Week Ahead at the UN (11 - 17 Feb)

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS: THE EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVE (07/13) 11-17 February 2013 (and beyond) This document is for planning purposes only and is subject to change.

Please check also our website for latest changes http://www.unric.org or call + 32 476 215 485

VIP Visits

 Martin Kobler, UN SRSG for Iraq: Brussels (11-12 Feb.) (tbc).  Martin Schulz, European Parliament President: Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia (11-15 Feb.).  Tomás Ojea Quintana, UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar: Myanmar (11-16 Feb).  Jane Goodall, UN Messenger for Peace: Paris (12 February).  Sim Kallas, Vice-president of the EU Commission; Štefan Füle, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy: Georgia (12-13 Feb.).  Catherine Ashton, Vice-president of the EU Commission and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy: USA (12-15 Feb.).  Maria Damanaki, EU Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries: Kiev (14 Feb.).  Valérie Amos, UN USG for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator: Brussels (14-15 Feb.).  Michel Barnier, EU Commissioner for Internal Market and Services: Washington (14-15 Feb.).  Olli Rehn, EU Commissioner for economic and monetary affairs: Moscow (14-16 Feb.).  Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: London (15 Feb.).  Guy Ryder, ILO Director-General: Dublin (15 Feb.).  Lakhdar Brahimi, Joint Special Representative of the UN and the League of Arab States for the crisis in Syria: Brussels (18 Feb.). tbc ----------------------------------------------

Monday, 11 February UNESCO to kick-start the International Year of Water Cooperation http://www.unwater.org/watercooperation2013/index.html

Amman: A delegation of four MEPs from the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee will go to Jordan to visit the main refugee camp at the Syria-Jordan border. They will also meet with Jordan authorities, international organisations and NGOs working in the field.

The aim is to assess the refugee crisis and the assistance that the EU can provide (till 14 Feb.).

Bogota: Four MEPs from the Development Committee will study the difficult situation of displaced people and the land grabbing. MEPs will meet with representatives of the government, local authorities, farmers' associations and other officials and civil society members.

Brussels: -Eurogroup.

-The UN World Food Programme and the EU annual photo exhibition at Midi Station-main concourse (till 22 Feb.). Photographs showcasing inspiring and genuine stories from real people, whose lives have been improved, thanks to European taxpayers’ support.

Dublin: Informal Meeting of EU Ministers for Development Cooperation (till 12 Feb.). http://www.eu2013.ie/news/news-items/20130210predevpr/

Geneva: -Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (till 1 March).

-Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (till 8 March).

-Conference on disarmament (till 28 March).

Manilla: EU-Philippines Interparliamentary Committee. 7 MEPs will attend the meeting.

New York: Commission for Social Development (till 15 Feb.). http://social.un.org/index/CommissionforSocialDevelopment/Sessions/2013.aspx

Paris: International Year of Water Cooperation - high level event at UNESCO to kick-start the Year. During this event, the winner of the slogan contest will be announced and the official slogan for water cooperation will be adopted. Children and youth will participate in parallel activities on the International Year of Water Cooperation at UNESCO HQ and in the Pavillion de l’Eau of Paris, respectively. The later will prepare a Youth Declaration on water cooperation, which they will present to the participants of the high level event.

-OECD Parliamentary Days (till 13 Feb.).

Rome: IFAD, Governing Council (till 15 Feb.).

Sydney: EP-Australia inter-parliamentary meeting. Seven MEPs will travel to Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide and Port Lincoln. The meeting will discuss the environment, energy resources, trade with Europe and Australia's role in the Asia-Pacific, agriculture, including aquaculture and fisheries management.

Tuesday, 12 February Beirut: Inter-parliamentary meeting with members of Lebanese Parliament. Four MEPs will participate. Further focus of the meeting will be the ongoing electoral reforms and impact of the Syrian civil war. Press conference at the EU Delegation on 15 February.

Brussels: Economic and Financial Affairs EU Council (ECOFIN).

Dublin: Informal Meeting of EU Ministers for Defence (till 13 Feb.).

New York: Security Council- open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict.

-The first in a series of ”Sustainable Development in Action” Google+ Hangouts, hosted by DESA/DSD, will explore the key outcomes of Rio+20 and the way forward, putting commitments into actions for a future we want for all. http://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/index.php?menu=1555 Tokyo: EU-Japan inter-parliamentary Committee. 13 MEPs will take part and will discuss the current political situation in Japan and in the region, including the recovery from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami and the current tensions between Japan and its neighbours.

Tbilisi: Informal Eastern Partnership (EaP) Dialogue.

Wednesday, 13 February World Radio Day http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/events/prizes-andcelebrations/celebrations/world-radio-day

Ankara: EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee. 13 MEPs will take part and will discuss the current state of play in Turkey's EU accession negotiations, the situation in Syria and its impact on Turkey and the EU. Brussels: European Economic and Social Committee plenary session (till 15 Feb.).

New York: Security Council - resolutions on the UN Office in Burundi (BNUB) and Sudan sanctions (tbc).

- Security Council - briefing on cooperation between the UN and regional and subregional organizations (European Union). EU High Representative Catherine Ashton will speak.

Thursday, 14 February Brussels: The European Commission will adopt the substantive proposal for a Directive on the Financial Transactions Tax (FTT) to be implemented under enhanced cooperation.

-Stanley Jonhson will be presenting his new book entitled "UNEP: The First Forty Years,' a captivating narrative of UNEP's past. Venue: UN House. 17.00-18.00. http://capacity4dev.ec.europa.eu/unep/event/book-launch-unep-first-forty-years-stanley-johnson

-“One Billion Rising Brussels Europe” Platform event from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. www.womenlobby.org

Dublin: -Bioeconomy Stakeholder Conference (till 15 Feb).

-Foundation Forum 2013 (till 15 Feb.). ILO Director-General Guy Ryder will take part. http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/docs/events/2013/forum2013/programme.pdf

New York: Security Council - briefing and consultations on Somalia.

-Special Joint Meeting of ECOSOC and the Second Committee on Food security and nutrition: Scaling up the global response. The meeting aims to promote coordinated international action to address both immediate issue of volatile food prices and long-term issues of production, trade and consumption of food.

-Special event on United for a culture of peace through interfaith harmony.

Friday, 15 February Brussels: Education, Youth, Culture and Sport (EYCS) EU Council.

London: Freedom of Expression and Hate Speech: What International Human Rights Law Says, Centre for the Study of Human Rights public lecture by Navi Pillay. http://www2.lse.ac.uk/publicEvents/events/2013/02/20130215t1800vOT.aspx

Moscow: G20 finance ministers and Central Bank Governors ministerial meeting (till 16 Feb.).

New York: 2013 Senior Managers' Compact signing ceremony.

And beyond: Other dates to pin

18 February Brussels: -EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC). The Council will discuss the situation in the EU's southern neighbourhood, in particular in Syria and will also take stock of EU actions to support Mali. Furthermore, it is expected to address the issue of the Middle East Peace Process following the elections in Israel as well as the situation in Iraq. The Eastern Partnership is also likely to be on the ministers' agenda. On the sidelines of the Council, a Northern Dimension ministerial meeting, including the EU, Iceland, Norway and Russia will take place.

-Competitiveness EU Council (till 19 Feb.).

Montreal: ICAO Council (till 15 March).

Nairobi: UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum (till 22 Feb.).

Yerevan: A delegation of 7 MEPs will observe the presidential elections on 18 February. MEPs will be deployed in Yerevan and other parts of the country as part of the international OSCE/ODIHR election observation Mission.

19 February New York: Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations and its Working Group, substantive session (till 15 March).

20 February World Day of Social Justice http://www.un.org/en/events/socialjusticeday/ Launch of 2013 International Year of Quinoahttp://www.fao.org/lon/fao-liaison-office-in-new-york-lon-home/en/ Brussels: European Parliament - "The role of Non-EU National Human Rights Institutions in the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on business and human rights, with a focus on Eastern Partnership Countries.

-8th Forum of World Alliance of Cities Against Poverty (conference in partnership with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Women (UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women) to explore the potential and role of smart technology and management systems in alleviating of poverty in cities).

Dublin: 8th Forum of World Alliance of Cities Against Poverty (till 21 Jan.). http://www.right2water.eu/event/8th-forum-world-alliance-cities-against-poverty

Geneva: Global Dialogue Forum on the Effects of the Global Economic Crisis on the Civil Aviation Industry (till 21 Feb.).

21 February International Mother Language Day

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengtheningeducation-systems/languages-in-education/international-mother-language-day

Brussels:- NATO Defence Ministers’ Meetings (till 22 Feb.).

-European Parliament - public hearing on human rights in the African Union, the achievements and challenges. Discussions will also centre on the EU-AU human rights dialogue.

New York: Security Council – Consultations on Sudan/South Sudan and 1718 Committee.

22 February Brussels: -Transport, Telecommunications and Energy EU Council (TTE Energy).

-The EU Commission will publish its winter economic forecast for 2013-2014.

New York: -Security Council – Resolution on UNIOGBIS (tbc).

-Security Council – Debate on UNMIK.

25 February Launch of the UNODC Transnational organized crime threat assessment - Africa West.

Brussels: Agriculture and Fisheries EU Council (till 26 Feb.).

Geneva: Human Rights Council (till 22 March).

26 February New York: Briefing and Consultations on the Middle East.

27 February Brussels: Amnesty International's END female genital mutilation (FGM) European Campaign.

http://www.endfgm.eu/en/news-and-events/events/upcoming-events/art-for-action-reaches-destination-brussels/

New York: Security Council – Briefing and Consultations on MONUSCO. 28 February Brussels: -Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs EU Council (EPSCO).

-European Competition Forum, with participation of the OECD Secretary-General.

-European Parliament: »Youth Disengagement – what costs and what remedies?« A discussion with policy makers and stakeholders, jointly organised by the Eurofound and the European Youth Forum. http://database.youthforum.org/events/view/id_event/353 .

-European Parliament - workshop on Corruption and human rights. The workshop will be divided into two panels: the first will discuss "Corruption: a human rights issue" and the second panel will debate "The impact of corruption on human rights in third countries".

Paris: World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) +10 meeting and Internet Governance Forum Consultations (till 1 March).

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UN Campaigns, Competitions, Apps and Games For a more complete list of Competitions, Mobile Apps, Campaigns and Games visit: http://www.unric.org/en/competitions-campaigns-mobile-apps-a-games

Forests for People: UN International Short Film Contest http://www.unric.org/en/competitions Forests for People is a short film contest that invites everyone, in every part of the world, to create and share a personal film about their own relationship to the forest. How it inspires you.

Shelters you. Nurtures you. Contributes to your life, or even makes life possible.

The submission deadline is 22 February, 2013

22nd International Children’s Painting Competition http://www.unric.org/en/competitions The International Children’s Painting Competition on the Environment is organized every year by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Japan-based Foundation for Global Peace and Environment (FGPE), Bayer and Nikon Corporation.

It has been held since 1991 and has received more than 3 million entries from children (6 - 14) in over 150 countries. The theme of the 22nd painting competition will be “Water: The Source of Life”.

The submission deadline is 28 February, 2013

2013 International Anti-Corruption Day Campaign Theme and Logo Competition http://www.unric.org/en/competitions If you’ve got a good anti-corruption campaign design idea in mind they’d like to know!

UNDP and UNODC would like to encourage young people's engagement in the anti-corruption campaign. This competition is open for all young people between the ages of 15 and 25 years.

UNDP and UNODC, in particular, encourage young women to participate in this competition.

The submission deadline is 15 March, 2013

“WORK4YOUTH” photo contest (ILO) http://www.unric.org/en/competitions The ILO Youth Employment Programme has launched a photo contest focusing on young people at work.

The objective of the contest is to highlight the challenges young people face in the workplace, as well as innovative ideas to address them. Photos submitted by participants should capture youth at work The submission deadline is 15 April, 2013 ----------------------------------