Good morning, this is Michelle. We've previously reported on the UN's slow progress in delivering on its goal to shrink the gender gap. Today we look at an upcoming election at a Geneva-based body and at the real-world impacts of not having enough women at the table.
As the International Labour Organization’s annual congress wraps up its final week, representatives will be seeking to resolve a stalemate over gender wording in its biannual programme and budget. And diplomats, academics and members of civil society will discuss Africa’s challenges and its future at a two-day conference. |
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George Tugushi, vice chairperson, Claudio Grossman, chairperson Committee against Torture, and Felice Gaer, vice chairperson, OHCHR, speak during a press conference about the concluding observations on Uruguay, Thailand, Sierra Leone, Holy See, Guinea, Montenegro, Cyprus and Lithuania, at the United Nations, in Geneva, Switzerland, 23 May 2014. (Keystone/Martial Trezzini)
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🚹UN torture body’s disappearing act for women.
Five of the ten seats of a UN rights body tasked with seeing that countries abide by the Convention Against Torture will be up for grabs on 19 October. Countries have until 16 June to nominate one of their nationals, though rules don’t prevent nominations being made after the deadline. So far, only two women are in the running against eight men.
Rights groups have called on states – responsible for nominating and electing members to human rights treaty bodies – to back more female contenders and bridge a historically yawning gender gap.
Geneva Solutions (EN)
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👷🏽Labour conference travails in final week.
While guests attend an event today to mark the World Day against Child Labor, the International Labour Conference’s tripartite plenary, including government, employers’ and workers’ representatives, will huddle to resolve a stalemate over the proposed 2024 and 2025 programme and budget for the ILO. The UN agency’s spokesperson said it is the first time that this type of obstruction has occurred in discussions over its regularly reviewed programme and budget.
The African group and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, including Qatar, – elected last week to preside over the ILC in spite of objections from workers’ groups – did not want the text to include wording on gender equality, non-discrimination and inclusion.
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Also on the agenda
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📌 12-13 June | Forum Afrique 2050.
The think tank Africa 21, this event will bring officials from the UN, the European Union and African Union as well as expert commentators, to Geneva – considered central for discussions about the continent’s development – to discuss the region’s current challenges and future perspectives. Water scarcity, digitalisation, climate change adaptation and new trade relations are all on the agenda.
Swiss Press Club (FR)
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📌 12 June | SDG Lab What's Next Series: Placing Future Generations at the Centre of Long-Term Sustainability.
The Graduate Institute and the UN’s SDG lab are hosting an inter-generational dialogue to tackle the question of how the SDG agenda can still deliver a sustainable future for the next generations by 2030, even as short-termism continues to dominate political agendas. The event will aim to build momentum for the upcoming SDG summit in New York, where global leaders will gather to discuss how to stick to the 2030 agenda.
Graduate Institute (EN)
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For more events, visit the Genève Internationale website.
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