EARTH NEGOTIATIONS BULLETIN INFORMAL BRIEFING NOTE PUBLISHED BY THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (IISD) ICPD+5 PREPCOM: INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS Friday, 7 May 1999 This informal briefing note was written and edited by Chris Spence spencechris@hotmail.com of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin Team. The Commission on Population and Development acting as the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) for the Special Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGASS) for the review and appraisal of implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development met throughout the day and late into the night for further informal consultations at UN headquarters in New York. Negotiations continued on proposals for key actions for further implementation of the Programme of Action (POA), as contained in the Chair’s revised working paper (E/CN.9/1999/CRP.1/Rev.2). Delegates devoted most of their time to negotiating the background preambular section, reaching agreement ad referendum on a number of paragraphs, and discussed NGO accreditation for the Special Session and dates for a further meeting of the PrepCom before closing the meeting early on Saturday morning. While progress has been made in reaching agreement on much of the outstanding text, further work will be necessary at a Resumed Session of the PrepCom immediately prior to the UNGASS. The Resumed Session is scheduled for 24-29 June 1999. BACKGROUND PREAMBLE Chair Anwarul Karim Chowdhury (Bangladesh) invited delegates to resume negotiations on outstanding paragraphs in the background section of the Chair’s revised working paper. Delegates debated at length the first preambular paragraph that provides details about the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) POA, its aims, focus, and key recommended actions. Numerous amendments were proposed. The US, JAPAN, AUSTRALIA and CANADA added reference to food security. The US, supported by GERMANY, on behalf of the EU, suggested adding a reference to universally recognized human rights, including recognized reproductive rights. GUYANA, on behalf of the G-77/CHINA, supported by LIBYA and CHINA and others, expressed concern about the proposed reference to “universally recognized human rights” and preferred “development.” Delegates could not agree, however, and after protracted debate Chair Chowdhury set aside the various disputed proposals for consideration at a later date. In discussing the Chair’s revised draft’s outline of the sovereign right of each country in implementing the recommendations of the POA, MOROCCO added text emphasizing that this right also applies to this document. The G- 77/CHINA added a paragraph calling for measures to strengthen food, nutrition and agricultural policies, and fair trade relations, with special attention to food security. This paragraph was placed in the section on population, economic development and the environment as amended. In discussing the POA’s quantitative goals and objectives, the RUSSIAN FEDERATION added reference to increased life expectancy. The HOLY SEE included reducing morbidity as well as mortality and reference to POA paragraph 7.6 on reproductive health care. The US amended the reference to universal access to primary education by adding special attention to “closing the gender gap in primary and secondary school education.” A paragraph on the POA’s population growth, structure and distribution objectives was accepted with minor amendments. In discussing the effects of world population growth in terms of population policy and reproductive health, including the provision of family-planning services, the RUSSIAN FEDERATION deleted reference to countries with economies in transition as constituting, along with developing countries, nearly 80 percent of the world’s population, as this figure applies only to developing countries. The US amended the statement that the world’s population will total between 7 billion and 7.5 billion in 2015 to read “6.9 billion and 7.4 billion,” based on UN Population Division figures. The HOLY SEE added that the majority of the world’s countries are converging in a pattern of low birth and death rates but the different pace of change means increasingly diverse demographic situations. The US, with some alterations introduced by the HOLY SEE, added a sentence noting that the world’s reproductive age population continues to grow at a slightly higher rate than the world’s population as a whole, reflecting the large number of young people entering their childbearing years. The EU inserted reference to the POA’s emphasis on fully integrating population concerns into development strategies and planning, taking into account the interrelationship of population issues with the goals of poverty eradication, food security, adequate shelter, employment and basic social services for all, with the objective of improving quality of life through appropriate population and developments policies and programmes. The REPUBLIC OF KOREA added that this should apply to “present and future generations.” The G-77/CHINA deleted reference to the highest rates of population increase occurring in the world’s poorest countries, and the US deleted text stating that the population stabilization will not occur for at least 50 years. On a paragraph outlining positive results in POA implementation demonstrated by the five-year review of progress, the G-77/CHINA preferred noting that implementation “has shown positive results” rather than “is off to a good start.” MEXICO added that many countries have taken steps to integrate population concerns into their development strategies, and inserted after text noting that steps are being taken to provide comprehensive reproductive health services that these have an increasing emphasis on quality of care. The US amended a reference to rising contraceptive use with “rising use of family planning methods.” On migration flows, CANADA replaced “sending and receiving” countries with countries of “origin and destination.” In discussing the text’s description of setbacks during the last five years, the HOLY SEE, with further amendments by the G-77/CHINA, added reference to mortality and morbidity among adults and children from infectious, parasitic and water-borne diseases, such as tuberculosis, malaria and schistosomiasis. The US added that: maternal mortality and morbidity remain unacceptably high; adolescents remain particularly vulnerable to sexual and reproductive health risks; and millions of couples and individuals still lack access to contraceptives. The RUSSIAN FEDERATION, supported by KAZAKHSTAN and HUNGARY, inserted text noting that an increase in adult mortality, especially for men, is of particular concern for countries with economies in transition, and the REPUBLIC OF KOREA added “and some developing countries.” KAZAKHSTAN included the long-term ecological problems in Central Asia and some other regions as a factor limiting POA implementation. The HOLY SEE, with a further amendment by CANADA, added that despite the POA goal of reducing pressures causing refugee movements and displaced persons, the plight of these people remains unacceptable. Chair Chowdhury suggested that delegates consider deleting a paragraph summarizing key actions contained in the ensuing document. The G-77/CHINA noted that this paragraph contained the only reference in the background section to resources, and proposed reconstructing the paragraph to focus on this issue. After considerable debate, delegates accepted the G-77/CHINA’s proposal to amend and delete several sentences, with the reworked paragraph noting the need for sufficient resources, political commitment and effective priority-setting within each national context. A proposal by JAPAN to include reference to POA population- related goals and policies, as appropriate, in international agreements in areas such as environment and trade was set aside for consideration at a later date. The G-77/CHINA added a paragraph calling for an integrated approach toward policy design, development planning, service delivery, research and monitoring in implementing the POA. The US and CANADA inserted a paragraph noting that the present document draws on various intergovernmental reviews under the auspices of the United Nations. On the paragraph recommending the key future actions proposed in the text, the US, G-77/CHINA and EU made minor amendments, including a reference to partnerships involving governments and civil society at the national level and the international community. NGO ACCREDITATION Noting that time was short, Chair Chowdhury asked delegates to address the issue of accreditation for NGOs not present at Cairo that want to participate at the Special Session. A number of delegates stated that they had been unable to consult with their capitals on whether the proposed list of NGOs was acceptable. Delegates authorized the Chair to move forward with the necessary steps to continue the NGO participation process without prejudicing their rights to inform the Chair of any problems once capitals have been consulted. Chair Chowdhury said he would circulate the list to all missions requesting an expeditious response. ADDITIONAL MEETING OF THE PREPCOM On dates for a resumption of the PrepCom to complete its work prior to the Special Session, which begins on 30 June 1999, the Bureau recommended four days of meetings on 24, 25, 28 and 29 June 1999. The Chair thanked delegates for their positive approach and willingness to compromise during the preceding three days of informal consultations, and drew the meeting to a close at 1:25 am on Saturday, 8 May 1999. WRITER’S COMMENT - A BRIEF ANALYSIS Delegates arrived on Wednesday unprepared for the roller- coaster ride they would take over the following three days. With the PrepCom in late March unable to finish its work in the time allotted, many participants arrived at this additional informal meeting resolved to make more progress. Some participants noted that delegates were better prepared for negotiations this time around, and the meeting started on a note of cautious optimism, as participants made quick work of the first half of the section of the text on partnerships and collaborations. The success seemed short- lived. Enthusiasm soon gave way to tension as the meeting stalled on Friday morning and afternoon, only to conclude with some relief at the modest progress at the meeting overall as events took delegates on a ride of diplomatic highs and lows. The low point came on the final day, when negotiations appeared to have run out of steam. Delegates spent both morning and afternoon sessions debating just two paragraphs in the background section, one of which, after hours of debate that seemed to be producing a fragile consensus, had to be set aside. The lack of progress resulted in some frayed nerves. Friday’s evening session saw some terse exchanges, with participants noting sensitivity among certain delegations to references in the text to resources and reproductive rights. A dispute earlier in the day did not help. Prior to the close of the morning session, the G- 77/China, India, Peru and others raised concerns about alleged pressure tactics by one or more NGOs, who were accused of distributing newspaper articles criticizing family planning policies in individual countries to delegates in the conference room. Although it later appeared that it was a member of a delegation rather than an NGO who had been responsible, the incident sparked criticism of lobbying techniques employed by some NGOs, with some delegates calling for clarification of the rules for NGO participation in UN processes. However, by meeting’s end, the persistence of both delegates and Chair Chowdhury appeared to have produced reasonable progress, with many of the outstanding paragraphs now agreed, albeit ad referendum. With over two dozen outstanding paragraphs remaining, particularly in the highly contentious area of adolescent sexual and reproductive health, a considerable amount of work remains, and with it the risk that, if it is not completed on time, ministers at the Special Session starting on 30 June will be faced with a document containing bracketed text that may be difficult to clear. However, with a four day resumed PrepCom preceding the Special Session and in the light of progress made at these informal consultations, delegates have a last-minute opportunity to complete their work on time and have a positive effect on the Special Session’s outcome. This informal issue of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin © (enb@iisd.org) is written and edited by Chris Spence . The Editor is Pamela Chasek, Ph.D. (pam@iisd.org) and the Managing Editor is Langston James “Kimo” Goree VI (kimo@iisd.org). The Sustaining Donors of the Bulletin are The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Government of Canada (through CIDA), the United States (through USAID), the Swiss Agency for Environment, Forests and Landscape and the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID). General Support for the Bulletin during 1999 is provided by the German Federal Ministry of Environment (BMU) and the German Federal Ministry of Development Cooperation (BMZ), the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Community (DG-XI), the Ministries of Environment and Foreign Affairs of Austria, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Environment of Norway, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Environment of Finland, the Government of Sweden, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Ministry for the Environment in Iceland. The Bulletin can be contacted by e-mail at (enb@iisd.org) and fax: +1-212-644-0206. IISD can be contacted at 161 Portage Avenue East, 6th Floor, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 0Y4, Canada. The opinions expressed in the Earth Negotiations Bulletin are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of IISD and other funders. 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