Member States agree on the format of the high-level political forum on sustainable development On 26 June, after five months of negotiations, Member States agreed on the resolution text that defines the format, functions and organizational aspects of the high-level political forum on sustainable development (HLPF or the forum). The resolution will now be formally adopted by the UN General Assembly. The HLPF will be the intergovernmental institution in the UN mandated to "provide political leadership, guidance and recommendations for sustainable development, follow-up and review progress in the implementation of sustainable development commitments, [and] enhance the integration of the three dimensions of sustainable development in a holistic and cross-sectoral manner at all levels." Its establishment was decided by Member States during the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) held in Rio de Janeiro in 2012. More information is available online. ECOSOC opens its 2013 substantive session in Geneva On 1 July, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) opened its 2013 substantive session, which will run through 26 July at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The High-level Segment, held from 1 to 4 July, heard a number of opening addresses, including by the ECOSOC President, the UN Secretary-General, the President of the General Assembly, and the President of the Swiss Confederation. These remarks were followed by keynote addresses on the theme of the Annual Ministerial Review on "Science, technology and innovation, and the potential of culture, for promoting sustainable development a! nd achieving the Millennium Development Goals." The opening session also saw the launch of the Global Innovation Index and heard policy messages from AMR Preparatory Meetings. More information is available online. MDGs "most successful global anti-poverty push in history," says Secretary-General on occasion of 2013 report On 1 July 2013, the opening day of the ECOSOC high-level segment, the UN Secretary-General presented the 2013 edition of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Report. The report is published by an Inter-agency and Expert Group on MDG Indicators led by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). It outlines which global goals have been met or are on track to be met by their target deadline of 2015, and identifies areas where further progress will be required up to and beyond 2015. More information is available online. GA passes resolution on Intergovernmental Committee of Experts on Sustainable Development Financing Recalling its endorsement of the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) titled The Future We Want, the General Assembly (GA) decided on 18 June 2013 to establish an Intergovernmental Committee of Experts on Sustainable Development Financing (document A/67/L.70), effective 21 June 2013. The Assembly welcomed 30 experts nominated by the five UN regional groups to serve on the committee. The Assembly also asked the committee to hold its first meeting no later than August 2013 and requested the Secretary-General to provide the necessary support for the committee until it completed its work in 2014. The first meeting is scheduled for 26-30 August 2013, at UN Headquarters in New York; at this meeting, the co-chairs of the group will be elected. More information is available online. WHO report: Violence against women as a "global health problem of epidemic proportions" A new report finds that physical or sexual violence is a public health problem that affects more than one third of all women globally. Global and regional estimates of violence against women: Prevalence and health effects of intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence, published by the World Health Organization in partnership with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), represents the first systematic study of global data on the prevalence of violence against women - both by partners and non-partners. More information is available online. Panel Discussion Held at UNHQ on International Migration and Development In preparation for the High-level Dialogue (HLD) on International Migration and Development, to be held on 3 and 4 October 2013, the President of the General Assembly organized a panel discussion with a focus on the overall theme of the High-level Dialogue. Held on 25 June, the panel discussion focused on: considering progress in the global migration debate since the 2006 High-level Dialogue on Migration and Development; identifying concrete recommendations for the 2013 event; and providing fresh perspectives on the future of migration and its relation to development. Participa! nts called for protecting the human rights of migrants and addressing negative stereotypes. More information is available online. Youth organizations strengthen engagement in developing the post-2015 agenda More than 45 representatives of approximately fifteen youth organizations worldwide and of UN agencies held the second Multi-Stakeholder Meeting on Incremental Steps in Youth Engagement in Developing the Post-2015 Agenda, in New York on 21 June. The group strategized on a wide range of issues regarding youth, including empowerment, particularly among children with disabilities, gender equality, and partnership. Four working groups formulated recommendations on the following topics: Youth in the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals and involvement in the Special Event on MDGs and Post-2015; World Conference on Youth; Children Engagement in post! -2015; and Youth and online engagement - MY World and the World We Want. More information is available online. |
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