– N EWSLETTER – D ECEMBER 2009 – The Geneva Office of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung(FES Geneva) presents its newsletter, designed to inform you of recent and upcoming events and developments at the Geneva-based international organizations and new publications. If you do not want to receive this newsletter please Unsubscribe. Das Genfer Büro der Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung(FES) freut sich, Ihnen unseren jüngsten Newsletter vorzustellen. Dieser enthält Informationen über unsere Veranstaltungen und Neuerscheinungen und bringt Sie auf den neuesten Stand von Entwicklungen in Genfer internationalen Organisationen. Sollten Sie diesen Newsletter nicht erhalten wollen, dann können Sie Ihn hier abbestellen. I NDEX | Upcoming Events| Recent Events| Publications| Subscribe| ******************************************************************************* SEASON’S GREETINGS FROM THE FES GENEVA TEAM! FROHE FESTTAGE WÜNSCHT IHNEN DAS TEAM VON FES GENF! ******************************************************************************* U PCOMING E VENTS Please note that participation in all events is by invitation only. 25–26 JANUARY 2010, GENEVA| FES – UN OHCHR EXPERT MEETING ON PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN WATER AND SANITATION SERVICES PROVISION The UN Independent Expert on human rights, water and sanitation and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung are convening an expert consultation to discuss States’ human rights obligations in the context of private sector participation in water and sanitation services provision. 1–2 FEBRUARY 2010, GENEVA| FES – UNIDIR – GCSP WORKSHOP ON REINFORCING DISARMAMENT: COMBATING ILLICIT TRADE IN WEAPONS AND MATERIALS An international workshop on„Reinforcing disarmament: Combating Illicit Trade in Weapons and Materials” will take place on 1 and 2 February 2010 at the Palais des Nations. It will bring together key actors involved in the disarmament process to meet and discuss this pressing issue. ******************************************************************************* ▲ R ECENT E VENTS 27 NOVEMBER–2 DECEMBER 2009, GENEVA| SIDE EVENTS DURING THE WTO MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE During the Seventh WTO Ministerial Conference, FES Geneva organized several events and activities. On invitation from FES and WTO, a group of journalists attended the Ministerial Conference and participated at the FES preparation program. This included a presentation of the FES Geneva Scenarios, a briefing by WTO Spokesperson Keith Rockwell and a debate with former Bangladesh Ambassador and now UNCTAD

Special Advisor Debapriya Bhattacharya and Atul Kaushik, Director of CUTS International Geneva Resource Centre. The group also participated at a public discussion on 29 November organized by the International Trade Union Confederation(ITUC) at the ILO with, amongst others, WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy, Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim and ITUC Secretary General Guy Ryder. On the same day, FES and CUTS International organized a book launch in the presence of UNCTAD Secretary-General Supachai Panitchpakdi and South African Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies. Author Faizel Ismail, Head of the South African Delegation to the WTO, CUTS International Secretary General Pradeep S. Mehta and FES Geneva co-director Winfried Veit presented the book“Reforming the World Trade Organization”, that had been published by FES and CUTS International. Supachai Panitchpakdi applauded Faizel Ismail for his suggestions on re-engineering the WTO so that it achieves the fundamental objective of promoting development. The book was further discussed at a joint FES /CUTS International event in the NGO Centre of the WTO Ministerial Conference on 2 December. The day before, the Geneva Scenarios on Global Economic Governance 2020 were once more presented to an international audience during the Ministerial Conference by scenario team members Esther Busser, Rashid S. Kaukab and Winfried Veit with comments from James Howard, Director of Economic and Social Policy of ITUC, and Rudi Dicks, Executive Director of the National Labour and Economic Development Institute in South Africa, who had participated in the scenario building exercise. 26 NOVEMBER 2009, GENEVA| 7TH ROUNDTABLE MEETING OF THE CESCR AND THE CEACR ON “SOCIAL SECURITY, SOCIAL ASSISTANCE AND PROTECTION AGAINST POVERTY” The ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations(CEACR) and the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights(CESCR) have both paid particular attention to the right to social security within their respective mandates. A continuous exchange between the Committees provides an opportunity to share experiences with a view to promoting coherent and mutually reinforcing approaches in promoting social security for all. Additionally to members of the two committees, the ViceChair of the European Committee of Social Rights(ECSR) joined this year’s debate. http://www.fes-globalization.org/geneva/documents/Program_26-11-09.pdf http://www.fes-globalization.org/geneva/documents/Report_26-11.pdf 6 NOVEMBER 2009, GENEVA| FES – ILO LECTURE ON GLOBAL TRENDS IN WOMEN’S ACCESS TO DECENT WORK FES and ILO jointly invited Prof. Maria Floro from American University, Washington D.C., to present the findings of her study on women’s access to decent work in the ILO library. Ms. Floro is one of the world’s leading feminist economists that have a holistic view on the economy by incorporating the care or household economy into their analysis of economic data. Ms. Floro argued in her presentation that while women had gained substantial access to decent work in a number of countries experiencing economic growth over the last decades, the picture was not too optimistic as a whole. Women still tend to be the first ones to lose their jobs in economic crises and are more likely to work in the informal economy where decent work is scarce. The study had been widely distributed at the Annual ILO conference in June 2009. http://library.fes.de/pdf-files/iez/global/06399.pdf 2 NOVEMBER 2009, GENEVA| FES COTONOU SCENARIOS DISCUSSION ON THE ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE EU AND WEST AFRICA FES Geneva and FES Cotonou/Benin(Project on regional integration and development in West Africa) jointly conducted a scenario building process on the Economic Partnership Agreements between the European Union and the West African region. After having presented the results in West Africa, Brussels and Berlin, the scenarios were discussed in Geneva with representatives of African and European missions, international organizations and NGOs. The study was presented by El Hadji Diouf from ICTSD who was one of the main contributors of the project. On the panel were Esther Busser from ITUC, Michaela Dodini from the EC mission, Aileen Kwa from the South Centre and Abdoulaye Sanoko from the Mali mission, who all had been involved in the scenario process. http://library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/benin/06493.pdf

1 – 6 NOVEMBER 2009, GENEVA| FES TRAINING COURSE ON INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS MECHANISMS This one week training course for human rights defenders from the Arab region focused on the UN human rights system and its impacts and meaning for the work in the participants’ countries. Meetings with experts and visits of treaty bodies completed the program of lectures and workshops. http://www.fes-globalization.org/geneva/documents/Program_TrainingCourse_Nov09_en.pdf 29 – 30 OCTOBER 2009, JOHANNESBURG| FES – ICJ – ITUC SOUTHERN AFRICA REGIONAL CONFERENCE: BUSINESS AND ITS COMPLICITY IN HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE IN SOUTHERN AFRICA Building on the collaboration started in 2006, this conference aimed at publicizing the outcome of the ICJ Expert Panel on Corporate Complicity, making this legal concept usable in concrete country situations. Judges, lawyers, NGOs and trade unionists discussed the meaning of this concept for their work against the background posed by challenges of access to justice. http://www.fes-globalization.org/geneva/documents/Program29-30-Oct.pdf 26 – 27 OCTOBER 2009, GENEVA| FES – ICTSD BRIDGES CHINA DIALOGUE ON“CHINA AND GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE RECOVERY” FES co-sponsored the annual Bridges China Dialogue on“China and global sustainable recovery” organized by ICTSD. On invitation from FES, the German Deputy Minister for Environmental affairs, Michael Müller, participated in the event and gave an impressive political speech on the dangers of climate change for world peace and development. He said that we are at the beginning of an ecological revolution and that only those economies will prosper which recognize this and act accordingly. As well on FES invitation spoke Felicitas Kraus, Head of International Cooperation in the German Energy Agency, on energy saving and renewable energies. In a special session on“China in Global Economic Governance” with Ambassadors Zhenyu Sun (China) and Eckart Guth(European Commission), Winfried Veit, co-director of FES Geneva office, presented the Geneva Scenarios on Global Economic Governance 2020 to the approximately 150 participants. http://www.bridges-china.com/en/events/bridges-china-dialogue-2009 6 OCTOBER 2009, GENEVA| FES – FMR DEBATE ON“PATTERNS OF WORK AND COLLABORATION AT THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL“ 30 participants from diplomatic missions and civil society organizations met for a round-table discussion on patterns of work at the Human Rights Council. FES and the Forum Menschenrechte had invited participants to take a day’s retreat from daily work and critically review both the attitudes and work patterns of member states and the human rights instruments and mechanism employed; a general observation was that still too many countries do not take a vital interest in the work at the HRC while its dealing with many human rights issues remained politicized. Yet, a few good practices in collaboration were presented that went beyond the usual regional and bloc divides. With room for improvement the HRC remains an important institution to promote human rights in the world, not the least because civil society organizations have a role to play and can effectively monitor state action. http://www.fes-globalization.org/geneva/documents/Program_6_Oct.pdf 4 OCTOBER 2009, GENEVA| FES – ICJ CIVIL SOCIETY FORUM ON BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS PREPARATORY TO THE CONSULTATION BY OHCHR Prior to a 2-day meeting held by OHCHR and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General on business and human rights, John Ruggie, discussing the operationalization of his“protect, respect, remedy” framework, FES and ICJ held a Civil Society Forum, strategizing NGO and trade union input to the UN consultation. http://www.fes-globalization.org/geneva/documents/CS%20forum%20Program4oct.pdf

http://www.fes-globalization.org/geneva/documents/BHR_Report_4_Oct.pdf 28 SEPTEMBER 2009, GENEVA| FES SESSION AT THE WTO PUBLIC FORUM 2009 ON THE UNIVERSE OF STANDARDS: LEGITIMATE PROTECTION, SOPHISTICATED PROTECTIONISM, OR POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY? The proliferation of public and private standards has intensified over the last decades. The assessment of whether standards constitute an obstacle to or leverage for trade depends on various factors, such as their organization, specifications, and implementation, as well as the perspective of actors. The speakers of the session highlighted the implications of standards for international trade. There is a need for increased transparency, harmonization, and streamlining of standards systems. http://library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/genf/06798.pdf 24–26 SEPTEMBER 2009, LAUSANNE| MULTI-STAKEHOLDER MEETING VI ON TRADE, CLIMATE CHANGE& DEVELOPMENT The three-day Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue convened for the 6th time in Lausanne. FES had together with its partner organization Evian Group invited 60 participants from all over the globe to discuss about possible ways out of the inertia and mistrust in multilateral negotiations on climate change. Trade unionists and representatives from civil society, business, academia, governments and international organizations called upon both leaders and the public to make sure that the agendas of trade, climate change and development develop in compatible ways so that synergies are created to tackle the most urgent problem our world is presently facing. In six working groups participants elaborated concrete proposals such as subsidies for environmentally friendly energies, multilateral border adjustment mechanisms through the WTO, labeling of environmentally friendly products and cross-border private-public partnerships. They agreed that justice and equity are the fundamental values that must guide all efforts to making our economies sustainable. http://www.fes-globalization.org/geneva/documents/MSD%20VI%20Report%20Final.pdf 14 SEPTEMBER–2 OCTOBER 2009, GENEVA| 12TH SESSION OF THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL A full report on the on the 12th session of the Human Rights Council by Theodor Rathgeber http://www.fes-globalization.org/geneva/documents/Report_HRC12.pdf http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/12session/ 17 SEPTEMBER, GENEVA| PARALLEL EVENT TO THE 12TH SESSION OF THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL ON“AVENUES FOR THE LEGAL FUTURE OF RIGHT TO DEVELOPMENT” Development is a human right. But beyond its general recognition, views on concrete legal content differ widely. As a result, the international community is struggling to find a common approach in defining rights and obligations covered by the Right to Development. This side event discussed various approaches to reaching this aim. http://www.fes-globalization.org/geneva/documents/Invitation_Parallel-%20Event-RTD-17-9.pdf http://www.fes-globalization.org/geneva/documents/FES_Report_RTD_ed_encr.pdf 16 SEPTEMBER 2009, GENEVA| FES – IPU PARALLEL EVENT TO THE 12TH SESSION OF THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL ON“THE ROLE OF PARLIAMENTS IN THE UPR” Within democratic States parliament’s primary roles consist of passing legislation and overseeing government action. Yet, their role in the UPR process is surprisingly undefined. In this panel discussion, MPs Herta Däubler-Gmelin(Germany) and Mélégué Traoré(Burkina Faso) presented their experiences of involvement in the UPR process during preparation of the national report, the actual review by the Council and, most importantly, the national implementation of the recommendations. http://www.fes-globalization.org/geneva/documents/Invitation_Parallel-Event-UPR-16-9.pdf http://www.fes-globalization.org/geneva/documents/Report_16-9.pdf

SEPTEMBER 2009, GENEVA/ LAUSANNE| FES PRESENTATIONS OF THE GENEVA SCENARIOS ON GLOBAL ECONOMIC GOVERNANCE 2020 Further scenario presentations have taken place on 10 September at FES Brussels office with team members Alia el-Mahdi, Hans-Peter Werner, Jörn Griesse and Winfried Veit, commented by James Howard of the International Trade Union Confederation. At a public event at FES Head Office in Berlin on 14 September team members Alia el-Mahdi, Shuaihua Cheng, Jürgen Stetten and Winfried Veit presented the scenarios to a panel of four eminent discussants followed by a discussion with the public. A further scenario presentation took place in the framework of Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue VI on“Trade, Climate Change& Development” on 24–26 September in Lausanne(see above). The scenario brochure has meanwhile been translated into Spanish and French and will be distributed through the worldwide network of FES offices. A special German edition has been written by Winfried Veit in the framework of the FES project “Kompass 2020”. English version: http://library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/genf/06597-20091026.pdf Spanish version: http://library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/genf/06796.pdf German edition: http://library.fes.de/pdf-files/iez/06698.pdf Video: http://www.fes-globalization.org/geneva/video_2020.htm ******************************************************************************* ▲ P UBLICATIONS FAIZEL ISMAIL: REFORMING THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION. DEVELOPING COUNTRIES IN THE DOHA ROUND This book analyses the developments in the Doha Round negotiations of the last two years and addresses important issues to improve the functioning of the WTO. It is written from the perspective of developing countries, assessing the unprecedented role of developing country coalitions such as the G20, NAMA 11, G33, the African Group, ACP Group, LDCs, SVEs, and the Cotton 4. This book is also deeply concerned about identifying the substantive issues and procedures of the WTO and aims to trigger a broader dialogue on their reforms. http://library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/genf/06877.pdf OLIVIER DE SCHUTTER: INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN AGRICULTURE AND THE RIGHT TO FOOD| OCCASIONAL PAPER N° 46 Deriving from the Right to Live, the Right to Food guarantees every human being to be free from hunger. In this Occasional Paper, based on the report of his mission to the World Trade Organization(WTO), the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Professor Olivier De Schutter, calls for a reform of the international trade system aiming at strengthening the special role of agriculture in trade agreements to ensure their compatibility with the states’ obligation to fulfill their population’s Right to Food. The strength of his argument is that in conclusion he shows actual possibilities to reconcile trade policy with human rights requirements. http://library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/genf/06819.pdf STRENGTHENING SOCIAL SECURITY IN ECONOMIC CRISES The global economic crisis has left millions of people unemployed and thus, with no income. 80% of the world population lacks access to social protection that could reduce the risk of poverty. This briefing paper analyses the role of social security in crises and argues that investment in such may well be a substantial way for governments to fight the negative impacts of financial and economic crises. http://library.fes.de/pdf-files/iez/global/06739.pdf *******************************************************************************

IMPORTANT EVENTS AND PUBLICATIONS BY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN G ENEVA 15–16 OCTOBER 2009, GENEVA| 12TH SPECIAL SESSION OF THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL ON“THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN THE OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY AND EAST JERUSALEM” The 12th special session of the HRC was devoted to the discussion and adoption of the report of the UN fact finding mission on the Gaza conflict, which became known as the“Goldstone Report.” http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/specialsession/12/index.htm GLOBALIZATION AND INFORMAL JOBS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES A joint study of the International Labour Office and the Secretariat of the World Trade Organization, Switzerland 2009. http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/booksp_e/flyer_jobs_devel_countries_e.pdf More publications are available on our webpage. To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your email address, send an e-mail to info@fes-geneva.org. ******************************************************************************************************************************** The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung office in Geneva is part of the overall program“Dialogue on Globalization” since 2002.  Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung  Director: Ms. Türkan Karakurt/ Dr. Winfried Veit  6 bis, chemin du Point-du-Jour  1202 Geneva, Switzerland   Tel. 0041 22 733 3450  Fax: 0041 22 733 3545  E-mail: info@fes-geneva.org  www.fes-geneva.org  ***********************************************************************************************************************************