Information You Can Use:
A Bi-monthly Service for the UN and Civil Society
Volume I, Issue 3, June-July 2004

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.
It is divided into four sections:

• In the Press – snapshots of how NGOs and civil society are being portrayed by the media and news outlets around the world;
• Trends and Debates –this features academic and scholarly discourse on the role and significance of NGOs and civil society in the contemporary world;
• CSOs and the Multilateral System – position papers, statements and other documents delivered by civil society and NGOs at multilateral and international meetings and events. It also carries documentation relating to NGOs and civil society emanating from the multilateral system.
• CSO Research – featuring analysis and research originating from civil society and NGOs.

These articles offer a snapshot of how NGOs and civil society are being portrayed and profiled in the press around the world.

SDF vs. NGO - An Iraqi Tale of Cost Effectiveness
The Japan Times - 16 May 2004 -
Nao Shimoyachi

Military forces have played an active role in providing humanitarian assistance in Iraq, but are they best suited to support Iraqis in their reconstruction efforts? Are traditional actors involved in humanitarian work, such as NGOs, better equipped to assist Iraqis? Learn how these questions are being addressed by critics in Japan. (read)

NGOs to Get Strong Encryption Tool
Bangkok Post - 7 July 20044

A device has recently been designed for NGOs handling confidential information, such as the names of whistleblowers, which they may wish to safeguard from the reach of government agencies, intelligence groups or other parties. Read how a new programme is helping Thai NGOs keep private information electronically safe. (read)

NGOs Warned They May Be Next
The Moscow Times - 27 May 2004 -
Francesca Mereu


Some are sensing that opposition within Russia's political landscape is withering due to the Putin government's authoritative tendencies: critical television stations have been forced to close, while certain opposition parties are being cast out of the State Duma. Read how NGOs fear that this alarming trend may lead to their work being undermined. (read)

As NGOs Multiply, They Expand a New Private Sector
Wall Street Journal - 22 June 2004
George Melloan

Over the last quarter of century, the number of NGOs operating globally has increased dramatically. NGOs, much like multinational corporations, are permeating diplomatic processes that were once exclusive to State actors. Read how the growing influence of private mission-oriented groups is affecting global politics. (read)

Who's Afraid of NGOs: The Paranoid Right
The Age (Melbourne) - 28 June 2004
Paul Smyth

Have NGOs become a threat or a benefit to modern democracies by being politically active through their advocacy work? Read how the threat of NGOs may be overstated and that in fact the diversity of opinion brought forth by the non-profit sector may be enriching rather than impoverishing democratic institutions. (read)

The Next Step for Civil Society: Daring to Walk the Talk
The Straights Times (Singapore) - 21 June 2004
Zuraidah Ibrahim

In Singapore, civil society organizations have traditionally remained non-partisan towards the political process. As a result, the Singapore Government created roundtables through which civil society organizations could contribute to the political process. These roundtables, however, have not generated the engagement the government hoped for. Is it time for civil society groups to become more engaged through political parties instead?. (read)

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.

Statement by NGO Participants at the Global Compact Summit
New York -- 24 June 2004

At the Global Compact Summit, participating NGOs delivered a collective statement in which they recommended further steps for the Compact to get private sector companies to better respect human rights and the environment. The statement underscores that the Compact, without proper reporting and grievance mechanisms, risks falling short of its potential. (read)

Joint Civil Society Statement at the Global Compact Counter-Summit
New York -- 23 June 2004

On the eve the Global Compact Summit, a group of non-governmental organizations gathered to voice major concerns about the Compact's efforts on corporate accountability. The "Global Compact Counter-Summit," was organized by the Alliance for a Corporate-Free UN and included guest speakers and panel discussions. The Counter-Summit concluded with a written statement, signed by organizations and individuals in attendance, and circulated at the official Summit. (read)

Security Council Open Debate on the Role of Civil Society in Post-Conflict Peace-Building
New York -- 22 June 2004

For the first time since 1994, NGOs - CARE International and the International Center for Transitional Justice - were invited to attend and address a Security Council meeting. Both organizations stated that greater inclusion of civil society organizations in post-conflict peace-building was essential if peace and justice were to be reached. (CARE statement) (ICTJ statement)

Civil Society Declaration and Memorandum to UNCTAD XI
Sao Paulo, Brazil - June 2004

At the Civil Society Forum that preceded UNCTAD XI, participants produced a Declaration reaffirming their support for a model of international trade committed to gender equality, social rights and sustainable development with economic and political objectives that do not sidestep the sovereignty of national governments. NGOs at UNCTAD XI also expressed concern about the selection of a new Secretary-General. In a memorandum, civil society groups emphasized the need for the UN to appoint an individual that will strengthen UNCTAD, and who will have great awareness of social issues affecting developing countries.
(read the Forum Declaration - 12 June 2004)
(read the Memorandum on Leadership - 21 June 2004)

CONGO Statement to the ECOSOC High Level Segment
New York -- 28 June 2004

This statement, presented by the Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations at the ECOSOC High Level Segment, emphasizes the critical role that NGOs have come to play in creating an enabling environment and mobilizing resources to fight poverty. It calls upon States to further integrate NGOs in their poverty eradication strategies and to recognize them as key partners. (read)

NGO Letter to WTO Heads
9 July 2004

Concerned over the lack of consensus over the 'July Package' of Doha Development Agenda negotiations framework -- a group of NGOs has warned WTO heads about procedural irregularities and the downgrading of substantive development concerns. They urge that negotiations be conducted according to agreed principles of transparency and that development rather than deadlines dictate the negotiations framework agreement. (read)

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, Community Participation and Empowerment in the Era of Globalization
Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID) -- May 2004
Marilyn Waring

Civil society organizations are often perceived to be best suited to foster participative forms of development, which in turn helps empower those trying to overcome poverty. But are civil society organizations the only purveyor of participatory development? According to Marilyn Waring, the development work of civil society organizations must be complemented with a rights-based approach in order to generate participatory forms of development. With public and private donors moving away from the rights agenda, participatory development is not having its intended effects. (read)

Civil Domains in African Settings: Some Issues
Southern Africa Regional Poverty Network - 7 June 2004
David Sogge

This discussion paper probes and questions received ideas about civil society in African settings. It defines operative concepts affecting Africa's civil society, while outlining the dilemmas, tensions and possibilities relating to the practical application of these concepts. (read)

Coming Clean: Civil Society Organizations at a Time of Global Uncertainty
The International Journal for Non-for-Profit Law - June 2004
Kumi Naidoo

With the growing militarization of geopolitics, civil society's space is being squeezed, which undermines civic participation worldwide. In response to this democratic deficit, civil society organizations have been promoting greater transparency, legitimacy and accountability within government and business. To maximize their impact, however, civil society will need to apply with the same rigor the tenets they promote. (read)

Business/NGO Partnerships: What's the Payback?
Ethical Corporation - April 2004
Roger Cowe

Business and NGO relations are evolving rapidly. Fueling this trend is the emergence of public-private partnerships. While these partnerships appear to be deepening business/NGO relationships, new risks are surfacing regarding the independence and accountability of NGOs. Roger Cowe suggests that clear cut guidelines along with business behaviour changes will be needed if these partnerships are to seriously tackle issues such as poverty, women's empowerment, sustainable development, etc. (read)

UNHCR and NGOs: Competitors or Companions in Refugee Protection
Migration Policy Institute -- February 2004
Ed Schenkenberg van Mierop

The international protection of the majority of the world's refugees has traditionally been the domain of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). For some time, however, several operational humanitarian NGOs have claimed territory in this area as well. They have developed protection policies and/or designated protection capacities within their offices and field teams. As a result, are these NGOs and UNHCR working as competitors or companions? (read)

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.

Reality of Aid 2004 Report: Focus on Governance and Human Rights in International Cooperation
Reality of Aid Network - June 2004

The findings in the Reality of Aid 2004 report - a North/South non-government initiative looking at aid priorities and policies - unveil how resources for poverty reduction are being diverted to pay for donors' security interests. Read how NGOs have scrutinized the benchmarks - good governance and human rights - for management and coordination of aid and discovered that they are highly inconsistent and political in their application. (read)

An Ounce of Prevention: The Failure of G8 Policy on Armed Conflicts
World Vision - June 2004

This report focuses on the human, social and economic costs that violent conflict has wreaked in sixteen different contexts that have not had the high media profile of Iraq. World Vision highlights the suffering of post-conflict recovery experienced by these countries (i.e., low human development, high indebtedness, disease and poor economic prospects) and puts forth preventative measures to halt the exacerbation of current conflicts or the emergence of new ones. (read)

Understanding Urban Poverty: What the Poverty Reduction Papers Tell Us
International Institute for Environmental Development - 2004
Diana Mitlin

This paper reviews 23 Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) to consider how they define and measure urban poverty and thereby assess the extent to which they consider urban poverty. Many countries believe their poverty estimates do not fully capture the level of urban poverty. "Pockets of poverty" within urban areas may be increasing and inequality may be higher in urban areas than in rural areas. This paper is part of a Working Paper Series on Poverty Reduction in Urban Areas dedicated to showcasing the important roles that local institutions have (or can have) in contributing to poverty reduction in urban areas. (read)

Public Opinion and HIV/AIDS: Facing Up to the Future?
Southern African Regional Poverty Network (SARPN) - April 2004

Large proportions of people in Eastern and Southern Africa have lost family or friends to AIDS, or care for sick family members. Yet despite exposure to the pandemic, this article finds that citizens are undecided about whether their governments should divert scarce resources from these and other important priorities to fight the AIDS epidemic in their country. (read)

To Lend or to Grant? A Critical View of the IMF and the World Bank's approach to debt sustainability analysis for Low-Income Countries
Catholic Fund for Overseas Development (CAFOD) - April 2004

If the Millennium Development Goals are to be met, the international community will need to recast financing instruments around these agreed targets. In its latest working paper, CAFOD argues that the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund need to incorporate a wider set of human development considerations when assessing the creditworthiness of Low Income Countries (LICs). (read)

Peacekeeping in West Africa: A Regional Report
Refugees International - June 2004

Regional cooperation is particularly important in the design and execution of programmes to disarm, demobilize and retrain soldiers; interdict weapons shipments; and halt the cross-border movement of combatants. In its study, Refugees International focuses on the need to coordinate separate UN operations in Sierra Leone, Liberia and the Ivory Coast. However, the report notes that a regional peacekeeping approach should also apply to East Africa, where several peacekeeping operations are currently active. (read)

The UN Human Rights Norms for Business: Towards Legal Accountability
Amnesty International - 2004

This booklet provides an introduction to the UN Human Rights Norms for Business. It answers a number of questions about the Norms and their legal status and includes an overview of the drafting process, details on their implementation and views on their feasibility for the private sector. (read)

The Price of Power: Poverty, Climate Change, the Coming Energy Crisis and the Renewable Revolution
New Economics Foundation - 2004

Lack of access to essential energy is condemning over a billion people to grinding poverty, while climate change triggered by our addiction to fossil fuels is threatening the wellbeing of billions more. Read how faced with such a looming energy crash, the huge potential of renewable energy for the developing world is underexploited. (read)

IBFAN's Latest Report: Breaking the Rules, Stretching the Rules 2004
International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) -- May 2004

The International Baby Food Action Network's (IBFAN) latest report -- Breaking the Rules, Stretching the Rules 2004 -- provides evidence of violations of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and subsequent resolutions. Based on the results of worldwide monitoring, the report analyses the promotional practices of 16 transnational baby food companies and 14 bottle and teat companies in 69 countries. (read)

2015 Watch: The EU's Contributions to the Millennium Development Goals
Alliance 2015 - May 2004

A new report released by Alliance 2015 reveals that while the European Union is the world's largest donor, its overseas aid programme is performing poorly in terms of supporting, or reaching the globally agreed upon Millennium Development Goals. Assessing the EU on Millennium Goal 8 - the creation of a global partnership for development between North and South - Alliance 2015 has found that there is a big gap between policy and implementation, between theory and reality, between rhetoric and results. (read)

An Action Plan to Prevent Brain Drain: Building Equitable Health Systems in Africa
Physicians for Human Rights - June 2004

Physicians for Human Rights' new report exposes the hardships facing Africa's health system as its doctors, nurses and pharmacists flee the continent in search of higher wages. The report demands reimbursement for the African countries that have paid for the education of the departing health care workers; calls on rich countries and international organizations to send money to African health care workers to boost salaries; and demands the provision of treatment to HIV infected health care professionals. (read)