The "Global Civil Society Workshop on the Rio+20 Zero Draft and Rights for Sustainability" was held at the Church Center for the United Nations in New York City last January 24.  The workshop was attended by more than 70 participants from various civil society organizations (CSOs) and social movements from around the world. It was  organized by IBON International in cooperation with Asia Pacific Research Network (APRN), People's Coalition for Food Sovereignty (PCFS) and Centre for Environment and Development (CED) with the support of Diakonia – Asia Regional office, Both ENDS and the World Council of Churches (WCC).

 

The workshop gathered civil society representatives from various Major Groups and Stakeholders to examine the content of the Zero Draft and to strategize how to influence the outcome of the Rio+20 negotiations in favor of the rights-based approach to sustainability.  It further aimed to analyze to what extent key CSO asks on human rights, equity and justice are reflected in the draft and to bring civil society voices from the South to engage in the official Rio+20 process.