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) 13 June 1996 Vol. 11 No. 35 HABITAT II HIGHLIGHTS WEDNESDAY, 12 JUNE 1996 The High-Level Segment of Habitat II opened with statements from President Demirel (Turkey) and UN Secretary-General Boutros-Ghali. Approximately 50 statements followed during morning, afternoon and evening Plenary sessions. In addition, the working groups and drafting groups of Committee I continued to negotiate the Habitat Agenda. WORKING GROUP I The US reported it had received clearance to accept 126bis (nuclear testing). In 27(j) (housing as work place), the US proposed a reformulation, amended by the EU: "Developing houses that can serve as a functional work place for men and women." In 2 (purpose of Habitat II), bracketed references to cultural heritage and spiritual and cultural values, and to protection of all human rights regardless of political or cultural particularities were agreed in the informal drafting group, but the EU opposed and the entire paragraph remained in brackets. In 10bis (human settlements problems), the phrase regarding poverty, underdevelopment and resource scarcity was deleted. The G-77/CHINA replaced the bracketed reference to sustained economic growth and sustainable development with "economic development, social development and environmental protection." The EU accepted but included the full reference from WSSD that adds "which are interdependent and mutually reinforcing components of sustainable development." The US accepted this amendment and added "national" to "favorable international frameworks." Brackets were removed from 13 (goals and principles) except from the list of factors that "are destructive to sustainable human settlements development and should therefore be renounced by all States." The US suggested deletion, but it remains in brackets. The Drafting Group’s amendments to 16 (sustainable development) were accepted. "Social development and environmental protection" were added to economic growth, and "conservation of biodiversity and sustainable use of its components" replaced "maintenance of biodiversity." In 18 (the family), brackets were removed from "various forms of the family" and additional language from ICPD was added: "Marriage must be entered into with the free consent of the intending spouses, and husband and wife should be equal partners." Family "reunification" was also unbracketed, and the paragraph was approved. Chapter III (Commitments) On 22ter (health), the Drafting Group reported it could not achieve consensus on the reference to reproductive health care and deferred it to an informal informal drafting group, but no solution was possible and the group had dissolved. The HOLY SEE, supported by SAUDI ARABIA, requested that the reference to reproductive health care be bracketed. The US and the EU agreed to accept the "compromise" formulation presented by CANADA, which did not include a reference to family planning and sexual health. IRAN, supported by EGYPT, replaced "gender" with "sex," but BRAZIL objected. GUATEMALA noted that "health care services" should not be specified but all-inclusive, and the HOLY SEE proposed "universal access to the widest range of health care services" from WSSD. The G-77/CHINA preferred to delete the reference but stated it would accept the ICPD formulation, which added "including reproductive health care services" to the WSSD formulation. The US stated it would agree to delete the reference if consensus emerged. No agreement was reached and the reference was bracketed. In chapeau 25 (commitments), the G-77/CHINA linked acceptance of "within the national legal authority" to agreement on the Chapter chapeau. In 25(g) (discrimination in access to shelter), the US suggested an alternative reformulation to reference discrimination on grounds of disability and age. In 25(g)bis (the family), CANADA and NORWAY supported an EU reference to "helping families in their" supporting roles. The G- 77/CHINA opposed. In 25(h) (displaced persons), CANADA said it had clearance to accept a G-77/CHINA proposal to delete references to "other displaced persons" and "in need of international protection." The word "internal" was added before displaced persons. CANADA insisted on "documented migrants" from ICPD. The PHILIPPINES said "legal" migrant workers do not need international protection, but later agreed to unbracket the text with the replacement of "documented" for "legal" migrants. The US said 27(a) (land confiscation and occupation) should be discussed with related parts of the Habitat Agenda. In 27(a)ses, CANADA reported an informally agreed reformulation: "Implementing the social and development goals already agreed to by the international community in the areas of basic education, primary health care and gender equality." In 27(d) (polluting transportation), the US agreed to new language on promoting measures so that the polluter bears the cost of pollution. SAUDI ARABIA added measures "as appropriate." The US suggested negotiating 27(f)bis (cities under occupation) together with related sections of the Agenda. In 27(h) (structural adjustment), the G-77/CHINA agreed to remove the brackets from "gender-sensitive social impact assessments and other relevant methods." Subparagraph (j)bis (disabilities) was deleted. In 30 (Habitat implementation), the US reintroduced a proposal referring to mobilization of "additional financial resources from various sources." In 31(d) (enabling markets), the US added: "promote socially and environmentally responsible corporate investment and re- investment" and "other partnerships." A CANADA/US/AUSTRALIA addition to 34 (integrated approach), stating that disaggregated indicators are essential for monitoring and evaluating progress, was accepted. In 38, the EU added "violations of human rights" to "intolerance and violence." The Group continued negotiations during a night session. WORKING GROUP II F. Implementation and follow-up: The Working Group approved text that was drafted early Wednesday morning. A new 170ter invites the GA and ECOSOC to review and strengthen the mandate of the Commission, taking into account the Habitat Agenda. Paragraph 170quart notes that the Commission should have a central role in monitoring UN system implementation and should have a clear mandate with sufficient resources. Paragraph 170quins states that the Commission should assist ECOSOC in its coordination of the reporting on implementation of the Habitat Agenda. In 170sextius, the Commission is called on to consider how to integrate Habitat II follow-up into its work programme. A new 172bis notes that the primary function of the Centre is to provide substantive servicing to the Commission and other relevant intergovernmental bodies and should be designated a focal point for implementation. The Secretary-General is requested to ensure more effective functioning by, inter alia, providing sufficient human and financial resources within the regular budget of the UN. An informal group was established to harmonize text on the Commission and Centre with these paragraphs. The EU, supported by the US and NORWAY, replaced the reference in 180(b) (Bretton Woods institutions) to "sustained economic growth" with "sustainable development." The G-77/CHINA (INDIA) objected, but agreed to the EU proposal for structural adjustment programmes to promote "sustainable human settlements development." Subparagraph 180(d) (WTO) was deleted at the G-77/CHINA’s request. The G-77/CHINA proposed 180bis and 180ter (involvement of civil society, including the private sector). The EU proposed adding local authorities to the title and to a list of actors to be strengthened. He also proposed deleting reference to the Istanbul Declaration and language from the WSSD, and including a reference to human rights and social integration. The G-77/CHINA asked if human rights were not adequately covered in the Agenda. The US supported mentioning human rights. The language from WSSD was included with amendments. In 181 (indicators, best practices and performance evaluation), the EU proposed retaining the existing text, but noted that the Centre will "be responsible," rather than "establish a process," for analyzing and monitoring policies. The US proposed that "age and gender disaggregated" information be included in the analyses. The paragraph was accepted as amended. In 182 (monitor and evaluate), the EU, supported by CANADA, deleted the reference to indicator guidelines provided by the Centre, but the G-77/CHINA objected. The EU suggested that the Centre’s responsibilities will include providing guidelines. In 183 (disseminate best practices and develop indicators), the EU identified key areas for indicators, to which AUSTRALIA added water supply and sanitation. NORWAY added indicators "that reflect the rights and well-being of children." HUNGARY suggested that the indicators be augmented by policy oriented national and sub-regional indicators. The G-77/CHINA specified that indicators be used "by governments." Delegates then considered earlier paragraphs related to Sections E and F of the text. In 11 (differences between regions), the G-77/CHINA proposed "strengthening" the Commission and "revitalizing" the Centre as focal points. The US proposed reference to the "reallocation" of resources. In 22 (increased flow of resources), MEXICO submitted an additional sentence: these flows should be accompanied by collective commitments and concrete measures on technical cooperation, training programmes and information exchange. Delegates bracketed the proposal pending the resolution of Section E (international cooperation). In 131(l) (information networks), the G-77/CHINA added a reference to technology transfer. The US requested that the Secretariat provide Working Group I's results regarding the chapeau. Delegates disagreed on an informal group’s results on 146 (enabling international context). AUSTRALIA proposed earlier that durable "solutions" to, inter alia, external debt and development finance, should be changed to "actions on" these issues. The G-77/CHINA preferred retaining "solutions." The EU noted proposed language from 90(b) of WSSD, which refers to debt, but the G- 77/CHINA, TANZANIA and NIGERIA objected. The G-77/CHINA proposed "positive actions." The US objected to altering the WSSD text that deals with debt. The disputed text remained bracketed. The Group continued during a night session. IN THE DRAFTING GROUPS The Drafting Group on the Istanbul Declaration considered outstanding text regarding: demographic change/population growth; vulnerable groups; family and children; rural/urban migration; and the precautionary principle approach. Additional outstanding issues include sustainable development and economic growth, and imbalances in the global economy. IN THE CORRIDORS NGOs following the reproductive health care issue returned to the corridors with more questions than answers when the Drafting Group of Working Group I suspended its deliberations. Observers report that the issue has provoked strong feelings and positions among groups of delegations and NGOs. Some NGOs also were reported to have used novel lobbying strategies. These include "smuggling" NGO representatives into the Drafting Group of Working Group I (which only had room for three NGO seats), and placing contrary publicity leaflets inside others’ publications. Some have described the latter as "the Trojan Horse technique." THINGS TO LOOK FOR TODAY HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT: The High-Level Segment will continue in the Plenary Hall during the morning, afternoon and evening. Approximately 60 speakers are scheduled. COMMITTEE I: The Committee is scheduled to meet in Conference Room 1 during the afternoon and evening. The Working Groups may meet in the morning. DRAFTING GROUPS: The Drafting Group on the Istanbul Declaration is expected to meet at 9:00 am. Conference Rooms A and B have been scheduled for additional drafting groups, if necessary. COMMITTEE II: The Committee is expected to meet in Conference Room 2 in the morning to consider the report of the Committee. 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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