The
Beijing + 5 Review: Preparing for the Next Round of Negotiations...
Center
for Women's Global Leadership
March
2000
As
many of you know, the CSW and the final PrepCom of the Beijing +
5 Review process took place at the UN in New York from February
27 through March 17. Prior to the meeting, several informal
sessions resulted in a text prepared by the Division for the Advancement
of Women (DAW), referred to as the Proposed Outcome Document (E/CN.6/2000/PC/L.1/Rev.1).
Along with the Political Declaration which was negotiated and
accepted at the PrepCom -- this is the main document of the B +
5 review process. During the PrepCom, governments agreed to the
Declaration (available
on the DAW website) and negotiated on the Outcome Document as
a blueprint for carrying out further implementation of the Beijing
Platform for Action (PfA). Before and during the negotiations, NGOs
concerned about upholding and implementing the PfA worked together
to propose improvements and additions to the language of the document.
These suggested changes were subsequently endorsed by approximately
280 NGOs from around the world, who signed on to the Coalition in
Support of the Beijing Platform. During the course of the meeting,
many caucuses produced further text and proposal additions. However,
the government negotiations proceeded slowly and the goal of reaching
consensus on a text that governments could agree upon was not met
by the time the PrepCom ended.
In
evaluating the results of the PrepCom, it can be said that the negotiations
reached a stalemate shortly before the meeting closed. Although
the lack of progress was frustrating for those who observed the
process, still -- since so few paragraphs were actually finalized,
at this stage, it cannot be said that the women's human rights movement
suffered any serious concrete losses. However, the negotiations
are about to enter a very crucial phase and we need to continue
monitoring and lobbying.
In
order for governments to continue negotiating, a number of dates
have been set aside for "informal" intersessional meetings of the
government delegations. (Information about these meetings and the
upcoming Special Session of the UN can be found in the message that
follows.) Those who are planning to come to the Special Session
in June should try to reach New York by the last week of May while
the informal negotiations are going on. This will provide the greatest
opportunity to join forces with others who will be lobbying the
delegations. If you are planning to come, please let us know so
that we can be in contact with you ahead of time in order to better
plan our collective strategy. It is also important to lobby your
government delegations from your home country as much as possible,
and if you would like to be kept informed about the New York proceedings
to help you do so, let us know.
The
message that follows contains important information about getting
accredited for the Special Session in June (UNGASS) so please read
it carefully. NGOs that were accredited to the PrepCom and/or to
the Conference in Beijing and those with ECOSOC status must
still preregister to attend the UNGASS by 31 March, 2000.
Since
each NGO will be permitted to send only three representatives, please
list their names in priority order. At the PrepCom it was decided
to approve an additional accreditation process to participate
in the UNGASS for NGOs that neither have consultative status with
ECOSOC nor participated at the Fourth World Conference on Women
(Beijing). The deadline for this type of application is 5 April,
2000. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT ONLY THOSE NGOS THAT HAVE COMPLETED
THE PRE-REGISTRATION FORMS WILL BE ALLOWED ENTRY TO THE SECRETARIAT
BUILDING (NOTWITHSTANDING ECOSOC STATUS). Pre-registration should
go to Koh Miyaoi at the DAW (212-963-3463 or Beijing5@un.org).
The
Center for Women's Global Leadership takes the position that there
should be no renegotiation of the language of the Platform for Action
and no weakening of the principles contained in it. The Beijing
+ 5 review process must reaffirm the Platform for Action as a human
rights document that, in conjunction with the human rights conventions,
provides the framework for promoting and defending women's human
rights. In order to ensure that there is no retreat from the language
of the Platform and that some advances toward making these commitments
concrete are made, it will be necessary to continually lobby and
assist delegations.
Please
keep in touch and continue to check this web page, which we will
be updating regularly. We look forward to continuing to work with
you toward achievement of the human rights of all women and further
implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action.
Charlotte
Bunch
Center for Women's Global Leadership
| IF
YOU WERE HARASSED AT THE PREPCOM . . .
During
the recent PrepCom, some NGO participants experienced
unpleasant incidents in which representatives of NGOs
that do not support the Platform for Action behaved toward
them in an aggressive and inappropriate manner. We are
in the process of collecting information to document these
incidents so that the issue can be taken up with the UN.
If you did experience harassment, we would very much like
to hear from you. Information should include the date,
time and location of the incident, how many people were
involved, what group the aggressors appeared to be identified
with, a brief description of the incident, and any actions
you took during or following the event.
We
realize that some people may feel uncomfortable disclosing
this information, but it is necessary to document cases
so that appropriate action can be taken. Only a few NGOs
behaved inappropriately during the PrepCom, and we would
not like to see the incidents used in a way that could
jeopardize future NGO participation at the UN.
Should
you have questions about this, please contact
the Global Center. |
Beijing
+ 5 Fact Sheet - Update # 3
Conference
of NGOs in Consultative Status Relationship with the United Nations
(CONGO)
March
22, 2000
This Fact Sheet contains information regarding the
Beijing + 5 Process. It is an effort to provide information
as available. New or changed information will appear
in future editions. You are urged to share this information
with your fellow NGOs. We welcome other NGOs to contact us
with their e-mail address, fax number, and/or mailing address so
that we can add them to our contact list.
HIGHLIGHTS
OF THE PREPCOM FOR BEIJING+5 - MARCH 2000
The second official PrepCom for Beijing+5 concluded its work on
17 March 2000. In reviewing the work of this PrepCom
session, the international NGO Coordinating Committee has
identified several points of interest for the global NGO community.
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Hundreds
of NGO representatives participated in the PrepCom from the
vast majority of countries in all regions of the world.
This diversity of NGO representatives formed and worked
through a large number of issue-based and regional caucuses
revolving around critical areas of concern, which served
as important avenues for input into the official negotiations
on the Beijing+5 Political Declaration and Outcome Document. |
| .
|
Among
the many NGO representatives present at the PrepCom, the growing
interest and participation on the part of young women was noted
and welcomed. |
| .
|
There
was an impressive level of cooperation and collaboration among
NGOs working across issue areas to have a voice in the Beijing+5
negotiations. For example, approximately 260 national,
regional and international NGOs contributed to and endorsed
an NGO lobbying document that was framed by a broad-based
Coalition of NGOs in Support of the Platform for Action. |
| .
|
In
addition, NGOs provided input into the official Beijing+5 process
through oral and written statements at several points during
the CSW and the PrepCom. In particular, the strong
presentations made by representatives of all five regions
brought home to member state delegates and NGOs alike
the current and emerging realities that women are facing
around the world. |
| .
|
The
PrepCom, in addition to providing a crucial opportunity for
NGOs to affect the outcome of Beijing+5, also provided
a valuable opportunity for NGOs to form and intensify
working relationships that span all issue areas and interests. |
| .
|
Although
the PrepCom has not completed its work, following this
intensive set of negotiations, NGOs are well-positioned to return
to their home countries and to continue their lobbying efforts
at the national level. ("and via e-mail to the missions
in New York," Coordinating Committee member Pam Rajput
added.) |
| .
|
Looking
toward the 5-9 June Special Session, the NGO Coordinating
Committee is committed to sharing information with its NGO colleagues
around the world on the state of negotiations and arrangements,
as well as related logistical matters. An NGO Working
Session will be held on 2-3 June for those NGOs accredited
for the Special Session. |
| .
|
The
NGO Coordinating Committee is looking forward to continued
spirited collaboration and solidarity among NGOs, and to working
as a global movement to ensure that governments are accountable
to their commitments. |
RESUMED
PREPCOM AND INTER-SESSIONAL MEETINGS
Since the PrepCom did not complete its work in the allotted time,
dates have been reserved for resumed PrepCom sessions and
inter-sessional meetings. The following dates were announced
at the NGO Briefing on Friday 17 March:
20 April
8, 9 and 11 May
30 May - 2 June
We presume that NGOs accredited to the PrepCom in March will maintain
their accreditation through the resumed PrepCom and inter-sessional
meetings. We will verify that information as soon as possible.
SPECIAL
SESSION OF THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY:
REGISTRATION
OF NGOs
The following two groups of NGOs are eligible to register for the
Special Session:
1) NGOs in consultative status with the Economic and Social Committee
(ECOSOC) and
2) NGOs accredited to the official Fourth World Conference on Women
in Beijing, 1995.
Registration
forms are only available through the Division for the Advancement
of Women. Please contact Koh Miyaoi, UN Division for the Advancement
of Women, via e-mail at beijing5@un.org
or via fax at 1+212-963-3463. Please be sure to include
your fax number or mailing address so that the information and form
can be immediately sent to you.
Deadline for registration is 31 March 2000.
INVITATIONS
Invitations to register for the Special Session were sent to NGOs
in consultative status with ECOSOC and NGOs accredited to
the Fourth World Conference on Women (the two groups listed
above) in early March. If your organization is eligible
to register for the Special Session and has not received an
invitation, please contact the Division for the Advancement
of Women (DAW) as soon as possible.
At
this time, the invitation letter and the registration form for the
Special Session are only available in English. At an NGO briefing
during the PrepCom, a representative from the DAW said the Division
realizes that this presents a problem for some NGOs, apologized
for any difficulties this creates and said that the Division
will look into the possibility of translations into other
languages.
APPLICATIONS
BY NEW NGOs
NGOs that have been organized and active in follow-up activities
since Beijing may apply to participate in the Special Session.
The application form and the 7 required attachments are on
the Division for the Advancement of Women web site (www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/followup/accrengo.html)
or you may obtain this information from the Division for the
Advancement of Women by contacting Ms. Koh Miyaoi,
beijing5@un.org or 1+212-963-3463 (fax).
Deadline for applying is 5 April 2000.
REPRESENTATION
FROM EACH ORGANIZATION
Decisions about the number of representatives permitted to register
from each organization will be made after all applications
are filed and the approximate number of attendees is evaluated.
If a limit is imposed, it will affect each organization registered.
No priority will be given to any organization.
MEETING
SPACE AT THE UNITED NATIONS
Once again, space at the United Nations will be extremely limited.
To apply for NGO meeting space, please submit your request
in writing to Koh Miyaoi no later than 15 April.
To reserve space within the United Nations, you must be accredited
to the Special Session.
MEETING
SPACE AT THE CHURCH CENTER (CCUN)
CONGO has reserved space at the Church Center for NGO activities
related to the official UN sessions. Application forms will
be available shortly.
NGO
WORKING SESSION
The NGO Working Session will take place on 2-3 June. Registration
will be limited to NGOs who are accredited to the Special
Session. Pre-registration is mandatory and forms will be available
very shortly. On-site check-in will take place on Friday morning,
June 2nd.
The
Opening Ceremony will take place on Friday 2 June, probably in the
early afternoon. The agenda for the Working Session will include
regional presentations of Alternative Reports and a synthesis of
major trends, a "Calling of Names" ceremony that
will honor women - past and present - who have been active
in the cause of women, and an inter-generational, inter-regional,
inter-cultural Round Table discussions.
OTHER
NGO EVENTS IN NEW YORK CITY:
US
NGO HOST COMMITTEE FOR BEIJING PLUS 5
Due to the probable limitation on representatives from each
organization, many interested NGO members will not be able to
participate in the official events during the Special Session.
There will not be a parallel NGO Forum as there was in Huairou
but there will be many events throughout New York City for
NGOs who cannot register for the Special Session.
The
US NGO Host Committee is an ad hoc group of diverse NGOs and individuals
who support the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
The US NGO Host Committee is working to facilitate many educational
and celebratory activities during the Beijing+5 UN General Assembly
targeted to the NGO representatives who are not able to attend the
Special Session.
The
US NGO Host Committee has secured use of part of the Alexander Hamilton
U.S. Customs House at One Bowling Green near Battery Park.
This location is four subway stops from Grand Central (the closest
station to the UN) on the express train. This will be the
home base for many of the events, panels and round tables not oriented
to the official UN process.
GENERAL
INFORMATION:
ALTERNATIVE
REPORTS
CONGO is still gathering alternative/shadow reports. If possible,
please send electronically to Rebecca Nichols at congongo@aol.com
or mail floppy disk to CONGO, 777 United Nations Plaza, 8th
Floor, New York, NY 10017, USA, no later than 15 April.
USA
VISA PROCESS
The United States government is represented on the Host Committee
by Ambassador Linda Tarr-Whelan. Ambassador Tarr-Whelan
addressed NGOs at the PrepCom and said that the US government
will send information on the Special Session to its embassies
worldwide to facilitate the visa process for NGOs able to attend
the Special Session and others. More information will follow
as it becomes available.
WEB
SITES FOR INFORMATION
There are many sources for information on Beijing+5. The sites
listed below are just a few; all have links to other sites
in regions throughout the world.
www.conferenceofngos.org
[CONGO]
www.un.org/womenwatch/daw
[UN, Division for the Advancement of Women]
www.womenaction.org
[WomenAction 2000]
CONGO
CONTACT INFORMATION
Beijing+5 Liaison Office
Tsinu Tesfaye, Coordinator
212-661-2932 (tel)
212-687-7352 (fax)
beijing5ngo@aol.com
Communications
Office
Janice M. Fett, Coordinator
212-986-6117 (tel)
212-687-7352 (fax)
congongo2@aol.com
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