Monitoring Policy Making at the United Nations |
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NGO Statement to Essy Group (4 Feb 1997 NGO Statement to Essy Sub-Group
Statement to the Sub-Group on Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) of the Open-Ended High-level Working Group on the Strengthening of the UN System
Concerning ECOSOC decision 1996/297 - Extending Arrangements for NGOs Beyond ECOSOC in the United Nations4 February 1997
The undersigned NGOs wish to express our common concerns and hopes regarding the mandate and scope of work for the Sub-Group on Non- governmental Organizations of the Open-ended High-level Working Group on the Strengthening of the UN System.
Most of the following issues were covered in NGO statements on 9 December 1996 at the General Assembly "sounding" for NGOs convened by H.E. Ambassador Kamal of Pakistan. However, some government representatives in the Sub-Group may not have attended the December meeting, so we wish to reiterate, complement or supplement certain concerns. This is particularly important because the Sub-Group regrettably has not yet found a modality for NGOs to monitor firsthand its work.
As many of us stated at the December sounding, it is imperative that NGOs be able to monitor, and on occasion, contribute to the deliberations of the Sub-Group. It is understandable that governments, when they believe it will be helpful to reaching consensus, will hold closed meetings without NGOs present. However, closed meetings of this Sub-Group on NGOs should be the exception rather than the rule.
We view with grave concern the fact that so many governments, most of which operate on open and democratic principles, are apparently opposing transparency in the Sub-Group. In our view, this practice contradicts statements by governments about the importance they attach to the new roles, new processes, and enhanced contributions of NGOs at the United Nations. NGOs have a great deal to contribute to the discussions and negotiations of this Sub-Group, not as negotiators, but as consultants on the substantive issues involved.
Mandate, Scope and Programme of Work.
Non-Paper 1 of the Sub-Group outlines the scope and programme of work, proposing in effect that the Sub-Group address the recommendation in ECOSOC decision 1996/297 in three ways:
(a) GA and Main Committees;
(b) UN Conferences and Special Sessions convened by the GA;
(c) UN System, IFIs, programmes, agencies, treaty bodies.
We, the undersigned NGOs agree that this proposal is both clear and logical. We believe that progress on (a) and (b) can and should be made expeditiously, followed by action on item (c). We believe the arrangements for NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC, as agreed to in Resolution 1996/31, form the basis for arrangements in (a) the General Assembly and its Main Committees. The arrangements in (b) "UN Conferences" have already been completed as provided for in Part VII of 1996/31. We believe these arrangements in Part VII of 1996/31 should also provide the basis for arrangements in Special Sessions convened by the GA.
The arrangements in resolution 1996/31 were carefully negotiated and concluded in July 1996. Therefore, it should not take the Sub-Group much time to agree to a resolution which adapts and improves upon such arrangements for the General Assembly, Main Committees, and Special Sessions.
The issues in category (c) will, we believe, require a more complex process of discussion and negotiation. As the Sub-Group will be dealing with many different institutions, a complex array of legal and political questions will be involved. It will take the Sub- Group considerable time to learn about and compare the current arrangements for NGO participation in these many different bodies. It will then need to deliberate about what new arrangements should be proposed where none now exist and to consider where harmonization of existing and proposed arrangements would be beneficial.
At this later stage of deliberations, it will be vital that the NGOs already working with these other bodies in the UN system, such as UNESCO, UNICEF, Global Environmental Facility of the World Bank, treaty bodies, etc., be able to provide information and recommendations to the Sub-Group. This is another compelling reason to allow NGOs to attend the Sub-Group's meetings.
During the review of NGO arrangements with ECOSOC, there was strong support in the NGO community for both the proposal to extend consultative arrangements for NGOs beyond the Council to all areas of the UN as well as for the separate decision 1996/297, which was adopted by consensus. We believe, however, that there is no reason to delay agreement on extending arrangements for NGOs to (a) the GA and Main Committees and (b) Special Sessions of the GA until after examination of and agreement on (c) the UN System, IFIs, programmes, agencies, and treaty bodies.
Existing Practices.
We, the undersigned organizations, believe strongly that the negotiations of this Sub-Group should not put in jeopardy the many valuable ways NGOs are already contributing to the work of the General Assembly, its Main Committees and other areas of the UN. For this reason, we are particularly interested to hear the commitment from all member states neither to allow any diminution of "existing practices" nor to allow these practices to be suspended or become pawns during the negotiations. We would like clear reassurance that these negotiations will only explore ways in which arrangements can be improved upon and/or expanded. Indeed, should the negotiations be leading to a diminution of these practices, we would rather they be suspended than take us backward.
We are conducting an NGO-designed survey to capture current methods of participation and existing practice in the General Assembly and its Main Committees as well as to seek examples of "best practices" from various UN and related meetings. We would like to present these findings to the Sub-Group during its next round of meetings. We hope the Sub-Group will consider and incorporate these practices in the arrangements and the resolution which the full Working Group will propose to the General Assembly.
Transparency and the participation of NGOs in the meetings of the Sub-Group
We view with great concern the apparent disagreement among governments over the question of whether NGOs should be allowed to monitor the negotiations of the Sub-Group. We strongly urge those governments opposed to monitoring of the Sub-Group by NGOs to reconsider this issue since, in fact, NGOs attend daily the regular meetings of the General Assembly as a matter of existing practice. Moreover, there is no provision in GA Resolution 49/52 establishing the Open-ended Working Group on Strengthening the United Nations System which mandates that meetings of the Working Group or its sub-groups be closed.
We believe that increasing transparency in decision-making at the United Nations is a fundamental element in the reform, strengthening and democratization of the Organization. Prompt extension of NGO access and participation to the General Assembly, its Main Committees and Special Sessions, and further consideration of extending these arrangements to other areas of the UN is essential. We look forward to working with the Sub-Group in pursuit of these goals.
Organizations Endorsing the Common NGO Statement
All India Women's Conference
Arab Lawyers' Union
Center for Women's Global Leadership
Franciscans International
Global Policy Forum
International Alliance of Women
International Confederations of Free Trade Unions
International Federation of Human Rights
International Planned Parenthood Federations
Lutheran World Federation
NGO Committee on Disarmament
Population Communications International
Rotary International
Society for International Development
United Nations Association of Canada
United Nations Association of the United Kingdom
United Nations Associaton of the United States of America
World Federalist Movement
World Federatin of United Nations Associations
Note: Many additional NGOs signed this statement after it was first presented. We will not seek to maintain a complete list at the GPF posting.
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