EARTH NEGOTIATIONS BULLETIN (enb@igc.apc.org) PUBLISHED BY THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (IISD) WRITTEN AND EDITED BY: Johannah Bernstein Pamela Chasek, Ph.D. Anilla Cherian Langston James Goree VI "Kimo" Richard Jordan Lynn Wagner A DAILY REPORT ON THE THIRD SESSION OF THE PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR THE WORLD SUMMIT FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT Vol. 10 No. 31 Monday, 23 January 1995 WSSD PREPCOM III HIGHLIGHTS SATURDAY, 21 JANUARY 1995 After a nine-hour Saturday session, Working Group I completed its first reading of the draft Declaration and proposed amendments to Chapter V, Implementation and follow- up. Working Group II was able to complete Chapter II, Eradication of poverty. WORKING GROUP I Amb. Somavi'a called for specific amendments to the Declaration, with the substantive details of each sub- paragraph to be worked out by the drafting group. COMMITMENT 8 (utilization of resources): The EU proposed a new sub-paragraph (dd) on ensuring responsibility in budgetary matters. The G-77and China highlighted the need for new social indicators. In 8(e) (reduction in military expenditures), the Holy See referred to international agreements restricting arms that are excessively injurious and the need for transmission of information to the UN Arms Register. In 8(f) (new and additional financial resources), the EU, opposed by the G-77 and China, proposed weaker language on new and additional resources. Canada, supported by the US, proposed deletion of "new and additional." In 8(g) (flow of resources), the G-77 and China deleted the reference to "transition countries," since there was a separate paragraph on this. The Russian Federation pointed out that 8(g) was more encompassing than the paragraph on economies in transition. The EU also proposed language on the promotion of joint ventures in the social sector as an alternative for the deletion of 8(g). While there was general agreement on the EU proposal, the G-77 and China did not feel that it was an adequate substitute for 8(g). In 8(h) (0.7% of GNP as ODA), the G-77 and China, supported by Norway, proposed a target of the year 2000 and stronger language. Japan, supported by the EU, did not want a specific target. On the Japanese proposal to promote South- South cooperation, the G-77 and China added reference to international support for such cooperation. In 8(i) (debt- relief agreements), the EU, supported by the US, proposed language on favorable terms of debt forgiveness. The G-77 and China felt that "forgiveness" was paternalistic and preferred "cancellation" instead. The G-77 and China proposed reference to innovative measures to reduce bilateral debt and to develop durable solutions for servicing multilateral debt. Benin felt that the EU language was close to accepted UNGA-49 language and suggested a merger of the two. In 8(j) (Uruguay Round), the G-77 and China accepted Japan’s reference to "fully implementing the final Uruguay Round." This would ensure that all agreements reached at the Uruguay Round and their respective timeframes would be implemented. Benin pointed out that the results of the Round were not entirely satisfactory for African countries. In 8(k) (trade liberalization), Canada, opposed by India, called for stronger language on monitoring of trade liberalization to improve working and living conditions. The original text was retained. In 8(l) (economies in transition), the G-77 and China added the qualifier "without prejudice to the needs of developing countries." Armenia and the Russian Federation did not agree. Armenia also suggested language on financial and technical assistance for economies in transition, which was not supported by the G-77 and China. In 8(m)(financing for the UN), there was agreement to strengthen the UN’s role in WSSD follow-up. Azerbaijan proposed a new 8(n) regarding the return and needs of refugees and displaced persons. The G-77 and China, and the EU, agreed with the concept, but reserved on its placement. COMMITMENT 9 (strengthened framework): Reference to regional and subregional organizations was accepted in the chapeau. 9(a)(implementing the WSSD) was accepted, subject to minor changes. In 9(b)(regional commission meetings), Japan preferred triennial instead of biannual meetings. The US reserved on this sub-paragraph, pending discussion on Chapter V. In 9(c) (role of UN system in follow-up), references were made to the roles of: multilateral development banks (the EU); international organizations concerned with development and trade (Australia); and the ILO (Japan). In 9(d)(ECOSOC review of the WSSD), Japan suggested that the progress made by national governments and relevant UN functional commissions should also be evaluated. In 9(e) (second WSSD), the EU and Japan felt it was premature to plan a second WSSD until the first one was evaluated. The G-77 and China proposed a new commitment on education. CHAPTER V: IMPLEMENTATION AND FOLLOW-UP The Chair requested that delegates identify major problems and issues in Chapter V. INTRODUCTION and A. NATIONAL STRATEGIES The G-77 and China said that political will must be promoted at both the national and international levels. They called for international assistance, in addition to cooperation, and emphasized quantitative and qualitative indicators to assess social development. The EU, the US, Australia and Japan called for human rights language in the introduction. The US stressed the need for specific measures for follow-up and capacity-building. B. INVOLVEMENT OF CIVIL SOCIETY The G-77 and China called for references to: poverty eradication; cooperation between governments and civil society; linkages between sustained economic growth and sustainable development; capacity-building; and evaluation of costs. The EU supported civil-society involvement. Australia called for voluntary codes of conduct for investment. The US noted the difficulties with such codes. C. MOBILIZATION OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES The G-77 and China stressed the need for: substantial, new and additional funds; budgetary reorientation at national and international levels; reduction of arms and military expenditures; commitment to ODA targets; a special fund for social development; and debt reduction measures. They introduced a paragraph on the needs of SIDS. The EU called for: high priority to social development in the allocation of public funds; coordination between multilateral and bilateral funding policies; implementation of the recommendations of the Paris Club; and increased social responsibility within international financial institutions. Australia called for a study on innovative funding mechanisms. The Russian Federation highlighted the negative social consequences of military conversion. Norway called for the 20:20 concept to be studied. The US expressed concern about references to new and additional resources, but indicated its support for exploring new funding sources. Pakistan noted the non-viability of developing a mathematical formula such as the 20:20 initiative. Benin noted the full commitment of African countries to the 20:20 concept. Discussion continued until 9:00 pm. WORKING GROUP II The Chair reported that by Saturday morning, the informal contact group had removed 95% of the brackets in Chapter I. CHAPTER II: ERADICATION OF POVERTY C. MEETING THE BASIC NEEDS OF ALL Paragraph 32 (partnerships meeting basic needs of all): In the chapeau, the US withdrew its amendment to meet the basic needs of all "legal residents," due to strong G-77 and China objection. In 32(b) (women’s full access to social services), the EU objected to "gender-sensitive health services," preferring "comprehensive health care." Pakistan proposed language stating that abortion should not be promoted as a method of family planning and the Holy See bracketed the entire sub-paragraph. The G-77 and China proposed consolidating 32(b)(bis) and 32(bb)(bis), both of which referred to participation of and equal access for indigenous people. Norway agreed to move its 32(bbb)(bis) (health linked to the environment) as long as it remained somewhere in the document. The EU proposed in 32(c) (social services for vulnerable people) that "appropriate" rather than "special" services should be provided. In 32(d) (ensuring access to legal services), Japan specified that "free legal assistance" be provided for in trial procedures. The US, supported by the EU and Australia, qualified the reference with "where appropriate." The G-77 and China reserved on both formulations, which were bracketed. In response to the G-77 and China’s reference to "fair administration" of justice, the EU proposed using the Vienna formulation of "strong and independent administration of justice," which delegates accepted, pending the outcome of the bracketed reference to "free" services. The EU and Benin suggested that the US-proposed 32(new e) (restorative services for those requiring institutional care), which was expanded to encompass those who are homebound, is better placed in Chapter IV (Social Integration). Paragraph 33 (implementation targets): In the chapeau, the US supported the Egyptian proposal "urging" countries to implement commitments rather than the imperatives in the original text ("must") or proposed by the G-77 and China ("should"). The EU qualified the G-77 and China’s proposal that there should be "appropriate" assistance from the international community, but the G-77 and China objected. With regard to the sub-paragraphs, the Chair said that the list of commitments have been made at other conferences and the language should be taken verbatim from the relevant declarations or programmes of action. Switzerland suggested that each sub-paragraph should include the source of each commitment. The US added two new sub-paragraphs on (1) life expectancy and (2) eradicating and controlling preventable diseases that represent a threat to development. In 33(e)(reproductive healthcare), some delegates preferred reference to paragraph 7.6 of the Cairo Programme of Action, but the G-77 and China, the Holy See and Pakistan wanted direct reference to the following Cairo language: "while ensuring that in no case abortion should be promoted as a method of family planning." It was bracketed. Agreement was reached on how to monitor the implementation of these commitments (33(i)), and the Holy See dropped its proposed 33(j) on stable family units. Paragraph 34 (social services): Delegates agreed that the paragraph should deal with access to "social services" for people living in poverty. Sub-paragraphs 34(a), on access to quality education, and 34(b), on non-formal education, were bracketed. Sub-paragraph 34(c) (preschool education) was accepted. In 34(d) (access to health service outlets), Norway, Switzerland and the US noted that reproductive health and family planning are not interchangeable and that the phrase should read "reproductive health, including family planning." The G-77 and China disagreed and it was bracketed. Delegates agreed that 34(d)(bis) should be moved to paragraph 71, which addresses violence against women. Pakistan and the Holy See felt that 34(e)(comprehensive national health care strategy) should not focus exclusively on reproductive health care. Delegates agreed to include Norway’s amendment regarding education about the benefits of breastfeeding. Sub- paragraph 34(f)(health care workers in low-income communities and rural areas) was also bracketed. D. ENHANCED SOCIAL PROTECTION AND REDUCED VULNERABILITY Paragraph 35 (social protection systems): The chapeau now reads: "Social protection systems should be based on legislation, as appropriate, strengthened and expanded, as necessary, in order to protect from poverty, people who cannot find work, people who cannot work due to sickness, disability, language barriers, old age or maternity, or caring for children and sick or elderly relatives, families that have lost a breadwinner through death or marital break- up, and people who have lost their livelihoods due to natural disaster or civil violence, wars or forced displacement. Due attention should be given to people affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Actions to this end [should] [could] include:". Sub-paragraph 35(a) now reads: "Strengthening and expanding programmes targeted to those in need, programmes providing universal basic protection, and social security and social insurance programmes, with the choice of programmes depending on national financial and administrative capacities." Discussions continued until 9:00 pm. IN THE CORRIDORS There was concern in the corridors that the PrepCom has not progressed sufficiently during its first week. Working Group I has barely begun consideration of Chapter V and Working Group II has been able to complete only a first reading of Chapters I and II. Nevertheless, substantive progress has been made on the draft Declaration, which now includes strong commitments on the role of women in social development, eradication of poverty, and empowerment in general. With only one week remaining, unless the Working Groups pick up their pace and increase their use of small informal-informal groups, the document that is sent to Copenhagen may remain largely bracketed. THINGS TO LOOK FOR TODAY PLENARY: The Plenary will meet today at 3:00 pm. WORKING GROUP I: Working Group I will not meet today. The Chair has asked Amb. Razali to compile all amendments to Chapter V, which will be the basis for negotiations on Tuesday. WORKING GROUP II: Working Group II will begin consideration of Chapter III, Productive employment and the reduction of unemployment. An evening session is expected. This issue of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin (c) is written and edited by Johannah Bernstein , Pamela Chasek, Ph.D. , Anilla Cherian , Langston James Goree VI “Kimo” , Richard Jordan and Lynn Wagner . 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