers, and internally-displaced persons are welcome to apply

How? Individual or Group (2 or 3 persons)
Language – English
Submission

Written essay between 3,000 to 5,000 words excluding footnotes and references

How to Submit
Please email your written Essay in PDF to
POPDialogue2023@gmail.com on or before 7 July 2024.
Important Dates

23 April ~ 7 July – Application (Google Form)
26 May – UN Future Summit (SOTF) & Theme Introduction Webinar (Virtual)
7 July – Final Application and Essay Submission (via Email)
17 July – Announcement of the Group Discussion’s Selected Participants
27 and/or 28 July – Group Discussion (Virtual)
12 August (International Youth Day) – Presentation of Essays by the Winners of YPC and Award Giving Ceremony
22-23 Sep – Virtual Participation of UN Summit of the Future (SOTF) – New York
1 Oct – Evaluation of UN Summit of the Future (SOTF) and follow-up

Contact and Inquiry

POPDialogue2023@gmail.com -> About YPC
AllianceofYouthPeaceAmbassador@gmail.com -> About YPA
+82-10-4293-0707 (Organizing Committee for YPC)

Register
Download Template Essay

World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)+20 Forum High-Level Event
2024-05-27 - 2024-05-31
The WSIS+20 Forum High-Level Event will mark a significant milestone of twenty years of progress made in the implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society, which took place in two phases — Geneva in 2003 and Tunis in 2005. Twenty years ago WSIS set the framework for global digital cooperation with a vision to build people-centric, inclusive, and development-oriented information and knowledge societies.
The WSIS+20 Forum High-Level Event will serve as a platform for multistakeholder discussions with the objective to take stock of the achievements and key trends, challenges and opportunities since the Geneva Plan of Action in 2003.
The WSIS+20 Forum High-Level Event is scheduled to be held from 27 to 31 May 2024, co-organized by ITU, UNESCO, UNDP and UNCTAD and co-hosted by ITU and the Swiss Confederation, with the support of remote participation.
Invitation Letter

Learn More

https://www.itu.int/net4/wsis/forum/2024/

The WSIS Moon Shot: Celebrating 20 years and crystal-balling the next 20!
2024-05-27 09:00 - 09:30 (America/New_York)
WSIS

Celebrate two decades of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and explore our digital journey ahead! Dive into successes, challenges, and cutting-edge tech shaping our digital future. Join experts from diverse backgrounds as we pave the way for a more connected and inclusive world!

Reflecting on WSIS milestones & lessons learned
Tackling digital challenges & promoting inclusion
Crafting a roadmap for the next era of global digital growth

Join us for a dynamic discussion shaping tomorrow’s digital landscape, as we reflect on our achievements and envision the boundless possibilities ahead in an ever-evolving digital era.

Session 354

Monday, 27 May 2024
09:00–09:30 (UTC+02:00)
Physical (on-site) and Virtual (remote) participation
Main Stage, Room D, CICG, 1st Floor
High-Level Plenary

Mr. Tomas Lamanauskas
Deputy Secretary-General
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
Moderator

Mr. Thomas Coughlin2024
IEEE President
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

Thomas Coughlin, 2024 IEEE President
Tom Coughlin, President, Coughlin Associates is a digital storage analyst and business/ technology consultant. He has over 40 years in the data storage industry with engineering and senior management positions. Coughlin Associates consults, publishes books and market and technology reports and puts on digital storage-oriented events. He is a regular contributor for forbes.com and M&E organization websites. He is an IEEE Fellow, 2024 IEEE President, Past-President IEEE-USA, Past Director IEEE Region 6 and Past Chair Santa Clara Valley IEEE Section, and is also active with SNIA and SMPTE. For more information on Tom Coughlin go to www.t

Ms. Maria Fernanda Garza
Chair
International Chamber of Commerce

Maria Fernanda Garza is a Mexican businesswoman, CEO of Orestia, a manufacturing home improvement- water solutions company, with exports to USMCA region, Latin-America and Asia. Her interest in improving the business environment, made her a prominent business leader at a young age. Board member of Mexico´s leading business organizations such as COPARMEX, CCE, ALIARSE, among others.
For ten years, she was Mexico’s Employer Delegate to the International Labour Organization Conference, where she became appointed Employer’s Vice Chair at the ILO’s 98th Session. Maria Fernanda Garza was Chair of ICC México from 2014 – 2020; Regional Coordinator for the Americas 2012-2020, and a member of the Governing Body of the International Court of Arbitration.
She is currently Chairwoman of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), a Member of the Advisory Committee on Sustainable Urbanization of the President of the UN General Assembly’s, and a Member of the International Advocacy Caucus of Indonesia B20. She was appointed to serve on the United Nations Secretary-General’s inaugural Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Leadership Panel for two years since 2022.

Ms. Anriette Esterhuysen
Senior advisor global and regional internet governance
Association for Progressive Communications (APC)

Anriette Esterhuysen served as the chairperson of the Multistakeholder Advisory Committee of the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF)from 2019 to 2021.
She was executive director of the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) from 2000 to 2017 and continues to work with APC as Senior Advisor on Internet Governance.
She convenes the annual African School on Internet Governance, an APC collaboration with Research ICT Africa at the University of Cape Town, and the African Union Commission. She serves on the governing bodies of the IGF Support Association, Connect Humanity, the Digital Empowerment Foundation, and the South African Tertiary Education Network (TENET).
Anriette was inducted into the Internet Hall of Fame as a Global Connecter in 2013 for her work in extending internet connectivity in Africa and received the Electronic Frontier Foundation Pioneer Award in 2015 for her work on defending and promoting human rights online.

"Breaking Barriers, Bridging Worlds" Global Forum: 77th WHA Parallel Event co-organized by STUF, WMA, TMA, FMPAT
2024-05-28
Register Now

WHA hybrid side event. 'From Plan To Impact'
2024-05-29 17:30 - 19:00 (Europe/Helsinki)
As we approach the final year of the dementia Global Action Plan, we are amplifying our call for a much-needed extension and looking to strategize on better ways to connect, in the NCD space in the build up to the 2025 High-Level Meeting – especially around risk reduction.
When & where: Wednesday 29 May. Beau Rivage Hotel, lakeside. 17:30 reception. 18:00-19:00 for the event.
In-Person Reservation Online Reservation

Partnering for SDGs: Mind-Body-Eco-Spirit Integrative Healing
2024-06-06 17:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York)

CACCI Webinar on Envision The Future of AI
2024-06-07 11:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York)
INTRODUCTION

In recent years, the term AI (Artificial Intelligence) has surged to prominence within global commerce and industry, symbolizing a pivotal technological frontier.
The trajectory of AI development not only holds the key to enhancing national competitiveness but also for advancing in the societal, commercial, and educational landscapes. Understanding the multifaceted impacts of AI across these domains is imperative.
The CACCI Asian ICT Council thus seeks to delve into insights on the evolving trends and developments within this transformative field.
For this webinar, we have invited five experts from across the Asia-Pacific region to contribute their perspectives, and showcase their respective nation’s AI programs, strategic plans, focal areas, and developmental endeavors.

Dr. Yung-Hui Li, Director of AI Research Center, Hon-Hai Research Institute, Taiwan
Ms. Madeline Newman, Executive Director, AI Forum New Zealand
Mr. Oliver Tian, Vice President, Global Robot Clusters, Singapore
Mr. Premjith Krishnan, CEO of Namastrend Business Services Pvt Ltd, India
Ms. Vicky Enkhsaikhan, Co-Founder of Empasoft Institute of Technology /Country Director, Women in Tech Global Movement, Mongolia

AGENDA

11:00AM Opening remarks by Moderator Dr. Dennis Hu, CACCI.
11:02AM Dr. Yung-Hui Li, Hon-Hai Research Institute (Taiwan) on GenAI Strategy of Foxconn.
11:12AM Ms. Madeline Newman, AI Forum (New Zealand) on Fostering a Choesive Ecosystem for Aotearoa New Zealand.
11:22AM Mr. Oliver Tian, Global Robot Clusters (Singapore) on The Wonders and Woes of the AI World.
11:32AM Mr. Premjith Krishnan, Namastrend Business Services Pvt Ltd. (India) on The Government Initiative and Industry effort for AI Development in India.
11:42AM Ms. Vicky Enkhsaikhan, Empasoft Institute of Technology & Women in Tech Global Movement (Mongolia) on AI in Nomadic Life.
11:52AM Panel Discussion with all speakers (36 minutes).
12:28PM Closing remarks by Moderator Dr. Dennis Hu, CACCI.
12:30 PM End of Webinar

ISSUES FOR DISCUSSION

What is the potential impact of AI on future commerce, industry, education, and skills?
What policies are being discussed by the Government?
How should the public be prepared to apply AI?
What issues or difficulties in AI development in your country have been encountered or foreseen?

For more information and registration please click HERE.
We encourage all members and friends to attend this insightful session.

Language Rights for Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
2024-06-10 08:00 - 2024-06-11 17:00 (America/New_York)
The Study Group on Language and the United Nations presents
Language Rights for
Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
A Virtual Symposium on 10-11 June 2024

Multilingualism is a core value of the United Nations. Yet it is rarely addressed in relation to the targets and indicators of the Sustainable Development Goals. Recent milestones call attention to the relevance of multilingualism and language rights. The 30th anniversary of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities was commemorated in 2022. The launch of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages also in 2022 brought renewed attention to the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). In addition, the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights was celebrated in 2023. Each of these instruments, among others (e.g., the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights [ICCPR]) have in common attention to language rights, including nondiscrimination with regard to language. The Declaration on Minorities, UNDRIP, and ICCPR, in turn, variously enshrine the rights to language in settings such as education, media, and jurisprudence as well as the right to participate in all domains of society, including decision-making and political processes.
This two-day virtual symposium draws attention to the essential role that multilingualism must play in initiatives by the United Nations, Member States, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, and other stakeholders to foster peace, justice and strong institutions. Language mediates all human experience. Fully inclusive dialogue, problem-solving and justice must involve substantive use of multilingualism to ensure that people can understand one another, access information equitably, and participate democratically. Multilingualism is fundamental to peaceful solutions and strong institutions. In addition, all initiatives must take linguistic minorities into account explicitly so that “nobody is left behind” due to their language background. 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 over two days:
Monday, 10 June

08:30-13:00 – New York
14:30-19:00 – Geneva
15:30-20:00 – Nairobi
19:30-12:00 – Bangkok
Tuesday, 11 June

08:30-13:00 – New York
14:30-19:00 – Geneva
15:30-20:00 – Nairobi
19:30-12:00 – Bangkok

A detailed programme will follow at a later time.

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 the relationship between language rights and SDG 16. There is no cost to attend the symposium, but preregistration is required. Register here as soon as possible, but no later than 9 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), and made possible by generous support and assistance from

Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL)

Esperantic Studies Foundation (ESF)

De Gruyter

Centre for Research and Documentation on World Language Problems (CED)

Consortium for Language Policy and Planning (CLPP)

2024 CRNGO Annual Meeting
2024-06-10 11:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
The Committee of Religious NGOs at the United Nations cordially invites you to join us for our Annual Meeting and Luncheon event.

Date: Monday, June 10, 2024
Time: 11am – 2pm (ET)
Location: The Baha’i International Community UN Office
(866 United Nations Plaza #120, New York, NY 10017)

In-Person or online participation available.
Lunch is included for one representative per paid membership for in-person participants. For additional guests and friends is $15
If you have any questions about membership due, contact Ms. Kristine Leonardo at kleonardo@rfp.org
Membership Due Form is HERE
Contact: religiousngo@gmail.com

RSVP
