Invitation High-level Event “Accelerating implementation of the 2030 Agenda through water, sanitation and climate action”, 29 May 2020 from 09.00 to 11.00 am (EST)

The Permanent Missions of Canada, Finland, Hungary, Japan, Kenya, the Netherlands, Portugal, Singapore, Tajikistan and the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs in cooperation with UN-Water have the honour to invite you to participate in the High-level Event entitled “Accelerating implementation of the 2030 Agenda through water, sanitation and climate action” to be held virtually on 29 May 2020 from 09.00 am to 11.00 am (EST).

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Upcoming Deadline 1 June 2020: Call for NGOs to apply for Consultative Status with the UN

This is a gentle reminder of our request we sent on April 2020 requesting your assistance to spread the news about the upcoming deadline for NGOs to apply for consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for NGOs that do not have it yet. 

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HLPF Weekly Update 1 - Wednesday, 13 May

Below are the current UN HLPF announcements relevant to the Major Groups and other Stakeholders. In future weeks, any headings which include new information will be marked with [update] for ease of reference. Thank you for your patience while we adapt to the new challenges in preparation for the 2020 HLPF. 

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HLPF Ministerial Declaration – letter from Co-facilitators, 8 May 2020

The attached letter from Ambassadors Georgi Velikov Panayotov of Bulgaria and Amal Mudallali of Lebanon on the draft ministerial declaration of the 2020 High-level Political Forum, dated 8 May 2020, follows the virtual informal meeting on 4 May on its outline. 

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ECOSOC High-level Informal Briefing - Joining Forces: Effective Policy Solutions for COVID-19 Response - Monday, 11 May

"At this time of great uncertainty and global disruption, it is clear we need a coordinated international effort in the spirit of multilateralism."  ECOSOC President, H.E. Ambassador Mona Juul. 

The President of the Economic and Social Council, H.E. Ambassador Mona Juul, is convening an informal ECOSOC Briefing on “Joining Forces: Effective Policy Solutions for Covid-19 Response” on 11 May 2020 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on a virtual platform.

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Update on Commission on Population and Development negotiations

On 1 May the Chair of the Bureau for the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) circulated the attached letter in which he said that the” potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food security and nutrition, and on population and sustainable development more broadly, is too immense. The upcoming session is a unique opportunity for the Commission to launch a call to action to the international community, and to express its solidarity with the most vulnerable people.” 

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Joint press statement Protecting Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and Promoting Gender-responsiveness in the COVID-19 crisis

The attached joint press statement on Protecting Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and Promoting Gender-responsiveness in the COVID-19 Crisis has been facilitated by the South African and Swedish ambassadors to the UN, with the secretariat of the Nexus group of countries. It is a formal commitment from 38 Ministers on behalf of 59 countries that have signed up to it through their UN missions.

UN General Assembly during the COVID-19 pandemic

Processes have been developed during the past months to ensure that the work of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) continues albeit in a more truncated way. For those of us who live away from New York it may, however, be more difficult to find out information as to what is happening. Hopefully this posting will help to demystify some of the processes.

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Statement on the third meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee regarding the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

A third meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) Emergency Committee regarding the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), met by teleconference on Thursday, 30 April 2020. Membership of the Committee was expanded to reflect the nature of the pandemic and the need to include additional areas of expertise. 

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Statement on negotiating sustainable development in a COVID-19 environment – lessons learned

The attached statement, signed by a number of organizations, has been submitted to the 2020 ECOSOC High-level Segment, which will be guided by the theme for the High-level Political Forum (HLPF) on “Accelerated action and transformative pathways: realizing the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development.”

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