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DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20230405T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20230405T143000
DTSTAMP:20260826T000839
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SUMMARY:[Side Event] Assuring Human Rights for Older Persons in Long Term Care Facilities - The NGO Committee on Ageing (New York)
DESCRIPTION:Assuring Human Rights for Older Persons in Long Term Care Facilities: Implementing Lessons Learned \nWed Apr 5; 1:15pm – 2:30pm \n  \nOrganizer Gray Panthers \nFormat of the Event Virtual \nLocation Online \n  \nEverywhere\, COVID exposed inequities and unleashed a torrent of disease and death\, especially among older persons. Nowhere more than in the long term care sector\, where the under-appreciation of the human rights of older persons becomes increasingly evident. This applies both to developed and developing countries. With a deeper understanding\, we have the opportunity to implement lessons learned to properly incorporate respect for the human rights of older persons into the evolution of long term care systems – both residential and family care giving. \nThis discussion examines problems\, cautionary tales\, and solutions while re-imagining long term care with human rights as a guiding force. \nGuiding Questions \n\nWhat are human rights of older persons in long term care facilities?\nWhy were catastrophes from COVID created in long term care facilities? What happened in your country with respect to COVID and older persons receiving long term care?\nHow are the voices of older persons included when nations develop or refine their residential long term care facilities? We presume they are not included.\nWhat lessons must be learned for developed and developing nations with regard to residential long term care? How are the human rights of older persons acknowledged and protected?\nGive specific examples of good practice and bad practice to assure human rights for older persons in residential long term care facilities.\nWhat is your “call to action” to protect human rights for older persons in long term care facilities? What needs to be accomplished? How do we assure that the precious lives lost were not lost in vain?\n\n­­­­­­­­­­Virtual Platform Link:\nRegister here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwkd-yhrD8oGNw28SIWGJ3zpo9EF3X2evod \nFlyer of the event \nFor more information\, please visit this website. 
URL:https://ngocongo.org/event/side-event-assuring-human-rights-for-older-persons-in-long-term-care-facilities-the-ngo-committee-on-ageing-new-york/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:CoNGO Member Events,CoNGO Recommended Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20230405T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20230405T143000
DTSTAMP:20260826T000839
CREATED:20230407T233859Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230407T233859Z
UID:10002329-1680699600-1680705000@ngocongo.org
SUMMARY:[Side Event] Assuring Human Rights for Older Persons in Long Term Care Facilities - The NGO Committee on Ageing (New York)
DESCRIPTION:Assuring Human Rights for Older Persons in Long Term Care Facilities: Implementing Lessons Learned \nWed Apr 5; 1:15pm – 2:30pm \n  \nOrganizer Gray Panthers \nFormat of the Event Virtual \nLocation Online \n  \nEverywhere\, COVID exposed inequities and unleashed a torrent of disease and death\, especially among older persons. Nowhere more than in the long term care sector\, where the under-appreciation of the human rights of older persons becomes increasingly evident. This applies both to developed and developing countries. With a deeper understanding\, we have the opportunity to implement lessons learned to properly incorporate respect for the human rights of older persons into the evolution of long term care systems – both residential and family care giving. \nThis discussion examines problems\, cautionary tales\, and solutions while re-imagining long term care with human rights as a guiding force. \nGuiding Questions \n\nWhat are human rights of older persons in long term care facilities?\nWhy were catastrophes from COVID created in long term care facilities? What happened in your country with respect to COVID and older persons receiving long term care?\nHow are the voices of older persons included when nations develop or refine their residential long term care facilities? We presume they are not included.\nWhat lessons must be learned for developed and developing nations with regard to residential long term care? How are the human rights of older persons acknowledged and protected?\nGive specific examples of good practice and bad practice to assure human rights for older persons in residential long term care facilities.\nWhat is your “call to action” to protect human rights for older persons in long term care facilities? What needs to be accomplished? How do we assure that the precious lives lost were not lost in vain?\n\n­­­­­­­­­­Virtual Platform Link:\nRegister here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwkd-yhrD8oGNw28SIWGJ3zpo9EF3X2evod \nFlyer of the event \nFor more information\, please visit this website. 
URL:https://ngocongo.org/event/side-event-assuring-human-rights-for-older-persons-in-long-term-care-facilities-the-ngo-committee-on-ageing-new-york-2/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:CoNGO Member Events,CoNGO Recommended Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20230405T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20230405T113000
DTSTAMP:20260826T000839
CREATED:20230407T234011Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230407T234011Z
UID:10001874-1680688800-1680694200@ngocongo.org
SUMMARY:[Side Event] The Right of Older Persons to Access Palliative Care - The NGO Committee on Ageing (New York)
DESCRIPTION:The right of older persons to access palliative care as a component of the right to health: perspectives from Albania\, Zambia\, the US and the Philippines. \nWed Apr 5; 10:00am – 11:15am \nOrganizer International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care \nFormat of the Event Zoom. Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webina…
URL:https://ngocongo.org/event/side-event-the-right-of-older-persons-to-access-palliative-care-the-ngo-committee-on-ageing-new-york/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:CoNGO Member Events,CoNGO Recommended Events,CSO event
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20230405T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20230405T113000
DTSTAMP:20260826T000839
CREATED:20230407T234011Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230407T234011Z
UID:10002328-1680688800-1680694200@ngocongo.org
SUMMARY:[Side Event] The Right of Older Persons to Access Palliative Care - The NGO Committee on Ageing (New York)
DESCRIPTION:The right of older persons to access palliative care as a component of the right to health: perspectives from Albania\, Zambia\, the US and the Philippines. \nWed Apr 5; 10:00am – 11:15am \nOrganizer International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care \nFormat of the Event Zoom. Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webina…
URL:https://ngocongo.org/event/side-event-the-right-of-older-persons-to-access-palliative-care-the-ngo-committee-on-ageing-new-york-2/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:CoNGO Member Events,CoNGO Recommended Events,CSO event
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230124T083000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230124T133000
DTSTAMP:20260826T000839
CREATED:20230105T184522Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230124T111635Z
UID:10001819-1674549000-1674567000@ngocongo.org
SUMMARY:Ninth International Symposium on the Role of Religion and Faith-Based Organizations in International Affairs 
DESCRIPTION:NINTH ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM ON THE ROLE OF RELIGION AND FAITH BASED ORGANIZATIONS IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS \nTheme: Securing People’s Wellbeing and Planetary Sustainability \n24 January 2023 | 8:30 AM – 1:30 PM EST  \nVirtual Event | Interpretation in English\, Arabic\, French\, Portuguese and Spanish \nREGISTER: bit.ly/2023_symposium \nREAD SPEAKER AND MODERATOR BIOGRAPHIES HERE. \nPROGRAM \n8:15     Zoom opens for participants to join  \n8:30     WELCOME \n            Video Introduction to the Ninth Symposium  \n8:45     HIGH-LEVEL OPENING SESSION \nThe moderator will introduce the theme of the symposium\, and the 9th Symposium will open with representatives of the three major organizing components of the annual symposium–UN official\, faith-based representative and member state providing their perspectives on the theme of human security.               \nCO-MODERATORS: \n\nRev. Dr. Liberato C. Bautista (Assistant General Secretary for United Nations and International Affairs\, General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church and Chair\, 2023 Symposium Planning Team)\nMs. Nika Saeedi (PVE Team Leader\, Crisis Bureau\, UNDP; Global focal point on Religion\, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support\, and Hate Speech for UNDP)\n\nSPEAKERS: \n\nH.E. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés (Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defense of Ecuador and former President of the UN General Assembly)\nH. E. Archbishop  Gabriele Giordano Caccia (Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer\, Permanent Observer  Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations)\nMs. Ulrika Modéer (UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy\, UNDP)\nAmbassador (ret.) Sergio Duarte (Former United Nations High Representative for Disarmament Affairs and President of Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs)\nBishop Dr. Heinrich Bedford-Strohm (Moderator\, Central Committee of the World Council of Churches and Bishop\, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria)\nPriestess Beatriz Schulthess (Founder and President of Indigenous Peoples Ancestral Spiritual Council and Member of Qulla/Kolla Nation and Honorary President\, Religions for Peace)\n\n9:25      FRAMING HUMAN SECURITY AS SHARED SECURITY FOR PEOPLE AND THE PLANET \nConceptual and practical convergences on the topic of human security abound between faith communities and the UN System. These convergences also illustrate the complexity of what security\, in its multiple dimensions\, entails. \nMODERATOR: \n\nProf. Dr. Azza Karam (Secretary General\, Religions for Peace)\n\nSPEAKERS: \n\nMr. Samuel Rizk (Head\, Conflict Prevention\, Peacebuilding and Responsible Institutions (CPPRI) Team\, Crisis Bureau\, UNDP)\nMr. Anwar Khan (President\, Islamic Relief USA)\nMr. Garry Jacobs (President and CEO of World Academy of Art and Science and Chairman and CEO the World University Consortium)\nMs. Sophia Farion (Senior Program Officer for Eastern Europe\, South Caucasus\, and Central Asia\, Global Network of Women Peacebuilders {GNWP})\nDr. Anne Mette Fisker-Nielsen (Associate Professor\, Soka University)\n\n10:45       BREAK \nCultural intermission: Cello piece by Michael Fitzpatrick \n90-second video on human security \n11:00       SEEING AND DOING HUMAN SECURITY \nThis session will highlight actual activities and initiatives that are focused on and promote human security. It will demonstrate how faith based actors\, UN entities and Member States see and work for human security. \nMODERATOR: \n\nMr. Rudelmar Bueno de Faria (General Secretary of ACT Alliance)\n\nSPEAKERS: \n\nAmbassador Amanda Ellis (Former Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Mission of New Zealand to the United Nations in Geneva and Professor\, Arizona State University)\nMs. Mehrnaz Mostafavi (Chief of the Human Security Unit {HSU} and the UN Trust Fund for Human Security {UNTFHS})\nDr. Jerry White (Executive Director\, United Religions Initiative {URI})\nMs. Nadia Alawamleh (Team Leader for Social Cohesion Programme\, UNDP Iraq)\nMr. Asif Ali Sherazi (Country Director for Pakistan\, Islamic Relief Worldwide)\nAtty. Salma Pir Rasul (Programs Director\, Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy and Director\, Islamic Law Studies\, University of the Philippines Law Center {UPLC})\nMr. Nelson Ngalle (National Programme Officer\, Presbyterian Church in Cameroon {PCC} Peace Work Department)RESPONDENT:\nPeter Schlosser (Vice President and Vice Provost of Global Futures\, Arizona State University)\n\n12:20       KEY LEARNINGS \nThis session will highlight key learnings that relate to work for human security and the roles different actors can play. It  will address in concrete ways the development of “unity\, solidarity\, international cooperation and global coordinated action” necessary to make human security real.  \nMODERATOR: \n\nMs. Audrey Kitagawa\, JD (President/Founder\, International Academy for Multicultural Cooperation and President\, Light of Awareness International Spiritual Family)\n\nSPEAKERS: \n\nProf. Dr. PL de Silva (Adjunct Professor\, UN Studies\, Seton Hall University)\nDr. Elizabeta Kitanovic (Executive Secretary\, Human Rights\, Council of European Churches {CEC|KEK})\nMs. DWI Rubiyanti Kholifah (Secretary General of The Asian Muslim Action Network {AMAN}\, Country representative of AMAN Indonesia)\n\n12:50       CONCLUDING SESSION \nThis concluding session will provide key ideas about what needs to be done next\, and is envisioned to inspire action and impart a strong call for collaboration and partnership on the key learnings from the symposium. \nCO-MODERATORS: \n\nRev. Dr. Liberato C. Bautista (Assistant General for United Nations and International Affairs\, General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church and Chair\, 2023 Symposium Planning Team)\nMs. Nika Saeedi (PVE Team Leader\, Crisis Bureau\, UNDP; Global focal point on Religion\, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support\, and Hate Speech for UNDP)\n\nSPEAKERS: \n\nMr. Jonathan Granoff (Senior Advisor and Representative to the United Nations of the Permanent Secretariat of the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates)\nDr. Ganoune Diop (Director\, Public Affairs and Religious Liberty\, Seventh-day Adventist Church)\n\n1:30         CLOSE \n____________________ \nCO-ORGANIZERS AND PARTNER OF THE 2023 SYMPOSIUM \nReligious and Faith Based Organizations: ACT Alliance | General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church | Islamic Relief | Religions for Peace | Seventh-Day Adventist Church | Soka Gakkai International | United Religions Initiative | World Council of Churches \nUnited Nations: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) acting on behalf of the UN Inter-Agency Task Force on Religion and Sustainable Development (currently chaired by UNFPA\, United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect\, and the UN Alliance of Civilizations and includes 27 entities within the UN System. See IATF-Religion and SDGs). \nPartner: The  Human Security for All (HS4A) campaign led by the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security and the World Academy of Art and Science. \nABOUT THE SYMPOSIUM \nThe Annual Symposium on the Role of Religion and Faith-based Organizations in International Affairs was initiated by the General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church\, the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the World Council of Churches. Today\, the symposium co-organizing entities and partners have grown to include denominational\, ecumenical\, multireligious and faith-based groups including long-time co-organizers ACT Alliance\, Religions for Peace\, Islamic Relief-USA\, and the United Religions Initiative. From the third year (2017) of the symposium\, the Interfaith Task Force on Religion and Sustainable Development – currently representing 27 entities within the UN System – cooperated as a co-organizer. The Symposium was conceived as a space to focus on how religious and partner faith-based organizations could reinforce engagement around shared concerns of human dignity\, human rights and sustainable development\, in particular as regards UN the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)/Agenda 2030. The Symposium is organized as an annual event for conversation to identify and deepen the multifaceted\, multi-layered\, multidimensional\, and multidisciplinary aspects of the permanent general theme on human rights and human dignity and follow that with an annual thematic focus that would enjoin the organizers to build upon previous conversations and continue to heighten intellectual engagement\, create practical forms of action\, and develop mechanisms for collaboration among symposium organizers\, partners and participants. The Symposium is held annually on a date in January close to the birthday (January 15) of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King\, Jr.  \n  \nCONCEPT NOTE \nNINTH ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM ON THE ROLE OF RELIGION \nAND FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS \nTuesday\, January 24\, 2023 \n8:30 AM to 1:30 PM \nVirtual Event | Interpretation in English\, Arabic\, French\, Portuguese and Spanish \nI.   HISTORY OF THE SYMPOSIUM: \nThe 2023 Symposium will be the ninth in a series of symposiums held annually since 2015. \nNine years ago (2015)\, faith-based partners came together to launch an annual symposium around the intersections of religion and international affairs\, intentionally including the participation of UN member states and UN System entities. From the second symposium (2016)\, partnership with the UN Interagency Task Force on Religion and Sustainable Development was instituted with the intention of organizing an annual policy dialogue between the UN System\, member states\, faith actors and wider civil society on critical issues of the day. Over the years\, the sponsorship of the Symposium has included an increasing range of religious and faith traditions. \nThe Symposia series features a theme each year that both relates to current policy debates and intersects with the concerns and contributions of faith-based actors working in international affairs. The first Symposium in 2015 established the framework for all future symposia with a focus on human rights and human dignity. Such focus will undergird all symposiums in the series. \nThe second Symposium focused on the prevention of atrocity crimes and violent extremism (2016)\, the third focused on just\, inclusive and sustainable peace (2017)\, the fourth focused on migration and displacement (2018) and the fifth (2019) covered the intersections of these four themes with key aspects of economic justice and financing for sustainable development\, positing an economy of life. The sixth (2020) was intended to reflect on the planned processes to review progress 25 years after the Beijing Platform for Action and the state of multilateralism at the 75th anniversary of the UN\, but was postponed due to unforeseen circumstances. Given the crucial importance of the theme\, a smaller but well-resourced workshop for faith-based organizations was organized in its stead. \nDue to Covid-19 restrictions\, the seventh symposium was convened  as a virtual symposium (2021) and focused on accelerating gender equality\, equity and justice. The succeeding 2022 symposium was also held virtually on a theme focused on “mobilizing moral influence and governance to end the systemic injustices of racism\, the legacy of colonialism and slavery. \nThe Symposiums have been timed to be held in January of every year in close proximity to Martin Luther King\, Jr.’s birthday to help commemorate the values and legacy he bequeathed to the world. The Symposium is also a contribution to the global observance of the World Interfaith Harmony Week that is celebrated annually in the first week of February of each year. \nThe symposium in 2023 is co-organized by the following groups and their representatives compose the planning team. They are\, from the faith-based side\, the ACT Alliance\, General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church\, Islamic Relief USA\, Religions for Peace\, Seventh-day Adventist Church\, Soka Gakkai International\, United Religions Initiative\, World Council of Churches\, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on behalf of  the  Inter-Agency Task Force on Religion and Development. The  Human Security for All (HS4A) campaign led by the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security and the  World Academy of Art and Science is  a partner. \nII.   2023 THEME: SECURING PEOPLES’ WELLBEING AND PLANETARY SUSTAINABILITY \nA.   HIGH-LEVEL WELCOME \nThe 9th symposium will be opening with a high-level panel that represents the three major organizing components of the annual symposium–UN official\, faith-based representative and member state. The moderator will introduce the theme of the symposium\, both in the context of the history of the symposium and the urgency and saliency of the current theme. \nB.   FRAMING HUMAN SECURITY AS SHARED SECURITY FOR PEOPLE AND THE PLANET \nConceptual and practical convergences on the topic of human security abound between faith communities and the UN System. The convergences—in discourse and practice—also illustrate the complexity of what security entails—be it national security\, human security\, or people’s security. Add to that complexity the urgency of conceiving security beyond human needs into planetary security that speaks to the intricate relation between people and the planet and their survival and sustainability in a common ecosystem. The UN Agenda for Sustainable Development (Agenda 2030)\, in particular the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)\, refers both to the wellbeing of peoples and the ecological integrity of the planet. In Agenda 2030\, sustainable development is people-centered and planetary in scope. The attainment of sustainable development is co-constitutive with the attainment of peace and prosperity. This symposium intends to scale up support for the achievement of the SDGs by faith-based groups. \nFaith based organizations have rich and diverse histories of discourse and practice demonstrating the nexus of human development\, humanitarian work\, and peace and human rights advocacy. Such discourses  and practices affirm a people-centered\, community-focused and human rights-based approach to peace and human security. The religious\, ecumenical and interfaith character of the symposium will ensure presentation of the diversity of both discourse (theological\, ethical\, moral) and practice (advocacy\, campaigns\, projects) on human security. The unique contribution of this and previous symposiums in this series is the intentional exploration of faith-based understandings and their complementarity with UN normative frameworks and standards\, like the Agenda 2030\, the UNDP reports\,  and UN debates and reports of the UN Secretary-General on human security (see Part V. Readings). \nThe symposium is structured in such a way that faith-based organizations\, UN System entities\, including member states contribute to the development of “unity\, solidarity\, international cooperation and global coordinated action” on the thematic focus on human security\, bearing in mind the overarching themes of all symposia in this series which is human dignity and human rights. The symposium will be a venue to illustrate how both conceptual and practical convergences around human security are exhibited in actual projects\, programs\, advocacies and campaigns by the participating entities\, including the intersections of human security with sustainable development\, durable peace\, and gender justice. \nAny discussion about human security necessarily implicates human development. Put in another way\, human security and human development must be pursued simultaneously. The symposium will contribute to the bridging of the disconnect between human development and human security. It will demonstrate human security as shared security. \nThe inequalities unraveled by the Covid-19 pandemic and the varied forms of human induced activities\, especially climate change\, illustrate the urgency of revisiting the nexus between people’s needs\, wellbeing\, physical integrity and human dignity and the planet’s sustainability and ecological integrity. Such discussion necessarily implicates a variety of existential threats to human and planetary security that must be laid bare and addressed by the symposium. \nIn fact\, UNDP’s 2021-2022 Human Development Report\, “Uncertain Times\, Unsettled Lives: Shaping our Future in a Transforming World”\, argues that layers of uncertainty are stacking up and interacting to unsettle life in unprecedented ways. The last two years have had a devastating impact for billions of people around the world\, when crises like COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine hit back-to-back\, and interacted with sweeping social and economic shifts\, dangerous planetary changes\, and massive increases in polarization. Human development has fallen back to its 2016 levels\, reversing much of the progress towards the SDGs. There are many reasons for these devastating trends\, including how insecurity and polarization are feeding off each other today to prevent the solidarity and collective action we need to tackle crises at all levels. \nThis symposium will explore how to better address these threats and more through the discourse and practice of faith-based organizations and partners in the UN System\, including member-states\, civil society actors\, and other international and regional organizations committed to human and people’s security. The symposium will present  grassroots perspectives\, experiences and voices from the ground that will give evidence to what makes them secure or insecure and therefore what needs to be done. \nC.   SESSION ON SEEING AND DOING HUMAN SECURITY \nThis session will highlight activities\, events\, programs\, campaigns and the like that demonstrate how human security works and is operationalized in a variety of settings by a variety of actors. Panelists will come from the three categories representing the tripartite character of the symposium’s collaborators. \n\nHow do faith-based organizations see and do human security?\n\nMuch is needed in understanding human security.  But much more is required to realize it in the day to day lives of peoples and their communities. The UN General Assembly Resolution 66/290 speaks of human security as “an approach to assist Member States in identifying and addressing widespread challenges to the survival\, livelihood and dignity of their people” and thus calls for “people-centered\, comprehensive\, context-specific and prevention-oriented response that strengthen the protection and empowerment of all people.” (UN Trust Fund for Human Security). \nThe role of religion in realizing human security is not alien to the work of faith-based organizations. The symposium will take a look at how religious\, theological\, ecumenical and interfaith groups have translated the theme into actual advocacy on the ground. Themes predicated by concern for human security abound in religious discussion and work\, including food security\, water security\, economic security\, climate security\, health security\, common security\, digital and information security\, and more. These themes\, not exhaustive in this list\, demonstrate the complexity of both theory and practice of human security. The symposium planners are all too aware of such complexity even as they are focused on specific themes for this symposium. This segment will spotlight how lives of peoples and communities are affected and changed by what faith groups do. \n\nHow do U.N. partners and member states see and do human security?\n\nThe themes identified with work by faith-based organizations are not alien to UN partners. The active collaboration by faith-based organizations\, UN partners and Member-States underscores the concern for joint and concerted action and transformative solidarity among all actors. This and eight previous symposiums prove both the importance of FBO and UN partnership and collaboration. \nThe 2022 Special Report of the UNDP\, called “New Threats to Human Security on the Anthropocene: Demanding Greater Solidarity” is timely for the purposes of the symposium. The Special Report reminds us that when introduced in 1994\, the “human security approach refocused the security debate from territorial security to people’s security”\, emphasizing “the importance of everyone’s right to freedom from fear\, freedom from want and freedom from indignity”\, and highlighting “the close connection among security\, development and the protection and empowerment of individuals and communities.” New data and analysis in the Special Report shows that people’s sense of safety and security is at a low in almost every country\, including the richest countries\, despite years of upwards development success. \nToday\, accelerating planetary and social changes have given birth to a new generation of threats\, which span borders and foster insecurity in fragile settings and beyond. In this context\, the Special Report offers a new framework for action\, adding “solidarity” to the existing pillars “protection” and “empowerment”. Threats to human and planetary security abound\, and the symposium will look into them\, including but not limited to what the Special Report calls the “four threats to human security superimposed on the Anthropocene context: “the downsides of digital technology\, violent conflict\, horizontal inequalities\, and evolving challenges to healthcare systems.” (Overview\, 2022 UNDP Special Report on Human Security) \nD.   KEY LEARNINGS \nIdentifying the normative corpus of international law dealing with security and doing the same in the body of available religious\, ecumenical and interfaith teachings on human security will be critical in the symposium’s aim to contribute to the reorientation of  both discourse and practice from territorial security (state constructs of national security\, for example) into viable human security (securing the needs and wellbeing of peoples and the integrity of the planet and the whole ecosystem). \nThe symposium will give time to the demonstration by FBOs and UN partners of ongoing discourses and practices of human security that prove  the viability and necessity of human security as a pivotal and overarching principle for “peace and prosperity for people and the planet”. \nIII.   STRUCTURE\, FORMAT AND LEADERSHIP OF THE SYMPOSIUM \nA.   High Level Welcome: \nThe formal welcome session will feature a high level representative from three entities—faith-based and IATF-nominated speakers from the UN System and UN member state. It will focus on reaffirming the importance of the symposium in general and the urgency and relevance of the current theme. \nB.   Framing Session: \nThe framing session will be held in a conversational format involving a moderator and speakers representing faith-based leaders\, officials from the UN System\, Member-States\, and other experts in the human security field. (Part II.A) \nC.   Session on Seeing and Doing Human Security: \nThis session will highlight activities\, events\, programs\, campaigns and the like that demonstrate and are focused on human security. Panelists will come from the three categories representing the tripartite character of the symposium’s collaborators. The session will address the following questions: \n\nHow do faith-based organizations see and do human security? Panelists will come from religious\, ecumenical and interfaith organizations. (Part II.B)\nHow do UN partners see and do human security? Panelists will come from UN entities and member-states. (Part II.C)\n\n\nHow do Member States see and do human security? Panelists will come from UN partners and member-states. (Part II.C)\n\nD.   Session on Key Learnings: (practical experiences from different levels–grassroots\, national\, regional\, multiregional\, international)  \nThis session serves as the learning and hearing section of the symposium. The chair and panelists will attempt to retell what they heard are key learnings from the symposium and relate that to the roles played by religious and multilateral processes and entities—both intergovernmental and religious/ecumenical/interfaith. The session will address in concrete ways the development of “unity\, solidarity\, international cooperation and global coordinated action” necessary to make human security real. (Part II.D) \nThis panel session will be interactive. Panelists will be asked to speak about actual\, practical\, and good and beneficial practices of UN and FBOs  working together collaboratively. Emphasis will be given to distinguishing as well as moving from national security to human security into shared security for people and the planet. Session chair will draw wisdom from the participants by eliciting examples of  ways of seeing and doing human security different from already identified ones in the previous sessions above. \nE.   Concluding Session: This concluding session will feature speakers  from all of the symposium entities–faith-based groups\, UN system\, governments– who will provide key ideas about what needs to be done next. This session is envisioned to inspire action and impart a strong call for collaboration and partnership on the key learnings from the symposium. \nIV.   PARTICIPATION \nA.   Invitations will be sent to various constituencies and networks of the collaborating symposium partners. This includes FBOs\, civil society organizations\, member states and their permanent missions\, and UN agencies through the Inter-Agency Task Force on Religion and Sustainable Development. \nB.   The event will be virtual and all participants will be required to register electronically. Direct participation in the symposium via Zoom is limited to the first 500 registrants. Registrants beyond this number will be directed to a livestream via the WCC YouTube channel:www.youtube.com/WCCworld. Questions and comments by participants in Zoom and YouTube will be monitored. \nC.   Interactive modes of communication will be employed. There will be language interpretation in English\, Arabic\, French and Spanish. \nV.   DOCUMENTATION  \nFollowing in the tradition of previous symposiums\, a symposium packet will be produced electronically and distributed in advance. It will include this concept note\, a short bibliography of reference materials to prepare participants for discussion\, and a list of biographies of panel moderators and speakers. A weblink to the event will contain the symposium packet as well as post-event documentation of presentations and statements. As a hybrid event\, various social media platforms will be used to simulcast and broadcast the symposium. \nVI.   READINGS \nU.N. RESOURCES \n\nUNDP Special Report: New Threats to Human Security in the Anthropocene: Demanding Greater Solidarity (2022) (https://www.un-ilibrary.org/content/books/9789210014007/read; https://www.undp.org/somalia/publications/new-threats-human-security-anthropocene-demanding-greater-solidarity)\nUNDP Human Development Report 2021-2022: Uncertain Times\, Unsettled Lives: Shaping our Future in a Transforming World https://hdr.undp.org/content/human-development-report-2021-22\nUNDP Human Development Report: New Dimensions of Human Security (1994)https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents//hdr1994encompletenostatspdf.pdf\nWhat is Human Security (UN Trust Fund for Human Security) https://www.un.org/humansecurity/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/What-is-Human-Security.pdf\nUN General Assembly Resolutions and Debates\, and Reports of the Secretary-General on Human Security https://www.un.org/humansecurity/reports-resolutions/\nGA Resolution 66/290 on Human Security https://www.un.org/humansecurity/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/N1147622.pdf\nHuman Security Approach from Principles to Practice\, especially the first two modules https://www.un.org/humansecurity/human-security-e-course/\n\nRELIGIOUS\, ECUMENICAL AND INTERFAITH RESOURCES \n\nPeace and Human Security\, Excerpts from a lecture given by SGI President Daisaku Ikeda at the East-West Center\, Hawai’i (1995)\nVulnerability and Security: Current challenges in security policy from an ethical and theological perspective. Prepared by the Commission on International Affairs in Church of Norway Council on Ecumenical and International Relations (2015)\n Vulnerability and Security: A Paradox Based on a Theology of Incarnation (Wanda Deifelt\, 2005)\nReligion and Human Security: A Global Perspective. Edited by James K. Wellman Jr. and Clark B. Lombardi (Oxford University Press\, 2012)\nHuman Security as Shared Security: Towards Sustaining Peace and Human Wellness with Justice and Human Rights (Liberato Bautista\, 2013)\nThe Letter: A Message for our Earth (Movie): The Letter tells the story of a journey to Rome of frontline leaders to discuss the encyclical letter Laudato Si’ with Pope Francis. The exclusive dialogue with the Pope\, included in the film\, offers a revealing insight into the personal history of Pope Francis and stories never seen since he became the Bishop of Rome.
URL:https://ngocongo.org/event/ninth-international-symposium-on-the-role-of-religion-and-faith-based-organizations-in-international-affairs/
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230124T083000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230124T133000
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CREATED:20230105T184522Z
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SUMMARY:Ninth International Symposium on the Role of Religion and Faith-Based Organizations in International Affairs 
DESCRIPTION:NINTH ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM ON THE ROLE OF RELIGION AND FAITH BASED ORGANIZATIONS IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS \nTheme: Securing People’s Wellbeing and Planetary Sustainability \n24 January 2023 | 8:30 AM – 1:30 PM EST  \nVirtual Event | Interpretation in English\, Arabic\, French\, Portuguese and Spanish \nREGISTER: bit.ly/2023_symposium \nREAD SPEAKER AND MODERATOR BIOGRAPHIES HERE. \nPROGRAM \n8:15     Zoom opens for participants to join  \n8:30     WELCOME \n            Video Introduction to the Ninth Symposium  \n8:45     HIGH-LEVEL OPENING SESSION \nThe moderator will introduce the theme of the symposium\, and the 9th Symposium will open with representatives of the three major organizing components of the annual symposium–UN official\, faith-based representative and member state providing their perspectives on the theme of human security.               \nCO-MODERATORS: \n\nRev. Dr. Liberato C. Bautista (Assistant General Secretary for United Nations and International Affairs\, General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church and Chair\, 2023 Symposium Planning Team)\nMs. Nika Saeedi (PVE Team Leader\, Crisis Bureau\, UNDP; Global focal point on Religion\, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support\, and Hate Speech for UNDP)\n\nSPEAKERS: \n\nH.E. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés (Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defense of Ecuador and former President of the UN General Assembly)\nH. E. Archbishop  Gabriele Giordano Caccia (Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer\, Permanent Observer  Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations)\nMs. Ulrika Modéer (UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy\, UNDP)\nAmbassador (ret.) Sergio Duarte (Former United Nations High Representative for Disarmament Affairs and President of Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs)\nBishop Dr. Heinrich Bedford-Strohm (Moderator\, Central Committee of the World Council of Churches and Bishop\, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria)\nPriestess Beatriz Schulthess (Founder and President of Indigenous Peoples Ancestral Spiritual Council and Member of Qulla/Kolla Nation and Honorary President\, Religions for Peace)\n\n9:25      FRAMING HUMAN SECURITY AS SHARED SECURITY FOR PEOPLE AND THE PLANET \nConceptual and practical convergences on the topic of human security abound between faith communities and the UN System. These convergences also illustrate the complexity of what security\, in its multiple dimensions\, entails. \nMODERATOR: \n\nProf. Dr. Azza Karam (Secretary General\, Religions for Peace)\n\nSPEAKERS: \n\nMr. Samuel Rizk (Head\, Conflict Prevention\, Peacebuilding and Responsible Institutions (CPPRI) Team\, Crisis Bureau\, UNDP)\nMr. Anwar Khan (President\, Islamic Relief USA)\nMr. Garry Jacobs (President and CEO of World Academy of Art and Science and Chairman and CEO the World University Consortium)\nMs. Sophia Farion (Senior Program Officer for Eastern Europe\, South Caucasus\, and Central Asia\, Global Network of Women Peacebuilders {GNWP})\nDr. Anne Mette Fisker-Nielsen (Associate Professor\, Soka University)\n\n10:45       BREAK \nCultural intermission: Cello piece by Michael Fitzpatrick \n90-second video on human security \n11:00       SEEING AND DOING HUMAN SECURITY \nThis session will highlight actual activities and initiatives that are focused on and promote human security. It will demonstrate how faith based actors\, UN entities and Member States see and work for human security. \nMODERATOR: \n\nMr. Rudelmar Bueno de Faria (General Secretary of ACT Alliance)\n\nSPEAKERS: \n\nAmbassador Amanda Ellis (Former Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Mission of New Zealand to the United Nations in Geneva and Professor\, Arizona State University)\nMs. Mehrnaz Mostafavi (Chief of the Human Security Unit {HSU} and the UN Trust Fund for Human Security {UNTFHS})\nDr. Jerry White (Executive Director\, United Religions Initiative {URI})\nMs. Nadia Alawamleh (Team Leader for Social Cohesion Programme\, UNDP Iraq)\nMr. Asif Ali Sherazi (Country Director for Pakistan\, Islamic Relief Worldwide)\nAtty. Salma Pir Rasul (Programs Director\, Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy and Director\, Islamic Law Studies\, University of the Philippines Law Center {UPLC})\nMr. Nelson Ngalle (National Programme Officer\, Presbyterian Church in Cameroon {PCC} Peace Work Department)RESPONDENT:\nPeter Schlosser (Vice President and Vice Provost of Global Futures\, Arizona State University)\n\n12:20       KEY LEARNINGS \nThis session will highlight key learnings that relate to work for human security and the roles different actors can play. It  will address in concrete ways the development of “unity\, solidarity\, international cooperation and global coordinated action” necessary to make human security real.  \nMODERATOR: \n\nMs. Audrey Kitagawa\, JD (President/Founder\, International Academy for Multicultural Cooperation and President\, Light of Awareness International Spiritual Family)\n\nSPEAKERS: \n\nProf. Dr. PL de Silva (Adjunct Professor\, UN Studies\, Seton Hall University)\nDr. Elizabeta Kitanovic (Executive Secretary\, Human Rights\, Council of European Churches {CEC|KEK})\nMs. DWI Rubiyanti Kholifah (Secretary General of The Asian Muslim Action Network {AMAN}\, Country representative of AMAN Indonesia)\n\n12:50       CONCLUDING SESSION \nThis concluding session will provide key ideas about what needs to be done next\, and is envisioned to inspire action and impart a strong call for collaboration and partnership on the key learnings from the symposium. \nCO-MODERATORS: \n\nRev. Dr. Liberato C. Bautista (Assistant General for United Nations and International Affairs\, General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church and Chair\, 2023 Symposium Planning Team)\nMs. Nika Saeedi (PVE Team Leader\, Crisis Bureau\, UNDP; Global focal point on Religion\, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support\, and Hate Speech for UNDP)\n\nSPEAKERS: \n\nMr. Jonathan Granoff (Senior Advisor and Representative to the United Nations of the Permanent Secretariat of the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates)\nDr. Ganoune Diop (Director\, Public Affairs and Religious Liberty\, Seventh-day Adventist Church)\n\n1:30         CLOSE \n____________________ \nCO-ORGANIZERS AND PARTNER OF THE 2023 SYMPOSIUM \nReligious and Faith Based Organizations: ACT Alliance | General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church | Islamic Relief | Religions for Peace | Seventh-Day Adventist Church | Soka Gakkai International | United Religions Initiative | World Council of Churches \nUnited Nations: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) acting on behalf of the UN Inter-Agency Task Force on Religion and Sustainable Development (currently chaired by UNFPA\, United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect\, and the UN Alliance of Civilizations and includes 27 entities within the UN System. See IATF-Religion and SDGs). \nPartner: The  Human Security for All (HS4A) campaign led by the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security and the World Academy of Art and Science. \nABOUT THE SYMPOSIUM \nThe Annual Symposium on the Role of Religion and Faith-based Organizations in International Affairs was initiated by the General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church\, the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the World Council of Churches. Today\, the symposium co-organizing entities and partners have grown to include denominational\, ecumenical\, multireligious and faith-based groups including long-time co-organizers ACT Alliance\, Religions for Peace\, Islamic Relief-USA\, and the United Religions Initiative. From the third year (2017) of the symposium\, the Interfaith Task Force on Religion and Sustainable Development – currently representing 27 entities within the UN System – cooperated as a co-organizer. The Symposium was conceived as a space to focus on how religious and partner faith-based organizations could reinforce engagement around shared concerns of human dignity\, human rights and sustainable development\, in particular as regards UN the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)/Agenda 2030. The Symposium is organized as an annual event for conversation to identify and deepen the multifaceted\, multi-layered\, multidimensional\, and multidisciplinary aspects of the permanent general theme on human rights and human dignity and follow that with an annual thematic focus that would enjoin the organizers to build upon previous conversations and continue to heighten intellectual engagement\, create practical forms of action\, and develop mechanisms for collaboration among symposium organizers\, partners and participants. The Symposium is held annually on a date in January close to the birthday (January 15) of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King\, Jr.  \n  \nCONCEPT NOTE \nNINTH ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM ON THE ROLE OF RELIGION \nAND FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS \nTuesday\, January 24\, 2023 \n8:30 AM to 1:30 PM \nVirtual Event | Interpretation in English\, Arabic\, French\, Portuguese and Spanish \nI.   HISTORY OF THE SYMPOSIUM: \nThe 2023 Symposium will be the ninth in a series of symposiums held annually since 2015. \nNine years ago (2015)\, faith-based partners came together to launch an annual symposium around the intersections of religion and international affairs\, intentionally including the participation of UN member states and UN System entities. From the second symposium (2016)\, partnership with the UN Interagency Task Force on Religion and Sustainable Development was instituted with the intention of organizing an annual policy dialogue between the UN System\, member states\, faith actors and wider civil society on critical issues of the day. Over the years\, the sponsorship of the Symposium has included an increasing range of religious and faith traditions. \nThe Symposia series features a theme each year that both relates to current policy debates and intersects with the concerns and contributions of faith-based actors working in international affairs. The first Symposium in 2015 established the framework for all future symposia with a focus on human rights and human dignity. Such focus will undergird all symposiums in the series. \nThe second Symposium focused on the prevention of atrocity crimes and violent extremism (2016)\, the third focused on just\, inclusive and sustainable peace (2017)\, the fourth focused on migration and displacement (2018) and the fifth (2019) covered the intersections of these four themes with key aspects of economic justice and financing for sustainable development\, positing an economy of life. The sixth (2020) was intended to reflect on the planned processes to review progress 25 years after the Beijing Platform for Action and the state of multilateralism at the 75th anniversary of the UN\, but was postponed due to unforeseen circumstances. Given the crucial importance of the theme\, a smaller but well-resourced workshop for faith-based organizations was organized in its stead. \nDue to Covid-19 restrictions\, the seventh symposium was convened  as a virtual symposium (2021) and focused on accelerating gender equality\, equity and justice. The succeeding 2022 symposium was also held virtually on a theme focused on “mobilizing moral influence and governance to end the systemic injustices of racism\, the legacy of colonialism and slavery. \nThe Symposiums have been timed to be held in January of every year in close proximity to Martin Luther King\, Jr.’s birthday to help commemorate the values and legacy he bequeathed to the world. The Symposium is also a contribution to the global observance of the World Interfaith Harmony Week that is celebrated annually in the first week of February of each year. \nThe symposium in 2023 is co-organized by the following groups and their representatives compose the planning team. They are\, from the faith-based side\, the ACT Alliance\, General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church\, Islamic Relief USA\, Religions for Peace\, Seventh-day Adventist Church\, Soka Gakkai International\, United Religions Initiative\, World Council of Churches\, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on behalf of  the  Inter-Agency Task Force on Religion and Development. The  Human Security for All (HS4A) campaign led by the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security and the  World Academy of Art and Science is  a partner. \nII.   2023 THEME: SECURING PEOPLES’ WELLBEING AND PLANETARY SUSTAINABILITY \nA.   HIGH-LEVEL WELCOME \nThe 9th symposium will be opening with a high-level panel that represents the three major organizing components of the annual symposium–UN official\, faith-based representative and member state. The moderator will introduce the theme of the symposium\, both in the context of the history of the symposium and the urgency and saliency of the current theme. \nB.   FRAMING HUMAN SECURITY AS SHARED SECURITY FOR PEOPLE AND THE PLANET \nConceptual and practical convergences on the topic of human security abound between faith communities and the UN System. The convergences—in discourse and practice—also illustrate the complexity of what security entails—be it national security\, human security\, or people’s security. Add to that complexity the urgency of conceiving security beyond human needs into planetary security that speaks to the intricate relation between people and the planet and their survival and sustainability in a common ecosystem. The UN Agenda for Sustainable Development (Agenda 2030)\, in particular the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)\, refers both to the wellbeing of peoples and the ecological integrity of the planet. In Agenda 2030\, sustainable development is people-centered and planetary in scope. The attainment of sustainable development is co-constitutive with the attainment of peace and prosperity. This symposium intends to scale up support for the achievement of the SDGs by faith-based groups. \nFaith based organizations have rich and diverse histories of discourse and practice demonstrating the nexus of human development\, humanitarian work\, and peace and human rights advocacy. Such discourses  and practices affirm a people-centered\, community-focused and human rights-based approach to peace and human security. The religious\, ecumenical and interfaith character of the symposium will ensure presentation of the diversity of both discourse (theological\, ethical\, moral) and practice (advocacy\, campaigns\, projects) on human security. The unique contribution of this and previous symposiums in this series is the intentional exploration of faith-based understandings and their complementarity with UN normative frameworks and standards\, like the Agenda 2030\, the UNDP reports\,  and UN debates and reports of the UN Secretary-General on human security (see Part V. Readings). \nThe symposium is structured in such a way that faith-based organizations\, UN System entities\, including member states contribute to the development of “unity\, solidarity\, international cooperation and global coordinated action” on the thematic focus on human security\, bearing in mind the overarching themes of all symposia in this series which is human dignity and human rights. The symposium will be a venue to illustrate how both conceptual and practical convergences around human security are exhibited in actual projects\, programs\, advocacies and campaigns by the participating entities\, including the intersections of human security with sustainable development\, durable peace\, and gender justice. \nAny discussion about human security necessarily implicates human development. Put in another way\, human security and human development must be pursued simultaneously. The symposium will contribute to the bridging of the disconnect between human development and human security. It will demonstrate human security as shared security. \nThe inequalities unraveled by the Covid-19 pandemic and the varied forms of human induced activities\, especially climate change\, illustrate the urgency of revisiting the nexus between people’s needs\, wellbeing\, physical integrity and human dignity and the planet’s sustainability and ecological integrity. Such discussion necessarily implicates a variety of existential threats to human and planetary security that must be laid bare and addressed by the symposium. \nIn fact\, UNDP’s 2021-2022 Human Development Report\, “Uncertain Times\, Unsettled Lives: Shaping our Future in a Transforming World”\, argues that layers of uncertainty are stacking up and interacting to unsettle life in unprecedented ways. The last two years have had a devastating impact for billions of people around the world\, when crises like COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine hit back-to-back\, and interacted with sweeping social and economic shifts\, dangerous planetary changes\, and massive increases in polarization. Human development has fallen back to its 2016 levels\, reversing much of the progress towards the SDGs. There are many reasons for these devastating trends\, including how insecurity and polarization are feeding off each other today to prevent the solidarity and collective action we need to tackle crises at all levels. \nThis symposium will explore how to better address these threats and more through the discourse and practice of faith-based organizations and partners in the UN System\, including member-states\, civil society actors\, and other international and regional organizations committed to human and people’s security. The symposium will present  grassroots perspectives\, experiences and voices from the ground that will give evidence to what makes them secure or insecure and therefore what needs to be done. \nC.   SESSION ON SEEING AND DOING HUMAN SECURITY \nThis session will highlight activities\, events\, programs\, campaigns and the like that demonstrate how human security works and is operationalized in a variety of settings by a variety of actors. Panelists will come from the three categories representing the tripartite character of the symposium’s collaborators. \n\nHow do faith-based organizations see and do human security?\n\nMuch is needed in understanding human security.  But much more is required to realize it in the day to day lives of peoples and their communities. The UN General Assembly Resolution 66/290 speaks of human security as “an approach to assist Member States in identifying and addressing widespread challenges to the survival\, livelihood and dignity of their people” and thus calls for “people-centered\, comprehensive\, context-specific and prevention-oriented response that strengthen the protection and empowerment of all people.” (UN Trust Fund for Human Security). \nThe role of religion in realizing human security is not alien to the work of faith-based organizations. The symposium will take a look at how religious\, theological\, ecumenical and interfaith groups have translated the theme into actual advocacy on the ground. Themes predicated by concern for human security abound in religious discussion and work\, including food security\, water security\, economic security\, climate security\, health security\, common security\, digital and information security\, and more. These themes\, not exhaustive in this list\, demonstrate the complexity of both theory and practice of human security. The symposium planners are all too aware of such complexity even as they are focused on specific themes for this symposium. This segment will spotlight how lives of peoples and communities are affected and changed by what faith groups do. \n\nHow do U.N. partners and member states see and do human security?\n\nThe themes identified with work by faith-based organizations are not alien to UN partners. The active collaboration by faith-based organizations\, UN partners and Member-States underscores the concern for joint and concerted action and transformative solidarity among all actors. This and eight previous symposiums prove both the importance of FBO and UN partnership and collaboration. \nThe 2022 Special Report of the UNDP\, called “New Threats to Human Security on the Anthropocene: Demanding Greater Solidarity” is timely for the purposes of the symposium. The Special Report reminds us that when introduced in 1994\, the “human security approach refocused the security debate from territorial security to people’s security”\, emphasizing “the importance of everyone’s right to freedom from fear\, freedom from want and freedom from indignity”\, and highlighting “the close connection among security\, development and the protection and empowerment of individuals and communities.” New data and analysis in the Special Report shows that people’s sense of safety and security is at a low in almost every country\, including the richest countries\, despite years of upwards development success. \nToday\, accelerating planetary and social changes have given birth to a new generation of threats\, which span borders and foster insecurity in fragile settings and beyond. In this context\, the Special Report offers a new framework for action\, adding “solidarity” to the existing pillars “protection” and “empowerment”. Threats to human and planetary security abound\, and the symposium will look into them\, including but not limited to what the Special Report calls the “four threats to human security superimposed on the Anthropocene context: “the downsides of digital technology\, violent conflict\, horizontal inequalities\, and evolving challenges to healthcare systems.” (Overview\, 2022 UNDP Special Report on Human Security) \nD.   KEY LEARNINGS \nIdentifying the normative corpus of international law dealing with security and doing the same in the body of available religious\, ecumenical and interfaith teachings on human security will be critical in the symposium’s aim to contribute to the reorientation of  both discourse and practice from territorial security (state constructs of national security\, for example) into viable human security (securing the needs and wellbeing of peoples and the integrity of the planet and the whole ecosystem). \nThe symposium will give time to the demonstration by FBOs and UN partners of ongoing discourses and practices of human security that prove  the viability and necessity of human security as a pivotal and overarching principle for “peace and prosperity for people and the planet”. \nIII.   STRUCTURE\, FORMAT AND LEADERSHIP OF THE SYMPOSIUM \nA.   High Level Welcome: \nThe formal welcome session will feature a high level representative from three entities—faith-based and IATF-nominated speakers from the UN System and UN member state. It will focus on reaffirming the importance of the symposium in general and the urgency and relevance of the current theme. \nB.   Framing Session: \nThe framing session will be held in a conversational format involving a moderator and speakers representing faith-based leaders\, officials from the UN System\, Member-States\, and other experts in the human security field. (Part II.A) \nC.   Session on Seeing and Doing Human Security: \nThis session will highlight activities\, events\, programs\, campaigns and the like that demonstrate and are focused on human security. Panelists will come from the three categories representing the tripartite character of the symposium’s collaborators. The session will address the following questions: \n\nHow do faith-based organizations see and do human security? Panelists will come from religious\, ecumenical and interfaith organizations. (Part II.B)\nHow do UN partners see and do human security? Panelists will come from UN entities and member-states. (Part II.C)\n\n\nHow do Member States see and do human security? Panelists will come from UN partners and member-states. (Part II.C)\n\nD.   Session on Key Learnings: (practical experiences from different levels–grassroots\, national\, regional\, multiregional\, international)  \nThis session serves as the learning and hearing section of the symposium. The chair and panelists will attempt to retell what they heard are key learnings from the symposium and relate that to the roles played by religious and multilateral processes and entities—both intergovernmental and religious/ecumenical/interfaith. The session will address in concrete ways the development of “unity\, solidarity\, international cooperation and global coordinated action” necessary to make human security real. (Part II.D) \nThis panel session will be interactive. Panelists will be asked to speak about actual\, practical\, and good and beneficial practices of UN and FBOs  working together collaboratively. Emphasis will be given to distinguishing as well as moving from national security to human security into shared security for people and the planet. Session chair will draw wisdom from the participants by eliciting examples of  ways of seeing and doing human security different from already identified ones in the previous sessions above. \nE.   Concluding Session: This concluding session will feature speakers  from all of the symposium entities–faith-based groups\, UN system\, governments– who will provide key ideas about what needs to be done next. This session is envisioned to inspire action and impart a strong call for collaboration and partnership on the key learnings from the symposium. \nIV.   PARTICIPATION \nA.   Invitations will be sent to various constituencies and networks of the collaborating symposium partners. This includes FBOs\, civil society organizations\, member states and their permanent missions\, and UN agencies through the Inter-Agency Task Force on Religion and Sustainable Development. \nB.   The event will be virtual and all participants will be required to register electronically. Direct participation in the symposium via Zoom is limited to the first 500 registrants. Registrants beyond this number will be directed to a livestream via the WCC YouTube channel:www.youtube.com/WCCworld. Questions and comments by participants in Zoom and YouTube will be monitored. \nC.   Interactive modes of communication will be employed. There will be language interpretation in English\, Arabic\, French and Spanish. \nV.   DOCUMENTATION  \nFollowing in the tradition of previous symposiums\, a symposium packet will be produced electronically and distributed in advance. It will include this concept note\, a short bibliography of reference materials to prepare participants for discussion\, and a list of biographies of panel moderators and speakers. A weblink to the event will contain the symposium packet as well as post-event documentation of presentations and statements. As a hybrid event\, various social media platforms will be used to simulcast and broadcast the symposium. \nVI.   READINGS \nU.N. RESOURCES \n\nUNDP Special Report: New Threats to Human Security in the Anthropocene: Demanding Greater Solidarity (2022) (https://www.un-ilibrary.org/content/books/9789210014007/read; https://www.undp.org/somalia/publications/new-threats-human-security-anthropocene-demanding-greater-solidarity)\nUNDP Human Development Report 2021-2022: Uncertain Times\, Unsettled Lives: Shaping our Future in a Transforming World https://hdr.undp.org/content/human-development-report-2021-22\nUNDP Human Development Report: New Dimensions of Human Security (1994)https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents//hdr1994encompletenostatspdf.pdf\nWhat is Human Security (UN Trust Fund for Human Security) https://www.un.org/humansecurity/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/What-is-Human-Security.pdf\nUN General Assembly Resolutions and Debates\, and Reports of the Secretary-General on Human Security https://www.un.org/humansecurity/reports-resolutions/\nGA Resolution 66/290 on Human Security https://www.un.org/humansecurity/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/N1147622.pdf\nHuman Security Approach from Principles to Practice\, especially the first two modules https://www.un.org/humansecurity/human-security-e-course/\n\nRELIGIOUS\, ECUMENICAL AND INTERFAITH RESOURCES \n\nPeace and Human Security\, Excerpts from a lecture given by SGI President Daisaku Ikeda at the East-West Center\, Hawai’i (1995)\nVulnerability and Security: Current challenges in security policy from an ethical and theological perspective. Prepared by the Commission on International Affairs in Church of Norway Council on Ecumenical and International Relations (2015)\n Vulnerability and Security: A Paradox Based on a Theology of Incarnation (Wanda Deifelt\, 2005)\nReligion and Human Security: A Global Perspective. Edited by James K. Wellman Jr. and Clark B. Lombardi (Oxford University Press\, 2012)\nHuman Security as Shared Security: Towards Sustaining Peace and Human Wellness with Justice and Human Rights (Liberato Bautista\, 2013)\nThe Letter: A Message for our Earth (Movie): The Letter tells the story of a journey to Rome of frontline leaders to discuss the encyclical letter Laudato Si’ with Pope Francis. The exclusive dialogue with the Pope\, included in the film\, offers a revealing insight into the personal history of Pope Francis and stories never seen since he became the Bishop of Rome.
URL:https://ngocongo.org/event/ninth-international-symposium-on-the-role-of-religion-and-faith-based-organizations-in-international-affairs-2/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:CoNGO Member Events,CoNGO Recommended Events,CSO event,UN Events,UN-NGO Collaboration
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ngocongo.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/2023_Symposium_Flyer_IRUSA15.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230112T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230112T130000
DTSTAMP:20260826T000839
CREATED:20230106T160121Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230106T160401Z
UID:10001820-1673523000-1673528400@ngocongo.org
SUMMARY:Reimagining Brain Health: Inside the Brain Capital (NGO Committee on Ageing-New York)
DESCRIPTION: 
URL:https://ngocongo.org/event/reimagining-brain-health-inside-the-brain-capital-ngo-committee-on-ageing-new-york/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:CoNGO Events,CoNGO Member Events,CSO event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ngocongo.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/NGO-COA_NY_2023.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230112T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230112T130000
DTSTAMP:20260826T000839
CREATED:20230106T160121Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230106T160121Z
UID:10002302-1673523000-1673528400@ngocongo.org
SUMMARY:Reimagining Brain Health: Inside the Brain Capital (NGO Committee on Ageing-New York)
DESCRIPTION: 
URL:https://ngocongo.org/event/reimagining-brain-health-inside-the-brain-capital-ngo-committee-on-ageing-new-york-2/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:CoNGO Events,CoNGO Member Events,CSO event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ngocongo.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/NGO-COA_NY_2023.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20220629
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20220703
DTSTAMP:20260826T000839
CREATED:20220624T110944Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220628T110300Z
UID:10001684-1656460800-1656806399@ngocongo.org
SUMMARY:The Peoples' Global Summit | Co-building a New Eco-Social World: Leaving No One Behind
DESCRIPTION:Join the people’s global summit by registering HERE  \nCheck the programme HERE. \nThe President of CoNGO–Liberato Bautista–is delivering one of the Keynote Speeches. \nThe people’s global summit is for everyone. It brings together individuals and communities\, people of lived experiences\, along with global organisations to co-build a combined global conversation on the creation of globally shared values for a new eco-social world that leaves no one behind. \nThe vision of this people’s global summit emerges from this pandemic\, the climatic crisis\, and the need to co-build a new eco-social world based on values that shape policies and practices to ensure sustainability and good quality life-cycles – not only for each human being but for each part of our eco-systems on which we all depend\, leaving no one behind. \nThe people’s global summit provides spaces for individuals as well as for group representatives to advance their ideas and provide a platform for engagement across different cultures\, diverse lived experiences\, professional groups\, and perspectives. All contributions will shape the Global Values Declaration for a new eco-social world that will be delivered to the United Nations High-Level Political Forum in July 2022 and will create a catalyst for further global action. \nLive Opening Ceremony \nThe live opening ceremony will take place live on Wednesday 29 June\, starting at 06:00 UTC. \nThe summit will be opened by Antonio Guterres\, the United Nations Secretary-General\, who has consistently highlighted the need for transformational change: \nThis will be followed by a keynote from Kumi Naidoo\, a global civil society representative\, human rights and environmental activist. \nWe will all have a task over the days of the summit. Together we will co-design and co-build a People’s Charter to drive forward a new eco-social world that leaves no one behind. In this opening session\, we will outline how everyone can be heard and can contribute. \nKeynote sessions \nRead here about the 26 keynote sessions and the speakers\, including: \n* Antonio Guterres\, Secretary-General of the UN \n* Kumi Naidoo\, Environmental and climate activist \n* Richard Lochhead\, Minister for Just Transition\, Employment and Fair Work at the Scottish Government \n* Tarcila Rivera. founder of the International Indigenous Women’s Forum \n* Oliver Greenfield and Najma Mohamed\, Green Economy Coalition \n* Liberato C. Bautista\, President of the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations \n* Representatives of Global Student Forum \nLive Panels \nYou will be able to interact with 16 live panels from all around the world to help shape our shared futures. \nEach panel session will be followed by a comments section where participants will be able to interact with the presenters\, ask questions and make comments throughout the conference. \nThese discussions will contribute to the development of The People’s Charter  that will be initially submitted to the world’s leaders as they gather at the 2022 United Nations High-Level Political Forum and General Assembly as an invitation to join us and call to action to work with us for our shared futures. \nOpen Mic Session \nDuring the Summit\, there will Open Mic Sessions that will create the opportunity for all of the summit participants to make comments or reflections on what values\, principles\, policies and practices should be highlighted in this summit. The Open Mic Platform is text-only and participants can use online translation tools so everyone can express themselves to an international audience. We invite all summit participants to make their contributions at any of the 13 open mic sessions that will take place during the #PeoplesSummit from 29th June through to 2nd July. \nAlong with the other contributions\, the partners of the summit will be closely watching and interacting with the Open Mic Sessions so all people´s comments will contribute to shaping the new eco-social agenda. \nRegistration and Fees \nRegister here now to have access to all the content and start preparing your participation! This is a barrier-free event\, so all can participate\, simply name the amount you want to pay: \nFull Fee: 75 USD \nMedium Fee: 50 USD \nLow fee: 20 USD \nFree participation possible
URL:https://ngocongo.org/event/the-peoples-global-summit-co-building-a-new-eco-social-world-leaving-no-one-behind/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:CoNGO Member Events,CoNGO Recommended Events,CSO event,UN-NGO Collaboration
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20220629
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20220703
DTSTAMP:20260826T000839
CREATED:20220624T110944Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220624T110944Z
UID:10002241-1656460800-1656806399@ngocongo.org
SUMMARY:The Peoples' Global Summit | Co-building a New Eco-Social World: Leaving No One Behind
DESCRIPTION:Join the people’s global summit by registering HERE  \nCheck the programme HERE. \nThe President of CoNGO–Liberato Bautista–is delivering one of the Keynote Speeches. \nThe people’s global summit is for everyone. It brings together individuals and communities\, people of lived experiences\, along with global organisations to co-build a combined global conversation on the creation of globally shared values for a new eco-social world that leaves no one behind. \nThe vision of this people’s global summit emerges from this pandemic\, the climatic crisis\, and the need to co-build a new eco-social world based on values that shape policies and practices to ensure sustainability and good quality life-cycles – not only for each human being but for each part of our eco-systems on which we all depend\, leaving no one behind. \nThe people’s global summit provides spaces for individuals as well as for group representatives to advance their ideas and provide a platform for engagement across different cultures\, diverse lived experiences\, professional groups\, and perspectives. All contributions will shape the Global Values Declaration for a new eco-social world that will be delivered to the United Nations High-Level Political Forum in July 2022 and will create a catalyst for further global action. \nLive Opening Ceremony \nThe live opening ceremony will take place live on Wednesday 29 June\, starting at 06:00 UTC. \nThe summit will be opened by Antonio Guterres\, the United Nations Secretary-General\, who has consistently highlighted the need for transformational change: \nThis will be followed by a keynote from Kumi Naidoo\, a global civil society representative\, human rights and environmental activist. \nWe will all have a task over the days of the summit. Together we will co-design and co-build a People’s Charter to drive forward a new eco-social world that leaves no one behind. In this opening session\, we will outline how everyone can be heard and can contribute. \nKeynote sessions \nRead here about the 26 keynote sessions and the speakers\, including: \n* Antonio Guterres\, Secretary-General of the UN \n* Kumi Naidoo\, Environmental and climate activist \n* Richard Lochhead\, Minister for Just Transition\, Employment and Fair Work at the Scottish Government \n* Tarcila Rivera. founder of the International Indigenous Women’s Forum \n* Oliver Greenfield and Najma Mohamed\, Green Economy Coalition \n* Liberato C. Bautista\, President of the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations \n* Representatives of Global Student Forum \nLive Panels \nYou will be able to interact with 16 live panels from all around the world to help shape our shared futures. \nEach panel session will be followed by a comments section where participants will be able to interact with the presenters\, ask questions and make comments throughout the conference. \nThese discussions will contribute to the development of The People’s Charter  that will be initially submitted to the world’s leaders as they gather at the 2022 United Nations High-Level Political Forum and General Assembly as an invitation to join us and call to action to work with us for our shared futures. \nOpen Mic Session \nDuring the Summit\, there will Open Mic Sessions that will create the opportunity for all of the summit participants to make comments or reflections on what values\, principles\, policies and practices should be highlighted in this summit. The Open Mic Platform is text-only and participants can use online translation tools so everyone can express themselves to an international audience. We invite all summit participants to make their contributions at any of the 13 open mic sessions that will take place during the #PeoplesSummit from 29th June through to 2nd July. \nAlong with the other contributions\, the partners of the summit will be closely watching and interacting with the Open Mic Sessions so all people´s comments will contribute to shaping the new eco-social agenda. \nRegistration and Fees \nRegister here now to have access to all the content and start preparing your participation! This is a barrier-free event\, so all can participate\, simply name the amount you want to pay: \nFull Fee: 75 USD \nMedium Fee: 50 USD \nLow fee: 20 USD \nFree participation possible
URL:https://ngocongo.org/event/the-peoples-global-summit-co-building-a-new-eco-social-world-leaving-no-one-behind-2/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:CoNGO Member Events,CoNGO Recommended Events,CSO event,UN-NGO Collaboration
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR