PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR ASSEMBLY'S SPECIAL SESSION ON IMPLEMENTATION OF SOCIAL SUMMIT OUTCOME CONCLUDES ORGANIZATIONAL SESSION, 19 - 22 MAY

26 May 1998

Press Release
SOC/4453

PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR ASSEMBLY'S SPECIAL SESSION ON IMPLEMENTATION OF SOCIAL SUMMIT OUTCOME CONCLUDES ORGANIZATIONAL SESSION, 19 - 22 MAY

19980526 Committee Hears Call for Definition of Term 'Civil Society' in UN Context, Juan Somavia (Chile) Emphasizes Importance of UN Work in Social Development

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 concluded its organizational session on Friday evening, 22 May, by adopting eight decisions relating to a series of organizational issues for the event.

Among other decisions, the Committee decided that it should open its work to the participation of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), in accordance with previous Economic and Social Council resolutions and decisions. The Committee deferred consideration of the modalities for participation of NGOs in the special session until its next session. Governments were encouraged to include representatives of civil society in their national preparatory process, as well as in their delegations to the Committee and the special session.

Speaking after action, the representatives of Cuba, Sudan and Zambia stressed that the contents of the decision on participation of NGOs did not endorse the concept of participation of civil society in the preparatory process. It was difficult to accept the categorization of civil society as being different from NGOs because the meaning of civil society had not been clearly defined. The concept of civil society was launched in a vague fashion during the Summit and was never subjected to a consensus. It was essential that the Committee define that term in the context of the United Nations.

In other actions, the Committee decided to hold its first and second substantive sessions in New York from 17 to 28 May 1999 and from 3 to 14 April 2000, respectively, for a period of 10 working days each.

Also, it took note with appreciation of Switzerland's offer to convene the special session in Geneva. The Secretary-General was requested to prepare a report on the practical implications of that offer, including all additional direct and indirect financial implications for the United Nations. That report should be submitted in time for the Assembly to decide at the main part

of its fifty-third session on the venue and date of the five-day special session, to be held in the year 2000. The Committee also adopted the provisional agenda for its first substantive session in 1999. According to the agenda, the principal subject for discussion will be the identification of the specific issues and initiatives that governments wish to have placed in the agenda of the special session. The provisional agenda was introduced by John Langmore, Director of the Division for Social Policy and Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

The Committee also decided on its work for the intersessional period. It agreed that, between now and May 1999, its bureau should meet periodically with a view to discussing any outstanding issues and exchanging views on the most effective ways of discharging its mandate to prepare for the special session. The bureau's first meeting will be held in September, just prior to the General Assembly's fifty-third session.

In addition, the Committee adopted the report of its organizational session (document A/AC.253/L.3), which includes the decisions on the preparation for the special session, the provisional agenda for the substantive session in 1999 and the Chairman's summaries of the two panel discussions held during the four-day organizational session.

In farewell remarks to the Committee, Juan Somavia (Chile), who was Chairman of the Preparatory Committee for the Social Summit and of its Main Committee, said soon he would have different responsibilities and would be working elsewhere when the Preparatory Committee met again. He felt a certain urge to be with the Committee at this session in order to say farewell and wish it the best success with its enormous undertaking. The work done to ensure that the Social Summit became a reality was very close to his heart. The work done at the United Nations in the area of social development had an impact and was of enormous importance, he emphasized.

The Preparatory Committee was established by the General Assembly to prepare for the Assembly's special session in 2000, which will be an overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the Social Summit outcome. At the Summit, held in Copenhagen in 1995, governments pledged, among other commitments, to adopt time-bound national plans to eradicate absolute poverty, to promote full employment as a basic policy goal and to promote social integration by fostering societies that are stable, safe and just. Those are among the provisions of the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the Summit.

Action by Preparatory Committee

Seven of the eight decisions adopted by the Committee after protracted negotiations, had been first introduced by the "Group of 77" developing countries and China (document A/AC.253/L.1).

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By decision I, on objectives of the special session, the Preparatory Committee decided 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 to further efforts towards full and effective implementation of the commitments of the Summit.

In decision II, on issues to be addressed, the Committee requested the Secretary-General to submit, at its first substantive session, a report focusing on the implementation of the 10 commitments, including those addressing the three core issues, at the national, regional and international levels. The Secretary-General was also 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 was 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. It would include recommendations on further actions and initiatives at the national and international levels, especially in the promotion of an enabling environment to strengthen the national capacity to implement the goals and commitments of the Summit.

By decision III, on coordination with the Commission for Social Development, the Committee recommended that the Commission be entrusted with the responsibility of acting as the forum for national reporting and sharing experiences. The Commission, in 1999 and 2000, will also identify areas where further initiatives are needed for the Committee to discuss in order to further assist implementation of the Summit outcome, stressing the importance of national reporting, which are to be submitted on a voluntary basis.

The Secretary-General was requested to formulate guidelines and a common framework for national reporting on the progress made and obstacles encountered, also by the decision. In doing so, he should draw upon information already provided by governments and compile all available data -- both inside and outside the United Nations system -- relevant to the implementation of the Declaration and Programme of Action. Governments were invited to provide information, preferably no later than October 1999, to assist the Secretary-General in the production of the report. The Secretary- General would assist governments, at their request, in providing such information.

By decision IV, on the role of the United Nations system, the Committee invited all organs and agencies of the United Nations system -- including the Bretton Woods institutions and the World Trade Organization -- to be actively involved in the preparatory process and the special session, by submitting

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proposals for further actions and initiatives. Those bodies were also invited to report on their activities to implement the Declaration and Programme of Action.

The Committee also invited the regional commissions, and other relevant regional organizations, to share best practices and lessons learned with respect to the implementation of the Summit outcome at the regional and subregional levels. The funds and programmes, in particular, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), were invited to report on the implementation of the Summit commitments aimed at the eradication of poverty, particularly in Africa and the least developed countries. In addition, the Committee invited the International Labour Organization (ILO) to contribute to the review and appraisal of the implementation of the outcome of the Summit, particularly relating to its activities to implement the Summit commitment on employment as part of promoting social development.

By decision V, the Committee decided 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 NGOs 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 also decided that participation of NGOs 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.

The Committee decided further that NGOs which have consultative status with the Council, and those that are on the roster, would be invited to participate in the meetings of the Committee. In addition, other NGOs which were accredited to the Social Summit or other major United Nations conferences and summits would be invited to apply for accreditation to the Committee. The Secretary-General was requested to provide to Member States a list of the latter NGOs for review in a timely fashion. Governments were encouraged to include representatives of civil society in their national preparatory process, as well as in their delegations to the Committee and the special session. In addition, the Committee decided to defer consideration of the modalities for participation of NGOs in the special session until its next session.

By an additional decision, the Committee also decided to discuss other organizational matters at its next session.

In decision VI, on mobilization of voluntary resources, the Committee invited governments to contribute to the Trust Fund for the Follow-up to the World Summit for Social Development. The Trust Fund will support the

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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 decision VII, on arrangements for future sessions, the Committee decided 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 10 working days each. It also decided that the special session would be held for five working days in the year 2000 at a date to be determined at a later stage. Member States were invited to participate in the special session at the highest possible political level.

The Committee took note with appreciation of Switzerland's offer to convene the special session in Geneva. In that context, the Committee requested the Secretary-General to prepare a report on the practical implications of that offer, including all additional direct and indirect financial implications for the United Nations. The Secretary-General would bear in mind the need to consult Member States as appropriate in preparing the report, which would be submitted in time for the Assembly to take a decision on the venue and date at the main part of its fifty-third session in 1998.

Provisional Agenda for First Substantive Session

At the first substantive session of the Preparatory Committee, the scope for review and appraisal will be limited, according to the provisional agenda adopted by the Committee (document A/AC.253/L.2). On the basis of the information available, however, the Secretariat should be able to provide at the first session a preliminary assessment of achievements in and constraints on the implementation of the commitments made at the Social Summit.

Also according to the agenda, the principal subject for discussion will be the identification of the specific issues and initiatives that governments wish to have placed in the agenda of the special session. As at the Summit, discussion of the means of addressing those issues will relate to goals, strategies, policies and programmes at the national, regional and international levels. The 10 commitments agreed to at the Social Summit will provide the framework for discussion.

Specific issues raised during the organizational session will be presented in a document to be distributed before the first session, the agenda states. That document will also be based on proposals prepared by countries and background reports by United Nations bodies, among other sources for information. The first session will also include a preliminary review and appraisal of the implementation of the Summit commitments, as well as consideration of further action and initiatives to implement those commitments.

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Chairman's Summaries of Panel Discussions

The Preparatory Committee also approved Chairman's summaries of the two panel discussions on appraisal and implementation of the outcome to the Social Summit. As stated by the Chairman, the summaries were not negotiated texts.

Taking part in the first panel discussion were the following: Nitin Desai, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs; Katherine Hagen, Deputy Director-General of the ILO; Eimi Watanabe, Assistant Administrator and Director of the UNDP; and Joanne Salop, Director, Operational Policy and Strategy, World Bank.

The Chairman states in its summary that United Nations system-wide follow-up has been greatly assisted by the establishment of three Administrative Committee on Coordination (ACC) task forces, which also helped to identify the operational tools needed to assist development efforts, especially at the country level. In addition, the task forces provided a mechanism for bringing together all relevant actors of the United Nations system, including the Bretton Woods institutions.

The United Nations has also taken steps to mobilize action at the regional and country levels, the summary states. Follow-up meetings to the Summit were convened in Asia and Latin America and a regional review meeting is planned for Africa. At the national level, governments have been encouraged to formulate national poverty eradication strategies and should be encouraged to report on progress in achieving the goals established at the Social Summit.

On the role of values in policy formulation, the summary states that one of the achievements of the Summit was to recognize human beings as the main actors and beneficiaries of the development process. Economic growth and free markets were necessary, but not sufficient conditions for the fulfilment of human being's potentials and aspirations. There was a need for more conceptual work and dialogue on shared values and their translation into action.

The availability of basic indicators at the national and international levels is key to the assessment of implementation of the Summit goals, according to the summary. Given that several institutions are engaged in data collection and dissemination, it is necessary to clarify distinct concepts and methodologies that are used and to reconcile differences.

On the topic of social capital, the summary states that such capital reflects not only the quality of a country's labour force, but also the network of values and institutions that govern relations among people. Possible approaches to develop social capital include the promotion of increased access to basic social services. Education is important, literacy and numeracy essential, but not enough; the education system should promote

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the full exercise of citizenship by individuals and their enjoyment of their rights as specified by the relevant human rights instruments, including meaningful participation in decision-making. Social capital may be compromised when rapid modernization and urbanization undermine traditional institutions. Also, tolerance need to be promoted and fully embraced in order to end civil and ethnic conflict.

Despite considerable progress in integrating the social dimension into economic policy, several commentators felt that there was a need to promote better integration of all aspects of development in the analysis and formulation of policies for poverty eradication, according to the summary.

On participation and the right to information, the summary states that wider participation of civil society and NGOs in the implementation of the Summit goals is essential. There is a need to actively involve the private sector in the implementation process. Increased participation could be fostered by increasing people's access to the decision-making process. The public needs to be duly informed about government's actions and decisions, which need to be transparent, it adds.

The summary also says that increased integration among countries have created economic opportunities, but also new challenges to be addressed. The recent crisis in Asia highlighted the fact that economic growth and globalization did not ensure steady progress and may produce additional vulnerabilities and a threat to progress already achieved. Globalization and macroeconomic policy convergence reduce the degree of liberty available to governments in addressing particular social problems. Through those polices, governments impose ridged targets on public expenditures and limit the possibilities of counter-cyclical fiscal deficit.

On the external debt of poor countries, the summary states that, despite recent progress on the international debt initiative, the external debt situation of poor countries still seriously constrains the development prospects of poor countries. On structural adjustment programmes, it says that attention should be given to review the design and implementation of such programmes to assess progress in terms of their contribution to the reaching the goals and principles of the Summit. Emphasis should be given to the evaluation of the impact of those programmes on poverty eradication and alleviation.

The summary also addresses achievements in the promotion of full employment. Higher level of employment growth, including improvements in the quality of employment generated are considered crucial preconditions for the eradication of poverty and the promotion of social integration. There is now increasing awareness of the strategic importance of attaining the goal of full, productive and freely chosen employment. Significant progress has also been made in the observance of core international labour standards, particularly in the elimination of the most exploitative forms of child labour.

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Taking part in the second panel discussion were the following: Jacques Baudot, Secretary of Copenhagen Seminars, Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and former Coordinator of the World Summit for Social Development; Julian Disney, President of the International Council on Social Welfare; Faith Innerarity, Director of Jamaican Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Sport; and Salma Khan, Director-General of Bangladesh Institute of Management, and Chairperson of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.

On creating a political culture for social progress, the summary states that economic policy has to be treated as a means to social goals. It should be assessed constantly and with the use of multiple criteria, including the provision of an adequate income and greater opportunity to the maximum number of people. In addition, economic policies need to be assessed in relation to their contribution to social objectives. Panellists saw the need to enrich the moral foundations of social development in connection with a model which would be modest, less materialistic and more open to the diversity of values and cultures. There should be more open discussion on contemporary values, ideas, trends and policies, particularly in relation to the emerging global economic model. The United Nations could play a central role in a democratic debate on issues of ethics, politics and moral philosophy. Renewed forms of international cooperation would lead to a positive relationship between universal goals, values and cultural diversity.

Regarding the impact of globalization, the summary says that it should be diversified by challenging the emerging form of global capitalism and balancing it by other concepts universal in scope. The discourse on social progress in the United Nations is crucial, and the Organization should be the place for debate on the various forms of globalization. It is also desirable to promote actions in the intellectual, artistic and political spheres that provide a counter-balance to the ethos of the global economy. The emerging form of global capitalism requires an objective review, analysis and study of its costs and benefits so that appropriate responses can be developed to the new challenges posed. On the topic of national and international efforts to implement decisions of the Summit, the summary cites the need to enhance national capacities to monitor and evaluate the progress achieved in implementing the Summit's commitments. The collection, evaluation and use of data should receive priority attention. For purposes of comparison and assessment, uniform national reporting systems, including both format and time schedules, should be developed. There is also a need for specific performance indicators in relation to the commitments of the Summit. Regional cooperation is also important for assessing progress in implementation, and regional conferences could play a big role in that regard. There should also be more effective collaboration among United Nations agencies and national governments in achieving the Summit's goals, including through the expansion of national capacities to monitor and evaluate progress achieved, as well as the obstacles encountered.

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The summary stresses that poverty and unemployment are a distinct threat to social integration, manifested in ethnic conflicts, a rising crime rate, drug use and violence in many countries around the world. There is a pressing need to focus more closely on the issues of economic and social development, in particular, employment promotion and raising incomes that would reduce the gap between rich and poor, between developing and developed countries. Despite relatively robust growth achieved in some developing countries, poverty remains deeply entrenched, with major income disparities persisting. The increased contribution of the private sector to the resolution of social problems would help to improve social cohesion and to create a more conducive environment to business efficiency. The status of women deserves particular attention, as the Social Summit did not mainstream gender issues sufficiently. Governments should focus on increasing the participation of women in the power structure at all levels of society in order to strengthen their access to education, health and employment.

On the imperatives for the special session, the summary says that it should focus on the assessment and enhancement of national, regional and global initiatives designed to implement the recommendations embodied in the Programme of Action. It should also take concrete decisions and actions in relation to selected international initiatives. Some concrete decisions should be put forward before the special sessions begins. That would allow governments to examine and formulate positions ahead of time while the discussion should focus on the most significant parts of the Programme of Action.

The priority issues for the special session -- taking into account the core problems of poverty, unemployment and social exclusion -- include strengthening the role of the Economic and Social Council, especially in relation to international economic issues affecting social development. The Council should establish closer interactions with the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Trade Organization. The special session, and the preparatory meetings need to ensure the participation of high-level government officials, especially ministers. That would strengthen its chances for success and enhance media visibility throughout the world.

Session Highlights

Opening the session, the Chairman of the Preparatory Committee, Cristian Maquiera (Chile), said that the central issues of the Social Summit had become a growing part of the public policy agenda in various countries. In taking a future-oriented approach, the Preparatory Committee must mobilize the entire United Nations system to contribute to the goals set at the Summit. The Chairman of the Commission for Social Development, Aurelio Fernandez (Spain), said that follow-up and review efforts had to be more mindful of current social issues and move social development to the forefront when dealing with global issues.

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During the general discussion, a number of countries said they faced serious obstacles and constraints on their implementation of the Summit outcome due to the lack of financial resources for social development efforts. They said there was a lack of political will for fostering social development demonstrated in the decline in official development assistance. Delegates also said the special session should take into account developments and events since the Summit, such as the Asian financial crisis and its effects on social development. Strategies to eradicate poverty and achieve gender equity were also stressed as topics to be considered in the special session.

A number of delegates also stressed the importance of participation of NGOs in the special session and in the Summit follow-up process.

Officers, Membership

Cristian Maquiera (Chile) is Chairman of the Preparatory Committee. Bagher Asadi (Iran), Abdallah Baali (Algeria), Ion Gorita (Romania) and Koos Richelle (Netherlands) are Vice-Chairmen. Mr. Asadi is also the Committee's Rapporteur. Aurelio Fernandez (Spain) is an ex officio member of the Committee's bureau.

Established by resolution 52/25 of 26 November 1997, the Preparatory Committee is open to all Member States of the United Nations and specialized agencies.

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