socio-economic recovery

UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, 79th Session (Bangkok)

79th session of the Commission | ESCAP

The 79th Session of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific will be held at the United Nations Conference Centre ESCAP Hall in Bangkok, from 15 to 19 May 2023.

This is an in-person event and all participants who appear in the letter of credentials are requested to register online at indico as soon as possible but no later than 21 April 2023. Only the names of duly accredited and registered participants will be included in the list of participants.

The theme of the session is “Accelerating climate action in Asia and the Pacific for sustainable development”, and this annual session will be an opportunity to strengthen regional cooperation on climate change.

For more information about the 79th Session of UNESCAP for Asia and the Pacific, please visit their website.

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CoNGO Notes: 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.

Inclusive Adaptation: A Benefit Multiplier for Climate Action and Women, Peace and Security

Join us for the launch of Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security’s (GIWPS) latest climate report, “Inclusive Adaptation: A Benefit Multiplier for Climate Action and Women, Peace and Security,” in collaboration with the Better Way Foundation.

GIWPS experts will highlight key findings from the report and demonstrate how meaningful inclusion of women in local-level climate adaptation efforts can strengthen climate responses, gender equality, and security. Panelists will include grassroots women climate leaders to discuss how inclusive approaches to local-level climate adaptation in the energy and agricultural sectors can drive progress for all. Register here!

Featured speakers:

  • Lydia Wanjiku, Chief Executive Officer, Lensational
  • Constance Okollet, Chairperson, Osukuru United Women’s Network (OWN), Uganda
  • Saliha Dobardzic, Senior Climate Change Specialist, Adaptation Fund
  • Clara Chiu, 2021-2022 Hillary Rodham Clinton Fellow and Lead Report Author, Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security
  • Ambassador Melanne Verveer, Executive Director, Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security

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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 the Status of Women-Geneva, please visit ngocsw-geneva.ch. 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 Rights of Indigenous Peoples, please visit facebook.com/NGOCoRIP

WMG’s 2022 HLPF Colour Campaign

As is the feminist tradition of the Women’s Major Group, we’re calling on feminists and allies to wear and bring attention to certain colors on each day of HLPF because #FeministsWantSystemChange! Each of these colors represent feminist demands regarding systemic change in order to really achieve the SDGs! Join us in making feminist analyses heard!

How do I participate on social media / virtually?

  • Snap a selfie or take pictures with your organization or feminist friends wearing the color of the day or holding up a sign with the demand/color of the day, post the picture on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook!
  • Download & post the daily color campaign graphics on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook with the key messages shared for the day. Encourage others to join too!
  • Use the Zoom backgrounds in your virtual meetings and when speaking in a related virtual event!
  • Check out the WMG HLPF 2022 Comms Kit!

How do I participate in person?

  • Wear some clothes or accessories in these colors on each corresponding day while you’re at HLPF!
  • Wear one our color scarves, which will be distributed daily in our WMG morning caucuses

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

2022 International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples: The Role of Indigenous Women in the Preservation and Transmission of Traditional Knowledge

The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is celebrated globally on 9 August. It marks the date of the inaugural session of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations in 1982. The Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) is organizing a virtual commemoration of the International Day from 9 am to 11am (EST) on Tuesday, 9 August 2022, focusing on this year’s theme: “The Role of Indigenous Women in the Preservation and Transmission of Traditional Knowledge. ” Indigenous Peoples, Member States, UN entities, civil society, and the public are all invited.

Background:

Indigenous women are the backbone of indigenous peoples’ communities and play a crucial role in the preservation and transmission of traditional ancestral knowledge. They have an integral collective and community role as carers of natural resources and keepers of scientific knowledge. Many indigenous women are also taking the lead in the defence of lands and territories and advocating for indigenous peoples’ collective rights worldwide.

The significance of indigenous peoples’ traditional knowledge is widely acknowledged: “Long before the development of modern science, which is quite young, indigenous peoples have developed their ways of knowing how to survive and also of ideas about meanings, purposes and values.” As noted by the Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Peoples, the term “scientific knowledge” is also used to underscore that traditional knowledge is contemporary and dynamic, and of equal value to other kinds of knowledge.

International consultations jointly facilitated by UNESCO and the Internal Council of Science (ICSU) states that “Traditional knowledge is a cumulative body of knowledge, know-how, practices and representations maintained and developed by peoples with extended histories of interaction with the natural environment. These sophisticated sets of understandings, interpretations and meanings are part and parcel of a cultural complex that encompasses language, naming and classification systems, resource use practices, ritual, spirituality and worldviews.”

However, despite the crucial role that indigenous women play in their communities as breadwinners, caretakers, knowledge keepers, leaders and human rights defenders, they often suffer from intersecting levels of discrimination on the basis of gender, class, ethnicity and socioeconomic status. Their right to self-determination, self-governance and control of resources and ancestral lands have been violated over centuries.

Small but significant progress has been made by indigenous women in decision-making processes in some communities. They are leaders at local and national levels, and stand at the frontlines of defending their lands, their cultures, and their communities. The reality, however, remains that indigenous women are widely under-represented, disproportionately negatively affected by decisions made on their behalf, and are too frequently the victims of multiple expressions of discrimination and violence.

The Committee of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) highlighted some of the major issues encountered by indigenous women, particularly noting the high levels of poverty; low levels of education and illiteracy; limitations in access to health, basic sanitation, credit and employment; limited participation in political life; and the prevalence of domestic and sexual violence.

Format:

The virtual commemoration will include an interactive dialogue segment with invited speakers, moderated by Ms. Rosemary Lane, Acting Chief of the Indigenous Peoples Development Branch – Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Speakers will share their expertise and experience from their indigenous communities in preserving, reviving, retaining, and transmitting the traditional ancestral knowledge in various fields of communal activities, including but not limited to effective and sustainable climate solutions, use of natural resources, protection of biodiversity, ensuring food security, promoting native languages and culture, and managing indigenous science and medicine. Questions to be discussed include:

  • What is the unique position of indigenous women in the preservation and transmission of traditional knowledge?
  • What are some of the brightest examples of indigenous women-led processes in solving contemporary global issues through the effective application of traditional scientific knowledge?
  • How are indigenous languages crucial to the development, preservation, and transmission of indigenous cultural and knowledge systems? How are women leading the way in maintaining indigenous languages?
  • What was the effect of applying indigenous scientific knowledge and medicine in alleviating the consequences of the COVID-19 epidemiologic crisis?

Panel Speakers:

Archana Soreng (Kharia) – Member of UN Secretary-General’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change

Aili Keskitalo (Sámi)  – Former President of the Sámi Parliament of Norway

Zakiyatou Oualet Halatine (Touareg) – Former Minister of Tourism & Handicrafts, Mali

Hannah McGlade (Noongar) – Member of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

Commentary on Panel Discussion by His Excellency Ambassador Diego Pary Rodriguez(Quechua), Permanent Representative of Bolivia to the United Nations

 

More information about International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 2022 available here: un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/international-day-of-the-worlds-indigenous-peoples-2022.html

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CoNGO Notes: 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 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. For more information on the NGO Committee on Language and Languages, please email the co-chairs at fmhult@umbc.edu or tonkin@hartford.edu. 

Accelerating the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Implementation: Addressing Systemic Barriers, Recovery Gaps and Strengthening Peoples’ Participation

This year, the HLPF focuses on SDGs 4, 5, 14, 15 and 17, in addition to the focus on the theme of impact of COVID-19 pandemic and building back better. It is also understood that the high-level segment of ECOSOC will also discuss multilateralism and international cooperation in relation to sustainable recovery from COVID-19 and achieving the Agenda 2030 for sustainable development aspirational goals. Keeping the above context in perspective, and also building on the aspirations of the civil society community engaging in the process, this side event aims to provide a platform, perspective and dialogue space among MGoS representatives and other stakeholders from across the world, to further discuss the accelerated implementation of SDGs grounded with focus on systemic reforms such as recovery gaps and strengthening of peoples’ participation.

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0pceGqrjgjHdKMkt0_4Emvo0SHg9Uv5B6p

The following questions will be interrogated through multi-stakeholder dialogue:

What are the civil society proposals on post COVID-19 recovery approaches needed to accelerate the implementation of SDGs across social, economic and environmental dimensions, leaving no one behind with human rights and gender equality in the centre of recovery approaches?

What are the civil society proposals to address structural barriers, inequalities and inequities and systemic reforms required including climate and financial injustice and ensuring inclusive public services – health, including equal access to COVID-19 prevention, diagnostic and therapeutics, education and social protection?

What are the civil society proposals towards strengthening multilateralism and expanding civic space to build back better from COVID-19 with focus on partnerships with the people, and means of implementation?

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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-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 Intergenerational Solidarity, please email its co-chair at susanneseperson@gmail.com. 

UNCTAD15 Civil Society Forum

High-level Opening |  14:30–14:55 (CEST) • 08:30–08:55 (AST)

Speakers:

  • The Honorable Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados
  • Ms. Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of UNCTAD
  • The Honorable Colin E. Jordan, Minister of Labour, Social Partnership Relations and the Third Sector, Barbados

Introduction and Workshop overview  | 15:00–15:15 (CEST) • 09:00–09:15 (AST)

Speakers:

  • Mr. Richard Jones, Caribbean Policy Development Centre, Barbados, UNCTAD 15 Host country Civil Society Organization for the Civil Society Forum

The crisis of multilateralism – Wither UNCTAD rediscovering its original mandate to confront key challenges of the global south |  15:20–17:35 (CEST) • 09:20–11:35 (AST)

Plenary speakers:

  • Mr. Tetteh Hormeku-Ajei, Head of Programmes, Third World Network-Africa
  • Ms. Diyana Yahaya, Gender and Trade Coalition
  • Mr. Alvin Mosioma, Executive Director, Tax Justice Network Africa
  • Ms. Kai-Ann Skeete, the University of the West Indies
  • Ms. Anita Gurumurthy, Executive Director, IT for Change
  • Mr. Daniel Bertossa, Assistant General Secretary, Public Services International

Access the sessions here: wtvglobal.6connex.eu/event/UNCTAD15-Barbados/login?return=Frangipani-Auditorium

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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-Vienna, please visit congocsd.wordpress.com. For more information on the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development-NY, please visit ngocsd-ny.org.

2021 SDG Investment Fair

You are invited to the United Nations SDG Investment Fair, 14-15 December 2021.

The SDG Investment Fair brings together top institutional investors with sustainable development projects in developing countries. Out of a pool of applicants, 3 countries are chosen to present their projects as investors of all sizes scout for lucrative investment opportunities across Asia, Africa, and Latin America that advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In September, the Fair was held virtually with Pakistan, Rwanda, and Dominican Republic showcasing their sustainable development projects in manufacturing, infrastructure, and agri-business. The Fair returns this December amidst growing demand for a dedicated space to connect investors with impactful business opportunities. The finalists taking stage at the December fair are Ukraine, Morocco, and Namibia. As the pandemic restrictions begin to lift, the SDG Investment Fair in December 2021 will offer both in-person and virtual spaces for networking, pitches of projects, investor exchanges, knowledge sharing, and informational sessions. The Fair will feature:

  • Presentations of investment opportunities in SDG projects
  • Expert panel discussion on leveraging Public Development Banks to drive financing for the SDGs
  • Informational session on available resources on SDG investments from within the UN ecosystem
  • Direct interaction between countries and investors

To register, please click here or visit our website for more information, including a detailed agenda. Best regards,The SDG Investment Fair team

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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 congocsd.wordpress.com.

[workshop] Friends of Governance for Sustainable Development

The next workshop for the Friends of Governance for Sustainable Development will be on the 15th of December 9am to 1pm (EDT). This workshop will have three sessions.Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cKvlWSRiSTi0c5SNXgBWYg Session 1: Marine Litter and Plastic Pollution at UNEA-5.2, with the aim of achieving a new Global AgreementSession 2:: Strengthen Environment Governance and Law (formerly The Global Pact on the Environment)Session 3: Glasgow Climate Summit COP 26 outcomes – where are we?Presenters and Respondents will include:

  • Liz Thompson, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary with responsibility for Climate Change, Small Island Developing States and Law of the Sea
  • Mr. Sérgio Carvalho Counsellor Permanent Mission of Portugal
  • Yunus Arikan, Director of Global Advocacy ICLEI World Secretariat
  • Craig Jones, Executive Director, Government & Corporate Affairs, General Electric (GE)
  • Layalee Ramahi North America Network Coordinator United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI)
  • Alberto Quesada Policy Advocacy Advisor Technical expert on single-use plastics and marine litter, Fundacion MarViva
  • Dr. Michael Dorsey, Club of Rome and Limited Partner at Ibersun
  • Prof. Felix Dodds, Water Institute UNC

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CoNGO Notes: 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. 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 congocsd.wordpress.com

NGO Committee on Financing for Development monthly meeting

Dear NGO Committee on FfD members & interested NGO colleagues,

The next  NGO Committee on Financing for Development meeting will take place by Zoom on December 8 from 1:00 – 3:00 pm EST.  The agenda and minutes of the meeting are posted to the meeting folder, which can be accessed here. Additional documents will be posted over the weekend. Kindly review the documents before the meeting
The Zoom invitation is included below. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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CoNGO Notes: The NGO Committee on Financing for Development is a Substantive Committee of the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations. Likewise, 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 congocsd.wordpress.com.

UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent

The Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent would like to invite all interested civil society representatives and people of African descent to an interactive consultation meeting on its mandate and activities. The meeting will also be an opportunity to discuss human rights concerns, opportunities in 2022 and recommended action to prevent racial discrimination faced by people of African descent.

The meeting will be held on Friday 19 November from 14:00-16:00 hrs in Room XVII at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The Working Group encourages civil society to attend in person if possible, and invite online participation for those who cannot attend in-person.   

For in-person participation, please register using the following link: https://indico.un.org/event/36496/

For online participation, we encourage all civil society organizations interested to participate in the discussion to register by sending an email to Joyce Fucio (jocelyn.fucio@un.org) by 17 November 2021, indicating participation and providing the participants name, organizations’ name and email address.

The link for online participation using the remote simultaneous interpretation platform Interprefy, and instructions on how to use the Interprefy platform will be sent to those who have sent their confirmation of participation one day prior to the event.

Best regards,

WGEPAD Secretariat

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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 the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, please visit facebook.com/NGOCoRIP. For more information on the NGO Committee on Human Rights, please email the co-chairs at bobbinassar@gmail.com or bknotts@uua.org.

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