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NO 96 FEBRUARY — MARCH 2003
| FOCUS | NGO AND OTHER NEWS | UN UPDATE |
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PrepCom II of the World Summit on the Information Society Further Progress Needed in Afghan Peace Process UNEP 22nd Session of Governing Council IFAD Holds 25th Anniversary Session Conference Follow-Up Working Group Meets Commission for Social Development Holds 41st Session Investment in Women Stressed on International Women’s Day Publications Online |
UN/NGO News First Global Accountability Report Launched World Vision/WFP School Feeding Programme Popular Coalition Becomes International Land Coalition
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Panel to Assess UN-Civil Society Relations UN Estabishes Secretariat of Permanent Forum ICC Elects Judges Migrant Workers Convention Enters into Force |
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The second Preparatory Committee meeting (PrepCom II) of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) met in Geneva from 17-28 February 2003 to begin elaborating a declaration of principles and programme of action to be adopted at the Summit’s first phase, to be held in Geneva from 5-12 December 2003 and hosted by the Swiss Government. The second phase is scheduled to take place in Tunis from 16-18 November 2005, hosted by the Government of Tunisia. The WSIS process is held against the backdrop of the profound societal changes brought about by the rapid spread of the
new information and communication technologies (ICTs). It began as an initiative by the 1998 Plenipotentiary Conference of
the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and was subsequently endorsed in 2001 by UN General Assembly resolution
56/183. In the resolution, the summit process is meant to address “the whole range of relevant issues related to the
information society.” ITU was identified to assume the leading managerial role for the WSIS Executive Secretariat. Intergovernmental negotiations at PrepCom I, which was held in Geneva from 1-5 July 2002, mainly focused on procedural issues, notably accreditation and participation rules for “observers” —NGOs and other civil organizations, business entities, and international organizations (see NGLS Roundup 95). PrepCom II began the process of collating possible elements for the declaration of principles and programme of action into two working documents, mainly drawing on inputs from the series of regional meetings that took place in the interim period. Some elements were also drawn from other sources, notably an unofficial paper produced by the Chair of the PrepCom, Adama Samassékou (Mali), on the basis of an expert meeting he convened in late 2002. The PrepCom agreed to entrust the Chair of the intergovernmental drafting group, Lyndall Shope-Mafole (South Africa), with the responsibility of revising the working documents with additional inputs from governments. In an innovative move, the PrepCom also decided that inputs from observers should be incorporated into a separate section of the revised documents, which were made available on the WSIS website (www.itu.int/wsis) on 21 March. These two documents (open for additional comments until 31 May) will serve as a basis for substantive negotiations that will begin at an intersessional meeting to take place in Paris (France) in July 2003, and carried forward at PrepCom III in Geneva from 15-26 September 2003. A Broad Agenda? It should be noted, however, that these working documents are at this stage only the basis for negotiations, commencing proper at the July intersessional session, with the understanding that the whole content of both texts are in brackets—meaning none of their elements can be assumed to be subject to intergovernmental consensus. NGOs and Civil Society Get Organized In the revised terms of reference of the Civil Society Bureau, it is recognized that the daily Civil Society Plenary is “the highest decision and policy-making body of Civil Society in WSIS” and to which the Civil Society Bureau reports regularly. The Plenary agreed to set up an electronic Civil Society Plenary list for consultations online if and when needed between the PrepComs. Thus far, the Civil Society Bureau is composed of elected focal points from different civil society constituencies, grouped into 22 “families,” ranging from academia and education to media. The full list of families and terms of reference of the Bureau can be found on the WSIS Executive Secretariat Civil Society Division website. Contact: Louise Lassonde, Civil Society Division, WSIS Executive Secretariat, Place des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland, telephone +41-22/730 6365, fax +41-22/730 6393, e-mail <info@geneva2003.org>, website (www.geneva2003.org) |
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The Special Representative for Afghanistan, Lakhdar Brahimi, told the Security Council on 31 January that the peace process in Afghanistan needed to progress “much further” before it could be safely said that it was irreversible. To achieve that, Afghanistan would need to count on the continuing financial and political commitment of the international community. With the challenges in Afghanistan not yet overcome, Afghans were watching developments elsewhere with some sense of fear that they would be forgotten again, Mr. Brahimi said. Saying that the challenge in 2002 was to consolidate the fragile foundations of peace, the Special Representative highlighted three main areas on which to focus: solidifying the key institutions of the State; pursuing national reconciliation; and showing tangible results on reconstruction projects throughout the country. With respect to reconstruction, Afghans must be presented with clearly identified projects to build the economy and increase confidence in the government. Progress must also be made on building the army. Mr. Brahimi warned that too many Afghans felt excluded from the government and the political transformation now taking place, and suggested the door should be open to those who wished to participate. He stressed that leaving them out could undermine the peace process. In spite of the relatively calm security situation, incidents continued to occur across the country as a result of inter-factional tension and sporadic terrorist activity, the Special Representative said. Drug production and trafficking in Afghanistan remained a critical concern, he stressed. Turning to the judicial sector, he said that reforming it was one of the greatest challenges facing the Transitional
Administration in the coming year. For some time to come, progress in establishing the rule of law would continue to be
significantly constrained by the depleted pool of experienced lawyers and the limited capacity of the penal system, Mr.
Brahimi pointed out. From April through early June 2003, the Constitutional Drafting Commission would conduct country-wide public consultations to discern the public’s views on key constitutional issues, he explained. Taking into account the results of the public consultations, the Commission would finalize a draft by late August. The final step would be the convening of a Constitutional Loya Jirga in October 2003 to review and adopt the Constitution. The June 2004 elections called for by the Bonn Agreement would be an important step towards restoring accountable and legitimate government in Afghanistan, he said. On human rights, Mr. Brahimi said the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission had steadily been implementing its work programme with the support of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP). The programme covered capacity building in the fields of investigations and monitoring, human rights education, promotion of the rights of women and transitional justice. The Commission had so far received more than 600 complaints and petitions from individuals and groups. Priority areas continued to be cases of intimidation and violence against political party and civil society activists by regional local commanders. Mr. Brahimi said that ongoing investigations by UNAMA’s human rights office have confirmed an increase in the incidence of ethnic conflicts related to land disputes, and added that human rights officers have sought to engage with provincial authorities in mediating land disputes between Uzbek and Turkmen communities in the Kunduz area and helping to establish land dispute settlement mechanisms. Speaking of the poor human rights situation in Herat, Mr. Brahimi cautioned, “It is important to note that the human rights problems occurring in Herat are happening elsewhere in Afghanistan. Human rights abuses are so endemic, after the decades of war and State collapse, that real change in the human rights situation will require systemic reform.” Addressing relief, recovery and reconstruction, he called attention to the UN Transitional Assistance Programme for Afghanistan (TAPA), which was launched in Oslo in December 2002, including the Mine Action Programme’s new target to clear high impact areas contaminated with mines and unexploded ordnance within five years, as well as preparations for the National Census. He also said one of the highest assistance priorities this year would be to support the communities likely to bear the impact of the 1.2 million refugees that were expected to return in 2003. Encouraging progress had been made this year in creating labour-intensive programmes and developing the National Emergency Employment Programme. The latter was anticipated to generate millions of workdays and assist in reviving local economies. The progress made in implementing the peace process over the past year had been remarkable, but now was not the time for complacency, he stressed, stating that this year’s agenda was just as challenging as the 2002 agenda, if not more so. In order to capitalize on the progress that had been made and to meet the challenges ahead, the Special Representative said it would require the continued commitment of the Afghan people to the process and the sustained engagement of the international community. |
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A worldwide crackdown on mercury pollution, an agreement to help the environment of
the Occupied Palestinian Territories and assistance for small island developing States (SIDS) to reduce their
vulnerability to climate change were among the key agreements made at an international environment ministers meeting
held in Nairobi from 3-7 February 2003. Some 1,000 delegates, including nearly 100 ministers from 148 countries, UN
agencies, international organizations, academia, NGOs, business and industry, and youth organizations attended the 22nd
Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the fourth Global Ministerial Environment
Forum (GMEF) held at UNEP’s headquarters in Nairobi.
During the week-long session, the Governing Council agreed a number of decisions on a wide range of topics, including
international environmental governance, post-conflict environmental assessment, water policy and strategy, chemicals
management, sustainable production and consumption patterns, the role of civil society, and the links among
environment-related conventions and between the environment and cultural diversity.
Other decisions concerned the follow-up to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) held in Johannesburg
(South Africa) in September 2002 and support to Africa as nations re-emphasized their commitment to Africa and the
environmental part of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD). They also urged UNEP to work closely with
governments on the continent as well as the specialized committees of the African Union, the African Development Bank
and other UN organizations.
According to some observers, the European Union, with its stringent environmental standards, made attempts in the
negotiations on chemicals and sustainable consumption and production to move beyond WSSD commitments. Other developed
countries, such as the United States, and developing countries, including South Africa, resisted this effort.
The mercury decision (UNEP/GC.22/L.7) followed discussions on a global assessment report (see box) compiled by UNEP
and experts, and which was presented to delegates. Countries agreed that “there is sufficient evidence of significant
global adverse impacts from mercury and its compounds to warrant further international action to reduce the risks to
human health and the environment.”
Under the action plan, UNEP has been asked to assist all countries in a wide ranging initiative to cut emissions of
mercury from sources such as coal-fired power stations and incinerators. Measures may include advising countries on
cleaner-coal methods, improving the efficiency of power stations and help on switching to other forms of electricity
generation, including renewables such as wind and solar power. Assisting countries on reducing other sources and causes
of mercury pollution, including contaminated waste sites, dental amalgams and equipment, will also be part of the
plan.
Countries also backed a new effort to strengthen environment laws and their use, especially in developing countries
and countries with economies in transition. The initiative, which has grown out of the Global Judges Symposium held at
WSSD, aims to boost knowledge of environment laws among judges, prosecutors and other relevant individuals and
groups.
An Intergovernmental Panel on Global Environmental Change (IPEC) was also set up (UNEP/GC.22/CW/L.3), inviting
governments, intergovernmental organizations, scientific bodies and NGOs to submit their views to the Executive
Director on issues such as gaps in knowledge in global environmental change, scientific credibility, the interaction
between science and policy development, and the role of existing institutions. A report on these submissions will be
prepared and submitted to the Global Ministerial Environment Forum in 2004.
Under decision UNEP/GC.22/CW/L.1, UNEP will provide SIDS with technical and financial support to strengthen their
capacity to help them to achieve their sustainable development goals. UNEP will also increase funding to SIDS during
the 2004-2005 biennium to prepare for next year’s summit of small island developing States in Mauritius and to
implement the outcomes of that conference (see Go Between 95). The conference also urged UNEP to strengthen its role
and advance its activities to reduce the vulnerability of least developed countries, small island developing States
and developing countries most vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.
Environment ministers unanimously endorsed UNEP’s report on the environmental situation in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories (see Go Between 95), and called for action to improve the environment in a decision that seeks to benefit
the people on both sides of the conflict. The decision also backed a package of over 130 recommendations aimed at
improving a wide range of environmental issues in the territories, including water supplies, the disposal of wastes,
land degradation and the threats to wildlife and habitats.
“Our main hope for the region is that the conflict can be resolved and the suffering brought to an end.
Environmental cooperation can be a tool in the peace process. Governments have asked us to act as an impartial
moderator, when requested by both parties, to assist in solving urgent environmental problems with a view to achieving
common goals. We are ready to do this,” said UNEP Executive Director Klaus Töpfer.
The fourth Global Civil Society Forum took place from 1-2 February in Nairobi. The meeting consisted of a regional
segment focusing on the Environment Initiative of NEPAD, and a global segment on the role of civil society in
implementing the outcomes of the WSSD. Their recommendations were presented to the Governing Council.
Victor Hugo, from the Center for Human Rights and Environment (Argentina), speaking on behalf of the Global
Civil Society Forum, expressed concern that UNEP is “lagging behind” in its relationships with civil society. He
welcomed UNEP’s strategic paper on civil society involvement, endorsed the prompt creation of a civil society
advisory panel to UNEP’s Executive Director, and proposed a UNEP initiative on cultural and biological diversity
in partnership with other institutions.
The eighth special session of the Governing Council/fifth Global Ministerial Environment Forum will be held in
March 2004 in the Republic of Korea. The Governing Council’s 23rd regular session/sixth Global Ministerial
Environment Forum will take place from 21-25 February 2005 in Nairobi.
Contact: Eric Falt, Director of UNEP’s Division of Communications and Public Information, PO Box 30552,
Nairobi, Kenya, telephone +254-2/623292, fax +254-2/624489, e-mail <eric.falt@unep.org>, website
(www.unep.org/GoverningBodies/GC22/). |
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| IFAD Holds 25th Anniversary Session | ||
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The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) held the 25th anniversary session of its Governing Council from 19-20 February in Rome under the theme of Achieving the Millennium Development Goals, with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan urging increased global partnership across geographic and ideological borders to fight hunger. Mr. Annan called for a “green revolution” in Africa to enable the continent to move towards self-sufficiency in food.
Addressing the delegates from 162 Member States, including 28 government ministers, the
Secretary-General noted that IFAD’s creation was a new type of partnership—between the Organization of Petroleum
Exporting Countries (OPEC) and industrialized countries, between developing and developed countries—for the shared goal
of eradicating poverty and hunger. “Partnership continues to be the key for IFAD’s success,” Mr. Annan said, adding
that its mission went beyond alleviating short-term food crises. “That means pursuing structural changes in rural areas
to empower the rural poor and increase their resilience.”
The Secretary-General stressed that in times of famine, AIDS is depriving countries of their capacity to resist by
weakening those mechanisms that enable populations to fight back—in particular the coping mechanisms provided by women.
“That means we must combine food assistance and new approaches to farming with treatment and prevention of
HIV/AIDS,” he stressed. “It means developing new agricultural techniques appropriate to a depleted workforce.”
Pointing out that three-quarters of the world’s poor still live in rural areas, the Secretary-General said,
“We must
address the fact that for them, the rapid march of globalization internationally, and liberalization domestically,
currently creates more risks than opportunities.” He urged working together to help them reach the quality and standards
required, and to ensure that trade policies and intellectual property rights allow poor producers a sustainable position
in the new system.
Conflict and poverty reinforce each other, IFAD President Lennart Båge said on the opening day of the conference.
“Poverty is the source of hopelessness and despair, which feed tensions that can lead to conflict,” he warned.
“Conflict, on the other hand, is devastating for poor communities. In conditions of conflict, you cannot grow food,
build businesses or otherwise take steps to improve your life.”
Former President of Mali Alpha Oumar Konaré cautioned that ignoring the plight of the world’s extreme poor would
result in greater tension and conflict around the globe. “If the international community is not prepared to devote
substantial amounts to helping organizations like IFAD, WFP [World Food Programme], FAO [Food and Agriculture
Organization] and our countries, we will never find a way out of this predicament…and insecurity will increase for
everyone in the world,” he warned.
Eveline Herfkens, the UN Secretary-General’s Executive Director for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
Campaign, said that farm subsidies of the industrialized countries were seriously hampering prospects of eradicating
poverty and hunger. The MDGs were agreed upon by 189 signatories at the Millennium Summit in 2000; topping the list was
a commitment to reduce by half the number of poor and hungry in the world by the year 2015 (see NGLS Roundup 98).
“These Millennium Development Goals are doable,” said Ms. Herfkens, speaking on the first day of the Governing
Council. “It is a question of the right priorities.” According to her, Western country farm subsidies are leading to
over production, driving down world prices and undermining people’s livelihoods in developing countries. “It is
intolerable that every cow in Europe is subsidized to the value of US$2,” she said. “The world’s 1.2 billion poor,
75% of whom live in rural areas, eke out an existence on just US$1 a day.”
Ms. Herfkens pointed out that subsidies to cotton farmers in the United States had caused the collapse of cotton
prices and especially hit African producers. West African countries have lost US$200 million in foreign exchange
earnings and the region’s 11 million cotton-producing households have suffered increased poverty as a result of the
subsidies. She also pointed out that European Union subsidies of milk powder had destroyed the livelihoods of farmers
in countries such as Tanzania.
An interactive panel discussion on Achieving the MDGs by Enabling the Rural Poor to Overcome their Poverty was held.
It looked at how IFAD can more effectively enable the rural poor to overcome their poverty and how it can contribute in
coming years to the achievement of the MDGs.
A series of roundtable discussions were also held, including: Indigenous Peoples and Sustainable Development;
Promoting Market Access for the Rural Poor in Order to Achieve the MDGs; Transforming Rural Institutions in Order to
Reach the MDGs; and Women as Agents of Change.
The roundtable discussion on indigenous people heard there are some 300 million indigenous peoples living in 70
countries throughout the world with most of them living in conditions of extreme poverty. Participants stressed the
fact that indigenous peoples have considerable potential in overcoming their own poverty. Their role as guardians of
the environment and as repositories of traditional knowledge and management systems was acknowledged, and speakers
called for more efforts to ensure that indigenous peoples benefit from the patrimony and reap some of the rewards.
As well as more resources, indigenous peoples also need help in preserving their cultures, languages and identities,
participants said, also noting that a greater say in decisions which affect their lives is crucial, if their voice is
to be heard in the national and international arena.
The roundtable focusing on women found that there can be little prospect of eradicating poverty and hunger until the
status of women is improved in the developing world, noting also that the advancement of women is also critical to the
achievement of many of the other MDGs, including those on reducing infant and maternal mortality, achieving universal
primary education and stepping up the fight against HIV/AIDS.
A fairer deal for women is crucial to the success of the first and perhaps most challenging target, that of halving
the number of extremely poor people by the year 2015, the session heard. Gender inequality is a root cause of poverty,
especially in the case of rural women who are among the most vulnerable and impoverished members of society. Women
account for about 70% of the world’s poor.
The shift towards privatization taking place in many developing countries means new constraints for women, because
the private sector is dominated by men, said Jocelyn Dow, President of the Women’s Environment and Development
Organization in Guyana. So too does the growing trend for migration, as poor rural women seek jobs away from home. The
result, in many cases, is the breakdown of the family, she said.
On 20 February, IFAD’s 162 member countries agreed on a replenishment of US$560 million to be invested over three
years in fighting rural poverty. According to IFAD, funding for agriculture and rural development has dropped by 50%
over the past 15 years—even though agriculture is the main income-earner, main employer and main engine of economic
growth in most developing countries. Mr. Båge said the replenishment will enable IFAD to do more to help people overcome
poverty and that this, in turn, will help poor communities become more resilient.
“The consequences of poverty—epidemic disease, migration, environmental devastation and armed conflict—do not
respect national borders,” said Mr. Båge. “They affect us all—no matter where we live. Only when we have eliminated the
gross violation of human dignity and human dreams that is the result of persistent poverty will we have the foundations
for long-term peace, stability and sustainable development.”
Contact: Sappho Haralambous, IFAD, 107 via del Serafico, 00142 Rome, Italy, telephone +39-06/5459 2238
fax +39-06/5459 2034, e-mail <ifad@ifad.org>, website (www.ifad.org). |
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| Conference Follow-Up Working Group Meets | ||
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The General Assembly Ad Hoc Working Group on the Integrated and Coordinated Implementation of and Follow-up to the Outcomes of the Major UN Conferences and Summits in the Economic and Social Fields is taking up the complicated question of how to orient the activities of the UN system, Member States, and all relevant stakeholders so that they work most effectively toward the implementation of the decisions and commitments made at these meetings throughout the last decade. Holding its initial meetings over the past three months, the GA Ad Hoc Working Group, which was established by the General Assembly in December 2002 (see NGLS Roundup100), has been examining the role of Member States, the role of the UN system including the Bretton Woods institutions (BWIs), the role of civil society and the private sector, and the role of holding conferences in the future. The initial discussions reveal the difficulties in understanding what is involved in shifting the intergovernmental focus away from policy making to implementation. For some delegations the most critical aspects of this centre on coordination amongst all stakeholders and defining what their respective roles should be. Suggested actions in this area include:
— improving coordination amongst the UN System, BWIs, and other institutions; Other delegations have focused more on how to ensure that governments are actually living up to agreed commitments and obligations of conference outcomes. While acknowledging that greater coordination is necessary for effective conference follow-up, some delegations have pointed to a General Assembly resolution from 1996 (A/RES/50/227) entitled, Further measures for the restructuring and revitalization of the United Nations in the economic, social and related fields, which includes a comprehensive list of recommendations on coordination and many of the same issues that the Working Group is discussing now. They suggest that the current exercise should therefore not focus its energy on renegotiating but rather constructing a new framework on accountability, particularly in the areas of financial resources, technology transfer and capacity building. Discussions, which have largely been of an informal nature, have not yet resulted in any conclusions but have suggested agreement in some areas and the need for further consideration in others. For example, many Member States have articulated that governments have the primary responsibility for the implementation of the outcomes of the conferences and that this principle should be based on both national ownership and international partnership. The question of the relationship of conference follow-up to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) has been raised, with delegations agreeing generally that policies of all countries should be consistent with efforts to achieve the internationally agreed development goals including the MDGs. However, delegations do not all agree to what extent the MDGs should play a prominent role in conference follow-up. Some believe that the MDGs provide a clear framework through which disparate follow-up activities could be pulled together. Others, however, are concerned that the conferences over the past decade included commitments and agreements that went beyond the scope of the MDGs and they are worried about losing the significance of these other areas. Concern has also been expressed over using each of the eight goals in a balanced fashion and ensuring that Goal 8—on developing a global partnership for development—features as prominently as the other seven, which are more domestic in orientation. The Working Group is expected to make recommendations on the holding of future UN conferences and summits. Some delegations have argued that because governments, the UN system and other stakeholders are finding it difficult to cope with the already existing body of intergovernmental commitments and obligations, holding more conferences in the near future would only add to that burden. Others have pointed out that conferences and their review processes have been crucial in building political support and public awareness around issues and that they should continue to play a role even as the UN system moves into “implementation mode.” Some delegations have proposed that each issue could be assessed on a case-by-case basis and thereby not rule out the possibility of a large-scale event, but at the same time not automatically assume that a conference is the best way of making progress on an issue. The Working Group is expected to conclude its work by June 2003, when it will issue a report of its recommendations. Contact: Marion Barthelemy, Officer-in-Charge, Policy Coordination Section, Division for ECOSOC Support and Coordination, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations, Room DC1-1416, New York NY 10017, USA, telephone +1-212/963 4005, fax +1-212/963 3351, email <barthelemy1@un.org>, website (www.un.org/esa/coordination/ecosoc/wgga/wgga.htm). |
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| Commission for Social Development Holds 41st Session | ||
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National and international cooperation for social development was the theme of the 41st session of the Commission for Social Development, meeting at UN headquarters in New York from 10-21 February 2003, as governments considered five sub-themes, including: sharing of experiences and practices in social development; forging partnerships for social development; social responsibility of the private sector; impact of employment strategies on social development; and the policies and role of international financial institutions and their effect on national social development strategies. Secretary-General’s Report Among the recommendations is the need to enhance national ownership of and responsibility for development
policies and programmes. “Governments should avoid adopting approaches to development that reduce national
autonomy in setting priorities for social development. South-South cooperation should play an important role in
that regard, by promoting mutual learning among developing countries.” According to the report, “building the
capacity of developing countries to create effective structures and formulate policies for development is a
primary objective of international cooperation.”
In this context, the reports says that donors need to provide cooperation in ways that
interfere less with government functions by using sector-wide approaches and by reducing aid-conditionality.
Multilateral organizations should develop focused strategies and financial packages to assist countries facing
catastrophic events such as war, financial crisis and natural disaster. International financial institutions
should strengthen efforts to ensure that concern for improved social outcomes is incorporated into their policies
and into the national policies they support. The private sector, the report emphasizes, should contribute to
social development through constructive engagement, seeking business opportunities that increase participation
and improve wellbeing.
“The integration of economic and social policies is a prerequisite for society’s wellbeing as a whole,” the
report concludes. As the harmonization of economic growth and social policies is crucial to successful social
outcomes, the report recommends considering the transfer of the social agenda items of the General Assembly’s
Third Committee to the agenda of the Second Committee.
In this respect the work of the Commission was also scrutinized. Under-Secretary-General for Economic and
Social Affairs Nitin Desai said that given the growing role of social development in the mandates emerging in
other areas—such as the World Trade Organization’s Doha (Qatar) round of trade negotiations and the Monterrey
International Conference on Financing for Development (Mexico)—he felt that the Commission’s added value was
mainly as a forum for national exchange and focus on specific groups like youth and family.
Debate During the general discussion of the priority theme, speakers stressed the importance of international
partnerships for social development. Many delegations agreed that while governments had the primary responsibility
for social development, the private sector also had an important role. The need for capacity building with regard
to international development and assistance was also emphasized, as was the link between social development and
economic growth, with many speakers stressing the need to simultaneously address both issues.
Speaking on behalf of the European Union (EU) and associated States, Greece said that in building partnerships
for social development, the focus should be on building “vertical” links between global and national action, and
“horizontal” links between governments, civil society and the private sector. Partnerships should be built around
the axis of the 1995 World Summit for Social Development and the Millennium Declaration, with the 2002 Monterrey
Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development delivering the means to achieve their
goals.
While governments had the primary responsibility for social development, the EU said, the private sector also
had an important role. In that regard, the EU said it promoted the concept of “corporate social responsibility,”
including fair practices, decent working conditions and equal opportunities. The UN, the EU said, should continue
to play an important role in encouraging corporate social responsibility at a global level. The EU also emphasized
the importance of corporate transparency and accountability to all stakeholders, including employees, consumers,
suppliers and community members. Accountability should focus on the “triple bottom line,” the EU said, comprised
of not only economic but also social, environmental and performance indicators.
Morocco on behalf of the Group of 77 developing countries and China (G-77/China), stressed the importance of
establishing innovative and mutually beneficial partnerships to reinforce national and international cooperation
for social development. Governments had a fundamental leading role to play in setting up national frameworks to
promote new ideas and creative partnerships, the G-77/China said, while civil society and the private sector
should establish creative partnerships focused on achieving the goals of social development. Those efforts would
remain insufficient, however, the G-77/China stressed, if they were not accompanied by substantial financial
support allowing developing countries to achieve social development goals.
The G-77/China called on the international financial institutions to show vigilance with respect to potential
financial crises that had negative social impact, especially in the developing countries, and to help those
countries to develop their own capacities to prevent such crises. Assistance, the G-77/China said, should take
into account the long-term development needs of the affected countries. Similarly, those institutions should
give priority to granting additional official development assistance (ODA) to developing countries. For the sake
of transparency, the G-77/China said, developing countries should be duly involved in the process of decision
making regarding international economic issues.
In response to government concerns expressed relating to employment, International Labour Organization (ILO)
representative John Langmore said that the rate of economic growth per capita that would be necessary to halve
both unemployment and the number of working poor by 2010 globally would be over 2% per annum, compared with the
average of 1% during the 1990s, suggesting that a major change of strategy was required. A more sophisticated
balance between economic goals, he said, allowing for simultaneous reduction of unemployment and low inflation,
would be an essential component for such change.
Mr. Langmore also noted that some countries were still being required to reduce expenditures during
depressions in order to qualify for loans. More pragmatic fiscal policies would be appropriate in both developed
and developing countries, he said. Underscoring the need for social dialogue, which he termed an “arm of
macro-economic policy that was commonly neglected,” Mr. Langmore noted that education, health services, child
care and care for the aged were themselves important sources of employment. The best hope for increasing
income-generating work everywhere, he said, was to move towards meeting that demand.
Action Taken A draft resolution (E/CN.5/2003/L.5/Rev.1) by which ECOSOC would request the Commission to continue to
contribute to the process established by the GA on a comprehensive and integral international convention to
promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities was also adopted. The resolution invites
relevant organizations and experts to make suggestions and possible elements to be considered in proposals for a
convention available to the Ad Hoc Committee.
Portugal sponsored a draft resolution on policies and programmes involving youth (E/CN.5/2003/L.4), which would
have ECOSOC call on all States, UN bodies, intergovernmental organizations and NGOs concerned to make every
possible effort towards the implementation of the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and
Beyond—aiming at cross-sectoral youth policies by integrating a youth perspective into all planning and
decision-making processes relevant to youth.
A draft resolution (E/CN.5/2003/L.7) on the modalities for review and appraisal of the Madrid International
Plan of Action on Ageing 2002 would invite all actors at all levels to participate in the implementation of and
follow-up to the Madrid Plan of Action, and to participate in a “bottom-up” approach to its review and appraisal
through the sharing of ideas, data collection and best practices. The text also invites the UN system to consider
mainstreaming ageing issues into the design and implementation of its work plans.
A draft resolution on preparations for the observance of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the
Family in 2004 (E/CN.5/2003/L.8) would encourage governments to make every effort possible to realize the
objectives of the 10th anniversary, and to integrate a “family perspective” into the planning process.
Side Events Contact: Division for Social Policy and Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United
Nations, DC2-1370, New York NY 10017, USA, fax +1-212/963 3062, e-mail <social@un.org>, website
(www.un.org/esa/socdev).
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| Investment in Women Stressed on International Women's Day | ||
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International Women’s Day was observed on 7
March 2003, with a wide range of activities taking place across the world.
UN Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette and high-level officials from
different UN agencies linked gender equality to meeting the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs), as they emphasized that social gains for women
translated into improved societies.
“Study after study has shown that there
is no effective development strategy in which women do not play a central
role,” Ms. Fréchette said from the webcast forum held at UN headquarters
in New York. “When women thrive, all of society benefits, and succeeding
generations are given a better start in life.” |
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CSO Newsletter Online Edition The first edition includes articles on: diversification of exports, trade in services and environment; policies
and measures to attract and increase benefits from FDI; and the inauguration of World Trade Point Federation
portal, among others.
Contact: Civil Society Outreach, UNCTAD, Palais des Nations, 8-14 avenue de la Paix, 1211 Geneva 10,
Switzerland, telephone +41-22/917 5048, fax +41-22/917 0122, e-mail <civil.society@unctad.org>, website
(www.unctad.org). ILO Gender Equality Tool Website The Bureau for Gender Equality also produces three times yearly an electronic newsletter entitled Gender
Equality in the World of Work that provides information on gender mainstreaming and gender equality issues.
Back copies and printable versions are available online (www.ilo.org/gender). E-mail subscription requests for the
newsletter can be sent to <gender@ilo.org>.
Contact: Information and Communication Specialist, Bureau for Gender Equality, ILO, 4 route des Morillons,
1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland, fax +41-22/799 6388, e-mail <gender@ilo.org>, website (www.ilo.org/gender). Swiss Coalition of Development Organizations Contact: Monbijoustrasse 31, CH-3001 Bern, Switzerland, telephone +41-31/3909330, fax +41-31/3909331,
e-mail <mail@swisscoalition.ch>. Citizens as Partners: Information, Consultation and Public Participation in Policy Making The book provides comparative information on the subject and examines a wide range of country experiences,
offers examples of good practice, highlights different approaches and identifies promising tools (including new
information technologies). A set of ten guiding principles for engaging citizens in policy making is
proposed.
Further reading: Citizens as Partners: OECD Handbook on Information, Consultation and Public Participation in
Policy Making. Information on both publications is available on the OECD website (www.sourceoecd.org).
UNCTAD Dispute Settlement Course The course focuses on the basic rules and jurisprudence of dispute settlement at the World Trade Organization
(WTO), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the International Centre for Settlement of Investment
Disputes (ICSID) and the arbitration rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).
It also looks at three regional approaches—those of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the Southern
Common Market (MERCOSUR) and the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN). Contact: Erik Chrispeels, Project Manager, Project on Dispute Settlement in International Trade, Investment
and Intellectual Property, telephone +41-22/907 5829, e-mail <erik.chrispeels@unctad.org>, or the UNCTAD Press
Office, telephone +41-22/907 5828, e-mail <press@unctad.org>, website (www.unctad.org/dispsett).
The Demographic Dividend: A New Perspective on the Economic Consequences of Population Change Nations that slow population growth create a window of economic opportunity afforded by reducing the proportion
of dependent youths and increasing the share of productive, working-age adults. Nations that capitalize on this
population change can reap a “demographic dividend” to improve their standard of living, while those that don’t
may see social and economic conditions worsen. The report concludes that much of the debate has overlooked a key
point: the way a nation’s population is structured across age groups is extremely important to its economic
wellbeing.
More information is available online (www.rand.org/publications/ MR/MR1274/).
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