June 22, 2004 | UN News
Centre
GN3 Editorial Comment:
In conscious threefolding processes, the three
global forces of civil society, government and
business are open to coming together for a
principled dialogue and/or engagement in order to
create a different kind of globalization. Of course
the possibility is also there for cooptation which
must be guarded against. In the article below, a
blue-ribbon UN panel has recommended greater
involvement of civil society and business in UN
deliberations. The panel explicitly recognizes civil
society's contribution of 'innovative initiatives to
deal with emerging global trends.' One can only hope
that any new openings would improve on the
problematic aspects of the UN's Global Compact.
Geneva – As the world's
problems grow ever-more complex, the United Nations
should stop limiting its decision-making processes
exclusively to governments and instead open its
deliberations to greater involvement by civil society
groups and the private sector, a blue-ribbon panel
recommends in a new report released today.
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.
"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."
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.
While this relationship has
strengthened greatly and multiplied over the years,
"difficulties and tensions have arisen, particularly
in the deliberative process," the report notes.
"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."
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.
"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.
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.
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 of Mozambique and Aminata Traoré of Mali.
Source:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=11104&Cr=civil&Cr1=society |