Updated Based on Latest Negotiations (3 December, 2010) On 26 November, the NCD Alliance issued the below Call to Action on the UN Modalities Resolution. This Modalities Resolution will be finalized in the next two weeks and we urgently need your support to make a last minute appeal to your government. In reaction to the latest version of the Modalities Resolution, The NCD Alliance is asking for your support on the following: 1. No UN member states are supporting a three day Summit and the European Union and United States are advocating for a one day Summit. The NCD Alliance is therefore advocating for a two day Summit, as is being supported by the G77 Group of Countries (the majority of which co-sponsored the Resolution calling for the Summit) in negotiations. 2. The Modalities Resolution will include agreement on roundtable session topics in which member states and civil society will participate. Typically, there would be a maximum of four roundtables in a two-day Summit. We are requesting support for the following roundtables topics: Implementation of NCD prevention strategies NCD control strategies with access to essential medicines and technologies Strengthening national capacities to address NCDs Fostering international cooperation to address NCDs 3. A concise Action-Orientated Outcomes Statement, as is being advocated by the G77, which will form a clear programme of action for governments and other stakeholders to pursue at the end of the Summit. Four Key Actions You Can Take This Week: 1. Write and e-mail letters to your UN Ambassador in New York in copy to your Minister of Health and Minister of Foreign Affairs. 2. Request meetings with senior officials in your government to advocate for these additional ‘key asks’ in response to the latest draft of the Modalities Resolution. 3. Request the attendance of your Head of State and Government at this landmark event. 4. Keep The NCD Alliance informed of your efforts and let us know if we can provide additional support ([email protected]). The UN Summit is a once in a generation opportunity to put NCDs on the global agenda. It has the potential to secure commitment from Heads of Government for a coordinated global response to NCDs, substantially increase resources for NCDs and save millions from premature death and debilitating health complications. Thank you for your assistance in helping us achieve these goals. Sincerely, The NCD Alliance UN Summit Partners Group (www.ncdalliance.org/unspg) International Diabetes Federation Union for International Cancer Control The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease World Heart Federation American Cancer Society American Heart Association Framework Convention Alliance Livestrong ------------------------ Call To Action (26 November, 2010) Note: French and Spanish translations of this message are available on the left sidebar.
Your assistance is urgently needed. On May 13th 2010, the UN General Assembly unanimously passed Resolution 64/265 on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), calling for a UN Summit on NCDs to be held in September 2011. In total, 130 states cosponsored the resolution, signalling that the world has recognized the urgency and priority of addressing the growing threat posed by
and other NCDs. The next five weeks will be a critical period in determining the success of this Summit. UN country Ambassadors in New York are currently in the process of drafting a ‘Modalities Resolution’, that will determine the length, outcomes and other key details of the UN Summit that will determine if this meeting is the major turning point for global action against NCDs we urgently need. The NCD Alliance is asking for governments to take action on the UN Summit Modalities Resolution by supporting:: • A three 3 day Summit in order to maximize this opportunity, and provide adequate time for discussion and debate on the burden of NCDs and the action required to address it. • An Outcomes Statement at the end of the Summit which will form a clear programme of action for governments, the UN system, civil society and other stakeholders. • Reporting mechanisms for member states on that Outcome Statement so that progress can be benchmarked and measured. • Formal inclusion of NGOs in the meeting and consultations leading up to it, including the establishment of a Civil Society Task Force under the office of the President of the UN General Assembly. Five Key Actions You Can Take A broad and unified global campaign was instrumental in raising the support needed for governments to support the UN Summit on NCDs. We now need your support for an effective Modalities Resolution. The NCD Alliance is calling on your support to: 1. Write letters to your UN Ambassador in New York and Minister of Foreign Affairs calling for an effective Modalities Resolution. 2. Request meetings with senior officials in your Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Health to advocate for our ‘key asks’. 3. Mobilize the media to raise awareness around the Summit and mobilize the general public. 4. Call on your Head of State to attend the Summit to ensure NCDs are given the recognition they deserve. 5. Contact other organizations working on NCDs in your country to form a strong and effective voice for change. A full list of NCD association in your country can be found by clicking on our membership map at http://www.ncdalliance.org/ The timeline for UN member state negotiations of the Modalities Resolution: 15 November: UN member states discussion 22 November: Further discussion by member states 23 November: Discussion in the General Assembly on NCDs 25th Nov – 17th December: Ongoing consultations and finalization of the Modalities Resolution On the sidebar of this website you will find a template letter which can be adapted as needed to send to your country’s UN Ambassador and Minister of Foreign Affairs and the following materials to support this call to action: 1. Contact details of UN Embassies in New York 2. A UN Summit FAQ 3. The NCD Alliance Plan of Action for the UN Summit 4. NCD Alliance Key Facts 5. The Millennium Development Goals and NCDs Factsheets The UN Summit is a once in a generation opportunity to put NCDs on the global agenda. It has the potential to secure commitment from Heads of Government for a coordinated global response to NCDs, substantially increase resources for NCDs and save millions from premature death and debilitating health complications.