<P>Dear Francis and Parminder</P>
<P>In my opinion, as a specialized (technical) agency of the UN, ITU reports directly to the General Assembly of the UN and not to ECOSOC. <BR><BR><BR>Jean-Louis Fullsack<BR><BR></P>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #ff0000 2px solid">> Message du 30/08/05 14:38<BR>> De : "Dr. Francis MUGUET" <MUGUET@MDPI.ORG><BR>> A : plenary@wsis-cs.org<BR>> Copie à : <BR>> Objet : Re: [WSIS CS-Plenary] Drastic changes to the proposed WSIS implementation mechanisms in the new text<BR>> <BR>> [Please note that by using 'REPLY', your response goes to the entire list. Kindly use individual addresses for responses intended for specific people. Your cooperation is highly appreciated] <BR>> _______________________________________<BR>> <BR>> Dear Parminder , Bertrand,, Robert, Jean-Louis and others,<BR>> <BR>> Just a short answer<BR>> <BR>> ><BR>> > At this stage we need to pitch in for a new and exclusive <BR>> > implementation/ follow-up mechanism, outside the 57/270 B framework. <BR>> > However difficult to achieve this should still , in my view, be our <BR>> > single-point agenda in the current round, and therefore we should <BR>> > insist on keeping the existing text of points 10, 11 and 29.<BR>> ><BR>> Yes, it is exactly the point.<BR>> Here is my tentative reconstitution of what happenned :<BR>> <BR>> Jan 2003 : Resolution 57-270 <BR>> <HTTP: resol57-270-24jan03-N0255723.html DOCS www.wsis-si.org>: <BR>> nothing more than a call to form a working group.<BR>> <BR>> 13 May 2005 : The updated report of the working group is finished on May <BR>> 13 2005, but it is unclear<BR>> if this report has been made public at that date.<BR>> <BR>> 11 July 2005 : GFC6 nothing special<BR>> <BR>> Beginning of August : Karklins gets an advanced notice of<BR>> the Note of the Secretary-General to the General Assembly <BR>> <HTTP: DOCS www.wsis-si.org noteSG-19aug05-N0546732.html><BR>> and the updated report. He then scrambled unilateraly to<BR>> write a text that mention indirectly the report<BR>> "The modalities of coordination of implementation activities among the <BR>> UN agencies should<BR>> be defined by the UN Secretary General on the basis of existing practices<BR>> within the UN system [and within the WSIS]. "<BR>> Karklins is cautious however, and mention the WSIS ( in bracket ? )<BR>> <BR>> 19 August 2005 : Note of the Secretary-General to the General Assembly <BR>> <HTTP: DOCS www.wsis-si.org noteSG-19aug05-N0546732.html>-<BR>> The report is now fully known and cannot be ignored by the WSIS.<BR>> <BR>> The irony of this, is that the WSIS might be to be first summit where<BR>> the recommendations of the working group setup following the<BR>> resolution 57-270 could possibly ( and I hope not ) apply.<BR>> <BR>> Now, one must remenber that at the UN, whatever is not political,<BR>> is ECOSOC. The question is : is the IUT relevant to the general<BR>> assembly or to the ECOSOC ?<BR>> <BR>> One other crucial aspect in the new text is that now the follow-up and <BR>> implementation<BR>> seems to be disctinct.<BR>> <BR>> All the documents I am mentionning have been uploaded and links are there :<BR>> http://www.wsis-si.org/si-tunis-post2.html<BR>> <BR>> Best regards<BR>> <BR>> Francis<BR>> <BR>> > (Only later, if at the prepcom we see that there is no way anything <BR>> > beyond 57/270 is going to be agreed, should we try to salvage the best <BR>> > out of that framework, an activity which, as Francis says, is going to <BR>> > be a subtle exercise. This however doesn’t stop us at this point to <BR>> > gather all the ammunition for that later stage to get the best points <BR>> > out of 57/270, but lets not dilute our outward strategy for the moment)<BR>> ><BR>> > But to make this advocacy point forcefully we will be up against this <BR>> > one simple question – WHY, WHAT’S SO DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS SUMMIT FOR <BR>> > IT TO DESERVE IMPLEMENTATION/ FOLLOW UP MECHANISM OUTSIDE THE REGULAR <BR>> > ONES ??<BR>> ><BR>> > And we need to prepare good answers to this, and lobby others with them.<BR>> ><BR>> > Points like,<BR>> ><BR>> > * as Francis says WSIS is not only about economic and social<BR>> > issues but much wider (practically everything!!) and this shd<BR>> > put is beyond 57/270<BR>> ><BR>> > * And the fluid and evolving nature of IS issues was acknowledged<BR>> > in the fact that for the first time a summit was held in two<BR>> > phases. A sustained structural follow-up is only an extension of<BR>> > the same logic. We have found no reason since the start of the<BR>> > century to see that IS evolution is flagging, rather with each<BR>> > passing day things and paradigms seem to be changing faster,<BR>> > confirming the beliefs that set up the context of WSIS.<BR>> ><BR>> > * Quoting form my earlier email - The implementation- follow-up of<BR>> > WSIS cannot be equated with that of other UN summits, because<BR>> > the nature of WSIS is very different from these other UN<BR>> > summits. All the earlier summits dealt with an existing<BR>> > problem/issue more or less fully formed, about which the global<BR>> > community needed to give a coordinated response. WSIS however is<BR>> > about an emerging context and opportunity, and most of its<BR>> > issues may be in the future, and often, definitionally, (as<BR>> > consisting a new societal arrangement implicit in the IS<BR>> > terminology used by WSIS), defying existing mandate and<BR>> > jurisdiction of global organizations.<BR>> ><BR>> > * I know that many still doubt the relevance of a detailed<BR>> > implementation/follow up structures for WSIS. But we must<BR>> > appreciate the fact that these new spaces outside current<BR>> > multi-global structures are badly needed if, in the context of<BR>> > an emerging IS new power relationships between people and<BR>> > institutions, sectors (public, private and civil society) and<BR>> > geo-politically, have to be negotiated. Existing forums will<BR>> > always use their limited mandates to scuttle new interpretations<BR>> > and new paradigm – and IS is rife with new paradigms.<BR>> ><BR>> > * To give just one example of what is meant by the above point –<BR>> > US and Japan recently scuttled further talks on elaborating a<BR>> > development agenda at WIPO. And developing countries and the CS<BR>> > at WIPO have been advocating a negotiation of a treaty on access<BR>> > to knowledge, to counter one on IPR (that is, restriction on<BR>> > access to knowledge). WIPO will cite its mandate, constitution<BR>> > or whatever to say that such a thing was not in its ambit. And<BR>> > it is difficult to take this issue up anywhere else. It is<BR>> > relevant to note here that, one of the multi-stakeholder teams<BR>> > as per existing language of para 10 is around the issue of<BR>> > ‘access to knowledge’ (see annexure to chapter 1 of tunis doc).<BR>> > So a relatively elaborate implementation helps us build the<BR>> > skeletal structure on which to peg emerging IS issues. WE MUST<BR>> > SEE THE IMPLEMENTATION/ FOLLOW UP ISSUE IN THIS LIGHT.<BR>> ><BR>> > * Developing countries must recognize, and we need to lobby with<BR>> > them, that such structures are in their interest. In the<BR>> > debates, and lobbying efforts, on implementation, we will<BR>> > continuously run into … ‘within their existing resources’ ‘not<BR>> > to make un-necessary new arrangements with financial<BR>> > commitments’ …kind of arguments. To have an implementation<BR>> > structure with an adequate secretariat and other support doesn’t<BR>> > cost that much especially in the context of the hundreds of<BR>> > international meetings etc that keep happening around us with<BR>> > little real outcomes. Legitimatized post-WSIS structures on the<BR>> > other hand will have better chance of moving towards some outcomes.<BR>> ><BR>> > * So, the ‘within existing resources’ argument we will keep<BR>> > hearing from developed countries is not so much a real funds<BR>> > issue – they regularly funds much larger scale activities with<BR>> > much lesser outcomes – it is more to avoid more global policy<BR>> > forums and spaces that will of course challenge existing power<BR>> > equations and existing paradigms that suit those who already<BR>> > enjoy more power best.<BR>> ><BR>> > * An increasingly more integrated global community, and IS<BR>> > certainly means that, is in-consistent with reduced global<BR>> > public policy spaces. It is an imperative of an emerging IS to<BR>> > expand and re-interpret these spaces. So, with WSIS unlike other<BR>> > summits, implementation and follow-up is not just a process<BR>> > issues, but a content issue. But the problem is that developing<BR>> > countries too do not show much interest in the post-WSIS<BR>> > structural arrangements. Typically, as governments work, they<BR>> > are working with the ‘here and now’ blinders, without vision.<BR>> ><BR>> > I am enclosing a write up that my organization had done 2 weeks ago on <BR>> > arguing for and developing a CS position on the issue of the new text <BR>> > proposed by the chair of GFC for chapters on implementation/follow-up. <BR>> > It is already dated, in view of all the great inputs given on this <BR>> > list in the last few days. But I’ll still post it.<BR>> ><BR>> > Regards<BR>> ><BR>> > Parminder<BR>> ><BR>> > _________________________________________________<BR>> ><BR>> > Parminder Jeet Singh<BR>> ><BR>> > IT for Change<BR>> ><BR>> > //Bridging Development Realities and Technological Possibilities//<BR>> ><BR>> > 91-80-26654134<BR>> ><BR>> > //www.ITforChange.net// <HTTP: www.ITforChange.net><BR>> ><BR>> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>> ><BR>> > *From:* plenary-admin@wsis-cs.org [mailto:plenary-admin@wsis-cs.org] <BR>> > *On Behalf Of *Bertrand de La Chapelle<BR>> > *Sent:* Monday, August 29, 2005 10:02 PM<BR>> > *To:* plenary@wsis-cs.org<BR>> > *Subject:* Re: [WSIS CS-Plenary] drastic changes to the proposed WSIS <BR>> > implementation mechanisms in the new text<BR>> ><BR>> > Dear Francis, dear all,<BR>> ><BR>> > If I remember well, the reference to UNGA resolution 57/270B was also <BR>> > specifically and repetitively made by the US delegation as a way to <BR>> > prevent the establishment of any new implementation mechanism.<BR>> ><BR>> > On a statement related to the importance of the changes, time is very <BR>> > short indeed but the real moment to speak out is September 6, during <BR>> > the open meeting of the Friends of the Chair. Preparing a statement <BR>> > for that date would probably be better than rushing to meet the <BR>> > deadline of August 31st. Who will be there on September 6th ? (I will <BR>> > attend).<BR>> ><BR>> > Note : I have opened a page on wsis-online for this event. (go to : <BR>> > http://www.wsis-online.net/smsi/classes/won/events/won-events-507606/event-view <BR>> > <HTTP: event-view won-events-507606 events won classes smsi www.wsis-online.net>?) <BR>> > Those who plan to attend can (if they are registered on wsis-online of <BR>> > course ..) click on the "I will attend" button on the right hand side <BR>> > of the page and the list of participants on the page will <BR>> > automatically update. This will avoid the endless ping-pong we have on <BR>> > the list every time we try to know who will attend a particular meeting).<BR>> ><BR>> > On substance, Parminder's points are, in my view, a very good starting <BR>> > point upon which to build. The main element is that the new proposal <BR>> > basically places the implementation primarily in the hands of <BR>> > governments and that the participation of other actors is not as <BR>> > central as it was before, especially at the international level.<BR>> ><BR>> > Some elements of the new proposal could be considered positive, <BR>> > particularly the fact that international organizations now are asked <BR>> > to facilitate multi-stakeholder efforts and that there is a request <BR>> > for governments to set up at the national level implementation <BR>> > frameworks with the participation of all stakeholders. But the whole <BR>> > thing has lost all teeth (governments are only "encoouraged" to <BR>> > establish such frameworks and international organizations "could" <BR>> > facilitate multistakeholder efforts). If CS could obtain a <BR>> > strenghtening of the formulation, such as : IGOs "should" facilitate <BR>> > and governments "should" establish national implementation frameworks, <BR>> > this could become a very strong basis for moving further after Tunis.<BR>> ><BR>> > But in general terms, the toning down of the whole document, in <BR>> > contradiction with the explicit demands of many actors, and with no <BR>> > particular consultation with the most progressive of them, is clearly <BR>> > a setback.<BR>> ><BR>> > One key point should be in September to maintain the pressure to <BR>> > guarantee more interaction on the design of the implementation <BR>> > mechanisms, and the guarantee that the discussions on that matter in <BR>> > PrepCom3 will be fully open.<BR>> ><BR>> > Best<BR>> ><BR>> > Bertrand<BR>> ><BR>> > On 8/29/05, *Dr. Francis MUGUET* <MUGUET@MDPI.ORG <BR>> > <mailto:muguet@mdpi.org>> wrote:<BR>> ><BR>> > [Please note that by using 'REPLY', your response goes to the entire <BR>> > list. Kindly use individual addresses for responses intended for <BR>> > specific people. Your cooperation is highly appreciated]<BR>> > _______________________________________<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > Hello folks,<BR>> ><BR>> > it seems that we are on the war path again... no rest for the<BR>> > warriors... !!!<BR>> ><BR>> > This is going to be a rather long post, but we are at a turning point <BR>> > of the<BR>> > WSIS, and we must discuss the heart of the legal matter.<BR>> ><BR>> > The suggestion of implementing the UNGA resolution 57/270B. came form<BR>> > the EU,<BR>> > ( 31 May 2005 ) among the last act of the Luxeburg presidency and went<BR>> > unoticed<BR>> > until now.<BR>> ><BR>> > http://www.itu.int/wsis/documents/listing.asp?lang=en&c_event=gfc|5&c_type=co| <BR>> > <HTTP: listing.asp?lang="en&c_event=gfc%7C5&c_type=co%7C" documents wsis www.itu.int><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > http://www.itu.int/wsis/gfc/docs/5/contributions/EU.doc<BR>> > a document available only in the proprietary non-open word format :<BR>> ><BR>> > *Paragraph 29 WSIS Plan of Action: *<BR>> ><BR>> > We underline the importance of follow-up based on the progress made in<BR>> > the implementation of the WSIS outcome.<BR>> ><BR>> > The follow-up will focus on the progress made in the implementation of<BR>> > WSIS outcomes and identify constraints and obstacles faced in relation<BR>> > to implementation. It will further address new challenges and emerging<BR>> > issues.<BR>> ><BR>> > It should take place within the UN framework for integrated and<BR>> > coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major<BR>> > UN conferences and summits in the economic and social fields as it is<BR>> > defined in UNGA resolution 57/270B.<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> >> As such, it's worth finding and reading UNGA 57/270b and see if what's<BR>> >> there fits the case now. I'll leave that for others to do. The<BR>> >> reference is below..<BR>> >><BR>> >><BR>> >> UN General Assembly Resolution (UNGA) 57/270b (2003)<BR>> >><BR>> >> Integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the<BR>> >> outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the<BR>> >> economic and social fields<BR>> >> http://daccess-ods.un.org/access.nsf/Get?Open&DS=A/RES/57/270B&Lang=E <BR>> > <HTTP: Get?Open&DS="A/RES/57/270B&Lang=E" access.nsf daccess-ods.un.org><BR>> >> < <BR>> > http://daccess-ods.un.org/access.nsf/Get?Open&DS=A/RES/57/270B&Lang=E <BR>> > <HTTP: Get?Open&DS="A/RES/57/270B&Lang=E" access.nsf daccess-ods.un.org>><BR>> ><BR>> > I could not access to this URL directly... great for inclusion and<BR>> > openness...<BR>> > ( the http://daccess-ods.un.org URL is about IBM and LOTUS.... <BR>> > strange... )<BR>> ><BR>> > the only way to get it seems to go by the way of<BR>> > http://www.ods.un.org<BR>> ><BR>> > Therefore I am putting the documents in text, instead of making links to<BR>> > URLs that cannot be easily resolved in the UN documentation system.<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 24/01/2003 : *_A/RES/57/270A • A/RES/57/270 <JavaScript:ViewDoc(59)>_*<BR>> > [ English ]<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > INTEGRATED AND COORDINATED IMPLEMENTATION OF AND FOLLOW-UP TO THE<BR>> > OUTCOMES OF THE MAJOR UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCES AND SUMMITS IN THE<BR>> > ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL FIELD : RESOLUTION / ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > Resolution adopted by the General Assembly<BR>> > [on the report of the Second Committee (A/57/537)]<BR>> > 57/270. Integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to<BR>> > the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the<BR>> > economic and social fields<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > Resolution adopted by the General Assembly<BR>> ><BR>> > [/on the report of the Second Committee (A/57/537)/]<BR>> ><BR>> > *57/270. Integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to<BR>> > the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the<BR>> > economic and social fields*<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > /The General Assembly/,<BR>> ><BR>> > /Recalling /its resolutions on the restructuring and revitalization of<BR>> > the United Nations in the economic, social and related fields,<BR>> > particularly its resolution 50/227 of 24 May 1996,<BR>> ><BR>> > /Recalling also /its resolution 56/211 of 21 December 2001, as well as<BR>> > Economic and Social Council resolution 2001/21 of 26 July 2001 and its<BR>> > agreed conclusions 1995/1 of 28 July 1995, 2000/2 of 27 July 2000 and<BR>> > 2002/1 of 26 July 2002,<BR>> ><BR>> > /Taking note /of the report of the Secretary-General on the integrated<BR>> > and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcome of the<BR>> > major United Nations conferences and summits, including the Millennium<BR>> > Summit,^^1 <#sdfootnote1sym><BR>> ><BR>> > /Reaffirming /that the internationally agreed development goals,<BR>> > including those contained in the United Nations Millennium<BR>> > Declaration^^2 <#sdfootnote2sym> and the outcomes of the major United<BR>> > Nations conferences and summits, provide a comprehensive basis for<BR>> > action at the national, regional and international levels with the key<BR>> > objectives of poverty eradication, sustained economic growth,<BR>> > sustainable development and improvement of the living conditions of<BR>> > people everywhere,<BR>> ><BR>> > /Reaffirming also /that, while each United Nations conference has its<BR>> > thematic unity, major United Nations conferences and summits should be<BR>> > viewed as interlinked and contributing to an integrated framework for<BR>> > the implementation of the internationally agreed development goals,<BR>> > including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, and to a global<BR>> > partnership for development,<BR>> ><BR>> > /Recognizing /the need to continue efforts to use the existing<BR>> > structure, namely, the General Assembly and the Economic and Social<BR>> > Council and its subsidiary machinery, for coordinated and integrated<BR>> > follow-up to and implementation of the commitments agreed upon at the<BR>> > Millennium Summit and other major United Nations conferences and<BR>> > summits, so as to enhance coordination as well as effectiveness and<BR>> > efficiency of actions at all levels,<BR>> ><BR>> > /Reiterating /the need to strengthen the role of the General Assembly as<BR>> > the highest intergovernmental mechanism for the formulation and<BR>> > appraisal of policy on matters relating to coordinated and integrated<BR>> > follow-up to United Nations conferences and summits in the economic,<BR>> > social and related fields,<BR>> ><BR>> > /Reaffirming /that the Economic and Social Council should continue to<BR>> > strengthen its role as the central mechanism for system-wide<BR>> > coordination and thus to promote coordinated follow-up to the outcomes<BR>> > of major United Nations conferences in the economic, social and related<BR>> > fields,<BR>> ><BR>> > /Emphasizing /that the relevant functional commissions and, as<BR>> > appropriate, other relevant intergovernmental bodies of the United<BR>> > Nations system, within their mandates, must fulfil their<BR>> > responsibilities as specified in the outcomes of the United Nations<BR>> > conferences and summits, should further enhance their role as the main<BR>> > forums for expert follow-up and review of major United Nations<BR>> > conferences and summits and, in this regard, must strengthen their<BR>> > efforts to enhance inter-agency collaboration and coordination to<BR>> > implement the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and <BR>> > summits,<BR>> ><BR>> > /Recognizing /that the process of integrated and coordinated follow-up<BR>> > to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits<BR>> > should not include renegotiation of any outcomes of those conferences,<BR>> > including their specific institutional arrangements for follow-up,<BR>> ><BR>> > 1. /Decides /to establish an open-ended ad hoc working group of the<BR>> > General Assembly under the chairmanship of the President of the<BR>> > Assembly, with two vice-chairmen to be elected by the working group;<BR>> ><BR>> > 2. /Also decides /that the work of the working group should be<BR>> > consistent with the provisions of resolution 50/227 and the follow-up<BR>> > mechanisms decided upon by the respective United Nations conferences and<BR>> > summits and should respect the interlinked nature of their outcomes as<BR>> > well as the thematic unity of each conference, and emphasizes that<BR>> > cross-sectoral thematic issues for further consideration throughout the<BR>> > existing structure should be decided upon at the intergovernmental level<BR>> > and should focus on implementation, bearing in mind that the process of<BR>> > integrated and coordinated follow-up to the outcomes of the United<BR>> > Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related<BR>> > fields should be fair and balanced and should respect the principle of<BR>> > multilateralism and the principles contained in the Charter of the<BR>> > United Nations;<BR>> ><BR>> > 3. /Further decides /that the working group will produce concrete<BR>> > recommendations to ensure an integrated and coordinated follow-up to the<BR>> > outcomes of the United Nations conferences and summits in the economic,<BR>> > social and related fields and will thus contribute to the implementation<BR>> > of the internationally agreed development goals, including those<BR>> > contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,^2 bearing in<BR>> > mind the continuing reform process of the United Nations and resolution<BR>> > 50/227, as well as the views expressed by the Member States on this<BR>> > question;<BR>> ><BR>> > 4. /Decides /that the working group will also consider the work of the<BR>> > General Assembly and its Second and Third Committees relevant to the<BR>> > integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the<BR>> > outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the<BR>> > economic, social and related fields as well as the modalities of the<BR>> > reports presented to the General Assembly, bearing in mind the<BR>> > respective roles of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social<BR>> > Council and its functional commissions and subsidiary organs;<BR>> ><BR>> > 5. /Also decides /that the working group will submit proposals on how<BR>> > best to address the review of the implementation of the outcomes of the<BR>> > major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and<BR>> > related fields, including its format and periodicity, bearing in mind<BR>> > the need to recognize the active role of all relevant stakeholders in<BR>> > the implementation of the outcomes of United Nations conferences and<BR>> > summits;<BR>> ><BR>> > 6. /Further decides /that future decisions on follow-up to conferences<BR>> > whose ten-year anniversaries are imminent shall be kept pending subject<BR>> > to the decisions to be taken by the General Assembly on the report of<BR>> > the working group;<BR>> ><BR>> > 7. /Decides /that the working group will consider how to ensure that the<BR>> > outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits are<BR>> > integrated into the programmes of work of the organs, organizations and<BR>> > bodies of the United Nations system and are taken fully into account, as<BR>> > relevant, in the operational work and country frameworks of the<BR>> > organizations of the United Nations system, in accordance with national<BR>> > development objectives and priorities, and requests the United Nations<BR>> > System Chief Executives Board for Coordination and the United Nations<BR>> > Development Group to contribute to the reflection on integrated<BR>> > conference follow-up;<BR>> ><BR>> > 8. /Also decides /that the working group will commence its substantive<BR>> > work during the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly, no later<BR>> > than January 2003, and will submit its report before 27 June 2003, for<BR>> > consideration by the General Assembly and action before the close of the<BR>> > fifty-seventh session in 2003;<BR>> ><BR>> > 9. /Further decides /that at its first meeting the working group will<BR>> > consider its work programme, including the issue of the periodicity and<BR>> > duration of its meetings within the time boundaries established in<BR>> > paragraph 8 above;<BR>> ><BR>> > 10. /Decides /to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth<BR>> > session an item entitled "Integrated and coordinated implementation of<BR>> > and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences<BR>> > and summits in the economic, social and related fields" and to consider<BR>> > it directly in plenary meeting.<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > /78th plenary meeting<BR>> > 20 December 2002/<BR>> ><BR>> > 1 <#sdfootnote1anc> A/57/75 E/2002/57.<BR>> ><BR>> > 2 <#sdfootnote2anc> See resolution 55/2.<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > therefore all depends on the recommendations of the working group.<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 22/08/2005 : A/60/275 [ English ]<BR>> ><BR>> > UPDATED REPORT OF THE SG: ROLE OF THE COUNCIL IN THE INTEGRATED AND<BR>> > COORDINATE<BR>> > 86% 19/11/2001 : A/C.2/56/L.27 [ English ]<BR>> ><BR>> > Integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the<BR>> > outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the<BR>> > economic and social fields : draft resolution / Japan<BR>> ><BR>> > 8/04/2004 : A/58/L.8/REV.1 [ English ]<BR>> ><BR>> > Follow-up to the outcome of the Millennium Summit and Integrated and<BR>> > coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major<BR>> > United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields<BR>> > : revised draft resolution / submitted by the President of the General<BR>> > Assembly<BR>> > 85% 27/10/2003 : A/58/L.8 [ English ]<BR>> ><BR>> > Integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the<BR>> > outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the<BR>> > economic, social and related fields : draft resolution / Morocco [on<BR>> > behalf of the Group of 77 and China]<BR>> ><BR>> > 14/02/2003 : A/AC.269/1 [ English ]<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > Agenda : Ad Hoc Working Group on the Integrated and Coordinated<BR>> > Implementation of and Follow-up to the Outcomes of the Major United<BR>> > Nations Conferences and Summits in the Economic and Social Fields<BR>> ><BR>> > 16/06/2003 : A/AC.269/L.2 [ English ]<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > Draft report of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the General Assembly on the<BR>> > Integrated and Coordinated Implementation of and Follow-up to the<BR>> > Outcomes of the Major United Nations Conferences and Summits in the<BR>> > Economic and Social Fields<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > the latest document seems to be :<BR>> ><BR>> > Sixtieth session<BR>> > Item 48 of the provisional agenda*<BR>> > Integrated and coordinated implementation of and<BR>> > follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations<BR>> > conferences and summits in the economic, social<BR>> > and related fields<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > * Updated report of the Secretary-General on the role of the Economic<BR>> > and Social Council in the integrated and coordinated implementation of<BR>> > the outcomes of and follow-up to major United Nations conferences and<BR>> > summits, in the light of General Assembly resolutions 50/227, 52/12 B<BR>> > and 57/270 B*<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > * Note by the Secretary-General*<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > The Secretary-General has the honour to transmit to the General Assembly<BR>> > his updated report on the role of the Economic and Social Council in the<BR>> > integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the<BR>> > outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits, which was<BR>> > prepared in accordance with General Assembly resolution 57/270 B. The<BR>> > report, contained in document E/2005/61, was also considered by the<BR>> > Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 2005.<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > and<BR>> ><BR>> > 13/05/2005 : *_E/2005/61 <JavaScript:ViewDoc(0)>_* [ English French<BR>> > Russian Spanish Arabic Chinese ]<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > UPDATED REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL ON THE ROLE OF THE COUNCIL IN<BR>> > THE INTEGRATED AND COORDINATED IMPLEMENTATION OF THE OUTCOMES OF AND<BR>> > FOLLOW-UP TO MAJOR UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCES AND SUMMITS, IN LIGHT OF<BR>> > GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTIONS 50/227, 52/12 B AND 57/270 B<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > * Updated report of the Secretary-General on the role of the Council in<BR>> > the integrated and coordinated implementation of the outcomes of and<BR>> > follow-up to major United Nations conferences and summits, in the light<BR>> > of General Assembly resolutions 50/227, 52/12 B and 57/270 B*<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > / Summary/<BR>> ><BR>> > At its 2004 substantive session, the Economic and Social Council in its<BR>> > resolution 2004/44 decided to merge the review of the progress made in<BR>> > the implementation of General Assembly resolutions 50/227, 52/12 B, and<BR>> > 57/270 B and requested a single report. Following the request of the<BR>> > Council, the present report focuses on progress made in the<BR>> > implementation of the three resolutions.<BR>> ><BR>> > The review of the methods of the work of the General Assembly and its<BR>> > Second and Third Committees are ongoing. Further work will be needed to<BR>> > complete the consultations successfully. With regard to the Council and<BR>> > its subsidiary machinery, progress has been made in several areas,<BR>> > including strengthening thematic unity across the different segments of<BR>> > the Council's substantive session; review of the working methods of the<BR>> > functional commissions; strengthening of the role of the United Nations<BR>> > regional commissions in conference follow-up. At the same time<BR>> > additional efforts need to be made to enhance cooperation among<BR>> > functional commissions and to strengthen cooperation between regional<BR>> > commissions and the funds and programmes.<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > Contents<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > /Paragraphs/<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > /Page/<BR>> ><BR>> > 1.<BR>> ><BR>> > Background<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 1–4<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 3<BR>> ><BR>> > 2.<BR>> ><BR>> > Introduction<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 5–7<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 3<BR>> ><BR>> > 3.<BR>> ><BR>> > Further strengthening the role of the General Assembly and its<BR>> > Second and Third Committees in the coordinated and integrated<BR>> > follow-up to the comprehensive development agenda<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 8–17<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 4<BR>> ><BR>> > 1.<BR>> ><BR>> > The General Assembly<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 9–10<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 4<BR>> ><BR>> > 2.<BR>> ><BR>> > The Second Committee<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 11–14<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 5<BR>> ><BR>> > 3.<BR>> ><BR>> > The Third Committee<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 15–17<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 5<BR>> ><BR>> > 4.<BR>> ><BR>> > Further strengthening the role of the Economic and Social Council<BR>> > and its subsidiary machinery in the implementation of General<BR>> > Assembly resolutions 50/227, 52/12 B and 57/270 B<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 18–37<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 6<BR>> ><BR>> > 1.<BR>> ><BR>> > Strengthening the role of the Economic and Social Council<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 18–20<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 6<BR>> ><BR>> > 2.<BR>> ><BR>> > Strengthening the work of the United Nations functional<BR>> > commissions in support of implementation of General Assembly<BR>> > resolutions 50/227, 52/12 B and 57/270 B, as well as<BR>> > resolutions 56/201 and 59/250<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 21–30<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 7<BR>> ><BR>> > 3.<BR>> ><BR>> > Cooperation between the Council and the United Nations<BR>> > regional commissions<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 31–37<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 9<BR>> ><BR>> > 5.<BR>> ><BR>> > Strengthening the Council's cooperation with the funds and<BR>> > programmes, with specialized agencies and inter-agency bodies, and<BR>> > the international financial and trade institutions<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 38–42<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 11<BR>> ><BR>> > 6.<BR>> ><BR>> > Complying with the specific mandates of the Council<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 43–52<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 12<BR>> ><BR>> > 1.<BR>> ><BR>> > International Conference on Financing for Development<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 43–45<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 12<BR>> ><BR>> > 2.<BR>> ><BR>> > The Almaty Programme of Action: addressing the special needs<BR>> > of landlocked developing countries within a new global<BR>> > framework for transit, transport cooperation<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 46–47<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 13<BR>> ><BR>> > 3.<BR>> ><BR>> > Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed<BR>> > Countries<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 48–52<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 13<BR>> ><BR>> > 7.<BR>> ><BR>> > Enhancing the Council's cooperation with and the role of civil<BR>> > society and the private sector for development<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 53–55<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 14<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > * I. Background*<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 1. In paragraph 39 of its resolution 57/270 B, the General Assembly<BR>> > decided to include an item entitled "Integrated and coordinated<BR>> > implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United<BR>> > Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related<BR>> > fields" in the annual agenda of the General Assembly and invited the<BR>> > Secretary-General to submit a report on the question.<BR>> ><BR>> > 2. At its 2004 substantive session, the Economic and Social Council, in<BR>> > its resolution 2004/44 decided to merge the review of the progress made<BR>> > in the implementation of General Assembly resolutions 50/227, 52/12 B<BR>> > and 57/270 B and requested a single report on the implementation of the<BR>> > resolutions. The resolutions lend themselves to a joint consideration as<BR>> > they build upon and complement each other.<BR>> ><BR>> > 3. Resolution 50/227, "Further measures for the restructuring and<BR>> > revitalization of the United Nations in the economic, social and related<BR>> > fields", focuses on ways of enhancing the role of the United Nations in<BR>> > the field of development. They include an increase in resources for<BR>> > operational activities and greater coherence in the work of the Second<BR>> > and Third Committee, and a strengthened role of the Economic and Social<BR>> > Council in system-wide coordination and enhanced linkages with trade and<BR>> > financial institutions. Resolution 52/12 B, "Renewing the United<BR>> > Nations: a programme for reform", includes several provisions relating<BR>> > to reforms in the economic and social fields, as well as development and<BR>> > humanitarian affairs.<BR>> ><BR>> > 4. Resolution 57/270 B, "Integrated and coordinated implementation of<BR>> > and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences<BR>> > and summits in the economic and social fields", aims to enhance<BR>> > coherence in the different conference follow-up processes, while<BR>> > maintaining their distinct identity. It also provides guidance to better<BR>> > coordinate global, regional and national development activities and to<BR>> > ensure that those activities are mutually supportive as well as<BR>> > contribute to the achievement of the internationally agreed development<BR>> > goals, including the Millennium Development Goals. It calls upon the<BR>> > Economic and Social Council to continue to strengthen its role as the<BR>> > central mechanism for system-wide coordination. It also recognizes the<BR>> > need to further strengthen cooperation with the international financial<BR>> > and trading institutions and the important role of civil society and the<BR>> > private sector in advancing the implementation of conference outcomes.<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > * II. Introduction*<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 5. The United Nations summits and conferences of the last 15 years<BR>> > generated a global consensus on policies and actions to advance the<BR>> > objectives of eradicating poverty and promoting sustainable development<BR>> > and provide a basic framework for pursuing those objectives. The<BR>> > Millennium Summit built on the outcomes of those summits and conferences<BR>> > and reinforced some of their key messages. The outcomes, together with<BR>> > the development-related aspects of the Millennium Declaration constitute<BR>> > the United Nations development agenda (see E/2005/56).<BR>> ><BR>> > 6. A much sharper focus on implementation of the internationally agreed<BR>> > goals and targets of the United Nations development agenda remains<BR>> > imperative. Though the Council initiated work on developing an<BR>> > integrated approach to the implementation of the conference outcomes by<BR>> > focusing on their common themes since 1995, further efforts are required<BR>> > to steer the United Nations development system towards both more<BR>> > sustained and better integrated follow-up action.<BR>> ><BR>> > 7. The substantive aspects of an integrated follow-up to conferences<BR>> > have been discussed in the report of the Secretary-General for the<BR>> > High-level Segment of the Economic and Social Council (A/60/56). The<BR>> > present report focuses on progress made in the implementation of the<BR>> > three resolutions.<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > * III. Further strengthening the role of the General Assembly and its<BR>> > Second and Third Committees in the coordinated and integrated follow-up<BR>> > to the comprehensive development agenda*<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 8. As called for in resolutions 50/227, 57/270 B, 58/126 and 58/316, the<BR>> > review of the work of the General Assembly and its Second and Third<BR>> > Committees, especially as they relate to the implementation of and the<BR>> > follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences is<BR>> > ongoing. It is aimed at enhancing the policy leadership role of the<BR>> > General Assembly on development issues. That can be achieved by<BR>> > improving working methods that allow maximum focus, visibility and<BR>> > political energy towards the achievement of the United Nations<BR>> > development agenda.<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > * A. The General Assembly*<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 9. Since the General Assembly adopted resolutions 58/126 of 19 December<BR>> > 2003 and 58/316 of 1 July 2004, informal consultations have continued<BR>> > during its fifty-ninth session on its revitalization. Member States have<BR>> > pointed to the need to strengthen the role of the General Committee of<BR>> > the Assembly, continue to streamline and reduce the number of items on<BR>> > the agenda, adopt shorter and more focused resolutions, and streamline<BR>> > documentation without in any way compromising analytical depth and<BR>> > coverage. Those broad goals have formed the basis for consultations<BR>> > among Member States. While a consensus on improving the methods of work<BR>> > of the General Assembly and several of its main committees is yet to<BR>> > emerge, consultations are ongoing in the context of the next phase of<BR>> > reforms of the Organization. Those consultations are now linked to the<BR>> > issues of institutional reform being considered in preparation for the<BR>> > September Summit.<BR>> ><BR>> > 10. In the context of the need for better cooperation and improved<BR>> > division of labour between the General Assembly and the Economic and<BR>> > Social Council, the Presidents of the General Assembly, the Security<BR>> > Council and the Economic and Social Council held two meetings in 2004<BR>> > aimed at increased cooperation, coordination and complementarity of the<BR>> > work programmes of the three organs, as called for in resolution 58/126.<BR>> > That process will continue in the context of the next round of reforms<BR>> > and will also need to take into account the proposal to establish a<BR>> > peacebuilding commission as proposed in the Secretary-General's report<BR>> > for the September Summit (A/59/2005).<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > * B. The Second Committee*<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 11. The Chairman of the Second Committee at the fifty-eighth session of<BR>> > the General Assembly submitted a set of proposals, which the Committee<BR>> > tried to implement during its fifty-ninth session. They include early<BR>> > meetings between the outgoing and incoming Bureau; introduction of<BR>> > question-and-answer sessions; better use of the Second Committee's<BR>> > website; early distribution of and consultation on the organization of<BR>> > work; avoidance of overlapping with plenary meetings; elaboration and<BR>> > distribution of the Chairman's summary of the general debate; extensive<BR>> > but rational use of panels, keynote speakers and round tables;<BR>> > compliance with the deadlines for the submission of draft resolutions;<BR>> > early start of negotiations and early adoption of resolutions; and<BR>> > clustering and better sequencing for the consideration of the agenda of<BR>> > the Committee.<BR>> ><BR>> > 12. During the fifty-ninth session, consultations continued on several<BR>> > other aspects of the improvement of the working methods. Following a<BR>> > series of consultations, the Second Committee agreed on a conference<BR>> > room paper (A/C.2/59/CRP.2/Rev.1) which emphasized the need for reaching<BR>> > timely consensus on items on the agenda, preserving the substantive<BR>> > nature of the resolutions; organizing discussions and events designed to<BR>> > contribute to a broader understanding and consideration of the issues;<BR>> > and maintaining the practice of allocating sufficient time after the<BR>> > formal consideration of each cluster allowing for negotiations. That<BR>> > would help the Committee in adopting resolutions in a timely fashion. It<BR>> > also requested the Committee on Conferences to consider advancing the<BR>> > timing of the Trade and Development Board meeting so that its report<BR>> > could be made available by the middle of September in order to enable<BR>> > the timely consideration of sub-items under the "Macroeconomic policy<BR>> > questions" cluster. The conference room paper also proposed that side<BR>> > events should be held in close proximity to the substantive discussion<BR>> > of the relevant agenda items and noted that greater attention should be<BR>> > given to the increasing role of side events organized by Member States<BR>> > that are related to the agenda of the Committee.<BR>> ><BR>> > 13. It was agreed that discussions on outstanding issues, related<BR>> > especially to the streamlining of the agenda, as well as strengthening<BR>> > cooperation with the Third Committee would continue.<BR>> ><BR>> > 14. *The Second Committee needs to take decisions this year on the<BR>> > outstanding issues, particularly streamlining and reclustering items on<BR>> > the agenda, and the division of labour and strengthened coordination<BR>> > with the Third Committee and the Economic and Social Council.*<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > * C. The Third Committee*<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 15. During the fifty-ninth session, the Third Committee approved a<BR>> > Chairman's text on the revitalization of its work, deciding to<BR>> > rationalize its agenda by merging some items, triennializing others and<BR>> > transferring some to the General Assembly in plenary meeting. Several<BR>> > far-reaching measures were agreed upon to improve the working methods of<BR>> > the Committee. They include measures to promote more interactive<BR>> > discussions as part of the formal proceedings; introduction at its<BR>> > sixtieth session, on a pilot basis, of interactive debates in an<BR>> > informal setting; submitting resolutions that are concise, focused and<BR>> > designed to have an impact on policy development; and tabling<BR>> > resolutions biennially or at longer intervals and avoiding duplication<BR>> > especially where they have already been adopted by the Economic and<BR>> > Social Council or its subsidiary bodies.<BR>> ><BR>> > 16. Significantly, the Third Committee agreed to make renewed efforts to<BR>> > reduce the number of requests for reports from the Secretary-General,<BR>> > including through consolidation of reports. It was stressed that there<BR>> > should be no "automaticity" about requesting the Secretary-General's<BR>> > reports.<BR>> ><BR>> > 17. To strengthen coordination with the other Main Committees, joint<BR>> > panel discussions and meetings on issues of common interest were<BR>> > highlighted. Those changes are far-reaching and when implemented will<BR>> > serve to improve coherence and bring added value to the work of the<BR>> > Third Committee, as well as contribute to the work of other Main<BR>> > Committees, particularly the Second Committee.<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > * IV. Further strengthening the role of the Economic and Social Council<BR>> > and its subsidiary machinery in the implementation of General Assembly<BR>> > resolutions 50/227, 52/12 B and 57/270 B*<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > * A. Strengthening the role of the Economic and Social Council*<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > * 1. Promoting a coherent, integrated and coordinated approach*<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 18. The Economic and Social Council has a critical role to play in<BR>> > promoting a coherent, integrated and coordinated approach for the<BR>> > achievement of the United Nations development agenda. While efforts have<BR>> > been undertaken towards strengthening the role of the Council in<BR>> > conference follow-up, there is a need to infuse them with greater<BR>> > dynamism and result orientation. The Secretary-General's report at the<BR>> > high-level segment highlights the need for the United Nations system to<BR>> > integrate and align fully policies and programmes with the United<BR>> > Nations development agenda, particularly the Millennium Development<BR>> > Goals. At the intergovernmental level, there is an immediate need for a<BR>> > more coherent, coordinated and focused approach to monitoring and<BR>> > evaluation of the implementation of the development agenda. To that end,<BR>> > *the Council needs to finalize, within the framework of actions that<BR>> > will be taken in the light of the proposals made in the<BR>> > Secretary-General's report at the high-level segment of the Council, the<BR>> > requirements contained in paragraph 42 of resolution 57/270 B, in which<BR>> > the General Assembly requested it to establish, no later than 2004, a<BR>> > four-year multi-year work programme for the coordination segment of its<BR>> > substantive session. Efforts should be made to agree on a full four-year<BR>> > multi-year programme of work that is effectively linked to the United<BR>> > Nations development agenda. *<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > * 2. Ensuring thematic unity and interlinkages between the different<BR>> > segments*<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 19. A clear message emanating from resolution 57/270 B is the need to<BR>> > focus the Council's annual session around one broad theme. As a first<BR>> > step towards ensuring greater coherence, the Council decided that the<BR>> > high-level and coordination segments would focus on the same<BR>> > cross-sectoral conference themes (or related themes), but would also<BR>> > address them from both a policy development and a coordination<BR>> > perspective. In recent years the themes of the high-level segments have<BR>> > provided the broad basis for the themes of the coordination and<BR>> > operational activities segments. While thematic unity is to be pursued,<BR>> > there is a need to address the issue of thematic unity and interlinkages<BR>> > among the segments within the framework of the actions that will be<BR>> > taken on proposals made in the Secretary-General's report to the<BR>> > high-level segment of the Council, in particular the proposal for a peer<BR>> > review and the holding of a development cooperation forum.<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > * 3. Streamlining the reporting system*<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 20. Improving the effectiveness of the reporting system is another<BR>> > important element in strengthening the Council's policy setting and<BR>> > coordination functions. Reports submitted by the subsidiary, regional<BR>> > and related bodies of the Council provide it with a wealth of<BR>> > information and policy inputs relevant to not only the coordinated and<BR>> > integrated follow-up of the development agenda, but also for policy<BR>> > guidance, national development strategy formulation, evaluation and<BR>> > international cooperation. The Council has addressed itself to the<BR>> > question of better management and use of that information. The Bureau of<BR>> > the Council issued guidelines for documentation for the Council and its<BR>> > subsidiary bodies, drawn primarily from existing legislation in the<BR>> > General Assembly and the Council. The guidelines incorporate further<BR>> > steps to help to bring to manageable proportions and give greater focus<BR>> > to the documents submitted to the Council by its subsidiary bodies. *The<BR>> > subsidiary bodies should be encouraged to adhere to the guidelines for<BR>> > documentation. *<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > * B. Strengthening the work of the United Nations functional commissions<BR>> > in support of implementation of General Assembly resolutions 50/227,<BR>> > 52/12 B and 57/270 B, as well as resolutions 56/201 and 59/250*<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 21. The United Nations functional commissions have played a key role in<BR>> > the development and implementation of the United Nations development<BR>> > agenda, particularly acting as the preparatory committees for the<BR>> > international conferences and further in their follow-up. While<BR>> > individual functional commissions are, through their multi-year work<BR>> > programmes and priority themes, engaged in follow-up of the conference<BR>> > outcomes, stronger inter-commission coherence would lead to a more<BR>> > coordinated follow-up of the different goals and targets contained in<BR>> > the United Nations development agenda.<BR>> ><BR>> > 22. With that objective in view and to improve their own functioning,<BR>> > the General Assembly requested functional commissions and other relevant<BR>> > bodies of the Economic and Social Council in resolution 57/270 B^1 to<BR>> > review their working methods, strengthen cooperation among themselves,<BR>> > find ways to benefit from the lessons learned from each other, and<BR>> > report to the Council no later than 2005. That work is ongoing and<BR>> > several functional commissions have undertaken the exercise, the outcome<BR>> > of which is expected to lead to a more integrated implementation of the<BR>> > conference outcomes.<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > * 1. Review of working methods of the functional commissions*<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 23. Following the request in resolution 57/270 B, to date most<BR>> > functional commissions have adopted multi-year programmes of work. To<BR>> > ensure continuity, most functional commissions now elect their incoming<BR>> > bureau immediately following the closure of their regular sessions. To<BR>> > strengthen the regional dimension, several commissions held panel events<BR>> > with the United Nations regional commissions as part of their session.<BR>> > The new methods of work have also encouraged an enhanced engagement of<BR>> > civil society and the private sector. A review of the work of the United<BR>> > Nations functional commissions on the implementation of the Millennium<BR>> > Declaration is provided in a separate 2005 consolidated report on the<BR>> > work of the Economic and Social Council functional commissions. Some<BR>> > functional commissions, such as the Commission on the Status of Women,<BR>> > the Statistical Commission, the Commission on Population and Development<BR>> > and the Commission for Social Development will continue to review their<BR>> > working methods at their next regular session. *The Council may wish to<BR>> > invite those functional commissions and other relevant subsidiary bodies<BR>> > that have not done so, to complete the examination of their methods of<BR>> > work, as a matter of urgency, in order to better pursue the<BR>> > implementation of the United Nations development agenda. *<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > * 2. Strengthening cooperation between functional commissions*<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 24. Functional commissions are mostly working independently from one<BR>> > another on the follow-up to specific conferences and summits. That has<BR>> > caused a degree of compartmentalization and overlap as each functional<BR>> > commission tends to look at all thematic areas from within its own<BR>> > perspective. While that may be useful in highlighting several dimensions<BR>> > of an issue, it also leads to a disparate treatment of issues and<BR>> > sometimes does not blend coherently. That needs to be addressed at two<BR>> > levels.<BR>> ><BR>> > 25. At the Secretariat level, exchange of reports and other documents,<BR>> > joint activities and contacts between the various secretariats are the<BR>> > most common tools employed to ensure coherence of the work of the<BR>> > functional commissions. The substantive secretariats of five functional<BR>> > commissions that are located in the Department of Economic and Social<BR>> > Affairs are working together to coordinate their work programmes.<BR>> ><BR>> > 26. At the intergovernmental level, there is a need for greater<BR>> > interaction among the subsidiary bodies. To facilitate cooperation and<BR>> > exchange among the functional commissions and to strengthen coordination<BR>> > between the functional commissions and the Council, a meeting was held<BR>> > among the Chairs of the functional commissions and between the<BR>> > functional commissions and the Bureau of the Council in 2004.<BR>> > Information on the progress in the review of their working methods was<BR>> > shared with a focus on how to further enhance cooperation among<BR>> > functional commissions. Such meetings are also planned for the 2005<BR>> > Economic and Social Council substantive session.^2<BR>> ><BR>> > 27. *The Council should take it upon itself to provide a stronger<BR>> > coordinating function, inter alia, by harmonizing the functional<BR>> > commissions' multi-year programmes of work and their periodic cycles,<BR>> > standardizing reports in a more user-friendly manner, and by promoting<BR>> > integration of the outcomes of the deliberations of the functional<BR>> > commissions.*<BR>> ><BR>> > * 3. Fostering cooperation between the functional commissions and the<BR>> > funds and programmes*<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 28. In its resolution 57/270 B,^3 the General Assembly encouraged<BR>> > functional commissions to find ways to learn from the experience gained<BR>> > and lessons learned by the United Nations funds and programmes in the<BR>> > implementation of the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences<BR>> > and summits. To that end, functional commissions have made efforts,<BR>> > including through discussion panels, with representatives of the funds<BR>> > and programmes which have served to enrich each other's work. *The<BR>> > exchange of experiences and lessons learned between the functional<BR>> > commissions and the funds and programmes should be further enhanced,<BR>> > including through briefings by the United Nations Development Group<BR>> > Office (UNDGO).*<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > * 4. Strengthening cooperation between the Council and its functional<BR>> > commissions*<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 29. For several years, annual meetings between the Bureau of the Council<BR>> > and the bureaux of the functional commissions have taken place. In the<BR>> > 2005 annual meeting discussions centred on the work of the commissions,<BR>> > measures to enhance collaboration among the functional commissions, and<BR>> > a review of their methods of work. The contribution of functional<BR>> > commissions to the work of the Council's substantive session on the<BR>> > themes of the high-level and coordination segments, as well as the<BR>> > possible contributions through the Council to the September Summit, was<BR>> > also discussed in the meeting.<BR>> ><BR>> > 30. Holding joint bureau meetings of the functional commissions and the<BR>> > Council during the regular sessions of the commissions allows for better<BR>> > coordination, timely information, inputs and guidance. It also has the<BR>> > added advantage that senior officials of bureau members participating in<BR>> > the Commission deliberations have an opportunity of interacting with the<BR>> > Bureau of the Council.<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > * C. Cooperation between the Council and the United Nations regional<BR>> > commissions *<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 31. Given the significant regional divergences in progress towards the<BR>> > achievement of the United Nations development agenda, mainstreaming the<BR>> > regional dimension into the overall work of the United Nations assumes<BR>> > added importance. This, however, is predicated upon a stronger two-way<BR>> > relationship with regional organizations. On the one hand, better<BR>> > integration of regional analysis into the global policy deliberations is<BR>> > required. On the other hand, comparative advantages of the regional<BR>> > commissions need to be better utilized in order to enhance coherence of<BR>> > the organizations' activities at the regional level, particularly, those<BR>> > undertaken in support of the United Nations development agenda. In that<BR>> > context, regional commissions have been given specific mandates from the<BR>> > Council for the follow-up of the major global conferences.^4 In<BR>> > response, they have undertaken efforts to link regional implementation<BR>> > measures with global deliberations and to contribute to policy<BR>> > implementation at the regional and country levels. *The Council will<BR>> > need to further strengthen its linkages with the regional commissions,<BR>> > particularly in the context of the peer reviews, which have been<BR>> > proposed by the Secretary-General in his report for the September<BR>> > Summit. The Council may wish to explore new modalities of enhancing its<BR>> > cooperation with the regional commissions, particularly in the<BR>> > preparation of reports on implementation.*<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > * 1. Linking global deliberations with regional implementation <BR>> > initiatives*<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 32. Cooperation between the Council and the regional commissions is a<BR>> > key instrument to ensure that global policy guidance provided by the<BR>> > Council is translated into concrete regional and subregional strategies<BR>> > for the implementation of the United Nations development agenda,<BR>> > including the Millennium Development Goals. It is equally important that<BR>> > global entities, when undertaking development initiatives, fully involve<BR>> > the relevant regional commissions. In the recent past, regional<BR>> > commissions have contributed to, and were involved in the work of the<BR>> > functional commissions, in particular, in the five- and ten-year review<BR>> > process of major international conferences. For example, in the plus-ten<BR>> > follow-up of the Beijing Declaration and Plan of Action and the<BR>> > Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action, several preparatory<BR>> > meetings were held with the regional commissions and their participation<BR>> > in the meetings of the respective functional commissions was facilitated.<BR>> ><BR>> > 33. Several regional commissions have strengthened their role as<BR>> > regional bodies for conference follow-up and implementation. In 2003, in<BR>> > preparation of the 2004 session of the Commission on Sustainable<BR>> > Development, five regional implementation meetings were organized to<BR>> > review and assess obstacles, constraints, challenges and opportunities<BR>> > in the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further<BR>> > Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation,<BR>> > with a particular focus on the thematic cluster of water, sanitation and<BR>> > human settlement. In 2005, regional implementation meetings will be<BR>> > organized in preparation for the 2006 Commission on Sustainable<BR>> > Development review session.<BR>> ><BR>> > 34. An important mechanism for the coherent implementation of and<BR>> > follow-up to the major United Nations conferences are the coordination<BR>> > meetings between the regional commissions and the funds and programmes,<BR>> > as well as the United Nations departments and offices and agencies of<BR>> > the United Nations system engaged in regional and subregional<BR>> > activities. Such coordination meetings called for by the Economic and<BR>> > Social Council in its resolution 1998/46, were launched in 1999 under<BR>> > the chairmanship of the Deputy Secretary-General.<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > * 2. Fostering horizontal interregional cooperation*<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 35. Horizontal interregional cooperation — cooperation between the<BR>> > regional commissions — should be strengthened through knowledge sharing<BR>> > and networking. Recent meetings of chiefs of transport and programme<BR>> > planning, as well as the focal points for information and communication<BR>> > technologies and energy are initiatives which enhance cooperation among<BR>> > the regional commissions. Such meetings should be extended to other<BR>> > substantive areas of work. *Regional commissions should continue their<BR>> > efforts to strengthen cooperation among themselves through knowledge<BR>> > sharing and networking.*<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > * 3. Strengthening linkages between regional commissions and regional<BR>> > bodies/arrangements*<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 36. Major economic and social processes have been taking place at the<BR>> > regional level through regional bodies and arrangements. Examples of<BR>> > such processes are regional economic integration, free trade<BR>> > arrangements, and regional cross-border investments, infrastructural<BR>> > projects like highways, railroads and information technologies. Those<BR>> > initiatives of the regional bodies and arrangements have a great impact<BR>> > on the common welfare of large populations by reducing poverty and<BR>> > unemployment, and are important in the achievement of the development<BR>> > goals. *The United Nations regional commissions should play a greater<BR>> > supportive role in infrastructure, trade, and technology initiatives of<BR>> > regional bodies. *<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > * 4. Enhancing cooperation between regional commissions, funds and<BR>> > programmes and specialized agencies*<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 37. Closer links need to be established between the regional structures<BR>> > of the funds and programmes and the respective regional commissions, so<BR>> > as to fully utilize the United Nations substantive and operational<BR>> > capacity available in each region. The strategic compact between the<BR>> > regional commissions and UNDP (July 2000) was an important initiative<BR>> > which could be built upon further. The participation of regional<BR>> > commissions in the UNDG meetings has served to strengthen policy<BR>> > formulation and coordination. *United Nations regional commissions and<BR>> > the United Nations funds and programmes should develop closer links<BR>> > between themselves in order to enhance coherence in their work at the<BR>> > regional level. *<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > * V. Strengthening the Council's cooperation with the funds and<BR>> > programmes, with specialized agencies and inter-agency bodies, and the<BR>> > international financial and trade institutions*<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 38. A stronger link between the policy guidance role of the Economic and<BR>> > Social Council, its functional commissions and the operational<BR>> > activities arm is essential to ensure that global policy guidance on the<BR>> > integrated and coordinated follow-up to global conferences translates<BR>> > into effective support to regional, subregional and national efforts for<BR>> > their implementation. Similarly, regional and country-level experiences<BR>> > need to permeate further into global thinking and analysis.<BR>> ><BR>> > 39. That requires stronger linkages and greater coherence between global<BR>> > policy guidance and the policies and programmes endorsed by the<BR>> > Executive Boards of the United Nations funds and programmes, the<BR>> > governing bodies of the specialized agencies, the regional as well as<BR>> > the functional commissions, and the bureaux of the international finance<BR>> > and trade institutions.<BR>> ><BR>> > 40. As reviewed in previous sections of the report, several efforts are<BR>> > under way to promote cooperation of funds and programmes with functional<BR>> > commissions and to revitalize cooperation with the regional commissions.<BR>> > Initiatives have also been undertaken to facilitate greater cooperation<BR>> > among the governing bodies of the funds and programmes, such as the<BR>> > joint meetings of the Executive Boards of UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA, and WFP,<BR>> > while the annual high-level meeting between the Economic and Social<BR>> > Council, the Bretton Woods institutions, WTO and UNCTAD have facilitated<BR>> > dialogue among those organizations.<BR>> ><BR>> > 41. While these important initiatives are works-in-progress, they need<BR>> > to coalesce into an integrated and cohesive approach through a United<BR>> > Nations system-wide framework. That has important implications for the<BR>> > Council's ability to promote a more integrated and coordinated follow-up<BR>> > to global conferences within the system in a way that enables it to<BR>> > translate such an approach into system-wide strategies and programmes.<BR>> ><BR>> > 42. Closer links need to be built between the Council and the governing<BR>> > bodies of the United Nations system organizations. Meetings between the<BR>> > bureaux of the functional commissions and the Bureau of the Council and<BR>> > the participation of the chairpersons of the functional commissions in<BR>> > the Council's sessions have helped to improve the dialogue between the<BR>> > Council and the functional commissions. *Commissions and their<BR>> > secretariats should clearly identify the operational implications of<BR>> > their work and bring them to the attention of the governing bodies of<BR>> > the funds and programmes for their consideration and guidance on<BR>> > operational activities to strengthen the link between policy guidance<BR>> > and operational activities. *<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > * VI. Complying with the specific mandates of the Council*<BR>> ><BR>> > *A. International Conference on Financing for Development*<BR>> ><BR>> > 43. The Monterrey Consensus established a follow-up process to the<BR>> > Conference in both the General Assembly and the Economic and Social<BR>> > Council.<BR>> ><BR>> > 44. In the General Assembly, resolution 59/225 on "Follow-up to and<BR>> > implementation of the outcome of the International Conference on<BR>> > Financing for Development" was adopted on 22 December 2004. The General<BR>> > Assembly also decided in resolution 59/145 of 17 December 2004 to hold a<BR>> > High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development on 27 and 28 June 2005,<BR>> > in New York, immediately prior to the Economic and Social Council 2005<BR>> > High-level Segment, in order for its recommendations to be considered in<BR>> > the preparatory process of General Assembly High-level Plenary Meeting<BR>> > and within its framework, to hold a separate meeting on financing for<BR>> > development.<BR>> ><BR>> > 45. The 2005 special high-level meeting of the Council with the Bretton<BR>> > Woods institutions, the WTO and (since 2004) UNCTAD, focused on the<BR>> > theme of "Achieving the internationally agreed development goals,<BR>> > including those contained in the Millennium Declaration" in the context<BR>> > of the overall focus of the meeting on "Coherence, coordination and<BR>> > cooperation in the context of the implementation of the Monterrey<BR>> > Consensus". Six round tables addressing three issues: (a) policies and<BR>> > strategies; (b) trade, investment, and private flows; and (c) ODA,<BR>> > innovative sources of financing and debt were held. The unprecedented<BR>> > participation by the Executive Directors of the Boards of the Bretton<BR>> > Woods institutions and a significant number of Finance and other<BR>> > Ministers, Central Bank Governors, as well as the President of the Trade<BR>> > and Development Board was testimony to the fact that that meeting is<BR>> > considered an important platform for enhancing coherence within the<BR>> > system, not only in the follow-up to Monterrey, but also in the pursuit<BR>> > of the broader development agenda. Participants concurred with regard to<BR>> > the urgency to build momentum towards the September Summit and<BR>> > accelerate progress in implementation of the development goals.<BR>> > Advancing the implementation of the Monterrey Consensus was seen as a<BR>> > critical element to that end. In addition, participants highlighted the<BR>> > growing interest in pursuing several of the initiatives regarding<BR>> > innovative sources of finance.<BR>> ><BR>> > *B. The Almaty Programme of Action: addressing the special needs of<BR>> > landlocked developing countries within a new global framework for<BR>> > transit, transport cooperation*<BR>> ><BR>> > 46. An "Inter-agency meeting on the implementation of the Almaty<BR>> > Programme of Action", held in New York on 4 February 2004, endorsed a<BR>> > road map for its implementation. In its resolution 59/245 of 22 December<BR>> > 2004, on specific actions related to the particular needs and problems<BR>> > of landlocked developing countries, the General Assembly invited the<BR>> > 2005 High-level General Assembly Plenary Meeting to address the special<BR>> > needs of landlocked developing countries.<BR>> ><BR>> > 47. Representatives of the international, regional and subregional<BR>> > organizations met in Almaty, Kazakhstan, from 29 to 31 March 2005, for<BR>> > the high-level meeting on the "Role of International, Regional and<BR>> > Subregional Organizations for the Implementation of the Almaty Programme<BR>> > of Action". In a communiqué representatives stressed the importance of<BR>> > taking concrete steps in accordance with the road map for the<BR>> > implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action and requested the<BR>> > United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed<BR>> > Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing<BR>> > States to continue its consultations on the best possible ways to<BR>> > facilitate coordination efforts and to continue to organize meetings on<BR>> > an annual basis.<BR>> ><BR>> > *C. Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries*<BR>> ><BR>> > 48. In 2004, the Council's substantive session addressed themes related<BR>> > to least developed countries issues as part of the Council's efforts to<BR>> > pursue a coherent and comprehensive approach to the review of the<BR>> > implementation of the Programme of Action. Preparatory activities<BR>> > including a series of multi-stakeholder round tables on resources<BR>> > mobilization and enabling environment for poverty eradication were held<BR>> > in February and March 2004 to examine the theme of the high-level<BR>> > segment in the context of the Brussels Programme of Action as a means of<BR>> > achieving the Millennium Development Goals in the least developed<BR>> > countries.<BR>> ><BR>> > 49. In the high-level segment, the Council adopted a Ministerial<BR>> > Declaration on the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the<BR>> > Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010 recognizing the weak<BR>> > implementation of the Programme of Action and underlining the need to<BR>> > address that issue. To that end, the Declaration urged each least<BR>> > developed country, with the support of its development partners, to<BR>> > continue the implementation of the actions contained in the Programme of<BR>> > Action by translating them into specific measures, within its national<BR>> > development framework and poverty eradication strategy.<BR>> ><BR>> > 50. The coordination segment reviewed the efforts of the United Nations<BR>> > system to promote an integrated approach to rural development with a<BR>> > special focus on the least developed countries. In its resolution<BR>> > 2004/48, the Council called for enhanced coordination and cooperation<BR>> > among the agencies of the United Nations system in support of national<BR>> > development strategies as well as in enhancing their cooperation with<BR>> > the World Bank and the regional development banks. The United Nations<BR>> > system was called upon to further assist developing countries in their<BR>> > efforts to enhance access by the poor to productive assets, to support<BR>> > capacity-building measures as well as regional and subregional<BR>> > initiatives and to promote South-South cooperation.<BR>> ><BR>> > 51. The Second Committee reviewed the implementation and invited the<BR>> > 2005 September Summit to address the special needs of the least<BR>> > developed countries, while reviewing the progress made in the<BR>> > achievement of internationally agreed development goals, including those<BR>> > contained in the Millennium Declaration. It also decided to hold a<BR>> > comprehensive review of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed<BR>> > Countries in 2006, during the sixty-first session of the General<BR>> > Assembly, in accordance with paragraph 114 of the Programme of Action.<BR>> > The Committee also reiterated its concern over the weak implementation<BR>> > of the Programme of Action.<BR>> ><BR>> > 52. At the special high-level meeting held in April 2005 with the<BR>> > Bretton Woods institutions, the WTO, and UNCTAD, the Council also<BR>> > addressed issues related to least developed countries/low-income<BR>> > countries and promoted linkage between the Programme of Action and the<BR>> > International Conference on Financing for Development.<BR>> ><BR>> > *VII. Enhancing the Council's cooperation with and the role of civil<BR>> > society and the private sector for development*<BR>> ><BR>> > 53. The Summits and Conferences recognized the role of civil society and<BR>> > the private sector in achieving the development goals and targets set<BR>> > out in them. The Millennium Declaration (General Assembly resolution<BR>> > 55/2) also recognized their role and it commits Governments "to develop<BR>> > strong partnerships with the private sector and with civil society<BR>> > organizations in pursuit of development and poverty eradication". In<BR>> > recent years, the Economic and Social Council and its functional<BR>> > commissions have significantly intensified the involvement of civil<BR>> > society, including non-governmental organizations, foundations,<BR>> > parliamentarians and local authorities, and the private sector. Perhaps<BR>> > the most innovative and successful of the Council's multi-stakeholder<BR>> > initiatives is the Information and Communication Technology Task Force.<BR>> > Non-governmental organizations and members of the business community<BR>> > also participate actively in the annual special high-level meetings with<BR>> > the Bretton Woods institutions, WTO and UNCTAD. Prior to these meetings,<BR>> > public hearings are organized to enable Member States and other<BR>> > stakeholders to interact with civil society and the private sector on<BR>> > the key issues. These initiatives have enriched the proceedings of the<BR>> > Council and its subsidiary bodies.<BR>> ><BR>> > 54. At the national and regional levels, civil society organizations are<BR>> > increasingly participating in the development process, including through<BR>> > programmes and initiatives for the eradication of poverty. Worldwide,<BR>> > non-governmental organizations have also been at the forefront of<BR>> > delivery of humanitarian assistance.<BR>> ><BR>> > 55. A dynamic private sector is essential for the successful<BR>> > implementation and follow-up of the goals and targets set out in the<BR>> > conferences and summits. Public-private partnerships established to deal<BR>> > with the challenges of development have systematically grown. Private<BR>> > sector companies are today active partners in many parts of the<BR>> > developing world in every aspect of development. The United Nations is<BR>> > actively involved in promoting the role of the private sector. Under the<BR>> > aegis of the United Nations Global Compact the Global Compact Leaders<BR>> > Summit was convened at United Nations Headquarters in New York on 24<BR>> > June 2004 in which 500 chief executive officers, government officials<BR>> > and heads of labour and civil society on the topic of global corporate<BR>> > citizenship gathered for the first meeting of its kind. The meeting<BR>> > adopted anti-corruption as an additional principle of the 10<BR>> > internationally agreed principles of the compact.<BR>> ><BR>> > / Notes/<BR>> ><BR>> > ^1 In its resolution 57/270 B of 23 June 2003, the General Assembly<BR>> > requested each functional commission to examine its methods of work in<BR>> > order to better pursue the implementation of the outcomes of the major<BR>> > United Nations conferences and summits, recognizing that there is no<BR>> > need for a uniform approach since each functional commission has its own<BR>> > specificity, while also noting that modern methods of work can better<BR>> > guarantee the review of progress made in implementation at all levels,<BR>> > bearing in mind the progress recently achieved in this regard by certain<BR>> > commissions, especially the Commission on Sustainable Development. The<BR>> > Assembly requested the functional commissions and other relevant bodies<BR>> > of the Economic and Social Council to report to the Council no later<BR>> > than 2005 on the outcome of the examination.<BR>> ><BR>> > ^2 A meeting between the chairs of the functional commissions is<BR>> > scheduled to be held on 1 July 2005 and a meeting of the chairs of the<BR>> > functional commissions with the Bureau of the Economic and Social<BR>> > Council is planned for 7 July 2005.<BR>> ><BR>> > ^3 In paragraph 48 of resolution 57/270 B, the General Assembly invited<BR>> > functional commissions to consider, in their deliberations, the<BR>> > experience gained and lessons learned by the United Nations funds and<BR>> > programmes in the implementation of the outcomes of the major United<BR>> > Nations conferences and summits.<BR>> ><BR>> > ^4 In its resolution 1998/46, the Council invited regional commissions<BR>> > to further strengthen their active participation in implementation at<BR>> > the regional level of the results of the major United Nations<BR>> > conferences and summits. In resolution 57/270 B the General Assembly<BR>> > invited regional commissions, in collaboration with other regional and<BR>> > subregional organizations and processes, to contribute, within their<BR>> > existing mandates, to the review of progress in the implementation of<BR>> > and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences<BR>> > and summits and to provide input to the discussions of the Council on<BR>> > the cross-sectoral thematic issues to be discussed at the Council's<BR>> > substantive session.<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > Well, good reading ! food for thought and analysis.<BR>> ><BR>> > Now, the basic question to be examined first is<BR>> > if the WSIS can be considered as relevant exclusively to<BR>> > economic and social matters. Of course there are economical and social<BR>> > issues, but<BR>> > there are other issues as well such as new technology, free software,<BR>> > e-science, internet gouvernance ,<BR>> > human rights, etc that can hardly be considered as related to "economic<BR>> > and social matters"<BR>> ><BR>> > It can be argued therefore that the working group report following the *<BR>> > 57/270 B resolution*<BR>> > does not apply.to <HTTP: apply.to>the WSIS, and one should notice <BR>> > the EU statement does<BR>> > not say "it must"<BR>> > but 'it should" , and furthemore a strong arguement towards my analysis<BR>> > is the fact<BR>> > that the organization of the WSIS has been given to the ITU, a technical<BR>> > specialized agency,<BR>> > and not an agency like UNDP.<BR>> ><BR>> > However, we must be carefull to take advantage some of the very good<BR>> > points ot the<BR>> > *57/270 B w*orking group report which is not so bad in some respects.<BR>> > This is going to be a subbtle excercise.<BR>> ><BR>> > The WSIS is not bound to the * 57/270 B resolution and therefore<BR>> > is entitled to develop its original multi-stakeholder approach,<BR>> > *first by setting multi-stakeholder working groups and coordination<BR>> > as proposed by the SI and PCT groups<BR>> > and included in the August 12 compilation.<BR>> > ( I noticed also the proposition of a "CS WG on implementation and<BR>> > follow up" )<BR>> > and then as an outcome of the WSIS in Tunis<BR>> > ask the UN secretary general to setup a new specialized agency<BR>> > (UNMSP) to be able to create UN endorsed multi-stakeholder partnerships<BR>> > that would allow to offer an inclusive and legal framework for MSPs,<BR>> > in order to avoid the excesses of ill-defined and non-liable<BR>> > partnerships such as the infamous Microsoft-UNESCO partenership<BR>> > http://www.wsis-pct.org/unesco-microsoft.html<BR>> > Since the MSPs phenomemon seem as unstoppable as the tide,<BR>> > the Civil Society has rather to find a way to control this<BR>> > phenomenon and to be part of it.<BR>> ><BR>> > See the UNSMP site http://www.unmsp.org, a joint proposal by Adama<BR>> > Samessékou and me,<BR>> > hopefully to be discussed soon in details in the<BR>> > recently ressurected WSIS-MSP CSB family<BR>> > http://www.wsis-msp.org , a very good initiative<BR>> > by Tatiana Ershova and Claudia Padovani.<BR>> ><BR>> > UN endorsed MSPs can also provide a sound legal<BR>> > framework for internet governance bodies.<BR>> ><BR>> > It worth to mention the recommendation of the<BR>> > UNESCO Saint-Peterburg meeting ( put online on August 09 )<BR>> > http://www.unmsp.org/unesco-russia05-recomm.html<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > 2. Information / Knowledge Society Research<BR>> ><BR>> > We recommend UNESCO, with the possible help of other UN specialised<BR>> > agencies, to create a number of inclusive, transparent,<BR>> > multi-stakeholder and multi-disciplinary international research /<BR>> > working groups with the following missions:<BR>> ><BR>> > * to reflect more deeply upon the 'Information Society' and the<BR>> > 'Knowledge Society' (from the basic concepts to specific models<BR>> > with regard to national or local features) and upon potential<BR>> > social consequences of the Knowledge Society;<BR>> > * to study the new phenomenon of the Information / Knowledge<BR>> > Society' Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships (MSPs); to develop the<BR>> > basic principles of effective, equitable, transparent and<BR>> > inclusive MSPs; to prepare a set of guidelines to be endorsed by<BR>> > the United Nations Organisation concerning the ethical standards<BR>> > of MSPs as well as decision-making and decision-implementing<BR>> > mechanisms for MSPs;<BR>> > * to study and to propose new international public law mechanisms<BR>> > and structures that would allow for the institutionalisation and<BR>> > recognition of MSPs accountable, among other places, to the United<BR>> > Nations Organisation;<BR>> ><BR>> > .... to develop a model regulatory framework for R&D in Knowledge<BR>> > Societies;<BR>> ><BR>> > * to support a post-WSIS evaluation process through an independent<BR>> > international body to monitor policy development in compliance<BR>> > with the criteria established by the civil society and the<BR>> > research community and fund people-centered research;<BR>> > * to study experience and practice of the Free Software and Open<BR>> > Source development paradigms as a possible model for various<BR>> > processes of Information / Knowledge Society development; and<BR>> > * to explore and propose new Open Access strategies as the ICTs are<BR>> > evolving (by a permanent multi-stakeholder research bureau).<BR>> ><BR>> > Tatiana Ershova and Adama Samassékou must be thanked for their most<BR>> > remarkable contributions<BR>> > to the Saint-Peterbourg meeting.<BR>> ><BR>> > I did not have yet to write a report of the UNESCO Saint-Peterbourg<BR>> > meeting after the<BR>> > final document was put online.<BR>> ><BR>> > My greatest worry is that the PC3 schedule seems to be entirely devoted<BR>> > to internet governance,<BR>> > so when are you going to discuss the most important issues of "follow up<BR>> > and implementation' ?<BR>> ><BR>> > Only at the GFC ?... in a small committee... this seems quite<BR>> > unacceptable...<BR>> > It seems and the Civil Society must demand that the "follow up and<BR>> > implementation'<BR>> > be discussed openly and inclusively in another PC, a PC3A ?<BR>> ><BR>> > Best regards<BR>> ><BR>> > Francis<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> >><BR>> >><BR>> >> regards,<BR>> >><BR>> >><BR>> >> Robert<BR>> >><BR>> >><BR>> >> --<BR>> >><BR>> >> Robert Guerra <RGUERRA@PRIVATERRA.ORG <BR>> > <mailto:rguerra@privaterra.org><mailto:rguerra@privaterra.org <BR>> > <mailto:rguerra@privaterra.org>>><BR>> >><BR>> >> Managing Director, Privaterra <HTTP: www.privaterra.org><BR>> >><BR>> >><BR>> >><BR>> >><BR>> >><BR>> >> On 28-Aug-05, at 9:58 AM, Parminder wrote:<BR>> >><BR>> >>> Dear Bill, Jean-Loius, Bertrand, Robert and others,<BR>> >>><BR>> >>> Thanks for your valuable comments.<BR>> >>><BR>> >>> Do you think the CS can agree on a short statement that can be<BR>> >>> submitted to the GFC before the deadline of 31st, and then also be<BR>> >>> taken up by CS representatives that attend the 6th September meeting.<BR>> >>><BR>> >>><BR>> >><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > --<BR>> ><BR>> > ------------------------------------------------------<BR>> > Francis F. MUGUET Ph.D<BR>> ><BR>> > MDPI Foundation Open Access Journals<BR>> > Associate Publisher<BR>> > http://www.mdpi.org http://www.mdpi.net<BR>> > muguet@mdpi.org <mailto:muguet@mdpi.org>muguet@mdpi.net <BR>> > <mailto:muguet@mdpi.net><BR>> ><BR>> > ENSTA Paris, France<BR>> > KNIS lab. Director<BR>> > "Knowledge Networks & Information Society" (KNIS)<BR>> > muguet@ensta.fr <mailto:muguet@ensta.fr>http://www.ensta.fr/~muguet <BR>> > <HTTP: %7Emuguet www.ensta.fr><BR>> ><BR>> > World Summit On the Information Society (WSIS)<BR>> > Civil Society Working Groups<BR>> > Scientific Information : http://www.wsis-si.org chair<BR>> > Patents & Copyrights : http://www.wsis-pct.org co-chair<BR>> > Financing Mechanismns : http://www.wsis-finance.org web<BR>> ><BR>> > UNMSP project : http://www.unmsp.org<BR>> > WTIS initiative: http://www.wtis.org<BR>> > ------------------------------------------------------<BR>> ><BR>> > _______________________________________________<BR>> > Plenary mailing list<BR>> > Plenary@wsis-cs.org <mailto:Plenary@wsis-cs.org><BR>> > http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/plenary<BR>> ><BR>> <BR>> <BR>> -- <BR>> <BR>> ------------------------------------------------------ <BR>> Francis F. MUGUET Ph.D <BR>> <BR>> MDPI Foundation Open Access Journals<BR>> Associate Publisher<BR>> http://www.mdpi.org http://www.mdpi.net<BR>> muguet@mdpi.org muguet@mdpi.net<BR>> <BR>> ENSTA Paris, France<BR>> KNIS lab. Director <BR>> "Knowledge Networks & Information Society" (KNIS)<BR>> muguet@ensta.fr http://www.ensta.fr/~muguet<BR>> <BR>> World Summit On the Information Society (WSIS)<BR>> Civil Society Working Groups<BR>> Scientific Information : http://www.wsis-si.org chair<BR>> Patents & Copyrights : http://www.wsis-pct.org co-chair<BR>> Financing Mechanismns : http://www.wsis-finance.org web<BR>> <BR>> UNMSP project : http://www.unmsp.org<BR>> WTIS initiative: http://www.wtis.org<BR>> ------------------------------------------------------ <BR>> <BR>> _______________________________________________<BR>> Plenary mailing list<BR>> Plenary@wsis-cs.org<BR>> http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/plenary<BR>> <BR>> </BLOCKQUOTE></mailto:Plenary@wsis-cs.org></mailto:muguet@ensta.fr></mailto:muguet@mdpi.net></mailto:muguet@mdpi.org></mailto:rguerra@privaterra.org></mailto:rguerra@privaterra.org></mailto:rguerra@privaterra.org></JavaScript:ViewDoc(0)></JavaScript:ViewDoc(59)></mailto:muguet@mdpi.org>