Summary: Plenary Session & Working Groups
Continuing Forum: Working Groups
The purpose of the open discussion was to give representatives from CSOs the opportunity to respond to presentations, to establish working groups and regional caucuses, and to determine a future course for their organizations.
Priorities of the World Civil Society
Various topics were presented during the open discussion session. The major concern was how
for CSOs is to interact and collaborate with the UN system. One suggestion was to organize caucuses for all regions. Another was to establish a permanent secretariat.
Mr.
Rob Wheeler of the Millennium People’s Assembly Network suggested that CSOs
should work more with the UN. He pointed out that, in order to do this, it was
necessary for CSOs to develop a legitimate and recognized voice in order to be effective. In addition,
Mr. Wheeler emphasized the need for CSOs to get together in a democratic way to mutually support activities, educate the public, and find common solutions to problems which have been ignored by governments.
Mr.
Colin Archer of the International Peace Bureau however questioned the need for a permanent
structure, unless it would have a very clear identity, offering an added value
with respect to existing structures. He mentioned that UBUNTU, CONGO, and WFUNA were existing umbrella organizations that CSOs could contact.
Mr. Archer suggested that another Civil Society Forum take place in three years with interim regional meetings and collaboration with other groups like CONGO.
A representative from Latin American spoke on behalf of members from his region. He stressed the need for continuing contact and for developing constructive forms of leadership. He added that fortifying NGOs and CSOs and giving them opportunities to bring proposals to the
Forum was important.
Lively discussion ensured from the audience as participants debated the feasibility of information already presented and proposed new ideas.
Announcements
Mr. Takehiko Uemura of the Earth Network Village suggested that there be a coordinator for East Asia and announced a meeting for that region to promote ideas of how the Asian region
would contribute to the Forum. He stressed the importance of establishing a network. Mr. Arjun Karki of Rural Reconstruction Nepal announced a meeting for later in the day to discuss concerns
of Asian participants on Asian issues, strategies, plans of action, and on making decisions on how to proceed. Mr.
Mamadou Ndiaye of Office Africain pour le Développement et la Coopération,
in turn, announced a meeting of the African delegates to initiate an African caucus.
Conclusions
This second session regarding the Permanent Forum was going to be continued
on Thursday, 18 July 2002, in order to find common denominators and solutions.
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Visits & Presentations: Visit to the World Health Organization