Monthly Archive: September 2016

September 27, 2016

The Diplomatic (and Economic) Struggle over Microbes

It may sound like an issue for health specialists, but at the UN high-level meeting on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) ministers and heads of state from around the world made clear that it is more than that it appears.

This is the fourth time that the UN General Assembly has addressed health issues. As the representative of Portugal pointed out, this meeting “is proof of global recognition of this problem and how important an issue it is”. Executive Director of South Centre, Martin Khor said that AMR is “as serious as Climate Change and perhaps more immediate”. Read more…

Briefings

September 23, 2016

Silos or system? The 2030 Agenda requires an integrated approach to sustainable development

By Barbara Adams and Karen Judd

The 2030 Agenda goes far beyond previous development agendas. First, it recognizes that inequality and unsustainable consumption and production are by-products of economic growth and constitute a big challenge in a world of finite resources. This understanding would have been unthinkable as little as 10 years ago. Read more…

Blog

September 21, 2016

Spotlighting the 2030 Agenda — one-year after

Heads of state and government leaders from around the globe have descended on the United Nations in New York for the 71st United Nations General Assembly. Their “general debate” on 20 September will focus on the...

Events

September 20, 2016

Panel discussion: Corporate accountability and influence in the UN

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 furthered this debate. 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” is one of the results. For the first time since decades, an intergovernmental body of the UN was established to address the international regulation of corporations. You are invited to a panel discussion on October 4, 2016, at the Church Center in New York, to 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. Read more …

The United Nations and system organizations should engage with donors in a dialogue at the strategic level for the adoption of donor reporting templates and accommodating the common information needs, demands and requirements of donors and the regulatory frameworks and capacities of the organizations.

This is one of the main recommendations highlighted in a new report by the Joint Inspection Unit (JIU), an independent external oversight body of the United Nations system, reviewing donor reporting requirements across the UN system.

The JIU review focused on the United Nations system organizations that have the highest number of donor reports and on the 16 major donors to the United Nations system, including the European Commission. Read More.

In new report: “United Nations System – Private Sector Partnerships Arrangements in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development“, the Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) recommends the General Assembly consider a review of the “Guidelines on a Principle-based Approach to the Cooperation between the United Nations and the Business Sector”, with a view to reflecting the changes needed to bring about the increased contribution expected from the private sector based on S-G’s proposals in report A/72/684; and update the common interpretation of General Assembly resolution 92 (I), entitled “Official Seal and Emblem of the United Nations”, shared by the network of legal advisers from all United Nations organizations that are members of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination.

“The Inspector believes that, in the light of the new approach for a revitalized partnership with the private sector requested in the 2030 Agenda, the Guidelines appear to offer more of a “defensive” line (safeguarding the integrity, impartiality and independence of the United Nations and managing risk) than a “proactive” operational line (facilitating the formulation and implementation of partnerships).”

The UN News website (https://news.un.org/en/) has been retooled to include the option to subscribe to news based on selected topics of interest. In addition, subscribers have the ability to sign-up to receive UN News in Kiswahili and Portuguese languages, as well as in six official UN languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish). Subscriptions by topic will also include direct links to the webcasts of events pertaining to each topic.

The UN News also updated their mobile phone application.

Ahora también en español:

Spotlight Enfoques sobre Desarrollo Sostenible 2017

En defensa del interés público

Privatización, partnerships, apropiación empresarial y su impacto sobre la sustentabilidad y la desigualdad: evaluaciones y alternativas. Informe del Grupo de Reflexión de la Sociedad Civil sobre la Agenda 2030 para el Desarrollo Sostenible.