transparency

International Leaders Discuss Bringing Agenda 2030 to Fruition

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This meeting was held to discuss the creation of partnerships between various stakeholders and how they would benefit the 2030 Agenda.

Mr. Lykketoft called for work between the public and private sectors, academia, and foundations in action for the Agenda 2030

Next, Ms. Kingo transitioned by encouraging companies and UN bodies alike to share available resources and collaboration to find new opportunities.

A statement from Ban-Ki Moon was read and it noted the need to move from commitment to action. Wide expertise was called for, as were the inter-linkages supported by the Agenda goals.

Mr. Mitchell spoke on how although there is a conception that business love risk, they ultimately crave stability with the hope of maintaining stakeholder relationships. He noted that it is extremely crucial for governments to establish infrastructure, maintain un-corrupt economics, and protect intellectual property. He also stated that it is crucial to foster economic development in other countries.

Ms. Marini spoke on how the first change that needs to be implemented for partnership development is transparency on the motives of all involved in the partnership. She also noted the need to shift towards putting the food of people first, effectively a shift towards human-centered design. She also touted that it is important to stop “think globally and act locally” to transition to “think locally and act locally”.

Meeting: “From commitments to results: Leveraging partnerships for the 2030 Agenda”

Date/Location: Thursday, March 31, 2016; 10:00-13:00 ECOSOC Chamber

Speakers: H.E. Mr. Oh Joon, President of the Economic and Social Council; H.E. Mr. Mogens Lykketoft, President of the UN General Assembly; Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the United Nations; Her Royal Highness Haya Al Hussein, UN Messenger of Peace and Chairperson, International Humanitarian City; Mr. Richard Lui, Moderator, News Anchor, MSNBC; Ms. Alice Albright, CEO, Global Partnership for Education; Ms. Peggy Dulany, Chair, Synergos; Mr. Michael Landau, Chairman, CTI Global; Ms. Mary Chege, Director, Development Finance International; Ms. Lise Kingo, Moderator, Executive Director, UN Global Compact; Mr. Scott Mitchell, President and CEO, Sumitomo Chemical America; Ms. Joy Marini, Executive Director, Johnson and Johnso;  Mr. Igor Runov, Under Secretary-General, International Road Transport Union (IRU);

Written By: WIT Representative Olivia Gong

Edited By: Alex Margolick

Panel Discussion: Independent Oversight Role of Supreme Audit Institutions in Implementing the Post-2015 Development Agenda

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A.post-2015_12This meeting was held to discuss the importance of supreme auditing institutions (SAI) in the post-2015 development agenda. The representative of UNDESA stated that SAIs are necessary if we want to go towards an inclusive and peaceful society with a focus on sustainable development. SAIs promote accountability in different critical sectors including education, healthcare, and water sanitation. He said that, looking forward, SAIs will play an even more significant role regarding implementing and promoting SDGs. He also stated that international communities should help developing countries foster transparency and efficiency.

Dr. Josef Moser outlined specific benefits of SAI, and what international cooperation with INTOSAI, encouraged by the UN for all levels, entails. He first asserted that MDGs can only be attained with cost-effective accountability, as there will be more impact per dollar invested. For shortcomings in government capacity or a lack of transparency, accountability, and/or ownership that could prevent the attainment of MDGs, INTOSAI can provide technical know-how and assessment through financial, compliance, and performance audits. However, SAIs face domestic obstacles, such as a lacking mandate to audit government performance or a lack rules regarding accounting, reporting, and monitoring. To foster national independence after capacity building through SAIs, Moser encouraged governments to intensify communication with INTOSAI.

Responding to a question on the extent of SAI’s presence in cooperating countries, Dr. Moser stated that SAI’s functions are grading standards and capacity building, as conducted by experts of the International Development Initiative within INTOSAI. He and Ambassador Oh emphasized that, as an international standard of practice is lacking in both developed and developing countries, SAIs are a platform of implementing MDGs that nations and organizations must make good use of.

Meeting: Panel discussion on “Independent Oversight Role of Supreme Audit Institutions in Implementing the Post-2015 Development Agenda”
Date & Location: Wednesday, January 21, 2015. Conference Room 8, United Nations Headquarters, New York
Speakers: H.E. Ambassador Martin Sajdik, Permanent Representative of Austria to the UN and President of ECOSOC; H.E. Ambassador Oh Joon, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the UN; Dr. Josef Moser, Secretary-General of INTOSAI and President of the Austrian Court of Audit, Representative of UNDESA
Written By WIT Representatives: Alis Yoo, Brian Lee, and James Victory
Edited By WIT Representative: Philip Bracey

Threats to Journalists and Freedom of Press

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To help launch the World Trends Report on Freedom of Expression and Media Development, a panel was convened to discuss the importance of tackling new threats to media freedom. Ms. Bokova opened the dialogue by highlighting the dangers in this field, relaying that every 7 days a journalist loses their life for simply doing their job. When this happens, the power of truth is dimmed, and society as a whole is darkened. Ms. Bokovaalso expressed the need to increase the role of women in media, stating that society cannot get the full story with only half of the voices.

world trends report

H.E. Mr. Grunditz furthered this point by acknowledging that while more women are active in media than ever before, they are still significantly underrepresented in the industry as a whole. Women only make up one third of media employees worldwide. Even more startling, only a quarter of the people heard about or covered in the media are women. These pervasive inequalities prevent society from getting the full picture.

Professor Bollinger changed the tone of the panel, focusing on reasons for optimism conveyed by the report. Present-day advances in communication and technology now make it possible for billions of people to be aware of, and even participate in, ongoing discussions about the world’s news. Professor Bollinger proceeded to discuss the practical need for freedom of press that was never quite present before today’s day and age. As economies mature, it becomes necessary that society be more open. No economy can reach a high level unless people are free to create, think, and innovate. Furthermore, the world’s leaders need to recognize that we now have an integrated global economy, and only integrated global communications centers can support and expand it. Beyond economic incentives, the world has too many global issues and problems for us to solve without the use and worldwide implementation of free media.

 

Meeting Title: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization launch of the “World Trends Report on Freedom of Expression and Media Development” (co-organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Permanent Mission of Sweden)
Speakers: Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director-General; H.E. Mr. Mårten Grunditz, Permanent Representative of Sweden to the UN; Lee C. Bollinger, President of Columbia University; Joel Simon, Executive Director of The Committee to Protect Journalists; Karin Karlekar, project Director of Freedom of the Press; Veni Markovski, Vice President Global Stakeholder Engagement, ICANN; Raza Rumi, Writer and public Policy Specialist
Date: 9 July 2014
Location: Dag Hammarskjold Auditorium, United Nations HQ, New York
Written By WIT Representative: Zachary Halliday
Edited By WIT Representative: Marli Kasdan

Financing for Gender Equality and Women’s Rights

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In order to put emphasis on strengthening accountability, transparency and financing for gender equality and women’s rights, a discussion was held to address the role of development cooperation in supporting the implementation of the post-2015 development agenda. Ms. Khan began by highlighting the importance of strengthening political support for better financing in dealing with gender equality. Three specific areas were discussed, including mutual accountability and transparency, aid quantity and quality and the engagement of the diversity of development cooperation actors.

Next, Mr. Smith stressed how this is an important subject as an entry point to discuss the techniques needed to make progress.He specifically talked about the importance of easy access to information, which would empower and create solutions for solving grand societal challenges. Mr. Hendra then pointed out it is a must to build a more robust understanding of all countries on their specific situations. In addition, it is essential to strengthen government accountability and identify measures to address gender equality efficiently. This is necessary to maintain a transformative post-2015 development agenda.557630-genderrights-1370150215-998-640x480

Ms. Craviotto then briefly discussed the trends in funding for women’s rights, including the role of the private sector. She also quoted examples of various countries and their experiences in tracking allocations for gender equality. Ms. O’Neill explained the analysis on donor investments in gender equality, and women’s rights towards the implementation of the post-2015 development agenda. Based on the latest report published in March, the total amount of bilateral aid targeting gender equality and women’s empowerment tripled from 8 million USD in 2002 to 24 billion USD in 2012, resulting in an annual average growth rate of 12%. The increase in aid to gender equality and women’s empowerment is one of the most tangible outcomes of MDG 3 – promote gender equality and empower women.

 

Meeting Title: What women get: promoting transparency and accountability in financing for gender equality and women’s rights
Speakers: Ms. Zohra Khan, Policy Advisor of Governance and National Planning, UN Women; Mr. Anthony Smith, Director for International Cooperation, Department for International Development, United Kingdom; Mr. John Hendra, Assistant Secretary General and Deputy Executive Director, UN Women; Ms. Nerea Craviotto, Lead Advocacy Coordinator, Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID); Ms. Patti O’Neill, Head of Division, Global Policies and Partnerships, Development Cooperation Directorate, OECD
Location: Conference Room C, United Nations HQ, New York
Date: 10 July 2014
Written By WIT representative: Samantha Kong
Edited By WIT Representative: Marli Kasdan