Announcements for the Civil Society Representatives | Week of 4 November 2019
From UN News
Secretary-General’s Opinion Piece in the Financial Times:
Progress toward sustainable development is seriously off-track
Hunger is rising, half the world lack basic education and healthcare, women face discrimination
People around the world are taking to the streets to protest against rising living costs and real or perceived injustice. They feel the economy is not working for them — and in some cases, they are right. A narrow focus on growth, regardless of its true cost and consequences, is leading to climate catastrophe, a loss of trust in institutions and a lack of faith in the future.
Watch SDG Media Zone at Web Summit 5-7 November 2019
The SDG Media Zone will be broadcasting live from Web Summit in Lisbon, Portugal from 5-7 November. Attracting around 70,000 innovators and entrepreneurs, Web Summit convenes the founders and CEOs of technology companies, fast-growing startups policy makers and politicians to help shape a new era of global business.
Together with the UN Global Compact, we will be broadcasting interviews and panel discussions live from the floor of the Planet Tech area with a focus on scaling up action to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Join us to hear from CEOs, tech industry leaders, innovative companies, fast paced startups and leading journalists on how business and disruptive technologies can help support sustainable development and deliver the Sustainable Development Goals.
Watch SDG Media Zone here
Learn more and watch Web Summit live here
#WebSummit #SDG
Share with your networks
Today 1 in 3 people around the world lack safe drinking water. Nearly as many of them drink from a water source contaminated with faeces. Many more lack safe sanitation, including 3 billion people around the world who don’t have basic hand-washing facilities at home.
Yet, universal access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation could reduce the global disease burden by 10 per cent and is considered the most cost effective health intervention.
In November, we explore how water and sanitation remain at the core of sustainable development, affecting not just our health but also significantly influencing socio-economic development, peace and security, inequalities and the wellbeing of our ecosystems.
For more information on water, please
visit https://www.unwater.org/water-facts/
UNESCO invites the governments of Member States, in consultation with their National Commissions, as well as international and regional professional non-governmental organizations, active in the field of press freedom, to nominate candidates for next year’s UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize.
Nominations for the Prize should be submitted by filling out the form in English or French and sending it before 15 February 2020
Learn the details and submit your nomination here
UNESCO celebrates World Cities Day designating 66 new Creative Cities
On the occasion of World Cities’ Day, celebrated on 31 October, UNESCO is designating 66 urban settlements that are to join the Organization’s Network of Creative Cities, which now number a total of 246 members. The Network brings together cities that base their development on creativity, whether in music, arts and folk crafts, design, cinema, literature, digital arts or gastronomy.
UNESCO creative cities commit to placing culture at the centre of their development strategies and to share their best practices.
Read more…
Business giants worth $16 trillion commit to sustainable investment
Leaving for New York last month, Deanne Stewart, the CEO of one of Australia’s largest pension funds, told her daughter that she was going to join a new UN-led sustainable investors’ alliance, whose members manage around $16 trillion between them. Her daughter, who had recently led a successful campaign to ban single-use plastic from several local businesses, replied: “With 16 trillion dollars, mom, can you imagine what I could get done?”
Global Migration Film Festival:
28 November – 18 December 2019
100 countries | 30,000+ people | 500 screenings | 30+ films
Learn more about the GMFF 2019 here
UN75: 2020 AND BEYOND. Shaping our future together
To mark its 75th anniversary in 2020, the United Nations is igniting a people’s debate, UN75. Launched by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, it promises to be the largest and furthest-reaching global conversation ever on building the future we want.
In a world of dramatic changes and complex challenges, from the climate crisis to population shifts to the unknown course of technology, we need collective action more than ever before. Through UN75, the United Nations will encourage people to put their heads together to define how enhanced international cooperation can help realize a better world by 2045, the UN’s 100th birthday.
Learn how to join the conversation at www.un.org/un75
International Days
World Toilet Day | 19 November
Nearly half of the world’s population today lives without safely managed sanitation – essentially hygienic, private toilets that safely dispose of people’s waste. An estimated 600 million people still practice open defecation.
This World Toilet Day, the United Nations and its partners will draw attention to the social, economic and environmental consequences of the lack of sanitation and access to safe toilets, stressing that sanitation is our human right and that toilets are life-savers, dignity-protectors and opportunity-makers.
UN Water looks at Eight Things You Need to Know about the Sanitation Crisis.
Events at United Nations Headquarters
Meet the Author: Vladimir Dzuro
“The Investigator: Demons of the Balkan War”
Date: Thursday, 14 November 2019
Time: 1 – 2 p.m.
Location: United Nations Bookshop, GA Building, Visitors’ Concourse (UN Visitor’s entrance: 1st Avenue & 46th Street)
RSVP is open to UN Grounds Pass holders and visitors to the UN. For further information and RSVP, please click here
For further information, please email bookshop@un.org
United Nations Academic Impact J. Michael Adams Lecture: I was 20 in 1945
The lecture, entitled “I was 20 in 1945”, will be delivered this year by international human rights pioneer Peter Weiss. Learn more here
Date: 20 November 2019
Time: 3 – 4:40 p.m.
Location: Conference room 4, United Nations Headquarters, New York, NY
RSVP
Registration, which is required for all attendees, closes at at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, 15 November 2019. Read full details here
Date: 5-6 December 2019
Location: United Nations Headquarters, New York, NY
Register by 3 November 2019 https://bit.ly/2VLal5l
More information http://www.lldc2conference.org/mtr/
Application for Special-accreditation to the 2020 United Nations Ocean Conference Now Open
Interested Stakeholders NOT in consultative status with ECOSOC must apply for special accreditation prior to 15 November 2019
Apply: https://reg.unog.ch/event/31890/
More information
Achieving menstrual equity and keeping girls in school: Raising awareness and improving access to feminine hygiene products
An event to raise awareness, share best practices and support work that address menstrual health management globally.
New Date: 22 November 2019
Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Location: Conference room 12, United Nations Headquarters, New York
RSVP by 15 November 2019
Invitation
Exhibits at the UNHQ in New York
17 Goals to Transform the World
This exhibit illustrates the Sustainable Development Goals through photos from around the world, bringing to life what the 17 Goals mean for people and the planet.
The exhibition is organized by the UN Department of Global Communications. It is presented in connection with United Nations Day (24 October).
On display 23 October – 3 December 2019
UN-NGLS: Special accreditation guidelines
Did you know?
Organizations that are not in Consultative Status with United Nations ECOSOC may apply for special approval to attend High-Level Events at the UN.
Watch the video below to find out how UN-NGLS now part of UNDGC Civil Society Unit supports the special-accreditation process to facilitate stakeholder’s participation!
- More about UN NGLS
- Special-accreditation for the 2020 United Nations Ocean Conference is Now Open. Interested stakeholders are highly encouraged to apply and share the link with your networks!
- Join United Nations High-Level Midterm Review of Vienna Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries.
Stakeholders: Register and please share the information to relevant organizations in your network as well.
Civil Society Youth Representatives joined Team UN for the New York Run 2019 Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K


In case you missed it
Watch Opening and Closing plenaries and all Thematic Sessions on www.un.org/csc2019 & webtv.un.org |
United Nations
Department of Global Communications
Civil Society Unit
Our mailing address is:
undgccso@un.org