Monitoring Policy Making at the United Nations |
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Meeting re NGOs and the GA (4 February, 1997) Amb. Ahmad Kamal
Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN
Speaking Notes for Meeting of the Sub-Group on NGOs
Open-Ended Working Group on the Strengthening of the UN System
4 February 1997
I would like to thank nongovernmental organisations for responding to the call of Member States to share their views on a matter which concerns both governments and NGOs.As you are aware, this Subgroup on Non-Governmental Organsations was established on 23 January 1997.
The inspiration for the creation of this Subgroup came from the historic decision of the ECOSOC (E/1996/297) which recommended to the General Assembly to examine the question of the participation of NGOs in all areas of the work of the United Nations. On 25 July 1996, at the time of the adoption of the decision, the President of ECOSOC had read out an interpretive statement. The ECOSOC decision and the interpretive statement broadly define the parameters of our exercise.
At the current phase of our work, we are engaged in the task of determining our mandate, our programme of work and our working methods. Once we have crossed this bridge, we would get down to the substantive aspects of our work to which Member States and NGOs alike attach importance and urgency.
The United Nations system and Member States owe a debt of gratitude to the nongovernmental organisations and other actors of civil society for their rich contribution to the domain of multilateral diplomacy and for their consistent efforts to bring us closer to the peoples of the world. In the recent past, we have witnessed the strengthening of the roles of NGOs as "consultants," "advocates" and even "partners" of our Organisation.
An entrenched attitude of philistinism is giving way to a growing consciousness about a new relationship between Member States and NGOs. In a new culture of international cooperation, we are gradually exploring ways and means to associating NGOs not only in the more traditional fields of social and economic development, development assistance, human rights, women's rights and environment, but also in the areas of peace and security, humanitarian assistance and global economy. In this exercise, we all have to work for a common cause.
This is a daunting challenge. Our confidence stems from the fact that we are not starting from scratch. Many existing and overlapping relationships provide us with a reliable map for a goal-oriented navigation.
We welcome you in our midst to give us fresh inputs and insights, and your expert advice. From generalities we can now go straight ot the practical questions before us:
First and foremost, we would like to hear about your intimate and first-hand experiences about the existing practice -- not in the ECOSOC, with which we are all familiar, but in the GA and its Main Committees and other parts of the UN system.
Secondly, your experience about attendance, seating, access to documents, access to the Secretariat and delegates, etc.
Thirdly, your advice on whether the current exercise should limit itself to the question of the modalities of NGOs' participation in the work of the General Assembly and its Main Committees, and in international conferences and special sessions, but also address the desirability and feasibility of NGOs' participation in all areas of the work of the United Nations.
Fourthly, your understanding of the definition of civil society, and the proposal for the convening of a Civil Society Forum.
Fifthly, your recommendations on exploring new and innovative mechanisms, which could be examined along with the mechanisms that have been in place for the last five decades.
Lastly, your suggestions about introducing equitable geographical balance in the representation of non-governmental organisations.
Before I open the floor to NGOs, I would like to announce that Member States may participate in an interactive dialogue with the NGOs. Delegates who wish to ask a question or make a comment may raise their flags and I shall give them the floor at the appropriate time.
I would now invite the representatives of NGOs to give their comments. It would be appreciated if they focus on the six points listed in paragraph 8 of my Speaking Notes. I would hope that representatives speaking on behalf of a group of NGOs will not exceed about 8 to 10 minutes at most, and individual speakers about 3 to 5 minutes.
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