THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS: THE EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVE (01/14) 7 – 12 January 2014 This document is for planning purposes only and is subject to change. Please check also our website for latest changes http://www.unric.org or call + 32 2 788 84 84 / + 32 476 215 485
Jordan assumes the monthly rotating Presidency of the Security Council Greece assumes the EU Presidency till the end of June (Read also our Special issue 47/13).
Wednesday, 8 January Athens: Opening ceremony of the Greek Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The President of the European Council and the College of EU Commissioners will attend. New York: Security Council - Consultations on the Middle East (Syria). Riga: Ceremony for Latvia's accession to the euro area. Thursday, 9 January New York: Security Council - Consultations on Sudan/South Sudan and UNMISS. Friday, 10 January Athens: Greek launch of Horizon 2020. http://horizon2020projects.com/policy-research/greekpresidency-organises-horizon-2020-launch-meeting/ Sunday, 12 January Athens: EU-CHINA Steering Committee.
And beyond: Other dates to pin Monday, 13 January Geneva: Committee on the Rights of the Child (till 31 Jan.). Montreal: ICAO Council (till 31 Jan.). New York: Security Council - Briefing and Consultations on MONUSCO/Great Lakes. Strasbourg: -European Parliament Plenary (Legislative Action) (till 16 Jan.).
Wednesday, 15 January Kuwait City: Second International Humanitarian Pledging Conference for Syria http://www.unocha.org/syria-humanitarian-pledging-conference Moscow: Gaidar Forum: Russia and the World: Sustainable Development (till 18 Jan.) http://www.gaidarforum.ru/en/ New York: United Nations Investor Summit on Climate Risk. Thursday, 16 January Brussels: - Online citizens’ dialogue. http://europa.eu/newsroom/calendar/event/465054/online-citizens%E2%80%99-dialogue - Ciné-ONU: “State Builder”, followed by a debate. http://www.unric.org/en/next-screening Washington DC: World Bank Forum: Transforming Transportation 2014: Better Cities, Better Business (till 17 Jan.) http://www.worldbank.org/en/events/2014/01/03/transforming-transportation2014 registration: Monday, 20 January Global launch of World Economic Situation and Prospects 2014 http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/policy/wesp/index.shtml Brussels: - EU General and Foreign Affairs Councils (till 21 Jan.). - Conference on the Central African Republic. Valerie Amos, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, will participate. http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-1196_en.htm - The European Parliamentary Week 2014 (till Jan. 22). It will bring together parliamentarians from all over the European Union to discuss economic, budgetary and social matters. http://www.europarl.europa.eu/webnp/cms/pid/1975;jsessionid=FE6C6D7036820FDEE79BAEF8FE5F 447B - European Parliament - Committee on Development. Terms for the agenda include a hearing on the place of humanitarian aid in EU external relations and the respect of humanitarian principles as well as an exchange with the Greek Council Presidency - Friends of Europe Roundtable: Cross-border crime and corruption in Europe: What next after the Stockholm Programme? http://www.friendsofeurope.org/Contentnavigation/Events/Eventsoverview/tabid/1187/EventType/Even tView/EventId/1244/EventDateID/1257/PageID/6892/CrossbordercrimeandcorruptioninEuropeWhatne xtaftertheStockholmProgramme.aspx Geneva: Conference on Disarmament (till 28 March). New York: Security Council - Open Debate on the Middle East. Tuesday, 21 January Addis Ababa: African Union Summit (till 31 Jan.). http://summits.au.int/fr/22ndsummit/events/mediaannouncement-22nd-au-summit-21st-31st-january-2014-online-accreditation-ourn New York: -Security Council – Troops Contributing Countries meeting on UNFICYP. -Security Council – Consultations on UNRCCA.
Wednesday, 22 January Davos: World Economic Forum Annual Meeting (till 25 Jan.). http://www.weforum.org/events/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2014 Montreux/Geneva: International Conference on Syria. The Conference will convene under the chairmanship of the UN Secretary-General, first in an international high-level format at Montreux, on 22 January. Negotiations between the two Syrian parties, facilitated by Joint Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi, will start at the Palais des Nations in Geneva on 24 January 2014. http://is.gd/S74Lyf New York: Security Council – Consultations on Cyprus and on the Middle East (Yemen). Thursday, 23 January Athens: Informal EU Justice and Home Affairs Council (till 24 Jan.). Brussels: Conference 'Addressing health inequalities 2014 and beyond: building cohesion and strengthening health for growth'. http://europa.eu/newsroom/calendar/event/465092/conference-addressing-health-inequalities-2014and-beyond-building-cohesion-and-strengthening-health-for-growth New York: -Security Council – Resolution on BINUCA (tbc). - Security Council - Briefing and Consultations on UNAMID. - Security Council -Consultations on the DRC sanctions. The Hague: The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBDR) presents the key findings from the 2013 Transition Report: Stuck in Transition? http://www.ebrd.com/pages/news/events/tr-2013-hague.shtml Sunday, 26 January Vilnius: - Meeting of the Secretaries General of EU Parliaments (till Jan. 27). Monday, 27 January International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust Theme for 2014: "Journeys through the Holocaust" http://www.un.org/en/holocaustremembrance/ Athens: Meeting of High Officials of the Union for the Mediterranean (till 28 Jan.). New York: -Security Council – Briefing and Consultations on UNOCI. Strasbourg: Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Tuesday, 28 January Brussels: - Economic and Financial Affairs Council. - Friends of Europe: The EU's new leaders: Key post-elections challenges. http://www.friendsofeurope.org/Contentnavigation/Events/Eventsoverview/tabid/1187/EventType/Even tView/EventId/1246/TheEUsnewleadersKeypostelectionschallenges.aspx New York: -Security Council – Resolutions on UNFICYP and DRC Sanctions (tbc). -Security Council – Briefing and Consultations on BNUB.
Wednesday 29 January Addis Ababa: Launch of the EFA Global Monitoring report 2013/2014 – Teaching and learning: Achieving quality for all (29 January) New York: -Security Council - Open Debate on the Maintenance of International Peace and Security: War, its lessons, and the search for a permanent peace. --------------------------------------------UN Campaigns, Competitions, Apps and Games Many Languages, One World - Student Essay Contest http://www.unric.org/en/competitions Part of the UN Academic Impact's commitment to multilingual education, ELS Educational services and the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) have launched a global essay contest for university and college students on global citizenship and understanding Submit an essay (2000 words or less) exploring how multilingual ability advances global citizenship and understanding. Your essay should reflect your academic, cultural, and national context. The submission deadline is 21 February, 2014 23rd International Children's Painting Competition http://www.unric.org/en/competitions The International Children's Painting Competition on the Environment is organized every year by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Japan-based Foundation for Global Peace and Environment (FGPE), Bayer and Nikon Corporation. It has been held since 1991 and has received more than 3 million entries from children in over 150 countries. The submission deadline is 15 March, 2014 UPU - 2014 International letter-writing competition for young people http://www.unric.org/en/competitions The theme selected for the 2014 competition is: "Write a letter describing how music can touch lives." The communication supports include a poster and a flyer, which are being updated to reflect the 2014 theme. They will be made available to member countries shortly. The best letter from each country must be submitted to the International Bureau no later than 30 April 2014. The submission deadline is 30 April, 2014
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