SECRETARY GENERAL RELEASES REPORT TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON CARDOSO PANEL

September 28, 2004 --The United Nations has released an unedited, advance copy of Secretary General Kofi Annan's report concerning the findings of the Panel of Eminent Persons on Civil Society-UN Relationship, also known as the Cardoso Panel.

The thirteen-member Panel was instigated in June 2003, to investigate how civil society could be better represented in the UN. On June 7, 2004, their report was completed. It included 30 proposals concerning the possibilities and implications of engaging civil society at a higher level than currently established at the UN and suggested methods for its implementation. In October of 2004, the Secretary General will present the report to the General Assembly for its consideration.

+ ANALYSIS OF CARDOSO REPORT

In his report to the General Assembly, the Secretary General commends the Cardoso Report and is pleased with the specific suggestions put forth by the panel for the restructuring of the methods of interaction between civil society and the UN. He supports the deeper inclusion of civil society and appreciates its ability to expand the reach of the UN to the local level. He also recognizes that it is also a good indicator of global trends, a fluent interpreter of cultural issues, and a provider of valuable resources for innovative conflict resolution.

First in his report, the Secretary General stresses that the rights and powers of the Member States will not be usurped or compromised by any non-governmental organizations. The participation of NGOs will not change the UN's status as an intergovernmental organization but will simply enhance its ability to properly address the needs of the modern world.

In keeping with this idea of adapting the UN to a changing global climate, the Secretary General cited the first proposal as being particularly significant. It states the UN ".should become a more outward-looking organization, making more of its role as a global convener of diverse constituencies relevant to an issue." The Secretary General feels that more realistic solutions to a multitude of problems can be reached when there is input from non-state actors as opposed to relying solely on states who may or may not be fully informed on all aspects of a given problem. For example, it may be useful to the Security Council to consult with civil society in post-conflict peacebuilding. In addition, he made a statement on a further benefit: " More effective engagement with NGOs also increases the likelihood that United Nations decisions will be better understood and supported by a broad and diverse public."

The Secretary General supports the suggestions made by the Panel in regards to the implementation of protocols and funding for civil society participation and hopes that the General Assembly will carefully consider them.

For the last ten years, it has become common for NGOs to be present at intergovernmental deliberations and the Secretary General commends the different modalities that have been developed to facilitate this. He also stresses that Article 71 of the UN Charter does not preclude civil society participation in sessions of the General Assembly. However, he puts special emphasis on the need for NGOs to take the initiative to form their own networks and groupings and to not rely on the UN for total organization.

He also supports a single standardized accreditation system to legitimize the contributions of NGOs, making sure that they understand their rights and responsibilities and deny applications of those who are unfit.

The Secretary General also stressed the need for financial support for southern NGOs who may not be as well-funded as their northern counterparts. This will ensure a level playing field and further democracy in global governance. He said he will create a single trust fund that will provide for travel and accommodation costs for NGOs from developing countries.

In continuance of connecting the global to the local, the Secretary General is encouraged by the increasing participation of local authorities which would help to fine-tune UN actions on cross-border issues such as HIV/AIDS.

On 24th, the World Federalist Movement sent a letter (PDF) to the Secretary General fundamentally praising the Panel's findings but also addressing some contentious points. An issue of concern was the emphasis on the inclusion of the business sector without outlining a framework for specific rules of engagement. Although the Secretary General stated in his report that the business sector has been invited to participate in debates about its possible roles in post-conflict situations, he did not address this issue directly.

The Secretary General feels that, if managed in a coherent and organized fashion, many of the changes outlined by the Panel's report can be successfully implemented and he will strongly urge the General Assembly to give it consideration and priority.

Last Updated 02/07/2005