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Civil Society Observer
is a bi-monthly package of documentation of various kinds from all political
persuasions to keep you informed of developments related to NGOs and civil
society.
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The
views reflected in this publication are those of the authors and not those
of the United Nations
Non-Governmental Liaison Service or the UN system. See UN Link -- http://www.un.org/terms.htm#disclaimer |
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These articles offer a snapshot of how NGOs and civil society are being portrayed and profiled in the press around the world.
Can democracy find a home in the Arab world? This was the question under discussion at the Conference on Arab Reform recently held under the aegis of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Read how participants concluded that reform is a responsibility to be shouldered by governments, civil society institutions and the private sector with the aim of creating authentic democratic systems in the Arab world. (read)
The Labour government in the United Kingdom is calling upon voluntary sector organizations to play a potentially greater role in the administration of public services. Read how the government is politically committed to the "third way" making the voluntary sector as integral to public service delivery in Britain as either the public or private sectors. (read)
Tame demonstrations were recently reported at the World Bank/IMF spring meetings in Washington DC. Does this signify that opposition to economic globalization is dormant? Read the author's answer that suggests critics of globalization fight on two levels, with street protests being only the most visible of them. The critics also pursue their struggle through various panels and committees and lately the committee comrades have been doing rather well. Thus, one shouldn't be fooled by the relative calm in Washington. (read) The state should be playing the central role in the new practices of governance rather than creating a parallel system involving civil society in the areas of service delivery. Read how the author argues that citizens continue to have high expectations of the state because they still see it as the repository of public itnerest and because they are unsure to whom civil society and NGOs are accountable. (read)
One often comes across
the argument that globalization, as we know it, is a fait accompli, a
process entirely outside our control, but Mr. Gorbachev argues that globalization,like
all other economic regimes, is based on political choice. This choice
leaves room for alternatives designed to more adequately address global
problems like poverty and ecological discruption. In this regard, NGOs
may well be catalysts in changing the behavioral patterns of the ruling
elites in order to bring about change. (read)
The US-led coalition
in Afghanistan has distributed leaflets calling on people to provide information
on al-Qaida and the Taliban or face losing humanitarian aid. The move
has outraged aid organizations who said their work is independent of the
military and it was despicable to pretend otherwise. Medécins Sans
Frontières, the international medical charity which passed the
leaflets to the Guardian, said the threat endangered aid workers. (read)
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Statements and positions from NGOs and civil society are featured here to demonstrate how these actors relate to the UN system and use multilateral fora to advance the issues they champion. Also featured is documentation on civil society and NGOs emanating from the multilateral system.
At the close of the Commission on Sustainable Development, in a rare presentation, all nine Major Groups spoke with one voice saying the review session had been very participatory but failed to prioritize issues of concern on the water, sanitation and human settlements theme. (read)
Addressing the High Level Meeting, NGOs raised the issue of strengthening the Financing for Development process both by giving it a firm intergovernmental framework and strengthening its secretariat. Hearings were held with civil society, based on discussion papers on capital flows, commodities, HIPC, and current issues in trade. (read joint NGO statement) (read other documents)
This statement of support for the UN Human Rights Norms for Business, was presented to the UN Commission on Human Rights and urges that the norms be studied carefully before any decision is taken on their fate. (read)
This paper was presented
to the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum and
lays out civil society positions in relation to goals and targets on water,
sanitation and human settlements. |
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This section draws on the scholarly/academic discourse on the significance of NGOs and civil society in both international and national political landscapes.
Civil Society has become a vital driver of change and democratization of global decision-making, and in doing so, has been drawn to the UN system. In the span of time since the UN's creation in 1945, Civil Society participation in decision-making processes has manifested itself in different ways; to the point where it is possible to speak of two generations of UN-Civil Society relations. However, the evolution of these relations is ongoing and a third generation is emerging, which is raising new questions and challenges. (read)
Over the past year, a shadow has been cast on foundations, as the media has focused on the misdeeds and financial abuses of a few organizations. According to Susan Berresord, President of the Ford Foundation, creating accountability should therefore be a priority in a foundation's responsibility to the public. This articles offers recommendations on how foundations can raise their level of accountability. (read)
Typically, when we think of governance, we think of governance by institutions of government either by a single state or by some kind of inter-governmental institution or agency of states. In recent years, however, private locations of authority -- the market, civil society and illicit actors -- have begun to influence and govern a growing number of issues. This article examines some of the implications associated with this trend. (read)
Compelled to act in the face of devastating violence, Columbian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are working to build a shared understanding on the causes of the conflict afflicting their country and to develop appropriate responses. Read how they are developing initiatives focused on inclusion, participation, and democratic renewal to model a path towards the peaceful future so many Columbians desire. (read)
Bilateral donors and major Northern development agencies are becoming more selective in the types of organisations and activities they will fund and the types of account keeping they demand from recipients. New requirements are forcing small non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in developing countries to change the way they work. They might be becoming more efficient, but are they also losing their ability to respond to the needs of the communities they serve? (read)
A sign of the times: humanitarian action has become more vulnerable. Humanitarian organizations mourn colleagues killed in suicide attacks or murdered, most recently in Afghanistan and Iraq. In certain contexts, the increasing threat has rendered the humanitarian mission almost impossible. How serious are these dangers and what can be done to ensure organizations continue to act in close proximity to the victims? Read how the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is offering some elements of a response. (read) http://www.redcross.int/ (Version française) (Version espanola)
After a third visit
to the World Economic Forum, the author concluded that the divide between
Davos and Mumbai (World Social Forum) can be over-dramatized and that
both sides are in fact in the process of adjusting their mindsets. Read
how he suggests "top down" changes to the market system to help
social entrepreneurs bring "bottom up" acitivites into the global
arena. (read)
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Advocacy is a feature often associated with NGOs and civil society, but many also have the capacity to produce compelling and valuable research, which underpins their advocacy work. This section carries examples of recent civil society and NGO research.
The Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) were designed by the IMF and the World Bank to increase the participation of citizens' groups in the development of policies and loan programs. Has it had its intended effect? Read how the findings of this new Discussion Paper suggest that the PRSP process has not enabled civil society organizations to influence or change economic policies. (read)
"Frustrating the hopes of peoples and nations all around the globe will certainly not help make the world a more secure place for our children," says the Social Watch 2004 report. Read how Social Watch, which tracks progress and regression on eradicating poverty and achieving gender equity, considers the link between fear, want and human security. (read)
This global survey, covering press relations personnel in headquarters and regional offices of 54 humanitarian relief organizations, and 290 international journalists who cover them, is to date the largest, most comprehensive survey of the relationship between international journalists and NGOs. Read about the factors that put coverage of humanitarian issues low on the media agenda and what NGOs can do to improve the coverage of their issues. (read)
Paul Mylrea, head of media at Oxfam GB, responds to the above study "Toward New Understandings: Journalists & Humanitarian Relief Coverage." (read)
A Collaboration between indigenous leaders, social activists and scholars from a wide range of disciplines, "In the Way of Development" explores the current situation of indigenous peoples enmeshed in the remorseless expansion of the modern economy and shows how the boundaries between indigenous peoples' organizations, civil society, the state, markets, development and the environment are ambiguous and constantly changing. (read)
This report looks at how conditionalities and pressures from aid agencies and development banks force developing countries to adopt privatization policies in public services. It concludes that the pressures for privatization have been strengthened through new structures of "globalized aid" that create serious limitations on independent decision-making by developing countries. (read)
This book discusses the legal status of the World Bank and the IMF, in relation to human rights obligations and to issues in the political and economic field. It draws on the institutional challenges of accountability towards human rights, especially under the purview of self-regulatory mechanisms. (read)
The Concord Advisory
Group's study on "Effective NGOs' Advocacy Strategies Towards the
European Union," looks at a number of issues, including the role
of development organizations, national platforms, networks and family
groups and weaknesses and strengths of European campaigns. (read)
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