Summary report, 13 March 2013

The high-level meeting of the Global Thematic Consultation on Conflict, Violence and Disaster in the Post-2015 Agenda convened on 13 March 2013, in Helsinki, Finland. The meeting was co-convened by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO), the UN International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), with support from the Government of Finland. About 120 leaders from civil society, government, the private sector, UN agencies and international organizations participated in the meeting, which is one of 11 high-level leadership meetings being covered as part of the UN’s global thematic consultations on the post-2015 development agenda.

The meeting opened with introductory remarks from the host Government followed by a presentation of the synthesis report of the outcomes of three global consultations held in Indonesia, Liberia and Panama between October 2012 and February 2013, as well as the overall post-2015 process. Participants then met in three interactive panel discussions to review the findings of the synthesis report and to make recommendations on how to incorporate issues related to conflict, violence and disaster into the post-2015 development framework. This report summarizes the presentations made and discussions that took place during the meeting.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE GLOBAL CONSULTATIONS ON THE POST-2015 DEVELOPMENT AGENDA

At the High-level Plenary Meeting of the 65th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), held in New York, US, in September 2010, governments called for accelerating progress towards achieving the MDGs, and for thinking about ways to advance the UN development agenda beyond 2015. In response, the UN undertook several initiatives aimed at developing a post-2015 development agenda, including: setting up a UN System Task Team on the Post-2015 UN Development Agenda (UNTT); launching a High-level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda (HLP); appointing a Special Advisor on Post-2015 Development Planning; and launching national and global thematic consultations.

In addition to the above, other processes that will feed into the post-2015 discussions include: the work of the Open Working Group (OWG) on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a 30-member group mandated by the outcome document of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD or Rio+20) to prepare a proposal on SDGs for consideration by the UNGA at its 68th session; regional consultations by the UN Regional Economic Commissions, which will result in a report on regional perspectives on the post-2015 development agenda; input from the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, set up by the UN Secretary-General in August 2012 to support global problem solving in ten critical areas of sustainable development; and input from businesses and the private sector through the UN Global Compact.

In order to ensure coherence across these different work streams, an informal senior coordination group of four Assistant Secretary-Generals (ASGs) has been put in place, which includes the ASG for Economic Development at the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), the ASG for Development Policy at UNDP, the ASG for Policy and Programmes at UN Women, and the Secretary-General’s Special Advisor on Post-2015 Development Planning. A “One Secretariat” has also been established to facilitate coordination and coherence across the work streams.

UN System Task Team: UNTT, which includes over 60 UN entities and agencies, and other international organizations, was set up to assess ongoing efforts within the UN system, consult all relevant stakeholders and define a system-wide vision and roadmap to support the deliberations on the post-2015 development agenda. UNTT presented its report, Realizing the Future We Want for All, in June 2012, calling for an integrated policy approach to ensure inclusive economic development, social progress and environmental sustainability, and a development agenda that responds to the public’s aspiration for a world free of want and fear. The report, which recommended that the post-2015 vision be built on the principles of human rights, equality and sustainability, will serve as a reference for additional, broad and inclusive consultations on the post-2015 development agenda.

UNTT, which is co-chaired by DESA and UNDP, will provide technical support to the OWG on SDGs. It also aims to support the multi-stakeholder consultations being led by Member States on a post-2015 development agenda by providing analytical inputs, expertise and outreach.

High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda: The UN Secretary-General launched the HLP in June 2012, and appointed President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia and Prime Minister David Cameron of the UK as co-chairs. The HLP includes leaders from civil society, the private sector and governments. The Panel, which reports to the UN Secretary-General and is not an intergovernmental process, is expected to publish its report in May 2013, outlining its vision and recommendations on a post-2015 global development agenda. This report will feed into the Secretary-General’s report to Member States at the Special Event on the MDGs in September 2013.

Special Advisor on Post-2015 Development Planning: In June 2012, Amina J. Mohammed of Nigeria was appointed as ASG and Special Advisor on Post-2015 Development Planning to coordinate, on behalf of the Secretary-General, the process of developing and building consensus among Member States, UN actors and key external actors. Mohammed also serves as an ex-officio member on the HLP, represents the Secretary-General in the post-2015 debate and advises him on related matters.

National and Global Thematic Consultations: The UN Development Group (UNDG) initiated national and global thematic consultations on the post-2015 development agenda aimed at bringing together a broad range of stakeholders to review progress on the MDGs and discuss options for a new framework. The national consultations are taking place online and offline in more than 60 developing and developed countries, with national stakeholders exchanging information and providing their inputs for a shared global vision of “The Future We Want.”

At the global level, UNDG initiated 11 multi-stakeholder thematic consultations on: inequalities; education; health; governance; conflict and fragility; growth and employment; environmental sustainability; hunger, nutrition and food security; population dynamics; energy; and water. The final consultations on inequalities, governance, population dynamics and health have already taken place.

Each thematic consultation is co-convened by two or more UN agencies with support from governments, working together with representatives from civil society, the private sector and academia. The consultations, which seek online contributions at the “World We Want 2015” website, aim to explore the role each theme could play in a new framework, the various ways in which they can best be addressed, and the linkages among them. A high-level meeting has been or will be held for each thematic area, to consider the results and recommendations of the consultations.

In addition, UNDP, the UN Millennium Campaign, the Overseas Development Institute and the World Wide Web Foundation developed and are facilitating an options survey called “MY World” that allows citizens to vote online and offline for issues that they believe would make the most difference to their lives. This survey aims to gather public opinions on development priorities.

GLOBAL CONSULTATION ON CONFLICT, VIOLENCE AND DISASTER: The consultation on conflict, violence and disaster is co-convened by UNDP, PBSO, UNISDR and UNICEF, with support from the Government of Finland. The overall aim is to mobilize global consensus on the importance of accounting for peace and security in the successor development framework by addressing the interrelationships among armed conflict, fragility, organized violence, disaster and sustainable development. The consultations were organized around four sub-thematic meetings at the regional level and two online dialogues on disaster risk reduction and gender-based violence. In addition, 45 evidence-based research papers and think pieces were prepared as part of the consultation process. Recognizing the close interlinkages among conflict, violence, disaster and development, the consultations called for carefully balanced baskets of indicators that illustrate concomitant progress among inter-related aspects of disaster resilience, security, justice, the rule of law and sustainable peacebuilding. The consultations put forward a range of options and issues for framing a multidimensional goal, including peacebuilding and security, human security, safety and justice, governance and resilience. 

REPORT OF THE FINAL MEETING OF THE GLOBAL THEMATIC CONSULTATION ON CONFLICT, VIOLENCE AND DISASTER IN THE POST-2015 DEVELOPMENT AGENDA

OPENING PLENARY

Moderator Abderrahim Foukara, Washington and New York Bureau Chief, Al Jazeera Network, welcomed participants and stressed the increasing recognition that fragility, disasters and conflict impede development.

While noting that the MDGs did not adequately cover peace and conflict resolution, Heidi Hautala, Minister for International Development of Finland, underlined that the MDGs are “not yet history,” and called for ensuring that planning for the future does not eclipse achievements of today. Hautala stressed the importance of sustainable development for peace, justice and resilience to shocks, and said violence against women and girls, as well as people with disabilities, is of particular concern. In conclusion, she highlighted the need for a credible process to monitor progress and encouraged participants to “think bold and reach high” in discussing possible goals and targets.

Rebeca Grynspan, UNDP Associate Administrator, presented the Synthesis Report of the Conflict, Violence and Disaster Consultation, underscoring the efforts taken by the UNDG to carry out a bottom- up approach. She stressed that despite a reference to them in the Millennium Declaration, conflicts and disasters were not included in the MDGs. She indicated that participants had called for including the rule of law in the post-2015 agenda, and stressed the need for a multidimensional framework that explicitly calls for access to justice, inclusive institutions, economic opportunities, equity, the mainstreaming of human rights and women’s empowerment, and combating all forms of violence against women. Grynspan described options for stand-alone goals or incorporating these dimensions into other goals, and stressed the importance of negotiating a basket of indicators.

William Sabandar, President’s Delivery Unit for Development Monitoring and Insight, Indonesia, highlighted Aceh’s recovery from conflict and disaster as a positive example of how to incorporate peace, security and justice issues into a post-2015 sustainable development framework. He said the regional consultations had highlighted the need for new multidimensional goals that effectively integrate cross-cutting issues, such as health and energy security. He also emphasized the need for transparency across the multi-level, multi-stage and multi-stakeholder processes, and balance between the outcomes of the intergovernmental and “intercommunity” processes.

Amina J. Mohammed, UN Secretary-General’s Special Advisor on Post-2015 Development Planning, observed that the process offers an opportunity to address the “unfinished business” of the MDGs while taking on new challenges, such as demographics and gender equity. Welcoming the inclusion of peace and security as the fourth dimension of sustainable development in the UNTT report, she challenged participants to speak with a clear voice to ensure a strong narrative on peace and security and its relationship with the other goals. Describing next steps in the process, she stressed that bridging the gap between global target setting and implementation at the country level will require reliable data, better use of technology and strong and capable institutions at all levels.

INTERACTIVE PANEL DISCUSSIONS

CONFLICT AND FRAGILITY AND THE POST-2015 DEVELOPMENT AGENDA: This panel, which took place in the morning and was moderated by Yoka Brandt, Deputy Executive Director, UNICEF, discussed the outcome of the Liberia Consultation on Conflict and Fragility and the Post-2015 Development Agenda, focusing on the salient drivers of conflict identified as having the most negative impacts on achieving the MDGs, as well as those with the potential to accelerate the achievement of future development goals in conflict-prone or post-conflict contexts.

Most panelists underscored the relationship among violence, conflict and development, with Christian Friis Bach, Minister for Development Cooperation, Denmark, noting that “we are still acting in silos” and calling for the adoption of an integrated approach. Shafiq Ahmad Qarizada, Deputy Minister for Policy, Ministry of Finance, Afghanistan, described how his Government has made conflict and violence a centerpiece of its development agenda. Francesca Bomboko, Co-Chair of the International Dialogue Working Group on Indicators for the Peacebuilding and Statebuilding Goals, underscored the multidimensional aspect of violence and conflict, stressing the need to mainstream the universality of this agenda.

On factors that contribute to addressing conflict and violence, Qarizada stressed the role of the rule of law and governance, with Elias Nyamlell Wakoson, Deputy Minister of International Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Republic of South Sudan, underlining the need to define these abstract concepts. Bomboko pointed to the role of social justice, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction (DRR). She stated that as multidimensional issues, peace and security need to be addressed by a basket of indicators, which requires building sufficient capacity at the country level. Friis Bach underscored the need to address inequalities in order to achieve peace and security.

On the MDGs, Nyamlell Wakoson called for continuing and refocusing the MDG process. Mads Øvlisen, Special Adviser to the UN Global Compact, stated that the review of the MDGs should recognize the role of the private sector, underlining the importance of building partnerships with all stakeholders.

On gender issues and vulnerable groups, Nyamlell Wakoson highlighted the high rates of maternal and child mortality during conflicts. Erik Solheim, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Development Assistance Committee Chair, said education should not stop during conflicts.

On the post-2015 agenda, Friis Bach highlighted the costs of conflict and urged the adoption of a stand-alone goal on this issue. He suggested that such a goal could be inspired by the New Deal initiative of the g7+ group of conflict-affected and fragile states, especially its work on peacebuilding and statebuilding indicators. He further called for such a goal to be rooted in human rights principles.

Øvlisen called for recognizing the central role of business in achieving development goals, and stressed the need to fight corruption. Solheim underscored the importance of establishing indicators of violence, measuring progress, and increasing focus on conflict prevention.

VIOLENCE, SECURITY AND THE POST-2015 DEVELOPMENT AGENDA: Introducing the session in the morning, Moderator Abderrahim Foukara invited participants to reflect on the findings of the Panama Consultation on Violence and Citizen Security, and share some practical solutions for tackling political, gender-based and other forms of violence based on experiences in their countries. 

Sofia Strand, State Secretary for International Development Cooperation, Sweden, noted that disagreements exist in every society, and reiterated achieving freedom from violence in the post-2015 framework requires, inter alia: implementing the rule of law; strong political institutions that can facilitate inclusive and transparent dialogue processes; robust indicators to track the impacts of conflict and fragility on development; and prioritizing violence against women and girls that has a detrimental impact on overall development.

Speaking on Kenya’s reconciliation process following post-electoral violence in 2008, Mzalendo Kibunjia, Chair of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission, highlighted efforts to build “infrastructures for peace” that include: creating a free mobile hotline to encourage citizens to report any violent incidents; and enhancing dialogue between security forces and local communities to address emerging conflict before it has a chance to spread. He stressed that a stand-alone goal on peace, security and resilience is needed to ensure adequate attention to these issues in the post-2015 process.

Dharanidhar Khatiwada, Secretary, Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction, Nepal, highlighted progress since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2006. He singled out the enactment of citizens’ right to information about missing persons and the formation of more than 2000 peace committees at the village level as key achievements.

Ahmed Awadalla, Youth Leader, Youth Peer Education Network (Y-PEER), underscored the impact of sexual violence on Egypt’s pro-democracy movement, noting it has led to the exclusion of women as agents of change. He called for indicators to assess personal security and to measure and follow up adequately.

Folade Mutota, Director, Women’s Institute for Alternative Development, stressed the need to refocus the discussion on women’s human rights, noting it should not be about “protecting women” but recognizing them as equal partners.

While underscoring the central role of information access in peacebuilding, Agnés Callamard, Executive Director, ARTICLE 19, cautioned that misuse of information can also drive insecurity when it serves to monitor and silence progressive voices.

In general discussions, participants noted the difficulty of ensuring the full involvement of conflict-affected countries in the post-2015 process. Others stressed that reframing the fourth dimension of sustainable development as peace, justice and security could help underscore that this is not only an issue for developing countries. On implementation of peace and security, participants called for an inclusive governance model with a clear role for civil society organizations.

DISASTERS AND THE POST-2015 DEVELOPMENT AGENDA: This panel took place in the afternoon and was moderated by Margareta Wahlström, UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction. The panel addressed the findings of the Yogyakarta Asian Ministerial Conference on DRR and the follow up thematic consultation on DRR and the post-2015 development agenda held in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Noting the critical role of DRR for sustainable development, Suprayoga Hadi, Deputy Minister for the Development of Special Regions, Indonesia, and Atsushi Karimata, Senior Coordinator, Global Issues Cooperation Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan, called for links between the Post-Hyogo Framework for Action and the post-2015 development agenda. Michael Gerber, Special Representative for Global Sustainable Development Post-2015, Switzerland, suggested mainstreaming DRR by including it in other disaster-relevant goals in the post-2015 development agenda. Hadi discussed the possibility of agreeing on a goal related to DRR and climate change adaptation. Wahlström added that DRR is not a goal in itself, but an instrument to safeguard people’s safety and development.

On addressing conflicts, violence and disasters in an integrated manner, Marwan Jilani, Head of Delegation of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to the UN in New York, expressed skepticism about the links between these themes, and underscored the importance of ensuring that DRR is placed high on the post-2015 development agenda.

On the involvement of communities, Hadi and Jilani stressed the importance of adopting a community-centered approach in DRR. Sarah Costa, Executive Director, Women’s Refugee Commission, urged involving local communities in the design and implementation of solutions. She added that such involvement enables identification of the most vulnerable groups.

On gender issues, Jilani welcomed the inclusion of language on the role of women in DRR efforts at the recent 57th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. Costa underscored the importance of ensuring reproductive health in conflicts and disaster situations, and gender-disaggregated data.

On financing DRR efforts, Gerber indicated that the Swiss parliament had recently called for increased attention to cooperation on risk management. He highlighted the high economic gains from DRR, indicating that a return in increased safety is estimated at a factor of five. Noting existing momentum and political support for DRR, Jilani said the challenge is transforming this support into prioritizing financing for DRR. Karimata said DRR is an “indispensable investment.”

BRINGING IT TOGETHER AND NEXT STEPS

Moderator Foukara invited Kate Gilmore, ASG and Deputy Executive Director, UN Population Fund, to kick-start discussions in plenary by highlighting key issues for consideration in the post-2015 process. Gilmore noted the consultations thus far have highlighted the need for a global goal “reflecting the empirical reality that our experiences are intricately interconnected.” She proposed that the new architecture for peace and security should incorporate the four core values of justice, inclusiveness, human security and “hope.”

Alioune Sall, Advisor, Office of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia and HLP Co-Chair, observed that disagreements degenerate into conflict where capable and inclusive institutions do not exist. He underscored three important criteria for success in the post-2015 process as: ensuring conceptual clarity on the challenges that need to be addressed; making the general ambition on peace and security operational in different contexts; and adopting a forward-looking perspective that takes into account the changing dynamics of peace and security.

During the discussions, many contributions emphasized the need for diverse voices to be heard in the process, particularly from communities that are most affected by conflict and insecurity. One speaker lamented the absence of discussion on water and natural resource scarcity, noting they are important drivers as well as solutions in dealing with conflict and fragility. Observing that most successes so far have tackled predictable risks, another participant noted the value of a resilience framework for building capacities to cope with unknown risks. Several speakers highlighted elements of an emerging consensus around inclusive accountable governance, justice, DRR and gender equality as core building blocks for a post-2015 framework. Others noted that the concept of sustainable development offers the most inclusive framework for dealing with the cross-cutting issues that are at the heart of human security, conflict and fragility.

On engaging with the broader political process, participants noted the need to fully involve BRICS countries (Brazil, the Russian Federation, India, China and South Africa) in defining a post-2015 development agenda, underscoring their engagement in conflict-affected States and their contribution to the post-Busan discussions on the transition from aid to development effectiveness. Another speaker suggested building on the g7+ process (a global mechanism to monitor, report and draw attention to the challenges faced by fragile States) in order to inform definitions of fragility and resilience. Other speakers highlighted the need to make explicit reference to mechanisms of exclusion and power, and how they are shaped by contexts of conflict and disaster, citing forced reproductive policies and the exclusion of disabled people as some of the neglected issues in the debate. He also noted the need to reach out to others who have not been part of these consultations to build a broad coalition and find convergence of views.

CLOSING PLENARY AND REFLECTIONS

Opening the final plenary session, Grynspan underscored the importance of incorporating the lessons learned from the MDGs, noting they were successful because they were development-driven, and internalized by countries and communities. She called for accelerating progress on the MDGs until 2015 and stressed that including violence and conflict in the post-2015 agenda can enable the achievement of more ambitious goals. In concluding, she called for champions of these discussions to carry them forward, both at the national and global levels.

Sabandar underlined the importance of partnerships at the global and local levels. Welcoming the discussions on women and girls, he urged bringing children into the narrative on conflict, violence and disasters.

Sall underscored the importance of empowerment, starting with a change in the language used. He noted that references to “vulnerable countries,” “fragile States” or the “vulnerability of women” impede such empowerment. He also underlined the need for a framework for implementation with statistical capacity.

Henk-Jan Brinkman, PBSO, remarked that the nature of conflict has changed over the years, and should be included within the development framework because its causes are often not only political, but developmental and environmental as well. He emphasized the need to build statistical capacity to enable monitoring of progress.

Following the discussions, Hautala provided an overview of the Chair’s summary of the consultation, which she said indicated convergence on the following issues:

• the MDGs have achieved considerable success, but the post-2015 agenda should address the causes and consequences of conflict, violence and disasters;
• conflict, violence and disasters hit the most vulnerable the hardest and undo progress towards the MDGs;
• some difficulties exist in addressing all the root causes of conflict, violence and disasters under one overarching framework;
• resilience is a pathway to DRR;
• conflict, violence and disasters destroy lives and livelihoods, while development that is insensitive to disasters, violence and conflict can fuel the factors that cause them; and
• better measures of progress on the range of drivers of conflict violence and vulnerability to disasters are critical.

Thanking participants for their contributions, Hautala closed the meeting at 5:08 PM.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

Meeting of the Open Working Group on SDGs: The first meeting of the OWG on SDGs will convene on 14-15 March 2013. The meeting will include a statement by the UN Secretary-General, as well as general discussion and an interactive debate with representatives of the HLP, civil society, and the scientific and policy communities. The meeting is also expected to adopt a provisional agenda, a work programme for its first session and draft methods of work for the OWG. date: 14-15 March 2013  venue: UN Headquarters  location: New York, United States of America  www: http://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/index.php?menu=1549

Leadership Meeting on Environmental Sustainability in the Post-2015 Development Agenda: As part of the 11 Global Thematic Consultations on the Post-2015 Development Agenda, this meeting will bring together NGOs, the sponsoring Governments of Costa Rica and France, and participants from the UN, among others, to discuss and define recommendations on environmental sustainability in a future framework. This consultation is being co-led by UNDP and UNEP, with support from the Governments of France and Costa Rica.  dates: 18-19 March 2013  venue: Real Intercontinental Hotel  location: San José, Costa Rica  www: http://www.worldwewant2015.org/sustainability2015

Global Meeting on Education in the Post-2015 Development Agenda:As part of the Post-2015 Development Agenda Global Thematic Consultations, this High-Level Leadership Meeting will bring together Member States, NGOs and civil society to discuss and define agenda recommendations on education for the Post-2015 Development Framework. It is scheduled to take place from 18-19 March in Dakar, Senegal. This consultation is co-led by UNICEF and UNESCO, and co-hosted by the Governments of Senegal and Canada.  dates: 18-19 March 2013  location: Dakar, Senegal  www: http://www.worldwewant2015.org/education2015

High-Level Consultation on Water in the Post-2015 Development Agenda: As part of the Post-2015 Development Agenda Global Thematic Consultations, this High-level Leadership Meeting will bring together Member States, NGOs and civil society to discuss and define recommendations on water for the Post-2015 Development Framework from 21-22 March 2013, in The Hague, the Netherlands. The meeting will be held in conjunction with the World Water Day celebrations, and is facilitated by UN-Water, co-led by UN DESA and UNICEF, and co-hosted by the Governments of the Netherlands and Switzerland.  dates: 21-22 March 2013  location: The Hague, Netherlands  www: http://www.worldwewant2015.org/water

Fourth Meeting of the High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda:The fourth meeting of the HLP, hosted by the Government of Indonesia, will convene in Bali, Indonesia, from 25-27 March 2013. The focus will be on “Partnership and Cooperation for Development.”  date: 25-27 March 2013  location: Bali, Indonesia  www: http://www.worldwewant2015.org/post2015hlp

High-Level Consultation on Food and Nutrition in the Post-2015 Development Agenda: As part of the Post-2015 Development Agenda Global Thematic Consultations, this High-level Leadership Meeting will bring together Member States, NGOs and other members of civil society to discuss and agree on an agenda on food and nutrition for the Post-2015 Development Framework in Madrid, Spain. This consultation is co-led by FAO and the World Food Programme, and is co-hosted by the Governments of Spain and Colombia.  date: 4 April 2013  location: Madrid, Spain  www: http://www.worldwewant2015.org/food2015

High-Level Meeting on Energy in the Post-2015 Development Agenda: As part of the 11 global thematic consultations on the post-2015 development agenda, participants will consider the results of the online consultations and their recommendations. The meeting is expected to develop an “Oslo Declaration” on key energy recommendations and potential global energy objectives, with the aim of informing and shaping the post-2015 development agenda on energy issues. Participants will also discuss processes for engaging with key national, regional and global stakeholders on energy. The meeting will be organized by UN-Energy and the UN Secretary-General’s Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) Initiative, the co-leaders of the Consultation, in partnership with the Governments of Mexico, Norway and Tanzania.  date: 9 April 2013  location: Oslo, Norway  www: http://www.worldwewant2015.org/energy2015

UNGA High-Level Meeting on Disability and Development: This meeting, which is being convened by the UNGA, will be held at the level of Heads of State and Government on the theme “The way forward: a disability inclusive development agenda towards 2015 and beyond.”  date: 23 September 2013  location: New York, USA  contact: UN Enable, Secretariat of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities  fax: +1-917-367-5102  email: enable@un.org  www: http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1590

UNGA Special Event on the MDGs: This special event will follow-up on efforts made towards achieving the MDGs. It is likely to include an opening and a closing plenary meeting, and up to four high-level interactive multi-stakeholder roundtable sessions which will focus in particular on accelerating implementation of the MDGs as well as looking forward to the post-2015 framework. date: 25 September 2013 (tentative)  location: New York www: http://bit.ly/WgW6le

UNGA High-Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development: This high-level dialogue is being held as a follow up to the first High-Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development held in 2006, and will convene during the 68th session of the General Assembly  date: fall 2013   location: New York, USA  contact: UN DESA  www: http://www.un.org/esa/population/migration/hlmimd2013/highlevelmim2013.htm