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Interim Statement by President Cardoso on

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Eminent Persons Panel on UN-Civil Society Relations


November 14, 2003


Interim statement by President Cardoso
Chair of the Panel of Eminent Persons on UN-Civil Society Relations

Subject: Civil Society Access to the Official Documents System

In October, President Cardoso wrote to the UN Secretary-General (SG) on an issue that the Panel has encountered considerably during its consultations – namely the suggestion that NGOs be given gratis access to the UN's Official Document System (ODS).

Civil society needs maximum access to UN information if they are to enhance their constructive contribution to the deliberative process. This is particularly the case for NGOs in developing countries – where the UN is regarded as an important but incomplete source of information. The panel has learnt that, at present, only about 10% of UN documents are available through the UN's external website - meaning that the bulk of documentation that is theoretically in the public domain is in practice difficult to access. Providing NGOs access to the ODS is essentially a budgetary matter, since to do so requires more powerful computer hardware. Hence, without prejudice to the full range of recommendations the panel will eventually make, President Cardoso has encouraged the SG to do what he can to ensure that this provision is financed through the coming year's budget allocation.

The Secretary-General has responded positively and has indicated his intention to urge the General Assembly to approve the necessary budget plans for this.


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FAIR USE NOTICE: This page contains copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Global Policy Forum distributes this material without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. We believe this constitutes a fair use of any such copyrighted material as provided for in 17 U.S.C § 107. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.