[WSIS CS-Plenary] Hi level panel calls for civil society inclusion in UN system

[Liss Jeffrey]

News we can use!

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=11104&Cr=civil&Cr1=society

UN should open itself further to involve civil society, high-level panel says

21 June 2004 – As the world's problems grow ever-more complex, the United 
Nations should stop limiting its decision-making processes exclusively to 
governments and instead needs to open its deliberations to greater 
involvement by civil society groups and the private sector, a blue-ribbon 
panel <http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2004/sg2089.doc.htm>recommends in 
a new report released today.

The Chairman of the Panel of Eminent Persons on UN-Civil Society Relations, 
former President Fernando Henrique Cardoso of Brazil, said the growing 
participation and influence of non-state actors is enhancing democracy and 
reshaping multilateralism.

"Civil society organizations are the prime movers of some of the most 
innovative initiatives to deal with emerging global trends," he said at a 
press briefing on the launch of the report in New York. "Given how the 
world has changed, constructively engaging with civil society is a 
necessity for the United Nations."

The report, entitled "We the Peoples: Civil Society, the United Nations and 
Global Governance," refers to the sometimes-fraught relationship between 
civil society groups, such as non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and 
governments at the UN.

While this relationship has strengthened greatly and multiplied over the 
years, "difficulties and tensions have arisen, particularly in the 
deliberative process," the report notes.

"Governments do not always welcome sharing what has traditionally been 
their preserve," it says. "At the same time, many in civil society are 
becoming frustrated; they can speak in the UN but question whether anyone 
is listening, or whether their participation has any impact on outcomes."

The report argues for a paradigm shift in how the UN sees itself, saying 
the Organization should foster "multi-constituency" processes that 
incorporate the perspectives and abilities of citizen groups, policy 
advocates, businesses, local governments and parliamentarians.

"We see the dialogue and the collaboration with non-State actors not as a 
threat to governments but as a powerful way to reinvigorate the 
intergovernmental process," Mr. Cardoso told the briefing.

The Panel, appointed by Secretary-General Kofi Annan in February 2003, 
recommends that the General Assembly include civil society organizations 
more regularly in its affairs. It also calls for increased civil society 
dialogues with the Security Council and the appointment of a senior UN 
official to promote engagement with civil society.

In addition to Mr. Cardoso, Panel members are affiliated with governments, 
NGOs, academia and the private sector and include Bagher Asadi of Iran, 
Manuel Castells of Spain, Birgitta Dahl of Sweden, Peggy Dulany of the 
United States, André Erdös of Hungary, Asma Khader of Jordan, Juan Mayr of 
Colombia, Malini Mehra of India, Kumi Naidoo of South Africa, Mary Racelis 
of the Philippines, Prakash Ratilal of Mozambique and Aminata Traoré of Mali.

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