Preparatory Committee for the 2001

Special Session of the General Assembly

 On the Children’s World Summit

9^th Meeting (AM) and Round Up

CHILDREN’S PREPARATORY COMMITTEE CONCLUDES CURRENT SESSION, AGREES

ON SPECIAL SESSION DRAFT AGENDA AND RULES FOR NGO PARTICIPATION

In the final meeting of its second substantive session, the Preparatory Committee for the 2001 General Assembly Special Session on Children adopted three draft decisions and its draft report this morning.

The Committee was meeting to conduct a preliminary examination of the end-of-decade reviews of the implementation of the World Declaration and Plan of Action adopted at the 1990 World Summit for Children and to hear initial comments on the provisional outcome document for the special session.

The third and final substantive session of the Preparatory Committee will take place in June 2001, at which time it will agree on the final version of the outcome document, entitled “A World Fit for Children”.

During the week’s deliberations, the Committee heard that although much had been achieved in the 10 years since the 1990 World Summit, children were still suffering in many different ways, and some 10 million of them had died before the age of five.  Successive delegates noted that some of the challenges and emerging issues that had blighted children’s lives in the 1990s could not have been predicted at the start of the decade.  The devastating effects of HIV/AIDS on children, especially those in developing countries, was one such challenge.  There was also general agreement on the importance of children’s participation at all levels of the preparatory process for the special session.

Regarding the outcome document, many delegations called for it to be concise and action-oriented with realistic and achievable targets.  It should be presented in a way that children would understand.

Panel discussions on “Adolescent Development and Participation” and “The Girl Child” gave delegates insights into the situation of the girl child in different cultures and societies and the meaningful contributions that adolescents could make within their communities when given the appropriate opportunities and encouragement.

The Committee also heard contributions from a variety of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as well briefings on other special sessions and conferences.

Two of the draft decisions adopted this morning contained recommendations on arrangements for participation of NGOs and other entities in the special

session.  The third dealt with the provisional agenda and organizational aspects of the special session.

Committee Deliberations

The Committee first took up the draft decision contained in A/AC.256/L.10/Rev.1 on arrangements for the participation of NGOs in the special session on children. 

Committee Chairperson, M. PATRICIA DURRANT (Jamaica) said that the Preparatory Committee was asked to recommend adoption at the fifty-fifth session of the Assembly of the draft decision relating to arrangements for NGO participation in the special session. 

The Committee adopted the draft decision on the arrangements for the participation of NGOs in the special session.

The Committee then turned to the draft decision contained in A/AC.256/L.11/Rev.1 on the provisional agenda and organizational matters for the special session of the General Assembly on children.   

Before taking action, Ms. DURRANT pointed out that the Committee might need to take other decisions on organizational arrangements.  The two draft decisions contained in the document should not be regarded as final. 

The Committee then adopted the first draft decision on the provisional agenda for the special session.

Regarding the second draft decision on organizational arrangements for the special session, the Chair invited the Committee’s comments.

The representative of Cuba noted that the interventions in the plenary were to last only five minutes.  While he understood that it was important to limit the length of speeches, at recent meetings such as the meeting in Copenhagen, speakers had been given seven minutes.  He requested that they be allowed the same length of time in the special session.

The Chair said that while the meeting to which he referred had lasted five days, the 2001 Special Session would last only three days.  Based on the experience of the Millennium Summit, heads of State and government had been able to deliver excellent statements within the five-minute limit.  Should the decision be made to increase the time to seven minutes per speaker, plenary sessions would have to be extended to 9 p.m. each evening.  Five-minute presentations would allow the meetings to end by 7 p.m. each evening.

Referring to paragraph 19 of the draft decision, the representative of Algeria asked that the words “Heads of entities” should be substituted for the word “entities”.  The paragraph should end at the word “plenary” and the words “provided that they were represented at the highest level” should be deleted.

The representative of Cuba said that five minutes would not be time enough for high-level delegates to speak at the special session.  In a spirit of flexibility, he proposed that interventions be assigned six minutes.

Ms. DURRANT said that his proposal would add 200 minutes to the special session.  She asked for a degree of flexibility.  She also said that the paragraph 19 would be amended as suggested by the representative of Algeria.

The representative of Morocco supported the proposed amendment.

The Chairperson proposed that the decision be adopted as orally amended.

Referring to paragraph 16 of the draft on debate in the plenary, the representative of Jordan asked for an explicit inclusion of first ladies in that paragraph.

Ms. DURRANT said that first ladies usually came under the chairs of delegations.  If they had official capacity, they would be so designated by their governments.  She would ask General Assembly Affairs to brief her on precedents.

Speaking on behalf of the European Union and associated States, the representative of Sweden said that the Union favoured an interactive special session with opportunities for dialogue at the highest political level.  New global partnerships for children should be encouraged, as well as the participation of civil society, the corporate sector and not least, children themselves.  Non-governmental organizations should also be allowed to participate in the plenary discussion.  He welcomed the agreement on draft decisions presented by the Bureau for participation of other entities.  He supported the idea of interactive round tables, including the participation of children.  Special round tables for heads of State and government should also be considered.

The Chairperson said that governments would name the capacity in which their heads of delegations would participate.  It was not customary to distinguish any category of persons except those currently listed in paragraph 16. 

The Chairperson reminded the Committee that document A/AC.256/9/Add.1, on additional organizational arrangements for the Special Session, had been circulated and would be discussed after taking action on the second draft decision.

The Committee then adopted the second draft decision on organizational arrangements for the special session as contained in A/AC.256/L.11/Rev.1 including the proposed amendments.

The Committee then turned to document A/AC.256/9/Add.1 on the draft provisional agenda for the special session.  The Chair apologized that the document had not been circulated in time for detailed consideration.  Delegations wishing to make initial comments were invited to do so.

The representative of Morocco said that while she did not have objections in principle in adopting a decision on round tables, she wanted more information regarding the subjects to be dealt with at the round tables.  High-level heads of delegations might be interested in presiding over the round tables. 

The representative of Cuba also wanted more information.

The representative of Iraq said that it was always a problem when last minute proposals came to the Committee, as that created time pressure and hindered formulation and adoption of proposals.  Regarding themes for round tables, he asked how authors guard against duplication of discussions between the plenary and the round tables. 

The Chair said she had not proposed adopting the draft decision at the current time as the document was late in being circulated.  It would be necessary for the Committee to take additional decisions regarding the document A/AC.256/L.11/Rev.1 on the agenda and organizational matters.  There were two possibilities for organizing the round tables, based on the practice of the Millennium Summit:  first, there would be one theme in all round tables, or more than one theme in each.

The Representative of Egypt said that more information was needed on the round tables and representation.  The Committee must agree on a mechanisms in order to allow delegates time to prepare.

The Chair said that in view of fact that the Committee was at the end of its meeting, she suggested that informal consultations be held next week and that the results be communicated to all Member States.  On that basis, the Committee would seek to take a decision as soon as possible or at the third substantive session.

The representative of Sudan concurred that time was needed and requested further information on previous decisions and practices concerning round tables.

The Chair said that if there were no objections, she proposed that the Committee would, at a time to be announced, hold informal consultations.  The Secretariat would be requested to provide more information on how round tables had been held during the Millennium Summit, as that was the first time that they had been held.

The Committee then concluded initial discussion of that item.

The Committee then turned to the report of the second substantive session. 

Introducing the draft report, LIDIJA TOPIC, Committee Vice-Chairman and Rapporteur, said that during the current session of the Preparatory Committee, there had been nine meetings from 29 January to 2 February.  The Committee had heard the presentation on the update concerning the implementation of the World Declaration and Plan of Action, had considered the draft outcome document and had taken up proposals on the question of participation, the provisional agenda and some organizational issues.  Two meetings had been devoted to panel discussions and one meeting to the briefings on the United Nations, international and regional conferences and events related to children.  Presentations on topical issues of the “girl child” and “adolescent development and participation” generated active participation.

Five meetings at the substantive session were devoted to the consideration of the draft provisional outcome document, she said.  The Committee heard statements, comments and proposals from various delegations, the United Nations specialized organizations, funds and programmes, as well as NGOs.  The suggestions made in discussions would be the basis for the second draft outcome document to be presented to the third substantive session in June.

The Committee also considered and took action on three draft decisions, she said.  Two of those draft decisions contained recommendations to the General Assembly on arrangements for participation of entities and NGOS in the special session.  The third draft decision dealt with the provisional agenda and organizational aspects of the special session.

The representative of Algeria said the Committee had adopted a decision on chapter 6 paragraph 20, which was not reflected in the report. 

The representative of the United States asked for further clarification on paragraph 17, on the drafting of the revised outcome document, as they still had concerns.

Ms. DURRANT said that a revised version of the draft outcome document would be prepared, and the Bureau had indicated that further written comments from delegates would be invited to be submitted by Friday, 9 February.  Informal consultations would then be held involving Member States and personal representatives of governments to take account of everyone’s views, including the views of the United Nations system, as well as that of civil society.  She said that once the Bureau had received all comments, it would begin work on the draft structure of the revised document.  She hoped that would be based on consultations.  The first revised document should be available by mid-March with a view to finalizing it at the third substantive session.

The representative of the United States said that the explanation from the Chair was helpful, but reminded the Committee that that proposal needed further consultation.  He proposed that future work on the outcome document should be deferred. 

The Chair said that she was not sure what he was proposing.

The representative of United States wanted the Bureau to prepare a new shorter draft which would form the basis for detailed negotiations.  Time should be made available for informal consultations to arrive at a more acceptable document. 

The representative of Germany appealed to the United States to reconsider its position and assured all delegations that their views would be carefully considered and reflected in the first revised document to be considered in mid-March.  Those views not included in the revised document would also be compiled separately.  It had been clearly expressed during the meetings of the Committee that the establishment of a first draft should be an all-inclusive process.  There was no need for an informal now.  All informals should be all inclusive. 

Ms. DURRANT said it was the Bureau’s intention that the final outcome document be completed through an open and transparent process involving all Member States on an equal footing.  There should be no "behind the scenes" consultations.  Due consideration would also be given to the views of personal representatives of heads of State and government. 

The representative of the United States said he appreciated the responses given about openness, but experience had shown that the present structure was not conducive to that kind of outcome.  He would be more comfortable with minor modifications to paragraph 17.

The representative of Egypt said that they would like to see the amendment proposed by the United States in writing.

The delegate of Morocco said there had been no mention of modalities of the participation of children in the draft report. 

The representative of Sudan asked for clarification on how inter-sessional meetings would be announced.

The Chair said they would be announced in the usual way, in the Journal.

The representative of Australia asked for brief informal discussions to address the United States’ concerns.

The representative of Sweden declared support for the process proposed by the Bureau and was confident that the Bureau would include everyone.

The delegate from Cuba also supported the Bureau.  Any discussion should be open and informal and should not be restricted to a few interested delegations, because everyone was interested.

The representative of Syria said that, on receipt of the revised draft document, there would be discussion in which all delegations would take part.

The representative of the United States wanted to know how the drafting would be done.  Would it be driven by Member States?  The role of Member States was paramount.  He had heard the proposed efforts to keep Member States informed and was willing to go ahead with those proposals.  He hoped that promises made would be fulfilled in the coming months and withdrew his amendment to paragraph 17.

The Chair said the report would be completed and sent to Member States in the usual manner.  They would be asked to make additional comments about matters that had been omitted.  The report would also reflect the discussion mentioned by Morocco on participation of children.  Based on yesterday’s discussion, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) would be asked to explore the possibilities for convening a forum for children and adolescents and would keep

delegations informed about that.  The amendments to paragraph 20 would be made as orally advised and an additional paragraph about the participation would both be reflected in the report.

The Committee then adopted the draft report including the oral amendments and the additional paragraph.

In her concluding remarks, Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Carol Bellamy, expressed appreciation for the active participation, rich exchange of views and helpful feedback on the draft document from delegates.  The United Nations Children's Fund was committed to living up to the expectations of delegations.  She said she hoped the Secretary-General’s report and the outcome document would be seen as related.  She thanked Member States for their national reports, 80 of which had already been received.  They would be posted on the Web site.  She invited Member States to send their national reports electronically and said that UNICEF country offices would be happy to assist them. 

She urged all delegations to promote active participation.  She also requested delegates not to see the special session as an end, but as part of a process to reenergize the issue of creating a better world for children.  In answer to the question:  what’s so special about the special session? she said it was special because everyone was talking about children. 

Ms. DURRANT said she was delighted with the tremendous participation of civil society, including children.  She was sure that delegates would take back a renewed and energized commitment to create a world fit for children.  What had taken place had not been done in isolation, and contributions from the national and regional level had been crucial to their work.  She thanked governments who had nominated personal representatives and appealed to those who had not already done so to consider doing so.  She thanked delegates for their hard work and looked forward to working with them again during the inter-sessionals as well as the third substantive session.  She expressed special gratitude to panelists who had brought vision and passion to the discussions, and thanked UNICEF for its constant support and devotion.

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