Bi-Annual Civil Society Briefing

Chers collègues et amis :

Je suis content de continuer notre tradition de réunion au début de chaque année afin de d’avoir une conversation sur notre travail pour la promotion de la paix, des droits et du bien-être de tous, et de discuter des priorités et des projets pour l’année à venir.

Let me start with some highlights at UNOG since our last meeting in September 2015:

• I am glad that many NGOs participated actively in the Open Day last October to show their achievements to some 20,000 visitors of the Palais. It is important to showcase the work we do in Geneva that resonates all over the world.

• The third edition of the Geneva Peace Talks in September and the second edition of the Geneva Peace Week in November last year were very successful. Preparations are already underway for the third edition of the Geneva Peace Week. We will soon share information about it, and I count again on your active involvement.

• UNOG remained the venue of choice for UN-led mediation processes on Syria, Yemen, Libya and others. The partnership between UNOG and a number of envoys, specialized agencies and NGOs active in the field of mediation continues to strengthen through the exchange of experiences, knowledge and identification of potential synergies. We are upgrading our capacity to host such processes. There is a Mediation Officer in my Office. There is also now a new space in the Palais, which we called “Condordia”, that is tailor made for hosting negotiations. I invite you to visit this ares.

• The International Geneva Gender Champions Initiative that I launched with Ambassador Hamamoto last year now counts 88 partners, representing Permanent Missions, International Organizations, and since January, also NGOs. The members of this network pledge to lead by example through practical, implementable and trackable actions that bring genuine change in the organizational culture and programming. One concrete action is to strive for gender parity in all discussions in International Geneva. When I said that I would refuse to attend panels with no women, this triggered concrete results.

• Security in Geneva has been in the headlines recently. We had to adjust our security posture. Security regulations are being carefully reviewed, including accreditation procedures. It does not mean that the Palais is becoming a fortress. Far from it. It means that a careful balance needs to be achieved in order to have the Palais as an open, accessible and safe place. It is not easy to find the balance in having the Palais as the “house of the people” while ensuring security. I count on your understanding and cooperation.

In three weeks, on 18 March, we will launch the 2015 UNOG annual report in English and French. The report, more interactive than ever, will be gradually released in 14 different formats. In words, pictures and videos, it will illustrate our main activities and achievements in 2015, placing our work in a broader perspective that highlights the impact of our collective action. I invite you to keep an eye on our website (www.unog.ch/annualreport) for links to download the report.

I am encouraged by the growing engagement of the NGO community in the work taking place in the Palais des Nations. In 2015, NGOs organized 72 events (conferences, seminars, workshops) in the Palais, with our assistance. 4,135 representatives of 789 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in consultative status with ECOSOC were accredited to UNOG, which is a 20% increase compared to the previous year. The unprecedented mobilization of different actors and public consultations that led to the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals has had a positive effect on the number of applications from NGOs for the consultative status. I would like to thank my colleagues in the NGO Liaison Unit for managing the growing needs.

L'année 2015 restera comme une année de référence, durant laquelle des décisions multilatérales majeures ont été adoptées – l'agenda 2030 des Objectifs de Développement Durable (ODD), l'accord sur le climat de Paris (COP21), le Cadre d'action de Sendai pour la réduction des risques de catastrophe et le Programme d'action d'Addis-Abeba sur le financement du développement, entre autres. Tous ces nouveaux cadres réglementaires guideront notre travail collectif pour les prochaines décennies. Bien entendu, la mise en œuvre de ces cadres nécessiterons la mise en place de nouvelles méthodes de travail.

Maintenant, si nous nous tournons vers l'avenir, permettez-moi de parler de mes priorités pour l’année 2016 pour l'Office des Nations Unies à Genève. Celles-ci sont en continuité avec le travail commencé il y a 2 ans, avec tous nos partenaires de la Genève internationale, pour promouvoir la paix, les droits et le bien-être.

2016 sera l'année qui ouvrira la voie pour la mise en œuvre de tous les différents cadres de l’après 2015. La présence des Nations Unies à Genève et de nos partenaires est toujours relativement fragmentée. Il subsiste encore des silos et nous allons devoir trouver une façon beaucoup plus intégrée pour œuvrer ensemble, en travaillant à tous les niveaux, d'un secteur à l'autre, afin d'aider les États membres à atteindre les ODD. Nous n’avons pas grand chance de succès dans leur réalisation si nous ne trouvons pas le moyen de travailler de manière intégrée. Genève est le centre opérationnel du système des Nations Unies, en particulier quand on parle de la mise en œuvre des ODD.

Je continue à répéter à divers interlocuteurs que le principe de responsabilité partagée doit être mis au centre de notre travail afin de refléter le rôle et la valeur ajoutée des différents acteurs. Les organisations internationales et régionales, les parlements, la société civile, le secteur privé, les universités et les groupes de réflexions devront tous y contribuer. Je suis impressionné de voir combien plusieurs de ces acteurs ont déjà inclus les ODD dans leurs projets, y compris dans le secteur privé avec la mise en œuvre d’actions surprenantes .

Le Secrétaire général de l'ONU a nommé M. David Nabarro comme son conseiller spécial pour l'Agenda de 2030 pour un développement durable. Le conseiller spécial collaborera avec les États membres et autres parties prenantes pour galvaniser l'action sur la mise en œuvre de l'Agenda. Je vous encourage à offrir votre coopération et à soutenir son travail. Je vous encourage également tous à devenir des défenseurs et promoteurs des ODD au niveau local, national, régional et international. Je l'ai également proposé à Monsieur Nabarro d'avoir des réunions avec la société civile à Genève une ou deux fois par an.

Trouver des solutions à la crise migratoire est également sur la liste des priorités pour la communauté internationale, et surtout à Genève, pour 2016. De nombreux rendez-vous essentiels sont d'ores et déjà pris pour 2016 sur cette question, y compris le Sommet humanitaire mondial à Istanbul en mai, puis une conférence internationale convoquée par le Secrétaire-General lors de l'assemblée générale annuelle de l'ONU, afin de repenser cette question sur le long terme.

Face à la la crise migratoire, il est clair pour les Nations Unies que nous devons tous concentrer nos efforts pour réduire le coût humain et économique des conflits. Il faut investir davantage dans la prévention. La prévention doit être renforcée dans les agendas de la Genève Internationale, non seulement en paroles, mais en action. Le travail de médiation, qui restera au cœur de nos efforts à Genève, en fait partie. Nous continuerons à renforcer notre capacité d'héberger et de soutenir les processus de médiation qui se déroulent dans le Palais.

L'ONUG est le domicile des secrétariats de plusieurs conventions clés sur le désarmement et sert de plate-forme pour les efforts internationaux de désarmement. L’ONUG accueille les discussions en cours sur les mines antipersonnel, les armes autonomes, biologiques, à sous-munitions et des matières fissiles pour les armes nucléaires, et c'est ma ferme intention de continuer à me battre pour tenter de débloquer l'impasse dans laquelle se trouve la Conférence du désarmement.

Let me now update you on the Strategic Heritage Plan (SHP) - the renovation and modernization of our common work space in the Palais des Nations. Last December, the General Assembly gave us a “green light” to move forward with the project. The renovation will extend over a period of seven years. The construction of a new sustainable office building will be followed by the comprehensive renovation and modernization of the historical Palais des Nations buildings, and the dismantling of the office tower above conference building “E”. The Palais des Nations will become safer and more accessible for persons with disabilities. It will become more energy efficient, and all harmful materials used in the original construction will be removed. New and improved technology will be at the service of the staff and delegates throughout the conference and office facilities. The use of space will become more efficient. I am very pleased that we can now implement this project and hand over to future generations a safe, cost-effective and sustainable centre to support the UN mission. As with any construction works, I warn you that before becoming better, it is likely to become worse, however, we will make all efforts to keep disturbances at the Palais to a minimum and to have the business continuity maintained.

On a less optimistic note, the realities of the financial crisis and the new budgetary climate resulted in consistent budget cuts for the past few years. For the 2016-2017 biennium, Member States approved a significantly reduced regular budget and regrettably Geneva has seen proportionally the largest cuts. With the aim to support informed decision-making in this matter, I have been proactive in informing Member States about the impact of the budget cuts on the operations of the Palais. I am very concerned that the continuous reduction of resources in the support areas, coupled with an ever increasing workload, is impacting the services we can provide in a number of areas. This is a challenge we have to address for the coming years.

I now would also like to update you on the Perception Change Project (PCP) , which we launched in 2014 to better communicate the value added of the work of the international system and to reinforce synergies here in Geneva. The PCP focuses on the substance that is being generated here and on the impact of collective efforts, which will result in higher visibility for all actors.

In this context, here is a look back at several big moments in 2015:

• The SDG mapping, in which many NGOs participated, has been very successful. It is now being updated. For the new version, we have received input from more than 250 draft entries, compared to 75 for the first edition, making the new edition more inclusive and complex. The success of the SDG mapping has gone beyond Geneva, and some say that a system-wide SDG mapping needs to be done.
• In various activities, the PCP reached out to the young generation to explain the work and relevance of the UN.
• The media coverage of the UN has doubled between 2012 and 2015, and it’s not only because of Ebola and Syria, but also because of increased reporting on climate change and other more forward-looking issues.

In 2016, the PCP will continue to be active together with the 82 partners which have now joined it. The projects for 2016 include the following:

- Expand the SDG mapping in a new edition.
- Launch the Geneva data website, which will facilitate the search for information generated by all the actors working in International Geneva. There’s a mountain of data out there which is not being used. The Geneva data website will make it easily available for use by delegates, journalists, researchers and civil society at large. You have received an invitation to contribute your data to the databook, and I hope you will participate in this initiative.
- Finalize the interactive storybook for children, which explains the SDGs through the use of fairy tales from around the world.
- More infographics for concise capturing of UN impact in different fields.
- Reach out across generations to inspire children and youth with the UN spirit through conferences for “Young Reporters at UNOG” and the #KidsWannaKnow interview series.
- More blogs and articles by me and other senior colleagues.

As you see, we have many ambitious plans and projects for 2016.

This brings me to my last point about the importance of your work. NGOs are an integral part of International Geneva. Civil society actors are essential partners for the work of the United Nations. NGOs are best at bringing voices and practices from local and national level to Geneva to contribute to intergovernmental discussions. You bring knowledge, expertise and new ideas and solutions. You also spread the message and information on the work done in International Geneva through your networks and partners to the local level. I value our relationship as we all work hand in hand for the common objectives. I encourage you to plug into the important UN discussions this year, including the World Humanitarian Summit, the UNGASS on Drugs, UNCTAD-14 and Habitat III. The NGO Liaison Unit is at your disposal to assist you in your interaction with the United Nations, and as always, I encourage you to bring to my attention issues that you feel warrant closer attention by my Office.

I will close here and open our discussion.

Thank you.