ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL HOLDS DISCUSSIONS ON FIVE-YEAR CONFERENCE REVIEWS AND CHALLENGES FOR SUPPORTING CONFERENCE IMPLEMENTATION
Press Release
ECOSOC/5901
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL HOLDS DISCUSSIONS ON FIVE-YEAR CONFERENCE REVIEWS AND CHALLENGES FOR SUPPORTING CONFERENCE IMPLEMENTATION
20000710Maintaining momentum and commitment to international development goals was a challenge that must be matched by commensurate commitments to provide resources for national efforts, the Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) told the Economic and Social Council this afternoon.
As the Council held one of two panel discussions this afternoon related to the theme for its three-day coordination segment on assessment of United Nations conferences and summits, Nafiz Sadik said that helping countries to meet conference goals posed a number of operational challenges to the United Nations. One question concerned how the system could best mobilize its considerable range of technical resources to support poor countries.
Another emerging challenge, she said was the relationship of the United Nations with the Bretton Woods institutions, especially since the work of the latter increasingly overlapped with areas of work previously assigned to the Organization.
Participants in the panel discussion on the main challenges to the United Nations system for supporting conference implementation included the Under- Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Nitin Desai; the Assistant Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Gender Issues and the Advancement of Women, Angela King; and the Executive Director of the UNFPA, Dr. Sadik. Gerhart Pfanzelter (Austria), Chairman of the Councils coordination segment, also spoke.
As the Council held another panel discussion on the lessons learned from the five-year reviews of the 1990s conferences, the Chairperson of the Preparatory Committee of the World Summit for Children (1990), Patricia Durrant (Jamaica), said the major challenge had not been to recognize children in legislation but in implementation.
While the political consensus in favour of children was still alive, the goals of the conference had not been attained. Because of conflict and dissent, children continued not to enjoy their rights. The 2001 special Assembly session on children would, therefore, contribute to improving their lives.
Also taking part in the lessons learned from the five-year reviews of the 1990s conferences were the representative of Bangladesh, Muhammad Ali Sorcar (on behalf of the Chairman of the Preparatory Committee for the five-year review of the
Economic and Social Council - 1a - Press Release ECOSOC/5901 PM Panel Discussion 10 July 2000
International Conference on Population and Development); the Vice-Chairman of the Preparatory Committee for the five-year review of the World Summit for Social Development, Baghar Asadi (Iran); the Chairperson of the Preparatory Committee of the five-year review of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Christine Capalata (United Republic of Tanzania); and a representative of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zidek Kedzia.
The Council will meet again at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 11 July, to continue the coordination segment of its 2000 session focused on assessment of progress in implementation and follow-up to major United Nations conferences and summits.
Council Work Programme
The Economic and Social Council this afternoon held two panel discussions on themes related to the three-day coordination segment of its 2000 session, concerning implementation and follow-up of conferences and summits.
The first panel on lessons learned from the five-year reviews of conferences had as participants: Muhammad Ali Sorcar (Bangladesh), for Anwarul Karim Chowdhury (Bangladesh), Chairman of the Preparatory Committee for the five-year review of the International Conference on Population and Development; Christine Capalata (United Republic of Tanzania), Chairperson of the Preparatory Committee of the Five-year review of the Fourth World Conference on Women; Patricia Durrant (Jamaica), Chairperson of the Preparatory Committee of the World Summit for Children; Bagher Asadi (Iran), Vice-Chairman of the Preparatory Committee for the five-year review of the World Summit for Social Development; and Zidek Kedzia (Poland), Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The second panel, on challenges faced by the United Nations system in supporting conference implementation, will include as panellists: Nitin Desai, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs; Angela King, Assistant Secretary-General and Special Adviser on General Issues and the Advancement of Women; and Nafis Sadik, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
(For background on the session see Press Releases ECOSOC/5898 dated 7 July, ECOSOC/5896 dated 6 July, ECOSOC/5893 dated 5 July and ECOSOC/5892 dated 28 June.)
Panel Discussion on Five-year Reviews
GERHART PFANZELTER (Austria), Chairman of the coordination segment, said the five-year reviews of some conferences had just been completed. There had been some disappointment. The Council at this session would give a revitalized impetus for improving the reviews. The panelists would provide insights on how best to improve them.
PATRICIA DURRANT (Jamaica), Chairperson of the Preparatory Committee of the World Summit for Children, said the preparations for the 2001 Special General Assembly Session on Children demonstrated the importance of a participatory process and the involvement of a broad range of actors involved in children and youth. The process had highlighted both review and assessment of progress, not just of the United Nations system but also of other bodies, in part through the annual review process.
The 1990 summit had brought together leaders from all over the world, she continued. There had been unprecedented consensus for a number of reasons. First, the well-being of children was a subject on which parties could agree. The major challenge was not to recognize children in legislation, but in implementation. Also, the Summits outcome had been concise and the plan of action had clearly spelled out what was expected at the national and international level.
The consensus in favour of children had led to the adoption of a binding international instrument -- the Convention on the Rights of the Child, she said. That had been adopted a year before the summit and had become the most rapidly and broadly ratified international treaty in history. The national reports submitted to the Committee on the Rights of the Child had formed an important election in monitoring implementation of the Convention and in national plans of action. That background placed great responsibility on organizing the 2001 special session to serve as a renewal of the global commitment to children. It was being planned on basic assumptions.
First, she said, the political consensus in favour of children was still alive. Two meetings had already been held by the Preparatory Committee. It had also held panels on aspects of the rights of the child, as well as discussions on such issues as children and armed conflict. To ensure support at the highest political level, a concise document would be developed and experts would be involved. Regional meetings would be an important part of the process. Non- governmental organizations (NGOs) would be invited and implementation of national plans of action would be taken into consideration.
The goals of the conference had not been attained, she concluded. Because of conflict and dissent, children continued not to enjoy their rights. The 2001 special session would contribute to improving their lives.
MUHAMMAD ALI SORCAR (Bangladesh), speaking on behalf of Anwarul Karim Chowdhury, Chairman of the Preparatory Committee for the five-year review of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICDP+5), said the preparatory process had been difficult, as in the course of negotiations contentious issues had come up. Major substantive areas had been gained through a prolonged engagement.
Each of the plus five reviews had their specific sectoral issues, as well as some overarching themes, he said, including, among others, capacity-building, transfer of technology, supportive international environments, issues related to poverty and unemployment, human rights and gender equality. Each review should build on the achievements of the past on cross-cutting issues.
Preparatory technical meetings had largely contributed to the formulation of the draft measures for further implementation of the Programme of Action. That extensive preparation had been very useful for in-depth reflection of the programme and policy aspects, he said.
There was a definite advantage in having a lead agency in charge of a review conference: the UNFPA, together with the United Nations Population Division. Strong inter-agency support, however, was indispensable for preparation of such conferences.
Partnerships with all components of civil society - NGOs, the private sector, community-based institutions, professional groups, media and others were important. Civil society often had the desired flexibility to act. The NGOs could often support pioneering activities, and their independent role also allowed them to be more effective advocates and innovators.
Each of the major conferences had certain aims and goals to attain, he said. They required national efforts complemented by international support measures. In most cases, particularly for the poorest countries, the national efforts would succeed little without full realization of commitments made by the development partners. In the outcome of each of the conferences, there should be strong commitments from the development partners to reverse the situation of declining assistance.
There should be an integrated and coordinated approach in the follow-up of conference implementation and all the institutional stakeholders should be fully brought into that process. The Council had been in dialogue with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The partnership with the governing bodies of those institutions, as well as with the Administrative Coordination Council, should be further strengthened for some tangible and concrete results in the outcome of the review meeting.
In response to a question, Ms. DURRANT said regional meetings had augmented national efforts to assess achievements in implementing the plan of action on children. Preparations for the 10-year review had introduced emerging areas of concern, such as HIV/AIDS, as it impacted on them.
To what extent would the problems of Beijing be avoided? she was asked. In particular, how would the players avoid renegotiating the same topics?
There was a strong commitment on the part of the Preparatory Committee to not reinvent the wheel, she said. The outcome document, which would be a review document, would draw on what had occurred at other conferences. More time would be spent in looking at emerging issues, with previously covered topics already covered in panels. The regional approach was important because it would be a bottom-up approach rather than a top-down one.
BAGHER ASADI (Iran), Vice-Chairman of the Preparatory Committee for the five-year review of the World Summit for Social Development, said the review process had produced a good outcome. However, like in other review processes, realities on the ground differed very much from expectations. Since the 1995 summit, increased priority had been given to social development. Many new national policies and programmes had been initiated. There had, however, been little progress in some areas and regress in others. Globalization had prevented the implementation of some challenges. Due to the nature and broad scope of the Copenhagen targets, a comprehensive evaluation of the impact of new policies would take time.
He said that in the review process, all stakeholders had a role to play, individually and collectively, to ensure the implementation of the targets. Political will was absolutely imperative.
Of the problems common to all review processes, he said issues of development were the most controversial ones. An enabling environment was also a bone of contention between developing and developed countries as was the issue of compliance. Lack of compliance had both sides on the development divide leveling criticism at each other. The issue of globalization was also very divisive.
CHRISTINE CAPALATA (United Republic of Tanzania), Chairperson of the Preparatory Committee of the five-year review of the Fourth World Conference on Women, said the Beijing Programme of Action was a complex document summing up the recommendations of the Summit. The characteristic of plurality captured by the integrated approach was a forward-looking aspect of the text. The document relied on a review and study of thematic segments, which lent the entire Platform coherence.
It was vital to look at progress every five years, to examine the modalities and make revisions periodically, she said. Modalities should be reviewed by the Economic and Social Council.
ZIDEK KEDZIA, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the five-year follow-up to the 1993 World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna had coincided with the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. One of the important goals of the plus five reviews -- refocusing of the attention on the issues -- had been achieved by that convergence. It had also played an important role in the adoption of the Vienna + 5 outcome.
Numerous governments had sent analytical reports, as had regional organizations, she said. Some 18 organization of the United Nations family had provided independent reports. In the Vienna + 5 report, the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner noted that the Vienna document had maintained its important role and that the area of Human Rights had been enhanced by the Vienna review. Human Rights were no longer perceived as a somewhat isolated area and they were now linked with democracy. Activities of the human rights machinery were becoming more targeted and streamlined. Those were only a few examples of the changes generated by the 1993 Conference and its follow-up.
He said the results achieved by the Vienna + 5 review would not have been possible without an integrated and coordinated approach. The conclusions adopted by the Economic and Social Council in 1998 had been an important guideline in that process.
Mr. PFANZELTER said a thematic grouping for review was a viable approach. There also seemed to be a need for partnerships between the various parts of the United Nations family. The Economic and Social Council should be involved in review.
Panel on Main Challenges Currently Facing United Nations System for Supporting Conference Implementation
NITIN DESAI, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, said that all conferences had seen a very high level of participation. Many heads of States had attended. One of the challenges was how to maintain the level of that participation. The level of political involvement in the follow-up processes had been different. Some of what was done at the national level to contribute to the conferences did not carry over to the post conference. During the preparatory process of the conference itself, there were integrated mechanisms for cooperation between departments at the national level. That cooperation often was not maintained for the follow-up conference.
A second characteristic the conferences had in common was that they all involved a high degree of inter-agency collaboration, he said. One of the important roles of the conferences had been to strengthen inter-agency cooperation. Many mechanisms for inter-agency cooperation had carried over well in the post-conference phase. One of the reasons for inter-agency collaboration had been the high political profile of the conferences. All agencies were concerned to be seen as important. In the post-conference era, collaboration between agencies had often been at a lower level.
One of the most important linkages established during the conference-era had been the link between the financial institutions and the Secretariat. Common goals in development for instance had been drawn from the Conference process. It was an area where more work was needed.
The high level of involvement of civil society was another common characteristic, he said. It was not always easy to maintain those networks with civil society, which was one of the weaknesses in the implementation process. There had been a significant decline in the level of commitment of donors to NGOs in the post-conference phase, for instance.
The level of engagement of the professional community doing the analytical work in the preparatory process had been largely maintained in the post-conference era, he said. The material produced for the plus five conferences had often been better than that for the original conference. The engagement of the professional community had, however, suffered from the general shortage of resources for analytical work.
NAFIZ SADIK, Executive Director of the UNFPA, said that maintaining momentum and commitment towards international development goals was a challenge, particularly in the context of growing global inequality. Helping countries to meet conference goals posed a number of operational challenges to the United Nations system. One question in particular was, how could the system best mobilize its considerable range of technical resources to support poor countries? Another emerging challenge was the relationship of the United Nations system with the Bretton Woods institutions, especially since the work of the latter increasingly overlapped into the areas of work previously assigned to the Organization.
Yet another challenge, she identified, was in the area of resource mobilization. The bulk of private international flows went to a limited number of developing countries. Mobilizing sufficient resources to meet the global development vision presented a paradox for the free market system, since countries that needed those flows were unable to attract them. The specific problem was how to enable all States to access those financial flows. In addition, available resources for development assistance were declining and the United Nations had still not found a way to reverse that trend. There was also a compelling case for bilateral donors to reaffirm their commitment to the voluntary Funds and Programmes of the United Nations - which tended to get hit hardest in times of declining official development assistance (ODA) -- and for all countries to give priority, particularly to the social sectors.
Commitments by the international community to the global conference goals needed to be matched by commensurate commitments to provide resources to support national efforts, she said. Failure by donors to meet agreed financial targets, in the overall context of declining levels of official development assistance (ODA) and mounting debt burdens in the poorest countries, was derailing the achievement of conference goals. Turning to the proposed plus-10 reviews, she said that the recent five-year reviews required intense negotiations on the same issues, and took a lot of time away from other issues that could have been discussed in more depth. Should there be a decision to convene plus-10 reviews, she recommended that, based on previous experience, there be careful deliberation on the processes themselves.
ANGELA KING, Assistant Secretary-General and Special Adviser on General Issues and the Advancement of Women, said it was a good time to question the purpose of the five-year reviews. Among other effects, they provided insight into best practices, provided a global overview and determined the direction for action. Five-year reviews provided opportunities for all stakeholders to review and plan for the future. That was important for a complex issue such as gender equality, which was interwoven with all others and could never be segregated from others. Gender equality was an issue that at the highest level had been set out as cross, particularly in relation to poverty reduction.
The Beijing review document had been based on a questionnaire sent to all Member States, she said. The review had confirmed that there had been gains, not as much as hoped but still enough to give the direction. The review had borne out the Summit conclusions, as well as the challenges, which included globalization and its effect on women, issues related to equal access and those related to empowerment. Another effect of the Beijing review had been to demonstrate the integrated response the United Nations had undertaken in light of the conference and to show the interrelationship of sectors in addressing the recommendations. One major challenge continued to be the question of how to bring gender fully into other arenas. Another consideration was the role of NGOs in gender issues. The NGOs suffered some frustration at feeling ineffective and unable to navigate the United Nations system. There should be better two-way communication.
Summit goals were indispensable and must be reviewed, she said. The focus of intermediate reviews should be at the national and regional levels, and achieving global consensus on important issues was important. In sum, there should be a mid-term review five or six years after a main event. Such a review would occur at the functional commission level.
To a question about the correlation between political involvement and coordination between agencies and capitals and about the lowering of involvement, Mr. DESAI said that the degree of participation varied in intensity with the political weight being attached to the process. If it was felt that capitals did not take the issues seriously, the level would be lowered. He, therefore, stressed the importance of high-level participation.
Basically, the world was seeing the role of the United Nations conferences played as town hall meetings, he said in response to a question about whether the reviews would go on forever. That type of requirement was going to remain. Whether it had to be done by conferences and reviews was something else, but the world needed that type of town hall meeting.
Dr. SADIK said that the "plus five" processes were very wearying. They should not be held as special events but through the normal processes of the Economic and Social Council and the General Assembly. A process must be found where the true consensus came out. The difficulties had not been with the majority of the delegations. In her experience, the debate changed when there were delegations of capitals. The negotiators negotiated more from a political point of view than from a technical one. She suggested that the progress review not go through a process of re-debating issues already agreed on. Regarding the number of reviews, she said the conferences had mostly 15-year goals. It was premature to say an endless set of reviews was necessary, but the next set of reviews needed more careful focusing.
Ms. KING said reviews were important. It was, however, not necessary to have them every five years. The process for the review started one-and-a-half years after a conference so that there was not much chance to make an assessment. However, keeping awareness alive was very important.
ASITH KUMAR BHATTACHARJEE (India) said that when analysing the reviews, the process was often confused with the review of the implementation of the platforms. With globalization and digitalization going on the pace with which the world was moving should be taken into account.
He said from his experience as chairman of one of the working groups during Beijing + 5 things did not necessarily become easier because of the presence of people from the capital. It was necessary to fine-tune the process.
Dr. SADIK said painful discussions could be avoided. Time used on negotiating already agreed on issues could have been better spent on other issues.
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