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A
Short Note from the CONGO President
Dear
Friends and Colleagues,
I
want to let you know some of the highlights of our recent General Assembly,
without waiting for the fuller report and documentation that will be
distributed.
.
1. More than 115 full and associate members, special guests, observers,
representatives from UN Agencies and Governments, altogether 275 participants
registered for the Assembly and three full days of cordial and incisive
discussion focused on our "internal" business matters and
on our overall theme Inclusive Global Governance: Challenges and Opportunities
for CONGO in Partnership with the United Nations.
2. The Assembly heard warm messages from the UN Secretary-General, the
President of the Geneva Cantonal Government, the Director General of
the UN Office at Geneva, the Executive Director of the ILO and a keynote
from the Director of the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation, Mr.
Walter Fust. An exceptional highlight was the thoughtful keynote address
by the President of the UN General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Julian Hunte.
3. A special session focused on the work of the UNSG's High-Level Panel
on UN-Civil Society relations. Among just a few of the salient remarks
were: Ambassador Erdos of Hungary (member of the Panel): "The significance
of Civil Society is contested by no-one". Miguel D'Arcy de Oliviero
(Advisor to President Cardoso, Chairman of the panel): "The UN's
leadership is moral, intellectual and political: emerging world public
opinion must link with it at this moment when arenas of power are being
restricted, for example when the G7 becomes the G1!" John Clark
(Director of the Panel's Secretariat): The UN needs Civil Society for
information, expertise, connections to key communities, watchdog and
monitoring roles, and follow up on governmental commitments: this helps
governments do a better job and encourages adherence to the Rule of
Law". Ambassador Asadi from Iran (member of the Panel):"Civil
Society must bring its voice and weight to the multilateral process:
but without local society action, international CS action does not have
adequate weight." …It should be noted that the High-Level
Panel will present its final report around March/April 2004 and expects
to have recommendations addressed in part to the SG and in part to the
General Assembly.
4.
The four Thematic Commissions of the Assembly dealt with
· Peace, Security and Disarmament
· Human Rights
· Sustainable Human Development
· Information Communication Technologies for Development
The background papers are available on the CONGO website, and the conclusions
and recommendations for action will be posted there as soon as editing
is completed.
5. Lunchtime sessions were held on health and on the UBUNTU Campaign
for the Reform of International Institutions.
6. CONGO's own administrative agenda included
a. Adoption of the past years' accounts, and of the budget. The latter
presents a serious deficit, and the Assembly mandated urgent action
through the Board to put the finances on a sound footing;
b. A debate on a VOLUNTARY CODE OF CONDUCT FOR NGOs which was received
with appreciation and will be transmitted to all members for study and
action as they judge appropriate;
c. Reelection of the outgoing President for a second term;
d. Election of the new 2003-2006 Board (List attached);
e. A number of amendments to the CONGO Rules (the new version will be
circulated as soon as possible);
f. A powerful resolution on the threat of the closure of the CONGO Office
in the UN Office at Geneva.
7. The new Board met immediately after the close of the General Assembly
and appointed the following officers:
Vice
Presidents:
International Federation of Women Lawyers
Pax Romana
Treasurer:
World Jewish Congress
Secretary:
Environmental Liaison Centre International
The
appointment of two further Officers in personal capacities was held
over for further consultations in New York and Vienna.
The
Board also appointed the Finance Committee (Chair: Joan Cromer Soroptimist
International) to consider the Assembly resolution (see 7.a. above)
The
Board also took action on the establishment of a Task Force to follow
up the World Summit on the Information Society (Convener: Rik Panganiban,
World Federalist Movement, see also below) to its second phase in Tunisia
2005 and on the maintenance of CONGO 's offices in both New York and
Geneva.
The
next Board meeting will be held in New York, 26-27 February 2004
By
: Renate Bloem, President of CONGO
