1 February 2012, 1:00 pm – 2:45 pm, UNHQ-North Lawn Building, New York, Conference Room 4, New York

In response to the economic crises of recent years, CSOs from Africa, South East Asia and the Middle East have been engaged in a regionally-based dialogue on how a community-based participatory approach emphasizing innovative community-driven partnerships with local and national government institutions can advance pro-poor policies that take into account the strong interrelationships of poverty with injustice, lack of basic human freedoms, restricted opportunities, exclusion, disasters, conflict and other violence and economic upheaval.  This panel discussion will attempt to bridge the gap between policy and practice by examining possibilities for a new era of multi-stakeholder collaboration in the Arab World.

Program
Conference Input “Awaiting the Arab Social Spring” powerpoint by Jomo Kwame Sundaram, Assistant Secretary General for Economic Development, UN-DESA
Background Document: Urban Poor Fund
Background Document: IIED London 2010 Meeting Report

31 January 2011, 10:00 am – 4:45 pm, UNHQ-North Lawn Building, Conference Room 3, New York

Each year the NGO Committee conducts a Forum, based on the theme to be addressed by the UN Commission for Social Development at its annual meeting.  The theme of this year’s civil society forum is “The Social Protection Floor Initiative (SPFI) – Bridging the Gap to Poverty Eradication.”  The Commission and NGO forum will be an opportunity for governments and civil society to engage on effective policies and practices via the SPFI as an essential and universal solution to break the cycle of poverty and reduce inequality and social exclusion while accelerating action toward achievement of Millennium Development Goals, 2015.

Program
Background Document: IIED Urban Poor Fund
Background Document: UN-DESA National Development Strategy Policy Note “Social Policy” by Isabel Ortiz

30 January 2011, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm; Bahá’í International, 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 120, New York

On the eve of the 50^th Commission for Social Development, the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung and NGO Committee for Social Development host a reception for speakers in the annual Civil Society Forum of the Commission.  The meeting provides an opportunity for organizers, Bureau Members and panelists, as well as NGOs coming from around the world for the Commission, to share expectations and strategize prior to the Forum.  Entertainment will be provided by the World Youth Orchestra.

After the end of the Cold War, the UN Security Council has increasingly deployed sanctions as a coercive tool in response to peace and security threats. This International Policy Analysis describes how sanctions have evolved from a blunt tool to a precision instrument. It also analyzes the ongoing challenges to the UN sanction regime and the need to improve the coherence among different actors, such as national governments, private sector, NGOs and regional organizations. The authors explain why targeted sanctions are not a panacea and what is needed to improve further UN sanctions regimes.

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In this new FES New York Perspective Richard Gowan argues that 2011 was ultimately a disappointing year for the UN Security Council. Although initially playing a central role in the international response to the crises in Libya and Côte d’Ivoire, the Council lost momentum as its members fell out over the Libyan war and the Syrian crisis. As the loss of credibility is viewed differently by Western and non-Western Council members, in the near future their cooperation on strengthening the Council’s capabilities for conflict prevention would be the best way to restore some faith in the Council.

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In the last two decades the international community’s toolbox for the protection of civilians from mass atrocity crimes has evolved gradually. Today, not only exists a multitude of non-coercive measures, but also a wide array of robust and coercive forms of intervention. Chapter-VII-mandated Peacekeeping missions or Mass Atrocity Response Operations (MARO) serve as vivid examples. However, a comprehensive doctrine for the implementation of civilian protection is currently not at hand, which leads, according to Robert Schütte, to sketchy mission objectives and ill prepared troop deployment. Schütte argues in favor of a comprehensive and UN-wide doctrine for the protection of civilians, which would explicitly define the role of civil and military components in protecting civilians in conflict environments.

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This FES Perspective argues that the continuing discussion about the reform of the UN Security Council should not only focus on the highly contentious issues of composition and membership. Rather, attention should be given to low-profile measure such as the overhauling of the body’s procedural practices. Colin Keating demonstrates that the improvement of the Council’s working methods could serve as a relatively quick fix for boosting the body’s overall performance. Procedural reforms appear to be a less controversial issue among Member States, and do not require any interminable amendment of the Charter. Among the first measures to be implemented are a revitalized focus on Peacebuilding, better involvement of troop-contributing countries, and the development of a proactive culture of conflict prevention.

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UNHQ, Conference Room C
3:00pm-6:00pm, December 6, 2011

Left to Right: Shari Spiegel (UN-DESA), John Langmore (ACUNS), Amb. Chowdhury (PGA Office), Amin Husain (OWS Social Movement)

On December 7-8 the UN General Assembly has held its 5th High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development (FfD) at UNHQ in New York.  The vision of FfD endorsed in the Monterrey Consensus 10 years ago is a long way from becoming reality.  And recent events—from the global financial crisis of 2008-9 to the ongoing democratic uprisings in the Arab World, anti-austerity demonstrations in Europe and Israel, and the Occupy movement’s protests against rising inequality—show that the current international economic system does not support equitable development and sustainable growth.

The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, UBUNTU (World Forum of Civil Society Networks) and the NGO Committee on FfD, organized a Civil Society Forum on December 6^th to prepare for the High-level Dialogue and to discuss both the role that rising global inequality is having on development as well as how to more effectively link the global and local agendas related to domestic resource mobilization.

Programme

Background documents:
“Thanks to Nurses Union and Occupy Wall Street, Pressure for Wall Street Speculation Tax Grows”, Sarah Jaffe, AlterNet, November 30
“Innovative mechanisms of financing for development”, Report of the Secretary General “Nurses Call the Question on Obama and Global Financial Transaction Tax — Which Side Are You On?”, Rose Ann DeMoro, Huffington Post, October 28
“The Politics of Inclusion in the Monterrey Process”, DESA Working Paper No. 23
“Pay Back Time”, Report from the May 12 Coalition
“Human Need – Not Corporate Greed!”, NGO Committee on Financing for Development “How to reduce the global financial and economic uncertainties?”, NGO Committee on Financing for Development:
“It’s time to implement an international currency transaction tax!!”, Statement of the Ubuntu Forum
“Globalizing Solidarity: The Case for Financial Levies”, Report of the Committee of Experts to the Taskforce on International Financial Transactions and Development “Grow Together or Pull Further Apart? Income Concentration Trends in New York”, Fiscal Policy Institute Report

This FES Perspective by Angus Clarkson argues that state building to promote lasting peace for South Sudan is a long-term political process. International involvement in South Sudan faces a paradox in that constructive engagement can yield the positive outcomes it seeks only in the long-term, whereas rushed or ill-conceived engagement can do harm in the short term. The author argues that meaningful international support should appreciate the security dilemmas and political pressures of South Sudan and gauge the nature of their partnership and content of their policies toward the new state accordingly.

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November 10, 2011 – UNHQ

Dame Jennifer Shipley, Prime Minister of New Zealand 1997-1999

Following our recent retreat for Permanent Representatives for Rio+20, FES registered a concern expressed by many Member States that achieving success in Rio will require global leadership to pursue sustainable development.  This event allowed former Heads of State Jennifer Shipley (New Zealand), Wim Kok (the Netherlands), Ricardo Lagos (Chile) and Luisa Diogo (Mozambique) to hold a frank and open dialogue with the international community and key stakeholders, opening a discussion on what sort of road map to a green economy allows sufficient flexibility for countries to apply their own options while maintaining the overview necessary to safeguard the resources of the planet.

Programme

Background Publication
“Reflections on the State of Agreement on Key Issues of Rio+20″

November 7 – 11, 2011, New York

Already for the sixth time, FES New York hosted its annual Fall Academy for young policy analysts. This year’s group comprised 14 participants from Africa, Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe and Russia. Throughout the week, participants met with UN diplomats, Secretariat, and NGO experts to discuss the UN’s work on peace and security issues, sustainable development and the upcoming Rio+20 summit, and the organization’s most recent reform initiatives.

Program 2011 FESNY Fall Academy

October 21, 2011

On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the New York office, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung invited its friends, colleagues and partners to a reception at the United Nations. The honorary speakers were  Ms. Anke Fuchs, Honorary Chairperson, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (right) and H.E. Michelle Bachelet, Under-Secretary-General, UN Women.

FESNY’s Involvement in Global Governance

Speech Anke Fuchs

Speech Michelle Bachelet

Slideshow: Special Event with Jodi Bieber and subsequent reception

Interview with former UN-Under-Secretary-General James Jonah

October 13, 2011

The newly independent South Sudan faces challenges aplenty on its way towards a sustainable, economically viable, democratic and peaceful development. To chart the main obstacles and opportunities for the country, its neighbors and the international community, FES New York hosted a high-level conference with high-level representatives from the North and South Sudan. A Keynote Address was delivered by General (R) Martin Agwai, Formerly the Force Commander of the UNAMID peace operation in Darfur (see picture).

Program

Keynote Address

September 30-October 1,  2011

This FES-sponsored retreat set up an informal space and time for Permanent Representatives and experts from a number of UN missions to discuss issues related to upcoming preparations for the 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20).

Supplementary documents from Retreat:
Conference Report “Reflections on the State of Agreement on Key Issues of Rio+20″
Opening Statement by Mr. Werner Puschra (FES)
Opening Statement by Mr. Sha Zukang (UNCSD)
Opening Statement by H.E. Mr. Kim Sook (UNCSD Bureau)
Keynote Presentation | Powerpoint by Mr. Soogil Young (Rep. of Korea Presidential Committee on Green Growth)
Keynote Presentation by Mr. Michael Dorsey (Dartmouth College)

High-Level Conference, Sunday, September 25^th, 2011; 9am-6pm, IMF HQ2 Building, Room HQ2-01-280 (A&B)

Neither national nor international policies adopted in response to recent crises have translated into strong recoveries. The rebound has been especially weak in the labor markets. In addition, the limited role that public policy has played in addressing chronic and increasing inequality—especially the particular challenges presented by group inequalities, which are fuelled by perceived and real injustice, and often have international dimensions—underscores the urgency of finding ways to correct these ineffective policies.  The main objective of this conference, jointly organized by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Club de Madrid and Center of Concern, has been to promote this discussion among influential current and former policymakers and key thinkers in the context of the 2011 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

Panelists: Alfred Gusenbauer (Chancellor of Austria [2007-2008]; Member, Club de Madrid), Sigrid Kaag (Assistant Secretary General and Director of Partnership Bureau, UNDP),  Y. Venugopal Reddy (Governor, Reserve Bank of India [2003-2008]; Member, Palais Royal Initiative), Alejandro Toledo (President of Peru [2001-2006]; Member, Club de Madrid), Sanjeev Gupta (Deputy Director, Fiscal Affairs Department, IMF), Chrystia Freeland (Editor, Thompson Reuters Digital), Isabel Ortiz (Associate Director, UNICEF), Michael Kumhof (Deputy Chief, Modeling Unit, IMF Research Department), Raymond Torres (Director, International Institute for Labour Studies, ILO), Richard Freeman (Professor of Economics, Harvard University), Josè Antonio Ocampo (Professor, School of International and Public Affairs), Jonathan Coppel (Economic Counsellor to the OECD Secretary General), Rogério Studart (Executive Director to the World Bank from Brazil), Jomo Kwame Sundaram (Assistant Secretary General, UN-DESA), Emmanuel Moulin (Economic Advisor to French President Sarkozy), Pablo Pereira (Former IMF Executive Director  from Argentina), Ulrich Volz (Senior Economist, German Development Institute), Rishi Goyal (Deputy Chief, Strategy, Policy and Review Dept. IMF)

Programme

Coppel presentation
Kumhof presentation
Moulin presentation
Ortiz presentation
Pereira presentation
Torres presentation

Background Publication
“New Directions for International Financial & Monetary Policy: Reducing Inequality for Shared Societies”

Authors: Ambassador Jorge Argüello, Peter Bakvis, Jack Boorman, Kim Campbell, Yi Gang, Rishi Goyal, Jomo Kwame Sundaram, Jan Kregel, Antonio de Lecea, Emmanuel Moulin, Isabel Ortiz, P.J. Patterson, Pablo Pereira, Samir Radwan, Ebrahim Rasool and John Williamson; eds. Werner Puschra and Sara Burke
International Policy Analysis
2011
ISBN 978-3-86872-878-1

The collected essays—from heads of governments, central banks, governmental advisors and ambassadors, as well as experts from the United Nations System and civil society—pose timely and important questions about the social and political challenges presented by inequality and the global economic policy framework needed to support and nurture equitable development and shared societies.

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Luncheon Discussion, Thursday, July 28, 1:00pm – 2:45pm at The Century Foundation (New York)

FES New York and The Century Foundation will co-host a discussion about where the Libyan conflict and intervention are headed.

Leading the discussion will be:

• Ibrahim Dabbashi, ambassador and deputy permanent representative of Libya to the United Nations (picture, middle)

• Ian Martin, Secretary-General’s special advisor on post-conflict planning for Libya, United Nations Department of Political Affairs (picture, left)

• Karim Mezran, executive director, Centro Studi Americani, Rome (picture, right)

• Baso Sangqu, ambassador and permanent representative of South Africa to the United Nation

Video of the event

Conference on Civil Society Perspectives, Monday, July 11 9:30 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. UN Church Center

This year's interactive dialogue of the UN General Assembly on the Responsibility to Protect (RtoP) focused on the implementing role of regional and sub-regional organizations. One day ahead, FES New York co-hosted a half-day conference featuring civil society perspectives on the implementation of R2P. One of the keynoters was Dr. Edward Luck, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the RtoP. (see picture)

Program

Concluding remarks Werner Puschra

General Assembly 12th July

Event Summary

Monday, June 27, 2011, 1:00am-3:00pm UNHQ, Delegates’ Dining Room, New York, NY

In the context of informal dialogues to take place in the UN General Assembly on June 28, 2011 regarding the UN's role in global governance, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung and UBUNTU (World Forum of Civil Society Networks) co-sponsor a lunchtime event to emphasize the issue of global inequality within this debate—to UN Member States, UN Secretariat and eminent members of civil society—and to ask how the UN might achieve a greater profile in debates on global economic governance, innovative approaches, as well as how to make the G20 more accountable and responsive to social needs. One of the panelists was Mr. Anwarul K. Chowdhury, Former UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative. (see picture)

Program

Tuesday-Wednesday, June 7-8, 2011, 10:00am-6:00pm
UNHQ, NLB, Conference Room E, New York, NY