UN in Focus Newsbrief N0. 1/2012 January 2012 Quick Links FES NY Events FES NY Publications More About Us Dear colleagues and friends, In 2012 our work at the United Nations starts with the UN's Commission for Social Development(CSocD). At this year's 50th CSocD-Meeting, together with partners from civil society, we will be focusing on issues such as the Social Protection Floor Initiative and pro-poor community-driven partnerships in the Arab world. As usual, I hope this Newsbrief will make for informative reading. With best wishes from New York, Dr. Werner Puschra Director Friedrich Ebert Stiftung- New York Office By invitation only Upcoming Event "Reception for Speakers and Bureau- Prior to the 50th Commission for Social Development" 30 January 2011, 6:00 pm- 8:00 p.m.; Bahá'í International, 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 120, New York On the eve of the 50th Commission for Social Development, the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung and NGO Committee for Social Development host a reception for speakers in the annual Civil Society Forum of the Commission. The meeting provides an opportunity for organizers, Bureau Members and panelists, as well as NGOs coming from around the world for the Commission, to share expectations and strategize prior to the Forum. Entertainment will be provided by the World Youth Orchestra.

Upcoming Event "Commission for Social Development Civil Society Forum" 31 January 2011, 10:00 am- 4:45 pm, UNHQ-North Lawn Building, Conference Room 3, New York Each year the NGO Committee conducts a Forum, based on the theme to be addressed by the UN Commission for Social Development at its annual meeting. The theme of this year's civil society forum is"The Social Protection Floor Initiative(SPFI)- Bridging the Gap to Poverty Eradication." The Commission and NGO forum will be an opportunity for governments and civil society to engage on effective policies and practices via the SPFI as an essential and universal solution to break the cycle of poverty and reduce inequality and social exclusion while accelerating action toward achievement of Millennium Development Goals, 2015. Program Upcoming Event "Transition in the Arab World: Poor-People Power for Peace, Democracy and Progress" 1 February 2012, 1:00 pm- 2:45 pm, UNHQ-North Lawn Building, New York, Conference Room 4, New York In response to the economic crises of recent years, CSOs from Africa, South East Asia and the Middle East have been engaged in a regionally-based dialogue on how a community-based participatory approach emphasizing innovative community-driven partnerships with local and national government institutions can advance pro-poor policies that take into account the strong interrelationships of poverty with injustice, lack of basic human freedoms, restricted opportunities, exclusion, disasters, conflict and other violence and economic upheaval. This panel discussion will attempt to bridge the gap between policy and practice by examining possibilities for a new era of multi-stakeholder collaboration in the Arab World. Program Forward email This email was sent to vlehmann@fesny.org by vlehmann@fesny.org| Update Profile/Email Address| Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™| Privacy Policy. Friedrich Ebert Foundation| 747 Third Avenue, Suite 22B| New York| NY| 10017