ENB:06:07
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INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS ON FORMAT AND STRUCTURE
Informal-informal discussions began yesterday on the proposed structure of the final document. The meeting was led by PrepCom Vice-Chair Tauno K„„ri„ of Finland. Concerns regarding the lack of interpretation were conveyed to the Secretariat.
Sweden circulated a proposal for the reformulation of PC/11. The proposal retains all of the essential elements, but restructures Part Two, "Choices and Responsibilities" into four sub-headings (demographic trends, analysis of interlinkages, activities, and follow-up to the Conference). The proposal also regroups the 13 chapter headings to highlight actors and resources and emphasizes the action elements. Finland suggested that the proposed structure include the preamble, essential principles for population and development, a section on the linkages and demographic trends, and three clusters of activities: integrating population concerns into development; the role and status of women; and reproductive rights, reproductive heath and family planning. The EC then circulated its suggestions for reorganizing the guiding principles.
Colombia requested guidance from the Secretariat on the approaches taken at both Bucharest and Mexico City on the structure of the final document. The Secretariat explained the methodology used at these meetings, and reminded the delegates of the decision taken at PrepCom I to draft a new plan of action.
After a discussion on the nature of the preamble, the US introduced its non-paper on Part Two of the conceptual framework. Sweden emphasized that given limited resources, prioritization and concentration must be given to certain areas and that the final document must be operational and action oriented.
David Payton of the ICPD Secretariat suggested that the priorities for this group should be to: 1) determine if there is a need for a preamble and, if so, how inclusive it should be; 2) decide if there should be principles as set out in Part One of PC/11 and, if so, how to incorporate the various proposals; 3) reach consensus on the set of chapters and how they should be clustered; 4) determine the structure within chapters for sub-headings; and 5) decide if there should be goals and where they should be placed. The US suggested that a smaller group of interested governments caucus after the G-77 meeting to attempt to draft a common outline. The afternoon session of the group was cancelled and the G-77 announced that it would meet at 4:00 pm to address these and other issues.