Global Events Forecast - February 2018

2 February 2018

Every month, the GGI compiles a list of upcoming international events that have some implications for its work. Here is a compilation of global meetings and events coming up in February 2018.

29 January - 7 February	56th Session of the Commission for Social Development The 2018 session the UN Commission for Social Development is currently taking place at the UN Headquarters in New York. This year's session focuses on poverty eradication and accelerating inclusive and equitable economic growth.
4 February	General elections in Costa Rica On 4 February 2018, Costa Ricans will elect all 57 members of the Legislative Assembly, the president, and two vice presidents. Costa Rica's democracy is one of the oldest and most stable democracies in the Americas, however, the upcoming election is marked by "general disinterest, voter volatility," a corruption scandal and a divisive international court ruling on sexual and reproductive rights. Observers expect a presidential run-off election (in April).
4 February	Run-off elections in Cyprus The presidential race in Cyprus will go to a runoff vote on 4 February after incumbent conservative Nicos Anastasiades won the first round (with 35.5 percent of the vote) but not an outright majority. His opponent is Stavros Malas, an independent candidate backed by the left-wing AKEL party, who earned 30.2 percent in the first round.
5-9 February	Working Group on human rights and business The "Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises" will meet for its 19th session from 5 to 9 February in Geneva. Among other things, the group will consider how efforts to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can be aligned with the business and human rights agenda.
7-8 February	Global Forum on Sustainable Development The inaugural Global Engagement and Empowerment Forum on Sustainable Development (GEEF-SD) will take place in Seoul, South Korea, from 7 to 8 February. It aims to become a central forum for driving forward the 2030 Agenda. Speakers include UN Secretary-General António Guterres and former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
7-13 February	9th World Urban Forum The 9th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF9), taking place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 7 to 13 February, will be the first to focus on the implementation of the New Urban Agenda adopted in Habitat III.
8 February	North Korea military parade ahead of Winter Olympics The North Korean government announced that it will stage a military parade on the eve of the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of its military. It also called off a joint cultural event with South Korea that had been scheduled for 4 February.
16-18 February	Munich Security Conference The 54th Munich Security Conference will take place from 16 to 18 February. Among other things, it will focus on the future of European foreign and security policy, the state of transatlantic relations, the threat to the liberal international order, the political situation in the Middle East and arms control issues.
21-23 February	Global SDG 7 Conference in Bangkok From 21 to 23 February 2018, key stakeholders will meet in Bangkok, Thailand, to explore the fundamental role of sustainable energy in achieving almost all of the SDGs. The conference serves as a preparatory meeting for the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in July 2018.
26 February - 23 March	Human Rights Council 37th Session The UN Human Rights Council will hold its 37th regular session from 26 February to 23 March. The discussion will focus, among other things, on reviewing the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism, the rights of children and persons with disabilities, and combating racial discrimination.
27-28 February	3rd Annual Aid and Development Africa Summit The Aid and Development Africa Summit was launched in 2015 to engage all the relevant aid and development stakeholders within Africa and beyond. The two day conference in Nairobi, Kenya, will bring together humanitarian and development leaders, decision makers and practitioners committed to achieving the SDGs in the region.
In February (TBC)	Palestine UN Membership Application Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki has announced that his country is planning to apply to the UN Security Council (UNSC) in February to get full UN membership. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will address the UNSC on 20 February amid heightened tensions following US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
In February (TBC)	Theresa May to outline UK position on future relationship with EU According to a Sunday Times report, Theresa May plans to outline her government's position on the future UK-EU relationship during the February Parliamentary recess.
Notable Anniversaries and International Days	February 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the Representation of the People Act, which dramatically increased the electorate in the UK and granted suffrage to about 8.4 million women (over the age of thirty) for the first time. 2018 also marks the 150th anniversary of women gaining access to university education in the UK: In 1868, nine women were admitted to the University of London for the first time. 20 February marks the World Day of Social Justice, designed to promote equal opportunity, solidarity and respect for human rights.

For more global events, especially those related to peace and security issues, please refer to the website of the IPI Global Observatory.

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