THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS: THE EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVE (11/13) 11 March-17 March 2013 (and beyond) 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 + 32 476 215 485
VIP Visits
Lakhdar Brahimi, Joint Special Representative of the UN and the League of Arab States for the crisis in Syria: Brussels (11 March). Shimon Peres, President of the State of Israel: Strasbourg (12 March). Štefan Füle, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy: Tunisia (1415 March).
Mr. James Rawley, Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory: Brussels (17-21 March) Aeneas Chapinga Chuma, UN Deputy Special Representative for Recovery and Governance, UN Mission in Liberia: Brussels (18-19 March). Moustapha Soumaré, MONUSCO Deputy Special Representative, UN Resident Coordinator, Humanitarian Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in DRC: Brussels (18-19 March) Jens Toyberg-Frandzen, Executive Representative and Head of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone – UNIPSIL: Brussels (18-19 March) Roger A. Meece, UN SRSG, Head of the UN Mission in the DRC - MONUSCO: Brussels (25-26 March) TBC. Agnes Marcaillou, Director, UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS): Brussels (28-29 March) ----------------------------------------------
Monday, 11 March Victims of terrorism remembrance EU day
http://europa.eu/newsroom/calendar/event/427070/victims-of-terrorism-remembrance-day
Bangkok: Launch of the ASEM Outlook Report 2012. Organiser: UNU-CRIS/Asia-Europe Foundation. http://www.cris.unu.edu/Upcoming-Events.23.0.html?&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=1384&cHash=7c011bcaf304ec9e379b994534223518
Brussels: - General and Foreign Affairs EU Council. The Council, chaired by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, will discuss developments in the EU's southern neighbourhood, in particular in Syria, Egypt and Tunisia. Ministers will also examine issues concerning Japan, in view of the EU's forthcoming summit with this country. Furthermore, the Council is expected to address relations with Russia ahead of a debate at the European Council on 14/15 March. During lunch, ministers will exchange views with Lakhdar Brahimi, United Nations and Arab League Special Envoy for Syria. http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/135881.pdf - Transport, Telecommunications and Energy EU Council (TTE Transport). -CINE ONU: Screening of "Sweet Dreams"To celebrate International Women’s Day. Organizers: UN, EU and the BOZAR. http://www.unric.org/en/bozar-partnership/sweet-dreams -Friends of Europe: "Building resilience: Lessons from post-tsunami Japan".
http://www.friendsofeurope.org/Contentnavigation/Events/Eventsoverview/tabid/1187/EventType/EventView/EventId/1197/Buildingresil ienceLessonsfromposttsunamiJapan.aspx
Dublin: EU Youth Conference (till 13 March). The meeting will be the culmination of the "structured dialogue" process between youth organisations and policy makers across 27 member states. The conference's theme is "social inclusion", the thematic priority of the presidency trio (Ireland, Lithuania and Greece). Geneva: - Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (till 15 March). -Working Group on the use of mercenaries (till 15 March). -Human Rights Committee (till 28 March). -ILO Governing Body of the ILO (till 28 March). -Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic – Press conference by Paulo Pinheiro, Commission Chairperson; Karen Koning Abuzayd, Carla del Ponte and Vitit Muntarbhorn, Commission members, on their latest report and update to the Human Rights Council. -Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran – Press conference by Ahmed Shaheed, Special Rapporteur, on his second report to the Human Rights Council. New York: Commission on the Status of Women (till 15 March). Strasbourg: European Parliament Plenary (till 14 March).
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pressroom/agenda/2013-W11
Vienna: Commission on Narcotic Drugs (till 15 March).
Tuesday, 12 March Brussels: -The EU Commission will present a Recommendation calling upon European political parties to nominate their candidate for the function of President of the European Commission. - The EU Commission will propose rules to apply the Youth Employment Initiative. -Press briefing on the new UNDP Human Development Report (HDR 2013) The Rise of the South: Human Progress in a Diverse World (under embargo) by UNDP Brussels office. Venue: UN House, Rue Montoyer 14, 10.00-11.00 am. Registration and more information: froger@unric.org
-European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) - Public Hearing: A Green Economy for Europe – are we getting there? http://www.eesc.europa.eu/?i=portal.en.events-and-activities-green-economy-for-europe Geneva: Human rights violations in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea –Press briefing by Marzuki Darusman, Special Rapporteur, on his annual report to the Human Rights Council in which he detailed nine patterns of human rights violations in the country, many, if not all of which, may amount to crimes against humanity. New York: -Security Council-consultations on Sudan/South Sudan and Somalia/Eritrea. -Security Council – Briefing and consultations on the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone. -Strasbourg: European Parliament- President Shimon Peres of Israel will deliver a formal speech to the House, followed by a press conference with President Schulz.
- European Parliament - Press Conference: Intergroup Western Sahara mission on the occupied territories.
Wednesday, 13 March Amsterdam: 2013 Ministerial Summit on the Teaching Profession.
http://www.teachersummit2013.org /
Helsinki: High-level Consultation on Conflict, Violence and Disaster and the Post-2015 Development Agenda. Co-convened by UNDP, UNICEF, UNPBSO and UNISDR in partnership with the Finnish government. http://www.worldwewant2015.org/conflict. Leuven (Belgium): Lecture on Humanitarian Business by Prof. Dr. Thomas G. Weiss with commentary by: Antoine Gérard, Head UN-OCHA Liaison Office http://www.unric.org/en/events/28267-lecture-on-humanitarian-business-by-prof-dr-thomas-g-weiss
Thursday,14 March UNDP-Launch of the 2013 Human Development Report “The Rise of the South: Human Progress in a Diverse World.” http://hdr.undp.org/en/mediacentre/humandevelopmentreportpresskits/2013report WHO-Launch of the Global status report on road safety 2013. Brussels: - European Council (till 15 March). The European Council will be preceded, by a tripartite Social Summit where the President of the European Council, the current and the two subsequent Council presidencies and the Commission meet representatives of the social partners to discuss related employment and growth issues. The summit will focus on how to address the challenges of recovery and renewal of the EU's social dimension, with particular attention being given to the issue of youth unemployment. Heads of State or government will also hold an exchange views on relations with strategic partners, in particular Russia. Annotated draft agenda: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/13/st05/st05639.en13.pdf
- European Consumer Day 2013 at the European Economic and Social Committee. - Conference / Debate on: "The Geopolitics of Water", organized by APNU and UNRIC. 6 pm. Registration: invitation@unric.org More: https://www.unric.org/en/events/28257-conferencedebate-on-qthe-geopolitics-of-waterq - Enhancing Maternal and Child Nutrition in External Assistance -An EU Policy Framework" (till 15 March). http://europa.eu/newsroom/calendar/event/428096/enhancing-maternal-and-child-nutrition-in-external-assistance-an-eu-policyframework
Geneva: UN Transparency Workshop Common challenges and shared solutions: The transparency agenda at the United Nations. Leuven (Belgium): colloquium Maritime Security: current challenges. New York: -ECOSOC, Bretton Woods institutions, WTO and UNCTAD high-level meetings. -Security Council - formal meeting followed by consultations on the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and Libya sanctions, followed by consultations. -Security Council - consultations on the UN Security Council Resolution 1701 report (Lebanon). -First session of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals. Comprising 30 countries from the world’s various regions, the Working Group will prepare a report proposing sustainable development goals for consideration and appropriate action by the GA 68th session. -Presentation of the Outcome Statement of the Global Network on Safer Cities. Friday, 15 March Brussels: German Marshall Fund Brussels Forum (till 17 March). http://brussels.gmfus.org/ Saturday, 16 March Brussels: final session of the Russell Tribunal on Palestine (till 17 March).
And beyond: Other dates to pin 18 March Brussels: -Meeting of Agriculture and Fisheries Council (AGRI FISH) (till 19 March). The Council meeting will be devoted mostly to agricultural issues. Ministers will try to agree a general approach on the reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP). -European Parliament- Development Committee (till 19 March). Among items on the Agenda are: -Linking EU foreign and development policy - Exchange of views with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security; Election observation mission to Sierra Leone; Corruption, organised crime and money laundering: the impact on development; Recommendation to the Council on the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly; Millennium Development Goals - defining the post-2015 framework. http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2009_2014/documents/deve/oj/929/929573/929573en.pdf
New York: -Final UN Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty (till 28 March). -Security Council – Consultations on Mali. 19 March Brussels: Meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) - donor coordination group for the Palestinian people. The meeting is hosted by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, and presided over by Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide in his capacity as the Chair of the AHLC. At the upcoming meeting, the outlook for 2013 will be assessed with a focus on ways to address the serious financial situation of the PA, including strengthening its fiscal sustainability, improving the regularity and predictability of financial resources provided to the PA, increasing private sector- led growth, promoting access and movement throughout the Palestinian territory, facilitating Palestinian exports and improving the situation in the Gaza Strip. -Development debate ‘fragile states’ (in Dutch). http://www.vvob.be/vvob/nl/node/3509#inschrijven New York: Security Council - Open Debate on UNAMA. 20 March International Day of Happiness Bonn: OECD - Advancing the post-2015 sustainable development agenda: Reconfirming rights, recognising limits, redefining goals (till 22 March). http://www.berlin-civil-society-center.org/shared-services/post-2015
Brussels: Debate EU Emissions Trading System: The challenge of restoring credibility.
http://www.friendsofeurope.org/Contentnavigation/Events/Eventsoverview/tabid/1187/EventType/EventView/EventId/ 1204/EUEmissionsTradingSystemThechallengeofrestoringcredibility.aspx
Montreal: Making Smart choices for a sustainable future! The conference aims to bring together key experts from both the EU and Canada for a one-day conference on the green economy. http://eeas.europa.eu/canada/events/goinggreen2013/index_en.htm New York: -Security Council – Debate on MINUSTAH.
21 March International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and Week of Solidarity with the Peoples Struggling against Racism and Racial Discrimination World Down Syndrome Day World Poetry Day International Day of Forests and the Tree Brussels: -EU Environment Council (ENVI). The Council will hold a debate on proposed changes to the 2011 directive on environmental impact assessment (EIA). The aim of this proposal is to streamline the environmental assessments, enhance the quality elements of the EIA process and reinforce its effectiveness. http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/12/st15/st15627.en12.pdf Also on the agenda: -Proposed changes to the 1998 fuel quality directive and the 2009 directive on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources; -draft regulation on access to genetic resources and -an exchange of views on the review of the "REACH system". -The Commission adopts its monthly infringements package. New York: -Security Council – Briefing and Consultations on UNMISS. -Security Council – Briefing and Consultations on UNAMI. 22 March World Water Day: "International Year of Water Cooperation" http://www.unwater.org/water-cooperation-2013/home/en
Dublin: Informal meeting of EU Ministers for Foreign Affairs (till 23 March). Geneva: European Parliament President, Martin Schulz will address the High-Level Section of the ILO Governing Body. http://www.ilo.org/public/english/region/eurpro/moscow/news/2013/0305.htm New York: - Security Council – Debate on UNMIK. -General Assembly, High-level Interactive dialogue to mark the International Year of Water Cooperation and the 20th anniversary of the proclamation of World Water Day. The Hague: Global key-messages of World Water Day 2013 will be the focus of debate in thematic break-out sessions: Poverty Reduction, Economic Benefits, the Environment and Peace building. Political and governmental leaders and members of the UN High Level Panel on the Post2015 Development Agenda are invited to take part. Inspirational speeches, discussion and exchange of information will take place at thematic sessions in order to arrive at innovative approaches on water cooperation carried out by different sectors of society. 23 March World Meteorological Day http://www.wmo.int/worldmetday/
24 March World Tuberculosis Day
http://www.stoptb.org/events/world_tb_day/
Int. Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims http://www.un.org/en/events/righttotruthday/ Dublin: Interparliamentary Conference on Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and Common Defense and Security Policy (CSDP) (till 26 March). 25 March Int. Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade http://www.un.org/en/events/slaveryremembranceday/
Int. Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members http://www.un.org/en/events/detainedstaffday
Bali: Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on post-2015 will meet with a focus on partnerships and financing (till to 27 March). http://www.post2015hlp.org / New York: -Security Council – Briefing and Consultations on the Middle East. -Security Council – Briefing and Consultations on UNMIL. 26 March Brussels: -Lunch lecture with Professor Weiss on the topic "Is There a Future for the United Nations?" Registration: conference@ggs.kuleuven.be http://www.unric.org/en/events/28241-lunch-lecture-with-prof-dr-thomas-g-weiss-qis-there-a-future-for-the-united-nationsq
-EU data protection rules: Better for business, better for citizens? Organizers: European Voice. 6.30-8pm www.europeanvoice.com/data_protection Durban: BRICS Summit: BRICS and Africa - Partnership for Development, Integration and Industrialisation (till 27 March). http://www.brics5.co.za New York: -Security Council – Resolution on UNIPSIL (tbc). -Security Council – Consultations on the Middle East (Yemen) and UNDOF. Tunis: World Social Forum (till 30 March). http://www.fsm2013.org/en 27 March New York: -Security Council – Briefing and Consultations on Mali. -Security Council – Consultations on Sudan/South Sudan. 28 March Brussels:“The Ottawa Convention: the first step towards humanitarian disarmament” Venue: RHID . Followed by the Opening of an exhibition: “Landmines: Treacherous Weapons” at the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and of Military History (open to the public till 28 June). --------------------------------------------
UN Campaigns, Competitions, Apps and Games For a more complete list of Competitions, Mobile Apps, Campaigns and Games visit: http://www.unric.org/en/competitions-campaigns-mobile-apps-a-games
2013 International Anti-Corruption Day Campaign Theme and Logo Competition http://www.unric.org/en/competitions If you’ve got a good anti-corruption campaign design idea in mind they’d like to know! UNDP and UNODC would like to encourage young people's engagement in the anti-corruption campaign. This competition is open for all young people between the ages of 15 and 25 years. UNDP and UNODC, in particular, encourage young women to participate in this competition. The submission deadline is 15 March, 2013
“WORK4YOUTH” photo contest (ILO) http://www.unric.org/en/competitions The ILO Youth Employment Programme has launched a photo contest focusing on young people at work. The objective of the contest is to highlight the challenges young people face in the workplace, as well as innovative ideas to address them. Photos submitted by participants should capture youth at work The submission deadline is 15 April, 2013
PLURAL+ 2013 Youth Video Festival http://www.unric.org/en/competitions The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) are once again inviting the world’s youth and to share their vision with the world by submitting original and creative videos focusing on the themes of migration, diversity and social inclusion for entry into the PLURAL+ 2013 youth video festival. The submission deadline is 30 June, 2013
New Campaign: Al Gore, Bundchen and Yumkella on Sustainable Energy for All (UNEP)
http://un4.me/ZIphgD UNEP Goodwill Ambassador Gisele Bündchen has joined former United States Vice President Al Gore to urge support for the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's initiative to achieve universal access to modern energy services by 2030. --------------------------------------------