World Population Day 2022; July 11th.

FORUM: "A world of 8 billion: Towards a resilient future for all - Harnessing opportunities and ensuring rights and choices for all" World Population Day 2022.

This year’s World Population Day falls during a milestone year, when we anticipate the birth of the Earth’s eight billionth inhabitant. In an ideal world, 8 billion people means 8 billion opportunities for healthier societies empowered by rights and choices. Under the theme "A world of 8 billion: Towards a resilient future for all - Harnessing opportunities and ensuring rights and choices for all", the 2022 observation calls on us to renew our promise of implementing the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development for a sustainable and inclusive future for all, leaving no one behind.

EVENTS: Join us for the celebration of  World Population Day 2022 on July 11th.

Most of the fastest-growing populations are found in the group of Least Developed Countries, which collectively grew at around 2.4% annually between 2000 and 2020.

International Day of Cooperatives 2022; July 2nd.

 FORUM: “Cooperatives Build a Better World.” International Day of Cooperatives 2022.

Focusing on the unique contribution of cooperatives to make the world a better place, the International Cooperative Alliance and the Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives have chosen –“Cooperatives Build a Better World” as the theme for 2022. 

                             

Follow the conversations with the hastags #CoopsDay, #CooperativesBuildAbetterWorld, #2July.

The aim of #CoopsDay is to increase awareness of cooperatives and promote the movement’s ideas of international solidarity, economic efficiency, equality, and world peace.

EVENTS: On July 2, cooperatives all around the world will celebrate the 100th International Day of Cooperatives (#CoopsDay).

Through International Cooperatives Day; 2 July, local, national and global Policy-makers, Civil society organisations and the public in general can learn about the contribution of Cooperative enterprises to a secure future for all.

The ICA invites cooperators everywhere to spread the word about how our human-centred business model, inspired by the cooperative values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity, and solidarity and the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others, is building a better world.

Operating all around the world, in many different sectors of economy, cooperatives have proven themselves more resilient to crises than the average. They foster economic participation, fight against environmental degradation and climate change, generate good jobs, contribute to food security, keep financial capital within local communities, build ethical value chains, and, by improving people’s material conditions and security, contribute to positive peace.

The Role of Cooperatives in Accelerating Progress to Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Thursday 7th July; 08:00 am – 09:30 am (NYT)

CR 11. United Nations Headquaters.

The Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives (COPAC), in collaboration with the Permanent Mission of Mongolia to the United Nations, is holding an International Day commemorative event as part of the Voluntary National Review (VNR) Labs organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. The event will focus on the contribution of cooperatives to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. It will provide an opportunity for Member States to share good practices and present their national action plans in support of cooperatives to advance the Sustainable Development Goals. Countries that have included cooperatives in their VNRs will lead the discussions.This year’s commemoration also coincides with the 100th anniversary of the International Day of Cooperatives, and the 10th anniversary of the UN International Year of Cooperatives.

Objectives:

The event will underscore the contributions of cooperatives to resolving the major problems addressed by the United Nations and to strengthening and extending the partnerships between the international cooperative movement and other actors.

Broad consultations and multi-stakeholder participation are recognized as key conditions for a successful VNR process and critical in ensuring the implementation of plans after the VNRs presentation. Inclusiveness in VNRs is essential to the principles of leaving no one behind and integrated implementation of the SDGs.

Inclusive processes empower citizens and build the capacities of civil society to take ownership and contribute to the review process.

Cooperatives represent at least 12% of people on earth who are members of any of the 3 million cooperatives worldwide. They play an important role in addressing the needs of their members and communities and in the process, they contribute towards the implementation of the SDGs. Therefore, it “Our Common Agenda” is important for the governments to include cooperatives in the VNRs consultations processes and recognize their effective contribution toward the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and their role in economic development at national level.

Therefore, the event aims to facilitate cross-regional learning of innovative approaches and examples of how inclusive stakeholder engagement in the VNR process can accelerate implementation of the 2030 Agenda at the country and regional levels. Drawing on examples from the regions, it will illustrate how inclusive VNRs can be instrumental in maintaining and increasing the level of ambition in VNRs reporting, heightening the impact of the VNRs, and supporting inclusive and sustainable recovery from the COVID19 crisis.

Representatives of VNR participating countries, regional organizations and other stakeholders will be invited to exchange experiences and best practices and how they involve different stakeholders including cooperatives in the VNR consultation processes. In doing so, they will demonstrate how efforts to bring countries together at the regional level have been useful and will continue to be relevant in the context of the Decade of Action for Sustainable Development.

CAMPAIGN MATERIALS

International Asteroids Day 2022; June 30th.

FORUM: "Small is beautiful," International Asteroids Day 2022.

The theme of this year's event, "small is beautiful," represents the fascination that scientists feel for asteroids when they can get a close look. Two of the speakers include representatives from JAXA's Hayabusa2 and NASA's OSIRIS-REx sample return missions. Asteroid samples already returned to Earth are expected to be shared with viewers.

 
Asteroid research and planetary defense is of great interest to scientists around the world, which is why June 30th marks international Asteroid Day.

EVENTS  
The Asteroid Foundation is hosting its annual series of asteroid-themed panels and talks on Thursday (June 30) in Luxembourg. This year's event will be held in person for the first time in two years and will also be broadcast live for viewers around the world. You can watch it live here on Space.com, courtesy of the Asteroid Foundation, or on the foundation's YouTube, beginning at 11 a.m. local time (5 a.m. EDT; 0900 GMT).

The International Asteroid Day 2022 event will include 37 speakers, including astronauts, researchers, astronomers and engineers. Talks in the series will be moderated by Gianluca Masi of the Virtual Telescope Project; Phil Plait, an astronomer, blogger and author; Stuart Clark, Asteroid Day's Editorial Director; and Patrick Michel, Director of Research at the Center for Scientific Research in France. You can see a full list of speakers(opens in new tab) for the day here.

"Asteroid Day reminds the world of just how important these celestial objects are. They hold the keys to understanding the formation of the solar system, provide stepping stones we will utilize to explore our solar system, and occasionally they hit our planet," Dorin Prunariu, Vice Chair of the Asteroid Foundation and a former chairman of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS), said in a statement(opens in new tab). "We are in an extraordinary time of asteroid research and missions, and every year, our asteroid experts bring new insights and revelations."

International Day of Parliamentarism 2022; June 30th.

 FORUM: "Public Engagement in the work of Parliament." International Day of Parliamentarism 2022.

On June 30th; We will reflect on how parliaments are faring, as parliaments around the world and will mark the IPU's anniversary.

On the eve of the International Day of Parliamentarism and the IPU’s 133rd anniversary on 30 June, a snapshot of the state of parliaments and parliamentarians offers mixed results.

According to the latest IPU figures, some parliaments are becoming more representative, with the proportion of MPs who are women and who are young on the increase. However, IPU data also shows that the numbers of functioning parliaments and sitting parliamentarians have decreased slightly.

 

More women in parliament

The proportion of parliamentarians who are women stands at an all-time high of 26.2%. This compares with 11.3% 27 years ago. According to the IPU’s ranking, five countries now have gender parity or a greater share of women in their lower or single chamber, up from three in 2021. (Mexico and Nicaragua joined Cuba, Rwanda and the United Arab Emirates in 2022). Overall, the Americas region has the highest share of female representation globally, with 34.6% of MPs being women. Latin American countries perform particularly well, with three countries in the top five, often thanks to the critical role played by well-designed quotas. Also, at the highest level of parliamentary representation, 22.3% of Speakers of Parliament are now women, compared with 20.5% in 2020. Leading the way again, the Americas have the highest percentage of women speakers today (31.5%) compared with other regions.

More young people in parliament

In another all-time high, the number of young parliamentarians under 45 years old has also increased – to close to 30%. The number of young parliamentarians under 30 has also nudged up to 2.6%. Norway has the youngest-looking parliament followed by the parliaments of Armenia and Serbia. Obviously, much still has to be done to bring about a true rejuvenation of parliaments.

But fewer functioning parliaments and MPs

However, the IPU also notes that number of parliaments in the world has dropped, albeit slightly, from 193 to 190, with the parliaments of Afghanistan, Myanmar and Sudan no longer functioning.

Consequently, according to the latest IPU figures, the number of sitting parliamentarians in the world has decreased by 4% (1941 MPs) with 44,310 MPs in the world compared with 46,288 this time last year.

This is due largely to the suspension of some parliaments as well as smaller numbers of parliamentarians in temporary parliamentary bodies in countries in transition.

Since the Taliban takeover in August 2021, the bicameral Parliament of Afghanistan has effectively been suspended and its 352 Members of Parliaments are no longer able to meet in the country. Some 200 exiled MPs have continued to hold virtual sessions.

In Myanmar, the military junta which took over in February 2021 has prevented the 664 Members of the two houses of Parliament elected in November 2020 from convening. A group of around 400 of those MPs, the Committee to Represent the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, has continued to operate and participates in IPU meetings.

In Sudan, the bicameral parliament, made up of 492 MPs, was dissolved following a coup d’état in April 2019. A power-sharing deal that was supposed to create a transitional legislative council was set back after another military coup in October 2021.

As well as the suspension of the three above-mentioned parliaments, the decrease in the number of MPs can be explained by other political crises affecting parliaments worldwide.

Following coup d’états and military take-overs in Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali, the transitional parliaments are made up of fewer parliamentarians than the previous but now dissolved legislatures.

The IPU is also monitoring closely the situation of parliaments in other countries undergoing political crises including Libya, Tunisia and Venezuela.

The IPU Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians is currently supporting a record number of some 700 parliamentarians whose human rights are allegedly being violated, many of them from the countries mentioned above.

Statement by the IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong on International Day of Parliamentarism 2022; June 30th.

Quotes from the IPU leadership

IPU President, Duarte Pacheco, said: “The IPU was founded 133 years ago with the idea that parliamentarians from different countries should come around the table to discuss global challenges. Today, those foundational values have never been so relevant with the world facing war, famine and the climate emergency. Parliamentarians have a key role to play in ensuring that countries work together to find common solutions to those challenges.”

IPU Secretary General, Martin Chungong, said: “There is good and bad news on this world parliament day and the anniversary of the IPU. It’s encouraging to see that parliaments have never been so female and so young. However, we are also seeing democratic backsliding in many countries and parliaments increasingly coming under assault in the process. We are convinced that the more representative and diverse a parliament, the stronger and more resilient it will be for the future. The IPU remains steadfast in its mission to continue strengthening parliaments worldwide.”

PUBLICATIONS

The third Global Parliamentary Report examines public engagement in the work of parliament. The information, findings and recommendations in this report set out a road map for enhanced public engagement by parliaments and parliamentarians, working collaboratively with the community to achieve participatory, inclusive and responsive parliaments.

Recommendations

This report sets out five top-level recommendations that will help parliaments boost community interest and participation in their work:

1. Strategic: Embed a culture of engagement across parliament for a united and concerted effort towards broader and better public participation.
2. Inclusive: Make inclusion a priority so that parliament is accessible to all community members.
3. Participatory: Encourage people to participate in setting the agenda through opportunities to influence the issues taken up by parliament.
4. Innovative: Lead with bold and creative approaches that involve and inspire the community to engage with parliament now and into the future.
5. Responsive: Focus on meeting public expectations by listening to community feedback and continually improving.

International Day of the Tropics 2022; June 29th.

FORUM: The State of the Tropics.

 The International Day of The Tropics 2022 is observed on June 29th with the aims to raise awareness about various challenges that tropical nations face. It's also a day to celebrate the extraordinary diversity of the Tropics. The pandemic have affected almost every aspect of human life, directly through infection and indirectly through border closures and community lockdowns. Follow the conversation with the hashtags #WeAreTheTropics and #TropicsDay

WEBINARS: Writing at the Reef: Where art meets science.

EVENTS: Launch of the State of the Tropics 2022: COVID-19 in the Tropics. June 29th at JCU Brisbane.

Speakers include:

Professor Simon Biggs - Vice Chancellor & President, James Cook University
Professor Emma McBryde - Professor of Infectious Diseases Modelling and Epidemiology, AITHM, James Cook University
Dr Shelley Templeman - Project Manager, State of the Tropics and Principal Research Scientist, TropWATER
Ms Ann Penny - Executive Officer, Research, James Cook University.

The tropical region faces several challenges such as climate change, deforestation, logging, urbanisation and demographic changes.On #TropicsDay and every day, join us in celebrating the incredible #biodiversity and cultural diversity of the tropics, which are critical #ForNature and people

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The Development Podcast: Highlights from the 2022 WBG-IMF Spring Meetings | Digital Revolution | Climate Action | Rising Fragility | Open Trade | Human Capital.

Conflict, COVID-19 and climate change have combined to create unprecedented challenges for developing countries. More countries are struggling with rising risks of fragility, conflict and instability; food insecurity; increasing debt vulnerabilities; dropping literacy rates; and the impacts of climate change. Preparing for future crises and strengthening international cooperation are essential to deliver a resilient recovery and a better future for those most in need.

During the 2022 World Bank Group-IMF Spring Meetings, world leaders came together to discuss how to best build resilience & manage uncertainty. Listen to the Spring Meetings highlights in a special series of The Development Podcast.How can countries boost growth, productivity, inclusion and resilience as they recover by embracing private sector innovation coupled with enabling government policy? Listen to the highlights of the event The Digital Revolution: Fostering Inclusion and Resilient Growth.

• What are the investments needed to achieve a green, resilient and sustainable future? How can we unlock private finance for climate action? Listen to the highlights of the event Financing Climate Action: Transitioning Economies, Transforming Climate.
• How to stay engaged during times of crisis and meet the challenges in new and innovative ways to support countries facing conflict and fragility? Listen to the highlights of the event On the Frontlines of Rising Fragility: Collaborating and Innovating for Impact.
• How can international cooperation help create a fairer trading system for countries at all income levels? Listen to the highlights of the event Preserving Open Trade: Subsidies, Geopolitics, and International Cooperation.
• Why is putting people first through investing in human capital critical for sustainable, inclusive growth and poverty reduction? Listen to the highlights of the event Human Capital at the Crossroads: Reversing the Losses, Reclaiming our Future.

micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises Day 2022; June 27th.

FORUM: Resilience and rebuilding: MSMEs for sustainable development at the forefront of building back better and stronger from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate crisis and conflicts. Micro-, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Day 2022.

27 June marks the annual celebration of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. Resilient recovery is the focus of this year’s events. We honour the entrepreneurs in societies everywhere as they face the triple threat of Covid, conflict and climate. This is the 5th anniversary of MSME Day, which the UN General Assembly created to build awareness of the contribution of small businesses to job creation, economic growth and thriving communities.

This year, we will focus on how purpose-driven micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and social entrepreneurship are at the center of contributing to inclusive growth, combating inequalities and building back better and stronger, especially during challenging times. Entrepreneurs' adaptability and resilience have aided in responding to economic shocks, increasing the participation of women, youth and other disadvantaged groups part in the local, national and global economy. Follow the conversation with the hastags #MSMEDAY22, #27june.

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EVENT: Micro-, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Day 2022,

27 June 2022

10:00 - 18:00 hrs.

New York and Online

, United States of America

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The event will feature MSMEs, including women and youth-led social start-ups, alongside global leaders to highlight progress, gaps and challenges that MSMEs and entrepreneurs continue to encounter, undermining their contributions to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs.



Objectives

• Strengthen awareness and capacities of policymakers on challenges and approaches to support MSMEs in the face of disruptions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, climate crisis and conflicts.
• Contribute to global debates on MSMEs as key stakeholders for a sustainable, resilient and inclusive recovery, with a focus on youth, women, migrants, and refugees.
• Create space for actions, recommendations, and practical tools to create more targeted policies and measures, including for a sustainable, inclusive and sustainable recovery, economic equity, and opportunities for MSMEs, especially for women and youth-owned MSMEs and sustainable MSMEs.

Co-organizer(s):
Permanent Mission of the Argentine Republic, UNDESA, ICSB, ILO, ITC, UNIDO

International Day in Support of Victims of Torture 2022; June 26th.

FORUM: "Healthcare professionals are essential for torture prevention, accountability and redress.'' International Day in Support of Victims of Torture 2022.

On 12 December 1997, by resolution 52/149, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 26 June the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. 26 June is an opportunity to call on all stakeholders including UN Member States, civil society and individuals everywhere to unite in support of the hundreds of thousands of people around the world who have been victims of torture and those who are still tortured today.

Human rights experts from the three UN anti-torture mechanisms* have urged States members to provide the necessary material and legal conditions to enable health personnel to assess, report and document torture, cruel or inhumane treatment. On the occasion of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, they issued the following joint statement emphasising the vital functions of healthcare professionals in preventing and punishing acts of torture and supporting victims:

“Medical and healthcare professionals have a critical role to play in preventing and holding States accountable for torture and rehabilitating torture survivors.

General practitioners, forensic doctors, nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists, physiotherapists and other healthcare professionals are often the first to detect signs of torture through their daily contact with patients or when certifying deaths. As they can closely inspect and observe the physical and mental conditions of people deprived of liberty, they are in an important position to prevent and report any form of torture and to provide health care to the victims.

To effectively prevent torture, a holistic approach is needed as it gives practitioners insight into the effects of torture upon individuals, their families and communities, a knowledge to deal with these effects and a duty to address this gross human rights violation.

Victims of torture have a right to full rehabilitation, as stated in Article 14 of the Convention against Torture. Healthcare professionals are essential in restoring and repairing the harm suffered by victims.

On this International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, we recall that Member States should provide all necessary material and legal conditions for health personnel to fulfil their professional responsibilities. Unequivocal support and specialised training are of paramount importance. In particular, States should guarantee that all persons deprived of liberty have access to an independent and confidential medical examination. States parties should also involve health care professionals in developing and implementing anti-torture strategies and policies. In times of armed conflict, medical staff must be protected in all circumstances under customary rules of international humanitarian law.

‘States must ensure that all detainees have medical examinations immediately after arrest. Authorities also need to document and investigate torture and its sequelae in order to prevent its recurrence and to fight impunity,’ said Suzanne Jabbour, Chairperson of the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture. ‘It is fundamental to make perpetrators accountable for their actions and provide justice and rehabilitation to the victims,’ she added.

Documenting torture is often a prerequisite for obtaining justice, asylum, rehabilitation and care and can be therapeutic in acknowledging victims’ experiences. The Manual on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (The Istanbul Protocol), initially published in 2001, provides international guidelines and standards for documentation. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights will launch a revised version of the Manual at the end of June to include a new chapter on the role of health professionals in documenting cases of torture and the importance of high-quality medical findings as evidence in criminal and administrative proceedings. It also guides States to fulfil their treaty obligations under the Convention against Torture and as a jus cogens norm of international law. States parties are encouraged to widely disseminate the revised version amongst healthcare professionals, law-enforcement officials and judicial personnel.

‘Medical professionals are also responsible for reporting the abuse they witness and assisting victims without any undue pressure or reprisals. The Committee against Torture often recommends that the States parties eliminate risks of reprisals and ensure protection to the health practitioners. The Committee also routinely refers to the Istanbul Protocol to guide the States parties on conducting effective torture investigations and gathering evidence to establish redress for victims,’ said Claude Heller, Chairperson of the Committee against Torture.

In the report on the role of forensic and medical sciences in the investigation and prevention of torture and other ill-treatment, the former Special Rapporteur on Torture underlined the necessity of maintaining a close cooperation between health and legal professions for an effective investigation of alleged cases of torture. It is also important to establish clear documentation procedures for the incidence of torture that could serve as valid evidence in court to ensure accountability.

‘At the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, we have witnessed the life-altering and often chronic consequences of torture on survivors’ mental and physical health that can be transmitted across generations. The need for immediate and long-term specialised health care and psychosocial rehabilitation are essential to overcoming trauma and rebuilding connections. We express our profound admiration for healthcare professionals who provide services to survivors and sometimes risk their own safety in situations of shrinking civic space or armed conflict,’ said Lawrence Mute, Chairperson of the Fund.

For healthcare professionals to fully embrace their essential role in preventing torture and contributing to accountability and redress, States should ensure the necessary education and training for health professionals and medical students.

Health professionals have a special responsibility to share experiences and information about the health consequences of torture, including the destructive character of the practice on victims’ health, its damage to the broader community and requirements to help overcome trauma to reconstruct their lives.”

Meetings of States parties & elections

9th Meeting of States parties & 2022 elections on 20 October 2022; UN GENEVA.

The Meetings of States Parties are held to elect the members of the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture. States Parties cast their votes by secret ballot from a list of nominees, The members of the Subcommittee shall be elected for a term of four years and are eligible for re-election once if renominated.

The members shall be chosen from among persons of high moral character, having proven professional experience in the field of the administration of justice, in particular criminal law, prison or police administration, or in the various fields relevant to the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty. In the composition of the Subcommittee due consideration shall be given to equitable geographic distribution and to the representation of different forms of civilization and legal systems of the States Parties. In this composition consideration shall also be given to balanced gender representation on the basis of the principles of equality and non-discrimination. The members of the Subcommittee on Prevention shall serve in their individual capacity, shall be independent and impartial and shall be available to serve the Subcommittee Prevention efficiently, as per articles five to 10 of the Optional Protocol.

Find out more about treaty body elections.

CAMPAIGN: 

Support OMCT’s International Campaign for the Absolute Prohibition of Torture.

About the UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture.

Read more in the UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture Virtual Brochure.