No. 4| October, 2016 Dear Colleagues and Friends, On October 13, 2016 the UN General Assembly appointed António Guterres as the next UN-Secretary-General by acclamation. It was a rare moment of accomplishment and unity among UN member states who applauded the election of the candidate who was widely believed to be the best and most qualified. And while there was some disaffection that the final choice to lead the UN for the ninth time in a row came down to a man, there was much praise for the selection of a person with vast experience in a variety of fields much needed for the"most difficult job in the world". Moreover, this year's selection process was complimented for its unprecedented transparency and inclusivity. These historic changes came about not in the least due to global civil society efforts such as the 1 for 7 Billion campaign. FES New York has accompanied this initiative from the beginning, but the work is not yet over: The world is more than ever in need of a functioning, legitimate global organization. For the new Secretary-General to become the one who leads the UN to a better future for the world's seven billion people he will need broad support from all quarters, from governments as well as from civil society. We wish António Guterres the best of luck with the huge challenges that await him- inside the organization and in the global political arena. In addition to the election of the Secretary-General, throughout this fall numerous other processes at the UN continue to deserve attention. This newsletter provides you with an update on the most recent activities of the FES New York office. We look forward to hearing from you. Bettina Luise Rürup Executive Director Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung- New York Office

New Publication:"Rights and Environmental Protection Following Paris and the SDGs- Towards a Stronger Role for the United Nations" FES New York Perspective The author Ken Conca argues that the UN's current approach to protect the environment has run up against the structural limitations of an increasingly globalized economy. Yet successful implementation of the Paris Climate Accord and the Sustainable Development Goals will require making human rights visible again and recognizing people as rights holders, not just stakeholders. Conca recommends that policy initiatives take into account extra-territorial impacts on local communities in other countries, especially those who are most vulnerable. Moreover, the UN's rights machinery should be deployed to protect the rights and safety of environmental defenders who challenge governments and transnational economic agents. Download the publication: here Upcoming Event(By Invitation Only):"Women, Peace, and Security: Are We There Yet?" Tuesday, October 18, 1:00- 3:00 PM, International Peace Institute FES New York, together with One Earth Future and the International Peace Institute co-sponsor this discussion on achieving the goals of the women, peace, and security(WPS) agenda. Based on a recent article in the Global Governance journal, the event will examine the political will, resources, and integration of policy and practice required to advance. One year on from the release of the Global Study on Resolution 1325-the landmark fifteen-year review of global progress-women's leadership, women's rights, and funding for gender equality are still often put on the back burner by international decision-makers, including the UN Security Council. This lagging implementation is despite the gendered nature of today's most pressing conflicts, and despite the overwhelming evidence of the positive impact of women's participation on peacefulness. This World Café-style discussion will be opened by the presentation of a recent Global Governance journal article,"Women, Peace, and Security: Are We There Yet?" by Gaynel Curry and Melissa Labonte. Subsequently, participants will engage in three rounds of"peace talk" discussion on progressive sets of questions. Program WPS Article Past Event:"Overcoming Barriers: Civil Society Perspectives on

Implementing RtoP" Thursday, September 8, 2016, The Church Center for the United Nations Following up on the UN General Assembly's informal, interactive dialogue on the Responsibility to Protect(RtoP), FES New York, the International Coalition for the Responsibility to Protect(ICRtoP), and the Stanley Foundation held an event entitled"Overcoming Barriers: Civil Society Perspectives on Implementing RtoP". The event included prominent panelists such as Gus Miclat, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Initiatives for International Dialogue and founding Steering Committee member of the ICRtoP; Dismas Nkunda, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Atrocities Watch- Africa; and Evan Cinq-Mars, the UN Advocate and Policy Advisor for the Center for Civilians in Conflict. Esteemed peacebuilding activist, Bridget Moix, US Senior Representative for Peace Direct, moderated the event. The panelists focused on how the implementation of RtoP is translated into action at the grassroots level and on exhibiting the vital ways in which local communities and civil society members work together to protect populations from atrocities. Program SG Report: Mobilizing collective action: the next decade of the responsibility to protect Event Summary Visit Our Website www.fes-globalization.org/new_york Friedrich Ebert Stiftung- New York Office, 747 Third Avenue, Suite 22B, New York, NY 10017 SafeUnsubscribe™ dorothee.pannier@fes.de Forward this email| Update Profile| About our service provider Sent by fes.associate@fesny.org in collaboration with Try it free today