Week Ahead at the UN (18 - 24 March)

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS: THE EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVE (12/13) 18 March-24 March 2013 (and beyond) This document is for planning purposes only and is subject to change.

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

VIP Visits  James Rawley, UN Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory: Brussels (till 21 March).  Aeneas Chapinga Chuma, UN Deputy Special Representative for Recovery and Governance, UN Mission in Liberia: Brussels (18-19 March).  Moustapha Soumaré, MONUSCO Deputy Special Representative, Resident Coordinator, Humanitarian Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in DRC: Brussels (18-19 March).  Salam Faya, Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority: Brussels (18-19 March).  Jens Toyberg-Frandzen, Executive Representative, Head of UNIPSIL: Brussels (18-19 March).  Andris Piebalgs, EU Commissioner for Development: New Delhi (19 March); Auckland (24 March).  Štefan Füle, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy: Pristina (19 March).  Fode Ndiaye, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Niger: Brussels (20 March).  Gordon Brown, UN Special envoy for global education: Brussels (20 March).  José Manuel Barroso, President of the EU Commission: Moscow (20-22 March); Mongolia (23 March); Tokyo (24-26 March).  Christopher Ross, UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for Western Sahara: North Africa (20 March- 3 April).  Sven Alkalaj, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UN-ECE); Yoka Brandt, Deputy Executive Director for External Affairs (UNICEF): The Hague (21 March).  Martin Schulz, European Parliament President: Geneva (21-22 March).  Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director-General: The Hague (22 March) TBC.  Michel Jarraud, WMO Secretary-General and Chair of UN-Water: The Hague (22 March).  Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council: Tokyo (25 March).  Roger A. Meece, UN SRSG, Head of the MONUSCO: Brussels (25-26 March) TBC.  Agnes Marcaillou, Director, UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS): Brussels (28-29 March).

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Monday, 18 March Brussels: -Meeting of Agriculture and Fisheries Council (AGRI FISH) (till 19 March).

The Council meeting will be devoted mostly to agricultural issues. Ministers will try to agree a general approach on the reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP).

-European Parliament- Development Committee (till 19 March). Among items on the Agenda are: -Linking EU foreign and development policy - Exchange of views with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security;Â Election observation mission to Sierra Leone; Corruption, organised crime and money laundering: the impact on development; Recommendation to the Council on the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly; Millennium Development Goals - defining the post-2015 framework. http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2009_2014/documents/deve/oj/929/929573/929573en.pdf

-European Parliament-Subcommittee on Human Rights : Workshop on South Sudan: Enhancing Capacities for Human Rights

-European Consumer Summit 2013 http://www.european-consumer-summit.eu/programme_en.html

Geneva: -Human Rights Council (till 22 March).

-Human Rights Committee (till 28 March).

-ILO Governing Body of the ILO (till 28 March).

-Conference on Disarmament (till 28 March).

-WHO Press Conference, in advance of World TB Day (24 March) WHO and the Global Fund will outline some key priorities for tackling tuberculosis and addressing a new threat posed by multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB).

New York: -Final UN Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty (till 28 March).

-Security Council – Consultations on Mali.

-Committee for Development Policy (till 22 March).

-Official commemorative ceremony of the International Day of Nowruz.

Tuesday, 19 March Brussels: Meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) - donor coordination group for the Palestinian people. The meeting is hosted by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, and presided over by Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide in his capacity as the Chair of the AHLC. The outlook for 2013 will be assessed with a focus on ways to address the serious financial situation of the PA, including strengthening its fiscal sustainability, improving the regularity and predictability of financial resources provided to the PA, increasing private sectorled growth, promoting access and movement throughout the Palestinian territory, facilitating Palestinian exports and improving the situation in the Gaza Strip. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressrelease_IP-13-229_en.htm?locale=en

-European Parliament-Subcommittee on Security and Defence: Situation in the Horn of Africa discussion with the EU special representative for the Horn of Africa -European Parliament: Hearing on the impact of organised crime, corruption and money laundering on development -Development debate ‘fragile states’ (in Dutch). http://www.vvob.be/vvob/nl/node/3509#inschrijven New York: Security Council - Open Debate on UNAMA. Wednesday, 20 March International Day of Happiness Bonn: OECD - Advancing the post-2015 sustainable development agenda: Reconfirming rights, recognising limits, redefining goals (till 22 March). http://www.berlin-civil-society-center.org/shared-services/post-2015

Brussels:-EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy hosts a new meeting with the Prime Ministers of Serbia and Kosovo, in the framework of the EU-facilitated dialogue for normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina.

-Kristalina Georgieva, EU Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response receives the Council for European Palestinian Relations (CEPR) Palestinian Refugees from Syria in Lebanon.

-The EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy presents the 2013 Joint Communication on the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP).

-Friends of Europe - Debate EU Emissions Trading System: The challenge of restoring credibility. http://www.friendsofeurope.org/Contentnavigation/Events/Eventsoverview/tabid/1187/EventType/EventView/EventId/ 1204/EUEmissionsTradingSystemThechallengeofrestoringcredibility.aspx

-European Parliament- Public Hearing: Trade in environmental goods.

- European Economic and Social Committee Plenary session (till 21 March).

http://www.toad.eesc.europa.eu/AgendaDocuments.aspx?pmi=ha5jDW%2bOWSG8mlVIP%2bdCXTX0BW%2bgIBHK53ZhtKEIM%2bM%3d

-Photo exhibition “FACES OF TB” at the European Parliament coorganized by WHO/Europe on the occasion of World Tuberculosis Day (24 March 2013). http://www.unric.org/en/events/28279-facesof-tb-photo-exhibition-presentation-of-new-tb-data-a-reception

- Screening of “7 Milliard d’Autres” followed by a debate about the Pursuit of Happiness as a fundamental human goal. Venue: Bozar http://www.unric.org/en/next-screening Montreal: Making Smart choices for a sustainable future! The conference aims to bring together key experts from both the EU and Canada for a one-day conference on the green economy. http://eeas.europa.eu/canada/events/goinggreen2013/index_en.htm New York: -Security Council – Debate on MINUSTAH.

Thursday, 21 March International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and Week of Solidarity with the Peoples Struggling against Racism and Racial Discrimination World Down Syndrome Day World Poetry Day International Day of Forests and the Tree Launch - UNHCR's report on ‘Asylum Levels and Trends in Industrialized Countries’.

Brussels: -EU Environment Council (ENVI). The Council will hold a debate on proposed changes to the 2011 directive on environmental impact assessment (EIA). Also on the agenda: -Proposed changes to the 1998 fuel quality directive and the 2009 directive on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources; -draft regulation on access to genetic resources and -an exchange of views on the review of the "REACH system".

-The Commission adopts its monthly infringements package.

-European Defence Agency's annual conference. Venue: Albert Hall.

-European Parliament: 2012 progress report on Bosnia and Herzegovnia./ Recommendation to the Council on the UN principle of "Responsibility to Protect (R2P).

Frankfurt: Governing Council meeting of the ECB. Geneva: EP President Martin Schulz meets the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

New York: -Security Council – Briefing and Consultations on UNMISS. -Security Council – Briefing and Consultations on UNAMI. -Emerging priorities for the Post-2015 development agenda - briefing to member states on the findings of the global conversation with citizens, civic society, academia, private sector, and governments.

-UN Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson is launching a new call to action for sanitation.

Moscow: European Commission and Russian Government executive-to-executive meeting. In addition to President Barroso, EU Commissioners De Gucht, Oettinger, Barnier, Vassiliou, Damanaki, Georgieva, Füle, Malmström and Cioloş will be part of the EU Delegation. http://europa.eu/newsroom/calendar/event/428075/european-commission-and-russian-governmentexecutivetoexecutive-meeting

The Hague: Multistakeholder Dialogue on Water in the post 2015 agenda and High Level Meeting on Water Cooperation and on the Global Thematic Consultation on Water (till 22 March) http://www.wwd2013.org/?page_id=718 and http://www.wwd2013.org/?page_id=724

Friday, 22 March World Water Day: "International Year of Water Cooperation". http://www.unwater.org/water-cooperation-2013/home/en

Brussels: EESC The gender dimension in the Europe 2020 Strategy. http://www.eesc.europa.eu/?i=portal.en.events-and-activities-gender-dimension

Dublin: Informal meeting of EU Ministers for Foreign Affairs (till 23 March). EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy chairs the meeting.

Geneva: European Parliament President, Martin Schulz will address the High-Level Section of the ILO Governing Body. http://www.ilo.org/public/english/region/eurpro/moscow/news/2013/0305.htm New York: - Security Council – Debate on UNMIK. -General Assembly, High-level Interactive dialogue to mark the International Year of Water Cooperation and the 20th anniversary of the proclamation of World Water Day. 23 March World Meteorological Day http://www.wmo.int/worldmetday/ 24 March World Tuberculosis Day

http://www.stoptb.org/events/world_tb_day/

Int. Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims http://www.un.org/en/events/righttotruthday/ Auckland (New Zealand): Pacific Energy Summit.

Dublin: Interparliamentary Conference on Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and Common Defense and Security Policy (CSDP) (till 26 March).

And beyond: Other dates to pin 25 March Int. Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade http://www.un.org/en/events/slaveryremembranceday/

Int. Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members http://www.un.org/en/events/detainedstaffday

Bali: Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on post-2015 will meet with a focus on partnerships and financing (till to 27 March). http://www.post2015hlp.org / New York: -Security Council – Briefing and Consultations on the Middle East.

-Security Council – Briefing and Consultations on UNMIL. Tokyo: EU-Japan Summit. http://www.euinjapan.jp/en/media/news/news2013/20130311/151954

26 March Brussels: -Lunch lecture with Professor Weiss on the topic "Is There a Future for the United Nations?" Registration: conference@ggs.kuleuven.be http://www.unric.org/en/events/28241-lunch-lecture-with-prof-dr-thomas-g-weiss-qis-there-a-future-for-the-united-nationsq

-EU data protection rules: Better for business, better for citizens? Organizers: European Voice.

6.30-8pm www.europeanvoice.com/data_protection Durban: BRICS Summit: BRICS and Africa - Partnership for Development, Integration and Industrialisation (till 27 March). http://www.brics5.co.za New York: -Security Council – Resolution on UNIPSIL (tbc).

-Security Council – Consultations on the Middle East (Yemen) and UNDOF. Tunis: World Social Forum (till 30 March). http://www.fsm2013.org/en 27 March Brussels: The European Union kicks-off public debate on 2030 energy and climate framework.

The European Commission will present: - A Green Paper on a 2030 Framework Energy and Climate policies; a Renewable energy progress report and a Consultative Communication on the future of Carbon Capture and Storage in Europe.

New York: -Security Council – Briefing and Consultations on Mali.

-Security Council – Consultations on Sudan/South Sudan.

28 March Brussels: “The Ottawa Convention: the first step towards humanitarian disarmament” Venue: RHIDhttp://www.irsd.be/website/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=687%3Acatal ogue-e-notes&catid=20&lang=en. Followed by the Opening of an exhibition: “Landmines: Treacherous Weapons” at the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and of Military History (open to the public till 28 June). http://www.klm-mra.be/klm-new/engels/main01.php?id=../dangermines/mines-en

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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

“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

UPU - 2013 International letter-writing competition for young people http://www.unric.org/en/competitions

The theme is: "Write someone a letter explaining why water is a precious resource".

The 2013 theme ties in with the International Decade for Action "Water for Life" 2005–2015.

Water serves a multitude of different purposes, and it is vital that we preserve this precious natural resource. Access to water is essential to ensuring the health and well-being of humans and the protection of nature.

Young people up to the age of 15 years may take part in the competition.

The submission deadline is 30 April, 2013

UN APP: Applifish

http://www.unric.org/en/apps-directory

AppliFish - a quick demonstration of iMarine data capabilities to discover over 550 marine species key for sustainable global fisheries. AppliFish is powered by the iMarine project (www.imarine.eu).

You want to know more about the fish you are eating or going to buy? Is it maybe an endangered species? AppliFish will tell you. This free mobile application developed by the fisheries and biodiversity knowledge platform i-Marine makes aquatic-related information available to anyone, anytime, anywhere.

Available through Android & iTunes.

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