TEXTS ON ORGANIZATIONAL ASPECTS OF PREPARATIONS FOR ASSEMBLY SESSION TO REVIEW IMPLEMENTATION OF SOCIAL SUMMIT OUTCOME INTRODUCED BY GROUP OF 77
Press Release
SOC/4451
TEXTS ON ORGANIZATIONAL ASPECTS OF PREPARATIONS FOR ASSEMBLY SESSION TO REVIEW IMPLEMENTATION OF SOCIAL SUMMIT OUTCOME INTRODUCED BY GROUP OF 77
19980521 The Preparatory Committee for the Special Session of the General Assembly on the Implementation of the Outcome of the Summit and Further Initiatives heard this morning the introduction of seven draft decisions relating to a series of organizational issues for the event.The texts concern the objectives of the special session, issues to be addressed, coordination between the Committee and the Commission for Social Development, the role of the United Nations system, the participation of non-governmental organizations, mobilization of voluntary resources and arrangements for future sessions.
Among other provisions, the decisions would have the Committee decide that the main purposes of the special session would include identifying progress made and constraints, as well as lessons learned, in the implementation of the commitments of the Summit at the national, regional and international levels. The Secretary-General would be asked to provide the Committee and the special session with an up-to-date comprehensive assessment of global trends, through the Report on the World Social Situation. The Secretary-General would also be requested to formulate guidelines and a common framework for national reporting on the progress made and obstacles encountered in order to assist governments in the preparation of their reports.
Also by the texts, the Committee would invite all organs and agencies of the United Nations system, including the Bretton Woods institutions and the World Trade Organization (WTO), to be involved in the preparatory process and the special session, by submitting proposals for further actions and initiatives. The Committee would decide to open its work to the participation of non-governmental organizations, in accordance with previous resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council. Governments would be invited to contribute to the Trust Fund for the Follow-up to the World Summit for Social Development, which would support the participation of the least developed countries in the Committee's work.
In addition, the drafts would have the Committee decide to hold its first substantive session in New York, from 17 to 28 May 1999, and its second
session, also in New York, on dates yet to be decided, for a period of 10 working days each. The dates for the special session itself are still to be decided.
Also this morning, as the Committee continued its discussion on preparations for the special session, a representative of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) said the Preparatory Committee should stress the significance of governments establishing a high-level committee responsible for planning and monitoring comprehensive social development policy. Having various ministries to cover social sector policies led to confusion and allowed for no accountable reference point for holistic policies. The lack of a clear reference point led to the duplication of fieldwork and the misspending of already limited resources.
Responsibility for social development should be shouldered by the international community in addition to individual countries, said the representative of Algeria. However, such factors as trade protectionism, international embargoes and the drop of prices for raw materials, had hindered development efforts. Many countries had seen income shrink at the very time when social programmes needed to be implemented. Since the Summit, international cooperation had turned out to be all too limited.
Statements were also made by the representatives of Ecuador, Russian Federation, United States, Peru and the Republic of Korea.
In addition this morning delegates held a procedural exchange of views on the participation of non-governmental organizations in the preparatory process for the special session.
The Preparatory Committee will meet again at a date to be announced in the Journal.
Preparatory Committee Work Programme
The Preparatory Committee for the Special Session of the General Assembly on the Implementation of the Outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and Further Initiatives met this morning to continue its organizational session. It was scheduled to hold a general discussion on preparations for the special session and on the participation of non-governmental organizations.
The Committee was also scheduled to hear the introduction of seven draft decisions concerning preparations for the special session, the participation of non-governmental organizations and arrangements for future sessions of the Committee (document A/AC.253/L.1). It texts are sponsored by Indonesia, on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China.
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By draft decision I, on objectives of the special session, the Preparatory Committee would decide that its main purposes would be: to reaffirm the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action and not to renegotiate them; to identify progress made and constraints, as well as lessons learned, in the implementation of the commitments of the Summit at the national, regional and international levels; and to recommend actions and initiatives for full and effective implementation of the commitments of the Summit.
Draft decision II, on issues to be addressed, would have the Committee request the Secretary-General to submit, at its first substantive session, a report focusing on the implementation of the 10 commitments at the national, regional and international levels. The Secretary-General would also be asked to provide the Committee and the special session with an up-to-date comprehensive assessment of global trends, through the Report on the World Social Situation, to be issued in time for the Committee's second substantive session in the year 2000. In addition, he would be asked to submit to the Committee at its second substantive session, a document assessing the overall level of implementation of the provisions of the Summit, including recommendations on further actions and initiatives at the national and international levels to strengthen the national capacity to implement the goals and commitments of the Summit.
By draft decision III, on coordination with the Commission for Social Development, the Committee would recommend that the Commission be entrusted with the responsibility of acting as the forum for national reporting, sharing experiences and identifying areas where further initiatives were needed. The Commission would also reaffirm that national reporting was voluntary and at the initiative of the national government concerned. The Secretary-General would be requested to formulate guidelines and a common framework for national reporting on the progress made and obstacles encountered in order to assist governments in the preparation of their reports.
By draft decision IV, on the role of the United Nations system, the Committee would invite all organs and agencies of the United Nations system -- including the Bretton Woods institutions and the World Trade Organization (WTO) -- to be actively involved in the preparatory process and the special session, by submitting proposals for further actions and initiatives. Those bodies would also be invited to report on their activities to implement the Declaration and Programme of Action.
The Committee would also invite the regional commissions to share best practices and lessons learned with respect to the implementation of the Summit outcome at the regional and sub-regional levels. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) would be invited to report on the implementation of the Summit commitments aimed at the eradication of poverty, particularly in
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Africa and the least developed countries. In addition, the Committee would invite the International Labour Organization (ILO) to consider how it might contribute to the review of the implementation of the outcome of the Summit, including activities in cooperation with the United Nations.
By draft decision V, the Committee would decide that it should open its work to the participation of non-governmental organizations. That action would be taken in accordance with previous Economic and Social Council resolutions and decisions, in which the Council invited those non-governmental organizations that were accredited to major United Nations conferences and summits to attend sessions of the Commission for Social Development, provided that they had started the process of application for consultative status. The Committee would also decide that participation by non-governmental organizations at the special session would be guided by Council resolution 1996/31 of 25 July 1996 and relevant General Assembly resolutions and would take into account the experience gained at mid-decade reviews of the outcome of major United Nations conferences.
Draft decision VI, on mobilization of voluntary resources, would have the Committee invite governments to contribute to the Trust Fund for the Follow-up to the World Summit for Social Development. The Trust Fund would support the participation of the least developed countries in the Committee's work, the special session and in the organization of expert group meetings, seminars, symposia and workshops to be held by the Secretariat on issues relevant to the special session.
By draft decision VII, on arrangements for future sessions, the Committee would decide to hold its first substantive session in New York from 17 to 28 May 1999 and its second session from 3 to 14 April 2000, also in New York, for a period of ten working days each. The date of the second session remains in brackets pending further negotiations. Also to be decided is the date of the special session in 2000. It would be convened for five working days, and representation would be at the highest level.
Statements
MONICA MARTINEZ (Ecuador) said national reports on implementation of the Social Summit goals should be encouraged in the preparatory process for the special session. Community-based non-governmental organizations and other various actors throughout civil society should be brought into play in the preparatory process and in the special session. Given the nature of the Social Summit, participation of non-governmental organizations should not be confined to only those who attended the Copenhagen Summit.
T. RAMISHVILI (Russian Federation) said that since the Summit, many countries had taken steps to resolve social problems. But many countries had
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faced difficulties in attaining the Summit goals. Despite difficulties in his country, the main guidelines of the Summit had been taken into account in all spheres of public policy. Apart from internal efforts, assistance from the international community was also very important. The international community must take effective measures to resolve problems of social security. The United Nations potential of system-wide coordination for Summit follow-up had not yet been realized. There should also be greater efforts to address the social development problems of countries in transition. His delegation was in favour of participation of non-governmental organizations in the special session.
SETH WINNICK (United States) said his Government, as host country of the United Nations, welcomed and strongly supported the offer of Switzerland to host in Geneva the special session. The reasons to hold the session in Geneva were clearly put forward in the letter of 8 May from Switzerland to the Secretary-General (document A/AC.253/4). The United States hoped that the proposal would generate the interest and support of all delegates and that the Swiss offer would be accepted.
PAOLA SANTA CRUZ (Peru) said the social sphere could no longer be treated in isolation from the economic and political spheres. The Secretary-General's report (document A/AC.253/3) included insightful recommendations on how to organize the Committee's work. It was important that the agenda for the special session acted to reaffirm the agreements reached at the Summit. It should also address issues concerning the assessment of the results so far achieved in implementation of the Declaration and Programme for Action. A thorough analysis of the results of actions dictated by the Summit should be a starting point. A report by the Secretary-General, with the participation of Member States, would be essential. At the national level, each country should emphasize which actions had succeeded and which had failed. It would also be helpful to ensure dialogue between countries within a given region.
In preparation for the special session, statistical indicators should be established, including those on the impact of structural adjustment programmes, she said. The preparation process should also emphasize the interaction between governments, intergovernmental institutions, civil society and non-governmental agencies. The cooperation of all actors in development was necessary for the session to succeed. Economic cooperation could be explored through the convening of meetings and panels during the preparatory process. The agenda of the special session should be based on the 10 commitments of the Copenhagen Declaration.
CHANG BEOM CHO (Republic of Korea) said the Preparatory Committee had an important role to play in ensuring the success of the special session, which would provide renewed momentum for the implementation of the outcome of the
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Social Summit and further initiatives. The objective of the special session should not be to renegotiate existing agreements but to provide opportunity to identify additional measures to implement the Summit's goals and to provide impetus for renewed attention to social development. The agenda of the Committee should centre on the three core issues identified by the Summit: poverty eradication, full employment and social integration. The forthcoming substantive sessions of the Committee and the special session should also pay special attention to recent financial crises.
The Preparatory Committee and the Commission for Social Development should work closely together in a coordinated and non-duplicating manner, he said. Regarding the dates for the special session, there should be a sufficient interval between the special session and other major conferences and the Assembly's regular session. The Committee and the special session should ensure the widest possible participation of non-governmental organizations, which were essential to the implementation of the commitments made at Copenhagen. While acknowledging that governments alone could not bear the financial burden of development, the Republic of Korea urged all spheres of society to contribute to the mobilization of resources.
FARID BENBERIM (Algeria) said the universal nature of social problems cast them as a pressing need in the world. While responsibility for social development was held by countries themselves, it should also be shouldered by the international community. That attitude was reflected in the commitments of the Summit. However, such actions as trade protectionism, international embargoes and the drop of prices for raw materials had hindered development efforts. Many countries had seen income shrink at the very time when social programmes needed to be implemented. Since the Summit, international cooperation had turned out to be all too limited. It was crucial to ensure that resources were available to attain the goals of the Summit. It was also important for development to become the central concern of the United Nations.
He added that the special session should focus on deriving benefit from efforts from past experiences. It should consider measures to take advantage of communications to disseminate information on best practices and set up an effective schedule for attaining goals. The session should also consider strengthening the role of the Commission for Social Development. The Summit gave rise to high hopes, but it would not change the lives of people unless the words written there became actions. The session should not turn into another sterile series of speeches.
GEORGE KOSSAIFI, of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), said there was a necessity for governments to establish a high-level entity responsible for planning and monitoring a comprehensive development policy. Having various ministries, such as health, labour and education, cover social sector policies led to confusion. In such a situation, there was
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no accountable reference point for holistic policies on such things as poverty eradication and social development. The lack of a clear reference point led to the duplication of fieldwork and the misspending of already limited human material resources.
Therefore, he added, deliberation in the Preparatory Committee should stress the significance of establishing a committee at the national level responsible for planning and monitoring comprehensive social development policy. Such a committee should include concerned parties from civil society that could also feasibly address economic development policy.
Draft Introduction
ARIZAL EFFENDI (Indonesia), speaking on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China, introduced the draft decision on preparations for the special session, participation of non-governmental organizations and arrangements for future sessions of the preparatory committee (document A/AC.253/L.1).
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