Events related to the UN General Assembly Special Event beginning week of 22 September No 2

Major groups and other stakeholders’ briefing and NGLS event, Sunday 22 September

A large number of civil society organizations (CSOs) attended two events at the UN on Sunday 22 September in preparation for the UN General Assembly Special Event. The first was the Major groups and stakeholders’ briefing and the second was the event entitled, Advancing regional recommendations for post-2015: a dialogue between civil society, governments and UN representatives.

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Secretary-General’s high-level forum to catalyze and accelerate further action to achieve the MDGs

Ahead of the special event of the President of the General Assembly to follow up the efforts made to achieve the Millennium Development Goals on 25 September 2013, the Secretary-General is hosting a high-level forum to catalyze and accelerate further action to achieve the MDGs on 23 September. The programme is as follows:

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Asian and Pacific declaration on population and development

History was made in the Asia Pacific Population Conference as thirty eight member states voted to adopt the draft declaration on population and development.

After a week of intense and passionate debate and negotiation the region overwhelmingly voted to adopt, support and promote progressive language on sexual and reproductive rights, comprehensive sexuality education (the first time it has been mentioned in such a document), and the need to address discrimination, including on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. 

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CSO report from Geneva UNECE ICPD Review

We have received the following from the International Planned Parenthood Federation: 

The report of the CSO consultation at the time of the UNECE Conference for ICPD Review is now available. It summarizes the discussions during the meeting as well as ideas for next steps on advocacy. It is intended to be used as a support document outlining regional priorities to be brought upfront in the international processes.

Also available is IPPF's Executive Summary. 

6 APPC Civil Society Statement

We have received the following from the International Planned Parenthood Federation:

Today Civil Society from the Asia Pacific region delivered the CS position on the review of the ICPD in the Asia Pacific region, at the Sixth Asia Pacific Population Conference. The statement was delivered to over 400 delegates from 42 member states from the region, by the Director of IPPF South Asia region, Anjali Sen.

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Civil Society Update on Sixth Asia- Pacific Population Conference (APPC) Day Two

We have received the following from the International Planned Parenthood Federation:

The second day of the Asian Pacific civil society (CSO) meeting  Advances, challenges and ways forward: Asia Pacific CSO forum on ICPD beyond 2014 before the sixth Asian Pacific Population Conference (APPC) kicked off with the participants splitting into six thematic groups. The groups were tasked with analyzing and working on recommended language for the draft outcome document that was released ahead of the APPC.

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Advances, challenges and ways forward: Asia Pacific CSO forum on ICPD beyond 2014

We have received the following from the International Planned Parenthood Federation:

The Civil Society Forum Advances, challenges and ways forward: Asia Pacific CSO forum on ICPD beyond 2014, has begun as part of the process for the  Sixth Asia- Pacific Population Conference (APPC).

The meeting was attended by 130 CSO representatives from various organizations representing   women's issues, aging, youth, rights and LGBT groups from East, South and South East Asia, the  Pacific  and Oceania.

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UNECA Review Conference Harnessing the Demographic Dividend: The future we want for Africa

The upcoming ICPD regional review conference in Africa — Harnessing the Demographic Dividend: The future we want for Africa will be held in Addis Ababa, 30 September- 4 October.

This meeting is a regional review of the status of the implementation of the ICPD programme of Action in the Africa region. The conference is hosted by United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and African Union Congress (AUC), who are holding an experts and governmental meeting.

Registration to participate in this conference is now open.

Countdown to UN General Assembly Special Event, 25 September 2013 No 7

Latest information on the UN General Assembly Special Event

Further information has been made available on the Special Event, which is being held in the Trusteeship Council Chamber and Conference Room 2.

Opening session: Opening remarks will be given by HE Mr John Ashe, President of the General Assembly; the UN Secretary-General; the President of the European Commission; the Prime Minister of Fiji, on behalf of the Group of 77; the US Secretary of State; the Foreign Minister of Belarus; the President of the World Bank; the Administrator of UNDP; Jeffrey Sachs, Special Advisor to the Secretary-General on the MDGs; Bill and Melinda Gates; and Barbara Martinez, Latin American and Caribbean Network of Young People living with HIV.

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Countdown to UN General Assembly Special Event, 25 September 2013 No 6

The Countdown to the UN General Assembly Special Event postings to date have focused on specific meetings or documents. This posting will bring together the some of the other events that involve the private sector and CSOs and are taking place around the Special Event.

An important resource in keeping up-to-date on them is the List of Events related to the Special Event to follow up on the efforts made towards achieving the MDGs, September 2013, New York on the Beyond2015UK bond website. You are advised to check it regularly as the information is constantly changing.

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