– NEWSLETTER – SEPTEMBER 2011 – The Geneva Office of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung(FES Geneva) presents its newsletter, designed to inform you of our activities and publications as well as of recent and upcoming events and developments at the Geneva-based international organizations. If you do not want to receive this newsletter please Unsubscribe. Das Genfer Büro der Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung(FES Genf) 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| International Agenda| Publications| Subscribe| ******************************************************************************* UPCOMING EVENTS SEPTEMBER DECEMBER 2011 Please note that participation in some events is by invitation only. 06 – 07 OCTOBER, GENEVA| FES/ FMR/ DIMR: THE HUMAN RIGHTS AFTER THE REVIEW – TANGIBLE CHANGES OR BUSINESS AS USUAL? After five years in existence, the UN Human Rights Council has concluded its review and adopted an outcome which the UN General Assembly is expected to approve. Even if the outcome appears to be disappointing, the HRC will continue being the genuine UN body for political assessments on human rights. Against this background and the interesting recent developments in addressing country situations, the focus of our upcoming workshop shall be how to make the HRC a more victim and rights holder oriented institution. 31 OCTOBER- 04 NOVEMBER, GENEVA| TRAINIG SEMINAR ON THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS SYSTEM Building on two sub-regional seminars in Morocco and Jordan, this training course for 16 civil society representatives from the Middle Eastern/ North African region will deepen the participants’ understanding in the UN human rights system and its application in national contexts. 10 NOVEMBER, GENEVA| „DECENT CAPITALISM“

Decent work has become an integral part of international vocabulary. Capitalism is not known as a term to describe fair and decent conditions for all members of society. Worse than that, we live through a period of global financial and economic crises.“Decent Capitalism”: Isn’t this a contradiction? Such and many other questions will be discussed on a closed expert meeting, based on the book „Decent Capitalism - A Blueprint for Reforming Our Economies”, and published 2011 by Sebastian Dullien, Hansjörg Herr and Christian Kellermann. Decent Capitalism 10 – 11 NOVEMBER, GENEVA| FES/ ICJ EXPERT CONSULTATION ON FAIR WORKING CONDITIONS Trade unions and other experts of the labor movement do have concrete ideas what fair working conditions should mean and cover in the context of decent work. To insure their voices are heard in the development of international law in this area, FES and ICJ will organize an expert consultation which aims to provide input to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights’ ef forts in clarifying the meaning of the respective Covenant article. 29 NOVEMBER, GENEVA| 9TH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ILO COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS AND THE UN COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS “Just and favourable conditions of work“ are guaran teed to every worker in a state signatory to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. But what does this article 7 mean in practice and in different national contexts? This question shall be debated at a roundtable discussion among the members of the competent ILO and UN Committees. 14 – 17 DECEMBER 2011| LDC INCOMING GROUP TO WTO MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE The topmost decision-making body of the World Trade Organization is the Ministerial Conference, which meets every two years. In close cooperation with the WTO Secretariat, FES Geneva invites journalists from Least Developed Countries to come to Geneva and be right up close at the Ministerial Conference. Thus, the selected journalists will report directly from the spot about any decision taken by the ministers, especially in favour of the LDCs. ******************************************************************************* ▲ RECENT EVENTS

JULY SEPTEMBER 2011 26 – 30 SEPTEMBER, GENEVA| FES/ WTO SEMINAR FOR JOURNALISTS FROM LATIN AMERICA “ World Trade and Sustainable Development” is the title of the regular one week information seminar for journalists from developing countries specialized in economy and trade. Once a year, FES Geneva and the World Trade Organization(WTO) select journalists from about 15 countries to provide them with a deeper understanding of the multilateral trading system and social aspects of development. End of September 2011 journalists from various Latin American countries participated at this seminar. 21 SEPTEMBER, GENEVA| SIDE EVENT TO THE WTO PUBLIC FORUM:"TRADE IN AN INSTABLE ENVIRONMENT: THE IMPACT OF FRAGILITY AND CORRUPTION" 09:00-11:00, Room W, WTO building Trade occurs. It occurs between countries, between regions, between the small and the big ones. Trade is affected by tariffs, by nontariff barriers, by subsidies, by export restrictions, and … by conflicts. This session explored the specific environment in which trade in conflict areas takes place along the following questions: - What are the major challenges for an economic recovery in conflict areas and who should deal with them? - Where are the breeding-grounds for corruption and how to deprive them? - Is it possible to boost trade in conflicting areas despite all the challenges? And if so, how can it be done? Speakers were Dr Elisabeth Schoendorf(SWP-German Institute for International and Security Affairs), Dr. Achim Wennmann(Geneva Peacebuilding Platform, replacing Ms Chantal Uwimana from Transparency International) and Jean Amat Amoros(Gundara). Program Information 17- 19 SEPTEMBER, GENEVA| ICAN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT The multi-layered threat of nuclear weapons internationally and specifically for the region of the Middle East was discussed in this conference, bringing together youth activists and experts on disarmament issues from all over the world. While the first two days aimed at strengthening campaigning and lobby activities, the third day focused on the political situation in the Middle East and an establishment of a Nuclear Weapon Free Zone in the MENA region. Program 04- 05 JULY, GENEVA| EXPERT MEETING ON NEXT STEPS REGARDING BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS AT THE UN On 16 June, the UN Human Rights Council adopted the Guiding Principles for the implementation of the UN endorsed“Protect, Respect, Remedy” framework on business and human rights proposed by UN Special

Representative on Business and Human Rights, John Ruggie. This expert meeting provided the opportunity for an in-depth discussion on the Guiding Principles and the decisions taken by the HRC regarding follow up and further work in this area both by the UN human rights system and at national level over the coming years. Program Report International Policy Analysis ******************************************************************************* ▲ INTERNATIONAL AGENDA SEPTEMBER – DECEMBER 2011 12 – 30 SEPTEMBER 2011, GENEVA| 18 TH SESSION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Information 19 – 21 SEPTEMBER, GENEVA| WTO PUBLIC FORUM Information 15 – 17 DECEMBER 2011, GENEVA| EIGHTH WTO MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE On the invitation of FES and WTO, journalists from Least Developed Countries will attend the ministerial. Information ******************************************************************************* ▲ P UBLICATIONS See upcoming event: 10 NOVEMBER, GENEVA| „DECENT CAPITALISM“ Decent Capitalism *******************************************************************************

▲ 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.+41 22 733 3450  Fax:+41 22 733 3545  E-mail: info@fes-geneva.org  www.fes-geneva.org ***********************************************************************************************************************************