Andrew Gilmour, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights cordially invites you to:

A Conversation with the 2018 Human Rights Prize Winners

Welcome
Ms. Michelle Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Introduction
Mr. Andrew Gilmour, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights

Speakers
Rebecca Gyumi, activist for the rights of women and girls in Tanzania
Munizae Jahangir, on behalf of her mother and Prize winner, Asma Jahangir (1952-2018) human rights lawyer, Pakistan
Joênia Wapichana, activist for the rights of indigenous peoples in Brazil
Andrew Anderson, Executive Director of the Prize-winning organization Front Line Defenders, Ireland

Questions & Answers with the audience

To RSVP and to obtain a pass for UNHQ for this event please visit: https://bit.ly/2UDNPKC
This event will be webcast live: http://webtv.un.org  

9h 30 : Discours d‘Ouverture

10h : Table ronde 5 : « L‘Éducation à la citoyenneté mondiale » et débat

11h 30 : Table ronde 6 : « Vers une Ingénierie de la Paix via l‘interculturailté et le solidarisme » avec la participation de plusieurs délégations citoyennes mondiales et débat

14h 30 : Table ronde 7 : « Ingénierie de la Paix et lancement du programme des Assemblées citoyennes mondiales ou Pangées » avec les Délégations

16h : Table ronde 8 : « Relever les défis planétaires : enjeux et propositions », échanges entre participants et plan d‘action (Fin 17 h 30)

20h : Spectacle interculturel (sous réserves)

[French]

9h : Ouverture

9h 45 : Table ronde 1 : « Histoire et culture de la citoyenneté mondiale » et débat

11h 15 : Table ronde 2 : « Aux Origines de la Citoyenneté Mondiale » et débat

14h : Table ronde 3 : « Quel Avenir pour la démocratie mondiale, vers de nouvelles Institutions mondiales ? » et débat

15h 45 : Table ronde 4 : « Le Rôle des sociétés civiles » et débat

17h 15 : Clôture du Colloque (Fin 17 h 30)

20h : Au cinéma Les 7 Parnassiens - 98, boulevard du Montparnasse 75014 Paris : Projection du film « Le Monde est ma patrie », en présence des réalisateurs, Arthur Kanegis et Mélanie Bennett, et de Troy Davis (fils de Garry Davis) Réservation cinéma (10 €) : https://www.weezevent.com/-1267

[French]

Célébration de la Déclaration du 19 novembre 1948 sur le Parvis des Droits de l’Homme, place du Trocadero Lecture du texte de l’interpellation à l’ONU. Prises de paroles.

14h : Lecture de la Déclaration du 19 novembre 1948

17h / 20h : Interventions musicales

The International Peace Institute (IPI), the Directorate General for International Relations and Strategy (DGRIS) of the French Ministry of Armed Forces and the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands are pleased to invite you to a seminar on “Protecting Civilians and Managing Threats: Non-state Armed Groups, Violent Extremism, and the Role of UN Peace Operations”. The event will take place on Friday, October 26, from 10:00am to 3:00pm.

This seminar will explore difficulties faced by UN peace operations to protect civilians in complex environments, where creative solutions are needed to address non-state armed groups and violent extremism. It will provide the opportunity to present and discuss two IPI policy papers focusing on “engaging armed groups for the protection of civilians” and “protecting civilians in contexts of violent extremism and counter-terrorism.” — Both papers will be published in October as part of IPI’s Protection of Civilians Project.
Please click here to view the agenda.

Welcoming Remarks:

• Dr. Adam Lupel, Vice President, International Peace Institute

• Gen. Thierry Lion, Senior Military Advisor, Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations 

• Rear Admiral (LH) Peter van den Berg, Senior Military Advisor, Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the UN 

Opening Remarks:
Mr. David Haeri, Director, Division of Policy, Evaluation and Training, UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations/Department of Field Support 

10:30am-12:15pm  Session 1: Engaging with Armed Groups for the Protection of Civilians

Speakers include:

• Mr. Ralph Mamiya, Non-resident Adviser, International Peace Institute, Former Protection of Civilians Team Leader, UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations/Department of Field Support

• Ms. Naomi Miyashita, Policy Planning Team Leader, Division of Policy, Evaluation and Training, UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations 

• Ms. Agnes Coutou, Peacekeeping & Protection Advisor, International Committee of the Red Cross 

• Dr. Michael Semple, Practitioner Chair, Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice, Professor, Queens’ University Belfast

• Mr. Adam Day, Head of Programmes, United Nations University - Centre for Policy Research

Moderator: 
Dr. Youssef Mahmoud, Senior Advisor, International Peace Institute

Keynote:
Mr. Jack Christofides, Africa II Division, UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations

1:00pm-2:45pm Session 2: Protection of Civilians in Contexts of Violent Extremism: The Case of Mali 

Speakers include:

• Dr. Namie Di Razza, Research Fellow, International Peace Institute

• Mr. Samuel Gahigi, Mali Integrated Operational Team Leader, UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations 

• Dr. Alpha Oumar Ba-Konaré, Independent Expert, National Institute for Oriental Languages and Civilizations (INALCO Paris)

• Dr. Marie-Joëlle Zahar, Non-resident Senior Fellow, International Peace Institute and Professor, University of Montreal

• Ms. Chloe Marnay-Baszanger, Peace Missions Support Section, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights 

Moderator: 
Mr. Jake Sherman, Director of the Brian Urquhart Center for Peace Operations, International Peace Institute

For questions, contact:
Beatrice Agyarkoh, agyarkoh@ipinst.org or 212-225-9628

The International Peace Institute (IPI) and the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) are pleased to invite you to an evening panel discussion on the role of conventional arms control in preventing conflicts and building peace. The event will take place at IPI on Thursday, October 25, 2018 from 6:00pm to 7:30pm.

Opening remarks:
H.E. Aidan Liddle, UK Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva
Dr. Renata Dwan, Director, United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research

Speakers:

• Ms. Roselyn Akombe, Policy and Mediation Division, UN Department of Political Affairs

• Mr. Thomas Kontogeorgos, Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Service, UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations

• Dr. Youssef Mahmoud, Senior Adviser, IPI

• Mr. Himayu Shiotani, Programme Lead, Conventional Arms Programme, UNIDIR

Moderator:
Mr. Jake Sherman, Director of the Brian Urquhart Center for Peace Operations, IPI

Poor regulation of arms and ammunition is a key enabler of conflict and a means of sustaining it. Peace and sustainable development cannot be achieved without effective conventional arms control. Despite this, conventional arms control is rarely integrated into conflict prevention thinking and action. The Secretary General’s Agenda for Disarmament calls for an examination of how disarmament and arms control can contribute to conflict prevention.

This event, held during the opening week of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly’s Committee on Disarmament, aims to improve understanding of the roles and impact of conventional arms in preventing and managing conflicts, as well as to examine approaches to better identify, utilize, and integrate conventional arms control measures and tools to sustain peace.

For questions, contact:
Amanda Murchison, murchison@ipinst.org or 212-225-9638

RSVP Here

*You must register to attend this event*

Following UN Security Council 1371 (2001), the UN and its member states have developed what can be described as an international counterterrorism regime composed of laws, standards, rules, policies, and practices. However, there is growing evidence that the design and implementation of counterterrorism measures can adversely impact the provision of medical care and the conduct of principled humanitarian action in armed conflict. Whether inadvertently or not, these measures have impeded—and at times prevented—the provision of essential and lifesaving aid. This runs counter to international humanitarian law obligations to provide and grant access to medical assistance and impartial humanitarian aid, which need to be taken into account in the design and implementation of counterterrorism laws and policies. 

This event aims to enhance awareness of how counterterrorism measures and their implementation may adversely impact the delivery of impartial humanitarian assistance in armed conflict zones, in particular looking at the current UN counterterrorism framework. It will also mark the launch of IPI’s new report, “Safeguarding Medical Care and Humanitarian Action in the UN Counterterrorism Framework” and disseminate key findings from the research. Finally, it will discuss recommendations and explore ways forward to mitigate tensions between counterterrorism and humanitarian imperatives.

The International Peace Institute (IPI) is pleased to invite you to the latest event in its series featuring United Nations Humanitarian Coordinators and other senior humanitarian leaders from the field on Thursday, October 11, 2018, from 1pm-2:30pm. This discussion with Mr. Philippe Lazzarini, United Nations Deputy Special Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, will focus on the latest developments in Lebanon including the humanitarian and the economic situation. This event will also address the impact that recent regional developments — including the crisis in Syria — have had on Lebanon, and the UN’s strategies for coping with an increasingly protracted refugee crisis.

Speaker:
Mr. Philippe Lazzarini, United Nations Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon
 

Moderator:
Dr. Adam Lupel, Vice President, IPI

Since the beginning of the conflict in Syria, Lebanon has seen a huge influx of Syrian refugees, adding to the existing population of Palestinian refugees in the country. This influx puts an increasing strain on the country’s public services. Additionally, Lebanon is still recovering from the consequences of its own civil war, which ended in 1990, and from the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah. While promoting durable solutions in Lebanon is essential, the battle of Idlib in northern Syria has placed renewed attention on the conflict occurring next door, the regional impact on human suffering, and the immediate needs for protection, relief, and access to basic services.

This event aims to raise awareness of the challenges faced by the UN and other humanitarian actors in Lebanon in delivering a multifaceted range of interventions, from emergency aid to development assistance. It will shed light on how the UN can better put the humanitarian-development nexus into practice in support of refugees, displaced people, host communities, and other vulnerable groups.

Mr. Philippe Lazzarini has 30 years of professional experience including in leadership positions with the United Nations, the private sector, and the International Committee of the Red Cross. In August 2015, the UN Secretary-General assigned him the role of Deputy UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL), UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator and the United Nations Development Program Resident Representative.

For questions, contact:
Beatrice Agyarkoh, agyarkoh@ipinst.org or 212-225-9628

RSVP Here

*You must register to attend this event.*

"Stand Up for SDG16+: Accelerating Progress on SDG 16+" - a high-level side event to the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly. The event will be held on September 28 2018, 1:15-2:30 pm (EDT) in Conference Room 11, UNHQ New York. 

In the same spirit of the joint 2018 HLPF launch, this side event will continue to shine a spotlight on SDG 16+ and build momentum to support the achievement of SDG 16+  as an end goal itself and as an enabler for other SDGs. The side event will provide a platform for Member States, private sector, civil society, and youth to highlight how they are supporting the achievement of SDG 16+.

Please note: RSVP is required through Eventbrite. Entry requires a UN Ground Pass. If you do not hold a UN Ground Pass please follow the instructions on the Eventbrite registration form.  Entry to the venue is from the 46th Street, 1st Avenue entrance. In addition to the UN Security access pass, a government-issued photo identification (which must match the name given for UN Security pass) is required to enter the premises. 

To register for the event click here
Download the PDF version of the Save the Date

The International Peace Institute and the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) of Switzerland are pleased to invite you to a policy forum during the UN High-Level Week to present the main conclusions and recommendations from the third Regional Conversations on “Investing in Peace and the Prevention of Violence in the Sahel-Sahara.” These conversations were organized in Algiers on June 24 and 25, 2018, by the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), IPI, the FDFA of Switzerland, and the African Union’s African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism (ACSRT), with the support from the government of Algeria. The event will take place at IPI on Friday, September 28, 2018, from 1:00 pm to 2:45 pm.

Opening remarks:
H.E. Mr. Jürg Lauber, Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations
H.E. Mr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS)

Speakers:
H.E. Ambassador El Haouès Riache, Ambassador and Counterterrorism Advisor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Algeria
H.E. Mr. Larry Gbevlo-Lartey, African Union Special Representative for Counterterrorism and Director of the African Union’s African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism (ACSRT)
Ms. Lori-Anne Théroux-Bénoni, Director, Dakar Office, Institute for Security Studies, Senegal
Mr. Mohamed Anacko, President of Agadez Regional Council, Niger
Ms. Omezzine Khélifa, Executive Director, Mobdiun, Tunisia

Moderator:
Dr. Youssef Mahmoud, Senior Adviser, International Peace Institute (IPI)

Following similar Conversations in Dakar in 2016 and N’Djamena in 2017, the Algiers gathering aimed to further identify and strengthen local, national, and regional approaches to preventing violent extremism and addressing its causes in the Sahel-Sahara. The focus was on the gap between the state and its citizens, engagement by civil society, the role of the media and security and defense forces, and the contribution of culture, citizenship, and education to prevention. Participants in the Algiers conversation called for a multidimensional approach to prevention that involves all stakeholders. They formulated recommendations on actions practitioners from the region could take, both within states and through regional and subregional groupings, and in some cases with support from the UN and other partners. The French version of the meeting note is available here (English and Arabic versions are forthcoming).

This gathering will offer a unique opportunity for a lively exchange between policymakers and practitioners from Africa during high-level week in New York.

Simultaneous French/English translation will be available at the event.

RSVP Here

The International Peace Institute in partnership with the Government of Sweden are pleased to invite you to a Global Leader Series discussion with H.E. Margot Wallström, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden. The event will take place at IPI on Thursday, September 27, 2018, from 2:30pm to 4:00pm. 

 Despite two decades of policy development and commitments intended to support women and girls affected by armed conflict, women's participation in all levels of peace and security decision-making lags due to structural barriers, lack of access to political arenas, and even threats to women who attempt to participate in these processes. In efforts to build and sustain peace, there remains a widespread neglect of local-level women peacebuilders’ expertise, and formal peacemaking efforts continue to be resistant to women's meaningful participation and to women's rights. This problem persists despite increasing recognition that efforts to build and sustain peace are dependent upon the full participation of women and respect for their rights. This Global Leaders discussion will draw on the minister’s years as an advocate for women’s rights, including in conflict zones, and will include her insights on how the international community can better live up to its obligations to women and girls globally.

H.E. Ms. Wallström has been the Foreign Minister of Sweden since 2014. She has had a long career in politics, which began in 1979 when she first served as a member of the Swedish Parliament. Her ministerial career began in 1988 when she was appointed Minister of Civil Affairs, responsible for consumer, women, and youth matters. She subsequently assumed the position of Minister of Culture, and then Minister of Social Affairs. In 1998, she retired from Swedish politics to become Executive Vice-President of Worldview Global Media, a non-governmental organization based in Colombo, Sri Lanka. From 1999 until 2004, she served as European Commissioner for the Environment. In 2004, when the Barroso Commission took office, she was appointed its first vice president responsible for inter-institutional relations and communication.

Ms.Wallström has been an advocate for the rights and needs of women throughout her political career, perhaps most notably as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict from 2010 to 2012, and in her promotion of Sweden’s feminist foreign policy in her role as Foreign Minister. She is currently a member of the High-Level Panel on Humanitarian Financing, appointed by the UN Secretary-General in May 2015. She has received several honorary doctorates and awards for her work on sustainable development and climate change, and has also done extensive work to endorse a European Union-Africa partnership on renewable energy, and to champion equal opportunities. She was also co-founder of the European Union inter-institutional group of women and a key supporter of the 50-50 Campaign for Democracy by the European Women's Lobby, where she worked to promote a more gender-balanced European Union.

This event will be moderated by Mr. Terje Rød-Larsen, President of IPI.

 Administrative Note:
Because of the strict security relating to the opening of the United Nations General Assembly, you will need to arrive by 2:30pm and bring a photo ID, as well as a copy of this invitation to enter the building. 

*Please note that you must register for the event prior to September 27th in order to attend.*

Due to space constraints, we can only accept the first 120 positive responses.

RSVP Here

For questions, contact:
Beatrice Agyarkoh, agyarkoh@ipinst.org or 212-225-9628

*You must register to attend this event.*

The International Peace Institute (IPI), the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, are pleased to invite you to the eleventh annual Trygve Lie Symposium on “Human Rights Defenders: A Global Movement for Peace.” The event will take place at IPI on Thursday, September 27, 2018, from 8:00am to 9:45am.

Speakers at this event include Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Kingdom of Norway, H.E. Ms. Ine Eriksen Søreide, Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Republic of Tunisia, H.E. Mr. Khemaies Jhinaoui, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, H.E. Ms. Michelle Bachelet, as well as other distinguished speakers. This conversation will be moderated by the President of the International Peace Institute, Mr. Terje Rød-Larsen.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 20th anniversary of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. Throughout 2018, various events and activities around the globe are being held to highlight the importance of these declarations at an increasingly crucial time for human rights, including the “stand up for human rights” campaign being organized by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

According to the OHCHR, the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders tells us that we all have a role to fulfill as human rights defenders and emphasizes that there is a global human rights movement that involves us all. In November of last year, Norway, along with 75 other countries, co-sponsored the Human Rights Defenders UN Consensus Resolution in consultation with civil society, which was unanimously adopted by the UN General Assembly. This resolution recognized “the substantial role that human rights defenders can play in supporting efforts to strengthen conflict prevention, peace, and sustainable development, including… in the context of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”

This year’s Trygve Lie Symposium will bring together high-level UN and government officials, experts, and civil society representatives to discuss and address how the international community can further promote the positive, important, legitimate, and necessary role of human rights defenders and how this work helps to create a world where sustainable peace is possible.

As we celebrate the anniversaries of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, presentations at this year’s Trygve Lie Symposium will reflect on the progress that has been made, new obstacles that those working to protect and defend human rights face, and the challenges that remain.

Administrative Note: Because of the strict security relating to the opening of the United Nations General Assembly, you will need to arrive by 8:00 am and bring a photo ID, as well as a copy of this invitation to enter the building.

RSVP Here

*Please note that you must register for the event prior to September 27th in order to attend.*

VIP Dialogue with Presidents and Prime Ministers, Captains of Industry, and other Dignitaries to learn about Business Opportunities in Africa

With the assistance of the Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the United Nations

The Co-Chairs of the United Nations Senior Africans Group, Mr. Adama Dieng, Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide, and Dr. Phumzile Mlambo Ngcuka, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, invite you to a High-Level Summit during the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly, entitled "Africa: Open for Business Summit" - VIP Dialogue with Presidents and Prime Ministers, Captains of Industry, and other Dignitaries to learn about Business Opportunities in Africa.  

Contact: Djibril Diallo, Coordinator of the United nations Africans Group, and the President & CEO of the African Renaissance and Diaspora Network: djibril.diallo@ardn.ngo

The International Peace Institute (IPI), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), would like to invite you to a conversation with Liberian President, H.E. Mr. George Manneh Weah, as part of its Global Leader Series. Following President Weah’s presentation, there will be a discussion moderated by IPI’s president, Terje Rød-Larsen, with Sweden’s Permanent Representative to the UN and Chair of the Liberia Configuration of the UN Peacebuilding Commission, H.E. Mr. Olof Skoog, and the Assistant Secretary General and Director of the Regional Bureau for Africa of UNDP, Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa, on Liberia’s peacebuilding objectives and development priorities. The event will take place at IPI on Wednesday, September 26, 2018, from 8:15am to 9:45am.

Liberia’s presidential and legislative elections at the end of 2017 and the successful transfer of democratic power two months later marked a significant accomplishment in the country’s history. Following this peaceful transition and the end of the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), Libera now embarks on the next stage of its development trajectory. As part of this process, President Weah and the Liberian government are finalizing the country’s new development framework, the Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD). At this Global Leader Series event, President Weah will reflect on Liberia’s current opportunities and challenges while also addressing how best the international community can sustain and amplify its support to the country.

Administrative Note:
Because of the strict security relating to the opening of the United Nations General Assembly, you will need to arrive by 8:00am and bring a photo ID, as well as a copy of this invitation to enter the building.

RSVP Here

*Please note that you must register for the event prior to September 26th in order to attend*

Due to space constraints, we can only accept the first 100 positive responses.

For questions, contact:
Beatrice Agyarkoh, agyarkoh@ipinst.org or 212-225-9628

UNGA73 High-level side event

Programme:

Keynote Speech:

• Ms. Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

Welcoming remarks:

• H.E. Enzo Moavero Milanesi, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Italy

• H.E. Aloysio Nunes Ferreira Filho, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Brazil

• H.E. Dionísio Babo Soares, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Timor-Leste

• H.E. Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, France

• High-level representative from Burkina Faso (tbc)

Panelists:

• Mr. Philip Alston, Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights

• MaryAnn Njau, Chairperson of the Kenya Task Force on Death Penalty

• Mr. Kumi Naidoo, SG Amnesty International

• Ndume Olatushani, Former prisoner released from death row

Moderator:

• Mr. Andrew Gilmour, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights

Q&A

Delegations wishing to take the floor are requested to contact the Mission of Italy (maurizio.antonini@esteri.it; jessica.cupellini@esteri.it), specifying the level of the speaker.

Please Register Here

Summary:
The practice of the death penalty around the world provides an emblematic example of how the imbalances in the application of the rule of law and lack of fair and proportionate sentencing in the administration of justice impact the poor. The marginalization of the poor from the protections of justice has serious consequences for the implementation of the SDGs.

People in poverty face many obstacles when approaching the criminal justice system. Their lack of financial resources often undermines the extent and quality of legal advice that they receive. This precarious situation exposes them to fatal disadvantages in criminal trials, which may lead to the death sentence.

Against this background, and within the context of the UN’s long-standing support for the abolition of the death penalty, OHCHR, Italy, Brazil, Burkina Faso (tbc), France, and Timor-Leste will hold a side event during the High-Level opening segment of the 73rd Session of the General Assembly to discuss the links between poverty, access to justice and the death penalty.

Within the context of its efforts to promote respect for international human rights and the rule of law, since 2007, the General Assembly has adopted a series of resolutions calling on States to establish a moratorium on the use of the death penalty. The most recent General Assembly resolution 71/187, adopted on 19 December 2016 welcomed progress towards abolition globally, encouraged moratoria and called upon all States to respect international standards that provide safeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty, in particular, the minimum standards, as set out in the annex to Economic and Social Council resolution 1984/50 of 25 May 1984. The General Assembly will continue consideration of the issue at its 73rd session.

Despite these growing calls for a moratorium on executions, the death penalty continues to be applied in many Member States, disproportionately impacting the poorest or the most economically vulnerable individuals. Poverty, discrimination and social and economic inequalities affect access to justice for those who are facing possible execution. Defendants will in some cases be discriminated against because of their social or other status.

In 2017, on the World Day Against the Death Penalty, a group of United Nations human rights experts called for urgent action to end this imbalanced use of the death penalty on people from poorer communities.
The marginalization of the poor in the administration of justice, as demonstrated by the application of the death penalty, has disastrous consequences for the development and implementation of the SDGs.

Objectives:

• Share the experience of the States and individuals on the death penalty, poverty and the right to legal representation

• Build support, including in the context of implementation of the SDGs, to overcome human rights concerns in the continued use of the death penalty and in the context of poverty

• Identify good practices to support Member States in promoting the rule of law and equal access to justice for all, as stipulated in the SDG Target 16.3

• Share expert analysis on protecting human rights in the context of the death penalty and poverty

• Encourage States to take appropriate actions to ensure that poor people are legally represented in criminal justice and promote their fair and proportionate sentencing.

The International Peace Institute and the Office of the President of the 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly invite you to an interactive discussion with members from the Team of External Advisors to the President of the General Assembly. The event will take place at IPI on Monday, September 10, 2018, from 9:15am to 12:45pm.

Welcoming Remarks:
Mr. Terje Rød-Larsen, President of the International Peace Institute

Opening Remarks:
H.E. Mr. Miroslav Lajčák, President of the 72nd Session of the General Assembly and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovakia

Session 1: The Future of a Rule-Based System: Multilateralism Under Threat

Speakers:
H.E. Ms. Susana Malcorra, Advisor to the President of Argentina, former Foreign Minister of Argentina, former Chef de Cabinet of the UN Secretary-General [video message]
H.E. Mr. Francisco José Pereira Pinto de Balsemão, former Prime Minister of Portugal and Chairman of the Board of the group IMPRESA
Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University and Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on the Sustainable Development Goals
Mr. Jean-Marie Guéhenno, former President and CEO of the International Crisis Group and former Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations
Mr. Nik Gowing, British Television Journalist and Co-author of Thinking the Unthinkable

Moderator: 
Ms. Femi Oke, International Journalist and Co-founder of Moderate the Panel

Session 2: A Stronger General Assembly for a Stronger United Nations

Speakers:
H.E. Ms. Amina Mohamed, Cabinet Secretary for Education and former Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade of the Republic of Kenya, former Permanent Representative of The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Kenya to the United Nations
H.E. Mr. Antonio Patriota, Ambassador of Brazil to Italy, former Foreign Minister of Brazil, and former Permanent Representative of Brazil to the UN
Professor Carlos Lopes, Professor at the University of Cape Town and former Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa

Moderator: 
Mr. Nik Gowing, British Television Journalist and Co-author of Thinking the Unthinkable

The Team of External Advisors to the President of the General Assembly is a pro bono group of sixteen globally respected individuals dedicated to multilateralism who have been remarkable in their service -- both to their country and in the international arena. The team was formed with the aim of discussing and sharing views on strategic questions, including the scope and depth of the work and engagement of the UN, as well as the role of the General Assembly.

As the theme for the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly was "Focusing on People Striving for Peace and a Decent Life for All on a Sustainable Planet," the Team focused on peace, conflict prevention, and mediation. At the event at IPI on September 10th, members of the Team will highlight ideas and recommendations that emerged from their discussions with the President of the General Assembly throughout his term. These discussions were summarized in the Final Report of the Team of External Advisors, which will be available at the event. The meetings covered a wide range of topics including global political issues, multilateralism, sustaining peace, the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement on climate change, human rights and human dignity, and the future and reform of the United Nations.

For questions contact:
Amanda Mignone, murchison@ipinst.org or 212-225-9638
 

RSVP Here

You must register to attend this event.

Meet the editor Sahm Venter and Zamaswazi Dlamini-Mandela
Introductory remarks by Andrew Gilmour, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights

Click here to RSVP

Sahm Venter worked as a journalist for over twenty years, mainly covering the anti-apartheid struggle, including Nelson Mandela’s release from prison in 1990, and South Africa’s transition to democracy. She has edited and co-authored a number of books and is currently senior researcher at the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

Zamaswazi Dlamini-Mandela is a granddaughter of Nelson Mandela and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. She works as a business developer and is a public speaker and entrepreneur.

This event is open to United Nations pass holders and visitors. All visitors who will be attending the event require a UN security pass to enter the United Nations. 

For further information, please email bookshop@un.org

In Collaboration with: 
UNESCO-NY, the UN Academic Impact, and the UN Alliance of Civilization
Sponsored by:
The Missions of the Republic of Korea & the State of Qatar to the United Nations

In an increasingly interdependent world, a prosperous future requires education systems that educate for global citizenship. We invite you to join us on July 18, for our celebration event to promote the creation of an International Day of Education for Global Citizenship through the United Nations system. 
 
We believe that such a day is a vital part of fulfilling the UN’s commitment to global peace and prosperity. July 18th marks the date the UN included global citizenship in the language of UN Sustainable Development Goal 4, Quality Education. Our celebration recognizes the fourth anniversary of that date and reaffirms the commitment made by the participants of the 2016 Gyeongju UN DPI/NGO conference to establish an International Day of Education for Global Citizenship at the United Nations.

List of Speakers:

1. The Former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon; 
2. H.E. Ambassador Park Chull-joo, The Mission of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations; 
3. Mr. Abdulrahman Al Hamadi, Charge d’Affairs, The Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations;
4. Ms. Marie Paule Roudil, Director and UNESCO Representative to the United Nations in New York; 
5. Mr. Matthew Hodes, Director of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations; 
6. Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, Professor of Economics and the Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network
7. Special Advisor to the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Concept Note and Programme
Click here for more information

The event will provide a platform for dialogue about integrated sustainability and human-rights based approaches in the achievement of the SDGs and incorporating SDG 16 and human rights principles into the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. It will also discuss tools and strategies for implementing the biodiversity and ecosystem dimensions of the right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment, including in the context of key sectors (SDG 12 on sustainable production and consumption patterns).

Please note that there is no need to RSVP. However, access to the UN building does require possessing a UN ground pass.

FLYER

The event will showcase practical examples that demonstrate the value of a human rights-based approach (HRBA) to achieving SDG 6 and other related Goals, with a central focus on the role of the right to water and sanitation in building resilience. Government and civil society representatives will share the experiences in integrating international human rights standards and principles into national water and community resilience policies, with a deeper look into the situation in El Salvador.

This event is organized by the Permanent Missions of Portugal and Uruguay, on behalf of the Group of Friends of Economic, Social and Cultural Right, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and Franciscans International, and is cosponsored by the Permanent Missions of El Salvador, Finland and Cape Verde and UN Water.

FLYER

Should you require a UN Ground Pass, please RSVP before July 10 by clicking here

The event will feature:
H.E. Valentin Rybakov, Permanent Representative of Belarus to the UN (on behalf of the Group of Friends United Against Human Trafficking)
Mr.  Yury Fedotov, Under-Secretary-General, Executive Director of UN Office on Drugs and Crime (ICAT Coordinator)
Representative from UNICEF (ICAT 2018 Chair) 

Following an update on the work of ICAT, including the recent ICAT Principals Level Meeting pursuant to GA Resolution 72/195 (OP10-11), interventions from the floor will be welcomed.  

RSVP to monasebian@un.org or 212-963-5631

The Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force Working Group on Promoting and Protecting Human Rights and the Rule of Law While Countering Terrorism, chaired by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, has drafted a guidance document on Human Rights-Compliant Responses to the Threat Posed by Foreign Fighters.

The document provides concrete guidance to States in their efforts to implement Security Council Resolutions 2178 and 2396 in compliance with international human rights law, international humanitarian law and international refugee law, as intended by the Security Council, and in a manner consistent with the comprehensive approach agreed by the General Assembly in its review of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. The guidance document will be launched at this event.

Moderator:
Mr. Jürg Lauber, Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations

Panelists:
Mr. Andrew Gilmour, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights
Ms. Michèle Coninsx, Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director, Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate
Ms. Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism
Mr. Marc Pecsteen de Buytswerve, Permanent Representative of Belgium to the United Nations
Ms. Letta Tayler, Senior Researcher, Human Rights Watch

RSVP to gabriela.potts@eda.admin.ch (for those who do not have a UN grounds pass)

Refer A/HRC/37/65 (2018), "Joint study of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence and the Special Advisor to the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide" 

Please RSVP by 25 June 2018 to gabriela.potts@eda.admin.ch

Agenda:
10:00am - Welcome remarks
H.E. Mr. Jürg Lauber, Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations

10:05am - Welcome remarks
H.E. Mr. Martín García Moritán, Permanent Representative of Argentina to the United Nations

10:10am - Presentations
Adama Dieng, United Nations Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide
Pablo de Greiff, Former United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparations and guarantees of non-recurrence

10:30am - Open discussion
Moderated by Marcie Mersky, External Senior Mediation Advisor for the United Nations Department of Political Affairs

11:50am - Closing remarks

Download invitation

Hosted by the Civil Society-UN Prevention Platform

In 2016, the Secretary General’s Plan of Action and, the most recent Security Council resolutions, including 2178, 2354 and 2396 set countering and preventing violent extremism efforts in the wider context of a rejuvenation of the Organization’s preventive agenda. In the context of a week at the UN focused on counter-terrorism strategies of Member States, the Civil Society-UN Prevention Platform is convening this discussion to explore ways that civil society, the UN and Member States can work together to engage productively and collaboratively on this issue.

The objective of this meeting is to discuss key actors in countering and preventing of violent extremism, explore ways to better engage local civil society communities, consider the lessons learned at local levels and within the UN system on countering and preventing violent extremism and to set expectations for the week’s upcoming events.

Speakers:
Edward Flynn, Senior Human Rights Officer, Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), United Nations
David Nichols, Senior UN Advocate, Amnesty International
Fadi Abi Allam, President, Permanent Peace Movement, Lebanon

To RSVP or for more information, please contact Evie McCullough at emccullough@afsc.org. For additional information, you may also call 212-682-2745. 

Click here to download the official invitation

The panel discussion will be held to commemorate the official observance of the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict entitled "The Plight and Rights of Children Born of War" co-hosted by the Office of the SRSG on Sexual Violence in Conflict, the Office of the SRSG for Children and Armed Conflict, the Permanent Mission of Argentina to the United Nations and the Government of the United Kingdom.  

The event will include reflections on how the lessons of history can be applied to contemporary conflict and post-conflict societies, in which women and children released from armed and violent extremist groups struggle to reintegrate into their families and communities. It will consider strategies such as enlisting religious and traditional leaders to help change harmful social norms and dispel the perception that these children and their mothers were complicit in the crimes committed by their captors. (The event will be conducted in English).

RSVP ciara.butterfield@un.org

Follow the conversation on social media #EndRapeinWar
For more information, please see flyer and programme