EVENTS
For a more comprehensive list of events in trade and sustainable development, please refer to ICTSD’s web calendar at: http://www.ictsd.org/cal/index.htm. If you would like to submit an event, please email events@ictsd.ch.
Coming Up: 11-19 December
24 November to 14 December. SUSTRA E-FORUM ON INSTITUTIONS FOR SUSTAINABILITY IN TRADE. This e-forum will be structured in three successive, seven-day sessions focusing on the following questions: How can the emerging interests for Global Public Goods help reconcile the seemingly conflicting objectives of trade versus non-trade issues? How can a renewed methodology for sustainability impact assessments (SIA) help to measure these trade-offs? What reforms in institutional international architecture should help define the principle of global governance and to promote collective common interest and sustainable development? The synthesis of the e-forum debates will be used as the starting point of a book in 2004, edited by SUSTRA (a European network of social science researchers and NGOs working together on the issue of Sustainable Trade). To register, visit http://www.agro-montpellier.fr/sustra/forum/profile.php?mode=register.
1-12 December, Milan, Italy: NINTH CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE UNITED NATIONS FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE (COP-9). The conference will continue deliberations from SB-18. For further information, contact: UNFCCC Secretariat, tel: (49 228) 815-1000, fax: 815-1999, email: secretariat@unfccc.int, Internet: http://www.unfccc.int/
8-12 December 2003, Montreal, Canada: AD HOC OPEN ENDED INTER SESSIONAL WORKING GROUP ON ARTICLE 8 (J) AND RELATED PROVISIONS OF THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY. Organised by UNEP. Items on the agenda include a presentation of a composite report on the status and trends regarding the knowledge, and the innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities, relevant to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. For further information contact: the secretariat, tel: +1- 514-288-2220; fax: +1-514- 288-6588; e-mail: secretariat@biodiv.org; Internet: http://www.biodiv.org/doc/meetings/tk/wg8j-03/official/wg8j-03-01-en.doc.
9-12 December, Havana, Cuba: INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SUSTAINABILITY. Organised by the Cuban Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment with the support of UNESCO, this meeting will consider policies and strategies that allow a better interface between science and technology and sustainable development. Other issues related to S&T and their interface with society to be discussed include: ethics and bioethics, interactive museums, science communication, science education, technology transfer, and innovation. For more information e-mail: lilliam@ceniai.inf.cu.
10-12 December, Geneva, Switzerland: WORLD SUMMIT ON INFORMATION SOCIETY (WSIS) FIRST PHASE. The focus of this conference, entitled Digital Divide, Global Development & Information Society, is on critical issues and considerations in the context of information technological revolution, global transformation, and marginalisation. Inter and intra regional disparities will be examined in terms of information infrastructure and dissemination, knowledge generation and management. The second phase will take place in Tunis, Tunisia in 2005. For more information visit http://www.itu.int/wsis/.
11-12 December, Tokyo, Japan: ASEAN-JAPAN COMMEMORATIVE SUMMIT. At this event, which aims to enhance ties and mutual cooperation in economic, financial and monetary issues, Japan is expected to sign ASEAN’s Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC). For further information visit: http://www.aseansec.org/ajcs.htm.
12 December, Geneva, Switzerland: SEMINAR ON WOMEN, GLOBALISATION AND RURAL POVERTY: MAKING THE CONNECTIONS. The seminar, held at the Ecumenical Centre, aims to briefly show the links between economic globalisation and the feminisation of rural poverty. Panellists include P. Sainath, Shahra Razavi (UNRISD), Daniela Perez Gavidia (International Gender and Trade Network) and Aruna Gnanadason (World Council of Churches). The seminar serves as an opening to a photo exhibition entitled "Women and Work in Rural India: Struggles for Life". For further information contact: Athena Peralta, tel: +41 (0) 22 791 6336; email: akp@wcc-coe.org; Internet: http://www.wcc-coe.org
WTO
An updated list of forthcoming WTO meetings is posted at: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/meets.pdf. Please bear in mind that dates and times of WTO meetings are often changed, and that the WTO does not always announce the important informal meetings of the different bodies. Unless otherwise indicated, all WTO meetings are held at the WTO, Centre William Rappard, rue de Lausanne 154, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland, and are open to WTO Members and accredited observers only.
10-11 December, Geneva, Switzerland: WTO WORKING PARTY ON THE ACCESSION OF VIET NAM.
10-12 December, Geneva, Switzerland: WTO TEXTILES MONITORING BODY.
15, 16&18 December, Geneva, Switzerland: WTO GENERAL COUNCIL.
17&19 December, Geneva, Switzerland: WTO TRADE POLICY REVIEW BODY - TURKEY.
18-19 December, Geneva, Switzerland: WTO DISPUTE SETTLEMENT BODY - SPECIAL SESSION.
Other Forthcoming
16 January 2004, Geneva, Switzerland: PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR UNCTAD XI - CIVIL SOCIETY HEARING. This meeting will be held at the Palais des Nations. UNCTAD XI will be held from 13-18 June 2003 in Sao Paolo, Brazil and is seen as an opportunity for tackling the most pressing developmental challenges confronting developing countries. For questions, including future meetings and accreditation to the Conference, please contact Amel Haffouz, email: amel.haffouz@unctad.org; Internet: http://www.unctad.org
23 February 2004, Geneva, Switzerland: PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR UNCTAD XI - CIVIL SOCIETY HEARING. This meeting will be held at the Palais des Nations. UNCTAD XI will be held from 13-18 June 2003 in Sao Paolo, Brazil and is seen as an opportunity for tackling the most pressing developmental challenges confronting developing countries. For questions, including future meetings and accreditation to the Conference, please contact Amel Haffouz, email: amel.haffouz@unctad.org; Internet: http://www.unctad.org
9 May - 26 September 2004, Barcelona, Spain. FORUM BARCELONA 2004. The forum will bring together people from all over the world to debate issues around the themes of sustainable development, cultural diversity and conditions for peace. For 141 days, this will be the place where visitors experience cultures and entertainment from around the world through exhibitions, markets, performances, games and more. For further information, visit http://www.barcelona2004.org/eng/.
17-21 November 2004, Geneva, Switzerland: FIRST CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE ROTTERDAM CONVENTION (COP-1): COP-1, preceded by a last meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in September, is tentatively scheduled for November 2004. For more information contact the Joint Interim Secretariat: Niek van der Graaff, FAO; tel: +39-6- 5705-3441; fax: +39-6-5705-6347; e-mail: Niek.VanderGraaff@fao.org; or Jim Willis, UNEP Chemicals; tel: +41-22-917-8111; fax: +41-22-797-3460; e-mail: chemicals@unep.ch; Internet: http://www.pic.int.