Events
57th Session of the Commission for Social Development, 11-21 February 2019
The fifty-seventh session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD57) will take place from 11 to 21 February 2019, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The Commission is the advisory body responsible for the social development pillar of global development. The priority theme this year is “Addressing inequalities and challenges to social inclusion through fiscal, wage and social protection policies”.
Ghana to Kick-start Year of Ambition at Africa Climate Summit
Website https://www.regionalclimateweeks.org/
Programme and information
Register by 15 March 2019
Apply for an exhibition booth at the Knowledge Corner during Africa Climate Week 2019
Black History Month at the United Nations
Special tours are available in February only!
United Nations Civil Society Briefing: Start Local, Go Global!
Bringing Sustainable Practices Across Industries: A Focus on Food, Film and Waste
Thursday, 14 February, 11 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
Conference Room 1, United Nations Headquarters, New York
RSVP by Tuesday, 12 February
RSVP to secure a Special Event Ticket. Tickets will be required to access CR1.
February 19, 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm : Authors Discuss Investor vs. Human Rights in the Global Economy
Liberal legal systems can make economic life predictable, but have a spottier track record protecting the interests of those who lack economic power. Heading into the 2020 political cycle, what role do (or could) US institutions play in aggravating or lessening economic liberalism’s downsides? Join CCSI, the Institute for the Study of Human Rights, and the Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies, for a discussion with three authors on this tension.
Samuel Moyn, professor of law and history at Yale; author of Not Enough: Human Rights in an Unequal World
Todd N. Tucker, political scientist and fellow at the Roosevelt Institute; author of Judge Knot: Politics and Development in International Investment Law
Tonya Putnam, associate professor of political science at Columbia University; author of Courts without Borders: Laws, Politics, and U.S. Extraterritoriality
February 22, 8:00 am – 5:00pm : UNA USA 2019 Global Engagement Summit
Tickets $20-$45
The Global Engagement Summit allows UN advocates to participate in a day of dynamic and informative discussions on the most pressing issues facing the United Nations. This event unites world leaders with our nation’s top grassroots change-makers.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/una-usa-2019-global-engagement-summit-tickets-52093318518?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
February 27, 12:00pm-1:30pm : Faith and National Fratricide
Wagner Professor David Elcott, will discuss insights from a book he is editing with political analyst and theologians in Indonesia, India, Israel, Central Europe and the United States. David will discuss the increased linkage of populism, nationalism and the use of religious identity to fuel anti-democratic values and policies across the globe. He will present findings on how a call to tribalism, xenophobia and anger are gaining strength and how religion is the propellant.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/faith-and-national-fratricide-tickets-53197315603?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
February 28, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Becoming Humanitarian: The Making of an ICRC Delegate
What makes a humanitarian? Is it an individual’s altruistic motivations to come to the help of distant suffering others or instead simply one’s contractual status as the employee of a humanitarian organization? This talk explores the relationship between the institution and the individual in the crafting of professional minds and bodies, and practices that foster exclusion and discrimination that are integral to processes of professionalization.
Dr. Monique J. Beerli is currently a visiting postdoctoral fellow at the New School for Social Research, where she is conducting a new project funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation on the professionalization of ICRC delegates.
Launch of the first-ever UN Road Safety Strategy
28 February, 3 – 4:30 p.m.
Conference room 3, United Nations Headquarters
The newly adopted UN internal Strategy on Road Safety marks the first commitment from all UN system organizations to a holistic approach to reduce road traffic crashes involving UN personnel and vehicles.
Save the Date
Survey Request: Prior Civil Society Briefing
Did you participated in the Civil Society Briefing titled “A matter of humanity: the rescue of Jews in Albania during the Holocaust” on 31 January 2019? We would be grateful if you could take a minute to complete the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/holocaustngo
News
Sustainable Food Initiative: Climate-Efficient School Kitchens
School lunches in Germany are changing. From traditional meat-heavy meals, students are being served a more expansive selection of vegetarian options. The idea is simple: getting kids eat healthier and more sustainable meals while reducing carbon footprints of the schools’ food services. Learn more on SDG Media Compact.
International Days
World Radio Day 2019: February 13: Dialogue, Tolerance and Peace
UNESCO invites all radio stations and supporting organisations to join us for World Radio Day 2019, a chance to strengthen diversity, peace and development through their broadcasting. Learn more…
Radio Day Contest
See World Radio Day events and register yours here
International Day of Women and Girls in Science – 11 February
Science and gender equality are both vital for sustainable development. Yet women remain woefully under-represented in science, warns UN Secretary-General António Guterres, adding that the world cannot afford to miss out on the contributions of half our population. Our special overview marking the Day includes a video message from the Secretary-General as well as a joint statement from Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, the Executive Director of UN Women, and Audrey Azoulay, the Director-General of UNESCO. We explore how many of the biggest problems may be unsolved because too many women and girls are being discouraged from the sciences, and shine the spotlight on female innovators and education advocates.
Female African coders ‘on the front-line of the battle’ to change gender power relations: UN chief
Young female African coders are “on the front-line” of the battle to change traditionally male power relations and bring about a more equitable balance between men and women, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said during his visit to Ethiopia to attend the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa.
Reports
World Youth Report Launch, 20 February
The global economy may have started to recover but youth employment has only worsened in recent years, leaving an estimated 71 million young people unemployed, and millions of others in precarious or informal work.
Even with jobs, some 156 million young people in low- and middle-income countries continue to live in poverty. Young women, migrants, LGBTI youth and those with disabilities are particularly vulnerable.
Competitions
Young Champions of the Earth 2019
Young Champions of the Earth is a forward-looking prize designed to breathe life into the ambitions of brilliant young environmentalists. #YoungChamps
Do you dare to invent the future? Apply!
Celebrating young people with a big idea to protect or restore the environment; a vision for a more sustainable future; and a strong track record of instigating change. They are unafraid of failure; believe in a bright future for our planet, and have what it takes to be a Young Champion of the Earth. Learn more
Call for nominations for the Equator Prize 2019
The Equator Prize 2019 will be awarded to outstanding community and indigenous initiatives that are advancing nature-based solutions for local sustainable development. Each winning group will receive USD 10,000 and will be invited to participate in a series of policy dialogues and special events during the United Nations General Assembly and the Secretary-General’s Climate Summit in New York in September 2019, culminating in a high-level award ceremony at the beginning of Climate Week.
The nomination deadline will be 26 February 2019. Nominations can be submitted in 8 languages. For further information and to nominate visit https://prize.equatorinitiative.org/
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