Executive Report of the World Civil Society Forum

The World Civil Society Forum was held at the International Conference Centre of Geneva, from the 14^th to the 19^th July 2002, with parallel activities from the 8^th to the 20^th July 2002. Through its various activities, the Forum attracted about a thousand participants who represented over 500 organizations, from about 70 countries, of which a majority were developing countries.

The aim of the World Civil Society Forum is to strengthen international cooperation. It focused on the four objectives adopted during the preparatory process:

• To facilitate cooperation between civil society and the UN system, including specialised agencies and other international organizations;
• To promote cooperation among civil society organizations across the world and working in different fields of activity, especially with developing countries and indigenous peoples;
• To create a space for dialogue on the relation between the different stakeholders of the international scene, such as civil society organizations, international organizations, governments and the private sector;
• To consider the constitution of a permanent forum.

About 200 sessions and activities were provided, including information and discussion sessions, training sessions, workshops, thematic working groups, a youth forum and cultural activities. About 300 panellists from 200 organizations, including most international organizations and UN agencies, brought their expertise to the Forum. It enabled them to discuss complex issues, such as the relation between NGOs and the private sector, and the right of peoples to self-determination.

About ten training sessions were offered to some 150 participants from developing countries and over 60 computers were distributed for specific projects in developing countries. Social and Cultural Activities were organized in the framework of a civil society village, providing a multicultural environment in which people could meet and present their organization. It included musical concerts, theatre, films, food stalls and photographic exhibitions open to the public.

The Forum gave the floor to over 20 Keynote speakers from both civil society organizations and UN agencies. Several heads of international organizations and UN agencies expressed their support for the Forum and their interest in reinforcing their cooperation links with civil society organizations, including the Secretaries-General and Directors-General of the United Nations Organization, the International Organization for the Francophonie, the International Labour Organization, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the World Health Organization, the High Commissioner on Human Rights and others.

The Forum attracted organizations from all fields of activity. It brought together international organizations, UN agencies, NGOs, international federations, networks, indigenous peoples, academics, foundations, journalists, parliamentarians, trade unions, as well as some governmental and private sector representatives. Through the wide diversity of fields of activity represented, the Forum provided an important opportunity to network, generating new links of cooperation among the participants, especially with the international organizations and UN agencies.

The participants adopted about 145 recommendations for strengthening international cooperation with a focus on the following areas:

• Civil Society Cooperation with the UN and other International Organizations
• Indigenous Peoples, Gender and Development
• Information Society
• Environment, Trade and Sustainable Development
• Peace and Disarmament
• Health Promotion
• Human Rights and Humanitarian Law
• Private Sector
• Right of Peoples to Self-Determination

Some of these recommendations addressed the preparation of the World Summit on the Information Society, as well as the World Summit on Sustainable Development. All the recommendations are to be submitted to the relevant organizations and to be followed up.

The participants voted with a large majority in favour of an ongoing forum and supported the further development of its activities. Participants recommended organizing another Forum in two to four years’ time. It was recommended that, in the meantime, a wide process of consultation be established throughout the various regions.

The Youth Forum decided to continue its activities and to organize another Youth Forum, parallel to the main World Civil Society Forum, to reinforce the participation of youth in international cooperation and in decision processes.

A Coordination Council was set up to support the ongoing Forum. It brings together organizations from the various parts of the World and fields of activities, including youth and indigenous peoples' representatives. The Coordination Council will guarantee that all regions and fields of activity are consulted and involved in the process. At the time of the report, 43 organizations confirmed their participation in the Coordination Council. The participants also accepted that the Steering Committee continue with changes in its shape and composition.

The participants recommended that a Secretariat be established in Geneva with the support of Mandat International. Delegates also pointed out the importance of Geneva in view of the presence of the UN, most international organizations and specialized agencies, as well as hundreds of NGOs and other stakeholders.

In conclusion, the World Civil Society Forum confirmed the increasing role of civil society organizations on the international scene and within the UN system, as well as the combined will to reinforce cooperation between international organizations and civil society organizations. It also stressed the will of many organizations from developing countries to strengthen their participation in the UN system.