On March 14th, the UNDP released the 2013 Human Development Report, entitled “The Rise of the South: Human Progress in a Diverse World”.
Media & Resources
The final meeting of the Post-2015 Thematic Consultation on Governance took place from 28 February-1 March 2013, at the Pan-African Parliament in Midrand, South Africa.
On 25 March, IIASA, UKP4, INCASA and UNORCID will co host a High-Level Panel academia stakeholders consultative event on the Post-2015 Development Agenda.
The current UN under-secretary general for Economic and Social affairs [Wu Hongbo] has revealed the UN is working on a new set of development plans once the current window for the Millenium Development Goals is reached in 2015.
The MDGs have been a powerful tool in influencing the policy agenda with a strong human development focus.
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have achieved much for children all over the world.
In 2000, 164 governments met in Dakar, Senegal and pledged to achieve the six "Education for All" goals by 2015 committing to provide quality basic education for all children, youth and adults.
A roundtable meeting to discuss development issues in the Pacific, particularly after the conclusion of the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) programme in 2015, was held last month in the Timor-Leste capital of Dili.
The President of the General Assembly on Thursday called for the participation of all nations in crafting a sustainable development agenda after 2015, the deadline for fulfilling the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The Global Consultation on Education will take place from 18 to 19 March in Dakar, Senegal.
Minister of State Dr Maitha Al Shamsi led the UAE delegation to the 2-day Global Leadership Meeting on Population Dynamics and the Post-2015 UN Development Agenda, which concluded in Dhaka, Bangladesh on Wednesday.
Global Compact Network Pakistan in collaboration with Employers’ Federation of Pakistan is organising a private sector/ stakeholders consultation meeting on Post-2015 Development Agenda on March 21, 2013.
The second round of consultations in China on the Post-2015 Development Agenda took place on Monday in Beijing.
Director-General Pascal Lamy, in a speech at the Conference on International Cooperation in 2020 in the Hague on 7 March 2013, said that “economic growth and trade — as a driver of growth — deserve a prominent place in the post 2015 development agenda.
As part of the national consultations on the UN post-2015 development agenda (www.
It is about 1,000 days until the end of 2015 and the culmination of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) — the targets set in 2000 for environmental stability, child and maternal health, poverty alleviation, education, gender equality and HIV/AIDS reduction.
This week in Helsinki, the global community continues to consult on how it will follow up to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), set to expire in 2015.
The global leadership meeting on population ended in Dhaka on Wednesday with a call on the countries to address and integrate population dynamics into the post-2015 development agenda when the current MDGs will expire.
The 2015 deadline for the current Millennium Development Goals has led to a flurry of activities on what the post-2015 development agenda should look like.
As the 2015 deadline for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) approaches, the United Nations, Member States and civil society have started consultations on a new development framework that will succeed the MDGs.
More than 100 delegates from over 20 countries met in Helsinki today to discuss how to make sure countries around the world can better prevent the fallout of conflicts, war and disasters from reversing the gains in development, economic growth and provision of services to their people in the future global development agenda.
There are many of us who strongly believe that the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have been a major politico-economic initiative of the post-Cold War world.
The adopted resolution on promotion and protection of all human right, civil political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development.
6th March 2013Summary On Wednesday 6 March, the Human Rights House Foundation together with CIVICUS, Freedom House, Human Rights Watch, Youth Human Rights Movement, the International Federation for Human Rights and the Civil Society and Freedom of Speech Initiative Center for the Caucasus hosted a side event titled "Criminalisation of Human Rights Defenders in the Russian Federation" at the United Nations in Geneva.
Post 2015, ou l’occasion d’une réforme
Leo Williams shares his thoughts on CSOs and a post-2015 framework
CIVICUS examines the Human Rights records of the Central African Republic and Malaysia
Civil Society: Put human rights at the centre of the post 2015 agenda
Liberia: Nationwide post Millennium Development Goals consultation set
Gathering clouds over digital freedom
Killed for speaking out.
22nd Session of theUN Human Rights CouncilItem 3
General DebatePromotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development.
22nd session of theHuman Rights Council
International Women’s Day8 March 2013Delivered by Renate Bloem
Thank you Mr.
22nd session of theHuman Rights Council
Item 2Annual Report of the High Commissioner for Human RightsID 28 February 2013Delivered by Renate Bloem
Thank you Mr.
22nd session of theHuman Rights CouncilItem4
Human rights situations that require the Council’s attentionDelivered by Renate Bloem
Thank you Mr.
22nd Session of the Human Rights CouncilItem7
General DebateReport of the Independent Fact Finding Mission on Human Rights situation in the Palestinian other Arab occupied territories
Thank you Mr.
22nd session of the Human Rights CouncilItem 6
Delivered by Dr Nada Dhaif
Thank you Mr.
The international conference “Advancing the post-2015 sustainable development agenda: Reconfirming rights, recognizing limits, redefining goals” in Bonn will bring together about 250 civil society activists and representatives from key stakeholders in March in order to draw together civil society inputs into this relevant debate.
Advancing the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda Reconfirming Rights – Recognising Limits – Redefining Goals
This global event will bring together about 250 civil society activists and representatives from key stakeholders in order to draw together civil society inputs into the Sustainable Development and Post-2015 discussions.
The Caribbean Forum on "Shaping a sustainable development agenda to address the Caribbean reality in the 21st century" took place in Bogota, Colombia, on 5-6 March 2013, and concluded with participants adopting conclusions on priority areas as well as guidelines on how to continue working toward development in the Caribbean.
More than 100 delegates from over 20 countries met in Helsinki today to discuss how to make sure countries around the world can better prevent the fallout of conflicts, war and disasters from reversing the gains in development, economic growth and provision of services to their people in the future global development agenda.
Join the online consultation for a disability inclusive development agenda towards 2015 and beyond, part of the preparatory process for the UN High-level Meeting on Disability and Development (HLMDD).
In wide-ranging opening remarks to the current session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna, the Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Yury Fedotov placed HIV and drug use at the heart of the global agenda.
At a United Nations summit held at the turn of the century, the UN agreed on eight ambitious goals designed to rid the world of the worst extremes of poverty.
The Prime Minister made the call while inaugurating a two-day Global Leadership Meeting on Population Dynamics at the Ruposhi Bangla Hotel in the capital.
Citizens from all over the world can help shape the future global development agenda through their participation in the United Nations survey ‘My World’, which allows them to vote on issues they believe are priorities and should be addressed by world leaders.
The consultation which was co-convened by the Governments of Botswana and Sweden with WHO and UNICEF, brought together 50 high level participants including Ministers of Health, members of the high-level Panel of Eminent Persons, Leaders of International health institutions, representatives of civil society and the private sector, academia, public health experts and youth.
The Government of Liberia with support from the United Nations will on March 18, 2013, hold nationwide consultations on the Post 2015 MDGs Development Framework.
In September 2000, world leaders unanimously adopted the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a series of specific targets for poverty eradication, universal primary school enrollment, gender equality, reduction in child and maternal mortality, combating major disease and ensuring environmental sustainability.
African development and good governance have been at the root of the MDG which was planned for 15 years starting 2001.
A high-level meeting in Geneva coming to a close today is seen as a success.
UN Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Helen Clark has called for new development targets that focus on how growth, poverty alleviation and sustainability can complement one another.
Leo Williams in the International Coordinator of the Beyond 2015 campaign, which brings together over 260 civil society organisations from more than 60 countries that work together to influence the creation of the Post- 2015 Development Framework.
CIVICUS made two oral interventions with regard to the Universal Periodic Reviews of Sri Lanka and the Republic of Korea.
"Indonesia is home to massive environmental and cultural resources.
The Ethiopian government's recent decision to prosecute several independent journalists and forcibly dissolve three civil society groups represents yet another blow to democratic freedoms under Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, says global civil society alliance, CIVICUS.
Civil Society groups strongly urged decision makers to tackle the global democratic deficit, rising inequality and abuses by transnational corporations at the recently concluded global thematic consultation on governance and the post 2015 development agenda in Johannesburg.
In addition to last weeks' CIVICUS submissions on China, Jordan, Mexico and Nigeria, CIVICUS has made further interventions for the UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on the human rights records of the Central African Republic and Malaysia.
Measure What You Treasure
OBS Annual Report 2013: Violations of the right of NGOs to funding - from harassment to criminalisation
SURVEY on innovative practices in the self-regulation of CSOs English, French or Spanish
CIVICUS examines the human rights situations in China, Jordan, Mexico and Nigeria
Dispatches from Geneva: 1st Week of the Human Rights Council (25 February - 1 March 2013)
Development must be about freedom from fear and freedom from want
Belgium: Enhancing the role of civil society
Technology: Civil society's latest threat is right before our eyes
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His Excellency the President Lt.
On February 28, 2013, 35 delegates representing civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), research institutes and think tanks consulted with the African Union on the post-Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) education agenda and recommended priority areas for the post-2015 framework.
As the date of 2015 approaches, the international community is analysing the results of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that were omnipresent in the development debate since 2000.
As the 2015 deadline for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) approaches, with many of the targets set to remain unreached, global policy makers are searching for post-2015 replacements.
President Barack Obama pledged during his January 2013 State of the Union address that the United States would join with its allies to “eradicate” extreme poverty over the “next two decades” by connecting more people to the global economy and empowering women.
The Government of Liberia with support from the United Nations in Liberia will on March 18, 2013, hold nation-wide consultations on the Post 2015 MDGs Development Framework.
The second round of consultations in China on the Post-2015 Development Agenda took place in Beijing on March 11, 2013.
At the year’s CSW, the Post-2015 Women’s Coalition utilize this interconnected space to engage with partners, allies and Governments from every region as we begin to map out key asks and guidelines for challenging and transforming the global development paradigm.
The UN Consultation Meeting on Post -2015 Development will be held on Monday at Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Knowledge Forum with the participation of private sector, UN and government representatives to discuss the role of private sector in the post 2015 development plans.
UNDP launched an unprecedented global conversation through which people can help shape the future development agenda after 2015 when the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) expire.
As reported on the IISD website, the final meeting of the Post-2015 Thematic Consultation on Governance, in which was attended by 250 participants, took place in Midrand, South Africa from 28 February to 1 March 2013.
The current Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have roughly a thousand days to go before their end-2015 target date.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the two-day ‘Global Leadership Meeting for Population Dynamics’ meeting where representatives of 51 countries including ministers will attend.
The United Nations held the second round of consultations in China on the Post-2015 Development Agenda in Beijing Monday.
The 2015 deadline for the current Millennium Development Goals has led to a flurry of activities on what the post-2015 development agenda should look like.
Delegates attending the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Latin America and the Caribbean have called for a "more ambitious post-2015 development agenda" in promoting growth with greater inclusion, protection, social equality and environmental sustainability in the region.
New global development goals must reflect current realities while sustaining the vision and momentum of the original Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), according to the UN Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Helen Clark.
Minister for International Development Heidi Hautala will host an international conference, Conflict, Violence and Disaster in the Post-2015 Development Agenda, on 13 March, to discuss the devastating effects of conflict, violence and disaster as well as new post-2015 development goals.
“A PROMINENT PLACE FOR GROWTH IN THE POST-2015 DEVELOPMENT AGENDA” — LAMY
Director-General Pascal Lamy, in a speech at the Conference on International Cooperation in 2020 in the Hague on 7 March 2013, said that “economic growth and trade — as a driver of growth — deserve a prominent place in the post 2015 development agenda.
Today and tomorrow, a high level meeting has been convened in Botswana to conclude the post-2015 health consultation.
An online consultation called Reducing poverty is achievable: finding those who are hidden by inequalities, has been set up by Development Progress, WikiProgress and the OECD .
International Women’s Day (IWD) was, yesterday, commemorated with a stakeholder Consultation in Accra on the theme: ‘Staying on Track for Gender Responsiveness in Post 2015 Development Agenda’.
On the 8th of March (tomorrow) we celebrate International Women's Day worldwide to pay tribute to women for their engagement in the development process.
Today, authorities from several Latin American countries and international experts opened the Conference on Sustainable Development in Latin America and the Caribbean: Follow-up to the development agenda beyond 2015 and Rio+20 , which is being held from 7 to 9 March in Bogotá, Colombia.
From 29th to 30th of May 2013 at the NEC in Birmingham, UK, a Business focused Millennium Development Goals Summit will be held to encourage increased communication between Government, UN organisations, NGOs and the private sector.
More than a decade after the establishment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), ample confusion persists regarding their genesis.
In 2000, world leaders promised to halve extreme poverty by 2015 with a global plan called the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs).
Although the Pacific shares a strong sense of vulnerability with other fragile states, it faces its own very specific set of development challenges relating to size, location and unmatched exposure to climate change, ocean acidification, natural disasters, and other external shocks.
Last week I wrote on 'Health and the World We Want 2015' and I promised to comment in its part 2 'Health Priorities post 2015', 'Post 2015 guiding principle, goals and targets' and 'Implementation'.
In line with the post 2015 health agenda, on February 28th, 2013, a draft report was shared among development workers which reflected an extensive global public consultation, held from September 2012 to January 2013.
Recently I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Dave Pearson, who is a long-time staff member at SIL International, a large nongovernmental organization which has pioneered advocacy for minority language rights and resources around the world.
Rising inequality, abuses by transnational corporations and the global democratic deficit were key themes at last week's UN consultation on governance and the post-2015 development agenda, in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Momentum is building for governance and accountability issues to have a greater profile in the post 2015 framework, and there is a growing recognition that we cannot afford to ignore governance even if it is politically challenging to incorporate.
The Government of Colombia and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) will hold the Conference on Sustainable Development in Latin America and the Caribbean: Follow-up to the development agenda beyond 2015 and Rio+20 on 7 to 9 March in Bogotá, with the participation of all United Nations agencies that work in the region.
Ministers, parliamentarians, policy-makers, members of the Secretary-General’s High Level Panel on the Post-2015 Agenda, as well as representatives from civil society, youth organizations and the private sector, will attend the third and final regional consultation to define Africa’s position on post-2015 development priorities, on March 11-12, 2013 in Hammamet, Tunisia.
As a science-led global healthcare company, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has the opportunity to improve the health and well-being of millions of people around the world.
As ACTION participates in the consultation process for a post-2015 development agenda, I wanted to share some of our key principles for how we would want to see post-2015 development goals be shaped.
Marking the critical importance of water stewardship around the world and its relation to the United Nation’s process to define post-2015 development priorities, the CEO Water Mandate will convene a major conference in Mumbai, India.
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have remained silent regarding inequalities,” warned today the largest body of independent experts* in the United Nations Human Rights system, while urging the international community to place human rights, equality and non-discrimination, and sustainability at the heart of the post-2015 development agenda.
In a high-level address to the 22nd session of the UN Human Rights Council on 28 February, UNAIDS Executive Director, Michel Sidibé, stressed the crucial importance of viewing the AIDS epidemic through a human rights prism.
The National Champion on post 2015 development agenda, former Vice President Dr.
The International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL), ARTICLE 19, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, and the World Movement for Democracy are pleased to announce the Civic Space Initiative (CSI), a three-year project that aims to protect and expand civic space by fostering an enabling legal environment for civil society organizations.
Women in civil society: Breaking the glass pyramid
Gender justice: The entry point to reforming the Post- 2015 development agenda
Highlights from CIVICUS: 13 Women profiled!
Nigeria: Women Deliver 2013 Global Agenda for women, girls’ health
Achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment in the Post-2015 framework
Afghanistan's first female mayor proves critics wrong
Get Involved: Stop the violence: Speak out for girls' rights
Get Involved: Cut it Out Campaign - International Women’s Day, 8 March 2013
Resource: SADC Gender Protocol 2012 Barometer
Resource: Defending Women – Defending Rights
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22nd session of theHuman Rights Council
High-level Panel Discussion to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Vienna Declaration and ProgrammeDelivered by Renate Bloem
Thank you Mr.
Ivana Savic is a Policy Officer at Change Mob and Founder and Executive Director of the Centre for Human Rights and Development Studies.
Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah has participated along with a group of leaders from civil society, research institutes and academia from Arab countries in a regional workshop on the Post-2015 Development Priorities for the Arab world.
The Girl Power program is developed under the MFS-II subsidy facility of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and runs from 2011 to 2015.
The following statement has been submitted by the International Federation of Social Workers to the United Nations on occasion of the 57th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women:The International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) supports the theme of “Prevention and elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls” of the 57th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) because it is totally congruent with the aims of IFSW.
The dialogue takes place in the form of papers submitted to this forum, which will be posted online and open to discussion.
Member states, women’s rights advocates and organisations, trade unions, religious institutions and organizations and human rights organisations will once again gather in New York for the annual two-week long meeting to evaluate progress on gender equality, identify challenges, set global standards and formulate concrete policies to promote gender equality and women's empowerment worldwide.
I am delighted to be here with all of you at this 57th session of the Commission on the Status of Women.
Culture and religion must not be allowed to block proposals to eliminate and prevent violence against women and girls, the head of UN Women said on the eve of what is expected to be the largest global summit ever convened to discuss the issue.
Youth, government representatives and civil society organizations from across the Asia-Pacific today debate the future of education in the post-2015 development era.
Representatives of the Government of Sudan, Civil society, academia, media, INGOs and the United Nations met today in Khartoum to discuss the background paper prepared by a group of national experts on Sudan views for the post 2015 global development agenda.
Fiji is participating at the “International Conference on the Post-2015 Development Agenda- Development for all: Stop conflict, build states and eradicate poverty” in East Timor.
International aid or development assistance programs have been around for about 60 years.
As the discussion on how to take the global development agenda beyond the original Millennium Development Goals intensifies, IDSN recommends that issues related to caste discrimination be included in this important framework.
In the next days over two hundred people will fly into Timor-Leste to discuss the World Development Agenda for 2015 and beyond.
Mary Anne Zammit was born in Malta, and is a Graduate from the University of Malta in Social Work, Probation Services, Diplomatic Studies and in Masters in Probation.
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To mark International Women's Day (IWD) 2013, this special issue of e-CIVICUS looks at the role of women in civil society.
Aya Chebbi is a young Tunisian blogger, women advocate and peace activist.
CIVICUS makes interventions for the UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR), which scrutinizes each country's human rights record every four years.
High- Level Global Consultation on Post- 2015 Development Agenda Kicks off in South Africa this week
Matters of Governance and the post 2015 Development Agenda shall come into scrutiny mid- this week at a high-level African Thematic Consultation taking place in Midrand - Johannesburg, South Africa.
Many developing countries including Nigeria are not on track to achieve the health MDGs in reducing maternal death by 75% and reducing child death by about 66% by 2015.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on behalf of the UN system in The Gambia and other stakeholders will today, Tuesday 26th launch the National Dialogue on Post 2015 Development Agenda at the Friendship Hostel in Bakau.
As part of a campaign to spur further action in poverty eradication and health development goals, the office of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s special envoy for the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) launched what it called the Indonesia MDG Awards.
Ufara Zuwasti from the office of the special envoy to the President of the Republic of Indonesia for the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) said on Monday that the office was gearing up for significant progress toward achieving the MDG targets as there were only two years left ahead the 2015 deadline.
With less than three years to the deadlines in achieving the MDGs, the United Nations and state parties to the Millennium Declaration are putting various processes in place to evolve a successor framework which will reflect the views of people across divides and proffer solutions to current and emerging development challenges.
UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson on Friday called for efforts to improve maternal health and sanitation issues around the world.
The Public Dialogue and Leadership Meeting on Addressing Inequalities in the Post-2015 Development Agenda have taken place in Copenhagen, Denmark, to review the final report and findings of the Global Thematic Consultation on Addressing Inequalities in the Post-2015 Development Agenda.
A key player in drafting a new global development agenda has joined the call to “mainstream” disaster management post-2015.
The High-level Dialogue on Health in the Post-2015 Development Agenda is part of a United Nations led global conversation as to what development goals the global community should set after the 2015, the date set for achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
On 15 February 2013, the newly appointed Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth, Ahmad Alhendawi, was sworn in at United Nations (UN) headquarters.
For more than a decade, the Millennium Development Goals -- a set of time-bound targets agreed on by heads of state in 2000 -- have unified, galvanized, and expanded efforts to help the world's poorest people.
The Millennium Development Goals are a UN initiative of eight goals to be achieved by 2015.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has called on Indonesians not to write off the country’s hopes of achieving the United Nations-mandated Millennium Development Goals.
“It is increasingly being recognized that progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is not happening equitably.
For 13 years international development policy has rested on a set of goals written in "relative casualness".
The United Nations and its partners today called on the international community to prioritize ensuring access to water and sanitation to vulnerable populations in the ‘post-2015’ development agenda, stressing this would help combat inequality and promote human rights and sustainability.
We have made great strides in reducing poverty and enabling human development.
What are the key obstacles in financing education? Who should be held accountable for ensuring that children receive a good quality education? These questions are at the heart of the debate going on in the post-2015 development agenda’s Global Consultation on Education, which is wrapping up this week.
As the 2015 deadline for the Millennium Development Goals approaches, different United Nations agencies are beginning to discuss what the post-2015 Development Agenda will encompass.
Prior to joining CIVICUS she served as Chief Executive of India’s leading child rights advocacy organisation – Child Rights and You.
Oley Dibba-Wadda is the Executive Director of Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE), a pan-African Non-Governmental Organisation working in 32 African countries to empower girls and women through gender-responsive education.
Kusum Lata Jain is the Joint Secretary at Gram Bharati Samiti (GBS), an eminent NGO engaged in rural Development in Rajasthan, India, for last 28 years.
Nana obtained an LLB and BL, from the University of Ghana and the Ghana School of Law in 1994 and 1996 respectively.
Women’s role in Civil Society Organisations
Being a woman advocate and practitioner in the non-government movement, experience has taught me that Civil Society Organizations, have a direct legitimate basis through their activities and their familiarity with all decision-makers, globally and internally, which can provide invaluable lessons vital for conceiving development interventions and generate trust and mutual understandings; civil society organizations take core responsibility and go beyond their welfare and economic development role and create new citizenry.
Anabel Cruz is the Founder Director of the Communication and Development Institute (ICD) of Uruguay, a civil society organization and private centre with more than 26 years of experience in strengthening civil society and citizen participation, by means of research, training, capacity building and dissemination of information activities in Latin America and worldwide.
Marta Cumbi is an Economist with a Master Degree in National Development and Project Planning from Bradford University, UK.
Joanna Kerr is the Chief Executive of ActionAid International - Johannesburg, a global federation with over 2800 staff working in over 45 countries committed to finding sustainable solutions to end poverty and injustice.
Claudine Ramarinjanahary, Responsible for the Activities Development at EFA “Ezaka ho Fampandrosoana any Ambanivohitra” NGO in Antananarivo, Madagascar.
Aleksandra Nasteska is the co-founder and communications director of We Canada, a campaign for Canadian leadership in sustainability at the Earth Summit 2012.
Women leaders shape and inspire the consumer rights movement
To mark International Women’s Day this Friday, and World Consumer Rights Day a week later on 15 March, CI’s Raquel Baetz brought together women leaders from the consumer rights movement to talk about inspiration, leadership and the fight for consumer justice.
The global burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is one of the biggest threats to international health and development, confirms a major new Series in the Lancet today.
The unachieved goals include poverty alleviation, improving literacy rate and ratio of girls in schools, bringing down infant and maternal mortality ratios, improving access to water and sanitation and funding of social sector programmes.
Preliminary results from a global survey asking people to choose the most important issues for a better world reveals education is at the very top of the list.
The Public Dialogue and Leadership Meeting on Addressing Inequalities in the Post-2015 Development Agenda took place from 18-19 February 2013 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The United Nations General Assembly will hold a High-Level Meeting on Disability and Development with the overarching theme “The way forward: a disability inclusive development agenda towards 2015 and beyond”.
As part of its efforts to develop an inclusive post-2015 development agenda, Precious Gbeneol, the senior special assistant to the President on Millennium Development Goals, has announced that her office in collaboration with the United Nations System in Nigeria is organising a stakeholders’ consultative forum.
As the deadline for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) approaches, the UN is driving a global consultation around a new global development agenda post 2015.
The 51st session of the Commission for Social Development concluded at the UN Headquarters in New York yesterday.
European Commissioner for Environment, Janez Potočnik spoke yesterday at the 27th Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme held in Nairobi, Kenya and addressed the critical issues of poverty and sustainability of prosperity.
Following the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in June 2012, the United Nations are facilitating an open consultation to identify priorities from citizens and stakeholders around the world for the post-2015 development agenda, as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) will reach their target date in 2015.
For the debate on what should follow the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) when they expire in 2015, a number of processes have been put in place to seek inputs from country, regional and global levels, into the post-2015 development agenda and framework.
There’s a lot of interest in an ‘employment goal’ as part of the post-2015 agenda.
This week we launched ODI’s new Future Development Goals Tracker.
Global development goals due to replace current anti-poverty Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) when they expire in 2015 could be unified by a concept that calls for an integrated view of economic growth and development, said Helen Clark, head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The integrated event of Seventh Regional EST Forum in Asia and Global Consultation on Sustainable Transport in the post-2015 Development Agenda will be held on 23‐25 April 2013 in Bali, Indonesia.
With the all but impossible task of deciphering global priorities – let alone goals and strategies to achieve them – the post-2015 United Nations development process got a dose of clarity recently.
Since September last year, UNICEF and UN Women have been supporting an open consultation on Addressing Inequalities in relation to the Post-2015 Development Agenda.
On February 11th, the United Nations Foundation organized a panel on the United Nation's Post- 2015 Development Agenda, featuring Mr.
Based on lessons learnt from MDGs as well as based on evidence gathered through work of the UN system, the OECD, and the World Bank, achieving progress towards various development targets very much depends on enhancements of women’s empowerment and gender equality.
As discussed in previous blog posts in this series, good governance and human rights are essential to human well-being, and should be included in the post-2015 global development agenda.
CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation has worked for nearly two decades to strengthen citizen action and civil society throughout the world, especially in areas where participatory democracy and citizens' freedom of association are threatened.
Fragile states constitute a global development crisis.
Minister for International Development Heidi Hautala will attend the Informal Meeting of Ministers for Development Cooperation being held in Dublin on 11 and 12 February.
A UN group tasked with defining a new post-2015 development agenda completed their second substantive meeting last week in Monrovia, Liberia focusing on the theme of “National Building Blocks for Sustained Prosperity.
In India, women, dalits and minorities are not going to achieve millennium development goals set by the United Nations for 2015.
Myanmar government and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will implement three of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) under a five-year Country Program Framework (2012-16), official media reported Wednesday.
The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and UN Women, co-leaders of the Global Consultation on Inequalities in the post-2015 development agenda, provided a briefing for UN Member States and Observers at UN Headquarters in New York, US, on 4 February 2013.
Last week the UN high-level panel to create a framework for post-2015 development met for the second of three rounds of official talks in the Liberian capital, Monrovia.
Many familiar problems were raised at the Liberia meeting of the UN high-level panel tasked with drafting global post-2015 development goals: extreme poverty, lack of productive employment, environmental degradation and growing inequality.
As part of this process, a UN-led consultation process ‘The World We Want 2015’ is taking place.
The 27 eminent persons gathering in Monrovia this week to discuss what should replace the current set of Millennium Development Goals have a prodigiously difficult task ahead of them.
David Cameron arrives in Monrovia to co-chair the Post-2015 High Level Meeting.
Sometimes it can feel difficult to make our voices heard on this big planet.
Brendan Cox, Save the Children’s Director of Policy and Advocacy said in Monrovia:
“Today’s commitment from the High Level Panel in Liberia to focus on ending extreme poverty is what we’ve been calling for.
Minister for International Development Cooperation Gunilla Carlsson is one of 26 members on the UN high-level panel tasked with presenting proposals for the global development agenda after 2015, the deadline for the current Millennium Development Goals.
The ongoing process to craft a post-2015 global development agenda should be more transparent – otherwise, world leaders may not want to sign on, a panel of British parliamentarians worries in a report published Tuesday that also identified job creation as the most important goal for the coming years.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono landed in Liberia as the first stop on his eight-day African and Middle Eastern trip to address economic and multilateral diplomatic missions.
Today EU Commissioner for Development, Andris Piebalgs, will take part in the second UN High Level Meeting on the post-Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) agenda beyond 2015, which takes place in Monrovia, Liberia.
Even as the US media is in a frenzy about comprehensive immigration reforms - long overdue, but in terms of detail, still more forest than trees - there is another sense of urgency about how might migration feature in the post-2015 development goals (see my earlier blog).
Consultations on growth and employment are being coordinated by an advisory group consisting of staff from the United Nations Development Programme, the International Labour Organization, UNCTAD, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, and UN Women, as well as representatives of other international and civil society organizations.
The United Nations in Viet Nam has initiated a series of consultations with a broad range of Vietnamese citizens on the new development framework to be put in place in 2015, once the current Millennium Development Goals expire.
Today the HoC International Development Select Committee launched its report on the post 2015 development agenda.
On 22 January, the International Development Committee published a report on the post 2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Over the past fifteen years a nascent consensus has begun to emerge that some aspects of good governance and human rights are integral to development as both a means and an end.
Worldwide, about 150 million people a year face catastrophic healthcare costs because of direct payments such as user fees, while 100 million are driven below the poverty line.
On January 22, 2013, IBON International, WALHI, INDIES, PCFS and APRN are inviting peoples organizations, social movements and NGOs from across Indonesia to a workshop titled “Towards a Just and Transformative Post-2015 Development Agenda”
The workshop’s objectives are:
1.
Since the Millennium Development Goals were formulated, we have had a pretty historic global conversation about how developed and developing countries can partner to achieve an ambitious agenda – to eliminate extreme poverty from the planet, and at least halve it by 2015.
The International Development Committee (IDC) today publishes its Post- 2015 Development Goals report calling for a simple and measurable set of global targets to replace the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) when they expire in 2015.
At the moment the average civil society organization can now choose to contribute to up to 11 thematic and 60 to 100 national consultations, each one of them using several outreach media – e-consultations, meetings, papers, expert groups, panels, twitter, video, facebook hangouts – multiplying the input opportunities ad infinitum.
There is one idea we have not tried: making job creation our number one priority.
With the 2015 deadline for the Millennium Development Goals fast approaching, the United Nations is already planning its post-2015 agenda.
UNAIDS is hosting an online consultation from January 21 through February 3 on the UN and Civil Society joint platform, "The World We Want," to determine a roadmap for global development after the 2015 Millennium Development Goals' target date.
Uchita de Zoysa is the Chairman of Global Sustainability Solutions (GLOSS), the Executive Director of the Centre for Environment and Development, and Initiator of the People's Sustainability Treaties.
Richard Morgan is the Senior Advisor to the Executive Director of The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on the Post- 2015 Agenda.
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CIVICUS, the global civil society network, and the Ligue des Droits de la personne dans la région des Grandes Lacs (LDGL) warn about rising levels of harassment of civil society activists and journalists in Burundi.
New CIVICUS Secretary General Dhananjayan (Danny) Sriskandarajah who officially began his mandate as head of the global alliance this week speaks to the CIVICUS Policy Unit about the role of civil society in redressing the challenges affecting citizens around the world.
What values does a Yemeni journalist who fuelled the Arab Spring hold in common with a former principal of the U.
Yesterday, I had the honour of moderating the roundtable debate on ageing and disability with my colleague AK Dube of the African Decade of Persons with Disabilities, as part of this week's meeting of the UN High-level Panel in Monrovia, Liberia.
Participate in the Global Thematic Consultation on Addressing Inequalities in the Post-2015 Development Agenda and make your voice heard.
Our country, Liberia is currently hosting a United Nations High Level Panel Post 2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDG) meeting.
In the first informal meeting of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on establishing the High-level Political Forum on sustainable development (HLPF), Members States and Permanent Observers convened to discuss its format and organizational aspects.
The countdown to the post-Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) agenda is a time for debate about how the development community and countries around the world should collaborate on improving wellbeing, sustainability and social justice from 2015.
Early in February, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will join UK Prime Minister David Cameron and Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf in Monrovia, Liberia, in leading the third UN High-Level Panel Meeting for the Post 2015 Development Agenda discussions.
Public Works Minister, Samuel Woods, II has told World leaders and partners that Liberians want action now and not words.
Youths from different organizations and communities have adopted a powerful post -2015 development vision in a two-day consultation workshopheld in Freetown.
"As we discuss, we should not forget that we still have two very important years left to consolidate the gains and accelerate our efforts to achieve the MDGs; in discussing about the future, we cannot forget that the time to act is now and that civil society has a critical role to play", Liberia's Gender and Development Minister has said.
On 30 January, EU Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs will take part in the second UN panel on post-2015 development agenda.
The bunting has been hung, there is a smell of fresh paint at the airport, and posters dotted around Monrovia suggest something big is happening in the city this week.
My country Liberia is about to play host to global leaders and thinkers, including the United Kingdom Prime Minister and the Queen of Jordan, as they discuss what priority issues to include once the current Millennium Development Goals (MDG) expire in 2015.
The minister of Foreign Affairs, Georges Rebelo Chikoti, said Thursday in Huambo City that the Angolan government has been working in the last years to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), especially the increase in school and hospital infrastructures.
The European Parliament's Committee on Development held a public hearing called "Millennium Development Goals and Beyond 2015: A Strong EU Engagement" in Brussels on 22 January.
In a few days, an array of world leaders and thinkers – from politicians to Nobel Prize winners- will meet in Liberia to debate the state of the world’s development and where we are going.
This January UNA-UK has been asking its members and supporters to participate in the UN’s My World survey – a global initiative allowing members of the public to feed their ideas into the process to devise the successor framework to the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
There are two sessions on the future of the Millennium Development Goals after 2015 at Davos this year - that’s the same number of sessions given to meditation and art walks.
The Executive Board of the World Health Organization (WHO) met to consider a report outlining the framework for developing a health-related component of the UN's post-2015 development agenda.
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have been urged to prioritize women reproductive health and children malnutrition in the post 2015 development agenda.
Less widely recognised has been the impact of surging inequality on efforts to reach the 2015 millennium development goals.
Since the turn of the century the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have guided global efforts surrounding the eradication of poverty, diseases, gender inequalities and environmental crises.
Governments from over 50 countries in Africa will meet in Arusha, Tanzania from 13-15 February for the Fourth Africa Regional Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction (ARP) to address the challenges of building a disaster resilient society.
This was stated by deputy country director UNDP Pakistan, Jean-Luc Stalon, at a roundtable discussion on “Consultations on Post 2015 Development Agenda from a Pakistani Perspective” jointly organised by UNDP and Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), here on Wednesday.
With the 2015 deadline of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) fast approaching, governments and organisations across the world are looking towards the next step.
In supporting the implementation of the Rio+20 outcome document on Sustainable Development Goals and the Post 2015 Development Agenda, the EMG senior officials in their eighteenth meeting in December 2012 agreed to provide a contribution, within the existing processes and through the frameworks established by the Secretary-General, providing the perspectives of the UN system agencies on the environmental sustainability dimension of the future development agenda.
The adoption of the Millennium Declaration in 2000 by all 189 Member States of the UN General Assembly was a defining moment for global development cooperation.
The United Nations and partners have launched an interesting exercise to poll the world’s citizens on their top priorities, policies and views as world leaders shape a global development agenda to replace the Millennium Development Goals, which expire in 2015.
An inspired Facebook update or a 140-character tweet could play a key role in shaping global development plans.
Felix Dodds is an independent consultant focusing on stakeholder engagement in the sustainable development process.
Name: Mam Sonando
Location: Cambodia
Status: Released
Update:On 15 March 2013, Cambodian activist Mam Sonando was released from prison after an appeals court in the capital Phnom Penh overturned his conviction on anti-state charges, along with his 20-year jail sentence.
Name: Pussy RiotLocation: Russian Federation
Update:
On 23 December 2013, two members of the Russian punk band Pussy Riot, Maria Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, were released from prison under an amnesty by President Putin after serving nearly two years in prison for a public performance critical of the government.
Johannesburg, 31 January 2013: Global civil society network, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation deplores Israel's failure to participate in the UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR), and urges the Government of Israel to take immediate steps to restore its relations with the UN Human Rights Council.
CIVICUS is pleased to announce the launch of a new Youth Advisory Group to promote youth participation across the civil society alliance and throughout its programming.
The country is still lagging behind in achieving certain Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), specifically in attaining universal primary education, maternal health, but most of all in battling inequality, according to a civil society group.
VSO today (22 January) welcomed the International Development Select Committee’s new report on post-2015 development goals, particularly one of its key conclusions: that advancing women’s rights is central to development and must be included in the post-2015 framework.
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The 2013 CIVICUS Nelson Mandela-Graça Machel Innovation Awards will provide seed funding for innovative ideas emerging from CIVICUS members who attended the 2012 CIVICUS World Assembly, and based on the theme of last year’s assembly, “Defining a new social contract – Making the future together.
The UK parliament's international development select committee's report on post 2015 development goals has received a cautious welcome from IDS experts.
The atmosphere was pensive and highly emotional at the Professor Mahmoud F.
The General Assembly, recalling its resolution 66/288 of 27 July 2012, in which it endorsed the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, entitled “The future we want”:
(a) Decides to establish the Open Working Group on SustainableDevelopment Goals, in accordance with paragraph 248 of the outcome document;
(b) Welcomes the membership of the Open Working Group as designated bythe five United Nations regional groups and as listed in the annex to the presentdecision.
As part of the Rio+20 Conference follow up, governments stated that they would establish the 30 member inter-governmental Open Working Group (OWG) on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by September 2012.
report on the debate about the development framework to follow the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2015.
Considering the MDGs deadline was still three years away, 2012 was a surprisingly busy year for the post-2015 agenda.
The international development committee (IDC) has called on David Cameron, the UK prime minister, to give a "clear and consistent" definition of what he means by the "golden thread" of development as he seeks to influence global policy on poverty reduction.
Leading up to the year 2015, the United Nations and Civil Society are organizing a series of consultations to help shape the post-2015 development agenda.
The joint UN programme on HIV/AIDS, UNAIDS, has today launched a two-week online discussion (eDiscussion) to foster debate of how to tackle the HIV/AIDS pandemic after 2015.
Parliamentarians, civil society and academia have repeatedly emphasised the centrality of governance to sustainable development, taking into account capacity development needs of both people and institutions for good governance at different levels, from local to global.
Civic “ownership” of the development agenda post-2015 is essential for ensuring that people in the developing world can lift themselves out of poverty and hunger, a leading development figure has said.
National consultations for the post-2015 MDG agenda project, Breaking Point are nearing completion.
The Light Millennium and the College of Arts and Letters at the Stevens Institute of Technology will jointly present a conference on the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations and their relation to ideals advanced by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (1881-1938), founder of the Turkish Republic.
The United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) has launched a global survey which will provide a more open and inclusive planning of the global development agenda post 2015.
The global discussion on MDG achievement is looking ahead to a post 2015 development framework.
National Chairperson for the Post 2015 Development Agenda in Malawi who is also a former Vice President of Malawi Dr Justin Malewezi told journalists in the capital Lilongwe that as countries approach 2015, there was need for nations like Malawi to provide a platform for debate to analyse and assess inputs and outputs on the global development agenda.
To advance progress for children and youth worldwide, it is critical for the global community to recognize education as essential for human development.
The international community is talking a lot about what development will look like post the Millennium Development Goals in 2015.
You’d be pretty foolish to propose a complete post-2015 development framework right now, wouldn’t you? What with the High Level Panel still to have their second substantive meeting (in Monrovia, following London last November and with the Indonesian fixture to follow), and the global consultations still running… You’d pretty much be putting up a target and inviting attack, wouldn’t you? Still, hard hats on, here goes!
Save the Children today publishes the modestly titled Ending Poverty in our Generation, which sets out a vision of how the successor to the Millennium Development Goals could look.
In year 2000, the Government of Mauritius has committed itself with the Sates of UN General Assembly towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.
The United Nations (UN) in Vietnam has initiated a series of consultations with a broad range of Vietnamese citizens on the new development framework to be put in place in 2015, once the current Millennium Development Goals expire, Communist Party of Vietnam Online Newspaper reported on Friday.
Johannesburg, 25 January 2013: Global civil society network, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, the Zimbabwe based National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO) and the Zimbabwe Solidarity Forum (ZSF) strongly condemn persecution of civil society members in Zimbabwe, urging democratic governments to take diplomatic action.
The 2013 Global Human Rights Essay Contest on “Human Right City” (Hereafter HRC Essay Contest) is a joint initiative of the Human Rights Center of Seoul National University, the May 18 Institute of Chonnam National University, and the Korea Human Rights Foundation (KHRF) with support of the Metropolitan City of Gwangju in connection with the 3rd World Human Rights Cities Forum (WHRCF) which will be held from 16-18 May 2013 in Gwangju, South Korea.
ToPresident Asif Ali ZardariPresident of Pakistan President's Secretariat Islamabad PAKISTAN
16 January 2013
Dear President Zardari,
Re: Protection of Civil Society Members and Respect for their Rights
I write to you from CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, an international alliance of civil society with members and partners in over a hundred countries.
The African Youth Conference on Post-2015 Development Agenda, held in Nairobi, Kenya, from 12-16 December 2012, has adopted a Youth Declaration on the Post-2015 Agenda.
Local NGO, Alliance Lanka has organised a consultation this week in Colombo to discuss civil society’s experience in contributing towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) within the national framework.
Despite the significant advances made by the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) initiative since its inception in 2000, much is still needed to build on the momentum created by the project and ensure sustainable development in emerging regions.
The Commonwealth is an association of 54 countries united both by shared values and by great diversity.
In 2015, the current global development agenda, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) will come to an end.
As online consultations move forward regarding the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) post-2015 framework, civil society, academia, governments and the UN continue to grapple with what priorities to set for an agenda that will be a no-holds-barred assault on poverty.
This is the second Thematic Think Piece on Disaster Risk and Resilience developed by UN entities to support discussions on the post-2015 development agenda.
The political talks towards new global goals are on.
Several world leaders, including Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia, among others are said to be gearing up to attend the third High Level Panel Meeting on the Post-2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Monrovia from January 30 to February 2, 2013.
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were adopted in 2000 and are supposed to have been attained by 2015, that is, in two years’ time.
In 2000, the international community approved the most ambitious consolidated development agenda in history in the form of the Millennium Development Goals.
The High-level Panel on the Post-2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) will meet in Monrovia, Liberia from 30 January to 2 February 2013, where the focus will be on 'National Building Blocks for Sustained Prosperity.
Experts from developing countries will gather in Dhaka early next week to talk about agendas and targets to set following completion of millennium development goals (MDGs) in 2015.
Youth from China, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Mongolia adopted a declaration on the post-2015 development agenda, at the conclusion of the North-East Asian Youth Consultation on the Post-2015 Agenda, held in Seoul, Republic of Korea.
"Just when we thought they had reached top speed, debates on the post-2015 development agenda continue to intensify – with the UN High Level Panel on post-2015 reporting as early as May this year, and the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals due to kick off soon.
When the General Assembly wound down its 67th session in late December, it underscored the key role for energy in the U.
The UN High Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post 2015 agenda has invited inputs from Civil Society Groups on what the future framework for the Millennium Development Goals would look like.
In accordance with Resolution ACHPR/Res.
Lewis Mwape of the Zambia Council for Social Development (ZCSD), speaks to CIVICUS about the status of the 2009 Zambian NGO Act and the campaign to amend the law.
BERLIN, 19 December 2012 – On the eve of the European Union-Russia summit this week, eight international organisations representing a cross-section of global civil society call on European Union leaders to urge Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the crackdown on Russian civil society.
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Deadline extended! CIVICUS – FACTS Reports Special Issue: Local Democratic InnovationsCIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, in partnership with the FACTS Initiative, is pleased to announce a call for proposals on local democratic innovations.
More transparency and less control needed in Bangladesh’s foreign donations bill: International CSOs
DHAKA, 1 December 2012: There needs be more transparency and lesser control by the Government of Bangladesh as it seeks to bring in a new law to regulate foreign donations in the country said Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation and the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI).
Natalie Akstein, CIVICUS Junior Convening Officer and youth focal point, interviews youth delegates at the Global Youth Forum in Bali, Indonesia.
Natalie Akstein, CIVICUS Junior Convening Officer and youth focal point, interviews youth delegates at the Global Youth Forum currently taking place in Bali, Indonesia.
Johannesburg, 29 November 2012: Global civil society network, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation and Réseau des Organisations de la Société Civile pour le Développement (RESOCIDE), Burkina Faso, denounce the crackdown on freedom of expression in Burkina Faso.
BackgroundAs a worldwide alliance of citizens and civil society organisations based in the global South, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation (CIVICUS) is committed to strengthening youth participation in civil society.
If current trends in consumption continue, by 2030, the world would have the impossible task of producing at least 50 per cent more food, 45 per cent more energy and 30 per cent more water just as arable land, energy sources and clean and safe water shrink at historic rates.
CIVICUS calls for immediate release of Iranian activist Nasrin Sotoudeh
African youth: Fulfilling the potential - Jay Naidoo
CIVICUS: Reprisals against Bahraini human rights defenders must end
Addressing conflict and violence from 2015: Saferworld issue papers
Addressing conflict and violence from 2015: Saferworld issue papers
Bahraini civil society leaders meet in The Hague and call for international support to stop repression and promote respect for human rights in Bahrain
Bono and Jim Kim discuss steps to end poverty
Philippines: President Aquino praises NGOs
Russia: What changes lie in store for Non-Profit Organizations?
Sierra Leone: Civil Society slams illegal detention of NEC staff
The CIVICUS Secretariat is expanding - apply for a job now!
Research Manager (application deadline 23 Nov 2012)
United Nations (UN) Advocacy Officer (Application deadline 23 Nov 2012)
Research Officer (Application deadline 23 Nov 2012)
Senior Communications Officer (application deadline 30 Nov 2012)
Senior Convening Officer (application deadline 30 Nov 2012)
Senior Resource Mobilisation Officer (application deadline 30 Nov 2012)
Read this issue online or subscribe to recieve all future issues.
The Consul-General of South Korea in Lagos, Pilcheen Pak and the Chief Resident Representative, Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Nigerian Office, Abuja, Mr.
Sudan: End crackdown on independent dissent, says CIVICUS and the Human Rights and Legal Aid Network
Johannesburg, 27 November 2012: Global civil society network, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation and the Human Rights and Legal Aid Network (HRLAN), Sudan, condemn the Government of Sudan’s unabated crackdown on peaceful dissent and call for immediate removal of unwarranted restrictions on the independent media and nonviolent demonstrators.
In her guest blog about the launch of Bread for the World’s 2013 Hunger Report, Asma Lateff argues that the MDGs have been remarkably successful in focusing the world’s attention on hunger and poverty.
The high-level panel appointed by the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, to draw up a post-2015 development agenda might well be casting envious backward glances at the small team that drafted the Millennium Development Goals.
The Global Youth Forum, held from 4-6 December in Bali, Indonesia, is a joint effort of the UN, NGOs, young people and the private sector to give young people a stronger voice in the ICPD2014 Operational Review process.
The core team of the UN System Task Team is organizing a Facebook chat on the post-2015 development agenda on Tuesday, 27 November 2012, 9.
26 November 2012, Johannesburg: Global civil society network CIVICUS calls on the Government of Iran to immediately and unconditionally release Human Rights Lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh.
Johannesburg, 20 November 2012: Global civil society network CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation expresses deep concern at the continuing reprisals against Bahraini human rights defenders and urges the government to respect its international law obligations.
Unravelling the significance of Rio+20 and the multi-stakeholder approach - Akashni Pillay, Akashni Pillay, Policy and Advocacy Intern at CIVICUS
CIVICUS Board Member wins Minerva Award
Add your voice to our growing global alliance - join CIVICUS today
CIVICUS urges the Sri Lankan Government to reconsider rejection of UPR recommendations and stop persecution of civil society
International CSOs urge the Ethiopian Prime Minister to make essential reforms before joining UN Human Rights Council
Stakeholder Forum launches website to connect stakeholders on beyond 2015 agenda
Cambodia: ASEAN adopts ‘flawed’ Human Rights declaration
Ethiopia: German NGO pulls out
India: Rise of civil society activists
Philippines: Thoughts on NGOs/CSOs
Russia: Putin to review foreign NGO law
Empowering civil society is right approach to disaster recovery
How much do non-profits budget for technology annually? Please participate in sector research
State of the third sector in Belarus in 2009-2011: Data of monitoring carried out by United Way Belarusian National Non-Governmental Organization
Exploring Sustainable Development: A multiple-perspective approach
Job: CIVICUS - Research Manager (application deadline 23 Nov 2012)
Job: CIVICUS - United Nations (UN) Advocacy Officer (Application deadline 23 Nov 2012)
Job: CIVICUS - Research Officer (Application deadline 23 Nov 2012)
Job: CIVICUS - Senior Communications Officer (application deadline 30 Nov 2012)
Job: CIVICUS - Senior Convening Officer (application deadline 30 Nov 2012)
Job: CIVICUS - Senior Resource Mobilisation Officer (application deadline 30 Nov 2012)
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Will Barack Obama live up to Civil Society expectations? by Mandeep Tiwana, Policy and Advocacy Manager
Human rights defenders in Bangladesh are at constant risk: An interview with Adilur Rahman Khan on Bangladeshi CSO Odhikar
Add your voice to our growing global alliance - join CIVICUS today
Join up to the Ottawa Declaration: Recognition for volunteering on the global development agenda
Join the Discussion: Global Thematic Consultation on Addressing Inequalities in the post-2015 development agend
Burma: Civil Rights are key for democracy said the 88 Generation Students platform
Egypt: The nationalisation of Egypt’s civil society
Laos: International civil society warns nations of ‘resource grabbing’
Tajikistan: Closure of the NGO "Amparo"
Reaching for the sky: The importance of women's leadership
Register Your Organization with the Youth Division of the AUC
South African Civil Society Information Service (SACSIS)
Job: CIVICUS - Research Manager (application deadline 23 Nov 2012)
Job: CIVICUS - United Nations (UN) Advocacy Officer (Application deadline 23 Nov 2012)
Job: CIVICUS - Research Officer (Application deadline 23 Nov 2012)
Job: Greenpeace - Chief Operating Officer (application deadline 20 Nov 2012)
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Civil Society Involvement in the UN Post-2015 Development Agenda The Promulgation of Meaningful SDGs
Many members of civil society felt that the Rio+20 final outcome document was a disappointment, but many also believed that the call to establish sustainable development goals (SDGs) creates an important and potentially transformative opportunity to positively shape the global human development agenda.
The event 'Post-Rio to Post-2015: Planning International Stakeholder Engagement' brought together Major Groups and Stakeholders to identify entry points for their involvement in the follow-up processes of Rio+20 and discuss ways to enhance multi-stakeholder engagement in the Post-2015 development agenda.
Johannesburg, 14 November 2012: The government of Sri Lanka’s refusal to fully support key human rights recommendations during the 14th Session of the UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) represents yet another setback for reform in the country, said CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation.
UNGA Update - 9 November 2012
Member States mandated 12 intergovernmental processes to implement Rio+20 outcomes to be established this fall by the 67th session of the UN General Assembly where NGOs and Major Groups have no official means to interact with Member States.
Global Environmental Health and Sustainable Development Innovation Collaboration Webinar Series
IOM webinar series organized with support from:The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and The Pan American Health Organization PAHO/WHO Webinar #2"INTEGRATING THE MDGS WITH THE PILLARS AND PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT"
November 15, 2012 – Time: 11:00 am – 12:30 pm EDT ( Washington DC USA)
To check local time in WDC against your time zone, see the World ClockThis Webinar will be delivered in English with simultaneous translation to Spanish and close-captioned for the hearing impaired
Webinar Goals and Objectives:• Discuss how the global development framework may evolve to include environmental, economic, and social goals of sustainable development.
We are pleased to share with you the Beyond 2015's paper for the UN thematic consultation on inequalities (see English version here- French and Spanish versions will be available soon).
Climate Action Network (CAN) International will be the lead agency for the new UN thematic consultation on Energy.
As many of you know, Beyond 2015 is coordinating campaign input into the consultations in order to influence the official UN process and to help us build our own civil society position on the content of a post-2015 framework.
Beyond 2015 is providing a platform for civil society to contribute to the nine thematic consultations being organized by the UN on the post-2015 framework.
Johannesburg, 8 November 2012: Global civil society network CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation urges the government of Pakistan to take urgent action to address human rights concerns raised by UN Member States on 30 October 2012 during the 14th Session of Universal Period Review (UPR).
Can you tell us a little bit about the mission and work of Odhikar?Odhikar was formed by a group of human rights activists who fought against Bangladesh’s autocratic regime and struggled to restore democracy.
Watch out for a live chat on DESA's Facebook page on the post-2015 development agenda on 20 November from 9:00 to 11:00am.
The World Bank's Global Monitoring Report (GMR) Team recently announced the launch of MDGs and Beyond, a monthly newsletter focused on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and what comes after.
The Stakeholder Forum has announced the launch of a new project in partnership with the German Council for Sustainable Development (RNE) to develop a Global Network of National Councils for Sustainable Development (NCSDs).
As the UN General Assembly's Third Committee opened its session on 8 October; voices and concerns of young people from across the globe were conveyed.
Inequality in developing countries is twice as high among children as among the general population, as this report reveals, with new quantitative analysis of 32 countries.
The International Disability and Development Consortium (IDDC) and the International Disability Alliance (IDA) have recently drafted a position paper on the post-MDG framework.
The panel tasked with advising on the global development agenda beyond 2015, the target date for achieving the anti-poverty targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), reaffirmed its commitment to work together on a framework to combat poverty in a High Level Panel Meeting in London.
Through this summary report, the Education Caucus provides a detailed account of their many successes at the conference, lessons learned, and partnerships made.
In this 2 day highly interactive conference, the EU Sustainable Lifestyles Roadmap and Action Plan to 2050 will be presented for the first time.
This note provides a brief overview of the first meeting of the Secretary General's High Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda, on 25 October 2012.
The UK hosted the first high-level panel last week on what comes after the millennium development goals (MDGs).
Civil Society Organizations and social movements from the Global South have banded together and pledged to Campaign for Peoples Goals for Sustainable Development (CPGSD).
What are the lessons of the Millennium Development Goals process? What has been their impact on aid and on decision making by national governments? This discussion paper seeks to inform the post-2015 debate by examining these questions.
This call for inputs opens the opportunity for all participating organizations in the Beyond 2015 Campaign to collaborate in the framing and content of our joint position paper on Governance and Accountability.
At the meeting, titled "Post-Rio to Post-2015: Planning International Stakeholder Engagement," representatives of the Major Groups, including CIVICUS, and global stakeholders discussed the inclusiveness of Member States' negotiations to determine the post-2015 development agenda and create the new High Level Political Forum to replace the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD).
To:Margaret SekaggyaSpecial Rapporteur on Human Rights Defendersc/o Office of the High Commissioner for Human RightsUnited Nations Office
17 October 2012
Dear Ms.
Friday 2 November 201216:00 – 17:45London
The UN Secretary General has appointed a High Level Panel (HLP) of Eminent Persons that will provide recommendations on the post-2015 development framework that will succeed the current Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
How would you evaluate the Future We Want outcome document in two sentences?
The Future We Want outcome document is far from certain to actually lead us to the Future We Want due to its lack of ambition and commitment by the national government leaders of the world.
by Jeffery Huffines, UN Representative for CIVICUS & Rio+20 NGO Organizing Partner
Introduction
In 1992 at Rio the leaders of the world agreed that the major cause of the deterioration of the global environment is the unsustainable path of consumption and production, particularly in industrialized countries, that aggravates poverty, inequalities and imbalances not just between countries but also within countries.
CIVICUS together with ANPED and Consumers International have been asked by the United Nations to continue to serve as Rio+20 NGO Partners through the end of May 2013 when the 20th and final session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) is scheduled to take place.
CIVICUS’ submission to the UPR working group outlines concerns related to the environment in which civil society organisation and human rights defenders operate in Bangladesh, and discusses threats they face in the exercise of freedoms of expression, association and assembly.
Farooq Ullah is Editorial Advisor at the Stakeholder Forum.
Joint letter requesting Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn to remove arbitrary restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression and association in Ethiopia
Read the letter.
Boris Pustyntsev, Director of the Russia-based Citizens' Watch, speaks to CIVICUS about the impact of the new 'NGO Law' and recent restrictions on civil society activism in Russia.
This joint submission by CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation and the Center for National and International Studies (CNIS) outlines concerns related to the environment in which civil society organisations and human rights defenders operate in Azerbaijan, and discusses threats they face in the exercise of the freedoms of expression, association and assembly.
CIVICUS' latest interventions in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process of the UN Human Rights Council, which reviews countries' human rights progress, address the status of civil society freedoms in the countries of Burkina Faso, Colombia, The Republic of Turkmenistan and The Republic of Uzbekistan.
CIVICUS was active at the 21st session of the UN Human Rights Council, which came to an end in Geneva on 28 September.
French | Spanish
We're pleased to share our short summary report on the 2012 CIVICUS World Assembly, which contains 15 key commitments for further civil society action towards a new social contract.
When Commonwealth countries announced at the 2011 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Australia that Sri Lanka could host CHOGM 2013, they agreed to actively promote and uphold the fundamental values and principles of the Commonwealth, including human rights and the rule of law.
21st session of theHuman Right CouncilItem6
UPR BahrainDelivered by Nada Dhaif
Thank you Madam President
My name is Nada Dhaif, Chairperson of Bravo (Bahraini Rehabilitation & Anti-Violence Organization) Let me tell you about the situation in many villages and neighborhoods.
21h session of the Human Rights CouncilItem4
Delivered by Renate Bloem
Thank you Madam President,CIVICUS has repeatedly urged the Ethiopian Government to realign its policy to international human rights law.
¡Firma nuestra petición!
Nosotros, ciudadanos y ciudadanas de distintas partes del mundo, estamos profundamente preocupados por la reciente denuncia, por parte del Gobierno de Venezuela, de la Convención Americana de Derechos Humanos (CADH), y por su futuro retiro de la jurisdicción de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos.
SPANISH
Venezuela’s government has recently denounced the American Convention on Human Rights (ACHR).
Global civil society network CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is delighted to announce that it has appointed Dhananjayan (Danny) Sriskandarajah as its new Secretary General.
Prominent Bahraini Human Rights Defender, Nabeel Rajab, is facing extreme danger.
Today, please join your colleagues at the CIVICUS World Assembly in showing your solidarity for journalist, civil society activist and blogger Eskinder Nega, who is currently in jail in Ethiopia simply for expressing his fundamental rights of free speech.
Appeal to the leadership of the United Arab Emirates
We respectfully appeal for the immediate release of human rights defenders Dr Mohamed al-Mansoori, Dr Mohamed Abdullah al-Roken and Salem al-Shehhi, arrested between 16 and 18 July.
Today, please join your colleagues at the CIVICUS World Assembly in showing your solidarity for Palestinan civil society activist Ameer Makhoil.
Today, please join your colleagues at the CIVICUS World Assembly in showing your solidarity for human rights lawyer and civil society activist Nasrin Sotoudeh, who is currently in the notorious Evin Prison in Tehran, Iran simply for doing her work as a human rights activist.
From its inception in 1993, CIVICUS has sought to make a significant contribution to recording the rise of civil society around the world, and to build a knowledge base on civil society by civil society.
The CSI-RA project is implemented by three main bodies that interact and coordinate.
In selecting project partners, we will seek CSOs that meet the following criteria: have a mandate and track record in convening civil society; are rooted in the local context and are connected with their public and peers; and have some experience of participatory research or have the ability to partner with a local organisation with such expertise.
As described in other sections, the CSI-RA is meant to be a flexible and adaptable tool.
The CSI-RA is flexible in nature and allows each project partner to make an assessment of what they want to measure and which dimensions they wish to focus on, according to the particular context.
The CSI-RA is a flexible tool that helps measure the state of civil society in any given context.
CSI-RA History & Origins
Since its beginnings CIVICUS has strived to make a significant contribution to understanding the evolution of civil society around the world and to building a knowledge base of civil society issues through civil society led and owned research.
The Civil Society Rapid Assessment (CSI-RA)
Informed by our findings from the previous Civil Society Index (CSI) phase, CIVICUS sees that in many countries, civil society organisations (CSOs) exist today in a state of heightened volatility, flux and disconnect.
Plan each day in advance, read speaker bios, find meeting rooms and side events easily, exchange contact details on the go, share pictures on flickr, tweets on twitter and posts to facebook and find cool spots in Montreal at the push of a button - all with the CIVICUS World Assembly Ap
Click on the logo below for more information.
Dr Hassan Abdel Ati, Secretary General of Sudan’s National Civic Forum, speaks to CIVICUS about the crackdown on civil society activism and independent journalists since student-led protests began in March 2011.
Final countdown to CIVICUS World Assembly
A new low in Bahrain as Nabeel Rajab is sentenced
Cambodia: CIVICUS calls for unconditional release of detained activists
Debate sobre un Nuevo Contrato Social en Buenos Aires
Guest blog: towards global health justice at the CIVICUS World Assembly?
Thoughts on Rio+20 from NGO co-organising partner ANPED
Upcoming post-Rio+20 workshop in Argentina
Egypt: veil falls over media
Greece: UN body rules government failed to protect Roma people
Human Rights Day - 10 December
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Johannesburg, 24 August 2012: Global civil society network CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation urges the Cambodian government to stop what appears to be an increasingly vicious campaign against civil society.
Johannesburg, 22 August 2012: The sentencing of Nabeel Rajab, President of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, to three years in jail marks a new low for civil society in Bahrain, says global civil society network CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation.
Global civil society network CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is pleased to announce the winners of its latest round of Nelson Mandela – Graça Machel Innovation Awards.
Global civil society network CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is shocked at the two year sentence handed out to members of Russian band Pussy Riot by a Moscow Court.
CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation and RESOCIDE jointly organised a workshop on enhancing the capacity of human rights defenders to respond to threats in West Africa in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso from 2 to 3 July 2012.
17 August 2012, Johannesburg: Global civil society network CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is deeply saddened at the killing of over 30 protesting miners by police on 16 August in Marikana, North West Province, South Africa.
Catherine Pearce is the Campaign Manager for Future Justice [www.
8 August 2012- Global civil society network CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation condemns the recent surge in restrictions on civil society in Russia and urges the international community to speak out against the Russian government's disregard for international norms on the treatment of civil society.
7 August 2012- The Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP), CIVICUS, the Feminist Task Force, Oxfam International, Beyond 2015, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), Article 19, ATD Fourth World, the World Movement for Democracy and Stakeholder Forum, welcome the appointment by the UN Secretary-General of a diverse High-Level Panel to advise on a post-2015 development agenda.
Natia Kapanadze, Director of the Media Legal Defense Center at the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA), based in Tbilsi, Georgia, speaks to CIVICUS about recent attacks on independent journalists and civil society’s response.
A series of three virtual consultations hosted by CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
Changing nations through citizens, Monday 20 August at 11am UTC/GMT
Building partnerships for social innovation, Wednesday 22 August at 2pm UTC/GMT
Redefining global governance, Friday 24 August at 2pm UTC/GMT
The three webinars aim to strengthen the role of young people in the development of cooperative, inclusive societies, by looking at how the good governance of cultural and religious diversity can be enhanced through: active young citizens’ participation; the development of innovative and alternative models of social partnership; and the reform of institutions of global governance.
Susanne Salz is the former Executive and Policy Assistant to the Secretary General of ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability.
3 August 2012
Article 19, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, Committee to Protect Journalists, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project, Legal and Human Rights Centre, Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition and the Media Institute of Southern Africa-Tanzania, are concerned about reports that, on Monday 30 July, the government of Tanzania indefinitely banned MwanaHalisi, a weekly Kiswahili newspaper.
On 9 July 2012, Nabeel was sentenced to three months imprisonment after he was accused of libel and using social networking site twitter to "insult the citizens of Muharraq.
Johannesburg, South Africa, 31 July 2012: Global civil society network CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is pleased to announce the appointment of three new Board members:
Antonella Valmorbida, from Italy, is the Director of the Association of Local Democracy Agencies (ALDA), which has promoted local governance and citizens’ participation in Europe and neighbouring countries since 1999.
How would you evaluate the successes and failures of Rio + 20?
I have sincerely mixed feelings about Rio+20.
Johannesburg, 30 July 2012: Global civil society network CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation and the Philippine-based national human rights organisation, Karapatan Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights, urge the Philippines government to end persecution and extrajudicial killings of human rights defenders, and to carry out fair and independent investigations into all cases of extrajudicial killings and disappearances.
CIVICUS is a member and signatory to the INGO Accountability Charter.
Pakistan: government must protect civil society
CIVICUS launches youth video contest
Guest blog: caste based discrimination in Nepal
The post-Rio climate - reflections from the Vitae Civilis Executive Director, Marcelo Cardoso
The UN and the 21st Century
Unilever's CEO strongly advocates for sustainable growth in government and business policies
No arms for atrocities
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English | French | Spanish
ENGLISH - CIVICUS is launching a video contest for youth aged 18-30 attending the CIVICUS Youth Assembly or the 2012 United Nations Alliance of Civilisations Summer School answering the following question: How would you like the CIVICUS World Assembly to help foster a new social contract that integrates intercultural and interfaith dialogue?
The winner will receive a US$500 cash prize as well as having your video featured at the closing session of the Youth Assembly.
Vladimir Simonko, co-founder and chair of the Lithuanian Gay League (LGL) speaks to CIVICUS about the challenges the LGBT community faces in one of the most homophobic countries in Europe.
Johannesburg, 24 July 2012: CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation and Pakistan women’s rights group Blue Veins strongly condemn attacks on human rights defenders in Pakistan, and urge Pakistan’s government to uphold its responsibility to protect civil society.
CIVICUS is deeply dismayed by the actions of the upper house of the Russian Parliament, the Federation Council, to pass a bill that stigmatises civil society groups which receive foreign funding.
SOUTH AFRICA FORUM FOR INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY (SAFIS) STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY, 18 JULY 2012
South Africa Forum for International Solidarity (SAFIS) takes the occasion of Mandela Day 2012 to remind our government, politicians of all parties, religious and community leaders that the South Africa we fought for and envisaged through our 1994 democratic transition was one where tolerance of difference and equality of all was fundamental to the transformation of the country from its racist, patriarchal past.
CIVICUS' latest two interventions in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process of the UN Human Rights Council, which reviews countries' human rights progress, address the status of civil society freedoms in Israel and Serbia.
Belarus and Eritrea resolutions an important step towards accountability
Civil society behind bars: take action for imprisoned Bahrain activist Nabeel Rajab
Partnering for the future of development - remarks from CIVICUS Acting SG Katsuji Imata at the UN Development Cooperation Forum
International community must act against latest curbs on free speech in Ethiopia
The Rio+20 summit and its follow up
UNICEF and UN Women call for papers: addressing inequalities in the post-2015 development agenda
UN media interview with Jeffery Huffines, UN CIVICUS Representative, on the NGO Major Group’s reactions to the Rio+20 Outcome Document
World Assembly blog: 20 días después de Rio+20: el Futuro que queremos
Kyrgyzstan: UN human rights chief calls attention to corruption, discrimination and rights deficiencies
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CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is disappointed and shocked that the Russian Duma has approved a law requiring organisations that receive international funding to label themselves as "foreign agents," opening them up to excessive government oversight.
As nongovernmental organizations working to promote human rights at the United Nations Human Rights Council, we are deeply concerned by the recent decision of the African Group in New York to endorse the candidacies of Sudan and Ethiopia in the upcoming UN General Assembly elections for membership in the Human Rights Council within a closed slate that does not allow for a competitive vote.
Qamar Naseem, programme coordinator with women’s organisation Blue Veins, based in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, speaks to CIVICUS about the main challenges civil society groups and women face from religious right politicians in Pakistan.
Johannesburg, 12 July 2012: Global civil society network CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation welcomes the recent UN Human Rights Council decision to address persistent and serious human rights violations in Belarus and Eritrea.
Joint Submission by CIVICUS and Ligue des Droits de la personne dans la région des Grandes Lacs to the UN Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review (UPR), 15th Session of the UPR Working Group, submitted 9 July 2012
Joint Submission by CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, NGO in General Consultative Status with ECOSOC And Ligue des Droits de la personne dans la région des Grandes Lacs
Forging ahead: partnering for the future of development ( ECOSOC High-level Segment 2012) - Katsuji Imata, CIVICUS' acting Secretary General
Interactive debate: Forging ahead: partnering for the future of development, Friday 6 July 2012
Moderator: Bruce Jones, Director, Centre on International Cooperation, New York University
Panellists: HE Kim Bong-hyun, Deputy Minister of Multilateral and Global Affairs, Republic of KoreaRogelio Granguillhome, Executive Director of the Mexican Agency for International Development CooperationKatsuji Imata, Acting Secretary-General, CIVICUSTalaat Abdel Malek, Co-Chair, OECD/DAC Working Party on Aid Effectiveness andEconomic Adviser to the Minister of International Co-operation, Egypt
Johannesburg, 9 July 2012: Recent moves to curb freedom of expression in Ethiopia represent a steep escalation in an ongoing campaign to silence dissent, says global civil society network CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation.
July 2012
CIVICUS is deeply concerned about the compatibility of Ethiopia’s draft Telecom Fraud Offenses Proclamation with internationally guaranteed human rights standards.
Russia's Parliament -the Duma- will consider amendments to laws governing NGOs on 13 July.
No more global musty gatherings: World Assembly blog
Activists who spoke at People’s Summit found killed
UN senior officials highlight Rio+20 achievements
Poorer countries seek assurances on technology transfer after Rio+20
CIVICUS World Assembly: Early Bird registration extended!
2012 Millennium Development Goals Report
Yemen: Enduring Conflicts, Threatened Transition
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Государственная Дума Российской Федерации рассмотрит поправки к законам об НКО 13 июля.
Государственная Дума Российской Федерации рассмотрит поправки к законам об НКО 13 июля.
Become a CIVICUS citizen - join us for only US$5
Ethiopian blogger found guilty of ‘terrorism’
Call for clips for a new civil society video
Enhancing the capacity of human rights defenders to monitor public policy and respond to threats in West Africa
Another setback for freedom of assembly hits Russia
CIVICUS expresses concern about civil society rights in Bahrain and Belarus at UN Human Rights Council
Rio+20: civil society analysis and reflections
A completely transformed Youth Assembly
New analysis of participatory citizenship in Europe
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With freedom of expression, association and assembly under attack in many countries in West Africa, experience suggests a greater need in response for intervention at the early stages of the drafting process of restrictive laws, policies or moves to introduce restrictive practices.
CIVICUS has engaged with IRIBA on a project to create a short advertising spot to be launched at the 2012 CIVICUS World Assembly in September and featured at other external events, on the CIVICUS website, promoted on our social networks and shared with our members and partners.
UPDATE
Eskinder Nega was found guilty of encouraging "terrorist" acts and conspiring with rebels in Ethiopia's High Court on 27 June.
20th session of the UN Human Rights Council
Item 4
Report of High Commissioner on Belarus
Interactive Dialogue 27 June 2012
Remaks delivered by Renate Bloem, CIVICUS UN Geneva Representative
Thank you Mme President
Mme High Commissioner, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation welcomes your comprehensive report.
Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) and CIVICUS: World Alliance for Cirizen Participation have written an open letter to the Commonwealth secretary-general on their concerns about Uganda's treatment of human rights defenders.
20th session of the UN Human Rights Council
Item 5
Reprisals, protection, prevention
Delivered by Renate Bloem, CIVICUS UN Geneva Representative, 26 June 2012
Thank you Mme President
CIVICUS wishes to raise the issue of reprisals against persons cooperating with the UN.
Johannesburg, 26 June 2012: Russia has taken a further step backwards on democratic freedoms by amending the administrative code on illegal public events to punish violations of rules through exorbitant fines, say CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation and Greenpeace Russia.
Johannesburg, 25 June 2012.
Disappointment and frustration abound in Rio
Wanted: a new CIVICUS Secretary General
Final weekly webinar: cultural activists, the champions of social change
CIVICUS statement to UN Human Rights Council
Network profile: Nigeria Network of NGOs
NGO Major Group Statement delivered to Rio+20
Rio's roadmap falls flat, civil society groups say
CIVICUS expresses NGO Group disappointment in UN interview
The Future We Don’t Want
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Disappointment and frustration abound in Rio
Johannesburg, South Africa 22 June 2012 CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is deeply dismayed with the outcome of Rio+20 and believes the under-achievement of Rio raises serious questions about the ability of the inter-governmental system as currently constituted to achieve sustainable development, protection of human rights, and the full participation of people.
20th session of the UN Human Rights Council
The rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association
Interactive Dialogue 20 June 2012
Statement delivered by Renate Bloem, CIVICUS UN Geneva Representative
Thank you Mme President,
CVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation strongly welcomes both reports but will speak to the inaugural report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly of association.
Chers collègues,
Il ya seulement 4 jours pour participer à la consultation en ligne de CIVICUS, de sorte que vous pouvez apporter votre contribution à laquelle vous pensez devrait être le travail de l'alliance dans les 5 prochaines années! Si vous n'avez pas répondu à l'enquête, s'il vous plaît faites-le maintenant! Alors ne manquez pas l'occasion de faire partie de CIVICUS Orientations stratégiques 2013-2017.
Tell us what CIVICUS should work on in the next five years!
CIVICUS World Assembly 2012: an action-packed programme!
‘The main issue is equality of opportunities’: Rio+20 interview with Sabina Anoye-Mensah, Voice of African Mothers
CIVICUS at the Cape Town Book Fair
Next weekly webinar: amplifying marginalised and muted voices, 20 June
Bangladesh: civil society under attack as dissent is silenced
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Johannesburg, 15 June 2012.
CIVICUS is co-organising two events during the 20th session of the UN Human Rights Council, being held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 18 June to 6 July:
21 June – Ethiopia’s stifled civil society
22 June – Freedom of assembly and association – countering persecution and pushback on civil society
CIVICUS speaks to Dr Sabina Anokye-Mensah from Voice of African Mothers (VAM) on her expectations for Rio+20.
A virtual consultation hosted by CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
Wednesday 20 June 2012 at 1pm UTC/GMT
The work of organised civil society can sometimes reinforce existing paradigms of power and exclusion.
Spanish | French
Dear colleague
CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation needs your voice so that we can together shape an inclusive and ambitious global civil society agenda for the next five years.
Name: Nabeel Rajab
Country: Bahrain
Update:
An arbitrary travel ban was placed on Nabeel Rajab in July and he remains unable to travel.
Urgent action: safety of Nabeel Rajab must be ensured
Coming of age in Rio?
Uzbekistan: allow independent experts access to prevent persecution, say CIVICUS and Expert Working Group
Increased support needed for civil society in Azerbaijan after Eurovision contest
World Assembly blog: building partnerships: beyond buzzwords
CIVICUS UN Representative Jeffery Huffines represents NGO Major Group at Major Groups press conference
CIVICUS Board Member Rajiv Joshi moderates UN press conference on Sustainable Development Goals
Youth Blast: an opportunity for young people to participate in the Rio+20 action
Presentation: launch of special issue of the Journal of Economic Inequality: ‘Measuring Poverty Over Time', 14 June 2012
Bahrain: released activists urge end to crackdown
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Chers collègues,
CIVICUS l’alliance Mondiale pour la Participation Citoyenne, sollicite tes idées et tes connaissances afin de construire tous ensemble une société mieux intégrée et élaborer un agenda ambitieux pour la société civile internationale dans les 5 prochaines années.
Estimad@ coleg@
CIVICUS: Alianza Mundial para la Participación Ciudadana necesita tus ideas y conocimiento para que todos juntos podamos construir una sociedad mas inclusiva y una agenda ambiciosa para la sociedad civil mundial para los próximos cinco años.
This Rio+20 side event, to be held on 14 June, is the third in a series that will examine the representation, participation and accountability of civil society and Major Groups in informing, monitoring and implementing intergovernmental policy-making in a reformed institutional framework for sustainable development that embraces multi-level governance.
Current events in Quebec, Canada where a law has recently been introduced in an attempt to limit long-running student protests, offer a reminder that the challenges of state pushback against protest, as documented extensively by CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation in its recent report, the State of Civil Society 2011, are not limited to developing countries and those without elected governments.
CIVICUS is deeply concerned about the safety of Bahrain civil society activist and President of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, Nabeel Rajab, who was arrested again on 6 June.
A virtual consultation hosted by CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
Wednesday 13 June, 2012 at 1 pm UTC/GMT
In an era marked by increasing inequality, economic contraction or jobless growth and high youth unemployment, the fallout of the economic crisis has placed the issue of social protection high on national and global agendas.
Johannesburg, 5 June 2012: CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation and Expert Working Group, Uzbekistan, demand an end to the persecution of human rights activists in Uzbekistan and proper access for international human rights experts
Gulshan Karaeva, who heads the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan in the country’s Kashkadarya region, is the latest civil society victim to be targeted for her work and beliefs in a country which has one of the worst human rights records in the world.
CIVICUS is appalled by this new chapter of killings in El-Houleh, including of 49 innocent children, and by the overall deteriorating human rights situation in Syria.
CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is a global movement of civil society with members and partners in over 100 countries.
A virtual consultation hosted by CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, Wednesday 6 June 2012 at 1 pm UTC/GMT
Social media and mobile technology have served as catalysts for offline activism and vehicles for new forms of online activism.
CIVICUS is extremely pleased that Nabeel Rajab was released on bail on 28 May 2012.
CIVICUS delivers Major Group statement on Rio+20
'My message to civil society is that you are vitally needed': interview with Nikhil Seth, Head of the Rio+20 Secretariat
CIVICUS global consultations - new dates confirmed
Weekly webinar: Finding common ground - a global civil society alliance and faith based civil society, Wednesday 30 May
Hockey federation turns blind eye to human rights by confirming 2014 championships in Belarus
Brazil lowers exorbitant hotel costs for delegates going to Rio+20
UNESCO-MOST Conference 2012: Labour Rights as Human Rights? Migration, Labour Market Restructuring, and the Role of Civil Society in Global Governance, Sweden, 30 May to 1 June 2012
New study on aid transparency and climate finance
Azerbaijan: authorities violently disperse peaceful rallies
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A statement of the nine Major Groups involved in the Rio+20 sustainable development process was delivered to a special session of the UN General Assembly this week by CIVICUS’ UN New York representative, Jeffrey Huffines.
Register Now!
Faith-based CSOs have the potential to harness the energy and passion of people of faith and access large pockets of social capital.
The 2012 CIVICUS World Assembly programme is now available.
La serie de consultas globales de la alianza CIVICUS, están llegan a tu región.
CIVICUS Director of Outreach, Henri Valot, interviews Nikhil Seth, Director, UN Division of Sustainable Development and Head of the Rio+20 Secretariat*
Listen to the interview
HENRI: What are your hopes and aspirations for Rio+20?
NIKHIL: My hopes and aspirations for Rio+20 are very high.
A serie de consultas globais da CIVICUS está chegando a uma localidade perto de você.
Portuguese | Spanish
The CIVICUS alliance's series of global consultations is coming to a locale near you.
Sukhrobjon Ismailov, founder and director of the Expert Working Group, Uzbekistan, speaks to CIVICUS about the challenges of being a human rights defender in his country.
Eight human rights organisations in the Czech Republic, Germany, Norway, Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland are deeply disappointed that the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has confirmed at its general assembly in Helsinki that the Republic of Belarus will host the 2014 IIHF World Championship.
A virtual consultation hosted by CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, Wednesday 23 May, 2012 at 1 pm UTC/GMT
The global economic crisis has been a devastating blow for many civil society organisations.
Jaehyun Jang is a Programme Specialist and Researcher at the Reshaping Development Institute (ReDI) in the Republic of Korea.
King Hamad bin Isa Al-KhalifaOffice of the KingThe Amiri CourtRifa'a PalaceThe Kingdom of Bahrain
8 May 2012
Your MajestyCIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation and the organisations and individuals listed below are deeply concerned about the arrest of Nabeel Rajab, President of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, Director of the Gulf Centre for Human Rights and FIDH Deputy Secretary General.
Johannesburg, 9 May 2012
CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation calls for the international community to show stronger political will to stop human rights abuses in Syria.
“CIVICUS has directly contributed to freedom of expression and citizen participation in Yemen”- Yemen Portal
In January 2011 the Yemeni people rose up and demanded change, calling for an end to Ali Abdullah Saleh’s dictatorship and the establishment of a democratic state.
8 May 2012
CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is shocked at the arrest and detention of Bahraini human rights defender Nabeel Rajab.
CIVICUS has called on the Ethiopian Government to ensure that its land investment policy does not undermine the rights of small-scale agriculturalists to an adequate standard of living including access to adequate food.
24 April 2012, Johannesburg.
Members of the CIVICUS alliance have made submissions to the next meeting of UN Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review process, which reviews countries’ human rights records.
Bahrain Grand Prix ignores human rights abuses and heightens tensions
'What is needed is a monitoring and accountability system for governments North and South' - Rio+20 interview with Roberto Bissio, Coordinator, Social Watch (Feature)
'International civil society should spread awareness of the devastating effects of Ethiopian law': interview with Endalkachew Molla, Director, Human Rights Council, Ethiopia (Interview)
CIVICUS expresses its condolences at the passing of JCIE President, Tadashi Yamamoto
United Nations Voluntary Fund 2013 Call for Applications (Opportunity)
Online discussion: tactical dialogue on working with corporations to assess and improve human rights impact (Event)
Make your actions count at Rio+20 - VolunteerActionCounts (Take action)
Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies: International Advocacy Programme Coordinator (application deadline 5 May 2012)
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CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is working towards Rio+20 on several fronts, including by acting as an organising partner of the NGO Major Group and co-organising critical meetings and workshops around the world.
Roberto Bissio is Coordinator of Social Watch network and Executive Director of the Third World Institute.
Endalkachew Molla Demilew is the Director of Ethiopia’s Human Rights Council (HRCO), responsible for coordinating the operations of the head and branch offices, establishing links and partnerships with governmental and non-governmental institutions, human rights activists, aid organisations, CSOs and the media, and overseeing HRCO’s human rights reporting and monitoring procedures.
In this issue:
Time for a new social contract: CIVICUS’ inaugural State of Civil Society Report suggests a generational opportunity for civil society in the face of multiple global crises
CIVICUS and the Arab NGO Network for Development highlight Syrian crisis and demand a political solution
CIVICUS analysis piece: strengthening civil society voices at the UN Human Rights Council
ALGERIA: Continued harassment of activists one year after repeal of emergency
BAHRAIN: Demands to release human rights defender on hunger strike increase
IRAN: Renewal of the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran welcomed
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Time for a new social contract: CIVICUS report suggests a generational opportunity in the face of multiple crises
Turning principles into practice: a successful platform strengthening CSO transparency and accountability practices in Latin America
A slippery slope in Southern Africa
Bahrain: UNESCO head condemns killing of citizen journalist
India: civil society seeks effective use of Right to Information Act
Mexico: our future lies in nature
CIVICUS interview with Jose Muvango
Roundtable discussion between CSOs and members of the UN Secretary-General’s High-level Group on Sustainable Energy for All
Introducing Bribespot
Job: CIVICUS seeks a Senior Executive Assistant (application deadline 16 April 2012)
Job: Human Rights Advisor (application deadline 21 April 2012)
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The South Africa Forum for International Solidarity (SAFIS) yesterday issued a letter to the Prime Minister of Swaziland requesting that he reverse the decision to deregister the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA).
Since 2004, through its Legitimacy, Transparency and Accountability (LTA) programme, CIVICUS has been working to improve public trust and the credibility of civil society organisations (CSOs) and their activities through the enhancement of their accountability systems and structures.
Jose Mavungo is a human rights activist from the Cabinda region.
Civil society faces a generational opportunity to prove its value as a source of alternatives at a time of profound global crisis.
International civil society alliance CIVICUS and the University of the West Indies are working together to consult on the emerging challenges civil society in Trinidad and Tobago faces, Thursday 5 April.
A Rio+20 interview with Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, World YWCA
Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda is the General Secretary of the World YWCA, a global federation in 125 countries, and a human rights lawyer with extensive experience in CSO governance and transition management.
An interview with Alice Vincent of World Future Council on the Ombudsperson for Future Generations proposal
In the latest of our interviews with key civil society figures on the road to Rio+20, we talk to Alice Vincent, Policy Officer at the World Future Council, an organisation which brings together representatives of governments, parliaments, the arts, civil society, academia and the business world to form a voice for the rights of future generations.
CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is an international alliance of members and partners dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society around the world, with a secretariat based in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Rio+20: help shape the CIVICUS alliance message
Support CIVICUS’s CivNet proposal
Jamaica, the Caribbean and global governance
CIVICUS to launch first annual State of Civil Society report in April 2012
The Value of Community Philanthropy: Results of a Consultation
Malaysian civil society's growing importance acknowledged
New EU-Kazakhstan agreement offers scope to push for human rights progress
Malaysian CSO wins annual UN population prize
Job - Legislative Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs (open until position filled)
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Worsening human rights conditions in Syria demand an immediate end of force and a political solution
Joint statement by CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation and the Arab NGO Network for Development
The use of military action is intensifying in Syria, and the human rights and humanitarian conditions are deteriorating.
Johannesburg, South Africa, 22 March 2012.
20 March 2012
The UN Human Rights Council, meeting in Geneva, Switzerland from 27 February to 23 March 2012, sees a number of countries come under the spotlight as part of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process, in which States report on their human rights records.
Campaigners around the world will today (Thursday 15th March) mark one year of violence in Syria by calling on Russia to back UN Security Council action to end the crisis.
March 14th marks the 8th anniversary of the “Proclamation of Mpalabanda”.
How does one bid farewell to the job I believe is the best in the world? Regrettably, that is what I must do.
CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have signed an agreement to implement the new Civil Society Index Rapid Assessment (CSI-RA) in Tunisia.
Cristina Diez Saguillo has been a member of the International Movement ATD Fourth World's full-time volunteer corps since 2003.
Three more contributions to the UN Human Rights Council by CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation and one of its partners from the Philippines, Karaptan, are available to view here.
Greenpeace today issued an open letter to world leaders calling for an end of the Threat of nuclear power.
8 March 2012
Presentations by CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation and one of its partners from the Philippines, Karaptan, are available to view here.
19th session of the Human Rights Council
Item 2
2 March 2012
Thank you Mr President,
Madame High Commissioner, CVICUS welcomes your annual report.
Linda Sheehan is Executive Director of Earth Law Center, an organisation that promotes recognition of the legal rights of all of Earth’s inhabitants and ecosystems and advocates for and promotes Earth-based laws and policies.
Defining a new social contract - making the future together - CIVICUS board
The 11th CIVICUS World Assembly: why participate? - Malorie Flon
2012 Call for activity proposals - Be part of the programme!
2012 World Assembly programme
Register today!
Support the CIVICUS World Assembly
This year receive a free CIVICUS Citizen Membership
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Elizabeth Thompson is a former Minister for Energy and Environment of Barbados who also served as Minister for Physical Development and Minister for Health.
Name: Mohammad Seddigh Kaboudvand
Country: Iran
Update:
Mohammad Seddigh Kaboudvand, who has been detained in Tehran since July 2007, has repeatedly been denied requests for sick leave for treatment for a serious heart ailment.
