ECOSOC ADOPTS TEXTS ON ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL, INDIGENOUS ISSUES, SUSPENDS 2003 SUBSTANTIVE SESSION

ECOSOC ADOPTS TEXTS ON ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL, INDIGENOUS ISSUES,

SUSPENDS 2003 SUBSTANTIVE SESSION

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 25 July (UN Information Service) -- The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) this morning suspended its 2003 substantive session after adopting five resolutions and 13 decisions on economic, environmental and indigenous issues. 

The Council will hold a resumed substantive session in the fall to take action on draft proposals deferred during the current session.

The Council adopted, without a vote, and within the context of the report of the Commission on Sustainable Development, a resolution on the future programme, organization and methods of work of the Commission on Sustainable Development and two decisions on the status of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other major groups accredited to the World Summit on Sustainable Development and the Bureau of the Commission on Sustainable Development.

Within the context of the report of the United Nations Forum on Forests, the Council adopted a resolution and three decisions concerning, respectively, the Trust Fund for the United Nations Forum on Forests, the dates and venue of the fourth session of the Forum, the report of the Forum on its third session and provisional agenda for its fourth session and intersessional work by ad hoc expert groups.

The Council adopted, without a vote, a resolution on the work of the Committee of Experts on the transport of dangerous goods and on the globally harmonized system of classification and labelling of chemicals contained within the report of the Committee of Experts.

It also approved seven decisions contained within the report of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.  These decisions concerned variously the workshop on the collection of data concerning indigenous peoples, the high-level segment of ECOSOC’s 2006 substantive session, the participation of members of the Permanent Forum in meetings of the subsidiary bodies of ECOSOC, the Bureau of the Permanent Forum, the venue and dates for the third session of the Permanent Forum and its provisional agenda and documentation, as well as a proposal for a second international decade of the world’ indigenous peoples.

The Council also adopted, without a vote, texts on public administration and development, the coordinated implementation of the Habitat Agenda and a review of indigenous issues with the United Nations system.

Suspending the 2003 substantive session of the Council, Gert Rosenthal, President of ECOSOC, said that this had been a long and intensive four-week session.  Reviewing each segment of the session, he said that the high-level segment, in its exchange with Bretton Woods institutions and the theme of rural development, had been satisfactory.  In terms of the operational segment, the dialogue on the range of operational activities carried out had been constructive and had emphasized the importance of ensuring that the United Nations operational arms had solid resource bases, while the coordination segment had continued to work on a matter that had been under consideration for many years.  This year, however, there had been fresh momentum and a focus on better cooperation, coordination and coherence to fulfill a large number of commitments.  Meanwhile, the humanitarian segment had offered considerable achievements highlighting the links between development and humanitarian assistance, while the general segment had been both stormy and productive. 

Patrizio Civili, Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Interagency Affairs, said that he had seldom seen closer teamwork than in the Council this year.  The Secretariat was particularly pleased that the theme of the next substantive session had already been identified.  The rural development theme in the high-level segment had brought unprecedented participation of development agencies, social agencies and technical agencies.  It was hoped that this tradition would continue in future years. 

The Council also took note of the report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Human Settlements (document A/58/8); the report of the Secretary-General on information concerning indigenous issues requested by the Economic and Social Council (document E/2003/72); the report of the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunications Union on the preparation of the World Summit on the information society (document A/58/74-E/2003/58); the report on preparation for and observance of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family in 2004 (document A/58/67-E/2003/49); the report of the Secretary-General on the World Programme of Action Concerning Disabled Persons (document A/58/61-E/2003/5); the report of the Secretary-General on the follow-up to the preparations for the Eleventh United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (document A/58/87-E/2003/82); the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (document E/2003/68); and the note by the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Third Decade to Combat Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (document A/58/80-E/2003/71).

A resumed substantive session of ECOSOC will be convened at a time to be announced.

Action on Resolutions and Decisions on Economic and Environmental Issues

The ECOSOC adopted a decision, as orally amended, without a vote, on public administration and development (document E/2003/L.45) through which it noted the report of the Committee of Experts of Public Administration and decided that the Committee shall meet annually, instead of biennially, for one week, given the need to adapt to the ever-changing environment and owing to the fact that rapidly emerging issues need to be addressed in a timely manner, with a focus on the need to modernize in all countries public sector human resource systems, strengthen systems of accountability and transparency, and explore the potential of e-government to develop innovative public administration tools. 

Resuming its consideration of the report of the Commission on Sustainable Development (document E/2003/29), the Council adopted, without a vote, one resolution and two decisions.  The resolution, adopted as orally revised, concerned Future programme, organization and methods of work of the Commission on Sustainable Development, whereby the Council recommended to the General Assembly that the Commission would be organized in a series of two-year action-oriented implementation cycles, to include a review Session and a policy session.  Concerning the multi-year programme of work of the Commission for the period 2003, ECOSOC decided to encourage countries to present, on a voluntary basis, national reports, in particular to the Commission’s review sessions, focusing on concrete progress in implementation, including achievements, constraints, challenges and opportunities.  The ECOSOC also decided that providing information and reporting partnerships registered with the Commission should be transparent, participatory and credible.  The Secretariat was also requested to make information available on partnerships, including their reports, through a database accessible to all interested parties, including through the Commission web site and other means.

The Council also adopted, without a vote, two decisions of the Commission.  Through a decision on the Status of non-governmental organizations and other major groups accredited to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (11/1), adopted as amended, ECOSOC considered, in accordance with established United Nations rules of procedure and took note of the ongoing work of the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations, the status of non-governmental organizations that were accredited to the World Summit so that the Commission could benefit from their contributions as soon as possible. 

With the second decision on the “Bureau of the Commission on Sustainable Development (11/2),” ECOSOC decided to consider the term of the Commission’s Bureau for future sessions, taking into account the Commission’s two-year work cycle. 

The Council adopted, as amended and without a vote, a resolution on the Coordinated implementation of the Habitat Agenda (document E/2003/L.12), by which it underlined the commitments made by Governments to implement the Habitat Agenda, the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium and the Millennium Development Goal of achieving a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers by 2020.  It invited Governments to increase their financial contributions to the United Nations Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation and to facilitate the furthering of partnerships at the national and local levels with civil society organizations, local authorities, women’s groups, the business sector and other Habitat Agenda partners in implementing the Habitat Agenda and the relevant targets of the Millennium Declaration, and requested the Executive Director of UN-HABITAT to strengthen the implementation of the Habitat Agenda Task Manager System to allow better monitoring and mutual enforcement of action in the implementation of the Habitat Agenda.  Finally, it called for increased cooperation between UN-HABITAT and other members of the United Nations Development Group.

Action on Resolutions and Decisions on United Nations Forum on Forests

Within the context of the report on the third session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (document E/2003/42), the Council adopted one resolution and three decisions.  In regard of the resolution, adopted as amended and without a vote, on the Trust Fund for the United Nations Forum on Forests, the Council invited donor governments, institutions and other organizations to provide contributions to the Trust Fund and decided that support to participants from developing countries, with priority to the least developed countries, as well as from countries with economies in transition, may be provided from the Trust Fund for travel and daily subsistence from funds designated for that purpose.

By the first of the decisions adopted within the context of this report, the Council decided that the fourth session of the United Nations Forum on Forests will be held in Geneva from 3 to 14 May 2004, while by the second it took note of the report of the United Nations Forum on Forests on its third session and approved the provisional agenda for the fourth session of the Forum. 

By the third decision, adopted as amended and without a vote, the Council decided to establish three ad hoc expert groups to support the work of the Forum and invited each of the five United Nations regional groups to nominate to the Secretariat six country experts for the ad hoc expert group on approaches and mechanisms for monitoring, assessment and reporting, and six country experts for the ad hoc expert group on finance and transfer of environmentally sound technologies, by 15 September 2003.  It also invited Member States of the United Nations Forum on Forests to nominate to the Secretariat a country expert for the ad hoc expert group on consideration with a view to recommending the parameters of a mandate for developing a legal framework on all types of forests.  Moreover, the Council decided that, to ensure efficiency, transparency and balanced reflection on the range of views, among other things, preparations should be made for the meeting of this last ad hoc group in respect of presentation of factual and technical information.  The Member States of the Forum on Forests were also invited to submit their views on these issues.

Action on Resolution on the Transport of Dangerous Goods

The ECOSOC adopted the recommendations of the Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (document E/2003/46).  Under a resolution (A) on the work of the Committee regarding the transport of dangerous goods, ECOSOC requested the Secretary-General to circulate the new and amended recommendations on the transport of dangerous goods to the Governments of Member States, the specialized agencies, the International Atomic Energy Agency and other international organizations concerned. 

Under a resolution (B) on the work of the Committee regarding the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals, ECOSOC invited Governments, regional commissions, United Nations programmes, specialized agencies and other organizations concerned to provide feedback to the Subcommittee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System and requested the Secretary-General to monitor the status of implementation of the Globally Harmonized System.

In a resolution (C) concerning the programme of work of the Committee, ECOSOC decided to approve the programme of work of the Committee and requested the Secretary-General to provide the Transport Division of the Economic Commission for Europe with the requested additional persons at the General Service level in accordance with the report of the Secretary-General.

Action on Decisions on Indigenous Issues

The ECOSOC adopted the recommendations of the report of the second session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (document E/2003/43) which included seven decisions.

It adopted, without a vote, a decision on the workshop on the collection of data concerning indigenous peoples, through which it decided that the workshop would produce a report containing recommendations for consideration by the Forum at its third session, in 2004.

In a second decision, adopted without a vote, ECOSOC decided to take note of the Permanent Forum and the elements contained therein and decided to consider indigenous issues as a theme for its high-level segment in 2006. 

On a decision on the participation of members of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in meetings of subsidiary bodies of ECOSOC, adopted without a vote, the Council decided to confirm such representation as one of the methods of work of the Forum and further requested that all subsidiary bodies of the Council welcome the Forum and its members by issuing open invitations to Forum members to attend all relevant meetings, conferences and seminars. 

The ECOSOC also adopted, without a vote, decisions on the Bureau of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues; the venue and dates for the third session of the Permanent Forum; its provisional agenda and documentation. 

Finally, in a decision, adopted without a vote, ECOSOC decided regarding a second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People, to transmit to the General Assembly the recommendation contained within with a view to initiate consideration of such a decade, taking into account inter alia the forthcoming review by ECOSOC in 2004, and further decided to initiate this review. 

The Council adopted, without a vote, a decision on the Review of indigenous issues within the United Nations system (document E/2003/L.47) through which it decided to postpone consideration of the review mandated by its decision 2002/286 for all existing mechanisms, procedures and programmes within the United Nations concerning indigenous issues with a view to rationalizing activities, avoiding duplication and overlap and promoting effectiveness.  The ECOSOC further requested the Secretary-General to seek information related to the review from those Governments, non-governmental organizations, indigenous peoples organizations and the relevant organs and bodies of the United Nations system, including the special mechanisms seized with indigenous issues, which had not yet submitted their views.   

Action on Other Issues

Finally, the Council deferred its consideration of the “Implementation of General Assembly resolutions 50/227 and 52/12B,” as well as further consideration of the “ECOSOC Award” to the resumed session of ECOSOC.

Comment on Resolution on Public Administration and Development

Before its adoption, a representative of Cuba said that on the basis of the information provided by the Secretariat, it was important to stress that the additional finances needed to implement the commitment must not be seen as a commitment by ECOSOC. 

Comment on Resolution on Coordinated Implementation of Habitat Agenda

A representative of Argentina, speaking in explanation of his country's position on the draft resolution, said that Argentina believed that the activities of UN-Habitat and the implementation of its programme of activities should be properly carried out pursuant to the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and the Special Committee on Decolonization.  Moreover, the Government of Argentina understood that UN-HABITAT activities and the implementation of the programme of activities excluded the participation of alleged authorities within territories subject to disputed sovereignty.

Comments on Report of Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

A representative of Denmark said that the Forum was confronted with an enormous task and praised the professionalism with which it was addressing these tasks.  The Forum had showed restraint in the recommendations sent to ECOSOC.  The Danish Government during the session had donated one million Danish krona to the Voluntary Fund for the Forum.

A representative of Malaysia expressed appreciation to the delegations of Finland and Sweden for their expert manner in negotiations leading to a consensus vote.

A representative of Sweden thanked members for their active contribution and flexibility allowing all recommendations through consensus. 

Comments on Decision of Council to Take Note of Report of Commission on Human Rights

Asking to make a statement on the report of the Commission on Human Rights, a representative of Cuba said that one resolution contained therein that had not required action by the Council and which concerned the situation of human rights in Cuba did not in any manner reflect the real situation of human rights in Cuba.  It was instead a fabrication, a pretext for the continuing hostility and genocidal blockade, instigated by the United States.  Cuba, therefore, dissociated itself from any form of consensus when note was taken of the report of the Commission on Human Rights.

A representative of Brazil recalled that his delegation had abstained on the decision on human rights in Cuba during the Human Rights Commission and would also have abstained if it had been voted upon in ECOSOC.

A representative of China said that this resolution regarding Cuba was a typical product of geopolitical ideologies.  Regardless of the human rights achievements made in Cuba, the Commission considered every year a resolution on the human rights situation in Cuba.  Its only intention was to exert political pressure on Cuba with the consequence of poisoning the atmosphere in the human rights dialogue.

A representative of Sweden, in a general comment on the resolution on the right to development contained in the report of the Commission on Human Rights, said that her delegation had abstained during the vote on this resolution because it opposed the proposal that the Sub-Commission be charged with elaborating a paper on a possible convention on the right to development.  However, Sweden remained supportive of the right to development and welcomed ongoing work in that area.

Concluding Statements

GERT ROSENTHAL, President of the Economic and Social Council, made concluding remarks at the end of the four-week session and said it had been a long and intensive session.  He noted the most manifest achievements and lessons to be learned by focusing on the segments held and stressed that he was satisfied with the high-level segment, in its exchange with Bretton Woods institutions and on the theme of rural development.  Much attention had been spent on issues relating to trade and rural development, and the negotiations before the upcoming trade negotiations in Cancun.  The high-level segment on rural development would have an impact on the priorities in policy development due to its cooperation vector and domestic policy focus.  Concerning the operational segment, he said the dialogue on the range of operational activities carried out had been constructive emphasizing the importance of ensuring that United Nations operational arms had a solid resources basis.  The coordination segment had managed to continue work on a matter that had been considered for many years.  However, this year there had been a fresh momentum, focusing on better cooperation, coordination and coherence to fulfill a large number of commitments.  The humanitarian segment had offered considerable achievements highlighting the links between development and humanitarian assistance.  Debates had linked the humanitarian assistance to the process of transition from states of natural disasters or armed conflict, and channeling these societies to the road to development.  Concerning the general segment, he noted that it had been both stormy and productive. 

He stressed the importance of ECOSOC following-up and implementing the Monterrey consensus, as underlined by a recent General Assembly resolution.  In addition, concerning African countries emerging from conflict, ECOSOC had expressed support for the existing Group in Guinea-Bissau and had supported the establishment of such a Group for Burundi.  A third topic that had emerged was ECOSOC’s concern about least developed and small island developing countries.  In addition, the status of women and the gender mainstreaming had been an important issue, including the revitalization of the International Research Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW).  Concerning lessons to be learned, Mr. Rosenthal raised concern about the need to strengthen the work performed by ECOSOC in future sessions.  In conclusion, he expressed his sincere thanks to the Government of Switzerland, to the Secretariat, participants, conference officers, interpreters, facilitators, the Bureau, non-governmental organizations, and representative of Government. 

PATRIZIO CIVILI, Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Inter-Agency Affairs, said that he had seldom seen closer teamwork than that in the Council this year.  The Secretariat was particularly pleased that the theme of the next substantive session had already been identified.  The rural development theme in the high-level segment had brought unprecedented participation of development agencies, social agencies and technical agencies.  It was hoped that this tradition would continue in future years.  Across the themes, many had been promoting the idea of thematic unity in the work of ECOSOC.  There was in the development area an unprecedented consensus, as a result of the Millennium Declaration, on what needed to be done.  The ECOSOC had a role to play in harnessing this momentum and guiding the development process. 

* *** *