The Iran Deal or No Deal

The Iran Nuclear Deal or No Deal

Grassroots organizations from across the country are joining together to present the most recent developments surrounding the JCPOA and what they may mean for the future of Iran and the rest of the Middle East. For those who care about preventing a future war as well as addressing the humanitarian role the U.S. has in Iran, Yemen, and elsewhere, this is the event to join.

Register here: https://secure.everyaction.com/aFVE5ygCQEOMyNrNBjpx_Q2

Featuring:

Trita Parsi, Executive Vice President of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft
Barbara Slavin, Director of the Future of Iran Initiative and a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council
Kelsey Davenport, Director of Nonproliferation Policy at Arms Control Association
Peter Beinart, Professor of Journalism and Political Science at the City University of New York

Moderated by: Jamal Abdi, President of the National Iranian American Council

Note: You are welcome to watch a recording of a previous event (https://fb.watch/3aRHLDJRGL/), which provides a great overview of the topic, but will not be necessary to get the full experience out of this larger event.

This event is co-sponsored by:

Brooklyn for Peace; CODEPINK; Coloradans for Middle East Diplomacy & Peace; Demand Progress; Friends Committee on National Legislation Colorado Advocacy Team; Friends Committee on National Legislation New York City Advocacy Team; Friends Committee on National Legislation New York State Advocacy Team; Genesee Valley Citizens for Peace; Historians for Peace and Democracy; J Street Colorado; J Street NYC; Jewish Voice for Peace – Denver/Boulder Chapter; Long Island Activists; Long Island Alliance for Peaceful Alternatives; Manhattan Project for a Nuclear Free World; Massachusetts Peace Action; National Iranian American Council; New Jersey Peace Action; New York Progressive Action Network; NYPAN Greene; No War Westchester; North Country Peace Group; PEAC Institute; Peace Action; Peace Action Bay Ridge; Peace Action New York State; Peace & Social Justice Committee of the 15th St. Monthly Meeting, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers); Rethinking Foreign Policy, Inc.; Peace Corps Iran Association; Progressive Democrats of Sussex County (Delaware); Progressive East End Reformers; Rocky Mountain Peace & Justice Center; South Country Peace Group; Suffolk Progressives; Syracuse Peace Council; Upper Hudson Peace Action; WESPAC; Win Without War; Women’s Action for New Directions; and Women’s March.

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CoNGO Notes: For more information 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.

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

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

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

Objectives of the meeting:

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

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

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

Draft Programme:

Welcome and opening remarks

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

Scene-setting and connecting

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

Developments since OEWG10

Intersessional events/outcomes
COVID-19 and political momentum

Breakout rooms: English / French / Spanish

Preparing our strategy for participation in OEWG11

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

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

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

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

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

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

Objectives of the meeting:

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

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

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

Draft Programme:

Welcome and opening remarks

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

Scene-setting and connecting

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

Developments since OEWG10

Intersessional events/outcomes
COVID-19 and political momentum

Breakout rooms: English / French / Spanish

Preparing our strategy for participation in OEWG11

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

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

______________________________________________________________________________________________

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

Promoting evidence-based drug policies and interventions enshrined in human rights in Europe

Dear all,

On behalf of the Association Proyecto Hombre, it is a pleasure to inform you that, in the celebration of the 64^thsession of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs, we are organising an on-line side event on behalf the EU Civil Society Forum on Drugs titled “Promoting evidence-based drug policies and interventions enshrined in human rights in Europe.” It is supported by the European Union, the Governments of Portugal and Spain, and the Council of Europe.

The event will take place online via Zoom on 15 April from 9.00 to 9.50 a.m. (CET – Vienna time). You do not need to register in advance.

Please do not hesitate to contact me and/or Anna Ollo should you have any questions.

Best regards,

—

Buenos días,

En nombre de la Asociación Proyecto Hombre, es un placer informarle de que, con motivo de la celebración de la 64ª sesión de la Comisión de Estupefacientes de las Naciones Unidas, organizamos un evento telemático en nombre del Foro de la Sociedad Civil sobre Drogas de la Unión Europea, con el título “Promoting evidence-based drug policies and interventions enshrined in human rights in Europe (Promoción de políticas e intervenciones de drogas en Europa, basadas en la evidencia y en los derechos humanos).” Contamos con el apoyo de la Unión Europea, los Gobiernos de Portugal y España, y el Consejo de Europa.

El evento tendrá lugar a través de la plataforma Zoom el próximo 15 de abril de 9.00 a 9.50 a.m. (CET – hora de Viena), y será en inglés. No es necesario registrarse con antelación.

Por favor, no dude en contactarnos si tiene alguna duda.

Atentamente,

Begoña Gómez del Campo, Tecnica de Incidencia y Proyectos Internacionales

Event access link here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_E71WRejcT9uFQDxRGWy_HA

Speakers:

Marie Nougier, International Drug Policy Consortium, on behalf of the EU Civil Society Forum on Drugs
Edith Hofer, European Commission, European Union
Péter Sárosi, Rights Reporter Foundation, representative of the EU Civil Society Forum on Drugs
Dr. Joan R. Villalbí, Delegate of the Government for the National Plan on Drugs, Ministry of Health, Spain
Hannah Bardell, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Rapporteur for the report on “Human rights and drug policies in Europe: a baseline reference”

Moderator: Oriol Esculies, International Commissioner of Association Proyecto Hombre

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the New York NGO Committee on Drugs, please visit nyngoc.org. For more information on the Vienna NGO Committee on Narcotic Drugs, please visit vngoc.org.

Promoting evidence-based drug policies and interventions enshrined in human rights in Europe

Dear all,

On behalf of the Association Proyecto Hombre, it is a pleasure to inform you that, in the celebration of the 64^thsession of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs, we are organising an on-line side event on behalf the EU Civil Society Forum on Drugs titled “Promoting evidence-based drug policies and interventions enshrined in human rights in Europe.” It is supported by the European Union, the Governments of Portugal and Spain, and the Council of Europe.

The event will take place online via Zoom on 15 April from 9.00 to 9.50 a.m. (CET – Vienna time). You do not need to register in advance.

Please do not hesitate to contact me and/or Anna Ollo should you have any questions.

Best regards,

—

Buenos días,

En nombre de la Asociación Proyecto Hombre, es un placer informarle de que, con motivo de la celebración de la 64ª sesión de la Comisión de Estupefacientes de las Naciones Unidas, organizamos un evento telemático en nombre del Foro de la Sociedad Civil sobre Drogas de la Unión Europea, con el título “Promoting evidence-based drug policies and interventions enshrined in human rights in Europe (Promoción de políticas e intervenciones de drogas en Europa, basadas en la evidencia y en los derechos humanos).” Contamos con el apoyo de la Unión Europea, los Gobiernos de Portugal y España, y el Consejo de Europa.

El evento tendrá lugar a través de la plataforma Zoom el próximo 15 de abril de 9.00 a 9.50 a.m. (CET – hora de Viena), y será en inglés. No es necesario registrarse con antelación.

Por favor, no dude en contactarnos si tiene alguna duda.

Atentamente,

Begoña Gómez del Campo, Tecnica de Incidencia y Proyectos Internacionales

Event access link here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_E71WRejcT9uFQDxRGWy_HA

Speakers:

Marie Nougier, International Drug Policy Consortium, on behalf of the EU Civil Society Forum on Drugs
Edith Hofer, European Commission, European Union
Péter Sárosi, Rights Reporter Foundation, representative of the EU Civil Society Forum on Drugs
Dr. Joan R. Villalbí, Delegate of the Government for the National Plan on Drugs, Ministry of Health, Spain
Hannah Bardell, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Rapporteur for the report on “Human rights and drug policies in Europe: a baseline reference”

Moderator: Oriol Esculies, International Commissioner of Association Proyecto Hombre

______________________________________________________________________________________________

CoNGO Notes: For more information on the New York NGO Committee on Drugs, please visit nyngoc.org. For more information on the Vienna NGO Committee on Narcotic Drugs, please visit vngoc.org.

Civilian Safety in Armed Conflict: Community-based protection, early warning, and conflict preparedness

Civilian Safety in Armed Conflict: Community-based protection, early warning, and conflict preparedness

In this webinar, the second of a two-part series exploring existing efforts to improve the safety of civilians during armed conflict, we at PHAP will be discussing “secondary” prevention programs, in particular those focusing on strengthening communities in conflict-affected areas to reduce the risk of harm and mitigate the effects of armed conflict on civilian populations. We will hear from NGOs active in situations of armed conflict around the word about how they approach building capacity for prevention in communities – what the main considerations are and in which situations they are effective. We will also discuss what other organizations can learn from their approach and the implications this has for the humanitarian community as a whole.

Register here!

Background:

In armed conflict, the humanitarian community continues to witness highly disturbing situations where the safety of civilians is ignored or not addressed, or where civilians are purposely targeted by parties to a conflict. While protection services continue to provide much-needed support to vulnerable and marginalized groups and individuals and respond to protection concerns with remedial service provision, limited progress has been made on contributing to civilians’ safety in armed conflict. As Hugo Slim expressed it in the recent Oxford Lecture Series on Protection: “When you look at protection’s track record through wars, protection is at its weakest here, in this challenge in protecting people from physical harm and unlawful devastating attacks on their persons and homes.”

In the last few years, there has been a push by both humanitarian agencies and donors to examine how we can prevent and protect civilians from physical harm during conflict. Key questions remain: what does prevention mean and look like within our protection of civilians programming? Where does civilian safety “fit” within the humanitarian architecture?

There are, however, several existing approaches to mitigate and reduce risk in armed conflict for the civilian population, including how to prevent violence from happening in the first place and how to strengthen civilian self-protection strategies through community-based initiatives. This two-part webinar series aims to provide an overview of the range of strategies currently undertaken by national and international civil society organizations, UN agencies, and donors, providing examples of good practice, and discuss how such efforts can be advanced and systematized in the wider humanitarian community.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

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 Financing for Development, please visit ngosonffd.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Migration, please visit ngo-migration.org.

Civilian Safety in Armed Conflict: Community-based protection, early warning, and conflict preparedness

Civilian Safety in Armed Conflict: Community-based protection, early warning, and conflict preparedness

In this webinar, the second of a two-part series exploring existing efforts to improve the safety of civilians during armed conflict, we at PHAP will be discussing “secondary” prevention programs, in particular those focusing on strengthening communities in conflict-affected areas to reduce the risk of harm and mitigate the effects of armed conflict on civilian populations. We will hear from NGOs active in situations of armed conflict around the word about how they approach building capacity for prevention in communities – what the main considerations are and in which situations they are effective. We will also discuss what other organizations can learn from their approach and the implications this has for the humanitarian community as a whole.

Register here!

Background:

In armed conflict, the humanitarian community continues to witness highly disturbing situations where the safety of civilians is ignored or not addressed, or where civilians are purposely targeted by parties to a conflict. While protection services continue to provide much-needed support to vulnerable and marginalized groups and individuals and respond to protection concerns with remedial service provision, limited progress has been made on contributing to civilians’ safety in armed conflict. As Hugo Slim expressed it in the recent Oxford Lecture Series on Protection: “When you look at protection’s track record through wars, protection is at its weakest here, in this challenge in protecting people from physical harm and unlawful devastating attacks on their persons and homes.”

In the last few years, there has been a push by both humanitarian agencies and donors to examine how we can prevent and protect civilians from physical harm during conflict. Key questions remain: what does prevention mean and look like within our protection of civilians programming? Where does civilian safety “fit” within the humanitarian architecture?

There are, however, several existing approaches to mitigate and reduce risk in armed conflict for the civilian population, including how to prevent violence from happening in the first place and how to strengthen civilian self-protection strategies through community-based initiatives. This two-part webinar series aims to provide an overview of the range of strategies currently undertaken by national and international civil society organizations, UN agencies, and donors, providing examples of good practice, and discuss how such efforts can be advanced and systematized in the wider humanitarian community.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

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 Financing for Development, please visit ngosonffd.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Migration, please visit ngo-migration.org.

Covid-19 Vaccination: How churches can ensure that stateless people are not left behind

Covid-19 vaccination: How churches can ensure that stateless people are not left behind

Link to join the webinar on Monday 15 March @ 13:00-14:30 CET: oikoumene.org/live

As any virus, Covid-19 is an invisible threat which has changed our lives and affected our economies a great deal. The current Covid-19 pandemic has been a good reminder that the right to health is a universal right, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (article 25). It is a right that every individual is entitled to, irrespective of his or her legal status.

The pandemic is also a reminder that we need to work together as a global family to escape this global health crisis. This means that vaccination should be accessible to all, ideally as soon as possible before the virus mutates and becomes resistant to existing vaccines.

In these times of health crisis, governments have been confronted with difficult decisions to make, including avoiding economic disaster while at the same time finding a decent response to the pandemic. It is almost natural that their primary concerns are their nationals. Yet, there are many individuals living on the margins in their territory, such as undocumented migrants, refugees, and stateless people.

Stateless people, i.e. people with no legal identification, have been in most cases overlooked and forgotten. Invisible, yet living in our midst.

How can governments ensure that an invisible threat like Covid-19 does not disproportionately affect people and communities who have been always been overlooked and treated as invisible in other times? The pre-existing vulnerability of stateless people, i.e. their invisibility, put them at greater risk of being left behind when national public health campaigns (such as vaccinations) are planned.

How can churches and ecumenical bodies ensure that the vaccinations are accessible to all, including stateless people and other people undocumented people living on the margins during this time of pandemic?

The current pandemic is an important reminder that we are all equally vulnerable in the face of the current pandemic: Covid-19 does not discriminate, but our responses to it does.

Speakers include (alphabetical order):

Mr. Amal de Chickera, Co-Director, Institute of Statelessness and Inclusion
Dr. Ronald Lalthanmawia, Programme Coordinator for Prophetic Diakonia, Christian Conference of Asia (CCA)
Ms. Mira Neaimeh, Regional Executive, World Student Christian Federation – Middle East
Ms. Marcella Rouweler, Legal Officer, UNHCR Statelessness Section
Mr. Gorden Simango, Director, All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC)

The webinar will be moderated by Rev. Prof. Dr Cornelia Füllkrug-Weitzel, member of CCIA.

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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 Committee of Religious NGOs at the United Nations, please visit rngos.wordpress.com.