Newsletter – November 2010 – 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. Index| Upcoming Events| Recent Events| Publications| Subscribe| ******************************************************************************* Upcoming Event Please note that participation in all events is by invitation only. 06-10 DECEMBER 2010, GENEVA| FES-WTO INFORMATION SEMINAR FOR ENGLISH-SPEAKING JOURNALISTS ON“WORLD TRADE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT” How does the multilateral trading system function? What do negotiators think of specific aspects of the ongoing Doha Development Round? How is trade related to main policies of other international organizations? And what part does the civil society play? These and many more questions will be at heart for the journalists coming from 15 African and Asian countries. The aim of the five-day seminar is to provide a deeper understanding of trade policy and thus enable the participants to implement trade- related aspects more effective in their respective journalistic work. The seminar is jointly organized by the World Trade Organization(WTO) and FES Geneva. ******************************************************************************* ▲ Recent Events 25 novEMBER 2010, Geneva| ceacr/cescr meeting Labor rights are human rights – this becomes very clear when comparing the Conventions and Covenants that are monitored respectively by the“ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations” and the“UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.” Yet, those two monitoring bodies do not have any formal exchange. To enhance coherence in their work, FES Geneva hosts this annual meeting, where topics relevant to both Committees are debated. In 2010 the meeting focused on the regression in realizing economic rights in times of crisis. Program 08-12 November 2010, Geneva| Arabic Training course on international human rights mechanisms Civil society actors, local activists, human rights lawyers working“on the ground” were invited to Geneva for a one-week training course on how to integrate the power of international law and its instruments in their work. This course, combining lectures, workshops, meeting with UN Experts and participation at sessions of the Human Rights Council is offered annually by FES Geneva to strengthen the link between international procedures and the active work done on country level. Program in English Program in Arabic 17 September 2010, geneva| FES/3D-event at WTO Public forum on social standards and human rights clauses in trade agreements “Raising living standards, full employment” and“sustainable development” are the proclaimed objectives of the World Trade Organization(WTO). These objectives go beyond the domain of trade stricto sensu and define the goals of the WTO as reaching into the field of international human rights law and social standards. However, the linkages between social and human rights standards and trade are a sensitive issue. FES Geneva and 3D-> Trade- Human Rights- Equitable Economy, tackled the issue of “Coherence between WTO and other areas of global governance” by offering in this event a human rights centered approach to trade agreements. Report 14 September 2010, Geneva| FES/CUTS Writers’ conference: a negotiators’ handbook The project aims to collect and preserve the experience of developing country negotiators in the WTO which will be an invaluable resource for their peers and successors. The proposed publication will be a valuable and timely contribution to fill a critical gap and strengthen the multilateral trading system. Report 13 SEPTEMBER – 1 OCTOBER 2010, Geneva| 15th session of the human rights council The UN Human Rights Council(HRC) adopted at its 15th regular session more than 30 resolutions, including the establishment of a new mandate of the UN Special Procedures a) on assembly and association, and b) a working group on the topic of discrimination against women by law and practice. Furthermore, the unspoken but prominent topic of the 15th session was the review of the Council. As already requested by the resolution that established this UN organ 4 years ago, this review has to take place until June 2011. An international conference of FES Berlin in mid-October discussed this review and demanded new elements for the work of the HRC. A summary can be found on FES International website and in the printed Report 03 septEMBER 2010, Geneva| fes workshop on social protection in the informal economy More than 15 million people per year die because of poverty, over five million children under the age five pass away yearly due to lack of access to health care and lack of income security. Addressing this issue, FES Geneva invited experts from ILO, OHCHR and Global Union Federations in order to discuss possibilities for progressive political parties to contribute to establishing social protection in the informal economy. The workshop served to inform the Socialist International(SI) Committee for Economic Policy, Labor and Natural Resources. Report 02 septEMBER 2010, GENEVA| fes workshop on a just global policy for natural resources in the interest of developing countries How should governance in developing countries and regions look like to make the population of these countries benefit from raw material exploitation? How do UN concepts for processing raw materials in these countries and regions look like? And what is the role of financial transactions in the determination of commodity prices? Representatives from UNCTAD, WTO, trade unions and the business sector debated these questions during a workshop hosted by FES Geneva. Program 01-02 July 2010, Geneva| ITC/FES Conference on sustainability standards in international trade and development Over the past two decades, it has become evident that legally binding regulations alone are not sufficient when it comes to gradually achieving social, environmental and competitive objectives in the global economic and trade system. Voluntary standards and codes of conduct have the potential to significantly contribute towards international value chains placing greater emphasis on social and ecological aspects. This conference was jointly organized by the International Trade Centre and FES Geneva to provide a platform for representatives from various backgrounds and to enable a multi-perspective discussion. Program Report ******************************************************************************* ▲ Publications 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: Dr. Matthes Buhbe ¡ 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 **************************************************************************************************** *******************************