Countdown to UN General Assembly Special Event, 25 September 2013 No 3

High-level Political Forum to support sustainable development

According to the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, as reported in DESA News, Heads of State and Government will now meet every four years as the High-level Political Forum (HLPF) to ensure that commitment to sustainable development remains at the highest level.

The HLPF, which was called for in the Future We Want, the outcome document of the UN Sustainable Development Conference (Rio + 20), will hold its inaugural meeting on 24 September, the day before the General Assembly Special Event. It will aim to advance sustainable development by providing political leadership and guidance and setting a focused, dynamic and action-oriented agenda and will replace the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD).

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Countdown to UN General Assembly Special Event, 25 September 2013 No 2

Updated on Saturday, September 7, 2013 at 8:53AM by Richard

Intergovernmental Committee of Experts on Sustainable Development Financing begins its work

In accordance with General Assembly decision 67/559, the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts on Sustainable Development Financing held its first meeting from 28-30 August 2013 at UN Headquarters in New York.

The Committee, which comprises of 30 members is an outcome of the Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development. It is expected to prepare a report proposing options on an effective sustainable development financing strategy and to conclude its work by 2014. It is also tasked with assessing financing needs, considering the effectiveness, consistency and synergies of existing instruments and frameworks and evaluating additional initiatives. Drawing on technical support from the UN System, the Committee is expected to hold open and broad consultations with relevant international and regional financial institutions and other stakeholders.

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Countdown to UN General Assembly Special Event, 25 September 2013 No 1

Report of the UN Secretary-General — A life of dignity for all: accelerating progress towards the Millennium Development Goals and advancing the United Nations development agenda beyond 2015

The long awaited report of the UN Secretary-General, A life of dignity for all: accelerating progress towards the Millennium Development Goals and advancing the United Nations development agenda beyond 2015, (A/68/202) has been published. While it is a report that the Secretary-General is mandated to provide each year, it also serves as a key document in the preparations for the UN General Assembly Special Event, both in reporting on progress in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and in making recommendations for further steps to advance the post-2015 development agenda.

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ECLAC: Montevideo Consensus on Population and Development

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

The Montevideo Consensus on Population and Development was adopted on August 15 by official representatives from 38 member countries and associate members of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), who participated at the First Session of the Regional Conference on Population and Development in LAC, in Montevideo, Uruguay from 12 to 15 August.  More than 800 people participated, bringing together 24 regional and international agencies and approximately 260 NGOs.  

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Good news from ECLAC's meeting

The 1st session of the ECLAC's Conference on Population and Development concluded with a historic agreement that among other things recognize and define Sexual Right, make a commitment to implement comprehensive sexuality education programs and ensure access to youth friendly services, ask governments to consider reviewing the laws that criminalize abortion, among many other things.

The outcome document is currently available and can be downloaded here: 

• English
• Spanish

The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) ICPD regional review is underway

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

The  Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) ICPD regional review is underway

The Articulación Regional de Organizaciones de la Sociedad Civil de América Latina y el Caribe Hacia Cairo +20 convened a civil society forum on August 11th,  in advance of the First Regional Conference on Population and Development for Latin America and the Caribbean.  Approximately 250 members from a wide range of regional, sub-regional and national networks and organizations-- including representatives from IPPF Member Associations- participated in the day-long forum.  During the forum, participants discussed the Cairo +20 and Post-2015 processes, and drafted “The Time is Now”, a declaration that was delivered to delegates during the Conference.  The declaration highlights the need to ensure that sexual and reproductive rights and health are met through various actions, including the decriminalization of abortion and the promotion of comprehensive sexuality education, among others. 

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Sexual and reproductive health and rights: Priorities for the ICPD Beyond 2014 and the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda

PRESS RELEASE

Sexual and reproductive health and rights:
Priorities for the ICPD Beyond 2014 and the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda

The High-Level Task Force for the ICPD calls on States participating in the Regional Conference on Population and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean to accelerate efforts for achieving gender equality, the empowerment of women and young people and sexual and reproductive health and rights.

The full press release is available to download in English and Spanish. 

Strong Statement From CSOS At Regional Meeting On ICPD Beyond 2014 From Latin America And The Caribbean In Montevideo

More than fifty networks, national and international coalitions with presence in the Latin American and Caribbean region, campaigns and organizations aligned as movements for almost two years in the Alliance of Civil Society Organizations from Latin America and the Caribbean from different countries, cultures, races, ethnicities, social classes, ages and sexualities, are present at the Regional Conference on ICPD Beyond 2014 in Montevideo, Uruguay. In a strong statement read by Dorotea Wilson from the Articulación Regional at the Regional Conference. 

In their statement they said that they were at the conference in support of the agenda for the 20 years of the Cairo process and for development beyond 2014 and 2015, and also to defend an environment in the region where all people can live in freedom, equality and solidarity. The region , moreover should be one that ensures the effective enjoyment of human rights and A WORLD where everyone can realize those rights. The statement not only specifies the unjustified gaps that exist, but makes specific demands for the agenda moving forward.

The full statements are available here:

• English 
• Spanish

Outcome Document for the ESCWA Region

The Declaration, adopted at the ICPD Beyond 2014 Regional Conference on Population and Development in the Arab States held in Cairo from 24 through 26 June 2013, is now available and can be downloaded here.

The Arabic version is also available and can be downloaded directly from UNFPA here. 

The UN Millennium Campaign invites you to a teleconference on the UN Secretary-General's Report & engagement opportunities around the UN General Assembly

Date: Tuesday 20 August 2013

Time: 1:30pm GMT (9:30am in New York / 2:30pm in London / 3:30pm in Geneva / 8:30pm in Bangkok. For other cities and time zones click here).

The meeting will be Chaired by Sering Falu, Deputy Director of the UN Millennium Campaign, and is organised jointly by the UN Millennium Campaign and the Executive Office of the Secretary General.

Please see enclosed the draft agenda for your consideration and feedback, and below the dial in instructions.

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