Daily report for 12 June 1996
HABITAT II HIGHLIGHTS: THURSDAY, 13 JUNE 1996
Delegates to Habitat II heard approximately 45 statementsduring morning, afternoon and evening sessions of the High-Level Segment. Committee I met briefly in the afternoon,broke into Working Groups, and reconvened Friday morning.Delegates adjourned before completing consideration of theHabitat Agenda. Committee II met during the morning toadopt the report of the Committee.
COMMITTEE I
Committee I convened to finalize the Habitat Agenda andIstanbul Declaration. The Committee will have to worksimultaneously as a Working Group and a Committee. Themeeting proceeded to review bracketed paragraphs in thedraft Agenda.
Paragraph 23bis (homeless, disadvantaged,vulnerable) was reformulated to give special attention tothe needs of people living in poverty, people who arehomeless, women, older people, indigenous people, refugees,displaced persons, people with disabilities and thosebelonging to vulnerable and disadvantaged groups. Areference to street children was also added. ThePHILIPPINES added "migrants," but the US said the referencewas inappropriate.
Chapter I. PREAMBLE
In 2 (human beings are center of concern), the G-77/CHINA proposed replacing the reference to harmony with"nature" with "environment." The US said the originalreference comes from Principle l of the Rio Declaration.CHINA preferred deletion of a reference to cultural andreligious backgrounds and values. The EU preferredretaining the Rio language, and agreed to China's deletion.While considering 2ter (democracy andtransparent governance), INDIA suggested the formation of asmall group to discuss difficult paragraphs in Sections Eand F. Delegations agreed to re-form Working Groups I andII as proposed by IRAN.
Committee I reconvened after fourteen hours of informalconsultations (Friday 6 a.m.). The CHAIR announced thatcertain agreements had been reached, but given the lack ofinterpretation the Group would have to meet again later.
UGANDA, on behalf of the G-77/CHINA, reported that severalparagraphs were negotiated as a package. A new chapeau forparagraph 13, which he noted had no relevance to theoriginal 13, notes that the objectives of the HabitatAgenda are in full conformity with the purposes andprinciples of the Charter of the UN and international law.While the significance of national and regionalparticularities and various historical, cultural andreligious backgrounds should be borne in mind, it is theduty of all States to promote and protect all human rights.The implementation of the Habitat Agenda consistent withnational laws and development priorities is the sovereignright and responsibility of each State in conformity withall human rights and with full respect for variousreligious and ethical values, cultural backgrounds andphilosophical convictions of individuals and theircommunities (sic) contribute to the full enjoymentby all of their human rights.
The bracketed reference in 22ter toreproductive health care was to be deleted. The bracketedreference in 87(a) to reproductive and sexual healthcare and services was to be deleted. The bracketedreference in 25(g)bis to helping "the familyin its" supporting role was to be retained, with areference to WSSD paragraph 18.
UGANDA thought there had been agreement to retain thebracketed reference in 96(d)bis toreproductive health care, with a reference to paragraph 267of the FWCW. There was no agreement in his Group on thisparagraph, however. Regarding the original 13 andadditional references to occupied territories, an anothergroup was negotiating the text.
The US thanked UGANDA for his tireless efforts infacilitating agreement on the package deal. She stated thatshe would consider another reference than the Beijing text,but said that she would not negotiate a paragraphindependent of the package. CANADA also noted that thewhole package must be considered together.
EGYPT reported that he had the understanding thatparagraphs 13, 27(a), and 27(f), whichincluded references to foreign occupation and holy places,were included in the deal and that the brackets would bedeleted. The HOLY SEE suggested that 96(d)bisinclude a cross-reference to ICPD 7.45. He stated he wouldmake a statement of interpretation in Plenary. The US andthe NETHERLANDS urged the CHAIR to not allow negotiationsto continue on the elements of the package deal and calledfor adjournment.
UGANDA stated that when negotiating the package he wasinformed that, regarding the original 13(destructive to human settlements), 27(a)(illegal settlements), and 27 (f)bis(foreign occupation), the US had been contacted bya number of countries and she was trying to reach anunderstanding with them. The G-77/CHINA never gave amandate regarding these paragraphs. He asked the CHAIR toexplain what would happen to the bracketed text if noagreement were reached. The US said that any text remainingin brackets should be deleted. She also noted that the USdid not associate whatsoever with the package deal reportedby EGYPT. It is a misunderstanding. The US would not acceptthe references in 13, 27(a), and27(f)bis. The US called for a vote on themotion to adjourn. The CHAIR agreed that delegates wereunable to continue. They could meet at 11:00 am andcontinue until 2:00 pm. IRAN noted that there areparagraphs to add, including those dealing with landmines.He proposed an adjournment of discussion on particularparagraphs while continuing with the rest. MALTA, on apoint of order, said the meeting was informal. It is onlyfair that the meeting take heed of the fact that all thenegotiators are legitimately tired and fatigue is notconducive to a fruitful outcome. The meeting adjourned.SUDAN agreed. He thanked UGANDA for his efforts in thenegotiations. He assured the CHAIR on behalf of the ARABcountries and for his colleague who objected to96(d)bis (reproductive health care services),and stated that the objection to the package could bewithdrawn on the condition offered by the HOLY SEE.
WORKING GROUP I
The Working Group met in informal drafting groups from thefirst adjournment of Committee I at 4:00 pm to itsreconvening at 6:15 am.
WORKING GROUP II
The Working Group met from 6:30 to 8:30 pm to considerremaining bracketed text. The G-77/CHINA (INDIA) proposedreplacing 33(a) (0.7% GNP for ODA) with a reviseddraft committing actors to strive to fulfill the agreedtarget of 0.7% as soon as possible and to increase, asnecessary, the share of funding for adequate shelter. TheUS replaced "equitable" with "non-discriminatory" in33(b) (effective use of resources), but the G-77/CHINA proposed using both.
In 131(l) (information network), the G-77/CHINA, inresponse to earlier concerns, agreed to delete thereference to the Centre and to call for multiple networks.The EU (ITALY) suggested that actors develop "and/orstrengthen, as appropriate, in cooperation with relevant UNbodies," and within existing resources, global and easilyaccessible information networks. The G-77/CHINA deleted"within existing resources."
Paragraph 150(d) (0.7%GNP for ODA) was agreedwithout the original reference to 0.15%GNP for ODA forleast developed countries (LDCs). Delegates added a new150(d)bis regarding the 0.15% GNP of ODA forLDCs. The G-77/CHINA proposed that actors strive tofulfill, consistent with commitments and internationalagreements, such as in the Paris Declaration and Programmeof Action for the LDCs in the 1990's, the target, whereagreed, of 0.15% to LDCs as soon as possible. The US notedit would have to reserve. NORWAY supported stronger text.
In new 172 (Centre headed by Executive Director),the G-77/CHINA proposed that the level of the head be asestablished by the GA. The US, the EU and CANADA objected.The text remained bracketed. In 175 (Centre to bemember of Administrative Committee on Coordination (ACC)),the G-77/CHINA proposed that the Centre participate in thework of the ACC. The US objected and it remained bracketed.
ISTANBUL DECLARATION DRAFTING GROUP
The Drafting Group on the Istanbul Declaration metthroughout the day and into the night. Among theoutstanding issues discussed were: sustainable developmentand economic growth; the global economy; the promotion ofgender equality and [equity]; the importance of [all][thefamily][families]; common but differentiatedresponsibilities; and local action guided through localplans. Delegates also addressed paragraphs on resources andimplementation, taking into consideration Working GroupII's completed consideration of Sections E (internationalcooperation) and F (implementation). The Group arranged tomeet Friday morning to continue consideration of the text,in light of the results of the early morning Committee Imeeting.
COMMITTEE II
Committee II met during the morning to consider its report.The report, as contained in A/CONF.165/L.5 and Add. 1-9,contains Chairperson's summaries of each of the hearingsheld in Committee II during the course of Habitat II. TheChair, Martti Lujanen (Finland), also presented a Preambleof the Chairperson's Summary Report. The Preamble statesthat the Partner's Committee was the most exciting featureof Habitat II. It notes that, although NGOs were accustomedto assembling at Page prcdente conferences, many other partnersassembled for the first time at a UN conference. Asignificant outcome of the hearings was the determinationof partners to contribute to the implementation of theHabitat Agenda. In addition to the new relationship withthe UN, the partners recognized the need to support otherpartners.
A number of delegates suggested additional issues from thediscussions for inclusion in the reports. The Chairstressed that the texts were summaries. The texts andPreamble were adopted and sent to the Plenary.
IN THE CORRIDORS
Supporters of Beijing (FWCW) commitments among the Women'sCaucus noted the arrival of Secretary-General Wally N'Dowduring the late night informal consultations by delegationsof Working Group I. Many hoped that Mr. N'Dow would follow-up his commitment to the inclusion of Beijing language inthe Habitat Agenda. In the early hours of Friday morning, across reference to the Platform for Action (paragraph 267on the rights of the girl child and access to reproductivehealth care) was the subject of a disagreement thatthreatened to unravel an agreed package.
THINGS TO LOOK FOR TODAY
HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT: The High-Level Segment isexpected to meet in the morning in the Plenary Hall to hearapproximately 20 statements.
COMMITTEE I: The Committee is expected to meet inConference Room 1 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm to completeconsideration of the Habitat Agenda.
DECLARATION DRAFTING GROUP: The Drafting Group onthe Istanbul Declaration is expected to meet at 9:00 am.
CLOSING PLENARY: Delegates are expected to meet inthe afternoon in the Plenary Hall to consider adoption ofthe report of the Conference, the Declaration and theHabitat Agenda.