Need For a Unified Civil Society Message, CIVICUS Feels...

• Globalisation has made us aware of the profound interdependence
• A realistic response to unrealistic times
• Industrialized countries bear special responsibility
• A regenerated system based on human rights
• The United Nations is the seat of universal political legitimacy
• The financial and economic crisis and the climate crisis are hitting the poor worst.

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THE UN CONFERENCE

The UN Summit on the economic crisis: not just a talking shop; our future is at stake
By Vicente García-Delgado, CIVICUS UN Representative
It's only five days to the opening of the United Nations High-level Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and its Impact on Development at UN headquarters in New York (24-26 June), and the intergovernmental negotiations are becoming increasingly intense as the clock ticks toward the final hour.

Much is at stake for citizens and civil society around the globe: Will the international community of nations muster the courage and demonstrate the political will required to give an adequate, effective, collective response to the global financial and economic crisis: a regenerated system of global economic governance framed in principles of Human Rights, the UN Charter and the Rule of Law? To read more, click here.

Recommendations of the Commission of Experts of the President of the General Assembly on Reforms of the International Monetary and Financial System
Source: United Nations
To review the workings of the global financial systems and to explore ways and means to secure a more sustainable and just global economic order, the Prsident of the General Assembly convened a Commission of Experts, chaired by Professor Joseph Stiglitz, 2001 Nobel Prize winner in economics, comprising a group of outstanding economists, policymakers, and practitioners from Japan, Western Europe, Africa, Latin America and South and East Asia. These experts were chosen based on their comprehensive understanding of the complex and interrelated issues raised by the workings of the financial system. The members of the Commission are also individuals recognized for their strong grasp of the strengths and weaknesses of existing multilateral institutions as well as their sensitivity to the particular challenges facing countries from different regions of the world and at different levels of economic and social development. For details, click here.

Briefing paper: UN Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and its Impact on Development
Source: UN NGLS
This briefing paper is intended to provide information and background on the upcoming United Nations Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and its Impact on Development which will take place from 24 - 26 June at UN Headquarters in New York. For details, click here.

A Call for Courage: the Upcoming UN Summit on the Economic Crisis
Source: Huffingtonpost - Kumi Naidoo
I think what is keeping most of us occupied right now is the forthcoming summit at the UN in New York, later this month, which will be an important attempt to hammer a way out of the economic crises. CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, along with other civil society partners, will be there demanding that civil society and especially the poor and marginalized - those most affected by a crisis not of their own making - are not left out of the discussion Read more.

e-Discussion on Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and its Impact on Development
Source: UN Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis
A moderated e-discussion on the Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and its Impact on Development, jointly organised by the UN Department for Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and UNDP, will be held as part of the preparatory process for the Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and its Impact on Development. For details, click here.

EVENTS IN NEW YORK

People Impacted by the Economic Crisis from Around the World Gather to Give Voice to the Forgotten, Marginalized

People's Voices on the Crisis will give voice to those that have felt the impact of the crisis and whose stories have thus far received little attention. The event will showcase the testimonies of grassroots activists from diverse regions of the world working with many of the world's forgotten victims, who will give evidence on how the financial, as well as food, energy and climate change crises, are affecting their lives and their work. "We believe that the current economic crisis is the result not merely of misinformation, lax regulation or simple hubris. Rather, it is the result of a deeply flawed system that perpetuates crises in food security, in the environment as well as in finance and economics," says Roberto Bissio, Coordinator of Social Watch and one of the organizers.The forum will also address a more hopeful future, as advocates will offer their proposals on overcoming the current crisis and in the process develop a new economic system that is built on the rights - and in the service - of all people. The outcome of the Hearing will be a set of recommendations to be delivered to world leaders gathered at the UN Conference on the Economic Crisis that will begin the following Monday.

People's Voices on the Crisis
Saturday, 20 June
Church of the Holy Trinity
316 E. 88th Street, New York, NY

Workers on the Move: The Global Crisis and Migrant Labor
A Forum Sponsored by RESIST!, International Migrants Alliance, Ibon Foundation and the World Council of Churches
22 June 2009, 7-9pm, Boss Room, 8th Floor, UN Church Center 777 United Nations Plaza, New York City

The global financial and economic crisis continues to deepen and cause untold suffering among working people in the world. The International Labour Organisation estimates that as many as 52 million more workers would join the ranks of the unemployed this year alone plus millions more in the next few years as the global economy continues to stagnate. Migrant workers, especially women workers and those in irregular status are among the most vulnerable sectors in the population amidst the downturn as they are among the first to be laid-off or forced to accept lower wages and poorer working conditions in order to retain or get new jobs and continue to send remittances to their loved ones. They are also used as scapegoats of the jobs crisis; hence face increasing discrimination, xenophobia and racism.

This 2-hour public forum will critically examine the current global crisis and proposals to deal with the crisis from the perspective of working people, particularly migrant workers. It will consist of a panel of three (3) speakers (15 minutes each) followed by an open forum and speak out of migrant workers (1 hour).

Side-event on "Reform of the Financial and Monetary System: Putting Developing Country Trade and Development Needs at the Center"
The International Working Group on Trade and Finance Linkages and the Permanent Mission of the United Republic of Tanzania to the UN invites you to a side-event on "Reform of the Financial and Monetary System: Putting Developing Country Trade and Development Needs at the Center"
June 26, 2009, 1:15 - 2:30 PM
Conference Room B, UN Headquarters
Moderator: Ms. Mariama Williams, International Gender and Trade Network / Institute for Law and Economics (Jamaica)

Side event on "Reaching the MDGs amidst a Financial and Economic Crisis"
Sponsored by the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, CIDSE, Cordaid, Oxfam International, Afrodad, Latindadd 25 June 2009, 9:30 am - 11:30 am
Conference Room C, UN Headquarters

ITUC/FES Side Event on "Policy Responses to the Jobs Crisis: Universal Social Protection is Key to Restoring Sustainable Growth with Equity".
The event is organized in collaboration with the Permanent Mission of Chile
Thursday 25 June from 1:15pm to 2:45pm
Conference Room B of the United Nations Headquarters.

WFUNA Informal drinks party to celebrate the first day of the United Nations Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and Its Impact on Development.
Wednesday 24 June 2009 - 6.00 - 8.30 pm 216 East 47th St - #16 A
To know more about WFUNA: World Federation of United Nations Associations