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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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The
Last Porto Alegre – Discerning the State of the World Social Forum
after 5 Years Once a reactive protest to WTO and IMF meetings, the World Social Forum has morphed into a proactive space where different viewpoints are converging to articulate an alternative agenda for globalization. As WSF celebrates its 5th anniversary, this author sees the new regional format of the Forum as a way to incorporate greater representation and maintain the Forum’s element of surprise. (read) Civil Society Must
Re-strategize on the World Social Forum The WSF is expected to take on a new format over the next year with the organization of regional meetings. Read how this “decentralization” could potentially spread civil society activists thinly across the world thereby driving a wedge between them and the political elite whom they seek to influence. (read) The Risks Posed
by Success in Porto Alegre The World Social Forum could become a victim of its own success as calls for translating ideas into practical results threaten to generate divisions. This article suggests success could deprive the WSF of the source of its innovative strength - its horizontal nature and broad diversity. Originally intended as an ‘open space,’ some want to see it become ‘an instrument for action.’ (read) The Triple Success
of WSF 2005 The article argues that the World Social Forum’s return to Porto Alegre in January 2005 faced the triple threats of lost legitimacy, exhaustion and marginalization. Read how these challenges could have negatively impact the outcome of the Forum, but were averted by offering some alternatives and options attuned to the needs of today’s civil society. (read) The Future of the
World Social Forum Process: Modest Reforms Needed With the fifth edition of the World Social Forum, a certain maturation and even «graying» has occurred. For some, the Forum is now passé, awaiting its demise before an ascendant and inevitable new «new.» For others, the Forum has become an annual reunion, a time to swap stories and reconnect with old friends. Over time, however, a serious, multifold critique has developed and needs to be addressed if the forum process is to remain useful. (read) Decentralizing
or Disintegrating? The World Social Forum at 5 Taking stock of the messages, thoughts and criticisms conveyed by participants at the 5th WSF, this report argues that more questions than answers arose from the event. While some participants are eager to see the forum take on a political role as the global voice of a unified civil society, others feel it should continue to represent the diversity of its participants. Opinions are also clashing over the continuing debate whether to focus the Forum on achieving “visible action and tangible outcomes” or to maintain the Forum as “an open space for dialogue”. (read) (1.32 Mb) Soul Searching
in Porto Alegre: A Report of the 5th World Social Forum With the WTO and IMF “summit-storming” days coming to end, the WSF has become the only high-visibility meeting point for groups critical of globalisation. While the Forum dealt with inherent contradictions in 2005, the author argues that it would be mistaken to regard the World Social Forum as a failed experiment. It may well be the case that the tensions between “reformists” and “fundamentalists” cannot be eliminated, but no doubt a Forum designed for pluralism can live with that. (read) Sexism in the World
Social Forum: Is Another World Possible? The violence against
women in the Youth Camp of the World Social Forum (WSF) is a stark reminder
that the Forum's failure to include a gendered perspective is politically
detrimental to social movement building. This article analyzes sexist
contradictions at the WSF, and challenges resistance movements to build
a more inclusive vision of 'another world.’ (read) |
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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.
Non-governmental organizations raise billions of dollars each year from individuals, private and public sector donors and charitable foundations, including $8 billion so far for the recent tsunami relief. However, there is no accepted benchmark for evaluating the effectiveness of NGOs in their stated missions. Read how this article calls for NGOs to be subject to the same standards of budgetary and governance oversight as listed companies or government officials in democratic states. (read)
The Fiji government is currently looking at amending laws that apply to non-governmental organizations, specifically those who have become critical of government policy. While the Prime Minister, H.E. Laisenia Qarase, recognizes the important role of NGOs in poverty alleviation, a call of caution on their membership, accountability and political ambitions has been made. (read)
The International Rescue Committee has launched a ‘blog’ that gives visitors a new, more personal way of learning about its work on the ground. The ‘blog’ features contributions from IRC staff working in 25 countries around the world and some 20-refugee resettlement offices across the United States. (read)
Leaders of the Federation of NGOs (FNB) in Bangladesh are reporting that they are under threat as frequent bombings and grenade attacks have posed serious hindrances to their development activities. FNB members expressed grave concern over these politically motivated attacks and are looking at preventative methods to avert the dangerous conditions. (read)
Arab and Mediterranean environmentalists recently met to issue the "Environmental Citizenship Declaration," a regional environmental education program directed toward public management and protection of the environment. The concept of environmental citizenship is meant to foster a sense that individuals can play an integral part in safeguarding the ecosystem and act responsibly and positively toward the environment. (read)
While the number of Japanese environmental NGOs may be growing, these groups are experiencing great difficulty in influencing policies at the national level. Read how low operating budgets and the lack of independent research institutes may be impeding the progress of Japanese environmental groups. (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.
Donor and partner countries, multilateral and bilateral aid organizations, parliamentarians and civil society organizations took part in the second Paris Forum, which focused on developing ways to improve the delivery of aid to developing countries. Several NGOs felt the Declaration did not go nearly far enough on national ownership over development policies and procedures, building developing country capacity, enhancing aid predictability and untying aid. (read)
More than 2600 NGO representatives gathered in New York to participate in the ten year review of the commitments made at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995. NGOs stressed the importance of engendering the Millennium Development Goals, sexual and reproductive rights, and the move from reaffirmation of the Beijing Platform to action and enforcement of its goals. Below is a selection of NGO statements that have been released during the 49th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women. - Linkage Caucus (read) Benchmark for the
5-Year Review of the Millennium Summit (NGO Paper) As Member States prepare for their 5-year review of the Millennium Declaration, NGOs are calling upon them to develop a bold agenda, while urging them to pursue concrete strategies for implementation. Tackling issues ranging from the environment to HIV/AIDS to poverty reduction strategies, this paper offers decision-makers a series of recommendations to be considered for their negotiation. (read)
The Millennium+5 NGO
Network is an informal grouping of NGOs brought together by CONGO and
the NGO DPI Executive Committee. This Network has begun organizing a series
of NGO consultations that are taking place at a number of the UN Commissions
throughout the first half of 2005. These consultations are an opportunity
for NGOs to voice priority areas for action that they wish governments
to act upon at the Millennium +5 Summit in September. These various inputs
will be compiled in a final report to be submitted to the General Assembly
in June 2005.
In response to the
Secretary-General’s report "In larger freedom," NGOs have
delivered statements welcoming some of its more ambitious recommendations,
especially in the areas of human rights and development. The SG’s
report is to serve as the agenda acted upon by Heads of Government at
a High-level Meeting in September 2005.
Looking at the recommendations
put forth by the Cardoso Panel on UN-Civil Society relations, this paper
stresses that the UN would benefit greatly if it were to follow these
proposals and become more engaged with stakeholders. This, it is argued,
can be accomplished without affecting the primary role of Member States
as decision-makers at the UN. (read) |
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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.
Are brand management issues faced by a powerful for-profit company such as Toyota the same as those navigated by an international non-government organization (NGO) such as the Red Cross? Read how John A. Quelch and Nathalie Laidler-Kylander, the authors of a recent book entitled “The New Global Brands: Managing Non-Government Organizations in the 21st Century,” see NGOs facing unique challenges in their brand management. (read)
In an unlikely partnership, Starbucks UK will be contributing £100,000 to Oxfam UK’s rural development programme based in Ethiopia. Read how both these organizations, despite strong reservations, came to see the advantages of joining forces. (read)
Offering services in the area of education, health care, micro-credit and livelihood creation programmes, BRAC has become one of the leading NGOs in Bangladesh. The following article is based on an interview with BRAC’s founder Fazle Abed. Commenting on BRAC and its work, Fazle Abed suggests determination, national goals and inspiration as necessary requisites for success: ‘We always thought nationally, worked locally, and looked for inspiration globally.’ (read)
This critical commentary on Michael Edward’s book Civil Society concentrates on the three meanings of that concept: civil society as a description of a variety of associations; as a value advocating the advantages of cooperation; or as a democratic ecosystem; and a public sphere in which engagement with the whole future and shape of society takes place. The analysis casts a skeptical eye on the findings of the text and offers alternative definitions. (read)
The threat of a new regulatory scheme to regulate contributions and donations from foreign entities to Venezuelan NGOs has resurged, only a short time after inclusion of such regulations was eliminated from the reformed Penal Code. ‘El Nacional,’ a Venezuelan daily, reported that ‘indications of support resurfaced for approval of a new legal regulatory scheme to regulate the funds that civil associations and non-governmental organizations receive from foreign institutions.’ (read)
Who should be responsible
for the reckless indebtedness of countries: debtors or creditors? Examining
the case of certain African countries, the author suggests that the creation
of an independent arbitration court is a fair and transparent way of identifying
where the responsibility lies. (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.
This joint report highlights how a gun in the home makes women unsafe. The study provides sobering statistics. According to the findings, guns in the household increases the risk of murder by 41% and increases the risk to women by 242%. In France and South Africa one in three women killed by their spouse are shot and in the USA this figure rises to two out of three. (read)
In this report, Transparency International reveals that the construction sector undermines economic development and threatens to constrain post-conflict reconstruction in Iraq and beyond. TI’s analysis describes the risks posed by corruption and demonstrates achievable means to curb dishonesty. (read)
This article by CAFOD provides analysis of the long-awaited report of the Commission for Africa (CfA). It challenges the G8 to either put up the necessary money or end the empty rhetoric on development. The report also calls for a doubling of aid; complete cancellation of debt; and challenges some of the current trade policies of the G8 countries. (read)
In this publication IATP reports that, ten years after the enactment of the Agreement on Agriculture by the World Trade Organization (WTO), U.S. food companies are still exporting crops at prices below their cost of production (dumping) onto world markets. Based on an analysis of dumping calculations from 1990-2003 of US commodities, the report argues that continued dumping is making farmers around the world, including those in the US, go out of business, which leads to communities losing their livelihoods. (read)
This report, prepared by a team of nonproliferation experts, offers a blueprint for rethinking the international nuclear nonproliferation regime. They offer a fresh approach to deal with state and non-state actors, nuclear weapons, and missile materials through a twenty step, priority action agenda. (read)
This backgrounder
publication is the first in a series to analyze the World Trade Organization’s
(WTO) Agreement on Agriculture from a human rights perspective. It focuses
on the main characteristics of agricultural trade, and the relevant global
rules, pointing out the main human rights concerns and suggesting possible
actions for human rights advocates to undertake. Future publications in
this series will cover specific issues in the agriculture trade negotiations.
(read) Missing the Mark:
Girls Education and the Way Forward At this conference on 2 March 2005 in Washington DC, participants aimed to make headway towards improvements in education of children, particularly girls. The event recognized improvements to-date in some countries, but highlighted that 104 million children are still deprived of basic education around the globe and that 60 percent of this total are girls. (read)
Over the past year, InterAction has been sharpening its focus on international trade as it relates to development. This report builds on the premise that poverty can be reduced and broad-based growth can be advanced if trade aims to treat the disadvantaged and vulnerable populations - such as the rural poor, female heads of households and workers in threatened economic sectors - equitably. Trade Capacity Building Assistance (TCBA) presents an opportunity to promote this highly desirable outcome. (read)
Civil society organizations
and governments have begun to re-evaluate their activities in the light
of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and to realign policies in
order to maximize the chances of meeting them. Based on field research,
this report outlines risks and opportunities that exist within the MDGs,
and describes measures that could ensure that they address structural
causes of injustice.
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