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2020

WEB-SEMINAR

Öffentliche Ressourcen sichern - Illegitime Finanzflüsse bekämpfen

Der Zwischenbericht des FACTI Panels bei den Vereinten Nationen

7. Oktober 2020, 18:00 – 19:00 Uhr

Seit Anfang des Jahres befasst sich ein Expert_innenpanel bei den Vereinten Nationen mit der Frage, wie gegen Steuerflucht und Korruption vorgegangen werden kann. Das High Level Panel on International Financial Accountability, Transparency and Integrity for Achieving the 2030 Agenda (FACTI-Panel) sucht nach Lösungen wie illegitime Finanzflüsse bekämpft werden können. Eine Frage, die seit dem Ausbruch der Coronakrise noch an Relevanz gewonnen hat. Alleine in den Entwicklungsländern gehen jedes Jahr dreistellige Milliardenbeträge verloren. Diese enorme Summe fehlt bei der Finanzierung von Entwicklung und Armutsbekämpfung, und derzeit ganz konkret bei der Bewältigung der Krise.

Im virtuellen Fachgespräch wird Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, Mitglied des FACTI-Panels und ehemalige Bundesministerin für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung, den Zwischenbericht vorstellen, der Ende September bei der UN veröffentlicht wird. Expert_innen und Diskussionteilnehmer_innen kommentieren den Bericht und formulieren ihre Erwartungen für die zweite Phase der Arbeit des FACTI-Panels.

Einführung / Fazit: Bodo Ellmers, Global Policy Forum

Inputs:

Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, FACTI-Panel

Dereje Alemayehu, Global Alliance for Tax Justice

Christoph Trautvetter, Netzwerk Steuergerechtigkeit

Moderation: Sarah Ganter, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung

Side event during the Civil Society Policy Forum at the 2020 IMF-WB Annual Meetings

The Role of IFIs in a World of Intersecting Conflicts and Crises in the Middle East and North Africa

This session will assess IFIs' policies in contexts of crises and conflicts, mainly in the Arab region, by examining the existing policies and their impact on inequality. It aims also to look into countries with ongoing IMF negotiations, in light of country specific contexts, such as the economic failure in Lebanon and the inability to negotiate, and the case of emergency lending in Egypt. Finally, it will assess IMF policies on a regional level as they relate to the effect of the pandemic.

Monday, 5 October 2020, 12:00 PM - 13:30 PM (GMT)

Launching of the report Spotlight on Sustainable Development 2020

Shifting policies for systemic change - Lessons from the global COVID-19 crisis

Friday, 18 September, 2020, 9:00 - 10:00 am EDT

If you missed the virtual launching event you can watch the recording_here.

Find the report & further information_here.


The COVID-19 pandemic has a massive impact on the implementation of the SDGs and the fulfilment of human rights. The looming global recession will dramatically increase unemployment, poverty and hunger worldwide. Moreover, the crisis threatens to further deepen discrimination and inequalities.

In the Declaration on the Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations, to be adopted on 21 September 2020, Heads of State and Government will promise "to mobilize resources, strengthen our efforts and show unprecedented political will and leadership" in response to the current crisis.

The call to "build back better" has become a leitmotif of intergovernmental responses to the crisis. But does "building back" really lead to the urgently needed systemic change? What kind of policies, strategies and structural changes are necessary to ensure the primacy of human rights, gender justice and sustainability goals in all policy areas?

These questions are discussed in this year's report Spotlight on Sustainable Development 2020. Its fundamental message is that the multiple crises can only be overcome if the massive power asymmetries within and between societies can be reduced.

With this virtual launching event, we will present key findings of the report.

Brief snapshots by

  • Roberto Bissio, Coordinator of Social Watch
  • Ziad Abdel Samad, Executive Director of the Arab NGO Network for Development (ANND)
  • Vanita Mukherjee, Member of the Executive Committee of Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN)

Policy conclusions by

  • Ignacio Saiz, Executive Director of the Center for Economic and Social Rights
  • Barbara Adams, President of Global Policy Forum

Moderator/Facilitator

  • Bodo Ellmers, Director of Sustainable Development Finance, Global Policy Forum Europe
  • Elisabeth Bollrich, Global Economy Expert at Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung

Web conversation: Building better without building back a broken system

Lessons from the global COVID-19 crisis and its impact on the SDGs

Monday, 6 July 2020, 8:30-10:00am EDT

The COVID-19 pandemic will have a massive impact on the implementation of the SDGs and the fulfilment of human rights. The looming global recession will dramatically increase unemployment, poverty and hunger worldwide. Moreover, the crisis threatens to further deepen discrimination and inequalities. In many countries the macroeconomic situation had already deteriorated before the outbreak of the virus. A vicious circle of debt and austerity policies undermined socio-economic development in many countries.

Many now demand to build back better. But does "building back" really lead to the urgently needed transformational change? What kind of policies and strategies are necessary to ensure that human rights, gender justice and sustainability goals form integral components of all stimulus packages and government responses to the current crisis? How to revalue the importance of care and to rebuild global public services?

These questions will be discussed in this year's report Spotlight on Sustainable Development 2020. It is closely related to the theme of the HLPF 2020. With this virtual side event, we will present preliminary findings to be found in the report later this year.

Brief Statements by

Roberto Bissio, Coordinator of Social Watch

María Graciela Cuervo, General Co-coordinator of Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN)

David Boys, Deputy General Secretary of Public Services International

Kate Donald, Director Human Rights in Economic and Social Policy at the Center for Economic and Social Rights

Comments by

Ziad Abdel Samad, Executive Director of the Arab NGO Network for Development

Stefano Prato, Executive Director of the Society for International Development

Barbara Adams, President of Global Policy Forum

Moderator/Facilitator

Bodo Ellmers, Director of Sustainable Development Finance, Global Policy Forum Europe

Elisabeth Bollrich, Global Economy Expert at Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung

2019


The IMF and Inequalities: Tensions between structural adjustments and structural transformations

Thursday, 17th October 2019; 9:00 - 10:30 AM; Room IMF HQ2 03B-838B

The IMF has now recognized economic and gender inequality as issues that are core to its mandate, and claims it is playing key role in helping countries achieve SDG 10. However, evidence from the country-level suggests that IMF policy advice and loan conditions may in fact be exacerbating inequalities on multiple levels and dimensions (social; political; economic; generational).

The event co-hosted by SID, CESR, ANND, DAWN, FES, GPF, TWN and Social Watch on 17th October 2019 will debate the tensions between IMF-advised structural adjustments and the need for systemic changes in monetary and financial governance at the global level to ensure governments can have fiscal and policy space to tackle inequalities and finance the SDGs.

Speakers will draw on the 2019 Spotlight Report on Sustainable Development and propose constructive ways forwartd for the Fund´s work to tackle inequalities and achieve the SDGs. The session will be structured to promote a dynamic discussion with active participation from the floor.

Speakers to be confirmed

Organized by: Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Society for International Development, Development with Women for a New Era, Global Policy Forum, Center for Economic and Social Rights, Arab NGO Network for Development, Third World Network and Social Watch.

Download the Save the Date here.


Quo Vadis EU?

How the UN Treaty process can build on European development in the area of business and human rights


Monday, 14th October 2019, 13:00 to 15:00
Room XXIII, Palais des Nations, UN Geneva

Together with EU representatives, representatives of EU member states, legal experts, civil society and the private sector, we would like to discuss the links between current policies at EU and EU member state level and the proposals in the Revised Draft and engage in a constructive discussion on content and way forward for an ambitious treaty on business and human rights.
The Revised Draft builds on international standards in the area of Business and Human Rights like the UN Guiding Principles on Business and the Human Rights General Comment 24 of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. It reflects recent developments in Europe, like the French law on duty of vigilance, and initiatives for a national law on due diligence in Switzerland, Germany, Finland and Denmark. European institutions, UN bodies and other international organizations have repeatedly acknowledged the need for binding regulation to ensure business liability for human rights abuses and to improve access to justice for victims of corporate-related human rights abuses. As the various national initiatives increase the pressure for harmonization on EU level, the Finish (2019) and German (2020) presidency of the Council of the EU for have put an EU wide regulation on their agenda.
We therefore invite representatives from UN member states, parliamentarians, civil society organizations and representatives of the private sector to jointly discuss how the future treaty can fill the gap and complement current initiatives in the European Union.
Speakers include:
  • Christopher Patz, Policy Officer, European Coalition for Corporate Justice
  • Guus Houttuin, Senior Adviser Trade Issues and MSG Chair, European External Action Service
  • Alva Bruun, Senior Adviser Human Rights, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland
  • Jan-Christian Niebank, Researcher and Policy Adviser, German Institute for Human Rights
  • Susanne Stormer, Vice President, Sustainability Management & Reporting, Novo Nordisk
  • Manon Aubry, Member of Committee on Legal Affairs, European Parliament

Facilitator: Karolin Seitz, Programme Officer, Global Policy Forum

This event is jointly organized by member organizations of the Treaty Alliance Germany: Attac Germany, Brot für die Welt, BUND/Friends of the Earth Germany, Global Policy Forum, medico international, and MISEREOR. It is co-organized by Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung, European Coalition for Corporate Justice (ECCJ), International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Friends of the Earth Europe, NOAH/Friends of the Earth Denmark and SOMO.
Please register by 13th October 2019 at europe[at]globalpolicy.org

Download the invitation here .


People’s Assembly

24 and 25 September 2019 parallel to the SDG Summit
C
hurch Center – opposite the UN, New York

Register here! English | Français | Español

For more and updates go to https://gcap.global/peoples-assembly/

As Heads of State will meet on 24 and 25 September 2019 for the SDG Summit to review the progress of Agenda 2030, we are organizing a parallel People’s Assembly.

The People’s Assembly will bring together people’s representatives and civil society from around the world to give grassroots and marginalised people a voice. Most importantly, it will be a space for all to jointly analyse the structural reasons for the injustices, act and plan for common future actions to create systemic change to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Agreement.

Civil society plays a key role in advocating and implementing much needed change and to work on the structural causes of poverty and inequalities. However, we are being threatened and civic space to work is dwindling. Civil Society must fight back together and reclaim our space.

We are at the crossroads, as inequality has risen to unsustainable levels and climate change is causing incalculable damage. We can implement change or continue with the status quo. We are determined to act to save the planet and humanity, particularly ensure that no one is left behind.

To galvanise people’s voice across the world, we are organising a Global Week of Action from 20 – 27 September together with partners, with joint mobilizations and mass actions across movements & borders for Voice – Equality – Climate and Environmental Justice – #StandTogetherNow.


Spotlight Report Launch Brussels

Who’s paying the bill? – Reshaping Governance for Sustainability

Wednesday, 11 September 2019 16h00 to 18h30
Venue: EKD Office Brussels Rue Joseph II 166, 1000 Brussels

Four years after the adoption of the 2030 Agenda the world is off-track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In order to turn the transformational vision of the 2030 Agenda into real transformational policies, there needs to be a shift towards more coherent fiscal and regulatory policies.

The implementation of the 2030 Agenda is not just a matter of better policies. It requires more holistic and more sweeping shifts in how and where power is vested, including through institutional, legal, social, economic and political commitments to realising human rights and ecological justice. This is the key message of this year's "Spotlight Report on Sustainable Development" that is co-authored by a network of international NGOs, human rights organisations, think tanks, and trade unions since 2016.

In addition, policy coherence for sustainable development requires to fully take into account the externalities and spill-over effects of European policies, production and consumption patterns. With an emphasis on environmental and social impact beyond our borders, the "Spotlight Report Sustainability in Europe. Who is paying the Bill?" was published this year


Draft programme

15:30 Registration

16:00 Welcome remarks – Jens Martens (Global Policy Forum) and Leida Rijnhout (SDG Watch Europe)

16:15 Presentation of the Global Report – Antonia Wulff (Education International)

16:25 Presentation of the European Report – Patrizia Heidegger (European Environmental Bureau) and Roberto Bissio (Social Watch)

16:45 Comments by Udo Bullmann MEP

17:00 Open discussion chaired by Elisabeth Bollrich (FES Berlin)

18:30 Light refreshments

Download the invitation and draft programme here.


Conversation with authors of the global Civil Society Report

SPOTLIGHT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 2019

Reshaping governance for sustainability: Transforming institutions – shifting power - strengthening rights

Baha'i International Community, conference room, 866 UN Plaza, New York
11 July 2019, 9:30-11:30AM

Four years after the adoption of the 2030 Agenda the world is off-track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Most governments have failed to turn the transformational vision of the 2030 Agenda into real transformational policies. Even worse, xenophobia and authoritarianism are on the rise in a growing number of countries.

But there are signs of change. New social movements have emerged worldwide. They not only challenge bad or inefficient government policies, but also share a fundamental critique of underlying social structures, power relations and governance arrangements.

The implementation of the 2030 Agenda is not just a matter of better policies. It requires more holistic and more sweeping shifts in how and where power is vested, including through institutional, legal, social, economic and political commitments to realizing human rights and ecological justice.

For this reason, the Spotlight Report 2019 has as main topic “reshaping governance for sustainability”. It offers analysis and recommendations on the global governance that sustainability requires, as well as on how to strengthen inclusive and participatory governance to overcome structural obstacles and institutional gaps.

Since 2016, the annual Spotlight Report has been published and supported by a broad range of civil society organizations and trade unions. It provides one of the most comprehensive independent assessments of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs.

At the roundtable event authors of the Spotlight Report 2019 will present key findings and recommendations to participants for discussion.

Programme

  • Welcome by Luise Rürup (FES New York Office) and Barbara Adams (Global Policy Forum)
  • Brief statements by Jens Martens (Global Policy Forum), Roberto Bissio (Social Watch), Kate Donald (CESR), Antonia Wulff (Education International), Abigail Ruane (Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom)
  • Comments by Katja Hujo (UNRISD)
  • Discussion Moderator: Barbara Adams (Global Policy Forum)

Refreshments will be served. As space for this side event is limited, we kindly ask you to RSVP by 9 July 2019 to gpf[at]globalpolicy.org.

Download the invitation and programme here (pdf, 161KB).



National Reports on 2030 Agenda - What do they (not) tell us?

11 July, 2019 at 6 PM UN FF Building
304 East 45th Street, 11th floor
access with UN or HLPF access badge only

The side event will present and discuss the importance of national reporting on the 2030 Agenda, both by governments (VNRs) and civil society (“spotlight” or “shadow” reports).

The Committee for Development Policy (CDP) will present key findings of its analysis of 2018 VNRs. Voluntary national reviews (VNRs) are an important innovation as a United Nations process for follow-up to the adoption of development agendas, in particular the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The report analyses how countries addressed three key issues of the 2030 Agenda in the VNRs submitted in 2018: leaving no one behind; pursuing global partnership as means of implementation (SDG17); and quality education (SDG4). While the VNRs contain already many interesting examples as basis for mutual learning and sharing of good practices, the paper also identifies a need for more attention to these issues and more explicit discussions on strategies for their implementation.

Social Watch and Global Policy Forum are members of Civil Society Reflection Group on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that publishes the global Spotlight Report assessing the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. This year’s report focuses on governance arrangements, structures and institutions, including attention to the limitations of the High-level Political Forum and the VNRs.

In the 2030 Agenda governments promised “accountability to our citizens”. Civil societies responded by multiplying their own national and regional “spotlight” reports and engaging with governments in a variety of ways about their findings. Social Watch helps to link those processes with the global follow-up and review.

Agenda

Pedro Conceição, Director, Human Development Report Office, UNDP

  • Welcoming remarks and introduction

Prof. Sakiko Fukuda-Parr, Professor for International Affairs at the New School and Vice-Chair of the CDP

  • Presentation of findings from CDP’s analysis on 2018 VNRs, with focus on the findings on LNOB

Roberto Bissio, Coordinator of the Social Watch International Secretariat

  • Summary of findings from national and regional “spotlight reports” from civil society, including inter alia Guatemala, the Philippines and Tunisia and the regional report on the EU and its “externalities”

Barbara Adams, Board Chair of the Global Policy Forum

  • Findings from the 2019 Spotlight Report with a focus on governance challenges for the 2030 Agenda and the HLPF

Interactive dialogue with other participants.

Download the invitation and programme here.



Launch Spotlight Report Sustainability in Europe

Who is paying the Bill ? (Negative) impacts of EU policies and practices in the World

Church Center - 10th floor, New York
Monday 15th of July - 16.30-18.00h

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted unanimously at the United Nations in September 2015 is highly ambitious. If taken seriously it has the potential to change the prevailing development paradigm by re-emphasizing the multidimensional and interrelated nature of sustainable development and its universal applicability. Consequently, it should also form the basis for all policies of the European Union.

The 2030 Agenda is universal, not just because the SDGs are global in scope, but also because all countries have to do something to achieve them. No country can deem itself to be sustainably developed and having already done its part to meet the SDGs. The 2030 Agenda offers the opportunity to challenge the idea that development is a phenomenon that occurs only in countries of the Global South while the North is already ‘developed’. This is especially true for the European Union.

But four years after the adoption of the 2030 Agenda the world is off-track to achieve the SDGs. Most governments have failed to turn the transformational vision of the 2030 Agenda into real transformational policies. Even worse, xenophobia and authoritarianism are on the rise in a growing number of countries.

In January of 2019 the European Commission presented a “Reflection Paper” on how to deal with the 2030 Agenda. The paper, however, limits itself to outlining options for the Commission and the European Parliament to come after the European elections in May 2019. The EU is still lacking a comprehensive strategy on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its ambitious commitments to action.

On average, the EU has one of the world’s worst environmental footprint per capita, with our unsustainable lifestyles based on resource and labour exploitation in other parts of the world. The economy of the future needs to take into account the environmental and social impact beyond our borders rather than living in the illusion of a low-carbon, resource efficient Europe that exports resource-intensive production to other parts of the world. Policy coherence for sustainable development requires to fully take into account the externalities and spill-over effects of European policies, production and consumption patterns.

Taking policy coherence into account means also a monitoring of the spill-over effects and set goals to limit them. Eurostat is not including externalities in their reporting, as indicators are (still) not existing.

This report shows in some important policy areas where there is an urgent need for action, because the external effects of European policies are not sufficiently taken into account.

With:

  • Mr. Jens Martens – Global Policy Forum
  • Ms. Lonne Poissonier – CONCORD Europe
  • Ms Thao Hoang Phuong - ActionAid Vietnam,
  • Mr. Roberto Bissio – Social Watch
  • Mr. Gabor Figeczky- IFOAM
  • Repr of EC (tbc)

Moderated by Ms. Leida Rijnhout – SDG Watch Europe

Download the invitation here (pdf, 316KB).


Side Event on Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10)

Overcoming barriers to reduce inequalities: Policies to leave no one behind and achieve greater equality

July 15, 2019, 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations | Auditorium
Organzied by: The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Association of German Development and Humanitarian Aid NGOs (VENRO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO)

Reducing inequalities (SDG10) is essential for overcoming extreme poverty (SDG 1) and a successful implementation of the 2030 Agenda as a whole.

Many countries experience high and increasing inequalities. A reversal of this trend is not in sight. Therefore, it is paramount to take political action towards reaching this central goal of the 2030 Agenda. Strong social protection and redistributive policies significantly reduce inequality within countries. Therefore, it is essential to develop overarching strategies, build universal social protection systems as well as assess and increase redistributive capacities. These measures have to ensure that no one is left behind and equitable access to protection against risks and against poverty for all people is guaranteed.

The panel will discuss the most persistent barriers to a sustained reduction of inequalities and the contribution of fiscal and social protection policies to overcome inequalities worldwide.

Refreshments and snacks will be served.

Please confirm your participation by July 11 to Ms. Johanna Hauf ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ), stating your name, position and affiliation.

For further questions, please contact Ms. Johanna Hauf or Ms. Sonja Grigat ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

Programme

WELCOME
  • Dr Maria Flachsbarth Parliamentary State Secretary German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
  • Dr Luise Steinwachs Deputy Chair Association of German Development and Humanitarian Aid NGOs (VENRO)
PANEL DISCUSSION
  • Pedro Conceição Director Office of the Human Development Report, United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
  • Dr Chiara Mariotti Inequality Policy Manager Oxfam Great Britain
  • Wolfgang Schiefer Senior Multilateral Cooperation Specialist International Labour Organization (ILO)
  • Roberto Bissio Coordinator Social Watch and Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors
  • Esther Lusepani (tbc) Permanent Secretary Namibian Ministry of Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare

Host: Dr Minu Hemmati

Download the invitation and programme here.


Prevention, Liability and Rights of the Victims

Discussing towards the first Draft of a legally binding Treaty on TNCs and other Business Enterprises with Respect to Human Rights

Panel Discussion

April 15, 2019, 1-3pm | Church Center 10th Floor | 777 UN Plaza New York

The event is jointly organized by ESCR-Net, FIAN International, Franciscans International, Global Campaign to Reclaim Peoples Sovereignty Dismantle Corporate Power and Stop Impunity, Global Policy Forum, Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung-New York Office, and Transnational Institute.

The transformation of our world as proclaimed in the title of the 2030 Agenda requires fundamental changes in the way our societies produce and consume goods and services. However, far too often, corporate profits are systematically fed by poor working conditions, low environmental standards and even by human rights abuses and violations. When business enterprises violate labor rights, grab local population’s resources or cause damage to the environment and people’s health, they often face no legal consequences for their actions. Those affected have little or no access to legal protection or redress—neither locally nor in the controlling enterprises’ home countries.

Instruments to prevent and hold corporations accountable for human rights abuses and the violation of social and environmental standards are weak. Human rights enforcement remains ineffective, especially when their enjoyment is negatively impacted by transnational corporations (TNCs).

Against this background, the UN Human Rights Council’s resolution of 26 June 2014 establishing an open-ended intergovernmental working group (OEIGWG) to elaborate an international legally binding instrument to regulate within the scope of international human rights law and the activities of transnational corporations and other business enterprises deserve to be called historic. Since 2014, the working group has convened four times. In July 2018, the Chair of the working group published a zero draft for the prospective treaty, which was discussed by representatives of governments, academia, civil society and business during the fourth session in October 2018.

Preventative measures, including but not limited to mandatory human rights due diligence, linked with legal liability, and the clarification and definition of the rights of affected and threatened communities will be three central elements of the prospective treaty. Representatives from governments, international organizations, academia and civil society will discuss together with the participants how the zero draft addresses these topics. They will further inform about the state of the treaty process and next steps to be taken.

Panelists:

  • H.E. Luis Gallegos Chiriboga, Permanent Representative of Ecuador to the UN
  • Representative, Permanent Mission of South Africa to the UN (tbc)
  • Mona Sabella, ESCR-Net
  • Shayda Naficy, Corporate Accountability/Global Campaign
  • Ana María Suaréz-Franco, FIAN International

Discussant:

  • Christian Courtis, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Moderator: Karolin Seitz, Global Policy Forum

Download the Invitation and Program here.

2018

Public Event: Changing Course for Sustainable Development

Bold Alternatives to Business as Usual

Spotlight on Sustainable Development 2018

Geneva Launch of the Civil Society Reflection Group Report

Monday 17 September 2018, 1.00 – 3.00 PM; Room XII, Palais des Nations

“The world is off-track in terms of achieving sustainable development and fundamental policy changes are necessary to unleash the transformative potential of the SDGs.” This is the main message of the Spotlight Report 2018.

Civil society organizations have a key role to play as independent watchdogs holding governments and international organizations accountable for their actions that help—or hinder—the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The Spotlight on Sustainable Development 2018 report, produced by a global coalition of civil society organizations and trade unions, provides a wideranging independent assessment of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals.

The 2018 edition shines a light on existing bold alternatives to business as usual that can help to change the course towards more coherent policies for sustainable development aligned with human rights principles and standards.

But it goes far beyond that, seeing policy reform as necessary but not sufficient. More fundamental shifts in how and where power is vested are necessary to unleash the transformative potential of the SDGs. In particular, the report calls for more coherent fiscal and regulatory policies, and a “whole-of-government” approach towards sustainability.

At this event, co-organized by UNRISD and FES, some of the key findings and recommendations of this year’s global Spotlight Report will be presented and discussed from various perspectives.

Panelists:
  • Gita Sen (DAWN)
  • Kate Donald (Center for Economic and Social Rights)
  • Sandra Vermuyten (Public Services International)
  • Ziad Abdel Samad (Arab NGO Network for Development)
Discussants:
  • Paul Ladd (UNRISD)
  • Victoria Tauli-Corpuz (United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples)
Moderator:

Hamish Jenkins (UNRISD)

Opening Remarks:

Hubert René Schillinger (FES)

Sandwiches and light refreshments will be served prior to the event

Registration: http://www.unrisd.org/spotlight-geneva-launch-2018

Download the invitation here .


Conversation with authors of the Civil Society Report

Spotlight on Sustainable Development 2018

Exploring new policy pathways: How to overcome obstacles and contradictions in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda

Church Center, 10th floor, 777 UN Plaza, New York
12 July 2018, 6:15-7:45pm

Jointly organized by Arab NGO Network for Development, Center for Economic and Social Rights, Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era, Public Services International, Global Policy Forum, Society for International Development, Social Watch, Third World Network with support from Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung.

The world is off-track in terms of achieving sustainable development. Fundamental policy changes are necessary to unleash the transformative potential of the SDGs. In particular, there is a need for more coherent fiscal and regulatory policies and a whole-of-government approach towards sustainability.

These are the main messages of the Spotlight Report 2018, the most comprehensive independent assessment of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

The Spotlight Report 2018 describes policies, resources and actions that are necessary to implement the 2030 Agenda. It highlights strategies and approaches which depart from business-as-usual and prioritize fulfilment of human rights and respect for planetary boundaries.

At the roundtable event authors of the Spotlight Report 2018 will present key findings and recommendations to participants for discussion.

Programme

6:15 Welcome by Luise Rürup (FES New York Office) and Barbara Adams (Global Policy Forum)

6:30 Brief statements by Roberto Bissio (Social Watch), Ziad Abdel Samad (Arab NGO Network for Development), Corina Rodríguez Enríquez (DAWN), Kate Donald (CESR), Stefano Prato (SID), Sandra Vermuyten (PSI)

7:00 Discussion; Moderator: Jens Martens (Global Policy Forum)

As space for this side event is limited, we kindly ask you to RSVP by 10 July 2018 to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .


Side Event during the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development 2018

Partnership or Business Case?

Private Sector and the SDGs

Permanent Mission of the Federal Republic of Germany to the UN, 871 UN Plaza, New York
13 July 2018, 7:15 pm – 8:45 pm

Jointly organized by Government of Germany, Government of Uruguay, German NGO Forum on Environment and Development, Brot für die Welt, Global Policy Forum, Public Services International, Social Watch, MISEREOR, World Council of Churches

The private sector plays a significant role in achieving the SDGs of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Several corporations have already pledged their support for the SDGs or evaluated the relevance of SDGs in their business activities. The UN Global Compact has started a global campaign to celebrate business leaders who are taking action to advance the 2030 Agenda.

In many countries, engaging the private sector in SDG implementation is part of official policy. Governments and the UN are seeking increased commitment from the private sector in order to finance SDG implementation and bring growth to their economies. Many governments expect the involvement of companies in SDG implementation to lead to greater social and environmental awareness in business strategies.

Among civil society organizations (CSOs), the increased involvement of the private sector in sustainable development has received mixed responses. Some CSOs welcome more business involvement as a necessary recognition of responsibility and a shift in the understanding of the private sector’s role in society. As a result, various partnerships between CSOs, governments and the private sector have emerged. Other CSOs view the growing involvement of the private sector in sustainable development critically. The democratic legitimation of this trend as well as the budgetary rationale of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) is being questioned as governments hand over more of their duties and power to private companies, particularly in the social sector. Some CSOs view this as a further push towards the privatization of public goods and services and worry about a new form of greenwashing with the SDGs.

This side event will focus on the following questions:

What are the activities and strategies of private sector actors in SDG implementation? Does private sector involvement lead to more sustainability and better implementation of the SDGs? Does it positively affect business models and behavior in the long run? What are criteria and political frameworks for private sector engagement in SDG implementation? What are recommendations for the private sector, governments and civil society organizations with regard to sustainable development?

Programme

Opening remarks and introduction to side event: Anna Cavazzini, Bread for the World

Findings from the case study “SDGs and Finance Sector”: Wolfgang Obenland, Global Policy Forum

Discussion with: Cormac Ebken, Deputy Head of Division 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ); Dr. Laura Schneider, Project Manager, econsense; Shanta Lall Mulmi, RECPHEC; Rosa Pavanelli, General Secretary, Public Services International;
Moderator: Marie-Luise Abshagen, German NGO Forum on Environment and Development


Side Event during the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development 2018

SDG-implementation at national level: What's the point of national reports?

The experience of Voluntary National Reviews and of Civil Society shadow (or spotlight) reporting. How it is key for meaningful participation and accountability?

July 13, 2018 | 1:15 PM to 2:45 PM
WeWork Grand Central, 4th Floor, Room 4A,
450 Lexington Ave , New York 10017
Organized by Social Watch in co-operation with Alliance Sud, Arab NGO Network for Development and Global Policy Forum

The national voluntary reporting to the High Level Political Forum of ECOSOC is a practice that has gained traction, as dozens of governments are volunteering each year to participate and contribute their VNRs. A number of CSOs have prepared their own shadow or spotlight reports to follow-up on their governments efforts to implement the 2030-Agenda. Rising inequalities and the need to substantially change policies to achieve the SDGs is a common theme in many of them. Is there a meaningful dialogue between the official and the alternative reports? What is the value of the whole exercise?

The event aims to:

  • share experiences of CSO shadow reports on national implementation; and
  • engage government and CSO-representatives in a discussion on national implementation, CSO participation and accountability

Speakers:

  • Roberto Bissio (Social Watch)
  • Clarisse Sonon (Social Watch-Benin)
  • Ziad Abdel Samad (Arab NGO Network for Development, Lebanon)
  • Iara Pietricovsky (INESC, Brazil)
  • Mark Herkenrath (Alliance Sud, Switzerland)
  • Rene Raja (Social Watch - Philippines)

Comments by:

  • Sakiko Fukuda-Parr (New School)
  • Ambassador Michael Gerber, Swiss Special Envoy for Global Sustainable Development

Download the invitation to this event here (pdf, 70 KB).


Remedies for Cross-Border Human Rights Violations: A Status Report on the Binding Treaty on TNCs and other Business Enterprises

Panel Discussion

April 25, 2018, 1-3pm | Consulate General of Ecuador, 800 2nd Ave, 2nd Floor | New York
The event is jointly organized by Corporate Accountability, ESCR-Net, FIAN International, Franciscans International, Global Campaign to Reclaim Peoples Sovereignity, Dismantle Corporate Power and Stop Impunity, Global Policy Forum, Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung-New York Office, and Transnational Institute.
It is co-sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Ecuador to the United Nations New York.

To implement the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), many in the international community have addressed the financing gap, proclaiming the need to go from “billions to trillions” of dollars. This has pushed a turn towards the private sector and the promotion of ‘blended financing’ as a major way to ‘leverage’ corporate funds to meet any additional investments needed. In many cases there is no lack of additional investments, but more quality investments would appear to figure less frequently. The transformation of our world as proclaimed in the title of the 2030 Agenda requires fundamental changes in the way our societies produce and consume goods and services. Primarily both the state and the private sector have a particular role to play in this regard. However, far too often there is a considerable gap between the social and environmental commitments companies make and the actual effects of their activities on people and the environment. At the international level, instruments to hold corporations accountable for human rights abuses and the violation of social and environmental standards are weak.

Victims of human rights violations by corporations often face insurmountable barriers to access justice. A regulation gap exists especially with regard to corporations operating transnationally. In many cases victims are not able to hold these corporations accountable for their actions, neither in the country of jurisdiction, the home country, nor in the host country of the business enterprise. In contrast, new trade and investment agreements are able to ensure transnational corporations (TNCs) more far-reaching investor rights. They can use private tribunals to sue governments if they deem their profits or investment potentials are affected by new laws – including higher health and environmental standards. In reality there is a perceptible regulatory unbalance.

Against this background, the UN Human Rights Council’s resolution of 26 June 2014 establishing an open-ended intergovernmental working group (OEIGWG) to elaborate an international legally binding instrument to regulate within the scope of international human rights law and the activities of transnational corporations and other business enterprises deserve to be called historic. For the first time since the dissolution of the UN Commission on Transnational Corporations in 1992, an intergovernmental body of the UN was established to address the international regulation of corporations. Since 2014, the working group has convened three times with a growing number of participating states and civil society representatives discussing the scope and content of the prospective treaty.

The panelists will discuss how a binding treaty could overcome obstacles for remedy in cases of cross-border human rights violations by TNCs. It will further inform about the state of the treaty process and next steps to be taken.

Inputs by

  • Luis Espinosa, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility Ecuador
  • Ana Maria Suárez Franco, FIAN International
  • Harris Gleckman, former Chief of the New York Office of UN Conference on Trade and Development
  • Nathalie Rengifo, Global Campaign to Reclaim Peoples Sovereignity, Dismantle Corporate Power and Stop Impunity

Facilitator: Barbara Adams, Global Policy Forum

We kindly ask you to RSVP by April 24, 2018 to karolinseitz[at]globalpolicy.org

Please download the invitation here (pdf, 614KB).

Looking forward: How can the FfD Follow-up live up to its full potential?

Side-event during the 2018 ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development

April 26, 2018 – 1:15pm | Conference Room A | UNHQ, New York
Co-organized by the Civil Society FfD Group (including the Women’s Working Group on Financing for Development) and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (Germany).
Facilitated by: Global Policy Forum, MISEREOR, Social Watch, Brot für die Welt and Society for International Development

The Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA) has defined the follow-up process for the Financing for Development process as well as the means of implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This includes assessing progress, obstacles, challenges as well as new and emerging topics of relevance, and “provide policy recommendations for action by the international community” (para. 131).

After three fora—from 2016 to 2018—it is time to assess if they have managed to live up to their full potential. Some of the challenges raised by observers have been:

  • Is the current FfD follow-up process providing an adequate framework not only to assess progress but also to identify and remove obstacles to implementation?
  • How can the normative tasks and challenges outlined in the AAAA be clearly spelled out, programmed and tackled? These include, inter alia, elaborating on the principles for blended finance and public-private partnerships included in the AAAA (para. 48); “work towards a global consensus on guidelines for debtor and creditor responsibilities in borrowing by and lending to sovereigns” (para. 97); and “strengthen international cooperation to support efforts for the mobilization of domestic resources” (paras. 20ff).
  • How can the FfD follow-up process be reinvigorated for it to provide a vibrant space to identify, assess and tackle cross-cutting, structural and systemic issues as well as emerging new risks that may hinder progress towards sustainable development?
  • Is the link between the FfD Forum and the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development close enough to deliver meaningful outcomes strengthening the Addis outcomes as well as the means of implementation for the 2030 Agenda? What could be done to improve this link and mutually reinforce both processes?

At the side-event, participants will be invited to provide their insights into their assessment of previous FfD Fora, their link with other international processes, and discuss with participants about opportunities and challenges, also with view to the upcoming High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development of the General Assembly in 2019. The format of the side event will be highly interactive. After a short framing presentation, the moderator will facilitate active dialogue with a small panel of respondents and the audience.

Participation is open to everybody attending the 2018 FfD Forum (for which registration/a UN grounds pass is required).

Please rsvp by sending a short e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Download the invitation here (pdf, 900 KB).

Illicit Financial Flows: Time to Drop False Solutions and Embrace Real Change

Side-event during the 2018 ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development

April 23, 2018 – 18:30pm | Conference Room 5 | UNHQ, New York
Co-organized by the Civil Society FfD Group (including the Women’s Working Group on Financing for Development)
Facilitated by: Global Policy Forum, Global Alliance for Tax Justice, Financial Transparency Coalition, TJN Africa, Eurodad, ActionAid, NGO Committee on Financing for Development, and Society for International Development

Illicit financial flows (IFFs), with legalized tax avoidance as its major component, is the fundamental constraint to be addressed to ensure the fiscal space that is necessary to advance the 2030 Agenda. Major public scandals brought to light by the many recent leaks, the Panama Papers and Paradise Papers, exposed how many wealthy individuals and multinational companies are involved in illicit flows, and how a number of countries, including some major economies, are providing systemically institutionalized facilitation of IFFs.

No adequate measures are being undertaken in practical ways to combat IFFs. On the contrary, whereas the global agreement reached in the SDG process clearly covers tax avoidance by multinational companies, efforts seem underway to redefine IFFs to exclude tax avoidance from issues and measures to address IFFs.

Also on the point of tax cooperation, international agreements have not been followed up on. The Addis Ababa Action Agenda is unequivocal in its "stress that efforts in international tax cooperation should be universal in approach and scope and should fully take into account the different needs and capacities of all countries". Despite this, there is still no consensus on establishing an intergovernmental tax commission under the auspices of the United Nations.

This side-event aims to

  • Explore policy measures which will narrow the implicit and explicit differences in definition and measurement of IFFs which undermine efforts to curtail IFFs
  • Share experiences of how the national and continental level efforts in the Global South to enhance DRM are being impacted by IFFs and discuss the main obstacles to progress, with emphasis on the role of secrecy jurisdictions and tax havens
  • Problematize recent international initiatives and the dominance of certain institutions, and map out concrete pathways for the establishment of an UN intergovernmental tax commission.

Speakers include: Mr. Jerry Matthews Matjila​, Ambassador, Permanent Mission of South Africa to the UN; Mr. Sameh Elkhishin​, First Secretary​, Permanent Mission of Egypt to the UN, Arvinn Gadgil, Senior advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway; Representative from the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) (TBC)

Respondent: Towfiqul Khan, Research fellow, Centre for Policy Dialogue, Bangladesh

Moderator: Hannah Brejnholt Tranberg, ActionAid Denmark

Download the invitation here .

Strategies for Empowering Rural Women

Side-event on the margins of the 62nd Commission on the Status of Women

Monday 12 March 2018, 2:30 p.m. | 10th Floor, Church Center for the United Nations | 777 United Nations Plaza
Organized by Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung—New York Office (RLS-NYC), Co-sponsored by Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN), Global Policy Forum (GPF), and Social Watch.

Speakers include:

  • Barbara Adams, Global Policy Forum
  • María Graciela Cuervo, DAWN
  • Vidhya Das, Agragame
  • Agnes Kirabo, Food Rights Alliance
  • Carolyn Sachs, Penn State University

Moderator: Stefanie Ehmsen, RLS–NYC

​This public panel will discuss the multiple roles of rural women and girls for enhancing food sovereignty, preserving biodiversity, reducing inequalities, and combating climate change. The presentations will affirm the importance of engaging women in policy-making around more equitable and sustainable production and consumption.

Panelists will offer perspectives from the local level, addressing challenges such as intellectual property rights and land ownership for small-scale women farmers. We will also discuss the opportunities and shortcomings of a human rights approach and global advocacy efforts to increasing women's participation in decision-making to tackle poverty, malnutrition, and environmental degradation.

Additionally, the panel will discuss approaches to advancing gender equality for rural women by analyzing the challenges small-scale women farmers face due to economic stressors such as food insecurity, hunger, and poverty. Taking into account women's organizing movements in rural communities, it will highlight women's contributions to implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including in them informal sector of farm workers. The conversation will enhance policy debates focused on increasing rural women's access to and control over resources at the global level and in local communities.

The Way Forward - Towards a UN Treaty on Business and Human Rights:

The Future Process and Key Elements

Roundtable Discussion

Room XII, Palais des Nations, Geneva, 9 March 2018, 13:00-14:30

Organized by CIEL, FIAN International, Franciscans International, Friends of the Earth International, Global Policy Forum, Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung—New York Office

Co-sponsored by Society for International Development, Indonesia for Global Justice, Project Poder

In June 2014, the Human Rights Council established the open-ended inter-governmental working group (OEIGWG) to elaborate an international legally binding instrument on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights. After three sessions in 2015, 2016 and 2017 and substantive discussions on the scope and content, it is time to begin negotiations among those parties interested in the treaty initiative on the possible form of such an instrument and explore options for the way forward in order to reach an ambitious and timely result.

How to strengthen the political support of the process across regional groups? How to speed up the process, overcome obstacles, and avoid dead-ends in the negotiations? What are the lessons to be learnt from other highly contested (but ultimately successful) international initiatives? What are the most promising and effective modalities to organize the negotiation process? Human rights due diligence is a key principle of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and has been included in many international standards. Several Member States have passed laws and set up initiatives requiring companies to implement due diligence. The concept of duty of care should be a key element of the envisaged legally binding instrument. How should this element be elaborated and what further measures would be required for its implementation?

On the occasion of the presentation of the report on the third OEIGWG session to Human Rights Council, we will be evaluating the political context, possible ways ahead and the concept of duty of care as key element of the prospective treaty. We invite you to discuss these questions in an informal setting together with representatives from Member States, UN agencies, academia, and civil society organizations. To facilitate the free and open exchange of views, the roundtable discussion will be held under the Chatham House Rules.

Inputs by

Sandra Ratjen, International Advocacy Director at Franciscans International

Dr. Nicolas Bueno, Lecturer and Postdoctoral Researcher at Université de Lausanne

With initial comments by

  • Representative of Ecuador (tbc)
  • Representative of South Africa (tbc)
  • Representative of Member State of African Group (tbc)
  • Representative of Member State of Latin America & Caribbean Group (tbc)
  • Representative of Member State of Asia Pacific Group (tbc)
  • Representative of Member State of Western Europe & Other Group (tbc)
  • Representative of Member State of Eastern European Group (tbc)

Facilitator: Anne van Schaik, Accountable Finance Campaigner, Friends of the Earth Europe

Download the invitation here .

2017

Launch of Spotlight on Sustainable Development in Geneva

Reclaiming Policies for the Public!

Monday, 23 October 2017, 13:00 — 15:00h
Palais des Nations, Room XII, Geneva
Jointly organized by the Reflection Group on the 2030 Agenda, UNRISD, FES Geneva

Join the Reflection Group on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, UNRISD and FES for the Geneva launch of the Spotlight on Sustainable Development 2017 report. Carrying the subtitle "Reclaiming policies for the public. Privatization, partnerships, corporate capture and their impact on sustainability and inequality - assessments and alternatives", the civil society "shadow" report provides a wide-ranging independent assessment of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals. At the event, contributors will present and discuss key findings and recommendations of this year's report.

Registration for this event is now open.

The full report is available for download at https://www.2030spotlight.org.



Adding up the odds: out of the box approaches to increasing ambition and action for climate justice

COP 23 Bonn, Bonn Zone, Meeting Room 4
8 November 2017, 11:30—13:00

Jointly organized by: Corporate Accountability, Sustainable Rural Development, The Greens/EFA, miljöpartiet de gröna, Women's Major Group, Corporate Europe Observatory, IBON International, Global Policy Forum, IPMSDL, Aksi!

The global community is compelled to look at different ways to increase ambition and action. Pledges under the Paris Agreement are not enough to match the urgency and magnitude of the problem. Climate crisis challenges us with the hard questions: how ready are we to challenge systems and structures?

Speakers: Jesse Bragg - Corporate Accountability Titi Soentoro - AKSI, Indonesia Max Andersson - EU Parliament, European Greens Karolin Seitz- Global Policy Forum Atama Katama - Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination & Liberation Ruth Nyambura Maria Theresa Lauron - IBON International

Download the flyer here .



The Way Forward - Towards a UN Treaty on Business and Human Rights: Options for form and process

Roundtable Discussion
Room XXV, Palais des Nations, Geneva
25 October 2017, 13:15 - 15:00 hrs

Jointly organized by: Brot für die Welt, FIAN International, Friends of the Earth Europe, Global Policy Forum, Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung-New York Office

In June 2014, the Human Rights Council established the open-ended inter-governmental working group (OEIGWG) to elaborate an international legally binding instrument on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights. After two sessions in 2015 and 2016 and substantive discussions on the scope and content, it is time to begin negotiations among those parties interested in the treaty initiative on the possible form of such an instrument and explore options for the way forward in order to reach an ambitious and timely result.

How to strengthen the political support of the process across regional groups? How to speed up the process, overcome obstacles, and avoid dead-ends in the negotiations? What are the lessons to be learnt from other highly contested (but ultimately successful) international initiatives, such as the Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and the Ottawa Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty? What are the most promising and effective modalities to organize the negotiation process? The envisaged legally binding instrument could take on very different forms. Which options should be considered? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the different formats?

After three days of the OEIGWG session, we will be evaluating the political context and possible ways ahead. We invite you to discuss these questions in an informal setting together with representatives from Member States, UN agencies, academia, and civil society organizations. To facilitate the free and open exchange of views, the roundtable discussion will be held under the Chatham House Rules.

Inputs by

Sigrun Skogly, Professor at the Law Faculty of the University of Lancaster

Harris Gleckman, former Chief of the New York Office of United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

With initial comments by

  • Representative of Ecuador
  • Representative of South Africa
  • Representative of Member State of African Group
  • Representative of Member State of Latin America & Caribbean Group
  • Representative of Member State of Asia Pacific Group
  • Representative of Member State of Western Europe & Other Group
  • Representative of Member State of Eastern European Group

Facilitator: Ana María Suárez Franco, FIAN International

The event is co-sponsored by: AWID, CCFD-TerreSolidaire, CIEL, ESCR-Net, FIDH, Friends of the Earth International, IBFAN-GIFA, Franciscans International, Indonesia for Global Justice, PODER, Society for International Development, WILPF

Download the invitation here .



Conversation with authors of the Spotlight on Sustainable Development 2017

Reclaiming policies for the public: Privatization, partnerships, corporate capture and their impact on sustainability and inequality - assessments and alternatives

Baha'i International Community, Suite 120 (first floor)
866 UN Plaza, New York
18 July 2017, 1:15-2:45pm

A global coalition of civil society organizations and trade unions present the Spotlight on Sustainable Development 2017 report. The report provides a comprehensive independent assessment of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The 2017 edition focuses on privatization, partnerships, corporate capture and the impact they have on sustainability and inequality. The articles and textboxes cover all sectors of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. According to the report, it is time to counter privatization trends, reclaim public policy space and take bold measures to strengthen public finance, regulate or reject PPPs, and weaken the grip of corporate power on people’s lives. These are indispensable prerequisites to achieve the SDGs and to turn the vision of the transformation of our world, as proclaimed in the title of the 2030 Agenda, into reality.

At the roundtable event authors of the Spotlight Report will present key findings and recommendations to participants for discussion.

Speakers include Barbara Adams/Jens Martens (Global Policy Forum), Roberto Bissio (Social Watch), Ziad Abdel Samad (Arab NGO Network for Development), Corina Rodríguez Enríquez (DAWN), Chee Yoke Ling (Third World Network), Kate Donald (CESR), Stefano Prato (SID), Sandra Vermuyten (PSI).

As space for this side event is limited, we kindly ask you to RSVP by 14 July 2017 to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it



Side-Event during the 2017 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development

Policy Coherence and Financing for Sustainable Development With Equality

13 July 2017 | 8:15 – 9:30 AM
UN Headquarters, Conference Room E

Jointly organized by Civil Society Financing for Development Group including the Women’s Working Group on Financing for Development, Femnet, Forum for Women and Democracy, Womankind Worldwide in co-operation with inter alia Society for International Development, Global Policy Forum, Brot für die Welt, MISEREOR, Christian Aid, Social Watch and many more.

The pursuit of the 2030 Agenda requires UN Member States to provide the necessary regulatory and financial means, including the removal of structural barriers to social, economic, and ecological transformation of countries both in the global North and South as well as the fulfilment of human rights. While the need for scaling-up financial resources, particularly public investments, is undeniable, there remains significant underestimation of the possible leverage generated by regulatory and policy interventions in the context of the democratization of global economic governance.

In this respect, one of the most pervasive structural obstacles come in the form of gender inequalities at all levels. Indeed, persistent production and consumption patterns and the sexual division of labor fail to properly recognize, value, reduce and redistribute unpaid domestic and care work, pushing the heavy and often hidden burden of work unevenly on women’s lives. While the need for scaling-up financing for gender equality has emerged strongly through the reviews of the 20th Anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the agreement of the 2030 Agenda as well as the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, financing alone will not be able to tackle the barriers to the realization of women’s rights. Deep contradictions remain between financing structures and international human rights frameworks and commitments.

The political and policy space for the follow-up and review of the ‘means of implementation’ as well as the their linkages with the broader Financing for Development agenda has been established with the ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development Follow-up (FfD Forum). How can the FfD Forum make a meaningful contribution to the HLPF? How can be ensured that human rights and gender equality are regarded as starting points and necessary pre-conditions for the journey as well as ends in themselves? How can both processes (HLPF and FfD Forum) benefit from each other and what role is there for civil society to play, in particular feminist and women’s rights organisations? How can the public policy space be protected from conflicts of interest in the emerging multi-stakeholder processes and strong private sector focus?

This side event will provide an interactive opportunity to discuss progress and challenges in delivering the 2030 Agenda and in particular the role of the FfD Forum and the HLPF as global policy spaces.



Corporate influence in the G20 and other international policy fora

Workshop at the Global Solidarity Summit

Hamburg, Kampnagel, room KX

Thursday, 6 July, 11:00 - 13:00

Transnational corporations and their national and international associations and lobby groups are using the G20 process as important opportunity to engage with the world’s most powerful governments, shape their discourse, and influence their decisions.

Corporations and their interest groups have become powerful actors in international policy debates on sustainable development and human rights as well. They are positioning themselves as more flexible, efficient and un-bureaucratic than states and are promoting “multi-stakeholder initiatives” and “public-private partnerships” as innovative models to tackle global problems. This rise of corporate influence goes along with a fundamental shift in economic thinking. Since the 1970s neoliberal and neoclassical thoughts became predominant. Many economists promote competition and market solutions while alternatives that include emancipatory and ecological considerations are suppressed in mainstream economics.

Business groups are constantly preaching economic growth as a panacea and a sine qua non condition for prosperity, ignoring more sophisticated concepts of sustainability; they urge the G20 to “optimize” and “re-evaluate” regulations intended to lessen the risk of another global financial crisis; they call on governments to strengthen investment protection and promotion agreements that de facto give priority to investors’ rights over human rights and the environment; they promote PPPs that minimize the risk for the private investor at the expense of the public; and they push for preferential treatment for the business lobby in global governance. Corporate actors often use a double strategy to achieve their goals. On the one hand they demonstrate their willingness to cooperate by participating in non-binding dialogues and multi-stakeholder initiatives. On the other hand, they use various methods to influence discourses and massive legal and political pressure against governments to avoid compulsory regulation.

The workshop assesses the extent of corporate influence in the G20, as well as in the United Nations debates on business and human rights and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It discusses policies and safeguards to counteract corporate power and presents related civil society initiatives.

Speakers include:

  • Jens Martens, Global Policy Forum
  • Nancy Alexander, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung
  • Klaus Schilder, Misereor
  • Sarah Lincoln, Brot für die Welt
  • Theresa Neef, „Was ist Ökonomie?" Berlin

Facilitator: Heike Löschmann, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung

Organizers: Brot für die Welt, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, Global Policy Forum, Misereor, "Was ist Ökonomie?" Berlin

Download the flyer here.

Side-events during the 2017 ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development Follow-up

How a UN Intergovernmental Tax Body could tackle illicit financial flows and advance progressive and gender responsive tax systems

Monday, May 22, 2017 | 1:15 – 2:30 p.m. | Conference Room B

Organised by the CSO for FfD Group together with the Women’s Working Group on FfD

The AAAA is unequivocal in its “stress that efforts in international tax cooperation should be universal in approach and scope and should fully take into account the different needs and capacities of all countries”. At the same time, there are issues on the international tax co-operation agenda that are currently not advancing rapidly enough and thus risk placing mobilization of domestic resources at risk.

These include tackling illicit financial flows which if developing countries are fully represented in international tax co-operation would put forward as a key concern with an ambitious definition that includes abusive tax practices under the AAAA and SDG target 16.4 on Illicit Financial Flows. Similarly, tax incentives could be discussed from the perspective of both developed and developing countries in a context where developing countries have a greater reliance on corporate income taxes (CIT) in relation to developed nations. Similarly developing countries depend far more on withholding taxes that are undermined by tax treaties that privilege residence countries over source countries. Greater tax co-operation could also advance gender responsive tax rules that take into account the large unpaid care work burden of women outside of the formal labour market.

This side-event will consider what international tax co-operation would look like from the perspective of developing countries, and map out concrete pathways for the establishment of an Intergovernmental Body for International Cooperation in Tax Matters where all countries will be democratically represented – and that is guided by the overarching aim of fulfillment of human rights, sustainable development and gender equality.

Moderator: Pooja Rangaprasad, Policy Coordinator, Financial Transparency Coalition

  • Andrew Chikowore, Advisor - Public Accountability and Tax Justice at ActionAid Tanzania
  • Kathleen Lahey, Professor, Faculty of Law, Queen's University, Kingston Ontario, Queen’s University, Canada
  • Jason Braganza, Deputy Executive Director, Tax Justice Network - Africa
  • Carola Iniguez Zambrano, Undersecretary of International Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ecuador


Public-Private Interfaces

New models of interaction between the public and private actors, successes and challenges and their meaning for development finance and the eradication of poverty

Wednesday, 24 May 2017, 8.00 ‑ 9.30 AM

United Nations Headquarters ‑ Conference Room B

The traditional models of interaction between public and private sectors, largely based on corporate regulation and public procurement, are relatively well understood and accepted. However, the most recent wave of economic globalization has been accompanied by a widened process of commodification with the effect that a widening range of goods and services are now being provided by market actors rather than states. At the same time, the classic models of public-private interaction have been challenged by the rise of new types of financing instruments that to variable degrees have introduced private actors in areas that were traditionally in the remit of public sector, like in the financing of infrastructures. The phenomenon of public concessions and benefits towards the private sector is fast evolving and clearly much broader than what usually is understood to be a public-private partnership, and it includes other modalities of interaction that should be critical catalogued and assessed.

Looking at this discussion within the context of the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals, with the central goal to end poverty in all its forms everywhere, this side-event intends to take a closer look at those new and old forms of public-private interaction and introduce the wider concept of public-private interfaces (PPIs) as an increasingly prominent dimension of the landscape of international development cooperation ‑ with significant ramifications beyond traditional actors that have dominated past development decades. The side event will therefore explore public-private interfaces for their capability to both achieve developmental outcomes, such as the eradication of poverty, highlight risks, and elaborate how to ensure adequate accountability to citizens for the use of public resources.

Preliminary programme

Opening remarks and presentation of the PPI concept and process: Stefano Prato, Civil Society Financing for Development Group

Comments and interventions by:

  • H.E. Mr. Ahmed Sareer, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Maldives to the United Nations (invited)
  • H.E. Mr. Courtenay Rattray, Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the United Nations (invited)
  • Gail Hurley, Policy Specialist: Development Finance, Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP (invited)
  • Mr. Joe Klock, Representative to the UN and Vice President, New Humanity

Moderator: Barbara Adams, Global Policy Forum

Lead Organizers: Civil Society FfD Group (including the Women’s Working Group on FfD), NGO Committee on FfD, NGO Committee on Social Development

Facilitating Organizations (preliminary list): Brot für die Welt, Christian Aid, Eurodad, Global Foundation for Democracy and Development, Global Policy Forum, MISEREOR, Society for International Development (SID), New Humanity, Virginia Gildersleeve International Fund, Medical Mission Sisters, Pax Christi International, Sisters of Charity Federation, Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, VIVAT International

Public Panel

Advancing Women’s Economic Empowerment through Human Rights

Friday March 17, 2017, 8:30 – 10:00 AM
Church Center for the UN
777 First Avenue, 10thFloor
New York, NY, 10017

In cooperation with Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung—New York Office, Public Services International (PSI), Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN), and Rutgers’ Center for Women’s Global Leadership.

International leaders and civil society activists will soon convene again at the UN Headquarters in New York for the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW61), which will take place from March 13 to 24, 2017. This year, the Commission will address the issue of women’s economic empowerment in the changing world of work, a subject of uttermost importance to tackle persistent gender inequalities. Today, most of the world’s poor are working, and the majority of those are women. This clearly shows how employment, while essential for development, is not enough to guarantee the economic rights of millions of women.

The legal barriers posed by the formal and informal economies, the lack of a gendered perspective in policy and planning processes, and the persistent disparities in the labor market pose difficult challenges to women’s advancement in the economic sphere. Trying to cope with the failures of neoliberalism to secure substantive equality, an international commitment becomes imperative.

We are co-organizing a Parallel Event along with Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung, Public Services International (PSI), DAWN, and the Center for Women’s Global Leadership.

This panel will bring together researchers and activists to assess the current situation of women in the working world. The speakers will explore the importance of a global response for achieving women’s economic empowerment, from a perspective that takes the framework of human rights as a pathway to fulfill social justice. They will do so by assessing the contributions and shortcomings of this approach, outlining the situation of women workers in the global economy, and highlighting the challenges and opportunities of advocacy efforts for women’s economic rights within the international realm.

Speakers:

Radhika Balakrishnan, Faculty Director, Center for Women’s Global Leadership
Gita Sen, General Coordinator, DAWN
Barbara Adams, Board Chair, GPF
Gloria Mills, Equalities National Secretary, Unison UK – PSI
Jennifer Fish, Chair of Women’s Studies, Old Dominion University

Facilitator: Stefanie Ehmsen, Co-director, Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung—New York Office

Free and open to the public. Registration here.

Download the flyer here.

2016

Side Event

Corporate Accountability and Influence in the UN

Current Trends in the Governance of Business & Human Rights, Global Health, Agriculture, Food and Nutrition

25 October 2016, 18.30-20.30 | The Graduate Institute, Maison de la Paix, Chemin Eugène-Rigot 2, Geneva
Room: Auditorium A2

Jointly organized by: FIAN International, Global Policy Forum, Social Watch, Society for International Development, Third World Network, Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung and the Environmental Student Committee of the Graduate Institute

The international debate surrounding the environmental, social and human rights responsibilities of corporations has been gaining momentum. Growing public criticism of transnational corporations and banks has contributed to this debate. The list of criticisms is long: pollution scandals, disregard for basic labour and human rights standards, massive bribery allegations, on top of widespread corporate tax avoidance.

At the same time, corporations and their interest groups have become powerful actors in international policy debates on poverty eradication, development, the environment and human rights. They are themselves positioning as more flexible, efficient and un-bureaucratic than states and are promoting “multi-stakeholder initiatives” and “public-private partnerships” as innovative models to tackle global issues.

Corporate actors often use a double strategy to achieve their goals. On the one hand they demonstrate their willingness to cooperate by participating in these kinds of non-binding dialogues and multi-stakeholder initiatives. On the other hand they use massive legal and political pressures against governments to avoid compulsory regulation. Corporations and their interest groups use various methods to influence discourses and political decision-making processes – including the discussions about food and nutrition at the Committee of World Food Security (CFS), the discussions on global health at the World Health Organization (WHO) and the business and human rights agenda of the UN.

On the other hand, there are emerging initiatives of civil society and some governments to counteract corporate power and to establish binding rules for transnational corporations. With the Working Group “to elaborate an international legally binding instrument to regulate, in international human rights law, the activities of transnational corporations and other business enterprises”, for the first time since decades, an intergovernmental body of the UN has been established to address the international regulation of corporations.

The panel will assess the state of corporate influence in the business and human rights debates, in global health, the agriculture, food and nutrition policy domains. It will discuss possible policies and safeguards such as WHO’s Framework of Engagement with non-State Actors (FENSA) and the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control that have been put in place to protect against conflicts of interest in these respective domains. It will also inform about further debates to regulate the UN’s engagement with private actors such as the discussions in the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR).

Speakers:

  • Flavio Valente (FIAN International)
  • Barbara Adams (Global Policy Forum)
  • Roberto Bissio (Social Watch)
  • Mirza Alas (Third World Network)
  • Nathalie Rengifo (Corporate Accountability International)
  • Stefano Prato (Society for International Development)

Download the invitation and the programme here.

Corporate accountability and influence in the UN

Challenges for the new Secretary-General and the UN

Panel Discussion
4 October 2016, 1:00-3:00 pm | Church Center, 2nd Floor, 777 UN Plaza, New York City

The international debate surrounding the environmental, social and human rights responsibilities of corporations has been gaining momentum. Growing public criticism of transnational corporations and banks has contributed to this debate. The list of criticisms is long: pollution scandals, disregard for basic labour and human rights standards, massive bribery allegations, on top of widespread corporate tax avoidance strategies.

Confronting this reality is a historic decision of the UN Human Rights Council (of 26 June 2014) to establish an intergovernmental working group “to elaborate an international legally binding instrument to regulate, in international human rights law, the activities of transnational corporations and other business enterprises”. For the first time since decades, an intergovernmental body of the UN was established to address the international regulation of corporations.

The second session of the intergovernmental working group is scheduled for 24-28 October 2016 in Geneva.

The panel will assess the state of the current debate, discuss the pros and cons and the potential content of a legally binding instrument (or a treaty), and explore links to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs and to the agenda and responsibilities of the incoming Secretary-General.

Speakers include:

  • Jens Martens/Barbara Adams, Global Policy Forum
  • H.E. Horacio Sevilla, Permanent Representative of Ecuador to the United Nations*
  • Dominic Renfrey, Corporate Accountability and Economic Policy Program Coordinator, ESCR-Net
  • James Hare, Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung

* to be confirmed

Download the invitation and the programme here.

Please RSVP by 30 September 2016 to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .


2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

A Good or Bad Start?

Civil Society Reflection Group Report Launch: Spotlight on Sustainable Development 2016

Jointly organized by: Arab NGO Network for Development, Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era, Third World Network, Global Policy Forum and Social Watch with support from Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
Date: July 11, 2016, 6:15-7:30 pm
Venue: Conference Room D in the UN Conference Building, New York

Independent monitoring and review of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its structural obstacles and challenges are key factors for the success of the SDGs. It is for this reason, a global alliance of civil society organizations and networks has agreed to produce an annual Spotlight Report assessing the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the structural obstacles in its realization. The report puts a spotlight on the fulfillment of the 17 goals, with a particular focus on inequalities, responsibility of the rich and powerful, means of implementation and systemic issues.

What are currently the main obstacles to achieving the SDGs? Are there transnational spill over effects that influence or even undermine the implementation of the goals? Are the current policy approaches, as they are reflected, inter alia, in the 2030 Agenda, an adequate response to the challenges and obstacles (or are they part of the problem)? What has to be done? Which specific policy changes (at international level) are necessary?

At the side event key findings and recommendations of the global Spotlight Report will be presented.

Speakers: Barbara Adams/Jens Martens (Global Policy Forum), Roberto Bissio (Social Watch), Ziad Abdel Samad (Arab NGO Network), Chee Yoke Ling (Third World Network), and others.

Contributing partners of the report include: ATD Fourth World, ITUC, Center for Economic and Social Rights, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Public Services International, Global Alliance for Tax Justice, International Centre for Adult Education, ETC Group, NGO Mining Working Group at the UN, What Next Forum, Council of Canadians, Society for International Development, Global Action to Prevent War, Ecoropa and more.

Download the invitation here.

Please RSVP by 10 July 2016 to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


Civil Society Exchange

“Shadowing SDG-implementation”

Civil Society Action for meaningful participation and accountability

Wednesday, July 13th, 2016, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Baha'i International Community | 866 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017, Suite 120 (first floor)
Jointly organized by: alliance sud, Equipo Pueblo, German NGO Forum on Environment and Development, ECESR, GPF, Social Watch Philippines, Social Watch, kepa and VENRO.


Shadow reporting is a well-established tool of civil society when it comes to holding governments accountable. A number of CSOs have already started to prepare shadow or spotlight reports or similar monitoring accounts to follow-up on their governments efforts to implement the 2030-Agenda, especially its 17 goals and 169 targets. The main focus in this first year’s reports was to devise and discuss methodologies and to monitor governments’ efforts on drafting national implementation plans or strategies. In future reports they will point to governments’ short-comings in the implementation and highlight issues relevant for the successful achievement of the SDGs which have not been raised by their governments so far.

The aims of the event are thus to:

  • present a number of CSO shadow reports on national implementation, CSO participation and accountability as examples of good reporting practice
  • engage government and CSO-representatives in a discussion on national implementation, CSO participation and accountability with a specific focus on “leaving no one behind”
  • provide a space for mutual exchange and peer learning regarding national challenges and methods of CSO shadow reporting

As space for this side event is limited, we kindly ask you to RSVP until July 10th.

Download the invitation and programme here.

“Shadowing SDG-implementation”

Civil Society Action for meaningful participation and accountability

Date: July 11, 2016 | 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Venue: Conference Room E in the UN Conference Building, New York
Jointly organized by: alliance sud, Equipo Pueblo, German NGO Forum on Environment and Development, ECESR, GPF, Social Watch Philippines, Social Watch, kepa and VENRO.


Shadow reporting is a well-established tool of civil society when it comes to holding governments accountable. A number of CSOs have already started to prepare shadow or spotlight reports or similar monitoring tools to follow-up on their governments efforts to implement the 2030-Agenda, especially its 17 goals and 169 targets. The main focus in this first year’s reports was to devise and discuss methodologies and to monitor governments’ efforts on drafting national implementation plans or strategies. In future reports they will point to governments’ short-comings in the implementation and highlight issues relevant for successful achievement of the SDGs which have not been raised by their governments so far.

The event aims to:

  • present a number of CSO shadow reports on national implementation, CSO participation and accountability as examples of good reporting practice; and
  • to engage government and CSO-representatives in a discussion on national implementation, CSO participation and accountability with specific focus on “leaving no one behind”

Speakers include: Roberto Bissio (Social Watch), Areli Sandoval (Mexico, Equipo Pueblo), Daniel Jüttner (VENRO) / Marie-Luise Abshagen (German NGO Forum on Environment and Development), Marivic Raquiza (Social Watch Philippines), Jürg Staudmann (AllianceSud – Swiss Alliance of Development Organizations, Switzerland) and Mahinour El Badrawi (ECESR, Egypt)

Download invitation and programme here.


How to hold the 'rich and powerful' accountable in the 2030 Agenda

Roundtable discussion on monitoring, review and SDG indicators

Jointly organized by dAWN, Third World Network, Social Watch
8 March 2016, 1-3 pm
Baha'i International Community, 866 UN Plaza, New York

The 2030 Agenda adopted at the highest level in September 2015 has the potential to change the prevailing development paradigm by re-emphasizing the multidimensional character of sustainable development and its universal applicability.

The implementation of the 2030 Agenda depends on the adoption of appropriate strategies and policies, available resources and other means of implementation. Accountability mechanisms are important tools for strengthening political commitment and effectiveness. Thus the success of the new Agenda relies a lot on adopting adequate mechanisms and indicators for the monitoring of progress or regressive developments in achieving the goals.

But monitoring and review should not be reduced to the implementation of the SDGs and their related targets. The monitoring of outputs or outcomes alone is by no means sufficient. Rather, policies and policy changes should be scrutinized. In particular, monitoring and review should include the structural obstacles to the implementation of the SDGs and disclose the actors and vested interests behind them.

As we are entering the implementation phase of the 2030 Agenda, it is necessary to identify the obstacles to the achievement of the SDGs and the ways to address them. This includes the need to analyze and reconsider the approach to work with indicators: Does the proposed set of SDG indicators reflect adequately the goals and aspirations of the 2030 Agenda and its universal character? What are structural and political obstacles to be addressed within and around the work on indicators? How can the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities be operationalized in the formulation and weighting of indicators? And what does this mean for the role of the UN and the High-Level Political Forum for Sustainable Development (HLPF)?

The Reflection Group on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development invites you to a discussion on these issues.

Panelists include:

  • Barbara Adams, Global Policy Forum
  • Nicole Bidegain, DAWN
  • Roberto Bissio, Social Watch
  • Kate Donald, Center for Economic and Social Rights

Invitation (pdf, 150 KB)

Please RSVP by 4 March 2016 to sarahdayringer[ät]globalpolicy.org.

This event is supported by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung.

2015

Global tax reform Beyond BEPS

Side-event during the meeting of the UN Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters
Tuesday, October 20, 2015 | 13-15h
Room XXIV (tbc), Palais des Nations, Geneva
Jointly organized by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, MISEREOR, Global Policy Forum, Global Alliance for Tax Justice and Alliance Sud in cooperation with the ICRICT

Fair taxation can help in fighting inequality, realizing human rights, and ensuring the implementation of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). However, a succession of reports of tax dodging by multinational corporations have cast the spotlight on the need for reform of the international tax system. It has also become evident that international tax avoidance makes use of tax havens and the offshore secrecy system, which also facilitates capital flight and money laundering for criminal and terrorist purposes.

Recognizing the need for reform, in 2013, the G20 gave its support to the OECD’s Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) initiative. The OECD has delivered the final reports and published them on 5 October 2015. This provides a welcome opportunity for a much wider debate, which should evaluate what progress has been made and what remains to be done. While the BEPS project clearly has made progress that would have been thought of as impossible just five years ago, it has evoked additional questions on the overall fitness of the international tax framework.

It is clear that even under an ambitious agenda like BEPS, issues central to the interests and priorities of developing countries, such as the source/residence taxation split and more practical measures like withholding taxes remain to be discussed. Moreover, the lack of full global representation in the BEPS process has revealed the current insufficiency of global governance on tax matters as was made evident at the recent Third International Conference on Financing for Development in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. During these negotiations, developing countries proposed an upgrade of the existing Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters into an intergovernmental body. While, in the end, the proposal did not make it into the outcome of the conference, the proposal and the arguments for it are not off the table.

The first meeting of this Committee after the Addis Ababa conference is a fitting occasion to discuss ways forward in inclusive global tax reform. Find an invitation to a side event on October 20, 2015, attached to this e-mail.

It is clear that a much wider global debate is needed to ensure a fair and effective reform of international taxation. One strong voice which aims to contribute to such a debate is that of the Independent Commission for the Reform of International Corporate Taxation, an initiative bringing together renowned experts from the fields of finance, tax and the economy, including José Antonio Ocampo (Chair), Eva Joly, Joseph E. Stiglitz and Magdalena Sepúlveda.

Invitation and program (pdf, 1,3 MB)

Fit for whose purpose?

Private funding and corporate influence in the United Nations

27 July 2015, 1:15-2:45pm | Conference Room 7 | UN Headquarters, New York

The Post-2015 Agenda is being shaped at a time of challenge for multilateralism. Multi-stakeholder partnerships and deeper engagement with the business sector are being positioned as central pillars for implementation as well as for mobilizing and leveraging the trillions of dollars needed.

This direction is not taking into account the recent pattern of UN development funding, a pattern which has been characterized by underfunding on the one hand and increased earmarking of funding from donors, public and private, on the other. A continuation of this pattern might undermine the integration of economic, social and environmental policies and programmes – the essence of the agenda for the next 15 years.

The side event will discuss the challenge of shaping the Post-2015 Agenda, building on findings of a recently completed comprehensive study undertaken by Global Policy Forum on the practices and consequences of private funding of the UN system.

Speakers:

  • Barbara Adams and Jens Martens, Global Policy Forum
  • H.E. Guilherme Patriota, Permanent Mission of Brazil to the UN
  • Manuel Montes, South Centre
  • Noelene Nabulivou, DAWN
  • Alessandro Motter, IPU

Following up on Addis Ababa

What will we need to sustain the outcomes of the 3rd International Conference on Financing for Development?

Side-event during the 3rd Drafting Session for the Outcome Document for FfD3
Thursday, 18 June 2015, 1 – 2:30 pm
Bahá’Í International Community Office, 866 UN Plaza, Suite 120, New York

Organized by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, APWLD, Regions Refocus, DAWN, SID, Latindadd, CIDSE, FTC, Eurodad, GPF, Social Watch, Third World Network, and ANND

The outcome document for the Third International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD3) is being finalized at the United Nations in New York. This is a key moment to make an assessment and influence the issues under negotiation to ensure progress is not lost in the interests of fact-tracking consensus. The outcome document must establish new ground on a range of issues such as combatting illicit financial flows and global tax cooperation.

Key to this is action on proposals of monitoring and accountability without repeating the mistake of leaving follow-up and review to insufficient processes. Several proposals are on the table. They range from integrating the existing FfD monitoring track into the follow-up for the Post-2015 Agenda and the work of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development to creating a set of specialized bodies under the auspices of the United Nations. These would not just monitor outcomes and implementation but also carry forward the agenda with the development of new instruments and policies. One proposal, for example, is to supplement the existing expert committee on international cooperation on tax with an intergovernmental tax body with universal membership. Only in this manner, or by similar systemic reforms, proponents argue, could the challenges of the current global economic system be addressed.


Panelists include
  • H.E. Mr. Hiroshi Minami, Ambassador, Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations
  • Mr. Dominik Ziller, Deputy Director General Global processes, financing for development, effectiveness, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany
  • Mr. Aldo Caliari, Center of Concern/CIDSE
  • Ms. Nicole Bidegain, Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN)
  • Ms. Tove Ryding, Eurodad
  • Ms. Tessa Khan, Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD)

Moderator: Mr. Wolfgang Obenland, Global Policy Forum


Wednesday, March 25, 08:30-11:00
Université de Tunis El Manar, Faculté de droits, salle de Conference/Salle de Soutenance

Goals for the Rich

Indispensible for a Universal Post-2015 Agenda

Jointly organized with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Arab NGO Network for Development, Social Watch, Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN), Third World Network

“Post-2015” is currently right in the centre of the development discourse. The UN, governments, civil society organizations and researchers are discussing what will come after the MDGs. But the “Post-2015 Agenda” must be much more than just an updated list of MDGs.

The Post-2015 process offers the opportunity to respond to changing global realities – be it the shift in geopolitical and economic power relations, or urgent global problems, such as accelerating global warming, growing inequalities, or the expansion of the global shadow financial system.

Conventional development concepts and their related goals and strategies do not provide adequate answers to these changing conditions and global problems.

That is why we need a truly universal Post-2015 Agenda that defines particularly the goals, responsibilities and commitments of rich countries. In order to overcome poverty, inequality and environmental degradation, the Post-2015 Agenda must become an “Agenda for the rich” and must include Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the rich.

The new paper of the Reflection Group on Global Development Perspectives discusses how the responsibilities of the rich should be reflected in Post-2015 Agenda and its goals and targets. At the workshop we will present and discuss its key findings.

Speakers include

  • Ziad Abdel Samad (ANND)
  • Roberto Bissio (Social Watch)
  • Barbara Adams (Global Policy Forum)
  • Jens Martens (Global Policy Forum)
  • Hubert Schillinger (Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung)

Wednesday, 25 March, 15:00-17:30
Université de Tunis El Manar, R 107

Joining the global movement for a Treaty on human rights and corporate activity

An information and strategy session by the Treaty Alliance

Jointly organized with CCFD-Terre Solidaire/Forum citoyen pour la RSE, CIDSE, Franciscans International, FIDH, Global Campaign to Dismantle Corporate Power, Polaris Institute, Transnational Institute (These include members of the “Treaty Alliance”)

Civil society organizations and social movements around the world struggling against corporate abuse achieved a first victory in June last year when the UN Human Rights Council adopted Resolution 26/9, establishing an Intergovernmental Working Group whose the mandate shall be to elaborate an international legally-binding instrument to regulate the activities of business enterprises. However, there remain important challenges to ensure that a robust treaty ensuring genuine corporate accountability and access to justice will be drafted in a participatory and transparent manner. Indeed, corporate-related abuse continues, access to remedies for victims of corporate crimes remains blatantly insufficient, and in the rush for land and natural resources, social movements and human rights defenders denouncing corporate abuse face increased repression and harassment. Civil society, social movements and affected communities' mobilization is instrumental in the struggle to put people and the planet before profits. In this context, the Treaty Alliance, a coalition of more than 600 NGOs and 400 individuals across the globe seeking corporate accountability and social and environmental justice, hosts an information and strategy workshop directed at all those interested in joining the struggle for a binding Treaty regulating corporate activity.

The aim of this workshop is to inform about the process, challenges and opportunities in the treaty development, and to enable social movements and affected communities to take an active part in the struggle for a binding treaty on human rights and corporate activity. This event will enable to share experiences, create synergies and ultimately to build strategic alliances. Participants will be encouraged to develop activities for mobilisation in their respective regions, to participate in advocacy around the process and content of the treaty discussions, and to remain engaged with the Treaty Alliance.

Speakers include

  • Francesca Restifo (Franciscans International)
  • Rose Trajano (FIDH/PHRA, Philippines)
  • Marion Cadier (FIDH)
  • Alberto Villarreal (Friends of the Earth/Dismantle Corporate Power, Uruguay)

Moderator: Brid Brennan (TNI, Netherlands tbc)


Thursday, March 26, 2015, 15:00-17:30
Université de Tunis El Manar, Faculté de droits, salle de Conference/Salle de Soutenance

Stopping human and labor rights abuses by corporations

New developments in international and national regulation

Jointly organized with CCFD-Terre Solidaire/Forum citoyen pour la RSE, CIDSE, Franciscans International, FIDH, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Global Campaign to Dismantle Corporate Power, Polaris Institute, Transnational Institute

Civil society organizations and social movements around the world are drawing attention to increasing situations of human and labor rights violations by business. There are important developments in corporate regulation both at international level and at national and regional levels. Following strong collective advocacy efforts by civil society within the “Treaty Alliance” for its establishment, the new United Nations inter-governmental working group on an international legally-binding instrument on business & human rights will hold its first meeting in July 2015. And proposals for national legislation requiring mandatory human rights due diligence by multinational companies have recently made important advances in some countries.

The aim of this workshop is to bring together a broad range of actors engaged against business impunity in order to raise awareness, share experiences, and inform strategies and collective actions. What obstacles do affected communities face in preventing and responding to human and labor rights abuses by powerful corporations (presentation of case studies)? What are current national and regional initiatives in order to promote corporate human rights due diligence obligations and access to justice? How could an international binding treaty help overcome obstacles, what are the next steps in this process, and how can organizations engage?

Speakers include

  • Rodrigo Peret (Franciscan Action for Ecology and Solidarity (AFES), Brazil)
  • Daniel Angelim (Trade Union Confederation of the Americas (TUCA))
  • Marco Zeisser (CooperAccion, Peru)
  • Mathilde Dupré (CCFD terre solidaire, France)
  • Ben Leather (International Service for Human Rights, Switzerland)
  • Dick Forslund (Alternative Information and Development Center (AIDC), South Africa)

Moderator: Denise Auclair (CIDSE)


Friday, March 27, 2015, 08:30-11:00
Université de Tunis El Manar, Faculté de droits, salle de Conference/Salle de Soutenance

Promoting Tax Justice by Strengthening Global Tax Governance

Jointly organized with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Arab NGO Network for Development, Global Alliance for Tax Justice, CIDSE, Eurodad, CNCD-11.11.11, MISEREOR, Oxfam, Public Services International, Action Aid and Christian Aid

International cooperation in tax matters has intensified in the last few years. Processes under the anti-BEPS framework at the OECD/G20 are proof of that. Nevertheless, countries in the global South that are suffering from the results of tax evasion and avoidance the most are still to a great deal marginalized and excluded from this. In some cases, countries in the global South are even suffering from a non-conducive global environment that limits their policy space in tax matters. For the poor, this means losing vast amounts of resources, where they could have been allocated to sustainable development.

With the Financing for Development Conference coming up in July, now is the time to set the course towards fighting tax avoidance and evasion by the rich and powerful corporations. The UN Secretary General calls for the establishment of an intergovernmental committee on tax cooperation under the auspices of the UN. Would such a committee foster dialogue and cooperation without marginalizing a majority of governments and people? Will this be a meaningful space outside the exclusive clubs of the OECD? The UN appears to be the natural place for this. But even more visionary solutions are conceivable.

Join us for a panel discussion with inputs from:

  • Firas Jaber (Arab NGO Network for Development)
  • Jorge Coronado (Latindadd/GATJ)
  • Jane Nalunga (SEATINI Uganda/ Global Alliance for Tax Justice)
  • Jean Letitia Saldanha (CIDSE)

Moderation: Teresa Marshall (Global Alliance for Tax Justice)



Friday, March 27, 2015, 11:30-14:00
Université de Tunis El Manar, Salle de Lecture 5

Securing Accountability and (a just sharing of) responsibility for the Post-2015 agenda

Jointly organized with CIDSE, Social Watch, Ibon and Justice, Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), Nigeria

Civil society has put forward and worked hard to defend a vision of a new Post-2015 Agenda that will approach human rights, environmental integrity and the urgency of dealing with climate change in a way that addresses the injustice and inequity inherent in gender, social, political and economic relations at all levels.

As we approach the final phase of agreeing on the framework, there are clear indications that we are further from reaching this vision in the post-2015 agreement than ever before. The role that large corporate actors play in this regard deserves particular attention and serves as the red thread through the many obstacles faced in reaching a just and equitable agreement. Against the backdrop of corporate capture, universality, good governance, an enabling environment and similar concepts have become risk laden. The way they are being used will only serve to perpetuate the unjust distribution of power and resources in the Post-2015 world.

We need to challenge this rhetoric in a way that reveals the discrepancies between aspiration and the real agenda of those with power and influence. By putting the issue of equity at the center of discourse, more emphasis on the principle of common but differentiated responsibility could counter the singular focus on issues that are driven by vested interests, like the socalled global partnership with Corporates, opening countries financial systems to be exploited by private finance in the name of sustainable development, shifting state responsibility for fulfilling international commitments to non-state, unaccountable actors and more.

Join us for a panel discussion with inputs from (all tbc):

  • John Patrick Ngoyi (JDPC)
  • Paul Quintos (IBON)
  • Roberto Bissio (Social Watch)
  • Jean Letitia Saldanha (CIDSE)

Moderation: Barbara Adams (Global Policy Forum)

Public Panel Discussions During the 59th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women

The SDG on Inequality: How Useful Can This Be for Women?

In cooperation with the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung—New York Office, Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN) and UNRISD

Tuesday, March 10, 2015, 8:30 – 10:00 AM
Church Center of the United Nations, 10th floor
777 1st Avenue, New York

Download the flyer of this event.

The commitment to “eradicate the persistent and increasing burden of poverty on women by addressing the structural causes of poverty through changes in economic structures” was one of the central promises of the Beijing Declaration, the final report of the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995. The lack of progress made during the twenty years since then, is sobering. On the occasion of the 59th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung—New York Office is organizing a project that examines the structural causes of poverty and seeks to develop alternatives with activists from around the world. From March 7 – 13, 2015, feminist activists and politicians from Germany, Croatia, Bolivia, Colombia, Nepal, Cambodia, and Kenya will be in New York City.

Additionally, GPF, Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung—New York Office and DAWN are organizing a public panel discussion. At this event, we will discuss whether the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be able to avoid the shortcomings of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), on which the UN development agenda was based so far.

Speakers:

  • Dagmar Enkelmann, Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung, Germany
  • Gathoni Blessol, The Rules und Bunge La Wamama Mashinani, Kenya
  • Barbara Adams, Global Policy Forum, United States
  • Yiping Cai, Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era, China

Moderator: Stefanie Ehmsen, Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung—New York Office


Women’s Mobilization for Gender-Egalitarian Policy Change in the 20 Years since Beijing

In cooperation with the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung—New York Office, Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN) and UNRISD

Tuesday, March 10, 2015, 3:00 – 4:45 PM
Conference Room E (First Basement, UN General Assembly Building)
UN Headquarters
1st Avenue between 42nd and 43rd Street
New York, New York 10017

Download the flyer of this event.

The event aims at exploring the question of how women’s organizations and feminist movements can influence governmental decision-making. What strategies have proven to be effective to ensure policy agendas and laws reflect women’s interests? What are the factors and conditions under which non-state actors can effectively trigger and influence policy change?

Speakers:

  • Elisa Vega Sillo, Office for Depatriarchalization of the Vice-Ministry of Decolonization, Bolivia
  • Nitya Rao, University of East Anglia, Great Britain
  • Anne-Marie Goetz, New York University, United States
  • Rob Jenkins, Hunter College, United States

Moderator: Valeria Esquivel, UNRISD, Switzerland

2014

Side-event during the meeting of the UN Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters

Strengthening the Global South’s Voice in Global Tax Governance

Thursday, October 30, 2014 | 13-15h
Restaurant des Délégués, 8th Floor, Palais des Nations, Geneva

Jointly organized by the Global Alliance for Tax Justice, Eurodad, Global Policy Forum, MISEREOR, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung and Oxfam Germany.

The international cooperation in tax matters has intensified in the last few years. Processes under the anti-BEPS framework at the OECD or G20 are proof of that. Nevertheless, countries in the Global South that are suffering from the results of tax evasion and avoidance the most (at least in relative terms as recent papers by IMF and OECD show) are to a great deal excluded from this increasing cooperation. This means losing vast amounts of resources, where they could have been allocated to sustainable development. While countries of the Global South that are not part of the G20 are periodically “consulted”, the actual intergovernmental negotiations and decision-making have been taking place behind closed doors and without any tangible links to more inclusive processes. Once again, global standards are being developed without equal representation of developing countries, and with the majority of the world’s countries excluded from the decision- making processes.

At the same time, the Intergovernmental Commission of Experts on Sustainable Development Finance concludes that «a participatory and broad based dialogue on international cooperation in tax matters should be strengthened». But how to foster such dialogue and cooperation without marginalizing a majority of governments? We believe there is space outside the exclusive clubs of the OECD or the G20 to come to meaningful norms and mechanisms to strengthen tax governance at all levels. The UN appears to be the natural place for this. Concrete next steps could be an upgrade of the UN Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters. But even more visionary solutions are conceivable.

We would kindly like to invite you to join us for a panel discussion around these issues and share your views with experts in the fields of international financial and tax cooperation.

Programme

Welcome: Hubert Schillinger, Director, FES Geneva Office

Panel discussion with contributions by

  • Manuel Montes, Senior Advisor, Finance and Development, South Centre
  • Tove Maria Ryding, Senior Policy Analyst, Eurodad
  • Dereje Alemayehu, Chair of the Coordinating Committee, Global Alliance for Tax Justice

Moderator: Wolfgang Obenland, Program Coordinator, Global Policy Forum

Please indicate your participation by sending an e-mail to woob[ät]globalpolicy.org.

Invitation and program (pdf, 180 KB)


The Privatization of the Post-2015 Development Agenda

Issues and Challenges in Partnerships with the 'Private Sector'

Side event, New York City

April 8, 2014 | 1:15 - 2:45 pm | 2nd Floor Conference Room | Church Center, 777 UN Plaza, New York City

Partnerships for sustainable development are increasingly being promoted as a major, if not the primary, enabler for the implementation of the successor international sustainable development goals to replace the MDGs by 2015. However, a growing number of civil society groups warn against a partnership approach that places primary emphasis on enticing private sector participation and investments as this risks reinforcing the coporate capture of the post-2015 agenda.

This one-and-a-half hour Public Forum aims to inform civil society organizations and member states with critical perspectives on the major issues and challenges associated with partnerships with the "private sector" for sustainable development.

Download the invitation here (PDF, 200 KB).

Watch a webcast of the event here.

Co-organized by: Brot für die Welt, the Campaign for People's Goals for Sustainable Development, United Methodist Church, Center for Economic and Social Rights, Global Policy Forum, IBON international, MISEREOR, Social Watch, and Third World Network

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Corporate influence through the G8 New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition

Civil Society Strategy Meeting

Brussels | 18 March 2014, 10:00-16:30
APRODEV office
, European Ecumenical Centre, Boulevard Charlemagne 28, B-1000 Bruxelles

The workshop is co-organized by Brot für die Welt, MISEREOR and GPF

Since its launch in Camp David mid-2012, the G8 New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition has become a platform of increasing importance and power for transnational corporations. They now left the role of mere “policy-takers” to co-create enabling political environments conducive to their core business. African markets are to be opened up to access agricultural commodities or natural resources and to market commercial seed, fertilizer and pesticides under the banner of the fight against hunger.

So far, movements and civil society in Africa and in the G8 countries have raised their voice here and there, strongly criticizing the initiative. However, due to the opacity, complexity und “blurriness” of the G8NA it has so far proven difficult to put the New Alliance under real pressure.

We want to use the strategy meeting to analyze the corporate influence and agricultural policies that led to the frameworks of the 10 countries. We want to discuss the ‘ensemble of corporate agriculture initiatives’ that serve as the blueprint for the New Alliance, and analyze them from different perspectives. In a second step, we then want to discuss options for joint civil society strategies and actions for the next 15 months, towards the G8 Summit 2015.

Workshop Program (pdf, 90KB)

Fur further information, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

2013

Financing for sustainable development: Can the international financial system make the leap?

The event is jointly organized by CIDSE, RightingFinance, and Third World NEtwork

Where: Conference Room A, United Nations Headquarters Between 46th Street and 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10017 (a UN ground pass is required to attend this event)

When: Monday, 9 December, 2013, 18:15-19:30

Speakers:

  • H.E. Guilherme de Aguiar Patriota, Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Brazil to the UN
  • Dr. Yanuar Nugroho, Deputy Representative, President's Delivery Unit for Development Monitoring and Oversight, Republic of Indonesia
  • Ms. Linah Shimi, Deputy Head of Office "Official Development Assistance and Multilateral Development Institutions", Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industry, DG Treasury, France
  • Barbara Adams, Global Policy Forum
  • Nerea Craviotto, AWID
  • Aldo Caliari, Center of Concern

Moderation: tba

The Rio + 20 Conference reaffirmed the three pillars of sustainable development: economic, social and environmental. As governments try to address the challenge of financing sustainable development that makes justice to all three dimensions, they will have to do so relying on an international financial and trading system that to a great extent predates such commitments and did not evolve in light of the need to serve them. Additionally, in a world where the exponential growth of finance has led to a finance-driven economy, how can the agenda subordinate finance to a real economy with human rights at the center?

This side-event will discuss whether and to what extent the current international financial, monetary and trading systems are equipped to make this leap, and what needs to happen in the agreement on the post-2015 development agenda to support the enabling of such transition.

Invitation (pdf, 30 KB)

Side Event during the opening of the 68th UN General Assembly

What kind of a Post-2015 Development Framework will bring about the Real change we need?

The event is jointly organized by CIDSE, GPF, and Social Watch

Where: UN Church Center, 2nd Floor, 777 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017

When: 23rd September 2013, 18:00-21:00

Speakers:

  • Bernd Nilles, Secretary General, CIDSE
  • Roberto Bissio, Coordinator, Social Watch
  • Heidi Hautala, Minister of Development, Government of Finland
  • Mariama Williams, Senior Research Fellow, South Centre
  • Wael Hmaiden, Director, CAN International
  • Ignacio Saez, Executive Director, Center for Economic and Social Rights
  • Justin Kilcullen, Director, Trócaire
Moderation:Dr. Lorna Gold, Head of Policy, Trócaire

Reaching a broad consensus on the future development agenda is the ultimate goal of the upcoming negotiations. Extensive consultations and reports of high-level policy-makers, the private sector and academics have contributed to the discussion how to eradicate poverty and ensure a global sustainable development. Yet, to which extent have the needs of the poor and most vulnerable people been reflected?

Through the panel discussion we aim to identify gaps in the official Post-2015 agenda when held against the views and aspirations civil society has expressed in their active engagement in consultations on this agenda to date. The panel will equally discuss alternatives which could make a vision of greater justice and equity that also addresses the challenges posed by climate change and resource constraint a reality.

The event will conclude with a light dinner, during which participants can continue discussions and talk with our panellists and CIDSE experts on the future development agenda and the priorities of the poor.


Global Sustainability Goals: The way forward in shaping transformation towards a more equitable, just and sustainable world?

Workshop at the Global Media Forum, Bonn, 17-19 June 2013

The present framework of international development goals centering on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the strategies based on them do not provide adequate answers to the global problems, be it global warming, or the growing gap between rich and poor. Both the debate over a ‘post-2015 agenda’, as well as the agreement by governments at the Rio+20 Conference to start an intergovernmental process of formulating Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) now offer the opportunity to readdress holistic concepts of prosperity and progress in society.

How could an integrated system of Global Sustainability Goals look like? What are the principles and normative foundations of a Post-2015 agenda? What lessons can be learned from the MDG experience? How could Global Sustainability Goals be embedded in a rights-based approach to development and a system of fair burden-sharing? And what accountability mechanisms must be put in place?

At the Workshop we will present and discuss the findings of the Civil Society Reflection Group on Global Development Perspectives (www.reflectiongroup.org) and its proposal for a Framework of Universal Sustainability Goals as Part of a Post-2015 Agenda.

The workshop will be moderated by Jens Martens, Director, Global Policy Forum

Speakers:

Barbara Adams, Senior Policy Advisor, Global Policy Forum

Danuta Sacher, Chair of the Executive Board, terre des hommes

Hubert Schillinger, Coordinator, Dialogue on Globalization program, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung

The Global Media Forum is hosted by the Deutschen Welle. For further information and registration, please visit the conference website.

Workshops at the World Social Forum, Tunis - 26-30 March 2013

Global Sustainability Goals: The way forward in shaping transformation towards a more equitable, just and sustainable world?

28 March 2013, 13.00 – 15.30hrs
Université de Tunis El Manar, Faculté de droits, salle de lecture n° 1

The present framework of international development goals revolving around “Millennium Development Goals” for the year 2015 do not provide adequate answers to the global problems, be it global warming or the growing inequalities. Both the debate over a post-2015 agenda as well as the agreement at the Rio conference to formulate Sustainable Development Goals now offer the opportunity to readdress holistic concepts of prosperity and progress in societies.
What could an integrated system of Global Sustainability Goals look like? What are its normative foundations? Beyond goals: what accountability mechanisms must be put in place? How could such goals be embedded in a rights-based approach to development and a system of fair burden-sharing?
With (inter alia): Roberto Bissio, Social Watch, Anita Nayar/Nicole Bidegain, Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN), Jens Martens, Global Policy Forum Europe, Ziad Abdel Samad, Arab NGO Network for Development, Jean Saldanha, International Cooperation for Development and Solidarity (CIDSE), Sara Burke, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung New York Office.

Invitation (pdf, 200 KB)

Eco-Social Fiscal Justice as Part of a Holistic Post 2015 Agenda

28 March 2013, 16.00 – 18.30hrs
Université de Tunis El Manar, Faculté de droits, salle de lecture n° 1

Fiscal policy is a key instrument to turn a rights-based approach of sustainability and societal progress into practice. Budgets allow inferences to be drawn about the political influence of different interest groups: Are business interests pushed through? Or is public spending focused on the needs of the people? There are many discussions on Sustainable Development Goals succeeding the MDGs. But Sustainable Development Goals will remain useless if it will not be reflected in correspondent Sustainable Development Budgets.
We want to discuss what these budgets should look like. And we want to bring together actors from budget monitoring and transparency initiatives with people who have so far been working on social and environmental issues.
With (inter alia): Silja Dressel, GIZ, Filomeno Santa Ana III, Action For Economic Reform, Slim Gargouri, Accountant and tax expert, Rocío Moreno, Global Movement for Budget Transparency, Accountability and Participation, Iara Pietricovsky, INESC (tbc), Diego de la Mora, Fundar, Semkae Kilonzo, Policy Forum, Jens Martens, GPF Europe

Invitation (pdf, 200 KB)

Open Forum on the Tax Justice Agenda

29 March 2013, 13.00 – 15.30hrs
Université de Tunis El Manar, Faculté de droits, salle de lecture n° 1

The debate around tax justice is concentrated on combating tax evasion and avoidance as well as the underlying structures that enable those practices - by corporations as well as individuals. In development oriented circles discussions focus on the precarious state of public finance in many countries in the South and North as well as around the issue of domestic resource mobilization through means of fairer and more effective tax systems and administrations. We want to share experiences and strategies towards our common goals and enable us to cooperate more closely to achieve them in solidarity.
What are pressing issues locally and globally? Is there a need and room for better cooperation? What strategies are to be employed?
With (inter alia): Alvin Mosioma, TJN-A, Arnaud Zacharie, CNCD-11.11.11, Wolfgang Obenland, GPF, Murray Worthy, War on Want, N.N., CIDSE

Invitation (pdf, 200 KB)


2012

Assessing the World’s Agriculture: the IAASTD Report and the Future of Sustainable Food Policy (December 5, 2012)

On December 5, 2012, GPF and the Working Group on Food & Hunger invited Molly Anderson from the College of the Atlantic to discuss the International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD) report and the future of sustainable food policy. Ms. Anderson was one of the coordinating lead authors of the study that reflected the work of more than 900 agricultural experts from 110 countries. To this day the IAASTD report remains by far the most definitive study of global agricultural science and technology. During the luncheon, Ms. Anderson discussed the report’s implications for policy making. She also discussed the contested terrain of food system alternatives after Rio+20.

IMG_7435Molly Anderson

"Tax Justice - Human Rights - Future Justice"

International conference on November 27th in Berlin, Germany, at the headquarters of the Friedrich-Ebert-Foundation.
A joint initiative by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, the Global Policy Forum Europe, MISEREOR, and terre des hommes in cooperation with the Tax Justice Network Germany

The debate around „tax justice“ is currently concentrated on combating tax evasion and avoidance as well as on the dismantling of the underlying structures that enable those practices.
In development policy oriented circles discussions focus on the precarious state of public finance in many countries in the South as well as around the issue of domestic resource mobilization through means of more effective tax systems and more efficient tax administrations. Problems here are domestic elites not paying their fair share; a good part of economic activity is happening informally; transnational corporations are evading effective taxation by using tax incentives and manipulative transfer pricing methods.
In the human rights arena the issue of „maximum available resources“ in combination with extraterritorial obligations of states is gaining increasing attention.

In the middle of the financial and sovereign debt crises, taxation is receiving more and more attention in Europe and Germany as one way out of the mess: wealth taxes, bank levies and a European financial transaction tax are shifting into the focus of policy makers.

Parallel to this, the evolution of the discourse around eco-social tax and fiscal reform is progressing as instruments to curb environmental degradation, climate change and limiting the consumption of finite and rare natural resources.

Tax Justice, Future Justice and the fulfillment of Human Rights need to be advanced in combination. At our international conference, we want to learn from renowned experts on how to achieve this and debate their proposals.

Invitation and program (pdf, 350 KB)

Info Steuergerechtigkeit #07 - Steuergerechtigkeit als Alternative zum Spardiktat von Schuldenbremse und Fiskalpakt (pdf, 400 KB)

Info Steuergerechtigkeit #08e - Taxes and human rights (pdf, 500 KB)

Info Steuergerechtigkeit #09e - Environmental tax reform in countries of the South (pdf, 500 KB)

Bonn Symposium 2012
Paradigm Shift 2015. Towards a New Sustainable Development Agenda

A conference by the Development and Peace Foundation in cooperation with GPF Europe and the United Nations Association of Germany
Deutsche Welle and Haus der Geschichte, Bonn
13-14 November 2012

Over the last decade, the development policy debate has been dominated by the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This set of development policy objectives has proved to be a very effective tool for public awareness-raising and campaigning on development issues. At the same time, however, the last ten years have also highlighted the weaknesses of a development policy approach which is focused primarily on combating the most extreme forms of income poverty and hunger and meeting communities’ basic needs. In view of the changes taking place in global economic and (power-)political relations – China’s upsurge in significance being an obvious example – the division of the world into “industrialised” and “developing” countries, with an affluent North and impoverished global South, seems increasingly anachronistic. In our ever more interdependent world, countries which were long characterised as “developing” or “emerging” nations are now helping to shape the international policy agendaand bringing their own ideas and concepts to the table. The global power shift, the emergence of new strategic alliances and the growing importance of global public goods are just some of the crucial factors influencing theinternational community’s efforts to negotiate a new development agenda. Some of the emerging countries are themselves now playing a greater role as development actors in other countries and regions of the world – amajor paradigm shift in the global development architecture. These changes bring new challenges and offer new opportunities. Above all, they force us to question the usefulness of development goals which, although formulated at the global level, are mainly relevant to a narrowly defined group of “poor” countries.

In recent years, processes which seek to identify alternative concepts of development and models of prosperity have been initiated at various levels. At the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) the international community agreed to develop a set of sustainable development goals (SDGs). However, they will be elaborated in a different organisanional setting to the post 2015 Millennium Development Goals planning process. Aspirations to combine both agendas in the near future were disappointed.

Against this background, the Development and Peace Foundation (SEF), together with the Global Policy Forum and the United Nations Association of Germany, will give a discussion floor to those still demanding and working for a common agenda. The Symposium will explore the fundamental issue of what development will mean in an increasingly complex and differentiated world in future. Which new strategies and forms of cooperation must be developed at the global policy level in response to an increasingly diverse cast of actors and growing global interdependencies? This year’s Symposium will provide a platform here in Germany for the debate – now being conducted with growing intensity by international civil society and policy-makers – about the future of the MDGsand their institutional parameters, and, in particular, will explore the implications for UN institutions and other Bonn-based organisations.

Conference Website
Programme of the conferene (pdf, 640 KB)
Programme of workshops (pdf, 630 KB)

The Committee on World Food Security: Civil Society Participation and Recent Policy Developments (November 8, 2012)

On November 8, 2012, GPF and the Working Group on Food & Hunger invited Nora McKeon from Terra Nuova (Rome) to discuss the Committee on World Food Security. Ms. McKeon addressed the role of civil society in the process and discussed the recent policy developments in Rome, arguing for better cooperation between Rome in New York in this UN process. The policy luncheon was a part of ‘The Future of Global Food Policy’- forum series at the United Nations and was heavily attended by both delegations and members of civil society.

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Nora McKeon

Land Grabbing - A Grassroots Perspective: A Discussion with ActionAid Representatives (September 13, 2012)

On September 13, 2012, GPF and the Working Group on Food and Hunger organized a policy luncheon on land grabbing with ActionAid representatives from Senegal, Tanzania and Bangladesh. The representatives provided examples of cases of land grabbing from their countries, highlighting the existing challenges concerning land tenure. In addition to the specific country representatives, Ruchi Tripathi and Marie Brill from ActionAid International introduced the different ways ActionAid is working on land tenure issues globally. The policy luncheon was a part of the 'Future of Global Food Policy' - forum series at the United Nations and was heavily attended by both delegations and members of civil society.

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ActionAid Representatives and Jim

Raging War, Waging Peace: Achieving Justice in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (August 31, 2012)

GPF co-hosted a discussion with representatives of a delegation from the DRC gathering church and civil society leaders. The delegation was in New York to hand a petition to the Secretary General and the Security Council calling for peace and justice in the DRC. During their presentations, the panelists talked about the history of Rwandan intervention in DRC, the role of natural resources in the conflict, and the plight of Congolese women.

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The panelists

Advancing Farm Workers’ Rights in the Corporate Food Supply Chain: A discussion with Rev. Noelle Damico (May 10, 2012; New York)

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Noelle and Jim

The Tragic Legacies of Lebanon's Phalangists: A conversation with Jonathan Randall (May 11, 2012)

GPF co-sponsored this book launch with the Presbyterian Ministry at the UN. Author Jonathan Randall, a longtime Washington Post correspondent, spoke about the re-issue of his classic 1983 study of politics and civil war in Lebanon, the Israeli invasion, and the massacres of Sabra and Shatilla. Just World Books publisher Helena Cobban, herself a Middle East expert and journalist, also spoke.

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Drone Warfare: Killing by Remote Control, with author Medea Benjamin (May 2, 2012)

Drones (unmanned aerial vehicles) have become the signature weapons of the US covert air strikes in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Yemen. The use of drones in undeclared wars violates both the US Constitution and international law. Drone strikes are carried out without due process, and do not discriminate between intended targets and bystanders. Many innocent civilians, including children, are killed as a result. Medea Benjamin’s book is a call to action, with a look at what activists, lawyers, and scientists are doing to rein in the drones.

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Shahzad Akbar, Medea Benjamin and
James Paul

Luncheon with Bruno Tissot of the Bank for International Settlements (April 23, 2012)

Bruno Tissot, Advisor to the General Manager of the Swiss-based Bank for International Settlements, spoke at a private luncheon meeting organized by GPF for a group of NGOs and other experts. Tissot talked about the instability of the global financial system and the growing difficulty in finding solutions to the crisis that began in 2008.  He noted that $15 trillion in additional sovereign spending has failed to bring renewed health to markets. Participants concluded that neither banks nor government treasuries have much more capacity to keep the bailout going and strong political leadership is woefully absent.

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Bruno Tissot

The Land Grabbing Disaster and the Global Food System: A discussion with Haroon Akram-Lodhi (April 11, 2012)

Hedge-funds, governments, and agro-industrial industries have been buying or leasing large blocks of agricultural land around the world in a process widely known as "land grabbing." Land grabbing has displaced tens of millions of small producers, who have lost their livelihoods as a result. Global Policy Forum invited Professor Haroon Akram-Lodhi of Trent University to speak about the issue.

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Haroon Akram-Lodhi

Law in the Time of Cholera: UN Peacekeeping, Cholera, and Human Rights in Haiti (April 9, 2012)

GPF organized this event with the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti to discuss the cholera epidemic in Haiti, and the the larger role of MINUSTAH, the UN's Peacekeeping force that brought cholera to the region. Co-sponsers include the Center for Constitutional Rights, International Association of Democratic Lawyers, Mennonite Central Committee, Presbyterian Ministry at the UN, and United Methodist Women. The discussion featured Abby Goldberg (New Media Advocacy Project), Mario Joseph (Bureau des Avocats Internationaux), Dr. Evan Lyon, and Brian Concannon (Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti).

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Abby Goldberg, Evan Lyon, Mario Joseph, and Brian Concannon

The Movement for Food Sovereignty: A discussion with La Via Campesina (March 26, 2012; New York)

La Via Campesina coined the term, "Food Sovreignty," in 1996. The term refers to a policy framework advocated by small-scale farmers that allows them to define their own agricultural system.

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Pat Mooney, David Weaver and
Dena Hof

Corporate Influence on Food Policy - A discussion with Marion Nestle (February 15, 2012; New York)

This discussion with Professor Marion Nestle examined the increasing influence of corporations on food policy. Through the deregulation of Wall Street, a sharp rise in lobbying power and billions being poured into marketing, giant corporations have taken over the food system. Nestle warned against public institutions partnering with food companies and advocated for tighter regulation of corporations.

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Marion presents

Climate Change & Agriculture: Looking towards Rio + 20 – A discussion with Doreen Stabinsky (January 18, 2012)

This discussion featured Doreen Stabinsky, Professor of Global Environmental Politics at College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbon, Maine. With Rio + 20 coming up in June, this timely discussion was focused on the link between climate change and agriculture. Professor Stabinsky warned that “business as usual is not an option” and advocated for a reform of the overall agriculture and food system: a paradigm shift away from industrial agriculture and towards sustainable production and consumption. She warned that unless we address the current model of development, we will be unable to achieve global food security. Delegates, UN staff and members of the NGO community participated.

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Paul Mikov, James Paul and Doreen Stabinsky


2011

Nurturing Development: The Role of Innovative Financing for Development and its Implications of Economic Governance (December 6, 2011)

In the context of the 5th High Panel Debate on Financing for Development, GPF and UBUNTU Forum co-sponsored this event on how to better align the twofold goals of effective economic governance and fundraising for development. The discussion featured Manuel Manonelles (UBUNTU Forum), Peter Bakvis (International Trade Union Confederation), Julien Meimon (Leading Group on Innovative Financing for Development), Gail Hurley (United Nations Development Program) and Rodrigo Robredo (Spanish Foreign Ministry). The debate focused on Financial Transaction Taxes, in particular the Currency Transaction Tax (CTT) and on the Air Transport Levy as three innovative methods which succeed in raising revenues for development while taxing those individuals and economic sectors that have the financial capacities to pay. At the same time, FTTs and CTTs can improve economic governance and push speculation back.

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Julien Meimon, Manuel Manonelles and Gail Hurley

Recent Developments on the Right to Food - A Conversation with UN Special Rapporteur Olivier de Schutter (November 16, 2011; New York)

In this discussion, UN Special Rapporteur Olivier de Schutter gave an update on the Right to Food since the start of his second term as the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food. De Schutter talked about the urgent need to curb commodity speculation, end subsidies and for the WTO to change trade rules that privelege exporting countries. De Schutter also touched upon the negative impacts of biofuels, land grabbing, and the need to recognize and support small-scale farmers.

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Olivier de Schutter

Purchase for Progress - Connecting Smallholder Farmers to Markets in Africa and Central America: A discussion with Ken Davies (October 28, 2011; New York)

This discussion featured Ken Davies, Coordinator of UN World Food Programme’s “Purchase for Progress” (P4P) initiative. This five-year pilot program began in September 2008 and is based in 21 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Davies spoke about the structure of the program and efforts by WFP to buy staple crops from farmers’ organizations in these countries, through direct or forward contracts. P4P trains small and medium traders in farming techniques and crop quality control. P4P is primarily funded by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and has connected over 500,000 small farmers to markets.

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Ken Davies and Jim Paul

Human Rights in Palestine and the Role of the 66th General Assembly: A Briefing by Raji Sourani (September 27, 2011)

GPF, the NGO Working Group on Israel and Palestine, and US Federation for Middle East Peace co-sponsored this event featuring Raji Sourani, Founder of the Palestinian Center for Human Rights in Gaza and Vice President of the International Federation for Human Rights. As the UN Security Council debates the Palestinian Authority’s bid for recognition of a Palestinian state, Sourani highlights issues of basic fundamental human rights, the international rule of law, and standards of accountability. He also deconstructs the normalization of the Israeli occupation. An award winning human rights lawyer, Sourani was denied entrance to the US for the last 11 years due to his alleged association with terrorists. His trip and this event were possible only after former US President Carter, among others, advocated on his behalf.

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Picture Credit: fidh.org

Innovating in Justice, Innovating in Finance: Time for a Financial Transaction Tax (September 22, 2011; New York)

The debate focused on the introduction of a Financial Transaction Tax (FTT), which could generate resources to fund development. Introducing a tax of only 0,005% on currency exchange transactions, for instance, would be sufficient to raise over $30 billion per year. Panelists acknowledged the unprecedented willingness among governments and policymakers to establish such a tax. The introduction of a FTT has long ceased to be a utopia: its implementation is economically and technically feasible, and is now a matter of political will. GPF has long advocated for the introduction of global taxes, and published a major policy paper on this topic in 2001. However, Jim Paul and other NGOs representatives warned that governments may try to hijack the revenue generated by a tax such as the FTT to fill their own coffers.

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James Paul, Manuel Manonelles & Jose Maria Fernandez Lopez de Turiso

Palestine: The UN Debate and Beyond - A Discussion with Rashid Khalidi, Karima Bennoune, and Benjamin Beit Hallahmi (September 12, 2011; New York)

This discussion featured Rashid Khalidi, Edward Said Professor of Modern Arab Studies at Columbia University, Karima Bennoune, Professor of Law and at Rutgers University, and Benjamin Beit Hallahmi, Professor of Psychology at the University of Haifa, Israel. It examined the context of Palestine’s UN bid and explored the legal ramifications of the idea of Palestinian statehood. According to Khalidi, for the last two decades the rules functioning as the basis for peace negotiations have been imposed by the US, often at the insistence of its Israeli ally. Although in his view the Palestinian initiative will not end the occupation or result in liberation, it is a positive step for changing the terms currently underpinning the conflict. The UN, a multilateral forum with an international legal basis, is where this issue should be decided.

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Rashid Khalidi & Doug Hostetter

International Workshop

Civil society strategies towards tax justice – what next?

hosted by MISEREOR, Global Policy Forum and terre des hommes
Bonn, Haus der Evangelischen Kirche, Adenaueralle 37, Germany
13 September 2011

With this workshop we would like to take stock of the tax related debates in international fora, particularly the G20, the OECD and the UN; we will exchange views and experiences from various regions and share information about the tax agenda of CSOs in Africa, Asia and Latin America; and we will discuss advocacy priorities and themes for the coming months. Key issues of the joint brainstorming and strategizing will be country-by-country reporting (Dodd-Frank and beyond), measures against tax dodging (lessons from the SABMiller and Glencore cases), and an update of the TJN’s Financial Secrecy Index 2011.

Invitation and Programme (pdf - 70 KB)

Presentations at the Workshop (engl. pdf - 2.8 MB)

A European Seat on the UN Security Council? (May 23-25, 2011; Brussels)

GPF was the lead organizer of a conference in Brussels on May 23-25, to consider the possibility of a European seat in the UN Security Council. Co-sponsored by the Dag Hammarskold Foundation of Uppsala, the Development and Peace Foundation of Bonn, and the Istituto Affari Internazionali of Rome, this was GPF's third conference on Security Council reform and without doubt the most ambitious. Forty-two experts gathered to discuss the issue, seen as a dimension of growing regionalism in global governance and a way to better represent all the world's people on vital issues of peace and security. Among the speakers and participants were Ambassador Peter van Walsum (the Netherlands), Member of the European Parliament Ana Gomes (Portugal), Ambassador Andrzej Towpik (Poland), Professor Daniele Archibugi (Birkbeck College London), and GPF Senior Advisor Celine Nahory (Switzerland, India). The conference ended on the 25th, with a very well-attended hearing in the European Parliament and plans for future collaboration on the topic by many of those attending.

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More than 40 experts attended

Energy and Eating - How biofuels affect the world's food supply and what we should do about it: A discussion with David Pimentel (March 16, 2011; New York)

The diminishing supply of oil and high energy prices encourages the conversion of grain and other food products into biofuels. This luncheon discussion with David Pimentel, Emeritus Professor at Cornell University, addressed the negative impacts of biofuels on the environment and economy. Delegates, NGOs and UN staff participated. Pimentel talked about the challenge of energy conservation and how grains should be used to feed the 4.5 billion people who are currently malnourished worldwide.

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David Pimentel and Jim Paul

The Food Crisis and the Limits to Growth: A Discussion with Martin Lees (February 9, 2011; New York)

This discussion featured Martin Lees, former Secretary General of the Club of Rome and former top UN official. In a world where one in three people are under-nourished in sub-Saharan Africa, and where 80 per cent of income is spent on food in African countries, a dialogue on the food crisis and limits to growth is essential. The current model of growth is failing to eradicate hunger and is failing to provide opportunities for people to find productive work. Additionally, economic growth is destabilizing the climate and ecological systems and is ignoring the interests of future generations.

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Martin Lees & Jim Paul

Speculation and Food: price instability and the food reserve option - A Discussion with Frederick Kaufman and Karen Hansen-Kuhn (January 20, 2011; New York)

In this discussion, investigative journalist Frederick Kaufman addressed wheat market prices, grain futures and the "financialization of food", as well as the "subversion" of market. Karen Hansen-Kuhn, International Program Director at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy discussed government food reserves as a method to confront price volatility.

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Frederick Kaufman & Jim Paul


2010

 

Luncheon with Danny Chingimbu, a smallholder farmer from Zambia (December 15, 2010; New York)

The NGO Working Group on Food and Hunger met with Danny Chingimbu, a smallholder farmer from Zambia, at a luncheon cosponsored by IFAD - the International Fund for Agricultural Development. The conversation considered the experience of rural farmers in Zambia, as well as ideas about holistic solutions to promote the growth of household agricultural production.

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Danny Chingimbu presents

Realizing the Right to Food - A Conversation with UN Special Rapporteur Olivier de Schutter (Luncheon, December 1, 2010; New York)

This discussion with Olivier de Schutter, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, addressed landgrabbing, speculation, biofuels and other topics. Delegates, NGOs and UN staff participated. De Schutter talked about the challenge to mobilize public opinion and the very grave implications of current trends in terms of growing poverty and hunger.

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Olivier de Schutter and Jim Paul

Forum, "Must We Change the Global Economic System in Order to Eradicate Hunger and Poverty?" (September 22, 2010; New York)

This forum, organized by Church World Service and co-sponsored by the NGO working Group on Food and Hunger, was held in connection with a UN summit to assess progress on the eight Millennium Development Goals to cut extreme poverty in half by 2015. The participants, coming from a range of humanitarian, church and advocacy groups, discussed what systemic change is needed to empower impoverished people around the world. The event was followed by a reception at GPF's office.

 

Luncheon with Noel de Luna, Chairman of the Committee on World Food Security (July 19, 2010; New York)

GPF and the NGO Working Group on Food and Hunger invited Mr. de Luna, a diplomat, from the Philippines, to discuss the important recent reform of the Rome-based Committee on World Food Security (CFS) and the possible links between the Rome process and food policy activities in New York.

 

GPF Roundtable: Discussing the Outcome of the ICC Review Conference (June 24, 2010; New York)

GPF invited the convenor of the Coalition for the International Criminal Court, William Pace, and assistant clinical professor at the Centre for Global Affairs at New York University, Jennifer Trahan, for a roundtable discussion on the relevance and outcome of the Review Conference of the International Criminal Court. The discussion focussed mainly on the amendment on the crime of aggression and the role of the United States during the negotiations on this issue.

Pace_and_trahan_prepare_notesMr. Pace and Ms. Trahan prepare their notes

Achieving the MDGs in Haiti: Food Sovereignty and Sustainable Agriculture (June 14, 2010; New York)

The Presbyterian UN Office, together with the NGO Working Group on Food and Hunger, invited Chavannes Jean-Baptiste to speak to a New York audience on Food Sovereignty and Sustainable Agriculture in Haiti. Chavannes has been on the front lines of struggle for Haitian farmers for many years as Head of the Peasant Movement of Papaye (MPP) and Coordinator of the Joining Hands Initiative in Haiti. Chavannes founded the MPP in 1974 and has been the director for the past 34 years. Chavannes is also a founding member of La Via Campesina, the largest worldwide movement of farmers and peasants.

Achieiving_MDGs_in_Haiti_048Chavannes Jean-Baptiste

Financing the United Nations in Times of Economic Insecurity (June 16, 2010; New York)

This event addressed the issues, challenges, and prospects of financing the operation of the United Nations. The conference consisted of two panel discussions, each followed by an engaging question-and-answer period. Ren Yisheng of the Chinese Mission, Thomas Gürber of the Swiss Mission, and Klaus Hüfner of UNA Germany and Global Policy Forum spoke on the first panel. Kaire Mbuende of the Namibian Mission, Morten Wetland of the Norwegian Mission, and Bengt Säve-Söderbergh of the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (ret.) spoke on the second panel. Numerous diplomats and experts attended the conference, which was co-hosted with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung and the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation.

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The distinguished panelists discuss UN finance issues

Lunchtime discussion on Private Security Contractors and the United Nations (May 19, 2010; New York)

This discussion focussed on the role of private security contractors (PSCs) in contemporary politics, warfare and particuarly within the United Nations system. The panel consisted of: James Cockayne (Senior Fellow and New York Director of the Center on Global Counter-Terrorism Cooperation), Scott Horton (New York attorney and expert in military and international law) and Jeremy Schaill (Investigative journalist and Puffin writing fellow for the Nation Institute). Drawing on the expertise of our three speakers, the discussion addressed crucial questions like: does the UN use PSCs and should we strive to restrict or regulate PSCs?

alice powell associate at gpf introduces the speakers

Alice Powell of GPF introduces our speakers


2009

 

Luncheon on International Tax Policy with John Christensen (December 4, 2009; New York)

This event featured the Director of the London-based Tax Justice Network, who discussed the very large tax revenues that are evaded every year by multinational companies and wealthy individuals, using "secrecy jurisdictions" like the Cayman Islands, the Isle of Man, Luxembourg and many more. These missing funds impoverish states while enriching individuals, creating fiscal crises among both rich and poor countries. An international movement is under way to re-capture these revenues and make taxes fairer. Event co-sponsored by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation, CONGO, NGLS, Tax Justice Network, and the World Council of Churches.

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John Christensen presents

International Dialogue Putting People First: Social Consequences and Policy Implications of the Global Financial Crisis

Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Hiroshimastraße 17, 10785 Berlin
19 November 2009

Invitation and Programme (pdf - 500kb)

Luncheon on Humanitarian Work in Iraq with John Filson (October 30, 2009 - New York)

A lunch event at Quaker House with John Filson, who worked as the Menonite Central Committee's Iraq Program Coordinator from 2007-2009, based in Northern Iraq. Filson talked about the difficulty of working as a neutral humanitarian in a highly-political context under the US occupation. Event co-sponsored with the MCC UN Office and the Quaker UN Office.

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John Filson presents

Luncheon with Abdulstatar Yunis of La 'Onf (October 13, 2009; New York)

A brown bag lunch with Abdulsatar Younis, a representative from the Iraqi organization La 'Onf: meaning "No Violence." GPF sponsored this event, which provided an opportunity to listen to the winner of the Pfeiffer Peace Prize of the Fellowship of Reconciliation. Younis talked about the efforts of La 'Onf to bring peace and reconciliation to war- torn Iraq.

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Abdulsatar Yunis demonstrates

Luncheon on Agriculture, Food and Climate Change: the challenge of sustainable food production (September 22, 2009; New York)

This event, held during the day-long United Nations Summit on Climate Change, brings attention to the close connection of climate change with food & agricultural production. Already, climate change is having a serious negative effect on food production, as droughts, floods and water scarcity affect yields. At the same time, agriculture is contributing a substantial proportion of all greenhouse gases. The luncheon will bring together experts from the UN, NGOs, faith communities and academia to examine this pressing topic and to consider options for policy.

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Ricardo Sanchez presents

Global Policy Reform of Food and Agriculture (May 11, 2009; New York)

Side Event during the Commission on Sustainable Development, co-sponsored with the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, Church World Service, the NGO Working Group on Food & Hunger and others. Speakers included Alexandra Spieldoch of IATP, Gerda Verberg the Netherlands Agriculture Minister and CSD Co-Chair, Monika Kalra Varma, Erika Rosenthal, Arthur Getz, Barbara Adams and others.

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Gerda Verberg presents

Enabling Equitable and Sustainable Development: the IAASTD (May 7, 2009; New York)

A Side Event at the UN Commission on Sustainable Development, featuring speakers who were authors of the International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development. Organized jointly with many others, including FAO, UNESCO, the IAASTD, the Governments of Switzerland and France, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Third World Network and Church World Service.

 

The Crisis in Haiti and the United Nations (May 5, 2009; 1:00-2:45; New York)

A brown bag lunch with lawyer Brian Concannon, Director of the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti and Mario Joseph of the Haiti-based Bureau des Avocats Internationaux. They presented recent developments in the country and the controversial role of Minustah, the UN peacekeeping mission in the country. In particular they talked about the flawed recent elections.

 

Breakfast Roundtable on the Global Food Crisis and the Right to Food (April 6, 2009; 8:15-9:45; New York)

Special guests: Olivier De Schutter, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food and Molly Anderson, Coordinating lead author for the International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development and Fellow at the Wallace Center. Organized jointly with the NGO Working Group on Food & Hunger.

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Molly Anderson presents

Meeting with Prof. Daniele Archibugi - Author of the Global Commonwealth of Citizens: Towards Cosmopolitan Democracy (February 19, 2009; New York)

Daniele Archibugi teaches at Birkbeck College, University of London and serves as Reserach Director at the Italian National Research Ceouncil. Archibugi's new book, The Global Commonwealth of Citizens, considers how democracy can be built - from the local to the global - in today's world. Archibugi argues for the "central importance of the United Nations" and sets out ways the UN can be strengthened and made more accountable. He tackles many interesting questions, such as self-determination, war, multilingualism, and humanitarian intervention. This event was co-sponsored by Global Policy Forum and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation.

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Daniele Archibugi presents

Financing the United Nations: More Effective Funding for Global Priorities (February 11, 2009; New York)

Leading practitioners and theorists reflected on the recently-passed UN Regular Budget and on the UN's financial challenges for the coming budgetary year 2009. Angela Kane, Under Secretary General for Management, gave the keynote opening remarks. Speakers included Klaus Hüfner, professor emeritus of the Freie Universität Berlin, Steve Dimoff of the UNA-USA Washington Office, Mohammad Tal of the ACABQ, and others. Hilary French of Worldwatch Institute and Jeffrey Laurenti of the Century Foundation moderated the discussions. The event was organized by Global Policy Forum and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung.

unfin

Meeting with Conor Foley - Author of The Thin Blue Line (February 9, 2009; New York)

Author Conor Foley has worked for UNHCR and other humanitarian agencies in a number of crises - including Kosovo, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Sri Lanka and other countries. His new book, The Thin Blue Line, develops a critique of humanitarian action and military intervention. His analysis grapples with the complexities and dilemmas of the humanitarian project. At this lunch meeting, he argueed that military intervention is rarely a good solution to the world's problems.

 

Crisis in Gaza: UNRWA Humanitarian Briefing Panel (January 9, 2009 - New York)

Co-sponsored by Global Policy Forum and the Israel/Palestine Working Group. This event included information and commentary from Andrew Whitley, Director, UNRWA Representative Office in New York, Peter Weiss, Vice President, International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and many international NGO representatives, human rights advocates, and members of the public.

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2008

 

International Workshop: Social and Human Rights Budgeting

9 December 2008
Berlin, Permanent Representation of Bremen

Invitation,Programme and Registration (pdf – 139 KB)

 

 

Step Up to the Plate: Ending the Food Crisis (October 16, 2008 - New York)

On the World Food day, GPF supported an event on the food crisis, organized by World Hunger Year. Speakers talked about the real causes and solutions to the crisis. The Great Hall at Cooper Union was packed with more than 500 people including activists, students, and journalists. More information on the event here. To read the Call to Action and then sign-on, click here. To watch excerpts from Stepping up the Plate please click here.

 

The Right to Food: How Can the UN Respond to the Global Food Crisis? (April 23, 2008 - New York)

Global Policy Forum and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation organized a day-long conference on the global food crisis. Representatives from the UN, NGOs and academic institutions spoke about the causes of the crisis as well as solutions, focusing on the role of the UN.

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2007

 

Demystifying the Iran Crisis: Nuclear Weapons and Mad Mullahs? (November 13, 2007 - New York)

A discussion and fundraising reception to support the work of Global Policy Forum. Special guests were Ervand Abrahamian (CUNY Distinguished Professor) and John Burroughs (Executive Director, Lawyers' Committee on Nuclear Policy) Each speaker touched upon the historical context of a nuclear Iran in relation to the United Nations and the international community.

 

Policy Luncheon on Iraq (October 19, 2007 - New York)

Iraq experts on Security Council delegations and selected UN staff members had a telephone dialogue with three leaders of major parliamentary blocs in Iraq . The parliamentarians and the delegates discussed the renewal of the UN mandate of the Multinational Force (MNF) in Iraq .

Co-Sponsors: Global Policy Forum, Mennonite Central Committee UN Office and World Council of Churches UN Office.

Money may not be everything, but Civil Society Perspectives on Financing the International Development Goals (October 15 - 16, 2007 - Bonn)

One year ahead of the United Nations Financing for Development Conference in Doha in 2008, Global Policy Forum Europe, terre des hommes and Social Watch hosted an international seminar on development financing. The meeting served as a brainstorming session. Participants shared experiences and expectations seeking to contribute to the formulation of civil society benchmarks for the Financing for Development Conference.
Full Program

 

Whose Partnership for Whose Development? (July 4, 2007 - Geneva)

One day ahead of the "Global Compact Leaders Summit" at the UN in Geneva, an international group of NGOs and researchers sponsored a hearing, to assess the partnership approach of the Global Compact and to propose alternatives for real corporate accountability. For more information, see the speaking notes from this event.

 

From Disaster to Peacemaking (June 12, 2007 - New York)

GPF co-sponsored two events at the UN with Worldwatch Institute and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation on how natural disasters and the subsequent international aid response can influence peacemaking in conflict areas. Worldwatch researchers Michael Renner and Zoe Chafe presented their report "Beyond Disasters: Creating Opportunities for Peace" to a group of experts from the UN and NGOs - first at a roundtable and then at a policy luncheon.

 

Luncheon on Iraq Policy Issues with Iraq Experts from the Security Council and the UN (May 22, 2007 - New York )

Kristele Younes of Refugees International, spoke about the Iraqi refugee crisis and James Paul of Global Policy Forum, introduced the new study "War and Occupation in Iraq " Co-Sponsors included Global Policy Forum, Refugees International and Mennonite Central Committee.

 

Reception to Launch the Report "War and Occupation in Iraq" (May 8, 2007 - New York )

Over fifty of GPF's friends and donors gathered in New York at the home of Board member Dinni Gordon for a pre-release party of the "War and Occupation in Iraq" report. Special guest Denis Halliday, the former UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq, gave a speech and GPF's Jim Paul and Céline Nahory introduced the report and talked about the research and writing process.

 

Global Public-Private Partnerships - Privatisation of Multilateralism? (January 23, 2007 - Nairobi)

At the World Social Forum 2007 in Nairobi, the Friedrich Ebert Foundation and Global Policy Forum Europe organized a joint workshop, critically assessing the development of "global partnerships" between government and private actors. The workshop aimed to trace the scale and scope of these global "partnerships," and to discuss their limits, risks and side-effects. Panel discussants included representatives from Consumer Information Network, Social Watch, People's Health Movement and Third World Network.

 


2006

 

Book Launch: Christian Fundamentalism vs. Progressive Advocacy (October 20, 2006 - New York)

GPF co-sponsored a book-launch event of Faith in Public Life's Executive Director Jennifer Butler's book on the increasing influence of the Christian Right at the UN and beyond.

 

The Global Climate Crisis (October 3, 2006 - New York)

Global Policy Forum and International Catholic Organizations Information Center organized a two-part event on global warming. After a screening of Al Gore's film, "An Inconvenient Truth," three panelists - Michael Renner from Worldwatch Institute, Mohammad Reza Salamat from DESA, United Nations and James Tripp, General Counsel at Environmental Defense - discussed global climate change and steps to address it.

 

Challenges for Reconstruction and Peace in the Aceh Province, Indonesia (April 26, 2006 - New York)

Global Policy Forum organized a Brown Bag Luncheon with Michael Renner of Worldwatch Institute. Renner talked informally about his recent trip to the Aceh province. His presentation with photos, maps, and satellite images covered the problems of the post-tsunami reconstruction, the shaky peace agreement between the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and the Jakarta government, and ongoing challenges to the political process and democratization.

 

The Situation in Haiti and the Role of the UN (April 2006 - New York)

GPF invited Brian Concannon, Director of the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti, to talk at a brown-bag luncheon about the situation in Haiti and the role of the UN.

 

The Challenges of UN Finance (March 22, 2006 - New York)

Global Policy Forum and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation organized a high-level meeting on the financial difficulties of the United Nations. The event focused on the current state of UN finances, including the US-imposed six-month spending cap on the regular budget, preventing the UN to spend funds beyond June 30, 2006. Our meeting also looked at the scale of assessments and longer-term trends. The meeting brought together NGOs, UN officials and diplomats to share information, discuss key issues, and consider action to strengthen the UN's finances and head off the crisis.

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Enhancing NGO Relations with the United Nations - The Missing Element in the UN Reform Agenda (February 15, 2006 - New York)

Global Policy Forum, the Friedrich Ebert Foundation and the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions opened a dialogue with UN delegates and members of the UN Secretariat on the future of NGO participation at the United Nations. Participants discussed reform proposals for greater NGO participation; best practices that can be enhanced and replicated; and areas where governments are most resistant and where political progress appears possible. Discussion also centered on the role NGOs can play in future deliberations on UN reform and what steps are necessary to engage new NGO players and social movements in the work of the UN.

 

Archived events

Public Panel

Advancing Women’s Economic Empowerment through Human Rights

Friday March 17, 2017, 8:30 – 10:00 AM
Church Center for the UN
777 First Avenue, 10th Floor
New York, NY, 10017

In cooperation with Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung—New York Office, Public Services International (PSI), Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN), and Rutgers’ Center for Women’s Global Leadership.

International leaders and civil society activists will soon convene again at the UN Headquarters in New York for the 61st Commission on the Status of Women (CSW61), which will take place from March 13 to 24, 2017. This year, the Commission will address the issue of women’s economic empowerment in the changing world of work, a subject of uttermost importance to tackle persistent gender inequalities. Today, most of the world’s poor are working, and the majority of those are women. This clearly shows how employment, while essential for development, is not enough to guarantee the economic rights of millions of women.

The legal barriers posed by the formal and informal economies, the lack of a gendered perspective in policy and planning processes, and the persistent disparities in the labor market pose difficult challenges to women’s advancement in the economic sphere. Trying to cope with the failures of neoliberalism to secure substantive equality, an international commitment becomes imperative.

We are co-organizing a Parallel Event along with Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung, Public Services International (PSI), DAWN, and the Center for Women’s Global Leadership.

This panel will bring together researchers and activists to assess the current situation of women in the working world. The speakers will explore the importance of a global response for achieving women’s economic empowerment, from a perspective that takes the framework of human rights as a pathway to fulfill social justice. They will do so by assessing the contributions and shortcomings of this approach, outlining the situation of women workers in the global economy, and highlighting the challenges and opportunities of advocacy efforts for women’s economic rights within the international realm.

Speakers:

Radhika Balakrishnan, Faculty Director, Center for Women’s Global Leadership
Gita Sen, General Coordinator, DAWN
Barbara Adams, Board Chair, GPF
Gloria Mills, Equalities National Secretary, Unison UK – PSI
Jennifer Fish, Chair of Women’s Studies, Old Dominion University

Facilitator: Stefanie Ehmsen, Co-director, Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung—New York Office

Free and open to the public. Registration here.

Download the flyer here.

 

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