Opening of 48th session of the Statistical Commission

The 48th session of the UN Statistical Commission (UNSD) was opened by Lenni Montiel, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), marking the 70th anniversary year of its work. Dr. Wasmália Bivar of Brazil was re-elected UNSD Chair, with Kenya, the Republic of Korea and Switzerland as Vice-chairs and Latvia as Rapporteur…

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Statement on the promotion, protection and fulfilment of sexual and reproductive health and rights

The members of WHO/HRP Scientific and Technical Advisory Group and the Gender and Rights Advisory Panel have issued a statement expressing serious concern on SRHR. 

A shorter version of the statement has been published in The Guardian available at: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/mar/02/women-are-suffering-globally-we-must-act-now

Full version of the Statement can be downloaded directly from: www.who.int/reproductivehealth/STAG-STATEMENT.pdf

Report on ECOSOC President’s Retreat on Advancing implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through Effective Policy Integration

The President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Ambassador Frederick Shava, President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), hosted a retreat on “Advancing implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through Effective Policy Integration,” at Glen Cove Mansion, New York 20-21 January 2017.

The Retreat brought together some 80 participants, comprising members of the ECOSOC Bureau, Chairs of ECOSOC subsidiary bodies, representatives of regional and political groups of UN Member States,...

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2017 HLPF blog series: new blog by President of ECOSOC

The theme of the 2017 High-level Political Forum on sustainable development is “Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world”. In the lead-up to the session, weekly blogs by representatives of Member States, UN system, and major groups and other stakeholders will be featured on the HLPF website. The role of SDGs 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 14, and 17 will also be highlighted, as these goals will be in focus at the 2017 HLPF discussions...

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Call for Innovations - 2017 Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation

The second annual Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals (STI Forum) will be held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, on 15-16 May 2017.

In preparation for the Forum, a Global Call for Innovations is launched with the aim of finding scientific and technological innovations that are helping accelerate progress towards any one or more of the six SDGs that are the focus of the STI Forum 2017. The Call for Innovations will highlight solutions from diverse sources and communities, originating in different parts of the world, and focus on those technologies that aim to help the poorest and most vulnerable...

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Updated list of countries presenting voluntary national reviews (VNRs) at HLPF 2017

The list of those countries that have indicated that they will present their national voluntary reviews (VNRs) grows longer with the recent additions of several countries

For easy reference this is the full list of countries with links for specific country information:

Afghanistan; Argentina; Azerbaijan; Bangladesh; Belarus; Belgium; Belize; Benin; Botswana; Brazil; Chile; Costa Rica; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; El Salvador; Ethiopia; Guatemala; Honduras; India; Indonesia; Iran; Italy; Japan; Jordan; Kenya; Luxembourg; Malaysia; Maldives; Monaco; Nepal; Netherlands; Nigeria; Panama; Peru; Portugal; Qatar; Slovenia; Sweden; Tajikistan; Thailand; Togo; Uruguay; and Zimbabwe. 

Funded participants EGM Colombia

We have received the following from Division for Sustainable Development | DESA: 

The steering group of this coordination mechanism met yesterday to evaluate the 180+ applications for funded participation in the Expert Group Meeting "Enhancing MGoS Engagement in National Level Reviews", which will take place next month in Colombia. In consultation with the steering group, DESA has selected 15 names. The list takes into account gender, age, constituency and geographic balance, as well as expertise in the topics to be addressed by this EGM.  

Please see attached the list of funded participants.

[Health in Post-2015] Adolescents & Accountability, IAP Report, Call for Evidence, Deadline 31 March

 We have received the following from IAP:

Dear colleagues, please see below and attached on this call for inputs, contributions welcome.

Independent Accountability Panel Report 2017

- CALL FOR EVIDENCE & CONTRIBUTIONS on ACCOUNTABILITY TO ADOLESCENTS –

Deadline 31 March 2017 

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Draft resolution on indicator framework at 48th session of the UN Statistical Commission

Stefan Schweinfest, Director of the UN Statistics Division (UNSD), held a briefing on 15 February for UN Member States on the upcoming 48th session of the UN Statistical Commission (UNSC) from 7-10 March 2017. The most important item under discussion was the proposed draft resolution on the global indicator framework for the sustainable development goals (SDGs) to the included in the report to the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

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Save the Date! March 1 Webinar - The Goal and its interlinkages: Realizing the Gender Equality Promises of the 2030 Agenda

We have received the following fron UN Women:

With only 13 ½ years to go until the realization of the 2030 Agenda it’s a necessity that we understand the most important catalysers which can deliver the agenda for women and girls. A focus on gender equality is an enabler which will support the delivery of the entire agenda...

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