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<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left><FONT
face=Tahoma size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B>
plenary-admin@wsis-cs.org [mailto:plenary-admin@wsis-cs.org] <B>On Behalf Of
</B>Liss Jeffrey<BR><B>Sent:</B> Monday, June 21, 2004 3:47 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
plenary@wsis-cs.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> [WSIS CS-Plenary] Hi level panel calls
for civil society inclusion in UN system<BR><BR></FONT></DIV><BR>News we can
use!<BR><BR><A
href="http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=11104&Cr=civil&Cr1=society"
eudora="autourl">http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=11104&Cr=civil&Cr1=society<BR><BR></A><FONT
size=5><B>UN should open itself further to involve civil society, high-level
panel says<BR><BR></B></FONT><FONT size=2><I>21 June 2004 </FONT>– </I>As the
world's problems grow ever-more complex, the United Nations should stop
limiting its decision-making processes exclusively to governments and instead
needs to open its deliberations to greater involvement by civil society groups
and the private sector, a blue-ribbon panel <A
href="http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2004/sg2089.doc.htm">recommends</A> in
a new report released today.<BR><BR>The Chairman of the Panel of Eminent
Persons on UN-Civil Society Relations, former President Fernando Henrique
Cardoso of Brazil, said the growing participation and influence of non-state
actors is enhancing democracy and reshaping multilateralism.<BR><BR>"Civil
society organizations are the prime movers of some of the most innovative
initiatives to deal with emerging global trends," he said at a press briefing
on the launch of the report in New York. "Given how the world has changed,
constructively engaging with civil society is a necessity for the United
Nations."<BR><BR>The report, entitled "We the Peoples: Civil Society, the
United Nations and Global Governance," refers to the sometimes-fraught
relationship between civil society groups, such as non-governmental
organizations (NGOs), and governments at the UN.<BR><BR>While this
relationship has strengthened greatly and multiplied over the years,
"difficulties and tensions have arisen, particularly in the deliberative
process," the report notes.<BR><BR>"Governments do not always welcome sharing
what has traditionally been their preserve," it says. "At the same time, many
in civil society are becoming frustrated; they can speak in the UN but
question whether anyone is listening, or whether their participation has any
impact on outcomes."<BR><BR>The report argues for a paradigm shift in how the
UN sees itself, saying the Organization should foster "multi-constituency"
processes that incorporate the perspectives and abilities of citizen groups,
policy advocates, businesses, local governments and
parliamentarians.<BR><BR>"We see the dialogue and the collaboration with
non-State actors not as a threat to governments but as a powerful way to
reinvigorate the intergovernmental process," Mr. Cardoso told the
briefing.<BR><BR>The Panel, appointed by Secretary-General Kofi Annan in
February 2003, recommends that the General Assembly include civil society
organizations more regularly in its affairs. It also calls for increased civil
society dialogues with the Security Council and the appointment of a senior UN
official to promote engagement with civil society.<BR><BR>In addition to Mr.
Cardoso, Panel members are affiliated with governments, NGOs, academia and the
private sector and include Bagher Asadi of Iran, Manuel Castells of Spain,
Birgitta Dahl of Sweden, Peggy Dulany of the United States, André Erdös of
Hungary, Asma Khader of Jordan, Juan Mayr of Colombia, Malini Mehra of India,
Kumi Naidoo of South Africa, Mary Racelis of the Philippines, Prakash Ratilal
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