View this email in your browser The Geneva Office of the Friedrich ‐ Ebert ‐ Stiftung(FES Geneva) presents its newsletter in this new format, designed to inform you about our activities and publications as well as of upcoming events and developments within the Geneva-based international organisations. Das Genfer Büro der Friedrich ‐ Ebert ‐ Stiftung(FES Genf) freut sich, Ihnen unseren jüngsten Newsletter in einem neuen Format vorzustellen. Dieser enthält Informationen über unsere Veranstaltungen und Neuerscheinungen sowie anstehende Veranstaltungen und Ereignisse innerhalb der Genfer Internationalen Organisationen. Upcoming Events| Recent Events| International Agenda| Publications UPCOMING EVENTS Consultation on ICJ Report – A Convention on Business and Human Rights? 23 April 2014, Geneva, Switzerland Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung and the International Commission of Jurists will hold an informal consultation on the Draft ICJ Report on Needs and Options for a New Instrument in the field of Business and Human Rights. The report discusses the shortcomings in human rights protection for violations by business actors and explores new avenues like the establishment of a new human rights treaty on the obligations relating to corporate actors. Participation is by invitation only. Read More

Training course for NHRIs on international human rights mechanisms 05 to 09 May 2014, Geneva, Switzerland The training, developed especially for staff of National Human Rights Institutions worldwide, will support participants in • Expanding their knowledge of the functioning of UN human rights mechanisms; • Identifying concrete opportunities for NHRIs' effective engagement; • Participating in sessions of UN human rights mechanisms; • Identifying practical ways of effective engagement with the UN mechanisms, such as report writing and following up; • Engaging with colleagues from the OHCHR and NGOs as well as with states; and • Exchanging experiences and best practices with peer NHRIs participating in the training Participation is by invitation only. View Draft Program The Economic Crisis and the Protection of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 14 May 2014, 18.30 pm, Geneva Academy, Villa Moynier, Geneva, Switzerland Recent years have seen a remarkable expansion in the scale and importance of ESCR in international law. Economic crises, however, put pressure on national budgets and the progressive realization of this set of rights. At this event, panelists will discuss those conflicting trends against the background of a new publication by Oxford University Press, which will be launched by its editors. View Program On the publication Adjudication of Economic, Social and Cultural rights under the OP- ICESCR 17 to 18 May 2014, Jiva Hill Park Hotel, Crozet, France

OHCHR and FES Geneva are organizing a workshop for the members of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights with a view to discussing adjudication of ESCR under the Optional Protocol to the ICESCR, which entered into force in May 2013. The objective of the workshop is to provide a space for discussion, with the aim of strengthening the capacity of the Committee to consider communications under the Optional Protocol. Participation is by invitation only. Read More Framework Forum event: From the Open Ended Working Group to a World Free of Nuclear Weapons June 2014, Geneva, Switzerland Co-sponsored by the Middle Powers Initiative, Parliamentarians for Nuclear Nonproliferation and Disarmament, Basel Peace Office and the FES, this forum shall discuss the Report of the UN Open Ended Working Group, presented to the Conference on Disarmament. The report includes a number of proposals to take forward multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations. Participation is by invitation only. Read More RECENT EVENTS View Program Membership in the WTO: Challenges and Potentials for Post-Soviet Countries 01 to 4 April 2014, Geneva, Switzerland Seminar in cooperation with the WTO secretariat for economists and journalists specialized in commerce from Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. Side Event on the Human Rights Situation in the Dominican Republic 04 February 2014, Geneva, Switzerland

During the 18th UPR Session the Dominican Republic was reviewed by the Human Rights Council. FES Geneva co-organized a panel discussion with a coalition of national NGOs who submitted reports to the review. A video of the event is available on demand. Read More available on demand. View Report Side Event on the Human Rights Situations in Chile and Uruguay 30 January 2014, Geneva, Switzerland During the 18th UPR Session Uruguay and Chile were reviewed by the Human Rights Council. FES Geneva organized this panel discussion with national NGOs and national human rights institutions on key issues and suggested recommendations concerning the situation in the countries. A video of the event is INTERNATIONAL AGENDA Overcoming Moral Blind Spots Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon on genocide, Responsibility to Protect and the collective conscience. Internationale Politik und Gesellschaft(in German) View English Version 26th Session of the UN Human Rights Council 10 to 27 June, Geneva, Switzerland

This session of the HRC will have a strong focus on women’s rights and also deal with the renewal of the mandate of the Working Group on Business and Human Rights. Often postponed, we are also expecting a follow-up resolution on climate change and human rights, so many priority areas for FES will be addressed at this session. Side events to be announced. Read More Read More UNCTAD Public Symposium 18 to 19 June 2014, Geneva, Switzerland This annual outreach event brings together government officials, civil society representatives, academics, the private sector and other stakeholders to engage in a dialogue on critical issues in trade and development. 103rd Session of the International Labour Conference(ILC) 28 May to 12 June 2014, Geneva The ILC is the ILO’s highest decision -making body. It meets annually in June, bringing together the tripartite delegations from the Organization’s 185 member States. Specific agenda items, aside of the implementation of Conventions and Recommendations will be a) to advance standard setting in supplementing the Forced Labour Convention, 1930(No. 29); b) Facilitating transitions from the informal to the formal economy; and c) a discussion on the strategic objective of employment. Read More PUBLICATIONS

Read More UNCTAD's IIA Issues Note on the latest developments in investor-State dispute settlement The Issues Note provides fully updated statistical data on treatybased ISDS cases as well as an overview of arbitral decisions issued in 2013. More publications are available on our website. Geneva Office 6 bis, Chemin du Point-du-Jour CH- 1202 Geneva Tel:+41(0)22 733 34 50 Email: info@fes-geneva.org Web: www.fes-geneva.org Forward to Friend Share Tweet Share FES NEWSLETTER You are receiving this email because you're a friend of FES Geneva. Unsubscribe from this list Our mailing address is: Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung 6 bis, Chemin du Point-du-Jour Geneva 1202 Switzerland Add us to your address book Copyright© 2014

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