ENB:10:35
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WORKING GROUP II
During the course of the afternoon and evening, Working Group II managed to complete the second reading of Chapters II and IV, and part of Chapter III.
CHAPTER II. ERADICATION OF POVERTY
In paragraph 24 (urgent needs), the 1st bullet (strategies to reduce poverty) is bracketed to ensure consistency with Commitment 2. The 8th bullet (the family) contains both EU and Holy See formulations in brackets.
A. THE FORMULATION OF INTEGRATED STRATEGIES: Delegates could not agree on a formulation for the chapeau in 25 (public efforts to eradicate poverty). There was no agreement on the alternatives for 25(b) (develop poverty eradication/reduction programmes), or whether 25(c) (addressing the structural causes of poverty) should be incorporated into 25(b). 25(e) bis (poverty indicators) was bracketed pending consultations.
The only brackets that remain in 26(a) (analyzing policies/ programmes) are around "family/families." In 26(d) (development schemes), the G-77/China defined development schemes as structural adjustment programmes whereas the US thought it meant the construction of shopping malls or dams. The text remains bracketed. In 28(a) (gender indicators of poverty), brackets remain around "family stability," pending further US consultations. In 28(b) (monitoring targets), brackets remain around the "eradication" of poverty. In the chapeau to 29 (enabling environment), there was another debate on "eradication," which remains bracketed. Brackets are also in 29(a) (policy coordination).
B. IMPROVED ACCESS TO PRODUCTIVE RESOURCES AND INFRASTRUCTURE: In 32(b) (protecting rights to land and resources), there was a lengthy discussion about traditional rights. There was no consensus in the room or within the G-77, so "traditional" remains bracketed.
C. MEETING THE BASIC HUMAN NEEDS OF ALL: In 35(c) (access of women and children to social services), the Holy See added language on the rights and responsibilities of parents, which the US bracketed. The G-77 proposal on the struggle against contagious diseases (68(h)) has been moved to paragraph 35.
Some delegates complained that 36(e) (food security) does not make sense. The Secretariat will examine it. In 36(g) (reproductive health), Malta proposed alternative language, which was accepted. The Holy See insisted on reference to parental guidance and the US bracketed it. The paragraph now reads: "Make accessible through the primary health-care system reproductive health to all individuals of appropriate ages [with proper regard for parental guidance and responsibility] as soon as possible and no later than the year 2015, in accordance with the Programme of Action from the ICPD, taking into account the reservations and declarations made in Cairo." The Chair asked delegates to consult on 36(h) (combating malaria), 36(i) (eradicating preventable diseases) and a Swiss proposal on healthcare for all.
In 37(d) (access to health services), the Holy See, Sudan and the G-77/China wanted to delete the list of health services, since it is not comprehensive, while Norway and the EU preferred the existing text. The Holy See asked to bracket the entire paragraph. Brackets remain in 37(e) (maternal healthcare).
D. ENHANCED SOCIAL PROTECTION AND REDUCED VULNERABILITY: Brackets remain around "language barriers" in the chapeau to paragraph 38 (basis for social protection systems). 38(i) (ensuring an adequate social safety net) remains bracketed. In 39(e) (protecting the rights of children), "family reunification" remained in brackets. The revised text for paragraph 40 (protecting older persons) was accepted.
CHAPTER IV. SOCIAL INTEGRATION
The second reading was based on CRP.5, Add. 3. In 64, the 3rd bullet (role of civil society in public policies) is still bracketed.
A. [PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, CULTURAL DIVERSITY,] RESPONSIVE GOVERNMENT AND FULL PARTICIPATION IN SOCIETY: Brackets remain in the title. The G-77/China said the chapeau to paragraph 65 should deal exclusively with human rights. In 65(i) (human rights treaties), the EU said that Vienna language must be used. The Chair bracketed it. The US bracketed "requires" in the chapeau to paragraph 66 (encouraging fullest participation in society). 66(b) was bracketed after Benin questioned civil society's role in policy formulation.
B. NON-DISCRIMINATION, TOLERANCE AND MUTUAL RESPECT FOR AND VALUE OF DIVERSITY: The US bracketed "requires" in the chapeau to paragraph 67 (eliminating discrimination). Sudan"s proposed addition, "at the national and international level," is also bracketed. Although delegates accepted the Holy See"s proposal to add "religious intolerance" to 67(a) (regulations against discrimination), they bracketed the sub-paragraph due to questions about enacting laws against xenophobia.
C. EQUALITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE: In 68(f), Algeria submitted: "ensuring that structural adjustment programmes are so designed to minimize any negative impact." It was bracketed.
D. RESPONSES TO SPECIAL SOCIAL NEEDS: No brackets remain in this section.
E. RESPONSES TO SPECIFIC SOCIAL NEEDS OF REFUGEES, DISPLACED PERSONS AND ASYLUM SEEKERS, DOCUMENTED MIGRANTS AND UNDOCUMENTED MIGRANTS: Interested delegations worked for over eight hours on this section. The three paragraphs were accepted with only minor amendments. Delegates deleted 70(d), since reference to hostages does not belong here. In 70(e) (repatriation of refugees), Algeria asked who "other relevant actors" are. Some delegates felt that they include international organizations, NGOs and IGOs. Algeria preferred more specific language. The Secretariat will come up with a formulation.
F. VIOLENCE, CRIME, THE PROBLEM OF ILLICIT DRUGS AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE: Brackets remain around the chapeau of paragraph 71 (problems of violence).
G. STRENGTHENING FAMILY TIES: 71 bis (family ties) remains bracketed.
CHAPTER III. THE EXPANSION OF PRODUCTIVE EMPLOYMENT AND THE REDUCTION OF UNEMPLOYMENT
In paragraph 47 (unremunerated work), delegates bracketed the Holy See"s proposal on social recognition for "such work by reflecting its value in the satellite accounts of gross national product." In paragraph 48 (urgent needs), the G-77/China agreed with the Chair to consider the bullet on documented migrants in relation to what was agreed in the informal-informals.
In paragraph 51 (stimulating employment), all brackets remain in relation to the problem of "required." The EU said it could support the alternative wording by adding "sustainable" growth. Brackets remained in the chapeau of paragraph 52 (private sector growth) and in paragraph 53 (access to productive employment). 55(b) (respect for workers" rights) remains bracketed.