Daily report for 11 June 1996

Delegates to Habitat II heard general statements during Plenary. The Working Groups andDrafting Groups of Committee I, which are negotiating the Habitat Agenda, continuedtheir work throughout the day. Committee II met to hold hearings involvingrepresentatives of the Habitat Dialogues for the 21st Century and representatives of theForum on Human Solidarity.

WORKING GROUP I

The G-77/CHINA reformulated 90(c)bis (women’s participation) with EUamendments. The paragraph promotes changes in attitudes, structures, policies, laws andother practices relating to gender to eliminate obstacles to human dignity and equality andpromote full participation. In 90(f)bis (awareness of issues facing displacedwomen), CANADA’s inclusion of migrants, other displaced women in need ofinternational protection and internally displaced women was accepted with the G-77/CHINA’s addition of women living in poverty. Delegates debated inclusion ofinternational assistance and support to these categories of women, and the G-77/CHINAproposed a new bullet to the section on international cooperation to address this concern.

In 91(a)bis (human rights and education), the US introducedsubparagraphs from informal consultations calling for awareness and education to mitigatecrime and violence and strengthen society and (a)ter on crime preventionthrough social development.

In 92bis (new title: Population and sustainable human settlementsdevelopment), CANADA reported agreed text from informal consultations. Furthernegotiations are to be conducted on 92(c) (information campaigns) and96(d)bis (health-care services for women) in the Drafting Group ofWorking Group I.

The US reported agreement on the TURKEY-proposed 95quinquien(livability of built environment). In 98(aa) (integrated approachprinciples), "precautionary approach" was accepted and "ecological footprint" wasdeleted.

In 126bis (effects of nuclear-weapons testing), the US maintained thatHabitat II is an inappropriate forum for discussion of this issue, and recommendeddeletion. NEW ZEALAND, the HOLY SEE, AUSTRALIA, IRAN and thePHILIPPINES noted that nuclear weapons testing has considerable impact on humansettlements and is relevant to Habitat. The brackets were retained while governmentsconsulted with their capitals. SWITZERLAND’s proposal for a new 128(m),regarding Red Cross assistance to victims of armed conflict, was accepted.

The US introduced new text regarding lead: 95bisbis (effects of exposureand availability of alternatives); 97(i)bis (safe management);97(i)ter (elimination of lead in gasoline). Delegates accepted CANADA’snew 90quart regarding indigenous people.

CHAPTER III (Commitments)

The Chair introduced his draft with suggestions for reconciling the original text of theHabitat Agenda with proposals received for Chapter III. The G-77/CHINA, supported bythe HOLY SEE, reinserted an introductory chapeau (Charter of the UN) similar to theintroduction to the Cairo Plan of Action. The US added reference to human rights andfundamental freedoms. The EU, supported by the US, preferred language modeled onBeijing and Copenhagen on the duty of states to protect all human rights and freedomsand the implementation of the Habitat Agenda in conformity with the UN Charter andthrough national laws.

In 23 (implementing Habitat Agenda), the EU proposed reference toimplementation through "local" plans of action. The G-77/CHINA inserted a reference toharmony with cultural background and spiritual values. The US proposed reinserting23bis (special attention to homeless). The EU preferred to wait for relateddecisions from a Drafting Group.

In 25 (commitments), the G-77/CHINA added "within the national legalauthority" to the chapeau but the EU objected. Supported by NORWAY, AUSTRALIAand CANADA, the EU asked for the restoration of (a)bis on equal accessto resources and equal right to inheritance and suggested integrating this into (b).QATAR objected to "equal right of inheritance." IRAN preferred language from Beijing(FWCW). In (d), CANADA added "optimal use" of local humanresources and the G-77/CHINA added "particularly in developing countries." The HOLYSEE introduced (g)bis on shelter and the family. CANADA, supported bythe EU, preferred "families" and amended the HOLY SEE’s proposal with a reference torecognition of their "important" contribution to social integration. NORWAY addedfamilies "in their various forms." In (h), the PHILIPPINES proposedsubstituting "migrant workers" for "legal migrants," but the US objected. CANADAdeleted "in their traditional habitat" from a reference to indigenous people, and added"facilities for education and health" to basic services. In (k), the US andCANADA, supported by AUSTRALIA, added "legal traditional" land rights ofindigenous people. Negotiations continued during the evening. The CHAIR announced theappointment of Ayse Ogut (TURKEY) as Rapporteur of Committee I.

WORKING GROUP II

F. Implementation and follow-up: The US placed all of 170 (function ofthe Commission) in mental brackets, pending the outcome of the chapeau. The EUpreferred to delete (a) (develop and promote policy objectives), (b) (leadthe UN system) and (c) (activities in harmony with UN conferences). He offeredto accept all three with the amendments that the Commission should "continue to" developand the reference to Habitat II in (a) be deleted, and that the Commission should "followclosely," rather than lead, the UN system in (b). The G-77/CHINA (INDIA) addedreference to the Habitat Agenda in (a), called on the Commission to "follow-up andmonitor" in (b), and suggested deleting (c). Delegates added "continue to" and a referenceto the Habitat Agenda in (a), called on the Commission to "track progress of theactivities" of the UN in (b), and called for the promotion of adequate shelter in harmonywith UNCED recommendations, and taking into account relevant outcomes of othermajor UN conferences in (c).

In 170(c) (promote national actions), the G-77/CHINA proposed deleting thereference to promoting national actions, but the US, supported by CANADA, saidnational focus was needed for balance with international concerns. Delegates added areference to "international" actions in (d) and amended a reference tointernational actions in (e).

Delegates added 170bis, based on an EU-proposed paragraph calling onthe Commission to review its work programme and make recommendations to ECOSOCin the framework of its review of its subsidiary bodies’ activities. The G-77/CHINAproposed that, rather than reviewing its working methods to involve civil society, suchaction should be in accordance with its rules of procedures. A new 170ter,which was bracketed, notes that the mandate of the Commission will be strengthened andexpanded to incorporate and implement the Habitat Agenda. The US proposed that themandate be reoriented and strengthened, in the context of UN reforms.

In 171 (the Centre), the EU proposed a chapeau on the role of the Centre. TheUS proposed changing "shall" to "should" continue to service the Commission. The G-77/CHINA said this implied that the Centre would not continue in this capacity. The Chairproposed language that invites ECOSOC to review the role and function of the Centre, toacknowledge the ongoing UN review, but the G-77/CHINA objected to mentioning theECOSOC review in this section. The G-77/CHINA also objected to "within its presentmandate" and said Habitat II will add responsibilities, thereby expanding the mandate. TheEU said that the GA and ECOSOC, not the Conference, have the authority to change themandate.

The US, supported by the EU, proposed deleting a reference designating the ExecutiveDirector for the Centre as Under-Secretary-General. The EU noted it was not the decisionof the Conference. The G-77/CHINA objected and bracketed the reference. The USproposed changing "entrusted with" to "should have" in reference to the Centre’sresponsibilities. The G-77/CHINA proposed "shall have."

Prior to considering the list of the Centre’s responsibilities, the RUSSIANFEDERATION, the US and the EU noted that the existing text cites the responsibilities inGA Resolution 32/162 and the text should not repeat the entire list. The G-77/CHINAnoted that the list in the existing text has been updated. The US noted that the ECOSOCreview process will update the list, and the existing list should be used. The G-77/CHINAsaid that all these recommendation will go to the GA, which will accept or reject,therefore the group can seek to make changes as needed.

In 171(a) (harmonization of development programmes), the US proposedchanging "to ensure" to "monitoring" harmonization. The EU proposed "at the inter-secretariat level" and the PHILIPPINES proposed "inter-agency." Both references werebracketed. In 171(c) (executing human settlements programmes), the USproposed references to "where appropriate" and "in accordance with the legal frameworkof each country." CANADA proposed "promote, facilitate and execute" programmes. TheRUSSIAN FEDERATION proposed a reference to social housing reform programmes.Delegates continued negotiations during an evening session.

IN THE DRAFTING GROUPS

The Drafting Group on the Istanbul Declaration continued to consider the Chair’s draftduring the morning and afternoon. The issues addressed in outstanding paragraphs includesustainable patterns of consumption and production, resources and implementation. Thelatter two are pending Working Group II’s resolution of Sections E and F.

The Drafting Group of Working Group I reported that it had reached consensus onparagraphs addressing forced evictions (25(l), 44(b) and 75(b))as well as on the following: 2 (purpose of Habitat II), 3 (globalapproach), 9ter (children and youth), 9ses (persons withdisabilities), 9sept (older persons), 16 (sustainable development),and 54bis(g) (spontaneous settlements). Outstanding text that wasaddressed during an evening session included references to reproductive health and"various forms of the family."

IN THE CORRIDORS

NGO participants in the Human Rights Caucus have welcomed a number of agreementsreached by the Drafting Group of Working Group I. They noted the paragraphs dealingwith protection from unlawful forced eviction and redress. One NGO representative notedthe timely call for special attention to child victims of sexual exploitation in the run-up tothe Stockholm "world summit" on child prostitution in August. She drew a parallel to therole of the ICPD (Cairo) in "breaking the self-imposed silence of the states" on the issue offemale genital mutilation.

THINGS TO LOOK FOR TODAY

HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT: The High-Level Segment, which will meet in thePlenary Hall, will begin in the morning with statements from President Demirel (Turkey)and UN Secretary-General Boutros-Ghali. Over 50 statements are expected to follow inmorning, afternoon and evening sessions.

WORKING GROUP I: The Working Group is expected to meet in ConferenceRoom 1 during the morning.

WORKING GROUP II: The Working Group is expected to meet in ConferenceRoom 3 during the morning.

COMMITTEE I: The Committee may meet during the afternoon to consider theresults from the Working Groups.

DRAFTING GROUPS: The Drafting Group on the Istanbul Declaration isexpected to meet during the morning in Conference Room D. Conference Room B has been reserved for other morning and afternoon drafting group meetings.