The 20th General Assembly of The Conference, having met in Geneva from 3-5 November 1997,

• Recognizing the opening of The Conference to increasing numbers of NGOs with varied interests;
• Recognizing the need to respect cultural diversity;
• Recognizing the importance of effective partnership between UN, Governments, NGOs and civil society;
• Recognizing the report of the United Nations Secretary General " Renewing the UN: A Programme for Reform", which highlights the value of NGO partnership with the UN system;
• Recognizing the need for The Conference to take its role in a proactive way within this partnership with clarity of purpose;
• Aware that the proactive role of The Conference necessitates a convergence of aims based on a long-term human development perspective and gender equality.

• Ensure that our partnerships are of mutual interest and share a common agenda;
• Ensure that relations amongst ourselves as NGOs and with our partners are transparent, democratic, ethical, responsible and accountable;
• Ensure a systematic gender perspective as an integral aspect of all our work;
• Strengthen the collaboration of The Conference members with NGOs worldwide: seek consensus wherever possible and urge The Conference members to assure that their members from the South are included in their delegations which participate at international meetings;
  Learn from models of partnership (e.g. The International Campaign to Ban Landmines and Habitat II);
• Promote the catalytic role of The Conference:
  • to encourage coalitions and global networks which monitor the impact of decisions by the business sector and fmancial institutions and of government commitments;
  • to ensure respect for fundamental rights to basic human needs and freedom to exercise civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, based on the principle of non-discrimination and on good human values.
• Promote accurate representation of all peoples, in particular those with limited means, so that they may speak on their own behalf in a manner that encompasses the reality of their situation, in relation to the work of The Conference;
• Facilitate access for and orientation of all accredited NGOs, including NGOs of persons with disabilities, to meetings, and electronic and other facilities ofthe United Nations;
• Work towards the creation of a databank of NGO activities and expertise, accessible to all NGOS, the UN and other interested parties, especially to NGOs who are not linked to the global infrastructure of telecommunications;
• Create fora for NGO and UN Member States interaction;
• Provide a forum for NGO and donor dialogue;
• Mobilize The Conference and its substantive committees to ensure broad-based, integrated and coordinated follow-up action in the implementation of Declarations, Plans and Platforms for Action of the UN Summits and World Conferences;

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