United Nations Reform - UN-Civil Society Relations

Visit the "UNITED NATIONS WORLD SUMMIT 2005" section UN Summit Follow-Up:
United Nations Communications Group held a meeting on 15 November 2005, on the Summit follow-up.

As background to this UNCG meeting, a letter sent on 3 November by General Assembly President Jan Eliasson to Member States, summarizing progress thus far on Summit follow-up, and outlining his proposals for the approach to be taken by the GA regarding a) development and ECOSOC reform, and b) Secretariat and management reform.

Implementation of Decisions from the 2005 World Summit: Outcome for Action by the Secretary-General

Informal consultations with NGOs was organized on 22 November 2005 in Palais des Nations in Geneva, at the initiative of the President of the 60th session of the General Assembly, Mr Jan Eliasson, and the two co-chairs on the establishment of a Human Rights Council.

These meetings have been organized following the consultation between the Chairperson of the 61st session of the Commission on Human Rights with the President of the General Assembly in New York on 25 October 2005

Download the report of the Meeting written by Mr Cyril Ritchie.

In September 2002, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan released his report on UN Reform "Strengthening of the United Nations: an agenda for further change", which put forth a package of proposals, including an independent panel of eminent persons to review relations between the United Nations and Civil Society. The High-Level Panel began its work in June 2003, and, after a series of briefings, workshops, and regional consultations, produced its report containing reform proposals in June 2004, to which Mr. Annan responded in his report in September 2004. The subject was debated in the General Assembly from 4-5 October 2004.

United Nations General Assembly Debate

The General Assembly on 4-5 October 2004 took up agenda item 52, on revitalizing its work, and item 54, on strengthening the United Nations system under which Member States spoke on UN-civil society relations. While several Member States expressed their interest in enhancing civil society participation in the UN’s work, some recommended that a cautious approach be taken in reforming current UN practices so that the Organization retains its intergovernmental nature. Wrapping up the two-day discussion, the President of the General Assembly, Mr. Jean Ping, proposed to undertake further consultations with Member States.

For a more detailed account of the proceedings, please read this article

Secretary-General report "In Larger Freedom: Towards Security, Development and Human Rights for All" (fra - spa) (22 March 2005) - NGOs comment on the Report

Here are some of the statements delivered to the General Assembly by Member States on Revitalization of the Work of the General Assembly (item 52) and Strengthening of the United Nations System (item 54):

* Australia/Canada/New Zealand
* Cuba
* European Union
* India
* South Africa
* Switzerland
* USA
* Zimbabwe

Summary of the General Assembly Statements during the General Debate on UN-Civil Society Relations (04-05 October 2004) - by UNDP CSO Division in BRSP (Bureau for Resources and Strategic Partnerships)

Reports

Following extensive consultations with a wide range of stakeholders, the Panel issued a report in June 2004 with proposals on how to enhance UN-civil society relations. In response to these recommendations, the Secretary-General delivered a follow-up report with comments on the Panel’s work. Both of these reports are available below:

* Secretary-General report "In Larger Freedom: Towards Security, Development and Human Rights for All" (fra - spa) (22 March 2005)
* Report of the UN Secretary-General on the Proposals of the High Level Panel on Civil Society - Bios of the Panel Eminent Persons
(French - Spanish - Arabic)
* Report of the Panel of Eminent Persons on United Nations-Civil Society Relations (French - Spanish - Arabic)

Survey of Civil Society

In late 2003, the Panel circulated questionnaires to canvas the experiences of civil society and other actors, such as the private sector and parliamentarians, active within the UN system at a national and international level. The findings of this survey were presented in a report that was considered by the Panel in several recommendations it made to the Secretary-General. Available below are the report and the questionnaire used for the survey.

* Report of survey on the UN and Civil Society relations
* Questionnaire on UN and Civil Society Relationship

Background papers

To assist the Panel in its work, a series of background papers were prepared to provide insight on current practices, trends and challenges describing the relationship between the UN and civil society. The papers addressed a range of practices including: partnerships, civil society engagement in the UN, strategic challenges facing civil society and the UN, etc.

* Contextual paper prepared by the Panel’s Chairman Fernando Henrique Cardoso
* "UN System and Civil Society- An Inventory and Analysis of Practices," Background Paper for the Secretary-General’s Panel of Eminent Persons on United Nations Relations with Civil Society
* Modes of CSO influence in the UN and Global Governance
* The Diversity of Actors within the UN System
* Collection of Materials from the Multi-Stakeholder Workshop on Partnerships and UN - Civil Society Relationships, edited by Zehra Aydin - Summary->http://www.un-ngls.org/doc/pocantic...]
* Strategic Partnership: Challenges and Best Practices in the Management and Governance of Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships Involving UN and Civil Society Actors - by Carmen Malena
* Three Generations of UN-Civil Society Relations: A Quick Sketch - by Tony Hill, UN-NGLS
* Report of the Secretary-General - "Views of Member States, members of the specialized agencies, observers, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations from all regions on the report of the Secretary-General on arrangements and practices for the interaction of non-governmental organizations in all activities of the United Nations system". A/54/329: Sept 8, 1999
* Report of the Secretary-General - Arrangements and practices for the interaction of non-governmental organizations in all activities of the United Nations system - A/53/170: July 10, 1998
* Guest Editorial in "Go Between 67" By Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations, Dec 1997/Jan 1998
* Secretary-General Cites ’Profound Change’ in Role of Non-Governmental Organizations, in Opening Address to Fiftieth DPI/NGO Conference Calls United Nations/NGO Partnership "Not an Option But a Necessity" for Effectively Addressing New Global Agenda - 10 September 1997 - more
* Renewing the United Nations: A Programme for Reform" - Secretary General’s Report - A/51/950: 14 July 1997

NGOs respond to the Panel Report

Following the release of the Panel’s report, NGOs prepared statements in response to the Panel’s recommendations. Several of these statements, available below, were delivered in writing to the Deputy Secretary-General from August to October 2004.
* Amnesty International
* Baha’I International Community, Quakers, Human Rights Watch, International Alliance for Women, International Service for Human Rights, and The Lutheran World Federation (Joint Statement)
* Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations (CONGO)
* Global Policy Forum (GPF)
* NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security
* Third World Network (TWN)
* Women Environment Development Organization (WEDO)
* World Alliance for Citizen Participation (CIVICUS)
* World Federalist Movement (WFM)
* World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA)

Other Materials
Reform of the Human Rights Commission
* CONGO Joint Statement on the Reform of the Human Rights Commission (French version) (12 April 2005)

Documents released in World Social Forum Porto Alegre 2005
* "Reforming the United Nations for a New Global Agenda" by: Socialist International
* “Reclaim Our UN” by: Tavola Della Pace
* Appeal by Tavola Della Pace
* ["Porto Alegre Manifesto" by: G-19 - (FRA) - (SPA)

Towards a consensus in shaping the future of United Nations - NGO Relations

This briefing paper prepared by a group of NGOs addresses some of the major concerns expressed by civil society organizations and Member States regarding some of the recommendations presented by the Panel of Eminent Persons on UN—Civil Society Relations and the Secretary-General - download

Asia Civil Society Forum 2005

This is the final statement of the Asia Civil Society Forum 2005 on the UN-Civil Society Relations - download

Asia Civil Society Forum 2004

This is the final statement of the Asia Civil Society Forum 2004 on the UN-Civil Society Relations - download

UN publications

UNIDO : Economic Development and UN Reform - Towards a common agenda for action - A proposal in the context of the Millennium Development Goals - download

United Nations Webcast

Official Launch of the Cardoso report (22 June 2004) Video Record (84 min)

Real Player needed to view webcasts click here for free download

Archive of this section