WFS2016 – São Paulo Declaration now available for download

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WFS2016 LogoSão Paulo Declaration – Families in Balance — Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity ensuring that NO FAMILY IS LEFT BEHIND

The Office for ECOSOC Support and Coordination (OESC) of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs accepted the Declaration and it will be distributed to all participants of this year’s High Level Segment.

Click in the links below to download the final text of the São Paulo Declaration, discussed and approved at the World Family Summit 2016 held in São Paulo, Brazil, translated by the United Nations into its official working languages.

 English | French | Spanish

U21 kicks off Student #GlobalMobility Month in June!

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Students from 21 member universities across the Universitas 21 (U21) network will be going global in June and July 2017 to participate in a diverse range of activities at the Universities of Edinburgh and Johannesburg and off-site in Ecuador.

On 26 – 30 June, the University of Edinburgh will host 73 students from 21 member institutions for the annual U21 Undergraduate Research Conference (URC). The conference will be run in collaboration with the University’s ‘Global Academies’ programme which tackles global environmental challenges through teaching, research and outreach. Through the theme ‘Future Societies, Global Citizens’ students will consider the global challenges facing future societies and discuss how today’s internationally-minded students can become global citizens. During the conference students will have the opportunity to share their research on a diverse multi-disciplinary range of topics through the medium of poster, presentation, or pecha kucha (concise form of presentation). The academic programme will be complemented by extracurricular events to explore Scotland’s political and cultural heritage, from tours of Edinburgh Castle and the Scottish Parliament, to a traditional Ceilidh dance.

Students from University College Dublin, the University of Edinburgh, Tec de Monterrey and the National University of Singapore will also be going global this month, travelling to South Africa to participate in the University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) Summer School, ‘Fabricating Design Spaces’ from 26 June – 14 July. As part of the course, students will work with the Department of Jewellery Design at UJ in collaboration with leading South African Fashion Designer, David Tlale, and emerging new talent Mariambibi Khan. Students will be introduced to basic metal smithing techniques in the first week of the course, the design and manufacture of metal embellishments for clothing during the second week of the course, and at the end of the three-week course, they will have an opportunity to exhibit their creations.

Students from the Universities of Melbourne, Queensland, Birmingham, Edinburgh and the National University of Singapore will travel to Ecuador to take part in the Social Entrepreneur Corps (SEC) from 25 June – 21 July, a programme administered on behalf of U21 by the University of Connecticut. In Ecuador, they will work directly with SEC field professionals and social entrepreneurs in rural locations to establish new, and grow existing micro-consignment supported businesses. They will live with local families, study Spanish, and work with local community service organisations and businesses.

U21 Provost, Professor Bairbre Redmond, said: “The U21 Undergraduate Research Conference, Summer School, and Social Entrepreneur Corps are all valuable learning, cultural, and experiential opportunities for our undergraduate students. These events give U21 students the unique occasion to come together and share their work and become involved in challenging and creative projects with other students from some of the best universities in the world. I hope that the attendees in all three events have a wonderful and valuable experience at these activities and I particularly thank the Universities of Edinburgh, Johannesburg and Connecticut for their hard work in planning and hosting this year’s events.”

 

Get Involved!

You can join in, comment or follow U21’s #GlobalMobility events via the Twitter hashtag and via @U21News, or for details on each event, please see the below:

U21 Undergraduate Research Conference @EdinburghUni

#U21URC

U21 Summer School @MediaUJ

#SummerSchool #U21atUJ

Social Entrepreneur Corps

#EcuadorSEC

For details on U21’s student activities and how you can get involved, please HERE

JOIN THE CLIMATE ACTION CHALLENGE

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The What Design Can Do Climate Action Challenge is a global design competition that calls on the creative community to submit innovative ideas for helping people adapt to climate change. The challenge specifically focusses on the poorest and most vulnerable people, particularly in the Global South, who will suffer the brunt of climate change. 

What Design Can Do (WDCD), the IKEA Foundation and Autodesk invite designers, creative thinkers and imaginative trouble-shooters from all countries and disciplines, to take part. The call for participation opened on 23 May at WDCD Live Amsterdam 2017, and will close on 21 August 2017.

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

We are looking for fresh and innovative solutions to help mankind adapt to climate change. The best designs are innovative, practical, scalable, affordable, and easily understood. The Climate Action Challenge is open to everyone, yet specifically aimed at designers and creative entrepreneurs. Both existing and completely new ideas and solutions may be entered.

HOW TO ENTER?

You can participate in one of three Challenge tracks: student, creative professional or start-up. The top ideas in each track will be evaluated by an international jury and selected to join a special acceleration programme in the last phase of the challenge.

All proposals should be entered via the WDCD Climate Action Challenge Platform. Our innovative briefing generator will help you decide how to tackle the many problems related to climate change. Use this online tool to discover the design strategy, the topic and the location that suits you best. 

WHY ENTER?

• You are concerned about the climate crisis and want to make a positive contribution to a possible solution
• You will be part of a global creative network and can benefit from its combined knowledge and creativity
• You have the chance of receiving exposure for your ideas through the communication channels of all the partners involved
• Last but not least: as a winner you are eligible for a share of the €900.000 award package and to join our acceleration programme!

For more information visit: www.whatdesigncando.com/challenge-2017/climate-action/

SDG 14

Ning Zetao (China) – The Ocean Conference

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United Nations – Video message by champion swimmer Ning Zetao on the occasion of The Ocean Conference, the high-level United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

UN HQ

WFO Mourns the Passing of UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin

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The World Family Organzization is deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

A renowned global public health leader, Dr. Osotimehin actively participated at the World Family Summit +10 held in China in 2014, and was widely regarded for his work on sexual and reproductive health. He was appointed as the head UNFPA in November 2010 and assumed office on 1 January 2011. He also held senior positions in the Nigeria, including the country’s Minister of Health.

UNFPA is dedicated to continuing Dr. Osotimehin’s grand vision for women and young people and will continue to stand up for the human rights and dignity of everyone, particularly the most vulnerable adolescent girls.

Our thoughts are with his family, the people of Nigeria, and members of the United Nations at this difficult time.

 

 

UN HQ

DESA NGO News — 2 June 2017

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EVENTS

5 – 9 June: United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
A high-level United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development will be convened in New York, from 5 to 9 June 2017, coinciding with World Oceans Day, to support the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14. The Conference will be co-hosted by the Governments of Fiji and Sweden.

The Conference shall comprise plenary meetings, partnership dialogues and a special event commemorating World Oceans Day. The Conference shall adopt by consensus a concise, focused, intergovernmentally agreed declaration in the form of a “Call for Action” to support the implementation of Goal 14 and a report containing the co-chairs’ summaries of the partnership dialogues, as well as a list of voluntary commitments for the implementation of Goal 14, to be announced at the Conference.
For more information: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/topics/oceans/SDG14Conference
http://csonet.org/index.php?page=view&nr=373&type=13&menu=14

13 – 15 June: 10th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
The Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is one of the largest and most diverse disability-related meetings in the world. Over 1200 high-level Government ministerial delegates and representatives of UN agencies and civil society organizations attend the three-day Conference at UN Headquarters in New York. Along with the Plenary sessions of the COSP, over seventy side-events are also convened by States Parties and other stakeholders, in parallel with the Conference. During the 10th session of the COSP in 2017, for the first time ever, the UN Secretariat will also provide an opportunity for States Parties and other stakeholders to highlight innovations and advancements in the implementation of the Convention, through an exhibition held at UN Headquarters.
More information on the 10th session of the Conference of States Parties to the CRPD (COSP10): http://bit.ly/crpd_cosp10
COSP10 NGO registration for ECOSOC and COSP accredited NGOs, only: http://bit.ly/UNC (closes on 2 June)
http://csonet.org/index.php?page=view&nr=389&type=13&menu=14

15 June – 7 July: United Nations Conference to Negotiate a Legally Binding Instrument to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons, Leading Towards their Total Elimination
By resolution 71/258, the General Assembly decided to convene in 2017 a United Nations Conference to negotiate a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination. The Assembly encouraged all Member States to participate in the Conference and decided that it shall convene in New York with the participation and contribution of international organizations and civil society representatives. The Conference will be held in New York from 27 to 31 March and from 15 June to 7 July 2017. https://www.un.org/disarmament/ptnw/ngo.html
http://csonet.org/index.php?page=view&nr=383&type=13&menu=14

3 – 28 July: 120th session – Human Rights Committee
At its forthcoming 120th session in Geneva, the Human Rights Committee will examine the efforts of the following seven countries to implement the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: Honduras, Liechtenstein, Madagascar, Mongolia, Pakistan, Swaziland, Switzerland. The Committee will also adopt lists of issues on the following countries: Lebanon, Liberia. The Committee will also adopt lists of issues prior to on the following countries: Peru, Chad, Czech Republic.
http://csonet.org/index.php?page=view&nr=396&type=13&menu=14

10 – 19 July: High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development
Registration for the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) is now open to major groups and other stakeholders (MGoS). The HLPF will take place on 10 – 19 July 2017 at UN Headquarters in New York. In accordance with General Assembly resolution 67/270, registration is open for two categories of NGOs to participate in the HLPF: (1) Organizations in consultative status with ECOSOC; and (2) organizations on the CSD Roster. The deadline for registration is 11 June 2017.
For more information or to register, please visit the following website: http://bit.ly/HLPF2017
http://csonet.org/index.php?page=view&nr=395&type=13&menu=14

4 – 15 September: 13th Session, Committee on Enforced Disappearances, Geneva
At its forthcoming 13th session in September 2017 in Geneva, the Committee on Enforced Disappearances will examine the efforts of the following countries to implement the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance: Gabon and Lithuania. The Committee will also adopt lists of issues on the reports submitted by Albania, Austria and Honduras. To attend, please register here: http://bit.ly/CED13 More information: http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/SessionDetails1.aspx?SessionID=1103&Lang=en
http://csonet.org/index.php?page=view&nr=383&type=13&menu=14

NEWS

2017 Resumed Session of the Committee on NGOs
The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations met from 22 – 31 May to consider applications for consultative status, reclassification, change of name and merger, as well as to review quadrennial reports submitted by organizations in consultative status with ECOSOC.

The Committee had before it 164 new applications for consultative status and 221 applications deferred from previous sessions. In addition, it considered 280 new and deferred quadrennial reports. For the first time, the Committee session had been broadcast online at webtv.un.org, allowing for greater transparency with civil society.

The Committee approved the dates 29 January to 6 February and 22 February, and 21 to 31 May and 11 June for the 2018 regular and resumed sessions, respectively.

The Committee will reconvene on 12 June to adopt the report of the session and conclude its work.

DESA Workshops with stakeholders: ECA
On 17 May, 2017 at the headquarters of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the ECA, with the support of DESA/DSD, hosted a Preparatory and Capacity-Building workshop for Major Groups and other stakeholders. This workshop took place during the ECA Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD), and counted with the participation of approximately 80 representatives of African major groups and other stakeholders (MGoS) in order to build their capacity to participate in review process of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at all levels. African MGoS agreed on a joint communiqué which was shared with the ARFSD in the form of a plenary statement. DSD, through the EC grant, supported stakeholder participation in this important forum. More information is available at: http://www.uneca.org/arfsd2017

High Level Political Forum (HLPF) Ministerial Declaration
On 26 May 2017, DESA-DSD facilitated a meeting between the co-facilitators of the 2017 HLPF Ministerial Declaration (the Permanent Representatives of Austria and Jamaica) and Major Groups and other stakeholders to hear their views on the draft elements for the Ministerial Declaration. Over 50 MGoS attended the meeting in person and via webinar. DSD will share a summary of the meeting with the co-facilitators, as well as the inputs submitted by MGoS in writing.

USEFUL LINKS

DESA NGO Branch
http://csonet.org

ECOSOC Main page
http://www.un.org/ecosoc/en

Daily updates on Twitter
http://twitter.com/un_ngo

ECOSOC on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/unecosoc

NGO Liaison Office, United Nations Office at Geneva
http://unog.ch/ngo

United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service (UN-NGLS)
http://www.un-ngls.org

UN Department of Public Information, NGO Relations
http://www.un.org/dpi/ngosection

OHCHR Civil Society Section
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/AboutUs/Pages/CivilSociety.aspx

OHCHR Civil Society Update Subscription
http://conta.cc/can6Gf

AT YOUR SERVICE

Committee on NGOs Home Page
http://csonet.org/index.php?menu=80

Global Day of Parents: Interview with Hon. Dr. Toshiko Abe

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“The promotion of a work-life balance and family-friendly environment is critical for the promotion of good health and well-being. For parents, particularly working mothers, it is crucial to have a system that can support their needs of balancing work and family.”

Hon. Dr. Toshiko Abe
MP, Japan

 

In celebration of the 2017 Global Day of Parents, the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD) is pleased to share excerpts from an interview with Hon. Dr. Toshiko Abe, Member of Parliament of Japan. In this interview, Hon. Dr. Abe spoke to us about issues related to the work-life balance in Japan faced by working parents, particularly the critical support needed for working mothers, and the challenges for parliamentarians in program implementation.

Full Interview