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Informal Consultations on NGOs Conclude Informal Consultations on NGOs Conclude
By Bill Pace and Naomi Onaga
World Federalist Movement
December 17, 1997On Wednesday 17 December, governments held the final informal consultation on a text for a draft resolution dealing with NGO access to the UN (1996/297). According to reports we have received, governments were able to come to consensus on a text, but one that only deals with calling for a report on NGO participation by the Secretary General "for consideration and action by the 53rd Session of the GA" (starting September 1998).
The text (copied below) is supposed to be introduced on Friday December 19, the last day of the 52nd session, in the GA Plenary as a draft decision, and adopted by consensus. (However, we have heard that the Plenary may not meet on Friday 12/19, and may be postponed until Tuesday 12/23 because it is currently in intense negotiation on the Secretary-General's reform recommendations.)
Other elements of the proposal presented to the open informal meeting on December 8, 1998 chaired by Ambassador Kamal were rejected by the governments, including most importantly the provisions which would have provided an interim invitation of NGOs to participate in the work of the General Assembly Plenary, its Main Committees, Special Sessions, and intergovernmental subsidiary bodies.
I. FINAL AGREED CONSENSUS TEXT (expected to be issued as Presidential text for draft decision and adopted on Friday, 19 December 1997) <Fifty-second session--A/52/L.71 Agenda item 60--17 December 1997
Strengthening the United Nations System Canada: draft decision Non-Governmental organizations The General Assembly, recalling the relevant provisions of the Charter, in particular Article 71 and Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/31 of 25 July 1996 and decision 1996/297 of 25 July 1996, as well as the interpretative statement read by the Council President upon adoption of the latter decision, requests the Secretary-General to prepare and circulate no later than the end of its current session, for consideration and action by the 53rd session of the General Assembly, a report on
(a) Existing arrangements and practices for the interaction of non-governmental organizations in all activities of the United Nations system;
(b) The legal and financial implications of modifications in the current arrangements for participation of non-governmental organizations with a view to enhancing their participation in all areas of the United Nations system;
(c) The question of the participation of non-governmental organizations from all regions, particularly from developing countries.
II. INTGLIM Analysis And StrategyINTGLIM is very disappointed the draft resolution discussed in the December 8 open informal meeting was eviscerated except for the request to the Secretary General for a report. We believed that the interim invitation of NGOs was an integral part of the original proposal, which represented the next steps of enhancing NGO access to the UN - this approach was put forth in the "Compromise Resolution Proposal" that NGOs issued in June.
Thus resistant countries were able to defeat those who supported the modest, but effective compromise resolution presented 8 December (Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Liechtenstein, Norway, New Zealand, Malaysia, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, and UK spoke in favor of the proposal at the 8 December consultations, including the interim invitation of NGOs.) Minimalists, led mostly by members of the Arab group, particularly Egypt and Algeria, garnered support from the Africa Group and France, to push for deletion of almost all measures. Other countries, including Cuba and India, obstructed coming to a compromise agreement in insisting on an expanded scope that most countries were not willing to accept.
INTGLIM is anxious to hear advice on how to proceed from those NGOs, which number hundreds throughout the world, who have participated and supported this important effort. Tentative strategies we believe should be considered include:
1. Continue support for a resolution including most of the elements included in the December 8 draft resolution, especially for a decision granting NGOs rights of access and participation in the GA, Main Committees, Special Sessions, and GA intergovernmental subsidiary bodies.
Encourage NGOs to take the December 8 draft resolution to their governments during the next 6-12 months securing endorsements by governments from all regions. We should oppose any efforts to suspend discussion on these issues until after the Secretary- General's report has been issued and discussed in the General Assembly, which could easily take 2-4 years. A resolution allowing NGOs to participate in the GA would in large part only formalize existing practices and should be adopted immediately.
2. Prepare NGO papers on the existing arrangements and practices in the UN system, on legal, financial, and other practical aspects of expanding NGO rights in the UN, as well as recommendations for how NGO participation can be expanded and enhanced.
3. Encourage close cooperation with the Secretary General and others in preparation of the SG report to be requested by the General Assembly.
Hopefully, by the time the report is issued next August or September, NGOs will have secured the support of another 50-100 governments for the elements of the December 8 draft resolution. We hope that first thing next year after the holidays, NGOs can come together to strategize.
III. Report on Proceeding of 17 December MeetingThe fifth informal government consultation during the 52nd GA to discuss expanding NGO access in the United Nations was scheduled for 11:00 AM on 17 December in Conference Room 6.
There was a new proposal at hand (see below); - a one paragraph text which dealt only with requesting the Secretary-General to conduct a study on NGOs. The other elements of the original proposal had been completely deleted, including the interim invite of NGOs to the GA, and the idea of undertaking a "review of all aspects of the participation of NGOs".
The Africa Group and Arab Group stated that they had not had time to meet and consult, and asked for postponement of the meeting. It was rescheduled for 4:00 in Conference Room 7.
The meeting reconvened from 4:00 PM to 6:45 PM, and governments, after discussion of amendments brought forward, mostly by the Africa Group, came to consensus on a text (A/52/L.71), which is to be presented as a draft decision to be adopted by consensus in the GA Plenary meeting on Friday, 19 December. The text as drafted requests a study from the Secretary-General to be prepared and circulated not later than the end of the 52nd session (which ends technically on December 19 1997 but resumes repeatedly, possibly about once a month, through August 1998), for consideration by the 53rd session (which is September through December 1998, and resumes on and off through August 1998). One of the changes made during the discussions was to delete language calling for looking at possible options for enhancement of NGO participation. The idea of calling for examination of the legal and financial implications was one introduced previously by Egypt.
Apparently, subsequent to the Monday, 15 December consultations, at which the G-77/NAM/JCC, the Africa Group, and the Arab Group asked for postponement or a slowing down of the process on the draft text for a GA resolution, there was intense private consultation among governments. It became clear that there was not enough support for the original draft text presented on Monday, December 8, and it could not be adopted as a consensus text because a number of governments objected, particularly to the interim invitation of NGOs to the GA. Even governments that supported the original draft text of 8 December in the end decided to try to compromise on just a study.
Many thanks to those who followed our reports, who responded so quickly to urgent requests, and who assisted us in compiling these reports. Please contact Bill Pace or Naomi Onaga at 212- 599-1320 should you desire more information. Happy Holidays.
Proposal at December 17 11:00 AMAt its ... plenary meeting on ... December 1997, the General Assembly, recalling Article 71 of the Charter, and Economic and Social Council Resolution 1996/31 and Decision 1996/297, as well as the interpretative statement read by the Council President upon adoption of the latter decision, requested the Secretary- General to prepare and circulate no later than the end of its current session, for consideration by the 53rd session of the General Assembly, a report on existing arrangements and practices, including the relevant legal and financial framework, regarding the involvement of NGOs in all areas of the work of the United Nations, as well as information on possible options for enhancing such involvement.#026#
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