Executive Summary: Working Group on Civil Society - UN Cooperation
Coordinators
Edith Ballantyne (Women's International League for Peace and Freedom) &
Renate Bloem (World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women, President
of CONGO)
Assistance
Galina Kostadinova & Cristina Carriello (Mandat International)
“Strengthening cooperation between civil society and the UN and other
international organizations is very good, but should its purpose be spelled
out?” What is civil society? Who makes it up? Who is included? These were
questions raised in nearly every session of the working group. A clear
definition of the purpose of cooperation and of the term 'civil society' is
wanted. In preparing the next World Civil Society Forum on Strengthening
International Cooperation these questions should be taken up with all the
seriousness they deserve. The issues raised by panellists and in the
discussions in the eight sessions of the working group should also be taken
into account.
Taken together, the eight sessions of the working group gave an interesting
picture of the many types of cooperation that exist today between the two
constituencies. We were reminded of how this cooperation has evolved over the
period of some fifty years of existence of the United Nations and its
Specialized Agencies, and we debated how to further develop and strengthen the
relationships.
The panellists in the first session recalled that civil society, and in
particular non-governmental organizations, can claim considerable credit for
the fact that the promotion and protection of human rights has an important
place in the United Nations Charter. The success of their lobbying efforts may
account for the inclusion in the Charter of Article 71 that provides for a
consultative relationship between NGOs and the United Nations in the economic,
social and cultural fields, Subsequently, each specialized agency of the United
Nations has included in its charter provisions for the establishment of similar
relationships with non-governmental organizations.
These relationships are often dictated by social, economic and political
changes and needs, and evolve constantly both locally and globally. Cooperation
takes on new forms and dimensions when various factors come together. For
example, in the late 1980s and early 1990s, people's organizations and
movements, as well as the scientific community, rang the alarm on the fast
growing poverty, the widening of the gap between the rich and the poor, and on
the vastly deteriorating environment with its dangers to all of humanity. The
consequent Earth Summit convened by the UN in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro set a new
pattern in the participation of civil society in the work of the UN system.
The UN-organized world conferences and their preparations, together with the
vibrant parallel NGO Forums, have opened a new type of cooperation to
ever-wider sectors of civil society. The conferences have drawn a large number
of national organizations to the UN system. In order to develop long-term
cooperation to its fullest, the UN and Specialized Agencies have to create more
space, especially regionally, to enable the increasing number of NGOs and other
sectors of civil society to participate fully in the development of policies
and programmes and in their practical application. The UN needs the cooperation
of civil society in informing and educating the public and in providing
concrete, practical assistance in carrying out projects in the field. Neither
the UN, nor the majority of NGOs, are well enough endowed financially to allow
this cooperation to develop to its full potential. As all living relationships,
that between civil society and international organizations has its ups and
downs, its failures and successes. In the different sessions we heard about
some of them. We talked about the lessons that can be learned from them,
particularly from experiences in the field concerning cooperation in
development projects, protection of and assistance to refugees, rebuilding
war-torn societies, environmental protection and others. We also looked at the
evolution of cooperation in areas such as advancing the rights and equal
participation of women, the participation of youth and the protection of
children's rights. We learned of the good cooperation between NGOs and UN
agencies in, for example, campaigning against the use of child soldiers and in
succeeding in raising the age of recruitment to the armed forces to 18 years.
The campaign against child labour which uses the 'red card' to punish foul play
by an enterprise using child labour was supported by famous football players. A
very advanced area of cooperation is the example of UNAIDS, which includes
representatives of civil society organizations in its Governing Board where
policy is made.
In the session on participation in the elaboration of international policies
many examples were given of how non-governmental organizations, through their
advocacy and effective lobbying of governments, succeeded in putting issues on
the UN agenda. Among the examples given were the issue of the environment and
development, women's rights as human rights and women's equal participation in
decision-making, children's rights, the elimination of poverty and others.
Civil society can also take credit for keeping disarmament and peace high on
the UN agenda.
The session on multilateralism brought out the importance of strengthening
the UN and with it the multilateral approach to dealing with issues such as
development and security and the protection of the human environment. It also
used practical examples to show areas of good cooperation between the UN system
and civil society and where and how it can be strengthened. Examples were given
of cooperation in development assistance and in the vast area of monitoring the
application of international human rights and humanitarian legal instruments.
Panellists and participants underlined the importance of NGOs maintaining their
independence. One of the panellists pointed out that in the past, 80% of NGO
resources came from the public; now the reverse is true. As money becomes
increasingly scarce for voluntary work in the different areas of social,
economic and cultural activities, and the need to seek funding from any
available sources grows, many NGOs depend on funding from governments and the
business sector. NGOs need to be fully transparent and accountable as to their
aims, their work and the funding of their work. This is considered important to
maintain their credibility as trusted partners in co-operative relations. There
was a lively discussion on the skills needed to be a successful advocate at the
international (and no doubt also national) level. We want to share the list of
12 conditions that one of the panellists offered as a guide to becoming an
effective advocate and lobbyist:
- To have a vision and an objective
- To be motivated
- To be experienced
- To set priorities
- To have a strategy
- To stay close to the base (work with local and national affiliates)
- To establish or participate in NGO coalitions and networks
- To be diplomatic
- To establish a wide range of contacts
- To persevere (never give up)
- To be realistic (especially about the UN)
- To have a good sense of humour
You may want to add to this list from your own experience and share it with
others.
Surprising issues
One of the panellists raised the issue of the increasing number of NGOs
being created by governments and other major interest groups, known as GONGOs.
These organizations falsify the function and role of NGOs. They are easily
recognizable and the question was asked how and on what basis they obtained
consultative status with ECOSOC. The ECOSOC Committee on NGOs is called upon to
scrupulously apply the provisions of resolution 1996/31 in granting
consultative status to applicants.
Interesting issues
The question of what 'civil society' is and who is included, was raised many
times. The concept and terminology of 'civil society' is old, but understood
differently at different times. Not so long ago the term used to mean that
civil society was all that was not military. The UN did not use the term 'civil
society until, it seems, 'people's power' made itself felt in the late 1980s in
ending the communist systems in Eastern Europe, without violence. What is
understood by 'civil society' today in the context of the UN system, however,
is confusing and needs a clearer definition. UN documents refer to "civil
society, NGOs and the private sector" as three separate entities. To many, it
means opening the UN door wide to the influence of big business, and
undermining the credibility of the organization in the eyes of many NGOs, some
of whose members become disenchanted with the UN as a pro-public policy
forum.
Conclusions
This Forum was an interesting initiative and a commendable effort to bring
sectors of civil society together from many parts of the world. Other such
forums should be organized at intervals, with worldwide participation.
The working group session helped to clarify the possibilities for
cooperation that existed and how to build on what we have. The objective of
strengthening cooperation between civil society and the UN and other
international organizations should be to build a better and safer world for
all.
More discussion is needed on how in future to involve larger sectors of
civil society from many more regions and how to ensure their presence at the
forums.
Concrete recommendations
The participants in this Forum are asked to reach out at the local and
national level to enlarge the network and develop advocacy for strengthening
civil society cooperation with the local and national governmental authorities.
This, in order:
To promote transparency and democracy in decision-making processes following
the example of the Swiss system of direct and participatory democracy, and
bring it up to international level. The main part of this should be informing
and promoting the commitments made by governments at the UN Millennium
Summit.
Another World Civil Society Forum should be organized in Geneva on
strengthening cooperation between civil society and the UN system for the
purpose of bettering the lot of the world's people.
If and when a World Civil Society Forum has a solid structural form, it
should seek observer presence at the UN General Assembly and its main
committees to monitor the implementation of the commitments made at the
Millennium Summit. This would be in line with the UN Secretary-General's
proposal contained in the draft report of the General Assembly's Working Group
on Strengthening the UN system (A/50/24 of 16 July 1996).
Whatever follow-up mechanism the Forum may decide, priority should be given
to explore the possibilities of establishing and funding a secretariat in
Geneva to assist in the development and implementation of the proposals coming
from this Forum, and to ensure full participatory democracy in the functioning
of such an office.
The Forum Secretariat should continue to function as a network of
organizations for the exchange of information, discussion of issues and
longer-term forms of organization. Among the longer-term efforts could be the
creation of a World Civil Society Liaison Body in order to build upon and
co-ordinate the efforts of existing civil society forums for good governance
and a better world.
Civil society in every country should campaign to press governments to pay
their dues to the United Nations in full, and on time, to enable the
organization to carry out its mandate under the Charter. Civil society should
follow up on the UN Secretary-General's call for coalitions of changes, bringing
"together international institutions, civil society and private sector
organizations and national governments, in pursuit of common goals" (Report
of the UN Secretary-General - A/54/2000), in order to seek to initiate a Global
Policy Network and the prevention of armed conflicts.
Individual sessions in this working group
- UN System and the Charter's aims
- Evolution of civil
society-international organizations cooperation
- Strengthening cooperation
with civil society in developing countries
- Participation in
the elaboration of international policies
- Strengthening field
cooperation
- Reaching out to
people: access to UN information
- How can civil society strengthen
multilateralism, including UN independence and civil society
participation
- Wrap-up Session
See also
Bibliography of relevant references
One of the best resources are the publications issued regularly by the
United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service. Interested organizations
should ask to be put on their mailing list. The World Civil Society's Forum web
site provides the relevant names of documents. Another reference worth listing
is Resolution 1996/31 on the requirements for application for consultative
status with ECOSOC.
Presenters
Session 1
Tony Hill, United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service; Renate Bloem
World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women, President of the
Conference of NGOs in Relationship with the United Nations
Session 2
Cyril Ritchie, International Federation of International Institutions in
Geneva; Musimbi Kanyoro, World Young Women's Christian Association
Session 3
Ade Adenekan Pan, African Peace and Reconciliation Council, Nigeria; Sarah
Hlupekile Longwe, Femnet; Hans-Peter Buvollen, United Nations Development
Programme
Session 4
Krishna Ahooja Patel, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom;
Bai Bagasso, United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS; Raymonde Martineau, Union of
International Organizations
Session 5
Mr. Mamadou Ndiaye, Office Africain pour le Développment et la
Coopération, Senegal; Servio Piazzi, UN Office of Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs; Grainne O'Hara, United Nations High Commission for
Refugees
Session 6
Marie Heuzé, Information Service, United Nations Office at Geneva;
Heylah Hamouda Kadjar, Terre des Hommes; Ricardo Espinosa, Consultant,
International Labour Office
Session 7
Jan Lonn, International Youth and Student Movement for the UN; Dharam Ghai,
Official of the United Nations (retired); Diane Ala'i, Baha'i International
Community; Scott Weber, WSP International
Session 8
Edith Ballantyne, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom;
Jeffrey J. Segall, UNGA-LINK, UK
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