The Week Ahead at the United Nations, 10-16 December

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS: THE EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVE (46/12) 10-16 December 2012 (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 

Surya P. Subedi, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia: Cambodia (till 15 Dec.).

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Gulnara Shahinian, UN special rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery: Madagascar (10-20 Dec.).

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Andris Piebalgs, EU Commissioner for Development: Malabo, Equatorial Guinea (1314 Dec.); Douala, Cameroon (15 Dec.).

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Lê Lương Minh, Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations: Brussels (14 Dec.).

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Kristalina Georgieva, EU Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response: Lebanon and Jordan (14-17 December).

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Vladimir Putin, President of Russia: Brussels (21 Dec.).

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Monday, 10 December Human Rights Day "Inclusion and the right to participate in public life” http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Day2012/Pages/HRD2012.aspx Brussels: -Competitiveness EU Council (till 11 Dec.).

-EU Foreign Affairs EU Council (GAC). http://www.consilium.europa.eu//uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/134092.pd f - External Cooperation Info Point-on the occasion of the international day of human rights: screening of "Say My Name" in the presence of Sofia Olins, the representative of the project co-financed by the European Union, the Rwandan partners Pudentienne Uzamukunda and Afisa Gasengayire and Denis Salord, Head of Unit "Regional Programmes Sub-Saharan Africa and ACP wide".12.30 Registration: Paola.NAVARRETE@ext.ec.europa.eu Dubai: World Conference on International Telecommunications (till 14 Dec.). http://www.itu.int/en/wcit-12/Pages/default.aspx

Geneva: Biological Weapons Convention – Meeting of States Parties (till 14 Dec.).

Malabo: ACP Council of Ministers, Summit of ACP Heads of State and Government (till 14 Dec.).

Manchester: European Nuclear Conference. Organizers: European Nuclear Society (ENS) with the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the Nuclear Institute (till 12 Dec.).

Maputo: Seventh Conference of the Parties to the Nairobi Convention (till 14 Dec.). http://unep.org/NairobiConvention/Meetings/COP7 New York: Security Council – Briefing on the situation in the Sahel region.

-Thirtieth anniversary of the opening for signature of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Oslo: Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony. http://nobelpeaceprize.org Live transmission of the event will be available on Europe by Satellite and on the Newsroom web page on the Nobel Peace Prize, where you will also find the full press pack and a detailed programme of the events. http://europa.eu/newsroom/highlights/eunobel/index_en.htm -"Save the Children's Peace Prize Party".

Paris: Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (till 14 Dec.). http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/events/cultureevents/?tx_browser_pi1[showUid]=5731&cHash=5ea05a2be9 Strasbourg: European Parliament Plenary Session (till 13 Dec.).

Tuesday, 11 December International Mountain Day http://www.fao.org/mnts/en/ ILO/UN Women: Launch of the Global Employment Trends for Women.

Launch of WIPO’s 2012 World Intellectual Property Indicators (WIPI) report.

Brussels: -EU General Affairs Council.

-Human Rights day film ‘No’! Venue: BOZAR. http://www.unric.org/en/next-screening Geneva: -Geneva International Discussions (till 12 Dec.).

- Voluntary Contributions to UNHCR Programme: Pledging Conference.

-OCHA -Launch of nominations for the Green Star Awards 2013.

Moscow: G20 Sherpas' Meeting (till 12 Dec.). Shamshad Akhtar, UN ASG for Economic Development, will attend.

New York: -Security Council - Consultations on Guinea-Bissau and Guinea-Bissau sanctions.

-High-level Conference on the Central Emergency Response Fund (OCHA).

-“The role of leadership in the fight against homophobia”. Organizers: Permanent Missions of Argentina, Brazil, Croatia, France, Israel, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and United States, the Delegation of the European Union, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) and Human Rights Watch (HRW).

Wednesday, 12 December Brussels: -Economic and Financial Affairs EU Council (extraordinary meeting).

- The EU Commission will present an Action Plan outlining the initiatives that the Commission intends to take in order to modernise European rules on company law and corporate governance.

-European Economic and Social Committee plenary session (till 13 Dec.) -European Economic and Social Committee: 5th edition of the Civil Society Prize.

Marrakesh: Meeting of the Friends of Syria group New York: Security Council- meeting of troop-contributing countries on the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF).

-Security Council – Resolutions on Liberia sanctions and ICTR/ICTY (tbc).

-Security Council - Briefing (P.M.) on UN peacekeeping operations.

Nicosia: EU-Russia Permanent Partnership Council (PPC) on Energy.

Pafos: Ministerial meeting between the EU and countries in the south-eastern Mediterranean region in the context of energy cooperation.

Strasbourg: -President Martin Schulz will present the 2012 Sakharov prize for freedom of thought, awarded to Iranian human rights activists Nasrin Sotoudeh, lawyer, and Jafar Panahi, movie director, to their five chosen representatives. These are Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Peace Laureate 2003, Karim Lahidji, founder of the League for the Defence of Human Rights in Iran, Solmaz Panahi, daughter of Jafar Panahi, Costa-Gavras, movie director, and Serge Toubiana, Director General of the Cinémathèque Française.

-The Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony celebrated.

-Debate on the next EU Council Summit, with the focus on the blueprint for a closer economic and monetary union and the EU's security and defence policy.

- Plenary session – other debates: Review of the EU's human rights strategy; New EURussia agreement; Situation in Egypt (with a statement by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy); Israeli government's decision to expand settlement in the West Bank (Statement by the EU High Representative); Possible influx of asylum seekers from Syria – (Council and Commission statements).

Thursday, 13 December Brussels: European Council (till 14 Dec.).

The Council will focus on economic policy, but is also expected to address defence, enlargement and foreign policy issues. The heads of state or government are expected to adopt conclusions on the future of the Economic and Monetary Union based on the preparatory work carried out by the European Council's president in close consultation with the presidents of the Commission, the European Central Bank and the Eurogroup.

- European Economic and Social Committee: Rio+20 follow-up: European civil society contributions to the Commission's consultation; the achievements and future prospects of the Millennium Development Goals: Input from civil society.

Frankfurt: Reforming EU Fiscal Governance. Organizers: European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

Istanbul: New Policy Forum (till 14 Dec.).Thomas Stelzer, UN ASG for Policy Coordination and Inter-Agency Affairs, will participate Luxembourg: 'The transition to a green economy in Luxembourg: opportunities and challenges for green and decent jobs and for social inclusion' Organizers: ILO/ Government of Luxembourg.

New York:-Security Council – Briefing on 1737 Committee (Iran). http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1737 -Security Council –resolution on 1267/1989 sanctions (Al Qaeda) and 1988 sanctions (Taliban) (tbc).

-Security Council -briefing on Sudan by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Rome: 'Inter-Agency Standing principals Committee on Preparedness and Resilience'.

EU Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva to attend the Humanitarian Aid leaders' meeting gathered by World Food Programme (WFP): ' Strasbourg: European Parliament - Situation in the DRC. Tehrān: Iran and IAEA in new round of talks Vienna: Policy Dialogue on Gender Equality (till 14 Dec.). http://www.un.org/en/ecosoc/newfunct/dcfviennadialogue.shtml

Friday, 14 December Brussels: European Resource Efficiency Platform.

-Consultative session on the World Development Report 2014 “Managing Risk for Development” – Workshop. 12.30 to 14.30. Venue: Avenue Marnixlaan 17. RSVP by 11 Dec. sdehemptinne@worldbank.org.

15 December Fukushima: The Fukushima Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Safety (till 17 Dec.).

http://www-pub.iaea.org/iaeameetings/20120216/-The-Fukushima-Ministerial-Conference-on-Nuclear-Safety

And beyond: Other dates to pin 17 December Brussels: Environment Council.

-European Parliament - public hearing to discuss about the possible implementation of the best legal and institutional mechanisms for gender equality in the EU, originating from the idea of the "most favoured European woman clause".

New York: Security Council – Consultations on UNDOF and Iraq-Kuwait.

18 December International Migrants Day

http://www.un.org/en/events/migrantsday/

20th Anniversary of the Declaration on Minority Rights Brussels: -Agriculture and Fisheries Council (till 20 Dec.).

- EESC: Rio+20 follow up: European civil society contributions to the Commission’s consultation.

New York: -Security Council Consultations on Sudan/South Sudan.

-Security Council - Briefing on UNOCA/LRA. 19 December Geneva: World Trade Organization General Council (till 20 Dec.).

New York: -Security Council - Resolutions on UNDOF and UNMIT (tbc).

-Security Council - Briefing and Consultations on the Middle East.

-Security Council – Debate on UNAMA.

20 December International Human Solidarity Day

http://social.un.org/index/InternationalDays/InternationalHumanSolidarityDay.aspx

Brussels: Transport, Telecoms and Energy EU Council (till 21 Dec.).

New York: Security Council Open debate on Post conflict peacebuilding.

21 December Brussels: EU-Russia Summit.

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

'60 over 60': A Call for Nominations of Outstanding Older People http://www.unric.org/en/competitions Not a competition as such, but an inspirational call to nominate your outstanding over 60's.

To complement the release of a new report, 'Ageing in the 21st Century: A Celebration and a Challenge', UNFPA and HelpAge International are creating a list of 60 inspiring and influential older people over 60, and need your help.

The submission deadline is 31 December, 2012.

Global Good Challenge http://www.unric.org/en/competitions The United Nations Foundation’s “Global Good Challenge” is an innovative new way for individuals to help tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges while earning the chance to win once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

It encourages individuals to use technology and social media to take action and help create a better world. In return, participants will earn points that can be used to win prizes.

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 --------------