Ongoing Forum and future

The participants made several important decisions and recommendations about the future of the Forum. A secret ballot was held about the continuation of the Forum. A large majority voted in favour of continuing with the Forum and for the further development of its activities.

A discussion was held around the name and the aim of the ongoing Forum. A proposal was made to change the name and the aim of the Forum in order to make it more precise. After a long plenary discussion, a large majority of participants rejected this option, preferring to keep both the current name, and the aims of the Forum in the future.

Many participants stressed the importance of a civil society forum in Geneva, which provides the opportunity to strengthen the links and interactions with the UN system, including the numerous international organizations and specialized agencies based in Geneva. It is seen as being complementary to other existing forums.

The UN and other international organizations also expressed their interest and expectations regarding the World Civil Society Forum. Several Heads of organizations came to the Forum or sent messages. These include the Secretary-General of the UN, HE Mr. Kofi Annan; the Secretary-General of the International Organisation of the Francophonie and former Secretary-General of the UN, HE Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali; the Director-General of the UN Office in Geneva, HE Mr. Sergei Ordzhonikidze; the Director-General of the International Labour Organization, HE Mr. Juan Somavia; the Director-General of the World Health Organization, HE Ms. Gro Harlem Brundtland; the Secretary-General of the UNCTAD, HE Mr. Rubens Ricupero; the High Commissioner on Human Rights, HE Ms. Mary Robinson; the Director of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Ambassador Walter Fust; the Special Ambassador of the World Summit on the Information Society, Mr. Guy Olivier Segond and others.

Several Heads of international networks also addressed the participants. These included Ms. Renate Bloem, President of the Conference of NGOs (CONGO); Mr. Kumi Naidoo, Secretary-General of CIVICUS; Ms. Sirpa Pietikainen, Chair of the Executive Committee of the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA); Ms. Mililani Trask, President of Na Koa Ikaika O Ka Lahui Hawaii and member of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues; Yoshiyuki Takagi, President of Earth Network Village, amongst others.

A Coordination Council was constituted to facilitate the ongoing Forum. It includes: regional Coordinators, nominated by the regional caucuses; Youth and Indigenous peoples’ representatives, as well as thematic representatives covering various domains of activity. The participants were invited to take gender balance into account in the nominations. At the time of the report, 43 members were confirmed. This Coordination Council will relay proposals and guarantee that all regions and domains of activity will be associated with the next Forum. An updated list is available on the Forum's web site.

It was agreed that the Steering Committee would continue, but with changes in its shape and composition. Mandat International was also asked to provide an ongoing Secretariat for the Forum in Geneva.

When the next Forum will take place has not yet been decided. However, several participants suggested it could be held every two to four years. Regional consultations before the next Forum, to strengthen participation in the process at all levels, were also recommended.

Several thematic Working Groups confirmed their intention to continue working after the 2002 World Civil Society Forum. For instance, the Working Group on the Information Society will work closely with the Secretariat of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), planned for December 2003 in Geneva.

The Youth Forum also decided to continue its activities at the same time as the main World Civil Society Forum. It will constitute a committee of youth representatives and invite the main youth organizations to participate in the organization of the next Youth Forum.

List of confirmed members of the Coordinating Council

Forum's web site