EARTH NEGOTIATIONS BULLETIN PUBLISHED BY THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (IISD) WRITTEN AND EDITED BY: Chad Carpenter Peter Doran Kira Schmidt Lynn Wagner Steve Wise Managing Editor Langston James Goree VI "Kimo" A DAILY REPORT ON THE SECOND UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON HUMAN SETTLEMENTS (HABITAT II) 12 June 1996 Vol. 11 No. 34 HABITAT II HIGHLIGHTS TUESDAY, 11 JUNE 1996 Delegates to Habitat II heard general statements during Plenary. The Working Groups and Drafting Groups of Committee I, which are negotiating the Habitat Agenda, continued their work throughout the day. Committee II met to hold hearings involving representatives of the Habitat Dialogues for the 21st Century and representatives of the Forum on Human Solidarity. WORKING GROUP I The G-77/CHINA reformulated 90(c)bis (women’s participation) with EU amendments. The paragraph promotes changes in attitudes, structures, policies, laws and other practices relating to gender to eliminate obstacles to human dignity and equality and promote full participation. In 90(f)bis (awareness of issues facing displaced women), CANADA’s inclusion of migrants, other displaced women in need of international protection and internally displaced women was accepted with the G- 77/CHINA’s addition of women living in poverty. Delegates debated inclusion of international assistance and support to these categories of women, and the G-77/CHINA proposed a new bullet to the section on international cooperation to address this concern. In 91(a)bis (human rights and education), the US introduced subparagraphs from informal consultations calling for awareness and education to mitigate crime and violence and strengthen society and (a)ter on crime prevention through social development. In 92bis (new title: Population and sustainable human settlements development), CANADA reported agreed text from informal consultations. Further negotiations are to be conducted on 92(c) (information campaigns) and 96(d)bis (health-care services for women) in the Drafting Group of Working Group I. The US reported agreement on the TURKEY-proposed 95quinquien (livability of built environment). In 98(aa) (integrated approach principles), "precautionary approach" was accepted and "ecological footprint" was deleted. In 126bis (effects of nuclear-weapons testing), the US maintained that Habitat II is an inappropriate forum for discussion of this issue, and recommended deletion. NEW ZEALAND, the HOLY SEE, AUSTRALIA, IRAN and the PHILIPPINES noted that nuclear weapons testing has considerable impact on human settlements and is relevant to Habitat. The brackets were retained while governments consulted with their capitals. SWITZERLAND’s proposal for a new 128(m), regarding Red Cross assistance to victims of armed conflict, was accepted. The US introduced new text regarding lead: 95bisbis (effects of exposure and availability of alternatives); 97(i)bis (safe management); 97(i)ter (elimination of lead in gasoline). Delegates accepted CANADA’s new 90quart regarding indigenous people. CHAPTER III (Commitments) The Chair introduced his draft with suggestions for reconciling the original text of the Habitat Agenda with proposals received for Chapter III. The G-77/CHINA, supported by the HOLY SEE, reinserted an introductory chapeau (Charter of the UN) similar to the introduction to the Cairo Plan of Action. The US added reference to human rights and fundamental freedoms. The EU, supported by the US, preferred language modeled on Beijing and Copenhagen on the duty of states to protect all human rights and freedoms and the implementation of the Habitat Agenda in conformity with the UN Charter and through national laws. In 23 (implementing Habitat Agenda), the EU proposed reference to implementation through "local" plans of action. The G-77/CHINA inserted a reference to harmony with cultural background and spiritual values. The US proposed reinserting 23bis (special attention to homeless). The EU preferred to wait for related decisions from a Drafting Group. In 25 (commitments), the G-77/CHINA added "within the national legal authority" to the chapeau but the EU objected. Supported by NORWAY, AUSTRALIA and CANADA, the EU asked for the restoration of (a)bis on equal access to resources and equal right to inheritance and suggested integrating this into (b). QATAR objected to "equal right of inheritance." IRAN preferred language from Beijing (FWCW). In (d), CANADA added "optimal use" of local human resources and the G-77/CHINA added "particularly in developing countries." The HOLY SEE introduced (g)bis on shelter and the family. CANADA, supported by the EU, preferred "families" and amended the HOLY SEE’s proposal with a reference to recognition of their "important" contribution to social integration. NORWAY added families "in their various forms." In (h), the PHILIPPINES proposed substituting "migrant workers" for "legal migrants," but the US objected. CANADA deleted "in their traditional habitat" from a reference to indigenous people, and added "facilities for education and health" to basic services. In (k), the US and CANADA, supported by AUSTRALIA, added "legal traditional" land rights of indigenous people. Negotiations continued during the evening. The CHAIR announced the appointment of Ayse Ogut (TURKEY) as Rapporteur of Committee I. WORKING GROUP II F. Implementation and follow-up: The US placed all of 170 (function of the Commission) in mental brackets, pending the outcome of the chapeau. The EU preferred to delete (a) (develop and promote policy objectives), (b) (lead the UN system) and (c) (activities in harmony with UN conferences). He offered to accept all three with the amendments that the Commission should "continue to" develop and the reference to Habitat II in (a) be deleted, and that the Commission should "follow closely," rather than lead, the UN system in (b). The G-77/CHINA (INDIA) added reference to the Habitat Agenda in (a), called on the Commission to "follow-up and monitor" in (b), and suggested deleting (c). Delegates added "continue to" and a reference to the Habitat Agenda in (a), called on the Commission to "track progress of the activities" of the UN in (b), and called for the promotion of adequate shelter in harmony with UNCED recommendations, and taking into account relevant outcomes of other major UN conferences in (c). In 170(c) (promote national actions), the G-77/CHINA proposed deleting the reference to promoting national actions, but the US, supported by CANADA, said national focus was needed for balance with international concerns. Delegates added a reference to "international" actions in (d) and amended a reference to international actions in (e). Delegates added 170bis, based on an EU-proposed paragraph calling on the Commission to review its work programme and make recommendations to ECOSOC in the framework of its review of its subsidiary bodies’ activities. The G- 77/CHINA proposed that, rather than reviewing its working methods to involve civil society, such action should be in accordance with its rules of procedures. A new 170ter, which was bracketed, notes that the mandate of the Commission will be strengthened and expanded to incorporate and implement the Habitat Agenda. The US proposed that the mandate be reoriented and strengthened, in the context of UN reforms. In 171 (the Centre), the EU proposed a chapeau on the role of the Centre. The US proposed changing "shall" to "should" continue to service the Commission. The G- 77/CHINA said this implied that the Centre would not continue in this capacity. The Chair proposed language that invites ECOSOC to review the role and function of the Centre, to acknowledge the ongoing UN review, but the G-77/CHINA objected to mentioning the ECOSOC review in this section. The G-77/CHINA also objected to "within its present mandate" and said Habitat II will add responsibilities, thereby expanding the mandate. The EU said that the GA and ECOSOC, not the Conference, have the authority to change the mandate. The US, supported by the EU, proposed deleting a reference designating the Executive Director for the Centre as Under-Secretary-General. The EU noted it was not the decision of the Conference. The G-77/CHINA objected and bracketed the reference. The US proposed changing "entrusted with" to "should have" in reference to the Centre’s responsibilities. The G-77/CHINA proposed "shall have." Prior to considering the list of the Centre’s responsibilities, the RUSSIAN FEDERATION, the US and the EU noted that the existing text cites the responsibilities in GA Resolution 32/162 and the text should not repeat the entire list. The G-77/CHINA noted that the list in the existing text has been updated. The US noted that the ECOSOC review process will update the list, and the existing list should be used. The G- 77/CHINA said that all these recommendation will go to the GA, which will accept or reject, therefore the group can seek to make changes as needed. In 171(a) (harmonization of development programmes), the US proposed changing "to ensure" to "monitoring" harmonization. The EU proposed "at the inter-secretariat level" and the PHILIPPINES proposed "inter-agency." Both references were bracketed. In 171(c) (executing human settlements programmes), the US proposed references to "where appropriate" and "in accordance with the legal framework of each country." CANADA proposed "promote, facilitate and execute" programmes. The RUSSIAN FEDERATION proposed a reference to social housing reform programmes. Delegates continued negotiations during an evening session. IN THE DRAFTING GROUPS The Drafting Group on the Istanbul Declaration continued to consider the Chair’s draft during the morning and afternoon. The issues addressed in outstanding paragraphs include sustainable patterns of consumption and production, resources and implementation. The latter two are pending Working Group II’s resolution of Sections E and F. The Drafting Group of Working Group I reported that it had reached consensus on paragraphs addressing forced evictions (25(l), 44(b) and 75(b)) as well as on the following: 2 (purpose of Habitat II), 3 (global approach), 9ter (children and youth), 9ses (persons with disabilities), 9sept (older persons), 16 (sustainable development), and 54bis(g) (spontaneous settlements). Outstanding text that was addressed during an evening session included references to reproductive health and "various forms of the family." IN THE CORRIDORS NGO participants in the Human Rights Caucus have welcomed a number of agreements reached by the Drafting Group of Working Group I. They noted the paragraphs dealing with protection from unlawful forced eviction and redress. One NGO representative noted the timely call for special attention to child victims of sexual exploitation in the run-up to the Stockholm "world summit" on child prostitution in August. She drew a parallel to the role of the ICPD (Cairo) in "breaking the self-imposed silence of the states" on the issue of female genital mutilation. THINGS TO LOOK FOR TODAY HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT: The High-Level Segment, which will meet in the Plenary Hall, will begin in the morning with statements from President Demirel (Turkey) and UN Secretary-General Boutros-Ghali. Over 50 statements are expected to follow in morning, afternoon and evening sessions. WORKING GROUP I: The Working Group is expected to meet in Conference Room 1 during the morning. WORKING GROUP II: The Working Group is expected to meet in Conference Room 3 during the morning. COMMITTEE I: The Committee may meet during the afternoon to consider the results from the Working Groups. DRAFTING GROUPS: The Drafting Group on the Istanbul Declaration is expected to meet during the morning in Conference Room D. Conference Room B has been reserved for other morning and afternoon drafting group meetings. This issue of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin is written and edited by Chad Carpenter , Peter Doran , Kira Schmidt , Lynn Wagner and Steve Wise . The Managing Editor is Langston James Goree VI “Kimo” . French translation by Mongi Gadhoum. The sustaining donors of the Bulletin are IISD, the Dutch Ministry for Development Cooperation and the Pew Charitable Trusts. General support for the Bulletin during 1996 is provided by the Overseas Development Administration (ODA) of the United Kingdom, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, the Swedish Ministry of Environment, the Swiss Federal Office of the Environment, the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, and the Ministry of the Environment of Iceland. Specific funding for coverage of this meeting has been provided by the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Ford Foundation and by ACCT/IEPF with assistance of the French Ministry of Cooperation for the French version. The authors can be contacted by electronic mail and during Habitat II at +90 (212) 248- 0872. IISD can be contacted at 161 Portage Ave. East, Sixth Floor, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 0Y4, Canada. 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