[CS Bureau] My response to Renate's message..

[Robert Guerra]

I have several ongoing issues with the bureau that some of which your 
recommendations address, some of which they don't.

a big issue is that important items such as the ones you are raising 
tend to be not discussed openly, but among a small group and then 
made public when decisions are perhaps already made. What you mention 
could have been mentioned in cape town in dec, could have been 
mentioned online on the bureau list (over the last 2 months). Why now 
just 3 days before the precom. I just like having time - to discuss, 
consult and come up with options.

to be frank -  I don't see just simply getting each  caucus to 
appoint one member will solve anything.  The CSB was created in the 
same way you mention - that is  getting caucuses to elect people to 
serve on the bureau. It took a lot of time and energy - consuming 
almost a week and a half of the precom2 of the first phase.  Do we 
need to repeat the same process? Isn't there a better way?

Commitment of bureau members to actually do anything has been and 
will continue to be an issue. People might think it's cool or 
politically important to be on the bureau  and will want to be 
elected - and then proceed to do nothing at all. Not even a 1/4 of 
the bureau really does anything  - having more people on the bureau 
will only make it less effective and less able to accomplish 
anything. frankly - i'd rather have no bureau at all than a large 
ceremonial one that doesn't do anything.

I will say this - one of the criticisms of the bureau is that it 
keeps to itself, and is more a club than anything else. I don't think 
that's the case  - but it is how we are seen. If we want to clear up 
that misconception, then there needs to be a frank and open 
discussion as to what currently DOES work, what doesn't and how we 
could reform things . This must not be done among 2, 3 or 5 persons 
but much more openly in a way that gives people time to reflect and 
propose numerous options.

The whole idea to create the CSB was created by a small group of 
people who got together before Prepcom II (feb 03) and then sprang it 
on the Prepcom sucking time, energy away from other items that needed 
attention at the time. The discussions related to finance, governance 
and preparations for the Tunis summit are VERY important and i 
personally would be quite upset if instead CS spent it's time talking 
about bureau elections and bureau reform.

As my theme for the prepcom is - from words to action - i would 
propose that we spend time on developing concrete details, roles, 
responsibilities that should be done by the bureau and a timeline 
with specific commitments that need to be accomplished. If bureau 
members  don't meet targets, and can't comply with and commit to CS 
values of openness, transparency, responsibility and human rights 
then they should be off the bureau.

that's how i feel

robert


--
Robert Guerra <rguerra at privaterra.org>
Managing Director, Privaterra <http://www.privaterra.org>


On 11-Feb-05, at 10:53 AM, Jeanette Hofmann wrote:

Hi, I think this needs to be discussed in public. My guess is most 
people would agree on the broad picture.

je

Renata Bloem wrote:

Dear all
  Please see attached for comments. After talking to Ramin and Jeanette and
some others earlier and after comparing what caucuses exist and function and
what families will remain on the Bureau, (very much overlapping except for
the human rights caucus) let me say in a nutshell:
*	it would make so much sense to have each caucus appoint one member
to sit on the Bureau. This would at least give somehow relevance and
legitimacy back to the Bureau, which as an institution in CS-UN relations we
all have a great interest to keep and up-value. CONGO, NGLS and ICV can
serve as secretariat, resource etc.
  *	Decisions on who speaks on what subject should be up to the
caucuses.  *	Ct should only facilitate and coordinate time management in any
given slot for CS.  *	Plenary in my opinion should be informed or 
reported to on all
decisions, so that those who participate can make informed decisions how
best and where to participate. Plenary should not given a vote on any caucus
decisions.  As CONGO we have been asked to form a WG on GFC (or 
whatever it will be
named after PrepCom) to have more systematic input into ongoing
deliberations. That for today    Best
Renata
  Renate Bloem
President of the Conference of NGOs (CONGO)
11, Avenue de la Paix
CH-1202 Geneva
Tel: +41 22 301 1000
Fax: +41 22 301 2000
E-mil:  <mailto:rbloem at ngocongo.org> rbloem at ngocongo.org
Website: www.ngocongo.org <http://www.ngocongo.org/>  The Conference 
of NGOs (CONGO) is an international, membership association
that facilitates the participation of NGOs in United Nations debates and
decisions. Founded in 1948, CONGO's major objective is to ensure the
presence of NGOs in exchanges among the world's governments and United
Nations agencies on issues of global concern.  For more information see our
website at www.ngocongo.org <http://www.ngocongo.org/> Reminder: 
CONGO Postal Address Has Changed
We will soon be unable to receive mail at our old address at the Palais des
Nations in Geneva.  So please make sure to update your records with CONGO's
new Geneva office postal address: CP 50, 1211 Genéve 20, Switzerland.  Our
physical office address is 11, Avenue De La Paix, 1st Floor, 1202 Genéve,
Switzerland.



-- 
###
Robert Guerra <rguerra at privaterra.org>
Privaterra - <http://www.privaterra.org>