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Civil Society Unit | Department of Global Communications | United Nations

Virtual Event "A Decade of Youth Action Engagement"

Organized in observance of the International Youth Day
Dates: 11 - 12 August 2020
Watch online of Facebook @dpingoyouth and Twitter @theYouthReps
Learn more here

From UN News

No end in sight to COVID crisis, and its impact will last for ‘decades to come’

Expressing “appreciation for WHO and partners’ COVID-19 pandemic response efforts”, the emergency committee convened by the UN health agency’s chief, made it clear that there is not yet an end in sight to the public health crisis that has so far infected more than 17 million and killed over 650,000 people.

Read more...

Impact of COVID-19 on Global Tourism Made Clear as UNWTO Counts the Cost of Standstill

The enormous toll of COVID-19 on international tourism has now become clear, with World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) data showing the cost up to May was already three times that of the 2009 Global Economic Crisis. As the situation continues to evolve, the United Nations specialized agency has provided the first comprehensive insight into the impact of the pandemic, both in tourist numbers and lost revenues, ahead of the upcoming release of up-to-date information on travel restrictions worldwide.
Read more...
Secretary-General's Policy Briefs
UN DESA Policy Briefs

UN DESA Publication:
Responding to COVID-19 and Recovering Better

Recover Better: A New Volume from the UN High-Level Advisroy Board

Five things you should know about disposable masks and plastic pollution

The fight against plastic pollution is being hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, as the use of disposable masks, gloves and other protective equipment soars, but UN agencies and partners insist that, if effective measures are put into place, the amount of plastics discarded every year can be significantly cut, or even eliminated.
Read more...
 
UNCTAD Update: Coronavirus Pandemic (25 - 29 July 2020)

Goal of the Month: Goal 12 Responsible Consumption and Production

Did you know that every year about one third of all food produced – equivalent to 1.3 billion tonnes – is wasted, yet food security continues to be a growing global concern, affecting millions of people. Or that the world’s freshwater supply such as rivers and lakes are polluted at a much faster rate than nature can recycle and purify? 

COVID-19 lockdowns may have led to a dramatic 5 per cent drop in greenhouse gas emissions but not all measures to contain the pandemic have had a positive impact on the environment, warns the UN Conference on Trade and Development. Global sales of disposable face masks have sky-rocketted, and many more people have turned to online shopping due to social distancing. 

What does this mean? Plastic waste created by over-packaged products and take-out meals that are delivered daily to homes are now clogging our landfills and floating in our seas. According to the UN Environment Programme, the costs are staggering – the negative spillover effects from plastic waste on fisheries, tourism and maritime transport, for example, can cost up to an estimated $40 billion each year.

In August, we look at the importance of Responsible Consumption and Production as our guide to a less wasteful and more sustainable future.
Read more...

Global Humanitarian Response Plan COVID-19: United Nations Coordinated Appeal
COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for WHO: HELP FIGHT CORONAVIRUS

Invitations | Opportunities for Civil Society Participation

International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 2020

Date: 10 August 2020
Time: 9 - 11 a.m. EST
For details on how to join, please click here

This year’s theme is COVID-19 and indigenous peoples’ resilience. The event will feature a panel discussion on the innovative ways indigenous peoples continue demonstrating resilience and strength in the face of the pandemic while confronting grave threats to their survival. The aim is to highlight how the preservation and promotion of indigenous peoples’ traditional knowledge and practices can be leveraged more fully during this pandemic and build back stronger. Panelists will share good practices with the audience through an interactive webinar that focuses on building back stronger.
Learn more...
More on International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples
The application deadline for the SDG Action Zone has been extended for a further 48 hours, now closing on Wednesday, 5 August, 23:00 EST!

Leading to a more transparent, open, and inclusive UN General Assembly, the programme will be crowd-sourced through this call for sessions, talks and creative content from around the world. Organizations and individuals from all sectors are invited to submit proposals to engage in tough conversations and impart knowledge and experiences, especially applications contributing to:

If you know of an individual or organization who are making breakthroughs on any of these themes, share this with them! Applications from the global south are strongly encouraged.
All applications must be made by completing through the application form: https://sdgactionzone.org/apply/
APPLY NOW TO BE PART OF THE PROGRAMME

International Youth Day 2020

The theme of International Youth Day 2020, “Youth Engagement for Global Action” seeks to highlight the ways in which the engagement of young people at the local, national and global levels is enriching national and multilateral institutions and processes, as well as draw lessons on how their representation and engagement in formal institutional politics can be significantly enhanced.

As the United Nations turns 75, and with only 10 years remaining to make the 2030 Agenda a reality for all, trust in public institutions is eroding. At the international level, against the backdrop of an increasingly polarized world, the international system of governance is currently undergoing a crisis of legitimacy and relevance. In particular, this crisis is rooted in the need to strengthen the capacity of the international system to act in concert and implement solutions to pressing challenges and threats (examples include some of the worst contemporary conflicts and humanitarian emergencies, such as Syria and Myanmar, as well as global challenges, such as the COVID-19 outbreak and climate change).
For more information and concept note, click here

Call for Applications: 2020 AU-YVC Recruitment 10 Years Anniversary Edition
The African Union Youth Volunteer Corps (AU-YVC), established in 2010, is a flagship continental Youth Leadership program that recruits trains an deploys young African professionals from all 55 AU Member States to serve as professional volunteers for a period of 12 months.

Application period: 15 July - 16 August 2020

Online (only) applications must be submitted at http://aucareers.org

Press release
More information

UNDP: Youth meaningful participation as a turning point for climate action and NDC ambition (Public Consultation)

Dates: 20 July - 7 August 2020
Visit
https://www.sparkblue.org/youth4climate

UNAI 75 Minutes of Conversation: Rethinking Disarmament

Date: 5 August 2020
Time: 8 - 9 p.m. EDT (Wednesday, 5 August) / 9 - 10:15 a.m. JST (Thursday, 6 August)
RSVP: bit.ly/rsvp5august (RSVP by Monday, 3 August)

Speakers:

  • Dr. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, President of the UN General Assembly for its 73rd Session
  • Dr. Juan Carlos Sainz Borgo, Dean, UN-mandated University for Peace, Costa Rica 
  • Dr. Yoshiro Tanaka, Vice-President, J. F. Oberlin University, Japan (UNAI Principle Hub for the UN Charter)
  • Ms. Yuumi Tobisawa, Leader of ASPIRE Japan and student of J. F. Oberlin University
  • Ms. Kehkashan Basu, Youth Ambassador, World Future Council
More information

UNAI: COVID-19 and Higher Education: The Path Forward After the Pandemic

In the COVID-19 and higher education series, United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) talks to students, educators and researchers in different parts of the world to find out how COVID-19 has affected them and how they are coping with the changes.

View all articles

E-Government Survey 2020
Digital Government in the Decade of Action for Sustainable Development


The year 2020 witnessed a transformational change in global development as the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called on Member States and other stakeholders to “kickstart a decade of delivery and action for people and planet”, given the short time left to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Read more information
The Week Ahead at the UN: Follow meetings online - click here to see the schedule
Civil Society Corner

Food, Health and Social Resilience: Lessons Learned from COVID-19

Date: 7 August 2020
Time: 9 a.m. EDT / 6 a.m. PDT / 4 p.m. EAT / 3 p.m. CEST
RSVP
Watch Live

Event is co-organized by Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, Sustainability Health Education (SHE) Foundation, ProVeg International, Loyola Marymount, Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN), UN Environment Program (UNEP).
CALL FOR STUDENT ENTRIES: THE J.U.C. MEDIA, RESEARCH AND WRITING AWARDS
“Happiness is the universal force to be attained as the final objective of humanity.”

Project of The Light Millennium Organization
  • Deadline for submissions 31 August 2020
  • Award Ceremony is scheduled for 29 January 2021
  • More information
DGC Civil Society Unit

Virtual Event "A Decade of Youth Action Engagement"

Organized in observance of the International Youth Day
Dates: 11 - 12 August 2020
Watch online of Facebook @dpingoyouth and Twitter @theYouthReps

Main Event
11 August, 9 - 10 a.m. EST


Regional Conversations:
11 August

11 a.m. EST - Asia Pacific Youth
3 p.m. EST - North America Youth
12 August
11 a.m. EST - Africa Youth
2 p.m. EST - Europe Youth
5 p.m. EST South America Youth

Organized by the Department of Global Communications (DGC) with the DGC Civil Society Youth Representatives Steering Committee
In Case You Missed It:
Watch Civil Society Communications Workshop Series:
Communication Challenges and Opportunities in the COVID-19 Era

Civil Society Survey on Misinformation about COVID-19

Now available in other UN languages.
The United Nations System is working hard to raise awareness and tackle misinformation about the novel coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, and we are asking for your help.

  Complete the short survey: bit.ly/CSOsCOVID19survey  

CSOs Response to COVID-19

Share what your civil society organization is doing to help your community responding to COVID-19 pandemic: https://bit.ly/CSOrespondtoCOVID19  
#UNwithCivilSociety #COVID19 #coronavirus
Civil Society Responses to COVID19

Upcoming UN High-Level Opportunities for Civil Society Participation  

Stakeholder Opportunities supported by NGLS: Current Status
PGA letter to UN Member Status regarding high-level events

UN-NGLS: Special accreditation guidelines

Did you know?
Organizations that are not in Consultative Status with United Nations ECOSOC may apply for special approval to attend High-Level Events at the UN.
Watch the video below to find out how UN-NGLS now part of UNDGC Civil Society Unit supports the special-accreditation process to facilitate stakeholder’s participation!
UN DGC Civil Society Twitter
UN DGC Civil Society Instagram
UN DGC Civil Society Facebook
UN DGC Civil Society Website

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Department of Global Communications
Civil Society Unit


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