Methodology for the General Assembly to examine the question of the participation of NGOs in all areas of the work of the United Nations

Informal Soundings on ECOSOC Decision 1996/297
Monday, 9 December 1996
Economic and Social Council Chamber

Speaking Notes for
Information Habitat: Where Information Lives *

Appreciate approach of the informal soundings
1. focus on methodology and procedure
2. integrate informal soundings into the whole process
3. ensure attention to what works - best practices - and to what hasn't been working
Critical to ensure NGOs access to observe and contribute to this process
1. include all categories of NGOs
  1. consultative status
  2. affiliated with UN Department of Public Information
  3. accredited to global conferences **
  4. accredited to conventions / treaty bodies
  5. others
2. provide for access, observation and participation for NGOs who are not in New York, but are online
  1. listserv, for documents from, for and related to the working group, plus press releases, etc
  2. World Wide Web site with documents from and for the working group
  3. interactive online consultation process, for example including "meetings on the internet" using software such as Internet Relay Chat
3. provide for access, observation and participation for NGOs who are not in New York, and not online
  1. links via UNICs, UNDP Sustainable Development Network Programme, other UN agencies
  2. inter-NGO cooperation for dissemination
4. use the process of the consultation on this question - including use of the internet - as a model for best practice in participation of NGOs
5. timely notice of meetings, agendas and relevant documents - disseminated by listserv, World Wide Web, fax/modem
Explore ways to examine the design of an ongoing integrated online framework that would strengthen NGO access to and participation in the work of the United Nations
1. convene informal group - including delegates, NGOs and secretariat - to review current practices in the use of information and communication technology and develop recommendations - with attention to the participation of NGOs from developing countries
2. consider how the NGO resource center - now being relocated - could be strengthened by greater use of information and communication technology
3. consider the innovative arrangements for participation of NGOs and other partners developed during Habitat II
4. the Partners Committee where representatives of the Habitat partners made presentations to Governments
5. the circulation as an official document of composite NGO suggestions for text of the Habitat Agenda
6. plans for the role of partners in follow up to Istanbul and for their role in the Commission on Human Settlements
Organization of the work to allow timely decisions in separate areas - rather than waiting to take action until all areas have been examined - of participation of NGOs:
1. in the work of the General Assembly and its main committees
2. in follow up to the "Rio cluster" of global conferences and in conventions and treaty bodies
3. in relation to other United Nations agencies and members of the United Nations system - including Bretton Wood Institutions