report-UN-NGLS.doc

Fifty-eighth session Agenda item 59 Strengthening of the United Nations system Note by the Secretary-General In my report to the General Assembly entitled “Strengthening of the United Nations: an agenda for further change” (A/57/387 and Corr.1), I stated that I would establish a panel of eminent persons to review the relationship between the United Nations and civil society. The General Assembly, in its resolution 57/300 of 20?December 2002, concurred with my intention and decided to consider the recommendations through the respective intergovernmental process. Accordingly, in February 2003, I appointed the Panel of Eminent Persons on United Nations–Civil Society Relations, and asked Fernando Henrique Cardoso, the former president of Brazil, to chair it. The Panel also included Bagher Asadi (Islamic Republic of Iran), Manuel Castells (Spain), Birgitta Dahl (Sweden), Peggy Dulany (United States of America), André Erd?s (Hungary), Juan Mayr (Colombia), Malini Mehra (India), Kumi Naidoo (South Africa), Mary Racelis (Philippines), Prakash Ratilal (Mozambique) and Aminata Traoré (Mali). I asked the Panel to review existing guidelines, decisions and practices that affect civil society organizations’ access to and participation in United Nations deliberations and processes; to identify best practices in the United Nations system and in other international organizations with a view to identifying new and better ways to interact with non-governmental organizations and other civil society organizations; to identify ways of making it easier for civil society actors from developing countries to participate fully in United Nations activities; and to review how the Secretariat is organized to facilitate, manage and evaluate the relationships of the United Nations with civil society and to learn from experience gained in different parts of the system. I also asked the Panel to consult broadly, and to submit its recommendations to me within 12 months. I am very pleased to