On the margins of the Second High-level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation (BAPA+40), which will be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from 20-22 March 2019, UNESCO, in partnership with the University of Buenos Aries (UBA) will host three side events showcasing how South-South and Triangular Cooperation is being promoted through UNESCO’s network of Biosphere Reserves, the rule of law, and enhancing the right to science and access to knowledge in Latin America and the Caribbean. The objective is to further scale up these innovative South-South Cooperation initiatives through expanding UNESCO’s multi-stakeholder partnerships to accelerate action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda.
You are cordially invited to attend the following three side events:
No.1 – Panel discussion on Right to Science: Access to Knowledge
Time and venue: 20 March 2019, 18.00 – 20.00, Salón Superior Edificio Radio UBA (Arenales 1371)
This panel discussion will be an open and rigorous debate over science and access to knowledge, including indigenous knowledge, as a contributor to peace and to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda. It also aims to highlight cross-cutting aspects of science as a human right, including through the empowerment of youth, equality of opportunity, ending discrimination, and promoting academic freedom. It will contribute to preparing the next Latin America and the Caribbean Open Science Forum (CILAC) which will be held in 2020 in Argentina. CILAC – a regional LAC cooperation platform – brings development actors together to discuss and build a common vision, develop new policies, programmes and solutions to meet the challenges of the 2030 Agenda at a regional level. Panelists include:- Jorge Tezón, Manager of Scientific and Technological Development of CONICET
- Jesús Guadalupe Fuentes Blanco, Executive Council, Latin America and the Caribbean Indigenous Fund
- Patricia Tappatá Valdez, Director of Centre Cat II CIPDH
- Fabio Senne, Project Coordinator, TIC of Centre Cat II NIC.br
- Mr Joshua Setipa, Director, LDC Technology Bank
No.2 – Round Table on Fostering the Rule of Law through South-South Cooperation
Time and venue: 21 March 2019, 08:00 – 10:00, Sala Velez. Facultad de Derecho (UBA)
This round table will discuss the lessons learnt and the way forward regarding UNESCO’s Judges Initiative – a successful South-South Cooperation best practice. The round table will focus on three major regions (Latin American, Africa, and coming soon to Asia). It will focus on how this initiative, which started with the capacity building of judicial operators on freedom of expression and access to information issues, can foster other key components of the rule of law. The panel will also underline the importance of South-South Cooperation for achieving the main targets under SDG16 related to judiciary systems in the Southern Hemisphere. Panelists include:- Judge Ricardo Pérez Manrique, Inter-American Court of Human Rights (TBC)
- María Fernanda Rodríguez, Undersecretariat of Access to Justice, Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, Argentina
- Claudia Levin, Ibero-American Judicial Summit national coordinator for Argentina
- Sergio Palacio, Secretary-General of the Ibero-American Network of Judicial Schools
- African Court Human and People’s Rights (TBC)
No.3 – South-South Cooperation in UNESCO Biosphere Reserves: Transboundary cooperation for sustainable livelihoods, green economies and conservation
Time and venue: 21 March 2019, 13:00 – 15:00, Salón Superior Edificio Radio UBA (Arenales 1371)
This event will showcase how South-South cooperation is being promoted through UNESCO’s network of Biosphere Reserves to develop locally appropriate models for green economic development, build sustainable livelihoods and promote climate and disaster resilience, including with private sector partners. It will demonstrate how UNESCO’s network of Biosphere Reserves provide an excellent platform for international cooperation, peace-building and sustainable development. Panelists include:- Clayton Ferreira Lino, President, National Council, Mata Atlântica Biosphere Reserve
- Amelie Le Ster, ProYungas Foundation
- Dr Enny Sudarmonowati, Chair of MAB International Coordinating Committee, Indonesian Institute of Sciences
- Ousmane Doré, Director General, Central Africa Regional Development and Business Delivery Office, African Development Bank
- Representative, MAB National Committee, Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Argentina
UNESCO and UNOSSC signing ceremony
A signing ceremony for UNESCO South-South Cooperation projects, funded through the UN-India Development Fund will be held immediately after the Biosphere Reserve Event. Meanwhile, the International Science, Technology & Innovation Centre for South-South Cooperation (ISTIC), as a UNESCO category II centre, will co-organize an event on “A Glimpse of the Future South-South and Triangular Cooperation – Asia-Pacific’s Contribution in Science, Technology and Innovation”, together with Access to Information (a2i) (Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh) and the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC). It will be held on 20 March 2019, 13h00 – 15h00, at Aula Magna Room, Faculty of Law, University of Buenos Aires. For more information, please refer to the below concept notes, and UNESCO’s dedicated publication on South-South and Triangular Cooperation. Contact: Clare Stark, UNESCO South-South Cooperation Focal Point c.stark@unesco.org Resources: Concept Note – Right to Science: Access to Knowledge Concept Note – Fostering the Rule of Law thru South-South Cooperation, Spanish version Concept Note – South-South Cooperation in UNESCO Biosphere Reserves Concept Note-A Glimpse of the Future South-South and Triangular Cooperation – Asia-Pacific’s Contribution in Science, Technology and InnovationUNESCO’s South-South Cooperation in Action publication, French version, Spanish version
