[WSIS CS-Plenary] Drastic changes to the proposed WSIS implementation mechanisms in the new text

[klohento at panos-ao.org]

Dear all:

The issue raised by Parminder and others about concrete and effective 
follow-up and implementation mechanisms seems to me too relevant. Maybe 
the problem is that time is to short to have an agreement on a specfic 
text, but I think, for developing country at least, it's relevant.
We have proposed to the African caucus a statement, but it's not sure 
we'll have time to comment and discuss a text. So, what is at least 
important to do is that the issue is raised at the next meeting of GFC 
by those who will be there.

-- 

Ken Lohento

Coordinator of the Centre for International ICT Policies

Central and West Africa (CIPACO)

Panos Institute West Africa (PIWA) - ICT Programme

6, rue Calmette BP 21 132

Dakar Ponty - Senegal

Tel.: +221 849 16 65

www.cipaco.org <http://www.cipaco.org/>

www.panos-ao.org <http://www.panos-ao.org/>

Parminder a écrit :

> Dear Bertrand, Francis, Robert and others,
>
> At this stage we need to pitch in for a new and exclusive 
> implementation/ follow-up mechanism, outside the 57/270 B framework. 
> However difficult to achieve this should still , in my view, be our 
> single-point agenda in the current round, and therefore we should 
> insist on keeping the existing text of points 10, 11 and 29.
>
> (Only later, if at the prepcom we see that there is no way anything 
> beyond 57/270 is going to be agreed, should we try to salvage the best 
> out of that framework, an activity which, as Francis says, is going to 
> be a subtle exercise. This however doesn’t stop us at this point to 
> gather all the ammunition for that later stage to get the best points 
> out of 57/270, but lets not dilute our outward strategy for the moment)
>
> But to make this advocacy point forcefully we will be up against this 
> one simple question – WHY, WHAT’S SO DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS SUMMIT FOR 
> IT TO DESERVE IMPLEMENTATION/ FOLLOW UP MECHANISM OUTSIDE THE REGULAR 
> ONES ??
>
> And we need to prepare good answers to this, and lobby others with them.
>
> Points like,
>
>     * as Francis says WSIS is not only about economic and social
>       issues but much wider (practically everything!!) and this shd
>       put is beyond 57/270
>
>     * And the fluid and evolving nature of IS issues was acknowledged
>       in the fact that for the first time a summit was held in two
>       phases. A sustained structural follow-up is only an extension of
>       the same logic. We have found no reason since the start of the
>       century to see that IS evolution is flagging, rather with each
>       passing day things and paradigms seem to be changing faster,
>       confirming the beliefs that set up the context of WSIS.
>
>     * Quoting form my earlier email - The implementation- follow-up of
>       WSIS cannot be equated with that of other UN summits, because
>       the nature of WSIS is very different from these other UN
>       summits. All the earlier summits dealt with an existing
>       problem/issue more or less fully formed, about which the global
>       community needed to give a coordinated response. WSIS however is
>       about an emerging context and opportunity, and most of its
>       issues may be in the future, and often, definitionally, (as
>       consisting a new societal arrangement implicit in the IS
>       terminology used by WSIS), defying existing mandate and
>       jurisdiction of global organizations.
>
>     * I know that many still doubt the relevance of a detailed
>       implementation/follow up structures for WSIS. But we must
>       appreciate the fact that these new spaces outside current
>       multi-global structures are badly needed if, in the context of
>       an emerging IS new power relationships between people and
>       institutions, sectors (public, private and civil society) and
>       geo-politically, have to be negotiated. Existing forums will
>       always use their limited mandates to scuttle new interpretations
>       and new paradigm – and IS is rife with new paradigms.
>
>     * To give just one example of what is meant by the above point –
>       US and Japan recently scuttled further talks on elaborating a
>       development agenda at WIPO. And developing countries and the CS
>       at WIPO have been advocating a negotiation of a treaty on access
>       to knowledge, to counter one on IPR (that is, restriction on
>       access to knowledge). WIPO will cite its mandate, constitution
>       or whatever to say that such a thing was not in its ambit. And
>       it is difficult to take this issue up anywhere else. It is
>       relevant to note here that, one of the multi-stakeholder teams
>       as per existing language of para 10 is around the issue of
>       ‘access to knowledge’ (see annexure to chapter 1 of tunis doc).
>       So a relatively elaborate implementation helps us build the
>       skeletal structure on which to peg emerging IS issues. WE MUST
>       SEE THE IMPLEMENTATION/ FOLLOW UP ISSUE IN THIS LIGHT.
>
>     * Developing countries must recognize, and we need to lobby with
>       them, that such structures are in their interest. In the
>       debates, and lobbying efforts, on implementation, we will
>       continuously run into … ‘within their existing resources’ ‘not
>       to make un-necessary new arrangements with financial
>       commitments’ …kind of arguments. To have an implementation
>       structure with an adequate secretariat and other support doesn’t
>       cost that much especially in the context of the hundreds of
>       international meetings etc that keep happening around us with
>       little real outcomes. Legitimatized post-WSIS structures on the
>       other hand will have better chance of moving towards some outcomes.
>
>     * So, the ‘within existing resources’ argument we will keep
>       hearing from developed countries is not so much a real funds
>       issue – they regularly funds much larger scale activities with
>       much lesser outcomes – it is more to avoid more global policy
>       forums and spaces that will of course challenge existing power
>       equations and existing paradigms that suit those who already
>       enjoy more power best.
>
>     * An increasingly more integrated global community, and IS
>       certainly means that, is in-consistent with reduced global
>       public policy spaces. It is an imperative of an emerging IS to
>       expand and re-interpret these spaces. So, with WSIS unlike other
>       summits, implementation and follow-up is not just a process
>       issues, but a content issue. But the problem is that developing
>       countries too do not show much interest in the post-WSIS
>       structural arrangements. Typically, as governments work, they
>       are working with the ‘here and now’ blinders, without vision.
>
> I am enclosing a write up that my organization had done 2 weeks ago on 
> arguing for and developing a CS position on the issue of the new text 
> proposed by the chair of GFC for chapters on implementation/follow-up. 
> It is already dated, in view of all the great inputs given on this 
> list in the last few days. But I’ll still post it.
>
> Regards
>
> Parminder
>
> _________________________________________________
>
> Parminder Jeet Singh
>
> IT for Change
>
> //Bridging Development Realities and Technological Possibilities//
>
> 91-80-26654134
>
> //www.ITforChange.net// <http://www.ITforChange.net>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> *From:* plenary-admin at wsis-cs.org [mailto:plenary-admin at wsis-cs.org] 
> *On Behalf Of *Bertrand de La Chapelle
> *Sent:* Monday, August 29, 2005 10:02 PM
> *To:* plenary at wsis-cs.org
> *Subject:* Re: [WSIS CS-Plenary] drastic changes to the proposed WSIS 
> implementation mechanisms in the new text
>
> Dear Francis, dear all,
>
> If I remember well, the reference to UNGA resolution 57/270B was also 
> specifically and repetitively made by the US delegation as a way to 
> prevent the establishment of any new implementation mechanism.
>
> On a statement related to the importance of the changes, time is very 
> short indeed but the real moment to speak out is September 6, during 
> the open meeting of the Friends of the Chair. Preparing a statement 
> for that date would probably be better than rushing to meet the 
> deadline of August 31st. Who will be there on September 6th ? (I will 
> attend).
>
> Note : I have opened a page on wsis-online for this event. (go to : 
> http://www.wsis-online.net/smsi/classes/won/events/won-events-507606/event-view 
> <http://www.wsis-online.net/smsi/classes/won/events/won-events-507606/event-view>?) 
> Those who plan to attend can (if they are registered on wsis-online of 
> course ..) click on the "I will attend" button on the right hand side 
> of the page and the list of participants on the page will 
> automatically update. This will avoid the endless ping-pong we have on 
> the list every time we try to know who will attend a particular meeting).
>
> On substance, Parminder's points are, in my view, a very good starting 
> point upon which to build. The main element is that the new proposal 
> basically places the implementation primarily in the hands of 
> governments and that the participation of other actors is not as 
> central as it was before, especially at the international level.
>
> Some elements of the new proposal could be considered positive, 
> particularly the fact that international organizations now are asked 
> to facilitate multi-stakeholder efforts and that there is a request 
> for governments to set up at the national level implementation 
> frameworks with the participation of all stakeholders. But the whole 
> thing has lost all teeth (governments are only "encoouraged" to 
> establish such frameworks and international organizations "could" 
> facilitate multistakeholder efforts). If CS could obtain a 
> strenghtening of the formulation, such as : IGOs "should" facilitate 
> and governments "should" establish national implementation frameworks, 
> this could become a very strong basis for moving further after Tunis.
>
> But in general terms, the toning down of the whole document, in 
> contradiction with the explicit demands of many actors, and with no 
> particular consultation with the most progressive of them, is clearly 
> a setback.
>
> One key point should be in September to maintain the pressure to 
> guarantee more interaction on the design of the implementation 
> mechanisms, and the guarantee that the discussions on that matter in 
> PrepCom3 will be fully open.
>
> Best
>
> Bertrand
>
> On 8/29/05, *Dr. Francis MUGUET* <muguet at mdpi.org 
> <mailto:muguet at mdpi.org>> wrote:
>
> [Please note that by using 'REPLY', your response goes to the entire 
> list. Kindly use individual addresses for responses intended for 
> specific people. Your cooperation is highly appreciated]
> _______________________________________
>
>
> Hello folks,
>
> it seems that we are on the war path again... no rest for the
> warriors... !!!
>
> This is going to be a rather long post, but we are at a turning point 
> of the
> WSIS, and we must discuss the heart of the legal matter.
>
> The suggestion of implementing the UNGA resolution 57/270B. came form
> the EU,
> ( 31 May 2005 ) among the last act of the Luxeburg presidency and went
> unoticed
> until now.
>
> http://www.itu.int/wsis/documents/listing.asp?lang=en&c_event=gfc|5&c_type=co| 
> <http://www.itu.int/wsis/documents/listing.asp?lang=en&c_event=gfc%7C5&c_type=co%7C> 
>
>
> http://www.itu.int/wsis/gfc/docs/5/contributions/EU.doc
> a document available only in the proprietary non-open word format :
>
> *Paragraph 29 WSIS Plan of Action: *
>
> We underline the importance of follow-up based on the progress made in
> the implementation of the WSIS outcome.
>
> The follow-up will focus on the progress made in the implementation of
> WSIS outcomes and identify constraints and obstacles faced in relation
> to implementation. It will further address new challenges and emerging
> issues.
>
> It should take place within the UN framework for integrated and
> coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major
> UN conferences and summits in the economic and social fields as it is
> defined in UNGA resolution 57/270B.
>
>
>
>> As such, it's worth finding and reading UNGA 57/270b and see if what's
>> there fits the case now. I'll leave that for others to do. The
>> reference is below..
>>
>>
>> UN General Assembly Resolution (UNGA) 57/270b (2003)
>>
>> Integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the
>> outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the
>> economic and social fields
>> http://daccess-ods.un.org/access.nsf/Get?Open&DS=A/RES/57/270B&Lang=E 
> <http://daccess-ods.un.org/access.nsf/Get?Open&DS=A/RES/57/270B&Lang=E>
>> < 
> http://daccess-ods.un.org/access.nsf/Get?Open&DS=A/RES/57/270B&Lang=E 
> <http://daccess-ods.un.org/access.nsf/Get?Open&DS=A/RES/57/270B&Lang=E>>
>
> I could not access to this URL directly... great for inclusion and
> openness...
> ( the http://daccess-ods.un.org URL is about IBM and LOTUS.... 
> strange... )
>
> the only way to get it seems to go by the way of
> http://www.ods.un.org
>
> Therefore I am putting the documents in text, instead of making links to
> URLs that cannot be easily resolved in the UN documentation system.
>
>
> 24/01/2003 : *_A/RES/57/270A • A/RES/57/270 <JavaScript:ViewDoc(59)>_*
> [ English ]
>
>
>
>
>
> INTEGRATED AND COORDINATED IMPLEMENTATION OF AND FOLLOW-UP TO THE
> OUTCOMES OF THE MAJOR UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCES AND SUMMITS IN THE
> ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL FIELD : RESOLUTION / ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
>
>
>
> Resolution adopted by the General Assembly
> [on the report of the Second Committee (A/57/537)]
> 57/270. Integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to
> the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the
> economic and social fields
>
>
>
> Resolution adopted by the General Assembly
>
> [/on the report of the Second Committee (A/57/537)/]
>
> *57/270. Integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to
> the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the
> economic and social fields*
>
>
>
> /The General Assembly/,
>
> /Recalling /its resolutions on the restructuring and revitalization of
> the United Nations in the economic, social and related fields,
> particularly its resolution 50/227 of 24 May 1996,
>
> /Recalling also /its resolution 56/211 of 21 December 2001, as well as
> Economic and Social Council resolution 2001/21 of 26 July 2001 and its
> agreed conclusions 1995/1 of 28 July 1995, 2000/2 of 27 July 2000 and
> 2002/1 of 26 July 2002,
>
> /Taking note /of the report of the Secretary-General on the integrated
> and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcome of the
> major United Nations conferences and summits, including the Millennium
> Summit,^^1 <#sdfootnote1sym>
>
> /Reaffirming /that the internationally agreed development goals,
> including those contained in the United Nations Millennium
> Declaration^^2 <#sdfootnote2sym> and the outcomes of the major United
> Nations conferences and summits, provide a comprehensive basis for
> action at the national, regional and international levels with the key
> objectives of poverty eradication, sustained economic growth,
> sustainable development and improvement of the living conditions of
> people everywhere,
>
> /Reaffirming also /that, while each United Nations conference has its
> thematic unity, major United Nations conferences and summits should be
> viewed as interlinked and contributing to an integrated framework for
> the implementation of the internationally agreed development goals,
> including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, and to a global
> partnership for development,
>
> /Recognizing /the need to continue efforts to use the existing
> structure, namely, the General Assembly and the Economic and Social
> Council and its subsidiary machinery, for coordinated and integrated
> follow-up to and implementation of the commitments agreed upon at the
> Millennium Summit and other major United Nations conferences and
> summits, so as to enhance coordination as well as effectiveness and
> efficiency of actions at all levels,
>
> /Reiterating /the need to strengthen the role of the General Assembly as
> the highest intergovernmental mechanism for the formulation and
> appraisal of policy on matters relating to coordinated and integrated
> follow-up to United Nations conferences and summits in the economic,
> social and related fields,
>
> /Reaffirming /that the Economic and Social Council should continue to
> strengthen its role as the central mechanism for system-wide
> coordination and thus to promote coordinated follow-up to the outcomes
> of major United Nations conferences in the economic, social and related
> fields,
>
> /Emphasizing /that the relevant functional commissions and, as
> appropriate, other relevant intergovernmental bodies of the United
> Nations system, within their mandates, must fulfil their
> responsibilities as specified in the outcomes of the United Nations
> conferences and summits, should further enhance their role as the main
> forums for expert follow-up and review of major United Nations
> conferences and summits and, in this regard, must strengthen their
> efforts to enhance inter-agency collaboration and coordination to
> implement the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and 
> summits,
>
> /Recognizing /that the process of integrated and coordinated follow-up
> to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits
> should not include renegotiation of any outcomes of those conferences,
> including their specific institutional arrangements for follow-up,
>
> 1. /Decides /to establish an open-ended ad hoc working group of the
> General Assembly under the chairmanship of the President of the
> Assembly, with two vice-chairmen to be elected by the working group;
>
> 2. /Also decides /that the work of the working group should be
> consistent with the provisions of resolution 50/227 and the follow-up
> mechanisms decided upon by the respective United Nations conferences and
> summits and should respect the interlinked nature of their outcomes as
> well as the thematic unity of each conference, and emphasizes that
> cross-sectoral thematic issues for further consideration throughout the
> existing structure should be decided upon at the intergovernmental level
> and should focus on implementation, bearing in mind that the process of
> integrated and coordinated follow-up to the outcomes of the United
> Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related
> fields should be fair and balanced and should respect the principle of
> multilateralism and the principles contained in the Charter of the
> United Nations;
>
> 3. /Further decides /that the working group will produce concrete
> recommendations to ensure an integrated and coordinated follow-up to the
> outcomes of the United Nations conferences and summits in the economic,
> social and related fields and will thus contribute to the implementation
> of the internationally agreed development goals, including those
> contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,^2 bearing in
> mind the continuing reform process of the United Nations and resolution
> 50/227, as well as the views expressed by the Member States on this
> question;
>
> 4. /Decides /that the working group will also consider the work of the
> General Assembly and its Second and Third Committees relevant to the
> integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the
> outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the
> economic, social and related fields as well as the modalities of the
> reports presented to the General Assembly, bearing in mind the
> respective roles of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social
> Council and its functional commissions and subsidiary organs;
>
> 5. /Also decides /that the working group will submit proposals on how
> best to address the review of the implementation of the outcomes of the
> major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and
> related fields, including its format and periodicity, bearing in mind
> the need to recognize the active role of all relevant stakeholders in
> the implementation of the outcomes of United Nations conferences and
> summits;
>
> 6. /Further decides /that future decisions on follow-up to conferences
> whose ten-year anniversaries are imminent shall be kept pending subject
> to the decisions to be taken by the General Assembly on the report of
> the working group;
>
> 7. /Decides /that the working group will consider how to ensure that the
> outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits are
> integrated into the programmes of work of the organs, organizations and
> bodies of the United Nations system and are taken fully into account, as
> relevant, in the operational work and country frameworks of the
> organizations of the United Nations system, in accordance with national
> development objectives and priorities, and requests the United Nations
> System Chief Executives Board for Coordination and the United Nations
> Development Group to contribute to the reflection on integrated
> conference follow-up;
>
> 8. /Also decides /that the working group will commence its substantive
> work during the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly, no later
> than January 2003, and will submit its report before 27 June 2003, for
> consideration by the General Assembly and action before the close of the
> fifty-seventh session in 2003;
>
> 9. /Further decides /that at its first meeting the working group will
> consider its work programme, including the issue of the periodicity and
> duration of its meetings within the time boundaries established in
> paragraph 8 above;
>
> 10. /Decides /to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth
> session an item entitled "Integrated and coordinated implementation of
> and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences
> and summits in the economic, social and related fields" and to consider
> it directly in plenary meeting.
>
>
> /78th plenary meeting
> 20 December 2002/
>
> 1 <#sdfootnote1anc> A/57/75 E/2002/57.
>
> 2 <#sdfootnote2anc> See resolution 55/2.
>
>
> therefore all depends on the recommendations of the working group.
>
>
> 22/08/2005 : A/60/275 [ English ]
>
> UPDATED REPORT OF THE SG: ROLE OF THE COUNCIL IN THE INTEGRATED AND
> COORDINATE
> 86% 19/11/2001 : A/C.2/56/L.27 [ English ]
>
> Integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the
> outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the
> economic and social fields : draft resolution / Japan
>
> 8/04/2004 : A/58/L.8/REV.1 [ English ]
>
> Follow-up to the outcome of the Millennium Summit and Integrated and
> coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major
> United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields
> : revised draft resolution / submitted by the President of the General
> Assembly
> 85% 27/10/2003 : A/58/L.8 [ English ]
>
> Integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the
> outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the
> economic, social and related fields : draft resolution / Morocco [on
> behalf of the Group of 77 and China]
>
> 14/02/2003 : A/AC.269/1 [ English ]
>
>
> Agenda : Ad Hoc Working Group on the Integrated and Coordinated
> Implementation of and Follow-up to the Outcomes of the Major United
> Nations Conferences and Summits in the Economic and Social Fields
>
> 16/06/2003 : A/AC.269/L.2 [ English ]
>
>
> Draft report of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the General Assembly on the
> Integrated and Coordinated Implementation of and Follow-up to the
> Outcomes of the Major United Nations Conferences and Summits in the
> Economic and Social Fields
>
>
> the latest document seems to be :
>
> Sixtieth session
> Item 48 of the provisional agenda*
> Integrated and coordinated implementation of and
> follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations
> conferences and summits in the economic, social
> and related fields
>
>
> * Updated report of the Secretary-General on the role of the Economic
> and Social Council in the integrated and coordinated implementation of
> the outcomes of and follow-up to major United Nations conferences and
> summits, in the light of General Assembly resolutions 50/227, 52/12 B
> and 57/270 B*
>
>
> * Note by the Secretary-General*
>
>
> The Secretary-General has the honour to transmit to the General Assembly
> his updated report on the role of the Economic and Social Council in the
> integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the
> outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits, which was
> prepared in accordance with General Assembly resolution 57/270 B. The
> report, contained in document E/2005/61, was also considered by the
> Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 2005.
>
>
> and
>
> 13/05/2005 : *_E/2005/61 <JavaScript:ViewDoc(0)>_* [ English French
> Russian Spanish Arabic Chinese ]
>
>
>
>
> UPDATED REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL ON THE ROLE OF THE COUNCIL IN
> THE INTEGRATED AND COORDINATED IMPLEMENTATION OF THE OUTCOMES OF AND
> FOLLOW-UP TO MAJOR UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCES AND SUMMITS, IN LIGHT OF
> GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTIONS 50/227, 52/12 B AND 57/270 B
>
>
>
>
>
> * Updated report of the Secretary-General on the role of the Council in
> the integrated and coordinated implementation of the outcomes of and
> follow-up to major United Nations conferences and summits, in the light
> of General Assembly resolutions 50/227, 52/12 B and 57/270 B*
>
>
>
>
> / Summary/
>
> At its 2004 substantive session, the Economic and Social Council in its
> resolution 2004/44 decided to merge the review of the progress made in
> the implementation of General Assembly resolutions 50/227, 52/12 B, and
> 57/270 B and requested a single report. Following the request of the
> Council, the present report focuses on progress made in the
> implementation of the three resolutions.
>
> The review of the methods of the work of the General Assembly and its
> Second and Third Committees are ongoing. Further work will be needed to
> complete the consultations successfully. With regard to the Council and
> its subsidiary machinery, progress has been made in several areas,
> including strengthening thematic unity across the different segments of
> the Council's substantive session; review of the working methods of the
> functional commissions; strengthening of the role of the United Nations
> regional commissions in conference follow-up. At the same time
> additional efforts need to be made to enhance cooperation among
> functional commissions and to strengthen cooperation between regional
> commissions and the funds and programmes.
>
>
>
>
> Contents
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> /Paragraphs/
>
>
>
> /Page/
>
> 1.
>
> Background
>
>
>
> 1–4
>
>
>
> 3
>
> 2.
>
> Introduction
>
>
>
> 5–7
>
>
>
> 3
>
> 3.
>
> Further strengthening the role of the General Assembly and its
> Second and Third Committees in the coordinated and integrated
> follow-up to the comprehensive development agenda
>
>
>
> 8–17
>
>
>
> 4
>
> 1.
>
> The General Assembly
>
>
>
> 9–10
>
>
>
> 4
>
> 2.
>
> The Second Committee
>
>
>
> 11–14
>
>
>
> 5
>
> 3.
>
> The Third Committee
>
>
>
> 15–17
>
>
>
> 5
>
> 4.
>
> Further strengthening the role of the Economic and Social Council
> and its subsidiary machinery in the implementation of General
> Assembly resolutions 50/227, 52/12 B and 57/270 B
>
>
>
> 18–37
>
>
>
> 6
>
> 1.
>
> Strengthening the role of the Economic and Social Council
>
>
>
> 18–20
>
>
>
> 6
>
> 2.
>
> Strengthening the work of the United Nations functional
> commissions in support of implementation of General Assembly
> resolutions 50/227, 52/12 B and 57/270 B, as well as
> resolutions 56/201 and 59/250
>
>
>
> 21–30
>
>
>
> 7
>
> 3.
>
> Cooperation between the Council and the United Nations
> regional commissions
>
>
>
> 31–37
>
>
>
> 9
>
> 5.
>
> Strengthening the Council's cooperation with the funds and
> programmes, with specialized agencies and inter-agency bodies, and
> the international financial and trade institutions
>
>
>
> 38–42
>
>
>
> 11
>
> 6.
>
> Complying with the specific mandates of the Council
>
>
>
> 43–52
>
>
>
> 12
>
> 1.
>
> International Conference on Financing for Development
>
>
>
> 43–45
>
>
>
> 12
>
> 2.
>
> The Almaty Programme of Action: addressing the special needs
> of landlocked developing countries within a new global
> framework for transit, transport cooperation
>
>
>
> 46–47
>
>
>
> 13
>
> 3.
>
> Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed
> Countries
>
>
>
> 48–52
>
>
>
> 13
>
> 7.
>
> Enhancing the Council's cooperation with and the role of civil
> society and the private sector for development
>
>
>
> 53–55
>
>
>
> 14
>
>
>
>
> * I. Background*
>
>
>
> 1. In paragraph 39 of its resolution 57/270 B, the General Assembly
> decided to include an item entitled "Integrated and coordinated
> implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United
> Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related
> fields" in the annual agenda of the General Assembly and invited the
> Secretary-General to submit a report on the question.
>
> 2. At its 2004 substantive session, the Economic and Social Council, in
> its resolution 2004/44 decided to merge the review of the progress made
> in the implementation of General Assembly resolutions 50/227, 52/12 B
> and 57/270 B and requested a single report on the implementation of the
> resolutions. The resolutions lend themselves to a joint consideration as
> they build upon and complement each other.
>
> 3. Resolution 50/227, "Further measures for the restructuring and
> revitalization of the United Nations in the economic, social and related
> fields", focuses on ways of enhancing the role of the United Nations in
> the field of development. They include an increase in resources for
> operational activities and greater coherence in the work of the Second
> and Third Committee, and a strengthened role of the Economic and Social
> Council in system-wide coordination and enhanced linkages with trade and
> financial institutions. Resolution 52/12 B, "Renewing the United
> Nations: a programme for reform", includes several provisions relating
> to reforms in the economic and social fields, as well as development and
> humanitarian affairs.
>
> 4. Resolution 57/270 B, "Integrated and coordinated implementation of
> and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences
> and summits in the economic and social fields", aims to enhance
> coherence in the different conference follow-up processes, while
> maintaining their distinct identity. It also provides guidance to better
> coordinate global, regional and national development activities and to
> ensure that those activities are mutually supportive as well as
> contribute to the achievement of the internationally agreed development
> goals, including the Millennium Development Goals. It calls upon the
> Economic and Social Council to continue to strengthen its role as the
> central mechanism for system-wide coordination. It also recognizes the
> need to further strengthen cooperation with the international financial
> and trading institutions and the important role of civil society and the
> private sector in advancing the implementation of conference outcomes.
>
>
>
> * II. Introduction*
>
>
>
> 5. The United Nations summits and conferences of the last 15 years
> generated a global consensus on policies and actions to advance the
> objectives of eradicating poverty and promoting sustainable development
> and provide a basic framework for pursuing those objectives. The
> Millennium Summit built on the outcomes of those summits and conferences
> and reinforced some of their key messages. The outcomes, together with
> the development-related aspects of the Millennium Declaration constitute
> the United Nations development agenda (see E/2005/56).
>
> 6. A much sharper focus on implementation of the internationally agreed
> goals and targets of the United Nations development agenda remains
> imperative. Though the Council initiated work on developing an
> integrated approach to the implementation of the conference outcomes by
> focusing on their common themes since 1995, further efforts are required
> to steer the United Nations development system towards both more
> sustained and better integrated follow-up action.
>
> 7. The substantive aspects of an integrated follow-up to conferences
> have been discussed in the report of the Secretary-General for the
> High-level Segment of the Economic and Social Council (A/60/56). The
> present report focuses on progress made in the implementation of the
> three resolutions.
>
>
>
> * III. Further strengthening the role of the General Assembly and its
> Second and Third Committees in the coordinated and integrated follow-up
> to the comprehensive development agenda*
>
>
>
> 8. As called for in resolutions 50/227, 57/270 B, 58/126 and 58/316, the
> review of the work of the General Assembly and its Second and Third
> Committees, especially as they relate to the implementation of and the
> follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences is
> ongoing. It is aimed at enhancing the policy leadership role of the
> General Assembly on development issues. That can be achieved by
> improving working methods that allow maximum focus, visibility and
> political energy towards the achievement of the United Nations
> development agenda.
>
>
>
> * A. The General Assembly*
>
>
>
> 9. Since the General Assembly adopted resolutions 58/126 of 19 December
> 2003 and 58/316 of 1 July 2004, informal consultations have continued
> during its fifty-ninth session on its revitalization. Member States have
> pointed to the need to strengthen the role of the General Committee of
> the Assembly, continue to streamline and reduce the number of items on
> the agenda, adopt shorter and more focused resolutions, and streamline
> documentation without in any way compromising analytical depth and
> coverage. Those broad goals have formed the basis for consultations
> among Member States. While a consensus on improving the methods of work
> of the General Assembly and several of its main committees is yet to
> emerge, consultations are ongoing in the context of the next phase of
> reforms of the Organization. Those consultations are now linked to the
> issues of institutional reform being considered in preparation for the
> September Summit.
>
> 10. In the context of the need for better cooperation and improved
> division of labour between the General Assembly and the Economic and
> Social Council, the Presidents of the General Assembly, the Security
> Council and the Economic and Social Council held two meetings in 2004
> aimed at increased cooperation, coordination and complementarity of the
> work programmes of the three organs, as called for in resolution 58/126.
> That process will continue in the context of the next round of reforms
> and will also need to take into account the proposal to establish a
> peacebuilding commission as proposed in the Secretary-General's report
> for the September Summit (A/59/2005).
>
>
>
> * B. The Second Committee*
>
>
>
> 11. The Chairman of the Second Committee at the fifty-eighth session of
> the General Assembly submitted a set of proposals, which the Committee
> tried to implement during its fifty-ninth session. They include early
> meetings between the outgoing and incoming Bureau; introduction of
> question-and-answer sessions; better use of the Second Committee's
> website; early distribution of and consultation on the organization of
> work; avoidance of overlapping with plenary meetings; elaboration and
> distribution of the Chairman's summary of the general debate; extensive
> but rational use of panels, keynote speakers and round tables;
> compliance with the deadlines for the submission of draft resolutions;
> early start of negotiations and early adoption of resolutions; and
> clustering and better sequencing for the consideration of the agenda of
> the Committee.
>
> 12. During the fifty-ninth session, consultations continued on several
> other aspects of the improvement of the working methods. Following a
> series of consultations, the Second Committee agreed on a conference
> room paper (A/C.2/59/CRP.2/Rev.1) which emphasized the need for reaching
> timely consensus on items on the agenda, preserving the substantive
> nature of the resolutions; organizing discussions and events designed to
> contribute to a broader understanding and consideration of the issues;
> and maintaining the practice of allocating sufficient time after the
> formal consideration of each cluster allowing for negotiations. That
> would help the Committee in adopting resolutions in a timely fashion. It
> also requested the Committee on Conferences to consider advancing the
> timing of the Trade and Development Board meeting so that its report
> could be made available by the middle of September in order to enable
> the timely consideration of sub-items under the "Macroeconomic policy
> questions" cluster. The conference room paper also proposed that side
> events should be held in close proximity to the substantive discussion
> of the relevant agenda items and noted that greater attention should be
> given to the increasing role of side events organized by Member States
> that are related to the agenda of the Committee.
>
> 13. It was agreed that discussions on outstanding issues, related
> especially to the streamlining of the agenda, as well as strengthening
> cooperation with the Third Committee would continue.
>
> 14. *The Second Committee needs to take decisions this year on the
> outstanding issues, particularly streamlining and reclustering items on
> the agenda, and the division of labour and strengthened coordination
> with the Third Committee and the Economic and Social Council.*
>
>
>
> * C. The Third Committee*
>
>
>
> 15. During the fifty-ninth session, the Third Committee approved a
> Chairman's text on the revitalization of its work, deciding to
> rationalize its agenda by merging some items, triennializing others and
> transferring some to the General Assembly in plenary meeting. Several
> far-reaching measures were agreed upon to improve the working methods of
> the Committee. They include measures to promote more interactive
> discussions as part of the formal proceedings; introduction at its
> sixtieth session, on a pilot basis, of interactive debates in an
> informal setting; submitting resolutions that are concise, focused and
> designed to have an impact on policy development; and tabling
> resolutions biennially or at longer intervals and avoiding duplication
> especially where they have already been adopted by the Economic and
> Social Council or its subsidiary bodies.
>
> 16. Significantly, the Third Committee agreed to make renewed efforts to
> reduce the number of requests for reports from the Secretary-General,
> including through consolidation of reports. It was stressed that there
> should be no "automaticity" about requesting the Secretary-General's
> reports.
>
> 17. To strengthen coordination with the other Main Committees, joint
> panel discussions and meetings on issues of common interest were
> highlighted. Those changes are far-reaching and when implemented will
> serve to improve coherence and bring added value to the work of the
> Third Committee, as well as contribute to the work of other Main
> Committees, particularly the Second Committee.
>
>
>
> * IV. Further strengthening the role of the Economic and Social Council
> and its subsidiary machinery in the implementation of General Assembly
> resolutions 50/227, 52/12 B and 57/270 B*
>
>
>
> * A. Strengthening the role of the Economic and Social Council*
>
>
>
> * 1. Promoting a coherent, integrated and coordinated approach*
>
>
> 18. The Economic and Social Council has a critical role to play in
> promoting a coherent, integrated and coordinated approach for the
> achievement of the United Nations development agenda. While efforts have
> been undertaken towards strengthening the role of the Council in
> conference follow-up, there is a need to infuse them with greater
> dynamism and result orientation. The Secretary-General's report at the
> high-level segment highlights the need for the United Nations system to
> integrate and align fully policies and programmes with the United
> Nations development agenda, particularly the Millennium Development
> Goals. At the intergovernmental level, there is an immediate need for a
> more coherent, coordinated and focused approach to monitoring and
> evaluation of the implementation of the development agenda. To that end,
> *the Council needs to finalize, within the framework of actions that
> will be taken in the light of the proposals made in the
> Secretary-General's report at the high-level segment of the Council, the
> requirements contained in paragraph 42 of resolution 57/270 B, in which
> the General Assembly requested it to establish, no later than 2004, a
> four-year multi-year work programme for the coordination segment of its
> substantive session. Efforts should be made to agree on a full four-year
> multi-year programme of work that is effectively linked to the United
> Nations development agenda. *
>
>
> * 2. Ensuring thematic unity and interlinkages between the different
> segments*
>
>
> 19. A clear message emanating from resolution 57/270 B is the need to
> focus the Council's annual session around one broad theme. As a first
> step towards ensuring greater coherence, the Council decided that the
> high-level and coordination segments would focus on the same
> cross-sectoral conference themes (or related themes), but would also
> address them from both a policy development and a coordination
> perspective. In recent years the themes of the high-level segments have
> provided the broad basis for the themes of the coordination and
> operational activities segments. While thematic unity is to be pursued,
> there is a need to address the issue of thematic unity and interlinkages
> among the segments within the framework of the actions that will be
> taken on proposals made in the Secretary-General's report to the
> high-level segment of the Council, in particular the proposal for a peer
> review and the holding of a development cooperation forum.
>
>
> * 3. Streamlining the reporting system*
>
>
> 20. Improving the effectiveness of the reporting system is another
> important element in strengthening the Council's policy setting and
> coordination functions. Reports submitted by the subsidiary, regional
> and related bodies of the Council provide it with a wealth of
> information and policy inputs relevant to not only the coordinated and
> integrated follow-up of the development agenda, but also for policy
> guidance, national development strategy formulation, evaluation and
> international cooperation. The Council has addressed itself to the
> question of better management and use of that information. The Bureau of
> the Council issued guidelines for documentation for the Council and its
> subsidiary bodies, drawn primarily from existing legislation in the
> General Assembly and the Council. The guidelines incorporate further
> steps to help to bring to manageable proportions and give greater focus
> to the documents submitted to the Council by its subsidiary bodies. *The
> subsidiary bodies should be encouraged to adhere to the guidelines for
> documentation. *
>
>
>
> * B. Strengthening the work of the United Nations functional commissions
> in support of implementation of General Assembly resolutions 50/227,
> 52/12 B and 57/270 B, as well as resolutions 56/201 and 59/250*
>
>
>
> 21. The United Nations functional commissions have played a key role in
> the development and implementation of the United Nations development
> agenda, particularly acting as the preparatory committees for the
> international conferences and further in their follow-up. While
> individual functional commissions are, through their multi-year work
> programmes and priority themes, engaged in follow-up of the conference
> outcomes, stronger inter-commission coherence would lead to a more
> coordinated follow-up of the different goals and targets contained in
> the United Nations development agenda.
>
> 22. With that objective in view and to improve their own functioning,
> the General Assembly requested functional commissions and other relevant
> bodies of the Economic and Social Council in resolution 57/270 B^1 to
> review their working methods, strengthen cooperation among themselves,
> find ways to benefit from the lessons learned from each other, and
> report to the Council no later than 2005. That work is ongoing and
> several functional commissions have undertaken the exercise, the outcome
> of which is expected to lead to a more integrated implementation of the
> conference outcomes.
>
>
> * 1. Review of working methods of the functional commissions*
>
>
> 23. Following the request in resolution 57/270 B, to date most
> functional commissions have adopted multi-year programmes of work. To
> ensure continuity, most functional commissions now elect their incoming
> bureau immediately following the closure of their regular sessions. To
> strengthen the regional dimension, several commissions held panel events
> with the United Nations regional commissions as part of their session.
> The new methods of work have also encouraged an enhanced engagement of
> civil society and the private sector. A review of the work of the United
> Nations functional commissions on the implementation of the Millennium
> Declaration is provided in a separate 2005 consolidated report on the
> work of the Economic and Social Council functional commissions. Some
> functional commissions, such as the Commission on the Status of Women,
> the Statistical Commission, the Commission on Population and Development
> and the Commission for Social Development will continue to review their
> working methods at their next regular session. *The Council may wish to
> invite those functional commissions and other relevant subsidiary bodies
> that have not done so, to complete the examination of their methods of
> work, as a matter of urgency, in order to better pursue the
> implementation of the United Nations development agenda. *
>
>
> * 2. Strengthening cooperation between functional commissions*
>
>
> 24. Functional commissions are mostly working independently from one
> another on the follow-up to specific conferences and summits. That has
> caused a degree of compartmentalization and overlap as each functional
> commission tends to look at all thematic areas from within its own
> perspective. While that may be useful in highlighting several dimensions
> of an issue, it also leads to a disparate treatment of issues and
> sometimes does not blend coherently. That needs to be addressed at two
> levels.
>
> 25. At the Secretariat level, exchange of reports and other documents,
> joint activities and contacts between the various secretariats are the
> most common tools employed to ensure coherence of the work of the
> functional commissions. The substantive secretariats of five functional
> commissions that are located in the Department of Economic and Social
> Affairs are working together to coordinate their work programmes.
>
> 26. At the intergovernmental level, there is a need for greater
> interaction among the subsidiary bodies. To facilitate cooperation and
> exchange among the functional commissions and to strengthen coordination
> between the functional commissions and the Council, a meeting was held
> among the Chairs of the functional commissions and between the
> functional commissions and the Bureau of the Council in 2004.
> Information on the progress in the review of their working methods was
> shared with a focus on how to further enhance cooperation among
> functional commissions. Such meetings are also planned for the 2005
> Economic and Social Council substantive session.^2
>
> 27. *The Council should take it upon itself to provide a stronger
> coordinating function, inter alia, by harmonizing the functional
> commissions' multi-year programmes of work and their periodic cycles,
> standardizing reports in a more user-friendly manner, and by promoting
> integration of the outcomes of the deliberations of the functional
> commissions.*
>
> * 3. Fostering cooperation between the functional commissions and the
> funds and programmes*
>
>
> 28. In its resolution 57/270 B,^3 the General Assembly encouraged
> functional commissions to find ways to learn from the experience gained
> and lessons learned by the United Nations funds and programmes in the
> implementation of the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences
> and summits. To that end, functional commissions have made efforts,
> including through discussion panels, with representatives of the funds
> and programmes which have served to enrich each other's work. *The
> exchange of experiences and lessons learned between the functional
> commissions and the funds and programmes should be further enhanced,
> including through briefings by the United Nations Development Group
> Office (UNDGO).*
>
>
> * 4. Strengthening cooperation between the Council and its functional
> commissions*
>
>
> 29. For several years, annual meetings between the Bureau of the Council
> and the bureaux of the functional commissions have taken place. In the
> 2005 annual meeting discussions centred on the work of the commissions,
> measures to enhance collaboration among the functional commissions, and
> a review of their methods of work. The contribution of functional
> commissions to the work of the Council's substantive session on the
> themes of the high-level and coordination segments, as well as the
> possible contributions through the Council to the September Summit, was
> also discussed in the meeting.
>
> 30. Holding joint bureau meetings of the functional commissions and the
> Council during the regular sessions of the commissions allows for better
> coordination, timely information, inputs and guidance. It also has the
> added advantage that senior officials of bureau members participating in
> the Commission deliberations have an opportunity of interacting with the
> Bureau of the Council.
>
>
>
> * C. Cooperation between the Council and the United Nations regional
> commissions *
>
>
>
> 31. Given the significant regional divergences in progress towards the
> achievement of the United Nations development agenda, mainstreaming the
> regional dimension into the overall work of the United Nations assumes
> added importance. This, however, is predicated upon a stronger two-way
> relationship with regional organizations. On the one hand, better
> integration of regional analysis into the global policy deliberations is
> required. On the other hand, comparative advantages of the regional
> commissions need to be better utilized in order to enhance coherence of
> the organizations' activities at the regional level, particularly, those
> undertaken in support of the United Nations development agenda. In that
> context, regional commissions have been given specific mandates from the
> Council for the follow-up of the major global conferences.^4 In
> response, they have undertaken efforts to link regional implementation
> measures with global deliberations and to contribute to policy
> implementation at the regional and country levels. *The Council will
> need to further strengthen its linkages with the regional commissions,
> particularly in the context of the peer reviews, which have been
> proposed by the Secretary-General in his report for the September
> Summit. The Council may wish to explore new modalities of enhancing its
> cooperation with the regional commissions, particularly in the
> preparation of reports on implementation.*
>
>
> * 1. Linking global deliberations with regional implementation 
> initiatives*
>
>
> 32. Cooperation between the Council and the regional commissions is a
> key instrument to ensure that global policy guidance provided by the
> Council is translated into concrete regional and subregional strategies
> for the implementation of the United Nations development agenda,
> including the Millennium Development Goals. It is equally important that
> global entities, when undertaking development initiatives, fully involve
> the relevant regional commissions. In the recent past, regional
> commissions have contributed to, and were involved in the work of the
> functional commissions, in particular, in the five- and ten-year review
> process of major international conferences. For example, in the plus-ten
> follow-up of the Beijing Declaration and Plan of Action and the
> Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action, several preparatory
> meetings were held with the regional commissions and their participation
> in the meetings of the respective functional commissions was facilitated.
>
> 33. Several regional commissions have strengthened their role as
> regional bodies for conference follow-up and implementation. In 2003, in
> preparation of the 2004 session of the Commission on Sustainable
> Development, five regional implementation meetings were organized to
> review and assess obstacles, constraints, challenges and opportunities
> in the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further
> Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation,
> with a particular focus on the thematic cluster of water, sanitation and
> human settlement. In 2005, regional implementation meetings will be
> organized in preparation for the 2006 Commission on Sustainable
> Development review session.
>
> 34. An important mechanism for the coherent implementation of and
> follow-up to the major United Nations conferences are the coordination
> meetings between the regional commissions and the funds and programmes,
> as well as the United Nations departments and offices and agencies of
> the United Nations system engaged in regional and subregional
> activities. Such coordination meetings called for by the Economic and
> Social Council in its resolution 1998/46, were launched in 1999 under
> the chairmanship of the Deputy Secretary-General.
>
>
> * 2. Fostering horizontal interregional cooperation*
>
>
> 35. Horizontal interregional cooperation — cooperation between the
> regional commissions — should be strengthened through knowledge sharing
> and networking. Recent meetings of chiefs of transport and programme
> planning, as well as the focal points for information and communication
> technologies and energy are initiatives which enhance cooperation among
> the regional commissions. Such meetings should be extended to other
> substantive areas of work. *Regional commissions should continue their
> efforts to strengthen cooperation among themselves through knowledge
> sharing and networking.*
>
>
> * 3. Strengthening linkages between regional commissions and regional
> bodies/arrangements*
>
>
> 36. Major economic and social processes have been taking place at the
> regional level through regional bodies and arrangements. Examples of
> such processes are regional economic integration, free trade
> arrangements, and regional cross-border investments, infrastructural
> projects like highways, railroads and information technologies. Those
> initiatives of the regional bodies and arrangements have a great impact
> on the common welfare of large populations by reducing poverty and
> unemployment, and are important in the achievement of the development
> goals. *The United Nations regional commissions should play a greater
> supportive role in infrastructure, trade, and technology initiatives of
> regional bodies. *
>
>
> * 4. Enhancing cooperation between regional commissions, funds and
> programmes and specialized agencies*
>
>
> 37. Closer links need to be established between the regional structures
> of the funds and programmes and the respective regional commissions, so
> as to fully utilize the United Nations substantive and operational
> capacity available in each region. The strategic compact between the
> regional commissions and UNDP (July 2000) was an important initiative
> which could be built upon further. The participation of regional
> commissions in the UNDG meetings has served to strengthen policy
> formulation and coordination. *United Nations regional commissions and
> the United Nations funds and programmes should develop closer links
> between themselves in order to enhance coherence in their work at the
> regional level. *
>
>
>
> * V. Strengthening the Council's cooperation with the funds and
> programmes, with specialized agencies and inter-agency bodies, and the
> international financial and trade institutions*
>
>
> 38. A stronger link between the policy guidance role of the Economic and
> Social Council, its functional commissions and the operational
> activities arm is essential to ensure that global policy guidance on the
> integrated and coordinated follow-up to global conferences translates
> into effective support to regional, subregional and national efforts for
> their implementation. Similarly, regional and country-level experiences
> need to permeate further into global thinking and analysis.
>
> 39. That requires stronger linkages and greater coherence between global
> policy guidance and the policies and programmes endorsed by the
> Executive Boards of the United Nations funds and programmes, the
> governing bodies of the specialized agencies, the regional as well as
> the functional commissions, and the bureaux of the international finance
> and trade institutions.
>
> 40. As reviewed in previous sections of the report, several efforts are
> under way to promote cooperation of funds and programmes with functional
> commissions and to revitalize cooperation with the regional commissions.
> Initiatives have also been undertaken to facilitate greater cooperation
> among the governing bodies of the funds and programmes, such as the
> joint meetings of the Executive Boards of UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA, and WFP,
> while the annual high-level meeting between the Economic and Social
> Council, the Bretton Woods institutions, WTO and UNCTAD have facilitated
> dialogue among those organizations.
>
> 41. While these important initiatives are works-in-progress, they need
> to coalesce into an integrated and cohesive approach through a United
> Nations system-wide framework. That has important implications for the
> Council's ability to promote a more integrated and coordinated follow-up
> to global conferences within the system in a way that enables it to
> translate such an approach into system-wide strategies and programmes.
>
> 42. Closer links need to be built between the Council and the governing
> bodies of the United Nations system organizations. Meetings between the
> bureaux of the functional commissions and the Bureau of the Council and
> the participation of the chairpersons of the functional commissions in
> the Council's sessions have helped to improve the dialogue between the
> Council and the functional commissions. *Commissions and their
> secretariats should clearly identify the operational implications of
> their work and bring them to the attention of the governing bodies of
> the funds and programmes for their consideration and guidance on
> operational activities to strengthen the link between policy guidance
> and operational activities. *
>
>
>
> * VI. Complying with the specific mandates of the Council*
>
> *A. International Conference on Financing for Development*
>
> 43. The Monterrey Consensus established a follow-up process to the
> Conference in both the General Assembly and the Economic and Social
> Council.
>
> 44. In the General Assembly, resolution 59/225 on "Follow-up to and
> implementation of the outcome of the International Conference on
> Financing for Development" was adopted on 22 December 2004. The General
> Assembly also decided in resolution 59/145 of 17 December 2004 to hold a
> High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development on 27 and 28 June 2005,
> in New York, immediately prior to the Economic and Social Council 2005
> High-level Segment, in order for its recommendations to be considered in
> the preparatory process of General Assembly High-level Plenary Meeting
> and within its framework, to hold a separate meeting on financing for
> development.
>
> 45. The 2005 special high-level meeting of the Council with the Bretton
> Woods institutions, the WTO and (since 2004) UNCTAD, focused on the
> theme of "Achieving the internationally agreed development goals,
> including those contained in the Millennium Declaration" in the context
> of the overall focus of the meeting on "Coherence, coordination and
> cooperation in the context of the implementation of the Monterrey
> Consensus". Six round tables addressing three issues: (a) policies and
> strategies; (b) trade, investment, and private flows; and (c) ODA,
> innovative sources of financing and debt were held. The unprecedented
> participation by the Executive Directors of the Boards of the Bretton
> Woods institutions and a significant number of Finance and other
> Ministers, Central Bank Governors, as well as the President of the Trade
> and Development Board was testimony to the fact that that meeting is
> considered an important platform for enhancing coherence within the
> system, not only in the follow-up to Monterrey, but also in the pursuit
> of the broader development agenda. Participants concurred with regard to
> the urgency to build momentum towards the September Summit and
> accelerate progress in implementation of the development goals.
> Advancing the implementation of the Monterrey Consensus was seen as a
> critical element to that end. In addition, participants highlighted the
> growing interest in pursuing several of the initiatives regarding
> innovative sources of finance.
>
> *B. The Almaty Programme of Action: addressing the special needs of
> landlocked developing countries within a new global framework for
> transit, transport cooperation*
>
> 46. An "Inter-agency meeting on the implementation of the Almaty
> Programme of Action", held in New York on 4 February 2004, endorsed a
> road map for its implementation. In its resolution 59/245 of 22 December
> 2004, on specific actions related to the particular needs and problems
> of landlocked developing countries, the General Assembly invited the
> 2005 High-level General Assembly Plenary Meeting to address the special
> needs of landlocked developing countries.
>
> 47. Representatives of the international, regional and subregional
> organizations met in Almaty, Kazakhstan, from 29 to 31 March 2005, for
> the high-level meeting on the "Role of International, Regional and
> Subregional Organizations for the Implementation of the Almaty Programme
> of Action". In a communiqué representatives stressed the importance of
> taking concrete steps in accordance with the road map for the
> implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action and requested the
> United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed
> Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing
> States to continue its consultations on the best possible ways to
> facilitate coordination efforts and to continue to organize meetings on
> an annual basis.
>
> *C. Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries*
>
> 48. In 2004, the Council's substantive session addressed themes related
> to least developed countries issues as part of the Council's efforts to
> pursue a coherent and comprehensive approach to the review of the
> implementation of the Programme of Action. Preparatory activities
> including a series of multi-stakeholder round tables on resources
> mobilization and enabling environment for poverty eradication were held
> in February and March 2004 to examine the theme of the high-level
> segment in the context of the Brussels Programme of Action as a means of
> achieving the Millennium Development Goals in the least developed
> countries.
>
> 49. In the high-level segment, the Council adopted a Ministerial
> Declaration on the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the
> Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010 recognizing the weak
> implementation of the Programme of Action and underlining the need to
> address that issue. To that end, the Declaration urged each least
> developed country, with the support of its development partners, to
> continue the implementation of the actions contained in the Programme of
> Action by translating them into specific measures, within its national
> development framework and poverty eradication strategy.
>
> 50. The coordination segment reviewed the efforts of the United Nations
> system to promote an integrated approach to rural development with a
> special focus on the least developed countries. In its resolution
> 2004/48, the Council called for enhanced coordination and cooperation
> among the agencies of the United Nations system in support of national
> development strategies as well as in enhancing their cooperation with
> the World Bank and the regional development banks. The United Nations
> system was called upon to further assist developing countries in their
> efforts to enhance access by the poor to productive assets, to support
> capacity-building measures as well as regional and subregional
> initiatives and to promote South-South cooperation.
>
> 51. The Second Committee reviewed the implementation and invited the
> 2005 September Summit to address the special needs of the least
> developed countries, while reviewing the progress made in the
> achievement of internationally agreed development goals, including those
> contained in the Millennium Declaration. It also decided to hold a
> comprehensive review of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed
> Countries in 2006, during the sixty-first session of the General
> Assembly, in accordance with paragraph 114 of the Programme of Action.
> The Committee also reiterated its concern over the weak implementation
> of the Programme of Action.
>
> 52. At the special high-level meeting held in April 2005 with the
> Bretton Woods institutions, the WTO, and UNCTAD, the Council also
> addressed issues related to least developed countries/low-income
> countries and promoted linkage between the Programme of Action and the
> International Conference on Financing for Development.
>
> *VII. Enhancing the Council's cooperation with and the role of civil
> society and the private sector for development*
>
> 53. The Summits and Conferences recognized the role of civil society and
> the private sector in achieving the development goals and targets set
> out in them. The Millennium Declaration (General Assembly resolution
> 55/2) also recognized their role and it commits Governments "to develop
> strong partnerships with the private sector and with civil society
> organizations in pursuit of development and poverty eradication". In
> recent years, the Economic and Social Council and its functional
> commissions have significantly intensified the involvement of civil
> society, including non-governmental organizations, foundations,
> parliamentarians and local authorities, and the private sector. Perhaps
> the most innovative and successful of the Council's multi-stakeholder
> initiatives is the Information and Communication Technology Task Force.
> Non-governmental organizations and members of the business community
> also participate actively in the annual special high-level meetings with
> the Bretton Woods institutions, WTO and UNCTAD. Prior to these meetings,
> public hearings are organized to enable Member States and other
> stakeholders to interact with civil society and the private sector on
> the key issues. These initiatives have enriched the proceedings of the
> Council and its subsidiary bodies.
>
> 54. At the national and regional levels, civil society organizations are
> increasingly participating in the development process, including through
> programmes and initiatives for the eradication of poverty. Worldwide,
> non-governmental organizations have also been at the forefront of
> delivery of humanitarian assistance.
>
> 55. A dynamic private sector is essential for the successful
> implementation and follow-up of the goals and targets set out in the
> conferences and summits. Public-private partnerships established to deal
> with the challenges of development have systematically grown. Private
> sector companies are today active partners in many parts of the
> developing world in every aspect of development. The United Nations is
> actively involved in promoting the role of the private sector. Under the
> aegis of the United Nations Global Compact the Global Compact Leaders
> Summit was convened at United Nations Headquarters in New York on 24
> June 2004 in which 500 chief executive officers, government officials
> and heads of labour and civil society on the topic of global corporate
> citizenship gathered for the first meeting of its kind. The meeting
> adopted anti-corruption as an additional principle of the 10
> internationally agreed principles of the compact.
>
> / Notes/
>
> ^1 In its resolution 57/270 B of 23 June 2003, the General Assembly
> requested each functional commission to examine its methods of work in
> order to better pursue the implementation of the outcomes of the major
> United Nations conferences and summits, recognizing that there is no
> need for a uniform approach since each functional commission has its own
> specificity, while also noting that modern methods of work can better
> guarantee the review of progress made in implementation at all levels,
> bearing in mind the progress recently achieved in this regard by certain
> commissions, especially the Commission on Sustainable Development. The
> Assembly requested the functional commissions and other relevant bodies
> of the Economic and Social Council to report to the Council no later
> than 2005 on the outcome of the examination.
>
> ^2 A meeting between the chairs of the functional commissions is
> scheduled to be held on 1 July 2005 and a meeting of the chairs of the
> functional commissions with the Bureau of the Economic and Social
> Council is planned for 7 July 2005.
>
> ^3 In paragraph 48 of resolution 57/270 B, the General Assembly invited
> functional commissions to consider, in their deliberations, the
> experience gained and lessons learned by the United Nations funds and
> programmes in the implementation of the outcomes of the major United
> Nations conferences and summits.
>
> ^4 In its resolution 1998/46, the Council invited regional commissions
> to further strengthen their active participation in implementation at
> the regional level of the results of the major United Nations
> conferences and summits. In resolution 57/270 B the General Assembly
> invited regional commissions, in collaboration with other regional and
> subregional organizations and processes, to contribute, within their
> existing mandates, to the review of progress in the implementation of
> and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences
> and summits and to provide input to the discussions of the Council on
> the cross-sectoral thematic issues to be discussed at the Council's
> substantive session.
>
>
>
> Well, good reading ! food for thought and analysis.
>
> Now, the basic question to be examined first is
> if the WSIS can be considered as relevant exclusively to
> economic and social matters. Of course there are economical and social
> issues, but
> there are other issues as well such as new technology, free software,
> e-science, internet gouvernance ,
> human rights, etc that can hardly be considered as related to "economic
> and social matters"
>
> It can be argued therefore that the working group report following the *
> 57/270 B resolution*
> does not apply.to <http://apply.to> the WSIS, and one should notice 
> the EU statement does
> not say "it must"
> but 'it should" , and furthemore a strong arguement towards my analysis
> is the fact
> that the organization of the WSIS has been given to the ITU, a technical
> specialized agency,
> and not an agency like UNDP.
>
> However, we must be carefull to take advantage some of the very good
> points ot the
> *57/270 B w*orking group report which is not so bad in some respects.
> This is going to be a subbtle excercise.
>
> The WSIS is not bound to the * 57/270 B resolution and therefore
> is entitled to develop its original multi-stakeholder approach,
> *first by setting multi-stakeholder working groups and coordination
> as proposed by the SI and PCT groups
> and included in the August 12 compilation.
> ( I noticed also the proposition of a "CS WG on implementation and
> follow up" )
> and then as an outcome of the WSIS in Tunis
> ask the UN secretary general to setup a new specialized agency
> (UNMSP) to be able to create UN endorsed multi-stakeholder partnerships
> that would allow to offer an inclusive and legal framework for MSPs,
> in order to avoid the excesses of ill-defined and non-liable
> partnerships such as the infamous Microsoft-UNESCO partenership
> http://www.wsis-pct.org/unesco-microsoft.html
> Since the MSPs phenomemon seem as unstoppable as the tide,
> the Civil Society has rather to find a way to control this
> phenomenon and to be part of it.
>
> See the UNSMP site http://www.unmsp.org, a joint proposal by Adama
> Samessékou and me,
> hopefully to be discussed soon in details in the
> recently ressurected WSIS-MSP CSB family
> http://www.wsis-msp.org , a very good initiative
> by Tatiana Ershova and Claudia Padovani.
>
> UN endorsed MSPs can also provide a sound legal
> framework for internet governance bodies.
>
> It worth to mention the recommendation of the
> UNESCO Saint-Peterburg meeting ( put online on August 09 )
> http://www.unmsp.org/unesco-russia05-recomm.html
>
>
> 2. Information / Knowledge Society Research
>
> We recommend UNESCO, with the possible help of other UN specialised
> agencies, to create a number of inclusive, transparent,
> multi-stakeholder and multi-disciplinary international research /
> working groups with the following missions:
>
> * to reflect more deeply upon the 'Information Society' and the
> 'Knowledge Society' (from the basic concepts to specific models
> with regard to national or local features) and upon potential
> social consequences of the Knowledge Society;
> * to study the new phenomenon of the Information / Knowledge
> Society' Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships (MSPs); to develop the
> basic principles of effective, equitable, transparent and
> inclusive MSPs; to prepare a set of guidelines to be endorsed by
> the United Nations Organisation concerning the ethical standards
> of MSPs as well as decision-making and decision-implementing
> mechanisms for MSPs;
> * to study and to propose new international public law mechanisms
> and structures that would allow for the institutionalisation and
> recognition of MSPs accountable, among other places, to the United
> Nations Organisation;
>
> .... to develop a model regulatory framework for R&D in Knowledge
> Societies;
>
> * to support a post-WSIS evaluation process through an independent
> international body to monitor policy development in compliance
> with the criteria established by the civil society and the
> research community and fund people-centered research;
> * to study experience and practice of the Free Software and Open
> Source development paradigms as a possible model for various
> processes of Information / Knowledge Society development; and
> * to explore and propose new Open Access strategies as the ICTs are
> evolving (by a permanent multi-stakeholder research bureau).
>
> Tatiana Ershova and Adama Samassékou must be thanked for their most
> remarkable contributions
> to the Saint-Peterbourg meeting.
>
> I did not have yet to write a report of the UNESCO Saint-Peterbourg
> meeting after the
> final document was put online.
>
> My greatest worry is that the PC3 schedule seems to be entirely devoted
> to internet governance,
> so when are you going to discuss the most important issues of "follow up
> and implementation' ?
>
> Only at the GFC ?... in a small committee... this seems quite
> unacceptable...
> It seems and the Civil Society must demand that the "follow up and
> implementation'
> be discussed openly and inclusively in another PC, a PC3A ?
>
> Best regards
>
> Francis
>
>
>>
>>
>> regards,
>>
>>
>> Robert
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> Robert Guerra <rguerra at privaterra.org 
> <mailto:rguerra at privaterra.org><mailto:rguerra at privaterra.org 
> <mailto:rguerra at privaterra.org>>>
>>
>> Managing Director, Privaterra <http://www.privaterra.org>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 28-Aug-05, at 9:58 AM, Parminder wrote:
>>
>>> Dear Bill, Jean-Loius, Bertrand, Robert and others,
>>>
>>> Thanks for your valuable comments.
>>>
>>> Do you think the CS can agree on a short statement that can be
>>> submitted to the GFC before the deadline of 31st, and then also be
>>> taken up by CS representatives that attend the 6th September meeting.
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>
> --
>
> ------------------------------------------------------
> Francis F. MUGUET Ph.D
>
> MDPI Foundation Open Access Journals
> Associate Publisher
> http://www.mdpi.org http://www.mdpi.net
> muguet at mdpi.org <mailto:muguet at mdpi.org> muguet at mdpi.net 
> <mailto:muguet at mdpi.net>
>
> ENSTA Paris, France
> KNIS lab. Director
> "Knowledge Networks & Information Society" (KNIS)
> muguet at ensta.fr <mailto:muguet at ensta.fr> http://www.ensta.fr/~muguet 
> <http://www.ensta.fr/%7Emuguet>
>
> World Summit On the Information Society (WSIS)
> Civil Society Working Groups
> Scientific Information : http://www.wsis-si.org chair
> Patents & Copyrights : http://www.wsis-pct.org co-chair
> Financing Mechanismns : http://www.wsis-finance.org web
>
> UNMSP project : http://www.unmsp.org
> WTIS initiative: http://www.wtis.org
> ------------------------------------------------------
>
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