social development

[postponed] 21st session, Intergovernmental Working Group on the Right to Development

Announcement to civil society partners & interested participants:

The twenty-first session of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Right to Development, planned to take place from 2 to 6 November 2020, is postponed to 3-7 May 2021, Ariana 1, Palais des Nations, Geneva, due to the current circumstances arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Organized by the NGO Liaison Unit, Political Affairs and Partnerships Section
Office of the Director-General, United Nations Office at Geneva, Palais des Nations, unog.ngo@un.org

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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 Sustainable Development-Vienna, please visit ngocsdvienna.org.

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and the Climate Emergency: ‘Flatten the Curve for Climate Change’

Join UNESCO for a global series of online workshops on how to transform society through learning with Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), launching in September 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a tragic impact on human life around the world: killing hundreds of thousands of people, causing global economic decline and school closures in over 180 countries. ESD reassesses what we learn, where we learn and how we learn to ensure we develop the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes that enable us to make informed decisions and actions on global problems such as the climate crisis and the COVID-19 crisis.

Transforming learning to transform societies towards sustainability is the aim of the ESD for 2030 framework. This roadmap for ESD in 2020-2030 will be officially launched at the UNESCO World Conference on ESD taking place on 17-19 May 2021, in Berlin, Germany. In the lead-up to the World Conference, UNESCO invite you to a series of ESD online workshops in cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Education and Research of Germany, and with the German Commission for UNESCO as advisory partner. The discussions and results from the series of online workshops will be used to further develop the conference program and help shape the agenda in Berlin next year.

Feb. 10, 2021, will be the 5th session in the series. The theme will be “ESD and Climate Emergency: Bend the curve for climate change”

This online workshop will raise the parallels between the pandemic and climate emergency and discuss how the lessons learned from the public response to the Covid-19 crisis can help ‘flatten the curve of climate change,’ in particular through ESD’s contribution.

Register & learn more: https://en.unesco.org/themes/education-sustainable-development/ESDfor2030-workshops

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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 Sustainable Development-Vienna, please visit ngocsdvienna.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 Financing for Development, please visit ngosonffd.org. 

[Cyber Conference] There’s Still Hope and Here’s Why

On Nov. 5, join PEAC Institute and the United Methodist Church-General Board of Church and Society for a cyber conference designed to foster post-election reflections, healing, and mobilization.

Register here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_OArdeLrcSaO4A4JHpXdDQA

Background: From Tulsa to Hiroshima, from Auschwitz to the Trail of Tears, the scenes of death and destruction are the same. The root causes of these atrocities are the same too: cultures of violence fueling systems of oppression.

What can the people do to reclaim their rightful democratic power when corrupt governments fail to honor the contracts that ensure we live in a civil society with a sustainable future?

This action-driven conversation, co-sponsored by PEAC Institute and the General Board of Church and Society, will explore the challenge of dismantling cultures of violence. Through both historical and contemporary lenses, we will highlight some of the terrifying consequences we’re facing due to not fixing our culture of violence while also offering examples of nature-based solutions that people are successfully executing today. Speakers from multiple continents will include foreign policy experts, peace activists, and volunteer humanitarians reporting from the field.

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the Decolonization Alliance, please email President Bautista at lbautista@umcjustice.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Disarmament, Peace, and Security, please visit ngocdps.wordpress.com.

Envisâge 2020 International Conference on Ageism Towards Womxn

Envisâge 2020 is an international conference on ageism towards older womxn. This live, online event features a diverse panel of speakers who will share their experiences, perspectives, and resources for the wide range of ageism issues affecting midlife/older womxn. Our mission is to foster intergenerational dialogue and bring our discussions into the mainstream. We will explore how all of us can take action in building a more inclusive, safe, and appreciative future for womxn of all ages.

Find the conference program and speaker bios on our website: envisageinclusion.org.

Learn more about Envisâge and issues of aging and ageism on our Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

*The conference will take place live and on Zoom. We will be sharing the Zoom meeting link via email and on Facebook.

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Ageing-Geneva, please visit ageingcommitteegeneva.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Ageing-Vienna, please visit ngoageingvie.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Ageing-NY, please visit ngocoa-ny.org. 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-Vienna, please visit  ngocswvienna.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women-Geneva, please visit ngocsw-geneva.ch.

Public Dialogue with IATF on FfD: 2021 Financing for Sustainable Development Report

Dear colleagues,

On behalf of the Financing for Sustainable Development Office, you are cordially invited to an informal public dialogue with the Inter-agency Task Force on Financing for Development (IATF on FFD) on the 2021 Financing for Sustainable Development Report (FSDR) on Tuesday, 17 November 2020, 10:00 – 11:00 EDT. Please find attached the draft agenda and link to the draft 2021 FSDR outline.

We welcome the participation of all delegations and all stakeholders to this briefing and look forward to your contributions to the dialogue.

All relevant information on the briefing is available on the Task Force website. Please send any queries to developmentfinance@un.org. Contact/explore the Financing for Sustainable Development Office, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations: www.un.org/esa/ffd

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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 Social Development-Vienna, please visit https://ngocsdvienna.org/. For more information on the NGO Committee on Social Development-NY, please visit ngosocdev.org.

Interreligious Council (IRC) Development: Multi-Religious Humanitarian Support

Dear Esteemed Partners of Religions for Peace,

It is our honor to extend to you a special invitation to join in the fifth Religions for Peace Global Webinar on Interreligious Council (IRC) Development onWednesday 21 October 2020.

This forthcoming Global Webinar will focus on the theme of Multi-Religious Humanitarian Support, bringing together the World Council, Honorary Presidents, Trustees, National IRCs, Regional IRCs, Women of Faith Networks, and Interfaith Youth Networks from over 90 countries in six continents.

Register in advance for this meeting by Tuesday, 20 October 2020, with this link:  https://religionsforpeace.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwrceirqz8uG9NVn9–1EFozTE_o-rOD4sL

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Any questions or comments can be sent to ejackson@rfp.org. We look forward to our collaboration in further developing, equipping and strengthening our IRCs and the Religions for Peace global movement.

Read the IRC Development Strategy Paper here.

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief, please visit unforb.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Spirituality, Values, and Global Concerns, please visit csvgc-ny.org. For more information on the Committee of Religious NGOs at the United Nations, please visit rngos.wordpress.com. 

Our Goal of World Community: The UN at 75

Our Goal of World Community: The UN at 75

This year, the United Nations is celebrating its 75th birthday, and the Unitarian Universalist Association Office at the UN, in collaboration with the Canadian Unitarian Council, will be commemorating that anniversary with a special virtual event co-sponsored by the NGO Committee on Human Rights: “Our Goal of World Community: the United Nations at 75.” In the current moment of simultaneous global political, social, economic, health, and climate crises, continued involvement with and investment in international cooperation could not be more critical. During this event we’ll talk about how Unitarian Universalists can make our mark for global justice.

Featured speakers:

  • Rev. Dr. Susan Frederick-Gray, President, Unitarian Universalist Association
  • Rev. Alicia R. Forde, Director, Unitarian Universalist Association International Office
  • Hawa Diallo, United Nations Department of Global Communications
  • Chris King, United Nations Office of Disarmament Affairs
  • Bruce Knotts, Director, Unitarian Universalist Association Office at the United Nations
  • Craig Mokhiber, Director, New York Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
  • Bobbi Nassar, Co-chair, Nongovernmental Organization Committee on Human Rights at the United Nations
  • Vyda Ng, Executive Director, Canadian Unitarian Council
  • Gillian Sorenson, International Rescue Committee, formerly Assistant Secretary General at the UN, then with the UN Foundation

Register for the event here.

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Human Rights, please email the co-chairs at bknotts@uua.org or bobbinassar@gmail.com.

[UN observance] International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 2020: “Acting together to achieve social and environmental justice for all”

To follow the worldwide commemoration,

  • A global interactive event in FRENCH and ENGLISH will be organized on Facebook Watch Party at 11 am New York /3pm UTC/5 pm Paris /6pm Nairobi.
  • For those not able to attend the Facebook Watch Party, the video of the global commemoration will be uploaded on ATD Fourth World’s Youtube channel on October 17, at midnight EST.

Register here

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Social Development, please visit ngosocdev.org or facebook.com/NGOCSocD. For more information on the NGO Committee on Financing for Development, please visit ngosonffd.org. 

[WSIS Forum] Digital Inclusion of Older Persons

Digital Inclusion of Older Persons: Harnessing digital technologies to promote the inclusion and well-being of older persons

Tuesday 11 August 2020
14:00-15:00 CEST / 8:00-9:00 EST

Register here: https://bit.ly/3hKJKPV

Background and Objectives

Highlighting the importance of older persons, the World Summit on the Information Society Forum in 2020, for the first time, has dedicated a special track to older persons and ICTs. Technological advances are becoming entrenched in many aspects of our societies and hold the potential to create opportunities towards an inclusive and sustainable development and provide tools to surmount the challenges faced by many to fully participate in the development process. However, where access to ICTs is limited and not inclusive, it can intensify existing inequalities and even create new ones. Both the opportunities and challenges intrinsic to technological progress have been illustrated by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Available evidence shows that older persons are often among those that do not benefit fully from the potential of ICTs. This session will explore access and inclusion of older persons in technology, discuss the digital divide in this group identifying their main vulnerabilities, reasons and the impact that such divide has on older persons’ participation in society, and provide some examples of successful efforts to promote access and inclusion of older persons.

The event also serves as a springboard to the fifty-ninth session of the Commission for Social Development to be held in February 2021, where the priority theme is “Socially just transition towards sustainable development: The role of digital technologies on social development and well-being of all”.

Opening remarks: Daniela Bas, Director, Division for Inclusive Social Development, DESA

Panel Discussion 

Moderated by: Amine Lamrabat, Associate Public Information Officer, DISD/DES

  • Alison Bryant, Senior Vice President, AARP Research and Lead for Technology Work 
  • Anupam Sibal, Group Director, Medical Services, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise, India (tbc)
  • Heidrun Mollenkopf, German National Association of Senior Citizens’ Organisations 
  • Michael Hodin, CEO of the Global Coalition on Aging
  • Osarieme Omokaro, User Experience Researcher, Google 

Download a copy of this document here. (PDF 358 KB)

#WSIS2020 #OlderPersons | @UN4Ageing 

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Social Development-New York, please visit ngosocdev.org or facebook.com/NGOCSocD. For more information on the NGO Committee on Ageing-NY, please visit www.ngocoa-ny.org.  For more information on the NGO Committee on Ageing-Geneva, please visit ageingcommitteegeneva.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Ageing-Vienna, please visit ngoageingvie.org.

[Policy Dialogue Webinar] The Potential of Distinctive Signs to Promote Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Development

Dear NGO Representatives,

We are pleased to inform you that the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the International Trademark Association (INTA) will hold a policy dialogue (by webinar): “The potential of distinctive signs to promote inclusive and sustainable economic development” on Friday, 3 July 2020, at 15:00 (Geneva time).

This policy dialogue will touch upon the opportunities and challenges that may arise for producers in developing countries when using distinctive signs for products such as coffee and pepper. Panelists will inter alia share practical experiences from the ASEAN region and Zimbabwe and focus on the development potential of distinctive signs. The objective of the discussion is to inform policy makers in the areas of trademarks, related rights, geographical indications and economic and social development.

Cher(e)s représentant(e)s des Organisations non-gouvernementales,

Nous sommes heureux de vous informer que la Conférence des Nations Unies sur le commerce et le développement (CNUCED) et l’Association internationale des marques (INTA) tiendront un dialogue politique (en ligne) :

« Le potentiel des signes distinctifs pour promouvoir le développement économique inclusif et durable » le vendredi 3 juillet 2020, à 15 h (heure de Genève).

Ce dialogue politique abordera les possibilités et les défis qui peuvent se présenter pour les producteurs des pays en développement lorsqu’ils utilisent des signes distinctifs pour des produits tels que le café et le poivre. Les panélistes partageront entre autres leurs expériences pratiques de la région de l’ANASE et du Zimbabwe et se concentreront sur le potentiel de développement des signes distinctifs. L’objectif de la discussion est d’informer les décideurs dans les domaines des marques, des droits connexes, des indications géographiques et du développement économique et social.

A joint initiative of the International Trademark Association (INTA) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), this policy dialogue will touch upon the opportunities and challenges that may arise for producers in developing countries when using distinctive signs for products such as coffee and pepper. Panelists will inter alia share practical experiences from the ASEAN region and Zimbabwe and focus on the development potential of distinctive signs. The objective of the discussion is to inform policy makers in the areas of trademarks, related rights, geographical indications and economic and social development.

For registration, contact: tatlouembe@inta.org

Webinar Agenda for Friday 3 July 2020, 3:00 pm Geneva Time

Moderators: Mr. Christoph Spennemann (UNCTAD), Mr. Tat-Tienne Louembe (INTA)

15:00-15:15 Welcome and Introduction

  •  Mr. Christoph Spennemann, Officer-in-Charge, Intellectual Property Unit, UNCTAD
  •  Mr. Tat-Tienne Louembe, Representative, Africa, Middle East and IGOs, INTA

15:15-15:30 “The opportunities and limitations of coffee branding – Experience by small scale coffee farmers in Zimbabwe”

  • Ms. Charlene Musiza, PhD candidate at University of Cape Town, South Africa

15:30-15:45 “The socio-economics of branding in enhancing eco-tourism – comparative analysis of the ASEAN region”

  • Ms. Sanaz Javadi Farahzadi, IP/Trade Lawyer, Consultant to UN & EU

15:45-16:00 “The significance of the reputation of distinctive trademarks in inclusive and sustainable economic development”

  • Ms. Natalia Dulkowska, Intellectual Property Lawyer, Member of INTA Harmonization of Trademark Law and Practice Committee

16:00-16:25 Open discussion

16:25-16:30 Closing remarks

  • Mr. Christoph Spennemann
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