CoNGO

Re-imagining The Future We Need: Community voices for a healthy, green and just recovery
2021-07-06 07:30 - 09:00 (America/New_York) | worldwide/virtual
NGO Major Group Side Event
This side event at the UN’s High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) 2021 will hear directly from community voices from different parts of the world on action steps needed for a sustainable and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. A priority of this session is to ensure the lived experiences of those who are most severely affected by the pandemic are directly included in national assessments of the inter-connected challenges faced by us all; and in setting priorities for a fairer and more sustainable future.
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_OI59RbzfQuWbXXLRG4PJwA
Agenda
Opening keynote: One planet, one health: healthy people, healthy nature and healthy planet: Ambassador Christian Frutiger, Assistant Director General, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Switzerland
Panel includes:

Fatimatou Sall, President, Association of young water and sanitation professionals of Senegal
Naeem Abbas, Advocacy Manager, The Brooke, Pakistan
Sanjoy Hazarika, International Director, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI)
Ingrid Rostad, Co-chair of the MG Facilitating Committee at UNEP

Q&A with participants and inputs from NGO Major Group regional partners to share specific experiences from regional and national contexts
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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Major Group, please visit ngomg.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Human Rights, please email the co-chairs at bobbinassar@gmail.com or bknotts@uua.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Financing for Development, please visit ngosonffd.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development-NY, please visit ngocsd-ny.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development-Vienna, please visit ngocsdvienna.org.

[HLPF side event] Stakeholder Group on Ageing presents "COVID-19 Pandemic: A Stress Test of Global Ageing"
2021-07-06 13:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York)
SGA Official Side Event at the UN High-level Political Forum
Older persons have been among the first and hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. In many respects the pandemic could be viewed as a test of how prepared/or not Member States are for the rapidly ageing society.
Pandemics disrupt and have the potential to drive change. Only a whole-of-society, whole-of-government approach can respond effectively to the dynamic challenges of this time.
In his report, the UN Secretary-General presented new research on how longevity has the power to transform labour markets, economies and societies. The recently released WHO Global Report on Ageism shows that one in two people hold ageist attitudes towards older people.
This side event will focus on: Health and Long Term Care, Economic Development and Work and Technology in ageist environment during the pandemic
Register here: zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUofuqrrD4rG9XfaonPbRnBxmTDIDOXF4yw
Program
Welcome: Ms. Erica Dhar, Co-Chair, Stakeholder Group on Ageing
Keynote address: Prof. Andrew Scott, Professor of Economics, London Business School
Panel moderator: Dr. Jane Barratt, Secretary General, International Federation on Ageing
5 Minute Lightning Round Interventions

H.E. Ms. Barbro Westerholm, Member of Parliament, Sweden
Dr. Ad van Berlo, Chief Executive Officer and R&D Manager, Smart Homes
Ms. Aura Sevilla, Programme Consultant for South East Asia and Older Workers, Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO)
Ms. Grace Chan, Business Director, Hong Kong Council of Social Service

Closing remarks: Ms. Amal Abou Rafeh, Chief of the Programme on Ageing Unit, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA)
This event will be available at no cost and a recording will be available following the live event. For more information regarding the programme and speaker biographies please visit ifa.ngo/driving-our-agenda/united-nations.
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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Ageing-Vienna, please visit ngoageingvie.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Ageing-Geneva, please visit ageingcommitteegeneva.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Ageing-NY, please visit ngocoa-ny.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Intergenerational Solidarity, please email the vice chair at susanneseperson@gmail.com.

The Union of Humanity: Bridging Medicine, Music, Technology & Global NGO for Pandemic Recovery {CoNGO President Speaks at this Event}
2021-07-06 18:00 - 19:30 (America/New_York)
Join here: https://stufunitedfund.my.webex.com/stufunitedfund.my/j.php?MTID=me2355e3ac7a7db8d2358b2fa2408254b
STUF United Fund (a member of CoNGO), along with The Permanent Mission of Belize to the United Nations and Helping Overcome Obstacles Peru (HOOP), will present a side event on Tuesday July 6th, during the United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. STUF United Fund is honored to have CoNGO President Dr. Liberato C. Bautista join as one of the speakers.
The UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) is an essential platform hosted by the United Nations to follow up and review the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals. The side event is entitled “The Union of Humanity: Bridging Medicine, Music, Technology, and Global NGO Partnership for Pandemic Recovery.” It will be held in a hybrid format of virtual and in-person conference. The event includes speeches and Q&A from 6pm to 8pm and live musical performance from 8pm to 8:30pm.
Speakers include:

Ms. Han Wu, Co-Artistic Director of the CMS of Lincoln Center (video speech)
Rev. Liberato C. Bautista, President of CoNGO (The Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations) “Global NGO Partnership for Pandemic Recovery”
Dr. Shang Ju Li, MD, MPH, Senior Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Americares; Co-Founder, Helping Overcome Obstacles Peru (HOOP) USA and Peru “Challenges and Strategies: Pandemic Recovery from the Perspective of Local NGO”
Dr. Alex Chen, MD, PhD, Visiting Professor at Imperial College London, Faculty of Medicine “Global Burden of Disease (GBD), Non-Communicable Disease (NCD), and Digital Solutions”
Mr. Michel Lu, Ph.D in Far-East Research from Université Paris VII, retired diplomat “International Medical and Health Cooperation: Challenges and Opportunities”

Online Webex Meeting Number: 182-627-7918, password: [REDACTED] (lower case of HLPF)
Please RSVP to join the in-person meeting at Merkin Concert Hall at the Kaufman Music Center at 129 W 67th St, New York, NY 10023: eventbrite.com/e/stuf-2021-un-high-level-political-forum-side-event-tickets-161241492645

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee for Rare Diseases, please visit rarediseasesinternational.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development-NY, please visit ngocsd-ny.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development-Vienna, please visit ngocsdvienna.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Financing for Development, please visit ngosonffd.org.

Breaking the Cycle of Poverty and Hunger: Our Asks
2021-07-07 07:30 - 09:00 (America/New_York)
In order to engage with the themes of the HLPF and CSocD60 in 2022, the NGO CSocD is hosting an event to supplement the priority themes of resilience and recovery from Covid-19, addressing multidimensional poverty and hunger. The event is titled ‘Breaking the Cycle of Poverty and Hunger: Our Asks.’
True to the spirit of the Copenhagen Declaration of which this committee is guided by, this online webinar features three grassroots speakers from different continents who will share their unique experiences of poverty and hunger during or prior to Covid-19 and the solutions they have created or propose to overcome these difficulties. After presenting accounts of their lived experiences, there will be reactions to the presentations by UN agencies and Member States. This will form the basis of an authentic dialogue between diverse voices in society.
Register here!
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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Social Development, please visit ngosocdev.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Financing for Development, please visit ngosonffd.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development-NY, please visit ngocsd-ny.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development-Vienna, please visit ngocsdvienna.org.

On the road towards COVID-19 recovery and delivery of the SDGs: Addressing the challenges of persons living with a rare disease as a human rights, sustainable development and equity priority
2021-07-07 08:00 - 09:30 (America/New_York)
On the road towards COVID-19 recovery and delivery of the SDGs: Addressing the challenges of persons living with a rare disease as a human rights, sustainable development and equity priority
Overview:
The 300 million persons living with a rare disease around the world and their families face common challenges in all aspects of their daily lives. As they experience different levels of vulnerability, they are disproportionally affected by stigma, discrimination and marginalization, within their own social environment and in society at large. Knowledge and information are scarce and expertise is not accessible. Stigma, discrimination, lack of awareness and recognition lead to specific challenges in access to education, healthcare, employment and leisure. The impact is felt throughout their lives, causing increased impoverishment and isolation for individuals and their families. These socioeconomic challenges have been worsened by the current Covid-19 pandemic and will not diminish post-COVID-19 unless specific attention is paid to them. In the context of the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development, it is critical to acknowledge how the specific challenges of persons living with a rare disease are at the heart of the 2030 Agenda and present many synergies with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including goals 1, 3, 8 and 10, which are under review at the High-Level Political Forum 2021. Persons living with a rare disease therefore require immediate and urgent attention, under the auspices of global and national policies that address their needs and respect their human rights. Indeed, unless persons living with a rare disease are explicitly included we cannot ensure that ‘no one is left behind.’
Objective of the event:
The side-event to the High Level Political Forum 2021 has the objective to showcase how addressing the challenges of persons living with a rare disease, recognizing their rights, needs and priorities, as well as promoting their active participation, and harnessing the opportunities for their inclusion in society is essential to the realisation of the 2030 Agenda and to the sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The rare disease civil society community (represented by the NGO Committee for Rare Diseases, Rare Diseases International and EURORDIS-Rare Diseases Europe) with the support of a number of UN Member States including Spain, Brazil and the State of Qatar, proposes to discuss, at the event, the adoption of a UN General Assembly Resolution that can act as a catalyst and provide a constructive and consensual intergovernmental vision on the issue.
Register here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_06nqC4E0S_ifw75SoKQDiw
Agenda: rarediseasesinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Final-Programme-UN-HLPF-Event.pdf
Concept Note: rarediseasesinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Concept-Note-HLPF-side-event-2021_Persons-rare-diseases_Final.pdf
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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee for Rare Diseases, please visit ngocommitteerarediseases.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Human Rights, please email the co-chairs at bobbinassar@gmail.com or bknotts@uua.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development-NY, please visit ngocsd-ny.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development-Vienna, please visit ngocsdvienna.org.

Interfaith dialogue: Independent Dialogue on Faith and Food Systems
2021-07-07 15:00 - 16:30 (Africa/Nairobi)
We welcome you to an Interfaith dialogue to engage global faith and indigenous communities with the Food Systems Summit process. This co-convened dialogue (UN and faith-based organizations) through shared experiences and learnings underlining shared values and principles, spirituality and beliefs, is an opportunity to promote solidarity and mutual accountability with local communities, stewardship of the environment and sustainability of food systems. Register here!
Discussants:

Rev. Nicta M. Lubaale, General Secretary, Organization of African Instituted Churches (Uganda/ Kenya)
Mrs. Wallapa van Willenswaard, Innovation Network International INI, International Network of Engaged Buddhists (Thailand)
Ms. Debra Boudreaux, Tzu Chi Foundation, (USA)
Mr. Gopal Patel, Bhumi Global (India/ US)
Discussants from Indigenous communities

Convenor: Mr. Andrew Schwartz, Director of Sustainability and Global Affairs, Center For Earth Ethics (USA)
Curator: Ms. Angeline Munzara, Global Sector Leader, Livelihoods, Global Impact, World Vision International & Member of the Strategy Group- Food For Life Campaign- WCC-EAA (Zimbabwe/ South Africa)
Moderator: Rev. Eugene Cho, President and CEO of Bread for the World (USA)
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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the Committee on Religious NGOs at the United Nations, please visit rngos.wordpress.com. For more information on the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development-NY, please visit ngocsd-ny.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development-Vienna, please visit ngocsdvienna.org. For more information on the NGO committee on Spirituality, Values, and Global Concerns-NY, please visit csvgc-ny.org.

Making equitable education and decent jobs work for the marginalized: Pathway to a gender-just recovery
2021-07-08 07:30 - 09:00 (America/New_York)
In this side event with GCE, ASPBAE will be doing a soft launch of the 2021 Spotlight Reports. In ASPBAE, the national education coalitions in Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia and Japan have produced country reports. These Spotlight Reports emphasize the role of education as a driver towards sustained recovery and resiliency.
There will be interpretation for sign language, Hindi, Indonesia and Russian.
Register here: https://unwomen.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IWPVF2MNRPiiyk7tF_8ehw
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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Education, Learning, and Literacy, please visit facebook.com/NGOCELLatUN. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women-NY, please visit ngocsw.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women-Geneva, please visit ngocsw-geneva.ch. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women-Vienna, please visit ngocswvienna.org.

UN HRC47 side event: National security and civic space in Asia
2021-07-08 11:00 - 12:30 (Europe/Zurich)
Across Asia, there has been a growing trend of using national security and counter-terrorism legislation to curb the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

In this virtual side event to the 47th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council organized by Civicus, Franciscans International, and FORUM-ASIA, Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay will join human rights experts from India, Indonesia, and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on peaceful assembly and association Clément Voule in examining the impact of counter-terrorism legislation on civic space and in making recommendations on human rights protection to the United Nations Human Rights Council, States, and civil society.
Register here!
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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Disarmament, Peace, and Security, please visit ngocdps.wordpress.com. For more information on the NGO Committee on Human Rights, please email the co-chairs at bknotts@uua.org or bobbinassar@gmail.com. For more information on the Alliance of NGOs on Crime Prevention & Criminal Justice, please visit crimealliance.org.

Addressing the tensions between extreme poverty & environmental conservation
2021-07-08 13:00 - 14:15 (America/New_York)
Join us July 8 for “Addressing the tensions between extreme poverty and environmental conservation,” an ATD Fourth World webinar at HLPF, in collaboration with the Maryknoll Sisters.
Register here!
This fascinating dialogue will bring together:

Activists from the Quilombola community in Brazil and the Maasai community in Tanzania, both facing
threats to their lands, identities and cultures
Professionals in the field of social and environmental justice and human rights
International policy-makers in the realm of environmental conservation and management

Together, panelists will discuss how environmental conservation should not be used against the human
rights of people and communities living in poverty and will highlight examples of communities acting to
protect and preserve their environment and culture.
Speakers:

Seela John Sainyeye: Coordinator of Women Empowerment and Gender Equality at the Pilot Light Development Organization in Arusha, Tanzania
Leidyane Quilombola: Activist from Quilombo Nazaré, Maranhão, Brazil
David Smith: Chief Economist and Regional Coordinator – Africa. UNDP-UNEP, Poverty-Environment Action for the SDGs (PEA), UNEP

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Financing for Development, please visit ngosonffd.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development-NY, please visit ngocsd-ny.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development-Vienna, please visit ngocsdvienna.org. For more information on the Committee of Religious NGOs at the United Nations, please visit rngos.wordpress.com.

Promising Practices: Protecting Migrant and Refugee Victims of Xenophobia and Intolerance in the Context of the Coronavirus Pandemic
2021-07-08 13:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York)
The NGO Committee on Migration‘ s Subcommittee on Xenophobia, Racism and Social Inclusion invites you to a virtual Side Event in parallel with the UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) to present and discuss a just-completed survey on promising practices developed by front-line organizations working with migrants in this COVID-era.
Read the full concept note here and register here!
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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Migration, please visit ngo-migration.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, please visit facebook.com/NGOCoRIP. For more information on the NGO Committee on Social Development, please visit ngosocdev.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Children’s Rights, please visit childrightsny.org.

Global Citizenship: Foundations for an Interconnected World
2021-07-09 11:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York)
CGC 2030 Side Event
Join the NGO Major Group’s Cluster for Global Citizenship to explore how our interconnectivity impacts the United Nations and the UN Sustainable Development goals.
Register here!
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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Major Group, please visit ngomg.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Education, Learning, and Literacy, please visit facebook.com/NGOCELLatUN. For more information on the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development-Vienna, please visit ngocsdvienna.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development-NY, please visit ngocsd-ny.org.

The Resilience Paradox: The Role of Faith Actors in Addressing Climate Challenges and Vulnerabilities Faced by Small Island States
2021-07-12 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York)
Dear partners,

Greetings from the Anglican Communion Office at the United Nations!

We are proud to share with you the event we are co-sponsoring at the margins of the High-Level Political Forum: The Resilience Paradox: Faith Actors in Addressing Climate Challenges and Vulnerabilities Faced by Small Island States. This event is the result of a partnership between the Anglican Communion Office at the United Nations, The Episcopal Church, the Anglican Alliance, Episcopal Relief and Development, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).

During an hour and a half, we will focus on challenges to building resilience and sustainable development faced by Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and spotlight the work of faith actors as prophetic voices on environmental and sustainable development issues. We will also interrogate the role of faith actors in building climate resilience, SDGs, COVID response, and advocating to and partnering with governments.

The event will be held on 12th of July from 10:00 to 11:30 EDT/ 14:00 to 15:30 UTC via Zoom.
To register please visit: bit.ly/FaithAtHLPF

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the Committee of Religious NGOs at the United Nations, please visit rngos.wordpress.com. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, please visit facebook.com/NGOCoRIP.

Building Back Better after COVID-19 through Addressing Health Equity, Mental Health, and Well-being: Contributions of Psychological Science and Practice to Leave No One Behind
2021-07-12 13:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York)
Building Back Better after COVID-19 through Addressing Health Equity, Mental Health, and Well-being: Contributions of Psychological Science and Practice to Leave No One Behind
The event highlights challenges and solutions related to achieving health and mental health equity in the context of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Speakers include experts, “voices from the field,” and high-level diplomats from the co-sponsoring UN Missions of Sierra Leone, Bahrain, Canada, Ecuador, Georgia, Iceland, Japan, Lebanon, Mali, Mexico, Nepal, Portugal, Sweden, Costa Rica, and Qatar, as well as the World Health Organization, the International Association of Applied Psychology, the American Psychological Association, and the United African Congress.
We look forward to you joining us. Please feel free to circulate/post this invitation to your lists and colleagues.
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__yJ1ykoeTGCoj4WtLxqB6g
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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Mental Health, please visit ngomentalhealth.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Social Development, please visit ngosocdev.org.

Migration and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Implications on the Sustainable Development Goals
2021-07-13 07:30 - 09:00 (America/New_York)
Migrant Forum in Asia, in partnership with Asian People’s Partnership for Peace, Planet and Prosperity (APSD) is organizing an official HLPF side-event to explore the challenge COVID-19 represented for migrants and the impact of the pandemic on SDGs progress.
Read more & find related events here.
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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Migration, please visit ngo-migration.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development-NY, please visit ngocsd-ny.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development-Vienna, please visit ngocsdvienna.org.

World Drug Report with focus on Asia & Europe
2021-07-13 10:00 - 11:30 (Europe/Amsterdam)
Webinar on the World Drug Report with focus on Asia and Europe
The Vienna NGO Committee on Drugs (VNGOC) together with the UNODC Civil Society Unit will be holding two webinars to present and discuss the World Drug Report 2021, which was launched on 25th June. The yearly publication is the most comprehensive source of facts and knowledge on drugs and the world drug market, sourced straight from evidence-based studies and data compiled by UNODC experts. The participants of the webinars will learn about the newest trends, both global and regional. The first webinar will be held on 13th July 2021 (10:00-11:30, CEST, Vienna) and will comprise welcome remarks from VNGOC and UNODC, a formal presentation of the World Drug Report 2021 with a respective focus on the different regions by UNODC experts, two civil society panelists, and an open question and answer session.
Register here:https://bit.ly/3pyC5t1
Interpretation in Russian and French will be available. The full agenda can be viewed on the VNGOC website.
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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Drugs-NY, please visit nyngoc.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Mental Health, please visit ngomentalhealth.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Family-NY, please visit ngofamilyny.org.

Changing narratives about unpaid care work and the economy
2021-07-14 07:30 - 09:00 (America/New_York)
The pandemic has shown the critical importance of Care. It also exposed the challenges that women, particularly mothers, face in juggling paid work and unpaid Care responsibilities. At the heart of the problem is our current economic system, which considers unpaid care work – and nature – as endless and free commodities.

The Covid-19 crisis provides a unique opportunity to repurpose our economy, so that it serves the wellbeing of people and our planet. Bringing about such systemic change begins by changing narratives and perspectives on both unpaid care work and the economy.

Programme and list of speakers

Introductions:

Anne-Claire de Liedekerke, President, Make Mothers Matter
Olivier De Schutter, UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights

Moderator: Susan Himmelweit, Feminist economist, Emeritus professor of economics for the Open University in the UK, member of the UK Women’s Budget Group Commission for a Gender Equal Economy

Presentations:

Gary Barker, Founder and CEO, Promundo Global
Sonia Malaspina, Human Resources Director, Danone SN Italy
Anam Parvez, Research Lead in Evidence and Strategic Learning, Oxfam Great Britain
Shahra Razavi, Director, ILO Social Protection Department

Q&A

Read more & register here: makemothersmatter.org/changing-narratives-about-unpaid-care-work-and-the-economy
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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Financing for Development, please visit ngosonffd.org. For more information on the Vienna NGO Committee on the Family, please visit viennafamilycommittee.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Family-NY, please visit ngofamilyny.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Social Development, please visit ngosocdev.org.
