NGLS Roundup, no. 66, February 2001

FIFTY-FIFTH SESSION OF THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HIGHLIGHTS

In his statement at the close of the 55th session on 23 December 2000 in New York, General Assembly (GA) President Harri Holkeri lauded three major accomplishments of the previous months’ work: the 6-8 September 2000 Millennium Summit; agreement on a new scale of assessments for member states; and the consideration and acceptance of the report of the high-level Panel on United Nations Peace Operations, known as the Brahimi Report after its chair Lakhdar Brahimi.

Millennium Summit Follow-Up

President Holkeri noted that the Millennium Summit had been the seminal event of the session and had laid the agenda for the GA’s work. “The main challenge for the Millennium Assembly was how to implement the Summit Declaration,” he said. “In my view, the Declaration is one of the most important documents of recent time. If we are able to achieve its targets, it will have an enormous impact globally.”

The Millennium Summit was the largest-ever gathering of world leaders to discuss the most critical issues facing the world today (see NGLS Roundup 62, September 2000). The meeting produced the Millennium Declaration, which reaffirms the principles of the UN Charter, and establishes goals such as halving the number of those living in poverty by 2015 and ensuring that globalization becomes a positive force for all people. The Declaration also reaffirms the central position of the General Assembly as the chief deliberative, policy-making and representative organ within the UN; calls for Security Council reform; and proposes strengthening the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

The GA also passed a resolution (A/RES/55/162) calling for an integrated, coordinated, comprehensive and balanced approach to implementation of the Declaration at all levels with contributions from the UN system, the regional commissions, the Bretton Woods institutions, civil society and the private sector. The resolution requests the Secretary-General to prepare a “road map” for implementation within the UN, along with an annual progress report. President Holkeri predicted this would make the Declaration an integral part of the UN's on-going work by identifying responsibilities for implementation and proactively monitoring that process.

Scale of Assessments

After several years of discussion and a final 26-hour marathon negotiation at the close of the 55th session, the GA passed two resolutions redefining the scale of assessments for general administrative expenses (A/55/521) and for peacekeeping (A/55/712). The scale is used to apportion the expenses of the UN among member states and is based upon the capacity of each state to contribute. Delegates conceded to the longstanding demand of the United States that its share of the US$1.1 billion administrative budget drop from 25% to 22%, and its share of the US$3 billion annual peacekeeping budget be reduced from 31% to 26% by 2004. US law mandates a 25% cap but US Senator Jesse Helms, who co-sponsored this legislation, said that the new scale was close enough so that he would agree to free up US$582 million in past dues that had been held up pending an agreement. The UN and US still disagree about the total amount the US owes the organization. The UN calculates the figure as around US$700 million higher than that of the US because of withholdings on both the regular and peacekeeping budgets.

While the representative of France, speaking on behalf of the European Union (EU), hailed the resolution as a “great success story,” a number of countries will face higher assessments in order to make up for the smaller share of the US. Russia and China are slated to take on the biggest increases. Brazil noted that it had suffered from distortions of the economic data on which the assessments are based, and called for a correction. Chile commented that the increase in its assessment should have sufficed as a reason not to join consensus, but emphasized that it was necessary to look beyond specific reasons and think about the future of the UN. Australia, while supporting the consensus, said the reduction was a further distortion of the principle of the capacity to pay. It called on the major contributor to ensure that it fulfils its end of the bargain. The United States has agreed to a voluntary donation to help ease the burden of transition during 2001.

On peacekeeping assessments, the GA established a new scale based on nine categories. Permanent members of the Security Council will pay a premium, while the least developed countries will be entitled to a discount of 90%. A series of transition periods would apply to states moving between categories.

The Brahimi Report

President Holkeri called the Report of the Panel on UN Peace Operations (Brahimi Report) a welcome, timely and valuable contribution to strengthening one of the UN's main functions: maintenance of international peace and security. The report, issued in August 2000 (see Go Between 82), recommends restructuring the Department of Peacekeeping Operations; establishing a new information and strategic analysis unit; and setting up an integrated task force at headquarters to plan and support each peacekeeping mission from its inception.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in a speech to the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary), said the report represented the most significant effort to date to enhance peacekeeping. He criticized the UN as having been too slow, too tied-up in red tape, too weak and too fragmented to deal effectively with conflicts. “In too many places over the past decade, inadequate mandates and insufficient means and headquarters support have led to calamities--for the weak and vulnerable people we seek to serve, for our brave and committed peacekeepers in the field, and for the Organization itself,” Mr. Annan said.

The GA passed two resolutions on the report. Resolution A/55/572 welcomes the report and endorses its proposals, recommendations and conclusions. Resolution A/55/713 appropriates additional resources to implement the report; underscores the importance of consultation with troop-contributing countries from the early stages of mission planning; and expresses deep concern over past delays in reimbursements to troop contributors.

Much of the debate about the Brahimi Report centred on whether it would harm development activities because it could shift the priorities and resources of the UN system too heavily in the direction of peacekeeping. The Secretary-General noted that the two fields are not alternatives but necessary complements, and resources are needed for both. The representative of Canada called the development versus peace argument a diplomatic ploy to deceive those who most need UN services, particularly some of the African states. He noted that the reputation and possibly the future of the UN was at stake, given that a series of high profile failures had dwarfed its successes in the public mind. He emphasized that those who had refused to pay their contributions or hedged their payments with conditions were encouraging those who wished to see the UN fail.

 ACTION ON UPCOMING MEETINGS

Financing for Development: Substantive Preparatory Meetings

12-23 February 2001, 30 April-11 May 2001

and 14-25 January 2002, New York

The GA, on the recommendation of the Preparatory Committee for the High-Level International Intergovernmental Event on Financing for Development (FFD), adopted a resolution (A/RES/55/213) deciding that the event should be held in the first quarter of 2002, with a series of preparatory meetings scheduled for 2001. The resolution extends an invitation to countries to consider hosting the meeting. It also welcomes the hearings with civil society held from 6-7 November 2000 in New York, and encourages future efforts such as these.

Governments emphasized that the deepening debate over FFD warranted a meeting that is high level and politically prominent. Thailand, one of the co-chairs of the FFD process, stated that in a globalized world the meeting would help ensure coherence of fragmented policies and facilitate a unified direction for development. Referring to the FFD as a “wake-up call” for the international community to pay serious attention to the implications of globalization, he called for understanding the concepts of “financing” and “development” in harmony with each other. Serious thought should be given to the outcome of the meeting, and whether it should involve a political declaration, programme of actions or establishment of an FFD working forum.

Guatemala believed that the effort of clarification involved in the preparatory process would have an impact on the environment in which policies are adopted on development finance and the volatility of short-term capital flows. Particular issues that should be considered include official development assistance (ODA), debt, an open international trading system, reverse capital flows, fiscal havens, and savings and investment in developing countries.

Japan raised the issue of what form the FFD outcome document should take, suggesting a short political declaration that ministers would be likely to read. There should also be a chair's summary reflecting the range of opinions expressed at the event. Japan would not support a long negotiated text such as those adopted at major UN conferences and summits.

Third UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries

14-20 May 2001, Brussels (Belgium)

The GA decided to convene two preparatory sessions in New York from 5-9 February 2001 and from 2-6 April 2001. Agreement to add an additional session in February came following the recommendation of the first session of the conference's Preparatory Committee, held from 24-28 July 2000.

In discussion about the resolution Yuji Kumamaru (Japan), vice-chair of the Preparatory Committee, said concern had been expressed in various fora about the increasing marginalization of the least developed countries (LDCs). Maldives pointed out that the number of countries defined as LDCs had grown from 42 in 1990 to 48 today, with an additional three countries eligible for the list. Nigeria, speaking for the Group of 77 (G-77) and China, hoped for a focus on debt, official development assistance, and investment and trade. France, speaking for the EU, said the conference must go beyond basic economic issues and address the social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development.

Special Session on Habitat II

6-8 June 2001, New York

Two resolutions were passed on preparations for the special session on the outcome of the 1996 United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II). A resolution relating to preparations (A/RES/55/195) states the date and venue for the meeting, but notes with concern that resources are still short. The session will consist of a plenary, an ad hoc committee of the whole (COW) and a thematic committee.

The session will produce a review of the implementation of the Habitat Agenda, a set of further actions, and a declaration on cities and human settlements in the new millennium.

A second resolution (A/RES/55/194) defines the scope of the session. It says that representatives of local authorities and other Habitat Agenda partners may make statements in the COW. China specified that NGOs be included as eligible speakers, and the list was revised to include them. Local authorities, NGOs and other partners will also be allowed to make presentations in the plenary, based on time availability.

In addition the resolution maps out accreditation details, calls for reports on local and national plans of action, and requests governments and partners to submit examples for a secretariat report on best practices. It encourages member states to integrate the contributions of different partners in their national reports and to consider the inclusion of these partners in broad-based, gender-balanced national delegations.

Special Session on HIV/AIDS

25-27 June 2001, New York

The GA (A/RES/55/13) decided to convene a special session on HIV/AIDS (see Go Between 84) to secure a global commitment to combat this devastating disease. The session will include interactive roundtable meetings on topics such as Africa, funding, human rights and gender. A series of open-ended informal consultations, chaired by the President of the GA, will prepare a draft declaration of commitment and other documents for consideration during the session. The consultations were scheduled to take place in New York from 26 February-2 March 2001 and from 23-27 April 2001. The resolution also underlines the need for the active involvement of civil society representatives during the special session process.

Before the resolution's adoption representatives made a number of points, including the fact that the spread of HIV/AIDS has exceeded all expectations. It is destroying the most economically productive sectors of society, mainly youth and the middle-aged. Monaco called for relaxing patenting to provide more access to drugs. Botswana stressed the severity of the disease in Southern Africa, where it is undercutting the region's hopes for economic and social revival. The Republic of Korea said the bulk of available resources had gone to treatment, even though the world was in desperate need of a vaccine.

United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade

in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects

9-20 July 2001, New York

In resolution A/RES/55/33Q, the GA decided to convene the Small Arms Conference in New York, following extensive talks about proposals to host it from the governments of Japan and Switzerland. The third session of the conference's Preparatory Committee was scheduled for 19-30 March 2001 in New York.

The Philippines expressed the hope that future discussions (including the second session of the Preparatory Committee from 8-19 January 2001 in New York) could turn from procedural issues to deal with substantive topics. France, speaking on behalf of the EU, regretted that the Swiss government had to withdraw its proposal to host the meeting because of an inability to reach agreement with the UN over supplementary costs. The EU noted that in the future, Geneva should remain a place where the UN should “exert its competence” in the area of disarmament.

Special Session on Children

19-21 September 2001, New York

The GA discussed preparations for the special session on children, reaffirming that the session will review achievements and results of commitments made by governments at the 1990 World Summit for Children and also consider future actions for children over the coming decade. In addition, the session will assess implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Child. Two preparatory committee sessions were scheduled for 2001, the first from 29 January to 2 February and the second from 11-15 June.

Delegates acknowledged that much progress has been made since the 1990 summit, including the establishment of the Convention and adoption of optional protocols on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict, and on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography. However poverty, debt servicing, armed conflict, HIV/AIDS and other problems severely shackle children's development. Cuba pointed out that 250 million children under 15 work to survive, and two out of five children in developing countries suffer some kind of retardation.

India stressed education and suggested more attention to the specific needs of the growing number of adolescents worldwide, while Nigeria called on the special session to give importance to children and armed conflict, a subject also debated in the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural). Nigeria noted that 13 million children are already orphans of HIV/AIDS, and that this number might reach 40 million by the end of the decade. Sri Lanka described the erosion of family relationships that are essential for a child's welfare and proposed a “comprehensive cultural endeavor” to resuscitate the well-being of families.

World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (WCAR)

31 August-7 September 2001, Durban (South Africa)

In resolution A/RES/55/84, the GA agreed that the World Conference Against Racism should adopt a declaration and programme of action containing concrete and practical recommendations. These should, among other things, consider economic and social measures in favour of people marginalized as a result of present or past discrimination. All preparations should emphasize a gender-based approach and pay special attention to children and youth. From 15-16 January 2001, informal consultations were held in Geneva to discuss the agenda and proposed contents of the Draft Declaration and Programme of Action of the WCAR. An Open-Ended Intersessional Working Group on the WCAR, scheduled for 6-9 March 2001 in Geneva, discussed the first draft of these documents. A second session of the preparatory committee will be organized from 21 May-1 June 2001 in Geneva.

The GA also agreed to encourage the widest possible participation of NGOs at the conference; request the High Commissioner for Human Rights to undertake appropriate consultations with NGOs including with regard to the NGO Forum to be held before and during the conference; and invite governments to promote the participation of national institutions and local NGOs.

Second World Assembly on Ageing

8-12 April 2002, Madrid, Spain

The GA agreed to hold the Second World Assembly on Ageing as part of the follow-up to the 1999 International Year of Older Persons (A/RES/55/58). The Commission on Social Development will serve as the preparatory committee for the Assembly, which will give particular attention to linkages between ageing and development, and to the needs, priorities and perspectives of developing countries.

Many representatives agreed that issues related to ageing are a critical component of sustainable social development. Spain noted that mainstreaming ageing issues into other forums would be a key measurement of the Assembly's success. Germany said that most social, economic and cultural challenges in the next century would be triggered by the demographic phenomenon of ageing. The Dominican Republic maintained that the 1982 Plan of Action that resulted from the First World Assembly on Ageing had a limited impact because it failed to view the elderly as a resource for achieving its goals. The second Assembly provides an opportunity to correct this basic flaw.

World Summit on Sustainable Development (Rio+10)

2002, South Africa

GA resolution A/RES/55/199 establishes a series of preparatory meetings culminating in a ten-year review of the 1992 UN Conference on the Environment and Development (UNCED). Delegates decided on a name and a venue for the meeting, and called upon the Commission on Sustainable Development to function as the Preparatory Committee. The Commission will meet in New York from 30 April to 2 May, in late January 2002 and in mid-March 2002. A final ministerial level preparatory meeting will convene in mid-May 2002 in Indonesia. The resolution also decides that the Summit should balance debate on economic development, social development and environmental protection, and calls upon the Commission to propose rules for the participation of Major Groups.

Delegates expressed concern over the limited progress made on UNCED's promises since 1992, and called for the meeting to generate renewed high-level political visibility. Belize, speaking for the Caribbean Community, noted those who possessed the ability to make changes appeared least concerned about issues such as global warming and greenhouse gas emissions. Brazil proposed strong emphasis on links between education and sustainable development. The United States said it would disassociate itself from consensus on the “global conference package.”

REPORTS ON SPECIAL SESSIONS

The GA adopted resolutions related to the outcome of two GA special sessions. The 23rd session, referred to as Beijing+5, reviewed the 1995 Beijing Fourth World Conference on Women (FWCW, see NGLS Roundup 56). The 24th session assessed the 1995 World Summit on Social Development (WSSD) and was known as WSSD+5 (see NGLS Roundup 57).

Resolution A/RES/55/71 calls upon governments, the UN system and all relevant actors of civil society to take action to achieve full implementation of the outcome of the 23rd special session and the FWCW's Declaration and Platform for Action. It strongly encourages governments to support civil society, in particular NGOs and women's organizations. It also reaffirms the Platform's and special session's outcome as the basis for future actions, and invites states to report on the measures they take.

The WSSD+5 resolution A/RES/55/46 reaffirms the commitments made by heads of state and government to establish a new consensus placing people at the centre of sustainable development. GA President Holkeri opened a discussion of the review by noting that the outcome document contains about 40 substantial initiatives for action, including a rigorous analysis of new and innovative sources of funding for social development and poverty eradication. A currency transaction or Tobin tax, he noted, might be one route to more effective management of the international financial system. Mr. Holkeri also highlighted the special session's work on seeking ways to improve access to pharmaceuticals in developing countries, and on agreeing to the first-ever international reference to corporate social responsibility.

In the ensuing debate, Cuba pointed out that everything today is globalized except wealth and economic and social development. The United States noted that globalization is a fact, not a policy option. It could bring tremendous benefits to all developing countries, but not all had been able to take advantage of these benefits to the same degree. India stressed investment in social capital, and wondered why this sector had been the most neglected in international cooperation. 

CONVENTION ADOPTED

The GA adopted the Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime and two protocols: the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children; and the Protocol Against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air. An additional protocol on firearms is still being negotiated, with differing points of view on questions related to sale and manufacture.

The GA resolution adopting the Convention calls upon all states to recognize the links between transnational organized criminal activities and acts of terrorism, and to apply the Convention in combating all forms of criminal activity. It also requests the Secretary-General to designate the Centre for International Crime Prevention of the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention as the Convention's secretariat.

NEW AND IMPORTANT AGENDA ITEMS

Global Partnerships

A resolution on global partnerships (A/RES/55/215) reaffirms the central role of the UN in promoting partnerships in the context of globalization. It stresses the need for member states to further discuss these partnerships, and requests the Secretary-General to prepare a report compiling the views of members states and other relevant partners for consideration at the 56th session of the GA.

Germany initiated the resolution and pointed out that it had been based on three fundamental assessments. First, globalization is a fact of life; second, globalization has led to the emergence of new “global players,” particularly from the private sector, which is driving the need for new partnerships between these actors, the UN and member states; and third, this cross-sectional issue is so important it should involve all member states. India said that an example of a real global partnership would be if pharmaceutical companies were to develop cures for diseases that mainly affect poor citizens in the developing world, even though there would be less profit for them. Pakistan stressed the primacy of governments as the representatives of peoples and states, and expressed concern about the authoritarian governance structure of many corporate entities. Santa Lucia said the current result of cooperating with the private sector was the acquisition of developing economies by developed economies, which was a form of exploitation and colonization.

NGOs expressed concern about the resolution, which refers primarily to private sector partnerships and builds on the Secretary-General's 1999 Global Compact with corporations. In a briefing organized by the Alliance for a Corporate-Free United Nations, they warned that sustainability must not be redefined to mean “good for big business.”

The Korean Peninsula

More than 100 countries co-sponsored a resolution on peace, security and reunification on the Korean peninsula (A/RES/55/1). It recognizes that the inter-Korean summit, held in Pyongyang (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) from 13-15 June 2000, was a major breakthrough in relations between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea. The resolution calls on both countries to implement the summit's joint declaration, which lays a foundation for peaceful reunification, and it also invites member states to support the process of dialogue and reconciliation.

New Global Human Order

The GA adopted a resolution (A/RES/55/48) that takes note of the new global human order referred to in the Declaration of the South-South Summit, which took place in Havana (Cuba) in April 2000 (See Go Between 81). The Declaration proposes a new global human order to reduce disparities between rich and poor through promoting growth with equity, eradicating poverty, expanding productive employment, and promoting gender equality and social integration. The GA resolution stresses the need for a broad-based consensus for action to achieve development and poverty eradication, and calls on the Secretary-General to consult with member states and draft a report.

This edition of NGLS Roundup was prepared by the United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service (NGLS). The NGLS Roundup is produced for NGOs and others interested in the institutions, policies and activities of the UN system and is not an official record.