CSD 11 Update
Issue 5
5 May 2003
Major Groups react to CSD11 chairperson's draft-decision document
Women emphasised that gender equality was a cross-cutting issue that had to be incorporated into every cycle of the work programme. Women and Youth also emphasised that corporate social environmental responsibility should be also included as a cross-cutting issue. Women concurred with the future organisation of work, including a review and policy years. Women endorsed the regional implementation forums and requested that major groups be allowed to report to these forums and further asked whether it would appropriate that such regional meetings be held at the UN headquaters. They indicated that stakeholder participation at the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) should be maximised. The concept of high-level meetings was endorsed.
Local Authorities and Farmers emphasised the need to involve all Major Groups throughout the two-year cycle.
Indigenous People stressed that those best practices that result in ownership should be important in the criteria of selecting best practices.
Business and Industry stressed that cross-cutting issues need to be clearly linked to the key themes selected for each work cycle of work.
Indigenous People, Non-governmental Organisations and Youth called for the inclusion of peace, human rights and education as cross-cutting issues.
Overall the Major Groups' comments indicated support for the proposed two-year cycle of the new work programme, and for water and energy as priority areas for the first two cycles. Farmers drew specific attention to the importance of linking water to food security issues. There was also general support for the proposed regional implementation forums, which were seen as ways to increase Major Group participation in the monitoring and implementation efforts.
On key themes for future work, Women, Youth and Non-governmental Organisations called for early consideration of unsustainable patterns of consumption and production.
Several Major Groups proposed the inclusion of stakeholders in expert groups or sub-committees that may be created in the future work of the CSD. While some of these mechanisms could involve specific Major Group sectors, such as scientists, others could be of a multi-stakeholder nature. Calls were made for Major Group participation in all steps of the implementation process -- from developing programmes to monitoring their progress.
Indigenous People and Non-governmental Organisations proposed a rights-based approach, the use of prior informed consent and respect for cultural diversity as general principles that should underpin the future work of the CSD. Gender issues and gender equity need to be mainstreamed into the future work of the CSD. A gender analysis of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation was requested.
On enhancing the contribution of Major Groups and others, Local Authorities, supported by other Major Groups proposed that this section of the draft decisions be strengthened.
The need to strengthen stakeholder networks, particularly at the country, regional and sub-regional levels, was emphasised to make a concerted effort on issues related to implementation targets of the Johannesburg Programme of Implementation.
The need arose for a special arrangement that allowed for Major Groups to report to the CSD during the implementation phase.
The chairperson indicated that the comments of the Major Groups were constructive and added value to the draft text.
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