EN 
NL UNited for Climate Justice
Since April 2019, together with FEPS (Foundation for European Progressive Studies) and several other European partners, we have been working on the UNited for Climate Justice initiative. With the climate emergency becoming clearer than ever, it is time for action.
"The SDG Generation - Healing the future in a wicked present"
The SDGs concern everyone
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a hot topic, high on the political agenda and increasingly reflected in government decisions. Building Change is focused on political commitment, but as Hugo Von Meijnfeldt (Dutch SDG coordinator) said, "achieving the SDGs is not only a challenge of the government, but of everyone". Hence, we attended the event "Healing the future in a wicked present" on 13 June to look at commitment to the SDGs from a different perspective, at Windesheim in Zwolle.
How sustainable is our prosperity?
Every year on the third Wednesday of May, ministries are held accountable to the House of Representatives: Accountability Day. Ministers present reports showing what the government has achieved in the past year and how plans have been implemented. On this day, two important documents around the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are also performed by default: the CBS Report 'Monitor Brede Welvaart & SDGs 2019' and the 'Third Dutch SDG Report - The Netherlands develops sustainably'. On 16 May, Building Change, the SDG Charter and a large group of visitors reflected on the published papers during "How sustainable is our prosperity?".
A big step towards policy coherence thanks to the SDG test!
It worked! The SDG test is a reality. Building Change (partnership FMS, Partos and Woord & Daad) has been advocating the development of a tool to measure the impact of Dutch policies on sustainable development since 2016. Now it has arrived!
Expert meeting on migration at the IISH
On Wednesday 19 December, we organised an expert meeting on migration at the International Institute of Social History in Amsterdam, as part of the African Perspectives study, to include the perspectives of young people in Africa in the discussion on migration. Why do they want to migrate, or why not? Present were around 20 experts on migration, from different organisations. They gave input on the research our researcher Anne conducted in Ghana. It was a very useful and instructive afternoon, and the input will certainly be used in the rest of the research. We thank all participants for their contribution, and the IISH for their hospitality!
Public meeting: 'Young Generations for the New Western Balkans: Beyond Emigration'
Recent research shows that between 25,000 - 40,000 people are annually leaving each of the Western Balkans countries. Not only young people, but increasingly the middle class as well. A group of young scientist from the region has engaged in a project 'New Horizons for the Young Generations in the Balkans' in order to discuss their visions how to overcome old- fashioned politics and nationalisms and the lack of perspective for younger generations. They will sketch alternative horizons and the look for alternatives for South-Eastern Europe's way beyond emigration. The Hague will be the first place in Europe after Vienna where the results of the mentioned initiative will be presented to the public.
Gender training in Serbia brings progressives together
On the weekend of 26-28 October, Foundation Max van der Stoel, in cooperation with the Center of Modern Skills (CMV), organised a gender training for progressive parties and movements in Serbia that are part of the Alliance for Serbia, a new opposition movement. FMS trainers Jamila Aanzi and Sonja Lokar travelled to Vojvodina province to deliver the training.
Is NL moving into the next gear for the SDGs?
Thursday 27 September was the day: Building Change and WECF organised the event 'NL in the next gear' in The Hague. Together, we celebrated the third anniversary of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as the first anniversary of the 'Adopt an SDG' campaign, in which members of parliament adopt an SDG to advocate in their political work. The central theme was that the Netherlands needs to move into the next gear to actually achieve these global goals, as there are only 12 years to go until 2030! Civil society organisations, political youth organisations and no fewer than five MPs were given the stage to set out their visions and concrete plans for achieving the SDGs.
UNited for a different migration
It's UN week in New York City! That means: Heads of State and Heads of Government from almost all the countries in the world visit New York to join the General Assembly of the UN. This 73rd session of the General Assembly opened on the 18th of September and lasts until the 5th of October. Besides everything going on in the buildings of the UN itself, there are many side events in the city. Including the "UNited for a different migration" conference, organised by the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS), of which FMS is a member.
Migration: viewpoint FMS
Migration is of all times and cannot be stopped. At best, it can be managed. The EU sees unregulated migration flows as one of the biggest challenges in its existence. We have set out a number of principles that a fair migration policy must meet.
