Workshops & Conferences

GENEVA -- The recently-established Global Humanitarian Forum will hold its second annual meeting at the luxury Hotel Intercontinental 23-24 June, 2009, in Geneva. Climbing on the climate change bandwagon, the organization claims that this will be the world’s foremost humanitarian gathering point with over 400 “high-level” invitation-only participants, including political leaders as well as various heads of companies, development and humanitarian organizations. Chaired by former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, the forum will officially seek to encourage “multi-lateral dialogue” on the humanitarian impact of climate change. The broader view, however, is that this will emerge much as last year’s forum, notably yet another costly grey suit circus of much show but little substance. (See Mark Hartford's piece last year in The Essential Edge). One improvement, however, is that while media are not included as players they will have access to the meeting. Inshallah. Nathaniel Daudrick, who, until recently reporting out of Egypt, but now in Geneva offers his assessment of what’s going on.

An estimated 2.5 billion people (40 percent) of the world’s population lack access to clean water, toilets or proper sanitation. Another 600 million must survive without regular water. At the same time, two in five childhood deaths are caused by water-related diseases and infections. The Geneva-based non-governmental organization Media21 (www.media21geneva.org ) is seeking to provide greater public awareness of this dire worldwide situation by holding the first of its  principal 2009 Global Journalism Network workshops next week in Istanbul (16-22 March) in conjunction with the 5th World Water Forum . Some 20,000 international aid, NGO, government, private sector and other participants are expected to attend this key global gathering overlooking the Bosphurus. Over the next several weeks, The Essential Edge will highlight some of these crucial issues through its own reporters plus dispatches contributed by journalists participating in the Media21 workshop.

The Geneva Health Forum (ww.genevahealthforum.org) is holding its second international “edition” from 25-28 May, 2008, with over 1,200 experts from around the world expected to attend. Organized by the University of Geneva Hospitals (HUG) and the University of Geneva (UG) at the International Conference Centre (www.cicg.ch) at Varembé near the United Nations, the Forum will focus on access to health, particularly the strengthening of global health systems and workforces. The 2008 gathering, which brings together all key players and coincides with the 30^th anniversary of the “health for all” Alma Mata Declaration, will explore issues such as where we stand today with primary health care, the increasing burden of chronic diseases and HIV/AIDS, the potential of new drugs and technologies, and the growing role of private-public partnerships.

The International Aid and Trade exhibition (www.aidandtrade.org) will be holding its 2008 event at Palexpo in Geneva from January 29-30.

According to the organization, it received exceptional feedback from the 2007 trade fair and symposium, which brought together international exhibitors of goods and services linked to humanitarian and development aid. Aid representatives also appreciated a chance to explore what was available in one location.