The Second Committee of the United Nations General Assembly met
from 24 September through 11 December 2002. Chaired by Marco Suazo
(Honduras), the Committee met on 24 September to approve its programme
of work (A/C.2/57/L.1/Rev.1) and elected the following officers:
Abdellah Benmellouk (Morocco) and Bruno van der Pluijm (Belgium) as
Vice-Chairs, and Walid Al-Hadid (Jordan) as Rapporteur. The election
of the remaining Vice-Chair was postponed until a later date and Jan
Kára (Czech Republic) was elected at that time.
During this session, the committee's work focused on: macroeconomic
policy questions (item 84); sectoral policy questions (item 85);
sustainable development and international economic cooperation (item
86); environment and sustainable development (item 87) operational
activities for development (item 88); and implementation of the first
United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006) (item
89). Other topics included: training and research (item 90); permanent
sovereignty of the Palestinian people (item 91); integrated and
coordinated implementation and follow-up to the outcomes of the major
UN conferences and summits in the economic and social fields (item
92); financing for development (item 93); globalization and
interdependence (item 94); implementation of the outcome of the UN
Conference of Human Settlements and the twenty-fifth session of the UN
General Assembly (item 95) and the third UN Conference on the Least
Developed Countries (item 96).
This report will focus on the disposition of Agenda Items 87, 92
and 93. For information on other issues considered by the Second
Committee, see the report of the Second Committee (documents
A/57/529- A/57/542). The resolutions were expected to be adopted
by the General Assembly Plenary on Friday, 20 December 2002. Final
resolution numbers were not yet available.
I. GENERAL DEBATE
The General Debate of the Second Committee of the 57th session of
the General Assembly occurred 30 September – 2 October 2002.
The Chair's summary of the debate indicated that during the general
debate, a total of 81 speakers took the floor. The backdrop of the
Committee's work was the uncertainties in the world economy and
growing political tensions. Nitin Desai, Under-Secretary-General for
Economic and Social Affairs, made an introductory statement framing
the concept of "new multilateralism", which had been ushered in by the
UN global conferences of the 1990s, especially the most recent ones.
He laid down challenges for the Committee, which were the
implementation and integrated follow-up of conferences and the related
monitoring, review and operational activities. He said that despite
the broad consensus achieved in many areas, there were still priority
issues where further policy discussion was needed, including
globalization, science and technology, and migration.
Dr. Joseph Stieglitz delivered a keynote address on lessons learned
during the past year. He reaffirmed his conviction that globalization
could be a positive force if managed well. He stressed the need for
greater democracy in decision-making on global economic and financial
matters and a balanced role of government in the economy and the
importance of responding to the needs of economies in crisis.
Improving transparency in financial markets and eliminating corruption
were essential in managing risks and volatility associated with
globalization. He stressed the role of the United Nations, as
evidenced in Monterrey and the other global Conferences, to bring in
all key stakeholders around the table on international economic
policy-making processes.
The Chair's summary then was divided into five parts.
1. State of the world economy/globalization: Natural
disasters have taken their toll on development. The crisis in Latin
America has put democratic governance at stake and increased
short-term assistance requirements for social needs, as a result of
inadequate or inexistent social protection. Despite developing
countries' efforts, huge challenges posed by economic imbalances
remained, particularly for small-island, land-locked countries and
economies in transition. Faster development is the surest way to
greater global prosperity and poverty eradication, which in turn were
essential for international peace and security.
Concrete progress in the Doha round of trade negotiations is
essential. Accession of developing countries and countries with
economies in transition to the World Trade Organization (WTO) has to
be facilitated. Calls were made for a fully inclusive and equitable
globalization process. The social costs of globalization require new
rules for development cooperation, which place human development and
capacity building at the center. The United Nations should encourage
broader participation at all levels, including in regional and
multilateral economic entities. New partnerships, not only among
Governments, but also with all other stakeholders, are also essential.
2. World Summit on Sustainable Development: The unanimous
view is that, having agreed on mandates and agendas, we now need to
move to the implementation phase of the Johannesburg Summit and that
its implementation would be the test of its success. The effective
implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of action
require an early elaboration of the programme of work of the
Commission for Sustainable Development that will continue to address
the issue of the means of implementation.
The Chair highlighted the need to finalize the World Solidarity
Fund's modalities at the current General Assembly. Action is needed to
implement the commitment to negotiate, within the framework of the
Convention on Biological Diversity, an international regime to promote
the equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of
genetic resources.
The decision to use the GEF as a funding mechanism for the
Convention to Combat Desertification was welcomed and should be
implemented swiftly. The agreement on a comprehensive review in 2004
of the Barbados Programme of Action was welcomed and the UN and DESA
were called to assist in the endeavor.
3. International Conference on Financing for Development:
Monterrey has heralded a holistic discussion of development and
poverty eradication as a central element on the global agenda and a
strengthened relationship between the United Nations and the Bretton
Woods Institutions (BWIs) and the WTO. It is important that the
additional resources pledged at Monterrey be made available at the
earliest.
The General Assembly should now finalize arrangements for the
High-level Dialogue to effectively focus on the Conference
implementation. The substantive follow-up mechanisms of the Conference
should be commensurate with the long-term development requirements of
developing countries. This year's annual spring dialogue between
ECOSOC, the BWIs and the WTO put forward a number of concrete
proposals as to the mechanisms for implementation of the outcome of
Monterrey.
4. Integrated follow-up of conferences/reform in the
economic-social area: Integrated and coordinated follow-up to UN
conferences is a key challenge to ensure coherence and complementarity
at all levels. The Millennium Declaration constitutes the overarching
policy and implementation framework for the economic and social work
of the UN; the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and other
internationally agreed goals provided concrete, measurable targets.
Partnership with all stakeholders, including civil society and
regional actors, is essential.
The Second Committee is a vital part of the current process of
forging a new partnership for sustainable development and the
challenge was how to assert its relevance in the process. Consensus at
recent major Conferences stressed that financial, trade and
development cooperation issues should not be considered in isolation.
A holistic approach should be urgently adopted.
The Second Committee should reflect upon and propose practical ways
of achieving the conference goals and outcomes. The focus should be on
achieving policy coherence, including by strengthening coordination
with BWIs and the WTO and the private sector, and supporting
implementation efforts at country level on the basis of nationally
owned development frameworks. The role of ECOSOC, including through
the spring dialogue with the BWIs and the WTO, is essential in
promoting an integrated and coordinated follow-up and in enhancing
policy coherence and coordination among its subsidiary bodies and the
UN system organizations.
To that end, UN funds and programmes should create adequate
mechanisms and guidelines for the timely implementation of agreed
commitments. Provision of sufficient and stable financial resources
for operational activities for development was a precondition for
these activities to effectively support Monterrey and Johannesburg
commitments. The results of the work of ECOSOC on socioeconomic issues
in post-conflict situations should be considered in the Second
Committee. Follow-up conferences should be held on their substantive
merits on a case-by-case basis and there should be no automaticity.
There could be a review and rethinking of the Committee's agenda
and methods of work to enhance impact and efficiency. The Committee
should try to pursue more holistic approaches to its own work and to
consolidate agenda items, without affecting any member State's ability
to bring issues before the United Nations.
5. New Economic Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and
countries in special situations: Strong support for NEPAD was
reiterated as a comprehensive integrated policy for African efforts to
achieve the MDGs. NEPAD reflects ownership by African countries and
partnership of the international community with them. It also provides
an example of how cooperation can be harnessed to pursue development
and address regional challenges.
Capacity building, development assistance, debt relief, market
access and other measures are imperative for the successful
implementation of NEPAD. The international community should further
strengthen its support. It was hoped that this General Assembly
session would recommit to the development of Africa and lay the ground
for a mechanism to follow-up on NEPAD implementation. TICAD III will
be held in October 2003, hosted by Japan.
Full implementation of the programme of action for Least Developed
Countries (LDCs) adopted at the Brussels Third UN Conference on LDCs
was called for. It was suggested to establish links between the
implementation of the programme of action and that of NEPAD, so as to
build on synergies and support south-south cooperation. Support should
also be extended to landlocked developing countries. The ministerial
meeting in 2003 on transit transport will be an important opportunity
to address the needs of these countries. The appointment of a High
Representative for LDCs, Land Locked Developing Countries and SIDS was
welcomed.
II. AGENDA ITEM 87: ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
The Second Committee held a substantive debate on this agenda item
on 21-22 October and 13-15 November 2002. Sub-items included:
(a) Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Programme for the Further
Implementation of Agenda 21
(b) International Strategy for Disaster Reduction
(c) Protection of global climate for present and future generations
of mankind
(d) Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat
Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or
Desertification, particularly in Africa
(e) Convention on Biological Diversity
(f) Further implementation of the Programme of Action for the
Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States.
Venezuela, on behalf of the G-77 and China, stated that the G-77
and China recognize the advances reflected in the different reports
presented on sub-items (b), (d) and (f), as they underline, on the one
hand the efforts by developing countries to fulfill the commitments
made in the Conventions on Desertification and Biodiversity, as well
as the implementation of the International Strategy for the Reduction
of Natural Disasters and the Plan of Action for Small Island
Developing Countries and on the other, reveal the need to meet
commitments on official development assistance. What has been lacking
is the due international cooperation, the transfer of technology and
the needed financial resources to facilitate the implementation of
these commitments.
Developing countries, due to diverse circumstances, are more
vulnerable to natural disasters and to risks. The G-77 and China
mentioned, by way of example of the magnitude of this problem, the El
Niño phenomenon, as it is one of global reach with an impact on
populations, as well as on the natural system. Other problems
affecting developing countries are desertification and drought and the
link to poverty, food security, migrations, political instability and
conflict, making these serious obstacles to the efforts of developing
countries to reach sustainable development.
Regarding the implementation of the Action Plan for the Sustainable
Development of Small Island Developing States, the G-77 and China
reiterated their call to support the Plan through sufficient financial
resources, the transfer of ecologically safe technologies and capacity
building.
87(a) Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Programme for the
further implementation of Agenda 21
Denmark, on behalf of the EU, addressed Agenda Item 87(a),
Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Programme for the further
implementation of Agenda 21. She stated that the General Assembly
should confirm that sustainable development is a key element of the
overarching framework for UN activities. Reporting on progress on
sustainable development should be included in the current high-level
dialogue on strengthening international cooperation for development,
held every two years.
There is a need to increase the role of ECOSOC in overseeing
system-wide coordination and the balanced integration of economic,
social and environmental aspects of UN policies and programmes, aimed
at promoting sustainable development. In this context, ECOSOC should
explore ways, as already set out in the Monterrey Consensus, to
improve coherence, coordination and cooperation with the BWIs an the
WTO through ECOSOC's spring meetings with these institutions.
The General Assembly should request the Secretary-General to
prepare a report on the implementation of the Johannesburg agreement
on UN governance structures.
The Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) must be
strengthened and she said we need to ensure the establishment of a
credible and flexible follow-up mechanism on partnerships by the CSD.
The EU agreed to seek a strengthening of the role of the UN economic
commissions and other relevant regional bodies in furthering
sustainable development.
Mexico, on behalf of the Group of Like-Minded Megadiverse Countries
(Bolivia, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, India,
Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, South
Africa and Venezuela), welcomed the commitment, included in the
Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, to reduce significantly by 2010
the current loss of biological diversity, which will require the
provision of new and additional financial and technical resources to
developing countries. One of the main objectives of the Group is to
seek the creation of an international regime to promote effectively
and safeguard the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from
the use of biodiversity and its components.
In this regard, he also welcomed the commitment, included in
paragraph 42(o) of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, to
negotiate within the framework of the Convention on Biological
Diversity an international regime on the sharing of benefits arising
out of the utilization of genetic resources.
The United States stated that the expenses of conference services
for treaty bodies such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC) should be met by the respective parties to those
treaties.
87(b) International Strategy for Disaster Reduction
Brazil said that the WSSD acknowledged the essential need to
promote an integrated, multi-hazard, inclusive approach to address
vulnerability, risk assessment and disaster management, including
prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery and agreed
in a series of actions to be taken in this regard.
Indonesia underlined the critical role of effective regional,
subregional and national strategies designed to prevent, reduce and
mitigate the social and economic impact of natural disasters. He
stressed the critical role of provision of predictable and stable
financial resources together with other innovative ways of financing,
as agreed in the various UN conferences and summits, particularly
those of the Millennium Declaration, Monterrey and Johannesburg.
South Africa stated that with regard to traditional knowledge, that
the WSSD agreed on the need to protect the rights of local
communities. The protection of traditional knowledge and the rights of
local communities is an ethical imperative that should be supported by
all countries.
Salvano Briceno, Director, Inter-Agency Secretariat of the
International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR), said that the
ISDR was developing a number of agreements with regional and
sub-regional institutions. The Inter-Agency Task Force on Disaster
Reduction recently met to focus on the follow-up to the WSSD and
planning the review of the 1994 Yokohama Strategy and Plan of Action,
to be carried out in 2003 and 2004.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said that the WMO
maintains an active involvement in efforts and measures to undertake
studies and issue regular updates on the El Nino phenomenon. WMO was
instrumental in establishing an International Centre for the Study of
the El Niño phenomenon in Guayaquil, Ecuador. As a cross-cutting
issue, biodiversity transcends all UN work. WMO therefore welcomes the
establishment of advisory bodies and mechanisms, like the Ad Hoc
Open-ended Working Group on Access to Generate Resources and
Benefit-sharing, which aim at accelerating the implementation process
for the Biodiversity Convention.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent
Societies (IFRC) said that, as was emphasized in Johannesburg, the
challenges of disaster management are so large and complex that the
key to delivering effective and appropriate assistance and support to
the most vulnerable is partnership. The IFRC is anxious to bring as
many partners to the risk reduction table as possible, and during WSSD
signed a cooperation agreement with the telecommunications firm
Ericsson with this in mind. He said that the Johannesburg Plan of
Implementation contains a substantial section dealing with the
specific issues faced by SIDS. He noted, in particular, the emphasis
on local communities and the need for comprehensive hazard and risk
management, disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness; the
dangers associated with climate change, the need to promote equitable
access to health care and to fight communicable and non-communicable
diseases, in particular HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, diabetes, malaria and
dengue fever.
87(f) Further implementation of the Programme of Action for the
Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States
Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least
Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island
Developing States, Anwarul K. Chowdhury, stated that SIDS face
formidable challenges regarding trade liberalization and
globalization. They are at risk of remaining marginalized unless
urgent measures are undertaken to accord special treatment to these
countries in granting greater market access, ODA, debt relief and
capacity building. He stressed that the UN and the multilateral
financial and development institutions move with urgency to enhance
the development prospects of these countries through supporting human
and institutional capacity, technology transfer and export and
industrial base diversification.
Barbados, on behalf of CARICOM, urged that the current efforts to
build regional strategies that are aimed at fostering the involvement
of national constituencies in the implementation of the Strategy on
Disaster Reduction take into account the special circumstances of
SIDS. In this regard, it will be necessary for risk and vulnerability
reduction concerns to be mainstreamed into other relevant programme
areas. She stated that in the 2004 review of the Barbados Programme
that it will be necessary to consider the dynamic changes that have
taken place in international economic affairs since April 1994 and the
intervening HIV/AIDS pandemic and their impact on the capacity of SIDS
to achieve their sustainable development objectives.
Fiji, as Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum Group, stated that
following the WSSD, an inter-agency task force was created comprising
regional experts from the Council of Regional Organizations of the
Pacific to begin the work of translating the Johannesburg Plan of
Implementation into an appropriate and implementable regional
strategy. Ultimately, it is hoped to bring to fruition a coherent
regional plan set within a medium-term development framework. The
primary objective of this strategy will be to strengthen national
capacities in key sustainable development programme areas, and
strengthen the focus of interventions and thereby promote long-term
development with an intergenerational equity.
New Zealand said that the outcome of Barbados +10 could reaffirm
the commitments made in Barbados and most recently in Johannesburg in
a concise political statement. There was no need to negotiate anything
new. Partnership initiatives should be supported that were launched by
SIDS and partners at WSSD.
UNIDO stated that in cooperation with the Climate Institute, it is
currently in the process of elaborating a programme proposal for the
Caribbean Islands of St. Lucia, Dominica and Grenada and would in a
second phase look into cooperation possibilities in the Pacific.
87(d) Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat
Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or
Desertification, particularly in Africa
Hama Arba Diallo, Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the
Convention to Combat Desertification, addressed Agenda Item 89(d),
Implementation of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification in those
countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification,
particularly in Africa. He stated that the GEF Assembly held in
Beijing, China, in October, decided to declare the Facility's
availability to serve as a financial mechanism of the UNCCD, should
its Conference of the Parties so decide. Another important decision
taken by the GEF Assembly is to open a full-fledged focal area on land
degradation. From now on, the GEF will be more involved in providing
financial resources to tackle the issue.
Namibia said that the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC)
welcomes the decision by the Secretariats of the UN Convention to
Combat Desertification, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
and the Convention on Biological Diversity to establish a Joint
Liaison Group in order to strengthen their coordination and to explore
options for further cooperation. He welcomed their decision to create
a common calendar of activities in this regard.
Israel said that a relatively new programme called International
program for Arid Land Crops (IPALAC) was launched in March 1995 to
help create "cybercommunities" of like-minded agricultural researchers
from around the world, who once worked more or less in isolation,
fighting desertification solely in their own individual countries.
IPALAC's framework is structured using electronic communication that
makes it possible to activate and link people on a far greater scale
than ever before and to encourage participants to share knowledge
continually through electronic channels.
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), said
that as many as 75% of the extreme poor live in rural areas. Land,
water and other natural resources play a central role in the
livelihood strategies of these poor women and men. Thus,
desertification is more than a threat to rural poverty alleviation. It
is also a significant obstacle to achieving the MDGs and halving
poverty overall by 2015. In addition to financing projects and
programmes that tackle desertification, IFAD also supports UNCCD
implementation as the agency that houses the Convention's Global
Mechanism.
87(a) Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Programme for the
further implementation of Agenda 21: Report of the World Summit on
Sustainable Development
Venezuela, on behalf of the G-77 and China, expressed surprise for
the characteristics of the publication of the Report on the World
Summit on Sustainable Development, (A/CONF.199/20). The report
contains stylistic errors and asked the Secretariat for clarification.
He said that the G-77 and China reiterated their call to the
achievement of a major coherence and coordination of policies within
the work of all involved organs in the management of sustainable
development to promote more integrated visions of the economic, social
and environmental aspects.
It is required that the CSD work in a more efficient manner and
comply with its role of policy guidance, with a realistic working
programme, with objectives that can be accomplished on a balanced and
integrated basis among the three pillars of sustainable development.
An action-oriented UNEP is needed. A UNEP strengthened, within its
mandate, to encourage and promote the activities of the environment
sphere within the UN system. The efforts for the International Year of
Freshwater 2003 will be the first practical opportunity to support and
promote actions to advance towards the achievement of the MDG to
reduce by half in 2015, the percentage of people that lack access to
fresh water or that cannot afford it.
Klaus Toepfer, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme,
said that our common denominator is increasingly clear, that we need
to concentrate on concrete and measurable implementation. To realize
the MDGs, we need action-oriented tools. In this regard, NEPAD
provides an example of a new and stimulating development for Africa.
Another common denominator is that efforts to overcome poverty need
functioning environmental services and a healthy environment and
natural resource base is essential to development. Under UNEP's
mandate for assessment and early warning, GEO3 was prepared as a
contribution to Johannesburg, which provided policy makers with an
authoritative assessment of the state of the environment and its
implications for all aspects of sustainable development.
He said that UNEP is also, as agreed in Cartagena, developing
methods for improved coordination among and effectiveness of the
multitude of Multilateral Environmental Agreements in existence. The
decision further calls for strengthening of the role and financial
situation of the organization and in this regard UNEP has developed a
proposal for an Indicative Scale of Assessments. The proposal will be
tabled for discussion at the next GC/GMEF in February 2003 and
envisages a pilot phase leading up to the 2004/2005 biennium.
South Africa, on behalf of the Southern African Development
Community (SADC), said that the WSSD agreed that the CSD would
continue to serve as the high-level forum with the UN for follow-up.
Its focus should be on implementation. South Africa believes that the
work of the CSD should continue to attract high-level participation.
The work of the Commission should also link with follow-up processes
at the regional level. The WSSD provides for the improvement of
reporting processes. Multi-stakeholder participation would need to be
enhanced. Linkages with the follow-up to the implementation of the
MDGs and Monterrey are crucial. Better integration in the work of the
CSD is also essential especially between the monitoring of targets and
the availability of the means of implementation.
The United States stated that the CSD should move quickly to
undertake the specific reforms called for in the Johannesburg Plan of
Implementation, including: limiting negotiations in the sessions of
the CSD to every two years; limiting the number of themes addressed at
each session; and serving as a focal point for the discussion of
partnerships that promote sustainable development, including sharing
lessons learned, progress made and best practices.
China said that a follow-up mechanism of WSSD will be set up at an
early date with the CSD at its core. She supported the idea that the
CSD shall continue to serve as the major forum within the UN system
for discussion and consideration of sustainable development. She
favored convening an organizational session of the CSD in early 2003
to determine future methodologies and work plans for the CSD.
India said that the immediate task ahead is the structuring and
re-invigorating of the work of the CSD in a manner that is in
accordance with the mandate agreed at Johannesburg. He hoped that the
inter-governmental consideration of the framework, criteria and scope
for partnerships, which could not be undertaken in Johannesburg owing
to time-constraints, will take place in the CSD.
Japan said that the WSSD Plan of Implementation recommends "the
United Nations General Assembly to consider adopting a decade of
education for sustainable development, starting in 2005" as proposed
by Japan.
Kenya stated that Kenya possesses a considerable amount and variety
of biological resources. As a member of the Group of Mega-Diverse
Like-Minded Countries, his delegation was pleased with the decision
reached at the Summit that addresses the three objectives of the
convention on Biological Diversity, namely, the commitment to
significantly reduce by 2010 the loss of biodiversity, provision of
new and additional financial and technical resources to developing
countries, and the decision to initiate negotiations of an
international regime to promote and safeguard the fair and equitable
sharing with the countries of origin of benefits arising out of
utilization of biological resources.
Thailand highlighted time-bound targets, good governance at all
levels for poverty eradication, capacity building, and the development
of science and technology in developing countries. The WSSD process
provides the opportunity for rededication to the principles agreed in
the Rio Declaration.
The Republic of Korea said that his delegation would like to
emphasize that partnership initiatives are not a substitute for
government responsibilities and commitments to sustainable
development, but are rather a means of bolstering and deepening the
quality and quantity of sustainable development initiatives. His
delegation wishes that a framework be developed to provide a
monitoring process of the partnership initiatives and utilize the
results in the forthcoming CSD and relevant meetings.
Indonesia said that the CSD should focus on its work in close
collaboration with the other relevant regional and international
organizations so as to monitor the implementation of all agreed
programmes and activities in the field. It should also serve as the
mechanism for policy deliberation, particularly on new and emerging
issues related to the implementation of sustainable development. To
ensure the effectiveness of the substantive session of the next CSD,
it is critical to promote high-level participation as well as to
identify innovative measures for ensuring its effective functioning in
accordance with the agreement on the institutional framework on
sustainable development.
Brazil stated that the definition of the work programme of the CSD
should take into account the role and mandate of specific conventions
that have the primary responsibility of dealing with issues regulated
by international regimes. The mandate of the Commission is not at
stake. Heads of State and Government agreed in Johannesburg that the
CSD should remain the main UN forum for policy discussion on themes
related to sustainable development and for monitoring implementation.
Its major role should continue to be reviewing, evaluating progress
and promoting the further implementation of Agenda 21 and the
Johannesburg Plan of Implementation. This includes, inter alia,
actions with regard to the means of implementation. CSD must monitor
and promote progress in this area of critical importance to enable
developing countries to fulfill their part.
Canada said that given the breadth of the WSSD agenda,
implementation will now become the responsibility of a wide range of
specialized agencies and organizations, as well as ad hoc
processes such as the Third World Water Forum in Kyoto next March.
WSSD follow-up should also be integrated with the follow-up to the
Millennium Summit, Doha and Monterrey, and be consistent with the
framework for UN reform.
New Zealand would like to see greater participation in the CSD by
experts, discussing real-world sustainable development issues.
Iran said that there is a fundamental link among the ongoing
discussion on UN reform, discussion on the integrated and coordinated
follow-up of UN major conferences and the debate on the CSD programme
of work. The Johannesburg Plan of Implementation is the only framework
for the work of the CSD. He would find it very hard to accept other
proposals, which are not inter-governmentally agreed and limited in
nature, to be considered as the elements for the program of work of
the CSD. CSD negotiating and on-negotiating sessions need to work
consistently, and he recommended setting two separate agendas for
them. He considered emerging issues as the emerging challenges in the
field of implementation that countries are faced with.
Norway said that the General Assembly, ECOSOC and its subsidiary
machinery should play the primary roles in following up conference
outcomes. Norway would like to see the CSD serving as a forum for
dialogue on the links between the three dimensions of sustainable
development.
Zambia said that for water to be made available for domestic and
industrial use in abundance, that comprehensive strategies on water
resource management must also be formulated. This is a very important
area of development where international cooperation with development
partners is required if we are to mitigate the effects of drought on
food security.
Ukraine said that his delegation believed there is a need to
establish an enhanced cooperation between the CSD and the UNEP and
other UN organizations involved in sustainable development.
Switzerland said that his delegation considered it a priority to
address vulnerability assessment and adaptation in developing
countries; adaptation and climate impact management should be
considered as an immediate response to the threats of climate change
for which the unique remedy is mitigation.
The World Tourism Organization said that it has argued on many
occasions that the strength and momentum of tourism should be more
effectively harnessed in the fight against poverty and to preserve the
world's natural and cultural heritage. He stated that at the WSSD, the
World Tourism Organization and UNCTAD had launched a project under the
acronym ST-EP, a new institutional mechanism for linking sustainable
tourism and elimination of poverty within a framework for financing,
research and practical projects.
The International Labor Organization (ILO) said that the Employment
and Social Policy Committee of the ILO Governing Body will be looking
at the importance of employment, decent work and the ILO's Fundamental
Principles and Rights at Work and relevant ILO Standards for poverty
eradication; the role of the ILO and its constituents in facilitating
the transition to more sustainable consumption and production
patterns, especially through the ILO's existing mechanisms and tools
for social dialogue; and the importance of continuing the ILO's
priority activities since Rio to enhance the capacity of its workers'
and employers' organizations to deal directly with the challenges of
sustainable development, especially at the national, sectoral and
workplace levels.
The FAO welcomed the call by world leaders at the WSSD for NEPAD to
play a critical role in eradicating poverty and creating an enabling
environment to attain economic growth and development. FAO played a
major role in assisting the NEPAD Secretariat in the area of
agriculture, and helped prepare the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture
Development Programme (CAADP).
UNIDO said that attention should be given to revising the task
manager system so that its functioning could assist the CSD in
shifting into an implementation mode while avoiding duplication with
the work/machinery established for follow-up to the MDGs. This might
require:
(a) shift focus from reporting and supporting normative discussions
to implementation with greater emphasis on specific thematic areas and
goals/objectives;
(b) support/complement the follow-up mechanisms launched by other
UN Conferences held during the last decade;
(c) promote stronger linkage between the global intergovernmental
deliberations and implementation measures at country level;
(d) promote flexible, innovative and inclusive approaches, based on
the comparative advantage of different UN institutions and the level
of engagement of non-UN actors;
(e) apply the Issue Management approach, wherever possible;
(f) promote overall integration of the three components of
sustainable development.
These objectives could be achieved in a number of ways, including
such as:
(a) a single designated agency providing the leadership focus for
the other cooperating agencies;
(b) a group of agencies that have comparable levels of expertise in
a specific area, working through a coordinating body;
(c) agencies establishing a joint agent that provides the overall
focus and impetus for the actions to be taken on behalf of the
co-sponsoring agencies;
(d) building on a "Issue Management" approach, limited-duration
groups/teams comprising all relevant institutions, established to
develop recommendations and proposals to address emerging challenges
or to achieve agreed targets related to a specific issue;
(e) country-level operational models as designed by governments in
collaboration with the UN system organizations.
The approaches outlined above are currently the object of
discussions in an Ad Hoc working Group established by HLCP
under the Chairmanship of the Assistant-Secretary-General for Policy
Coordination of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).
IUCN stated that the WSSD has approved ambitious targets for water
and sanitation and agreed to develop strategies to promote equitable
access and adequate supplies. The International Year of Freshwater in
2003 must build on this, and further to already agreed targets,
provide support to existing processes (such as the World Water Forum)
and implementing partnerships (such as the Dialogue for Water, Food
and Environment).
This Dialogue brings together the UN system, academia, technical
NGOs, and civil society groups. The IUCN Water and Nature Initiative
is another one of these partnerships of more than 80 governments and
NGOs to make aware that only adequate ecosystem management can provide
the quantity and quality of water necessary to meet the MDGs.
87(c) Protection of global climate for present and future
generations of mankind
The Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC), Joke Waller-Hunter, addressed Agenda Item 87(c),
Environment and sustainable development: Protection of the global
climate for future generations of mankind. She said that the WSSD Plan
of Implementation and the results of COP-8 in Delhi both point us to a
direction of enhancing international cooperation in addressing the
problem of climate change.
Venezuela, on behalf of the G-77 and China, said that they are
firmly opposed to the discussion of new commitments for developing
countries in the COP and reiterated its call to move ahead on
adaptation measures, through the increase in financial and technical
assistance for developing countries, particularly vulnerable to
adverse effects of climate change.
Denmark, on behalf of the EU, said that the EU calls upon all
countries to engage in a dialogue with a view to begin a process,
after entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol, aiming at significantly
cutting global emissions as well as broadening and enhancing
participation in long-term global cooperation. The EU emphasizes, as
stipulated in the Convention, that the global nature of climate change
calls for the widest possible cooperation by all countries, and their
participation in an effective and appropriate international response,
in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities
and respective capabilities.
Mongolia attaches special significance to the implementation of the
International Strategy for Disaster Reduction. With a view to
strengthening the national capacity building and improving the
disaster management system, he said his Government is taking steps for
disaster mitigation in collaboration with UNDP and the Government of
Luxembourg.
Samoa said that SIDS need to be assisted and enabled, through the
right technology, information and capacity training to undertake
urgently needed adaptation strategies. Communities in SIDS need to
have access to adequate and predictable sources of financial
assistance so that they can effectively undertake adaptation
activities.
The Russian Federation has prepared a draft resolution for the
current session of the UN General Assembly addressing a World
Conference on Climate Change. Its thrust is clear, to encourage active
and fruitful participation of UN member States, relevant organizations
and agencies of the UN system, other international and national
organizations, scientific and business circles, as well as civil
society in the Moscow Forum, to promote further progress in overall
climate change deliberations.
China said that the question of climate change should be considered
and addressed from the perspective of sustainable development and in
strict adherence to the principles set out in the Convention,
including the principle of "common but differentiated
responsibilities."
Tuvalu said that industrialized countries must urgently shoulder
the responsibility, not only by assisting in availing easy access to
adequate financial and technical resources for adaptation in SIDS like
Tuvalu, particularly in capacity building and technology transfer.
More importantly, they should also do so by committing to serious and
urgent mitigation activities on greenhouse gas emissions.
India said that developing countries do not have adequate resources
to meet their basic needs. Any measures sought to be imposed on
developing countries for climate change mitigation will bring
additional strain to our already fragile economies, and will adversely
affect our effort to achieve higher GDP growth related to eradicate
poverty speedily.
87(a) Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Programme for the
further implementation of Agenda 21: Establishment of a World
Solidarity Fund:
Mr. Johann Scholvinck, Director, Division for Social Policy and
Development, DESA, highlighted key elements the Committee may wish to
take into account when deciding on the establishment of a World
Solidarity Fund. These elements, inter alia, are:
1. the fund will have the explicit aim of providing additional
assistance to ensure the achievement of the 2015 target to halve
extreme poverty and other MDGs;
2. the fund would be used at the local level to finance actions
aimed at improving the living standards of impoverished communities;
3. the fund would operate as a trust fund managed by UNDP and
would not duplicate existing operational programmes, and;
4. the fund would receive voluntary contributions in cash and
kind from individual, foundations, organizations and private sector
and would not divert the flow of funding allocated to ODA.
Brazil welcomed the decision taken at the WSSD to establish a World
Solidarity Fund to eradicate poverty and to promote social and human
development in the developing countries as a significant step in that
direction.
A. Consideration of Proposals
87(a) Implementation of Agenda 21 and the
Programme for the further implementation of Agenda 21
At the Committee's 37th meeting, on 18 November, Venezuela, on
behalf of the G-77 and China, introduced a draft resolution entitled
"World Summit on Sustainable Development" (A/C.2/57/L.38) (see
document
A/57/532/Add.1).
At the 44th meeting, on 11 December, the Vice-Chair of the
Committee, Jan Kára (Czech Republic), introduced a draft resolution
(A/C.2/57/L.83), which he submitted on the basis of informal
consultations held on draft resolution A/C.2/57/L.38. The new draft
resolution was adopted and draft resolution A/C.2/57/L.38 was
withdrawn.
At the 38th meeting, on 20 November, Japan, on behalf of Andorra,
Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Gabon, Greece, Italy, Japan, Jordan,
Lebanon, Luxembourg, the Marshall Islands, Nicaragua, Panama, the
Sudan, Thailand and Uganda, introduced a draft resolution entitled
"United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development"
(A/C.2/57/L.45). Subsequently, Algeria, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, the
Dominican Republic, Egypt, Guatemala, Haiti, Indonesia, Israel,
Jamaica, Kyrgyzstan, Malta, Mongolia and the Russian Federation joined
in sponsoring the draft resolution (see document
A/57/532/Add.1).
At the 42nd meeting, on 10 December, Vice-Chair Kára introduced a
draft resolution (A/C.2/57/L.71), which he submitted on the basis of
informal consultations held on draft resolution A/C.2/57/L.45. The new
draft resolution was adopted and draft resolution A/C.2/57/L.45 was
withdrawn.
World Summit on Sustainable Development
Draft resolution A/C.2/57/L.83 (see document
A/57/532/Add.1) endorses the Johannesburg Declaration on
Sustainable Development and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation
and decides to adopt sustainable development as a key element of the
overarching framework for United Nations activities, in particular for
achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including
those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration, and to
give overall political direction to the implementation of Agenda 21
and its review.
Governments and all relevant international and regional
organizations, the Economic and Social Council, United Nations funds,
programmes and regional economic commissions, specialized agencies,
international financial institutions, the Global Environment Facility,
as well as other intergovernmental organizations and major groups, are
urged to take timely actions to ensure the effective follow-up and
implementation of the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable
Development and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation.
The resolution requests ECOSOC to ensure that the Commission on
Sustainable Development holds an organizational meeting of its next
session in January 2003 and its session in April/May 2003. The
Secretary-General is requested to prepare a report containing
proposals on the modalities of the future work of the Commission,
taking into account the decisions contained in the Johannesburg Plan
of Implementation.
United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable
Development
Draft resolution A/C.2/57/L.71 (see document
A/57/532/Add.1) proclaims the ten-year period beginning on
1 January 2005 the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable
Development. UNESCO is designated as the lead agency for the promotion
of the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development and is
requested to develop a draft international implementation scheme.
87(b) International Strategy for Disaster
Reduction
At the Committee's 20th meeting, on 30 October, Venezuela, on
behalf of the G-77 and China, introduced a draft resolution entitled
"International cooperation to reduce the impact of the El Niño
phenomenon" (A/C.2/57/L.16) (see document
A/57/532/Add.2).
At the 40th meeting, on 4 December, Vice-Chair Kára introduced a
draft resolution (A/C.2/57/L.54), which he submitted on the basis of
informal consultations held on draft resolution A/C.2/57/L.16. The new
draft resolution was adopted and draft resolution A/C.2/57/L.16 was
withdrawn.
Also, at the Committee's 20th meeting, Venezuela, on behalf of the
G-77 and China, introduced a draft resolution entitled "International
Strategy for Disaster Reduction" (A/C.2/57/L.21) (see document
A/57/532/Add.2).
At the 42nd meeting, on 10 December, Vice-Chair Kára introduced a
draft resolution (A/C.2/57/L.69), which he submitted on the basis of
informal consultations held on draft resolution A/C.2/57/L.21. The new
resolution was adopted and A/C.2/57/L.21 was withdrawn by its
sponsors.
Also, at the Committee's 20th meeting, Venezuela, on behalf of the
G-77 and China, introduced a draft decision entitled "Natural
disasters and vulnerability" (A/C.2/57/L.22) (see document
A/57/532/Add.2).
At the 44th meeting, on 11 December, Vice-Chair Kára introduced a
draft decision (A/C.2/57/L.75), which he submitted on the basis of
informal consultations held on draft resolution A/C.2/57/L.22. The new
decision was adopted and A/C.2/57/L.22 was withdrawn by its sponsors.
International cooperation to reduce the impact of the El Niño
phenomenon
Draft resolution A/C.2/57/L.54 (see document
A/57/532/Add.2) welcome the efforts undertaken by the
Government of Ecuador, in cooperation with the World Meteorological
Organization and the inter-agency secretariat for the International
Strategy for Disaster Reduction, towards the establishment of the
International Center for the Study of the El Niño Phenomenon at
Guayaquil, Ecuador, and the announcement made regarding its opening in
January 2003, and encourages all parties to continue their joint
efforts for the development of the Centre.
The resolution calls on the UN system and the international
community to support the establishment of the research Center at
Guayaquil, and invites the international community to provide
scientific, technical and financial assistance and cooperation for
this purpose, as well as to strengthen, as appropriate, other centers
devoted to the study of the El Niño phenomenon.
The Center, once established, is called on to strengthen its links,
as appropriate, with national meteorological and hydrologic services
of the Latin American region, the Permanent Commission for the South
Pacific, the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research and
the International Research Institute for Climate Prediction, as well
as with other relevant regional and global organizations that study
climate, such as the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather
Forecasts, the African Centre of Meteorological Applications for
Development, the Drought Monitoring Centre and the Asia-Pacific
Network for Global Change Research, and other relevant centres as
appropriate, in order to ensure the effective and efficient use of the
available resources;
The Secretary-General, with the assistance of the Inter-Agency Task
Force for Disaster Reduction, is invited to ensure that measures
needed to address more effectively extreme meteorological and
hydrologic events like the El Niño phenomenon are considered
appropriately in the 2004 review of the Yokohama Strategy for a Safer
World: Guidelines for Natural Disaster Prevention, Preparedness and
Mitigation and its Plan of Action.
International Strategy for Disaster Reduction
Draft Resolution A/C.2/57/L.69 (see document
A/57/532/Add.2) welcomes the memorandum of understanding
between the inter-agency secretariat for the Strategy and UNDP and
encourages the secretariat to create similar synergies with other
international organizations. The resolution requests the
Secretary-General to provide, during its 58th session, specific
proposals to member States for implementing relevant actions of the
Plan of Implementation adopted at the WSSD.
The resolution also calls for the conclusion, during the 58th
session, the review of the Yokohama Strategy for a Safer World:
Guidelines for Natural Disaster Prevention, Preparedness and
Mitigation and its Plan of Action. The Strategy's inter-agency
secretariat is requested to coordinate and report on the Yokohama
Strategy's progress, and the Secretary-General is requested to
allocate adequate financial and administrative resources for the
effective functioning of the inter-agency secretariat.
Natural disasters and vulnerability
Draft decision A/C.2/57/L.75 (see document
A/57/532/Add.2) states that the General Assembly will
consider the issue of natural disasters and vulnerability at its 58th
session under the sub-item entitled "International Strategy for
Disaster Reduction" of the agenda item entitled "Environment and
sustainable development". The Secretary-General is requested to report
to the General Assembly at its 58th session on the negative impacts of
extreme weather events and associated natural disasters on vulnerable
countries, in particular developing countries, in a separate section
of his report on the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction.
87(c) Protection of global climate for present
and future generations of mankind
At the Committee's 38th meeting, on 20 November, Venezuela, on
behalf of the G-77 and China, introduced a draft resolution entitled
"Protection of global climate for present and future generations of
mankind" (A/C.2/57/L.43) (see document
A/57/532/Add.3).
At the 44th meeting, on 11 December, Vice-Chair Kára introduced a
draft resolution (A/C.2/57/L.90), which he submitted on the basis of
informal consultations held on draft resolution A/C.2/57/L.43. The new
draft resolution was adopted and draft resolution A/C.2/57/L.43 was
withdrawn.
After the adoption of the draft resolution, statements were made by
the United States Japan, Denmark (on behalf of the EU) and Canada (see
document A/C.2/57/SR.44).
At the Committee's 38th meeting, on 20 November, the Russian
Federation, on behalf of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Canada, the
Czech Republic, Georgia, Iceland, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, the Republic of Moldova, Romania,
the Russian Federation, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand,
Turkmenistan, Ukraine, the United States, Uzbekistan and Yugoslavia,
introduced a draft resolution entitled "World Climate Change
Conference" (A/C.2/57/L.47). Subsequently, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg,
Mongolia, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey and
the United Kingdom joined in sponsoring the draft resolution (see
document
A/57/532/Add.3).
At the 44th meeting, on 11 December, Vice-Chair Kára introduced a
draft resolution (A/C.2/57/L.91), which he submitted on the basis of
informal consultations held on draft resolution A/C.2/57/L.47. The new
draft resolution was adopted and draft resolution A/C.2/57/L.47 was
withdrawn.
After the adoption of the draft resolution, statements were made by
the China, the Russian Federation and Japan (see document
A/C.2/57/SR.44).
Protection of global climate for present and future
generations of mankind
Draft resolution A/C.2/57/L.90 (see document
A/57/532/Add.3) calls on states to work together to achieve
the objective of the UNFCCC and urges states that have not yet done so
to ratify the Kyoto Protocol in a timely manner.
The resolution also: takes note of the Delhi Ministerial
Declaration on Climate Change and Sustainable Development, adopted by
UNFCCC COP-8; notes the ongoing work of the liaison group of the
secretariats and officers of the relevant subsidiary bodies of the
UNFCCC, the UNCCD, and the CBD; and invites the COPs of the
multilateral environmental conventions, when setting the dates of
their meetings, to take into consideration the schedule of meetings of
the General Assembly and the Commission on Sustainable Development so
as to ensure the adequate representation of developing countries at
those meetings.
World Climate Change Conference
Draft resolution A/C.2/57/L.91 (see document
A/57/532/Add.3) welcomes the initiative of the Government
of the Russian Federation to convene the World Climate Change
Conference at Moscow from 29 September to 3 October 2003 as a forum
for the exchange of views among the scientific community, governments,
parliaments, international and national organizations, the private
sector and other representatives of civil society and for facilitating
the implementation of existing policies related to climate change.
The resolution also encourages member States and relevant
organizations and bodies of the UN system, as well as other
international and national organizations, parliaments, the scientific
community, the private sector and other representatives of civil
society, to participate actively in the Conference.
87(d) Implementation of the United Nations
Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing
Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa
At the Committee's 29th meeting, on 30 October, Venezuela, on
behalf of the G-77 and China, introduced a draft resolution entitled
"Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat
Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or
Desertification, particularly in Africa" (A/C.2/57/L.17) (see document
A/57/532/Add.4).
At the 44th meeting, on 11 December, Vice-Chair Kára introduced a
draft resolution (A/C.2/57/L.89), which he submitted on the basis of
informal consultations held on draft resolution A/C.2/57/L.17. The new
draft resolution was adopted and draft resolution A/C.2/57/L.17 was
withdrawn.
After the adoption of the draft resolution, statements were made by
Venezuela (on behalf of the G-77 and China) and Canada (see
A/C.2/57/SR.44).
Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat
Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or
Desertification, particularly in Africa
Draft resolution A/C.2/57/L.89 (see document
A/57/532/Add.4) welcomes the decision taken by the Second
Assembly of the Global Environment Facility that the Facility shall be
available to serve as a financial mechanism of the UNCCD if the
Conference of the Parties to the Convention should so decide, and in
this regard notes with satisfaction that the GEF Assembly has
requested the Council of the Facility to consider any such decision of
the Conference of the Parties with a view to making the necessary
arrangements.
The resolution also invites the Conference of the Parties at its
sixth session, to be held at Havana in September 2003, responding to
the call of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and the
decision of the GEF Assembly, to consider making the Facility a
financial mechanism of the Convention as a means of promoting the
availability of financial mechanisms.
The resolution welcomes the successful and substantial third
replenishment of the GEF Trust Fund and calls upon all countries and
other entities in a position to do so to make additional contributions
to the GEF.
The resolution also calls upon the international community to
continue to contribute to the implementation of action programmes
through, inter alia, the conclusion of partnership agreements as well
as the bilateral and multilateral cooperation programmes that are
available to implement the Convention, including contributions from
non-governmental organizations and the private sector, and to support
the efforts of the developing countries to implement the Convention.
Parties are invited to pay their contributions required for the core
budget of the Convention.
The resolution also: notes the ongoing collaboration between the
UNFCCC, UNCCD and CBD; invites UNDP to implement decision 2000/23 of
29 September 2000 of its Executive Board,7 pertaining to the
cooperation between the secretariat of the Convention and UNDP, in
order to mainstream activities to combat desertification at the
national, subregional and regional levels; and calls upon Governments,
and invites multilateral financial institutions, regional development
banks, regional economic integration organizations and all other
interested organizations, as well as non-governmental organizations
and the private sector, to contribute generously to the General Fund,
the Supplementary Fund and the Special Fund.
87(e) Environment and sustainable development:
Convention on Biological Diversity
At the Committee's 20th meeting, on 30 October, Venezuela, on
behalf of the G-77 and China, introduced a draft resolution entitled
"Convention on Biological Diversity" (A/C.2/57/L.18) (see document
A/57/532/Add.5).
At the 42nd meeting, on 10 December, Vice-Chair Jan Kára introduced
a draft resolution (A/C.2/57/L.67), which he submitted on the basis of
informal consultations held on draft resolution A/C.2/57/L.18. The new
draft resolution was adopted and draft resolution A/C.2/57/L.18 was
withdrawn.
After the adoption of the draft resolution, statements were made by
Denmark (on behalf of the EU, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia
and Slovenia), the United States and Australia (see A/C.2/57/SR.42).
Convention on Biological Diversity
Draft resolution A/C.2/57/L.67 (see document
A/57/532/Add.5) invites parties to the Convention to ratify
or accede to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety as soon as possible.
The resolution calls upon the secretariat of the Convention on
Biological Diversity to continue to work closely with the Global
Environment Facility and other relevant institutions to help
developing countries to build the required national capacities to
prepare for the entry into force of the Cartagena Protocol on
Biosafety.
The resolution also welcomes the launching of the pilot phase of
the Biosafety Clearing House, and calls for strengthened international
support for developing countries to build their national capacities to
interact with it and to benefit from its expeditious strengthening so
that it becomes fully functional at the time of the entry into force
of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.
Finally, the resolution emphasizes the need for a substantial
increase in financial and technical resources for the implementation
of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Cartagena Protocol
on Biosafety by developing countries and countries with economies in
transition, and in this regard welcomes the successful and substantial
third replenishment of the Global Environment Facility.
87(f) Further implementation of the Programme
of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing
States
At the Committee's 20th meeting, on 30 October, Venezuela, on
behalf of the G-77 and China, introduced a draft resolution entitled
"Further implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable
Development of Small Island Developing States" (A/C.2/57/L.20) (see
document
A/57/532/Add.6).
At the 44nd meeting, on 11 December, Vice-Chair Kára introduced a
draft resolution (A/C.2/57/L.64), which he submitted on the basis of
informal consultations held on draft resolution A/C.2/57/L.20. The new
draft resolution was adopted and draft resolution A/C.2/57/L.20 was
withdrawn.
After the adoption of the draft resolution, statements were made by
Norway, Samoa (on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States),
Venezuela (on behalf of the G-77 and China) and Tuvalu (see
A/C.2/57/SR.44). The Chair of the Committee then read out the
following statement:
"Having now adopted the resolution on small island developing
States, there are two related matters that I would like to draw to the
attention of the Committee and ask that they bear in mind and convey
to their capitals:
"(a) First, in paragraph 5 of the resolution, we have decided to
convene an international meeting in 2004. I understand that conference
services has advised that the calendar of conferences currently has a
gap in the latter part of August and early part of September 2004
during which the international meeting could take place. I also
understand that the Group of 77 and China would like the meeting to
take place during that period and are concerned that the current
opening in the calendar of conferences not be lost. There also appears
to be a general desire by members to bring clarity to the issue of the
timing of the meeting at the next available opportunity. In the
meantime, I would ask the Secretariat to draw this matter to the
attention of the Committee on Conferences;
"(b) Secondly, in paragraph 15 of the resolution, we have decided
to establish a voluntary fund for the purpose of assisting small
island developing States, and the least developed among them, in
participating in the international meeting and its preparatory
process. I understand that a similar fund was established for the 1994
Barbados Conference and that approximately $30,000 remains in that
fund. I also understand that the Group of 77 and China would like to
make use of those monies for the purpose of assisting small island
developing States, and the least developed among them, to participate
in the 2004 international meeting and its preparatory process. In
order to do so, the Secretariat will need to obtain the agreement of
all donors to the original 1994 fund. The Secretariat will shortly be
writing to donor Governments to obtain their agreement."
The Committee also adopted a resolution entitled "Promoting an
integrated management approach to the Caribbean Sea area in the
context of sustainable development" (A/C.2/57/L.66) (see document
A/57/532/Add.6)
Further implementation of the Programme of Action for the
Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States
Draft resolution A/C.2/57/L.64 (see document
A/57/532/Add.6) decides to convene an international meeting
in 2004, which will include a high-level segment, to undertake a full
and comprehensive review of the implementation of the Programme of
Action, as called for in the Plan of Implementation of the World
Summit on Sustainable Development, and welcomes the offer of the
Government of Mauritius to host the international meeting.
The resolution further decides to convene regional preparatory
meetings of small island developing States in the African, Caribbean
and Pacific regions, as well as an interregional preparatory meeting
for all small island developing States, to undertake the review of the
Programme of Action at the national, subregional and regional levels
and to identify and develop input for the above-mentioned review that
is specific to small island developing States while maximizing
coherence and complementarity with respect to other preparatory work.
The resolution also invites the Commission on Sustainable
Development, at its eleventh session, to consider its role in the
preparatory process for the comprehensive review of the Programme of
Action.
The resolution requests the Secretary-General, pursuant to
paragraph 8 of General Assembly resolution 56/198, to give further
consideration to strengthening the Small Island Developing States
Unit, inter alia, through the regularization of the current
post of Interregional Adviser for Small Island Developing States at
the earliest opportunity, thereby enabling the Unit to assist in the
preparations for the comprehensive review of the Programme of Action.
A voluntary fund for the purpose of assisting small island
developing States, including the least developed among them, to
participate fully and effectively in the international meeting as well
as in the various preparatory processes is established and
Governments, intergovernmental organizations and the major groups
accredited to the Commission on Sustainable Development are invited to
contribute to the fund.
All relevant organizations are called upon to finalize, by 2004,
the work on the vulnerability index, taking into account the
particular circumstances and needs of small island developing States.
III. AGENDA ITEM 92: INTEGRATED AND
COORDINATED IMPLEMENTATION AND FOLLOW-UP TO THE OUTCOMES OF THE MAJOR
UN CONFERENCES AND SUMMITS IN THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL FIELDS
The Second Committee held a substantive debate on this agenda item
on 31 October, 5 and 12 November, and 10 and 11 December 2002.
Venezuela, on behalf of the G-77 and China, said that the role of
ECOSOC should be further enhanced to promote a coordinate follow-up to
the outcomes of major conferences in the economic, social and related
fields. Furthermore, the role of the General Assembly as the highest
inter-governmental mechanism for the formulation and appraisal of
policy on matters relating to the economic, social and related fields,
should be further promoted to provide overall political direction as
well as to serve as the monitoring mechanism to the integrated and
coordinated implementation of Conference outcomes.
Having considered the need to ensure a better working method of the
General Assembly in providing the overall political direction and
taking into account the continuing work to revitalize and strengthen
the UN in economic, social and related fields, we should resolve to
make the UN a more effective instrument for pursuing the achievements
of internationally agreed development goals. We should promote
coherence, integrated and coordinated work of the General Assembly in
the Plenary, Second and Third Committees with the objective of
ensuring that the system is equipped to follow up effectively the
integrated and coordinated approach to the implementation of UN
conference outcomes.
To address the issue in a more comprehensive manner, taking into
account the on-going deliberation of the reform process, he proposed
the establishment of an open-ended working group under the auspices of
the President of the General Assembly. The working group should
commence its work as soon as possible so as to enable it to submit its
report to be endorsed by the General Assembly before the end of the
fifty-seventh session next year.
Denmark, on behalf of the EU, said that the challenge facing us
today is to assert and ensure the relevance of the UN system, in
particular for the Second and Third committees, ECOSOC, the General
Assembly and the functional commissions. We are mindful of the need to
make better use of the existing mechanisms of the UN system in the
development field. By utilizing the existing structures and
institutions, we should work hard to avoid any duplication of work. At
the center of every process, resolution or other action, we should
focus on support to enforce the actual implementation at field level.
The EU is ready to support the establishment of an ad hoc
open-ended working group that will look into the matter. It is
important that it be a working group with a concrete and time-bound
mandate. The secretariat should, based on their ideas in relation to
the reform of the UN, give input to the working group. The ad hoc
open-ended working group would have to look, within the framework of
the Millennium Declaration, at the way our work in the General
Assembly, ECOSOC and the functional commissions as well as our
dialogue with other stakeholders can be made relevant at each level in
order to support achieving the MDGs. The EU underlined the important
and necessary task to include the civil society, the private sector
and other stakeholders as much as possible.
Croatia stated that the General Assembly should focus its attention
to overall policy issues that emerge from the follow-up of major
conferences and summits and ensure that they are linked with
internationally agreed development goals. The overall guidance and
coordination should be done by ECOSOC and its subsidiary bodies, which
should continue to draw the attention of the General Assembly to
obstacles and constraints as well as to new challenges identified by
the reviews that affect progress towards conference goals.
ECOSOC will need to strengthen further its role and impact to meet
the challenges and opportunities of globalization and sustainable
development and to promote the effective implementation of development
goals including those contained in major conferences and summits.
Overlap and redundancy must be avoided.
The multi-year programme of functional commissions provides a
suitable framework to assess progress in implementation of major UN
conferences and summits. The Second Committee should consider
strengthening its role in giving recommendations for implementation in
economic and social fields and provide the General Assembly plenary a
holistic approach and guidance to main issues in these areas.
The United States stated that when mandated, the functional
commissions of ECOSOC should continue to have primary responsibility
for the review and assessment of progress made in implementing UN
conference document; however, their methods or work should take on a
new focus:
(a) the functional commissions should be more interactive and
should engage in more dialogue among all stakeholders, and should
serve as forums for discussion of partnerships that promote
implementation of the conference documents;
(b) the annual session should address a limited number of themes;
(c) the annual sessions should examine results achieved at national
level, highlight progress made, best practices, and lessons learned,
and they should foster new partnerships and identify tools or other
initiatives that could accelerate implementation of the conference
document;
(d) governments should be encouraged to send substantive experts
who are knowledgeable in the particular areas under consideration, and
who are prepared to share national experiences;
(e) members of civil society, especially NGOs with operational and
field experience and the private sector, should participate in the
annual meetings, in accordance with the relevant rules of procedure;
(f) we need to structure meetings so that we can hear from those
doing the implementing; and
(g) negotiations on resolutions and other outcome documents should
be limited to every three years.
ECOSOC should continue to review progress in the implementation of
issues common to all conferences, such as poverty eradication and
gender equality. ECOSOC should also assist in identifying
cross-cutting themes and in prioritizing and coordinating the work of
the functional commissions.
Tanzania stated that when ECOSOC reviews the work of its functional
commissions, it should focus on cross-cutting issues and ensure that
all functional commissions provide a substantive and focused
contribution to overarching goals. He supported the Monterrey
Consensus.
Norway said that it is the firm belief of her delegation that we
should try to make more effective use of the existing structures with
regard to follow-up and with regard to coordinating and implementing
the outcomes of UN conferences. Norway believes that the General
Assembly and ECOSOC and its subsidiary machinery should play the
primary roles in following up on conference outcomes. We must make
sure that there is full integration between the review and follow-up
of the Millennium Summit and that of other conferences. In this
connection we should emphasize the important function of the UN
Development Group (UNDG) and that of the Global Millennium Campaign.
We should also decide on the concrete role of ECOSOC and the dialogue
with the BWIs in the follow-up process. We must ensure that the
General Assembly's high-level dialogue becomes an important stepping
stone in the process.
Indonesia emphasized that the continuing importance of
strengthening further the coordinating role of ECOSOC in the work of
its functional commissions and its subsidiary organs to implement the
outcomes of UN conferences and summits. The General Assembly should
provide the overall responsibility for political direction. We should
strive to advance a more coherent, integrated and coordinated work of
the General Assembly in the Plenary, Second and Third Committees. He
proposed the establishment of an open-ended working group under the
auspices of the President of the General Assembly, to commence work by
January 2003, so as to allow us to be in a position to submit a report
for the consideration of the General Assembly before the end of the
57th Session.
The working group should develop recommendations to ensure an
integrated and coordinated follow-up to the UN conferences and
summits. Such recommendations may address ways to promote the policy
and programme coordination of the international institutions and to
enhance greater policy coherence between the UN, its agencies, the
BWIs and the WTO in achieving internationally agreed development
goals.
It should resolve to improve coherence in the work of the Plenary,
Second and Third Committees as well as to structure the agenda items
of the work of the General Assembly in the economic, social and
related fields and to promote a consolidated report of the
Secretary-General. It should also seek to ensure complementarity with
the on-going reform processes of the UN as a whole.
Japan stated that it is vital to make effective use of existing
structure within the UN system. He recalled that ECOSOC is responsible
for coordinating activities of other UN bodies in the economic and
social fields and it is appropriate for ECOSOC to pursue a
cross-cutting approach on the themes common to major UN conferences.
He also said that it is appropriate for relevant subsidiary bodies and
specialized agencies of the UN to follow-up constantly on technical
matters specific to each UN conference. The General Assembly should
give overall political direction. It is urgent to look into setting up
an appropriate forum such as an ad hoc working group of the
General Assembly to discuss this important subject thoroughly.
China stated that there are differences of view regarding how to
carry out an integrated and coordinated implementation of the outcome
of the major UN conferences. A discussion should consider the
necessary division of labor and cooperation among various UN bodies in
carrying out the follow-up so that it will implement the outcomes of
the conferences in a more coordinated manner.
India stated that shared responsibility is not an exit strategy for
national responsibility. The primary responsibility to provide for the
well-being of citizens is that of national governments. Shared
responsibility means that indicators to measure progress in achieving
objectives should be applies to all members of the international
community.
The task of reviewing conference implementation is of dual nature:
on the one hand, it requires pursuing an integrated and coordinated
approach in the context of common overarching conference goals and, on
the other hand, maintaining the identity and integrity of every
conference through a focused view to stimulate progress in the areas
covered by the conferences. This task has, to some extent, been
addressed by the Economic and Social Council and its functional
commissions. We would now need to take a view on what more is required
to be done.
Australia stated that we must make greater use of the existing UN
structure and bodies, particularly ECOSOC and give greater
opportunities to engage in non-combative, more productive discussions
that identify barriers to implementation and ways to overcome such
barriers, in a mutually agreeable manner. We note in this regard the
decisions of the WSSD concerning the role and function of the CSD,
particularly to limit negotiations to every second year.
Pakistan said that the follow-up and implementation of commitments
and action plans must be integrated, balanced and coordinated. The
Pakistani delegation circulated a Non-paper entitled "Follow-up and
implementation of the economic and social policies, commitments and
action plans". The paper envisages the establishment of an integrated,
comprehensive and coordinated follow-up mechanism to review and
monitor the implementation of the outcomes of the major international
conferences in economic and social fields. Pakistan suggests that the
major responsibility for the follow-up should rest with ECOSOC, which
has a mandate under the UN Charter to promote coordination and
coherence in the economic and social policies and programmes.
Substantive reviews in various areas, such as trade and development,
financing for development and sustainable development, could be
conducted by Commissions or Committees operating under ECOSOC and the
General Assembly. While the Commission on Sustainable Development
could readily assume the responsibility for follow-up and
implementation of Johannesburg and Agenda 21, we would need to create
special bodies (Commissions) to follow-up on Monterrey and the
Implementation of the "Development Agenda" of the Doha Trade Round.
The idea of rotating meetings between Geneva and New York in the
case of the proposed Commission on Trade and Development is to enhance
interactions between the UN and other stakeholders. The functional
commission on trade and development will not encroach upon the mandate
of UNCTAD but would rather reinforce UNCTAD's message. The UNCTAD
Secretariat will service meetings of the commission when it meets in
Geneva. The proposed commission would be guided, inter alia, by the
decisions of the Trade and Development Board.
A. Consideration of Proposals
At the Committee's 26th meeting, on 5 November, Venezuela, on
behalf of the G-77 and China, introduced a draft resolution entitled
"Integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the
outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the
economic and social fields."
At the 42nd meeting, on 10 December, the Chair of the Committee
introduced a draft resolution (A/C.2/57/L.70), which he submitted on
the basis of informal consultations held on draft resolution
A/C.2/57/L.28. The new draft resolution was adopted and draft
resolution A/C.2/57/L.28 was withdrawn.
The Committee also adopted a resolution entitled "World Food
Summit: five years later" (A/C.2/57/L.81) (see document
A/57/537).
Integrated and coordinated
implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United
Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields
Draft resolution A/C.2/57/L.70 (see document
A/57/537) calls for the establishment of an open-ended
ad hoc working group, chaired by the President, with two
vice-chairs, which would produce concrete recommendations to ensure
the integrated and coordinated follow-up of United Nations conferences
and summits, thus contributing to the implementation of
internationally agreed development goals.
The resolution also states that the working group will: submit
proposals on how best to review implementation of the outcomes of
conferences and summit; consider the work of the General Assembly and
its Second and Third Committees relevant to the integrated and
coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the
major conferences and summits; and consider how to ensure that the
outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits are
integrated in the programmes of work of the organs, organizations and
bodies of the United Nations, and requests the United Nations System
Chief Executives Board for Coordination and the United Nations
Development Group to contribute to the reflection on integrated
conference follow-up.
The resolution states that future decisions on follow-up to
conferences whose ten-year anniversaries are imminent shall be kept
pending subject to the decisions to be taken by the General Assembly
on the report of the working group.
The working group will commence its substantive work during the
fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly, no later than January
2003, and will submit its report before 27 June 2003, for
consideration by the General Assembly and action before the close of
the fifty-seventh session in 2003.
IV. AGENDA ITEM 93 HIGH-LEVEL INTERNATIONAL
INTER-GOVERNMENTAL CONSIDERATION OF FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT
This agenda item was considered by the Committee on: 8, 14 and 20
November.
Denmark, on behalf of the EU, stated that in Monterrey, governments
agreed to follow-up the Conference both at ECOSOC and the General
Assembly. This summer, governments looked at ECOSOC, which will,
inter alia, address coherence, coordination and cooperation. The
EU suggests that the High-level dialogue on financing for development
(Ffd) should focus on implementation of the Monterrey Consensus and
related issues. He believed that sustainable development, bearing in
mind the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, is an important element
in this.
The main challenge in organizing the dialogue will be to ensure
that it is complementary and mutually reinforcing with ECOSOC and that
there is no duplication of work. Furthermore we have to ensure that
the same rules of engagement, as were applied in Monterrey, are in
place for our stakeholders, both from the World Bank, the IMF and the
WTO and from the civil society and business sector. In our
preparations we should ensure the involvement of our capitols,
regional banks, UN regional commissions as well as UN funds and
programmes, and in particular UNDP.
We believe that a real dialogue is needed in order to bring this
process further and contribute fruitfully to maintaining the spirit of
Monterrey. In order to have an animated and lively exchange of views
that contribute to moving the Ffd process forward, we believe that the
views expressed at the dialogue should be summarized by the President
of the General Assembly.
Switzerland stated that as concerns the institutional follow-up of
the Conference, it is Switzerland's opinion that this should be done
within the context of existing institutions and their regular
meetings. Switzerland encourages continued efforts to build bridges
between development, financial and commercial institutions, but also
those of civil society and the private sector, at the global, regional
and national levels.
At the global level, high-level dialogue should take place
biennially and over a period of two days, immediately preceding or
following the IMF's and World Bank's fall meeting, in order to
maximize synergy and optimize the presence of Ministers of Finance, of
Commerce, of Foreign Affairs, of Cooperation, as well as directors of
central banking institutions.
This high-level dialogue should be divided into two parts. The
first would allow the organization of simultaneous, interactive
roundtables, bringing together all concerned parties up to a maximum
of 40 participants, by organizing four roundtables if necessary. These
should concentrate on a retrospective analysis of the Monterrey
Consensus' implementation particularly in the light of the MDGs. The
second part of the high-level dialogue should give way to an
interactive discussion on actions to take, based on the first day's
conclusions.
At the regional level, the economic commissions, in cooperation
with UN entities and in consultation with the BWIs and the WTO, should
organize consultative meetings to address regional integration
efforts, particularly in the context of harmonizing monetary,
commercial, fiscal and financial sector policies.
At the national level, in developing countries and countries with
economies in transition, the role of United Nations Resident
Coordinators should be further highlighted. They should facilitate
consultative meetings between all concerned parties, including civil
society and the private sector, with a view to analyzing the coherence
the Monterrey Consensus' various aspects of implementation within the
context of national strategies for development. These experiences
should ultimately provide substance for regional meetings.
Norway said that in the light of the positive results of the
dialogue and cooperation between the UN and the financial
institutions, one of the challenges in following up the Monterrey
Conference will be continuation and further development of this
cooperation at both the intergovernmental and the secretariat level.
In these efforts, governments and multilateral organizations should
continue to involve civil society and the business sector. We also
regard it as crucial that the regional development banks and the UN
Regional Commissions as well as UN funds and programmes be involved.
This should be kept in mind in discussions concerning the organization
of the high-level dialogue on Ffd.
The establishment of an ad hoc working group on integrated
conference follow-up will be a fruitful means of achieving an
integrated and coordinated follow-up. And we believe that the
high-level dialogue also should be considered by that group. We need
to take into consideration the follow-up activities of the World Bank
and the IMF, which were considered at ministerial level by the
Development Committee recently. The High Level Forum on Harmonization,
which will be organized by the multilateral financial institutions in
cooperation with the OECD and UNDP in Italy in February 2003, is an
important follow-up to Monterrey. It should be considered a step in
the efforts to improve the effectiveness of ODA and it might give
important input to the high-level international inter-governmental
consideration of Ffd to be organized by the UN next October.
Croatia said that according to the Monterrey Consensus, both the
General Assembly and ECOSOC have an obligation to further the Ffd
process. In the view of her delegation, the General Assembly as the
chief deliberative and policy-making organ should focus its attention
to overall policy issues. Furthermore, as the most representative,
all-inclusive body of the UN, it is also well suited to serve as a
forum for a high-level inter-governmental dialogue to find ways to
enhance further cooperation on country level among ministries of
finance, trade, foreign affairs and development cooperation. It can
encourage concrete action plans, specify various performance
benchmarks and indicators and include timeframes for implementation on
regional and country levels.
ECOSOC should, as stated in its resolution E/2002/36, contribute to
the implementation of the Monterrey Consensus by promoting coherence
and integrated approach within the UN system. It should also ensure
that commitments from Monterrey are fully taken into account as
relevant for the operational work and country frameworks of UN system
organizations, in accordance with national development objectives and
priorities.
To this end, securing harmonization, coordination and coherence of
the agendas and work programmes of the functional commissions dealing
with the development process is essential. Therefore, it is also
important to have involved all interested stakeholders, especially the
BWIs and the WTO, but also continue to give opportunities to the
private sector, NGOs and civil society in general.
The special high-level meeting of ECOSOC with the BWIs and the WTO
can serve as a forum to continuing to build bridges between
development finance and trade organizations and initiatives and to
help translate the Monterrey Consensus into a pragmatic program of
implementation, which can then provide substantive inputs to the
biennial General Assembly high-level dialogue.
Saint Lucia, on behalf of CARICOM, said that the forum chosen for
the follow-up to Monterrey should ensure equal participation for all
Member States. CARICOM supported the position of the G-77 and China in
the reconstitution of the High Level Dialogue in a manner consistent
with the integrated approach of all issues and stakeholders
representative of the Ffd process. CARICOM wishes however that the
multi-stakeholder roundtables be interactive, addressing specific
questions and issues with a view to making concrete recommendations,
and not a repeat of read policy statements of the general debate. The
issues should be representative of the holistic nature of the agenda
and be determined in a transparent manner by Member States.
CARICOM proposed that the General Assembly establishes a Working
Group of the High Level Dialogue with task forces to oversee the
implementation of specific proposals in the Monterrey Consensus, with
the following mandates:
(a) Formulate internationally agreed codes of conduct and rules to
regulate international financial markets and to permit national
policies to control short-term capital flows and improved information.
In this regard, the proposed creation a World Financial Authority
merits consideration, to oversee the international financial system in
an integrated manner, including banking, insurance and securities. The
work should include the design of a network of regional and
sub-regional organizations to support the management of monetary and
financial issues.
(b) Monitor Official Development Assistance contributions, the
meeting of the UN target of 0.7% of DP, and disseminate disaggregated
information on aid differentiating between tied and untied aid; aid
promoting domestic export promotion rather than development
assistance, technical cooperation grants reflecting payments for the
services of donor country nationals and consultants, collaborated aid,
reflecting the priorities of donor countries and not recipient
countries.
(c) Establish an independent debt arbitration mechanism, involving
creditors, debtors, as well as impartial experts to assess, adjudicate
and pass judgment on debt reduction options. In that connection, an
International Convention on Sovereign Debt Restructuring needs to be
considered to incorporate the lessons learned over the last 20 years
and to remove inconsistencies and to avoid ad hoc approaches that have
been the hallmark of attempts to restructure debt burdens. In the
interim, CARICOM maintains that, the consideration of the cancellation
of the unsustainable debt of the highly indebted countries should be
given high priority;
(d) Formulate an institutional framework with timetable commitments
aimed at increasing the level of cooperation on tax matters, including
the formulation of financial standards and codes based on the
following elements: all countries have the right to participate, all
countries that participate must be treated equally, and monitoring of
international standards must be conducted through a process of mutual
evaluation or peer review;
(e) Formulate proposals for the full and effective participation of
developing countries in global economic decision-making, in the BWIs
and the WTO;
(f) Formulate an intergovernmental framework for the conduct and
monitoring of partnerships;
(g) Formulate proposals for addressing the declining terms of trade
and instability of commodity prices, implementation issues of
developing countries, phasing out of subsidies and other distorting
barriers to trade, and making operational special and differential
treatment.
The work of the task forces will inform the decisions of the High
level Dialogue. Inputs from the institutional stakeholders, civil
society and the private sector will be received at the annual ECOSOC
Spring Meeting with the BWIs and the WTO and considered at the High
Level Dialogue. The task forces will consult with all Member States
through their regional groups in an open and transparent manner, and
with all other relevant stakeholders of the process through hearings
or panel discussions.
National and regional consultations should be held, involving all
relevant ministries and stakeholders, on Ffd related issues and
implementation of the Consensus. These should be held in preparation
for the High level Dialogue and to inform a meaningful exchange at the
interactive roundtables.
UNIDO said that the Ffd process directly addresses the pre-eminent
issue of our time: globalization and its unevenly spread benefits.
Various aspects of globalization – such as fair and open trading
rules, cross-border flows of investment capital and information
technology – could offer avenues towards eradicating poverty and
bolstering prosperity in developing countries. So far, they have led
to a more sever marginalization of large numbers of people and an
entire continent.
UNIDO believes the Ffd follow-up process is about connecting
developing countries to globalized trade and investment flows; and
this can only be done by helping developing countries increase their
productivity. UNIDO's contribution to Ffd has focused on developing
the institutional infrastructure required for full participation in
international trade and on promoting private sector equity capital
flows into developing countries.
A. Consideration of Proposals
At the 34th meeting, on 14 November, Venezuela, on behalf of the
G-77 and China, introduced a draft resolution entitled "High-level
international intergovernmental consideration of financing for
development" (A/C.2/57/L.36). At the 43rd meeting, on 11 December, the
Chair of the Committee introduced a draft resolution entitled
"High-level international intergovernmental consideration of financing
for development" (A/C.2/57/L.80), which he submitted on the basis of
informal consultations held on draft resolution A/C.2/57/L.36. 7. At
the same meeting, the Committee adopted draft resolution
A/C.2/57/L.80. In the light of the adoption of draft resolution
A/C.2/57/L.80, draft resolution A/C.2/57/L.36 was withdrawn by its
sponsors.
At the 38th meeting, on 20 November, Venezuela, on behalf of the
G-77 and China, introduced a draft resolution entitled "Ensuring
effective secretariat support for sustained follow-up to the outcome
of the International Conference on Financing for Development"
(A/C.2/57/L.44). At the 43rd meeting, on 11 December, the Chair of the
Committee introduced a draft resolution entitled "Ensuring effective
secretariat support for sustained follow-up to the outcome of the
International Conference on Financing for Development"
(A/C.2/57/L.62), which he submitted on the basis of informal
consultations held on draft resolution A/C.2/57/L.44. At the same
meeting, the Director of the Programme Planning and Budget Division of
the Office of Programme Planning, Budget and Accounts introduced a
statement of the programme budget implications of the draft resolution
(A/C.2/57/L.74). The Committee adopted draft resolution A/C.2/57/L.62
and draft resolution A/C.2/57/L.44 was withdrawn by its sponsors.
High-level international intergovernmental
consideration of financing for development
Draft resolution A/C.2/57/L.80 (see document
A/57/538) calls for the integrated consideration of trade,
finance, investment, technology transfer and development, and stresses
the urgency of coherent action by the United Nations, the Bretton
Woods Institutions, the World Trade Organization and governments to
promote equitable and broad sharing of benefits of globalization,
taking into account the needs of developing countries.
The General Assembly also encourages all governments to combat
corruption, bribery, money-laundering, the transfer of illicitly
acquired funds and assets and work for their return to the countries
of origin. It also stresses the need for structural reforms to
strengthen corporate governance, accounting and auditing. In addition,
it would stress the importance of strong domestic institutions to
promote business activities and financial stability for the
achievement of growth and development, including through sound
macroeconomic polities and those aimed at strengthening the regulatory
systems of the corporate, financial and banking sectors.
The resolution encourages international financial institutions to
continue taking into account social aspects and borrowing costs for
developing countries. It underlines the need to ensure that the
international financial institutions, including the IMF, have a
suitable array of financial facilities and resources to respond in a
timely and appropriate way to financial crisis or risk of contagion on
developing countries or countries with transition economies.
Ensuring effective
secretariat support for sustained follow-up to the outcome of the
International Conference on Financing for Development
Draft resolution A/C.2/57/L.62 (see document
A/57/538) requests that the Secretary-General create, as
soon as possible, appropriate secretariat support for sustained
follow-up within the United Nations, to Conference agreements and
commitments. The new secretariat support structure should be
integrated, cross-cutting and holistic, and serve as a focal point in
the Secretariat for overall Conference follow-up.