Latest News

CONGO Board Meeting and Launch of CONGO’s Asia Regional Committee

(12 December 2008) Dear all, Please note the new dates for the postponed meeting of the CONGO Board of Directors scheduled for December 2008. It will now be held on 23 - 25 February 2009 at the same place as originally planned--the Asian Institute of Technology some 40 kilometers outside of Bangkok. This meeting will include an agenda item on the final formation of the CONGO Asia Regional Committee, and its launching in the morning of February 25. There will also be an academic colloquium on the Millennium Development Goals, in the afternoon of 25 February, jointly sponsored by CONGO and AIT. This announcement also serves as official notification for CONGO members and other NGOs, especially those based in the Asia Pacific region, to join the meeting and be part of the launching of CONGO's first regional committee. Please help in inviting and encouraging these NGOs to join us in Thailand. Thank you for your cooperation and kind understanding. Sincerely, Levi Ba[more]

CSDF 2008 - Civil Society Development Forum - 27-28 October 2008, Geneva Component

Following CONGO's Civil Society Development Forum (CSDF) 2008 New York Component (27-29 June 2008), the CSDF 2008 Geneva Component is now scheduled to take place on 27 and 28 October 2008.[more]

CSDF 2008 - Civil Society Development Forum - 27-29 June 2008, New York Component

The New York component of CONGO's Civil Society Development Forum 2008 (CSDF 2008) - "A Platform for Development: Countdown to 2015 - Implementing the internationally agreed development goals and commitments in regard to sustainable development" was held 27-29 June 2008. The Outcome Document of the CSDF 2008 is now available online. CONGO also organised midday NGO briefings in collaboration with the UN NGO Section, UNDESA throughout the week of the High-Level Segment of ECOSOC's Substantive Session.[more]

The Underside of Human Rights

Freed from fear, human rights defenders can focus more on having peoples and communities freed from want.[more]

UPR: GENEVA COURSE FOR DEFENDERS FROM THE REGIONS

The Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CONGO) and Geneva for Human Rights - Global Training (GHR) are organizing a Geneva Course for human rights defenders from the regions attending the 3rd session of the Working Group of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).[more]

9th Session of the UN Human Rights Council

The 9th session of the Human Rights Council will take place at the Palais des Nations, in Geneva, from 8 to 26 September 2008. Meetings of the HRC President and Bureau with NGOs are scheduled for every Tuesday from 2 to 3 pm in room 21 at the Palais des Nations. Reports of these meetings will be available here on the CONGO website.[more]

Advisory Committee of the Human Rights Council

The first session of the new Advisory Committee of the Human Rights Council, which replaces the former Sub-Commission on the Promotion and the Protection of Human Rights, will mostly focus on establishing its working methods and will also address issues as requested by the Council. The Advisory Committee is mandated to provide expertise and advice to the Human Rights Council and to conduct substantive research and studies on thematic issues if interest to the Council.[more]

Preparations for the UNCTAD Trade and Development Board (15-26 September 2008)

In the aftermath of the holding of the 12th UNCTAD Ministerial Conference, the UNCTAD Civil Society Outreach Unit convened a debriefing meetings with NGOs in Geneva and called NGOs for consolidated feedback and inputs in preparation of the up coming 55th session of the UNCTAD Trade and Development Board (15-26 September) and of its Civil Society Hearings. It was agreed that CS follow up meetings would take place to prepare this event and identify the main themes of the Hearings' Agenda. CONGO and NGLS co-convene the second follow up meeting, which will take place on Friday 18 July, 10.30-11.30, at the CONGO Offices meeting room.[more]

23rd CONGO General Assembly - New President/Board

The 23rd CONGO General Assembly, held through 5-7 December 2007 at the International Conference Centre (CICG) in Geneva, ended its proceedings with the election of a new President, Liberato Bautista from the United Methodist Church/General Board of Church and Society and of a new Board.[more]