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International Day for Universal Access to Information

On 17 November 2015, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared 28 September as International Day for Universal Access to Information. Considering that several civil society organizations and government bodies in the world have adopted and currently celebrate this observance, the UN General Assembly also adopted 28 September 2019 as the International Day for Universal Access to Information.

UNESCO and its intergovernmental programs – the International Programme for Development of Communication and the Information for All Programme – provide a platform and frame for all the stakeholders to participate in international discussions on policy and guidelines in the area of access to information. Both programs also enable positive environment for ATI to flourish through the development of projects aimed to strengthen open science, multilingualism, ICTs for disabled and marginalized, and media and information literacy.

Access to information

Informed citizens can make informed decisions, for instance, when going to the polls. Only when citizens know how they are governed, can they hold their governments accountable for their decisions and actions. Information is power. Therefore, universal access to information is a cornerstone of healthy and inclusive knowledge societies.

Universal access to information means that everyone has the right to seek, receive and impart information. This right is an integral part of the right to freedom of expression. The media plays a crucial role in informing the public about issues of interest, but it relies on the ability to seek and receive information, too. Hence, the right to universal access to information is also bound up with the right to freedom of the press.

To learn more about why and how the UN commemorates this day, please visit un.org/en/observances/information-access-day.

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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 Human Rights, please email the co-chairs at bobbinassar@gmail.com or bknotts@uua.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Disarmament, Peace, and Security, please visit ngocdps.wordpress.com.

Protect Education for Sustainable Peace

Dear friends,

We cordially invite you to attend the High-level virtual event to mark the International Day to Protect Education from Attack under the theme “Protect Education for Sustainable Development” to be held on September 9, 2021 at from 8:30am to 10:30am (ET).

Access the full program, speaker biographies, and live stream here: sep9.educationaboveall.org/events/detail/1020408182850968762/talk/1953456246373491363

The event will focus on the critical issue of monitoring, reporting and data, and discuss how global leaders, local communities and groups, governmental bodies, academia, and media can engage fully and systematically in shaping advocacy, prevention and protection of education from attack. Discussions will also contribute to the global debate around the important need to build back education as part of countries’ COVID-19 recovery efforts, making education systems more responsive and resilient.

With kind regards,

UNESCO Liaison Office in New York

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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-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 Disarmament, Peace, and Security, please visit ngocdps.wordpress.com.

Families and New Technologies: The Challenging Impact of Social Media

Certainly, there are positive aspects of access to internet and social media especially during Covid-19 related shutdowns. However, parents and families around the world also have found themselves vulnerable to a deluge of unwanted negative material such as pornography, sexually explicit messages on Tik Tok or damaging bullying on other social media. Unfortunately, many families are not aware that their children, at younger and younger ages, are viewing this material. The evidence is clear that exposure to such negative content can have a tragic effect leading to depression or even suicide. Data also show that pornography leads to demeaning and abusive treatment of women and can be deleterious to viewers. In addition, the use of pornography has been shown to tear apart the trust and security in a marriage, leading to conflict and divorce.

Panel speakers will share policies that help protect families from harmful use of technology. Other experts will explain the research of the impact of pornography on the personal and family life and practices that help individuals overcome the habit of pornographic viewing. Speakers will also describe how parents can protect their children from harmful exposure to social media and heal together from inappropriate use.

Register here: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZApceutrzotGdWxWzaDPuN7hFv6tM7MU9CT

Speakers: 

  • H.E. Mohamed Al Hassan, Permanent Mission of Oman to the UN
  • Mohamed Ibrahim Elbahi, Charge d’Affaires, Permanent Mission of Sudan to the UN
  • Andrew Love, Founder and Director, High Noon, Content Developer, Educator in sexual integrity and overcoming pornography habits
  • Erica Komisar, LCSW, Family Therapist, Parenting Coach, Author of forthcoming “Raising Resilient Adolescents in the New Age of Anxiety”
  • Kristen Jenson, Founder and Director, Protect Young Minds, Parent educator and author

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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 the Family, please visit ngofamilyny.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Social Development, please visit ngosocdev.org.

[CSocD59 Side Event] The Role of Digital Technologies to Stop Online Sexual Exploitation of Children

59th Session of the United Nations Commission for Social Development Virtual Side Event February 15, 2021 8:30AM EST – please register by February 13!

Priority Theme “Socially just transition towards sustainable development: the role of digital technologies on social development and well-being of all”

Event Title: The role of digital technologies to stop online sexual exploitation of children

Objectives:

1. To protect our youth from cyber exploitation, especially livestreamed sexual abuse.

2. To call on Member States to prioritize setting-up legally binding internet governance that will ensure respect of human rights, child protection, and equality for all.

3. To share creative and systemic good practices from the government, private technology industries and different stakeholders.

Speakers:

  • H.E. Enrique A. Manalo, Permanent Representative, Philippine Permanent Mission to the UN
  • Ambassador Per-Anders Sunesson, Deputy Director-General- Swedish Ministry for Health and Social Affairs, Former Ambassador at Large for Combating Trafficking in Persons, Swedish MFF
  • Abbie Gillgan, Policy Manager, Tackling Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (CSEA), United Kingdom Home Office Role of Digital Technologies: Stop Online Exploitation of Children
  • Richard Pursey, Executive Chairman & Co-Founder, SafeToNet Jaqueline Beauchere Global Digital Safety Advocate, Microsoft
  • Madeline and Jamie Gall, Youth Advocates
  • Marvie L. Misolas, MM Winifred Doherty, RGS, & Fred Sullivan, Co-Moderators

Register here!

Contact mmisolas@mksisters.org with questions.

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Children’s Rights, please visit childrightsny.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Social Development, please visit ngosocdev.org. For more information on the Committee of Religious NGOs at the United Nations, please visit rngos.wordpress.com.

Artificial Intelligence: Ethical Dimensions of the Virtual World

Dear colleagues,

You are warmly invited to an online dialogue on “Artificial Intelligence: Ethical Dimensions of the Virtual World” during a side event for the Commission on Social Development, hosted by the Bahá’í International Community’s United Nations Office, the United Arab Emirates and NGO Committee on Social Development. The details for the event are:

The growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI) raises fundamental questions about the type of societies we want to build and the kinds of lives they support. This online dialogue will explore vital questions of values, vision, ethics, and purpose with regard to AI, and ways that they are being addressed in social, technological, and political terms.

Panelists:

  • Major Hamad Khatir, Director of International Partnership, Ministry of Interior of the United Arab Emirates
  • Ms. Eline Chivot, Senior Adviser on Digital Policy for the European People’s Party
  • Ms. Yu Ping Chang, UN representative on behalf of the Secretary General’s Special Advisor on Technology
  • Dr. Douglas Allen, Associate Professor of the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver

We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday.

Sincerely,

Daniel Perell
Representative to the United Nations
Bahá’í International Community

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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 Committee of Religious NGOs at the United Nations, please visit rngos.wordpress.com. For more information on the NGO Committee on Education, Learning, and Literacy, please visit facebook.com/NGOCELLatUN.

Combating a Pandemic of Misinformation: Teaching Media Literacy

CTAUN is pleased to announce our first online event – a discussion about the way we receive and share information, and how we can  help our students – and ourselves – to tell fact from fiction.
In this age of COVID-19, the rapid spread of misinformation may be as dangerous as the virus itself.   We will examine why people believe and spread misinformation, and we have invited media professionals to offer techniques and resources that help students and educators recognize “red flags”of misinformation (“fake news”).
We will direct special attention to Social Media. We will hear from UN Communications experts about special initiatives underway to stem the spread of misinformation, and how educators and students can participate in this effort.
Please mark the date on your calendar.   Registration will open next week and will also be posted on our website.  There will be no charge for this event. A second webinar “United Nations and Indigenous People”  is planned for January.  Details will be posted on the CTAUN website.
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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Education, Learning, and Literacy, please visit facebook.com/NGOCELLatUN/. 

[Registration Deadline] Stop Child Abuse in Social Media

HLPF virtual side event: Stop Child Abuse in Social Media

Dear Sisters and Friends,

Please register and join us for this very important side-event at #HLPF2020 on Wednesday, July 15, 1 – 2pm EST!  The theme: Stop Child Sexual Abuse in Social Media (OSEC) is one of the most serious cyber-crime and exploitation using technology platforms.  IT Private Sector is responsible to stop the exploitation using their social media platforms.  Maryknoll Sisters (ECOSOC accredited NGO)  is the lead organizer of this event in collaboration with other organizations.  In this panel we are joined by PREDA Foundation, a grassroots organization in Pampanga, Philippines to protect children from sexual exploitation; International Justice Missions’ *EndOSEC Center working with international, national and local authorities to catch perpetrators; Maryknoll Sisters Investment Advocacy using investors’ voice to address OSEC with IT companies.  From the Technology Sector,  Microsoft Digital Safety will share about their contributions to children safety online.  We also hope to hear from national governments about their actions.

The event will take a critical analysis of the role of digital technology specifically social media on the proliferation of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). We would like to inquire what is being done globally and locally to address this issue. This topic address the interlinkages of SDG 1, 3, 5, and 16.

Moderators:

Marvie L. Misolas, MM, Maryknoll Sisters

Sr. Winifred Doherty, RGS Main NGO Representative to the United Nations Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd

Panel:

Shay Cullen, SC, Preda Foundation
John Tanagho, EndOSEC, International Justice Missions
Cathy Rowan, Maryknoll Sisters Investment Advocate
IT sector representatives
Member state representatives

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Children’s Rights-NY, please visit childrightsny.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Family-Vienna, please visit viennafamilycommittee.org. For more information on the Committee of Religious NGOs at the United Nations, visit rngos.wordpress.com. For more information on the NGO Committee on Financing for Development-NY, visit ngosonffd.org.

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