PRESS STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE WSSD CIVIL SOCIETY SECRETARIAT

Global Forum Preparations in Full Swing

03 July 2002

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

The Secretariat would like to make the following announcements regarding preparations for the Global Forum (19 August to 4 September 2002) and internal developments within the CS Secretariat. We are pleased to announce that preparations for the Global Forum are in full swing. The following are of note:

1. VENUE: The venue (Nasrec) has now been paid for and secured to host civil society during the Global Forum. The service provider, Kagiso Exhibitions, are currently sourcing material required for the architectural conversions. We are confident that by the first week of August 2002, Nasrec will be a proper, fully equipped conference facility. All contracts have been signed with other service providers and plans that have until now been waiting in the wings are being rolled out.


 2. The venue will be utilised for the following activities:

    a) Exhibitions 80% of available space has been subscribed

    b) Parallel events 75% subscribed

    c) Pre-summits of major all have been confirmed. The groups interested in
    hosting pre-summits are: Youth, Women, Faith groups, Indigenous People, Civics, Labour and NGOs. (The pre-summits are group-specific gatherings aimed at finalizing the agenda of a particular major group.)

    d) Media Centre a fully equipped facility for journalists coming to cover the event. Bookings are coming in from media houses that would like to utilise this facility.

3. REGISTRATION: the process of registration is increasing in tempo. Our website, which among other things is used to facilitate on-line registrations, is recording more registration and accreditation enquiries per day. This figure indicates the enthusiasm the world has about this event.

INTERNATIONAL DELEGATES

Various funding organisations have either contributed or have made firm, written commitments to assist delegates from outside South Africa to attend the Global Forum. To date:

      1. Sida (Swedish Development Agency) - has made available R25 million to support delegates from the South to attend the Global Forum
      2. Ford Foundation they have committed money to support 3000 delegates from Southern countries.
      3. The European Union (EU) - has committed R15 million to supporting 1000 delegates, also from the South.

These are crucial and positive developments since the Secretariat has always been concerned that many civil society delegates might not attend because of the high cost of transport. We sincerely thank the above-mentioned funding agencies for their support and determination to ensure the Process is fully participatory.

LEADERSHIP AT THE SECRETARIAT

The CS Secretariat is pleased to announce that Desmond Lesejane has been formally appointed to the position of Chief Executive Officer on a permanent basis. He succeeds Zakes Hlatshwayo, who had been seconded from the National Land Commission (NLC) and SANGOCO to take over the Secretariat after Jacqui Browns departure. It was made clear at the time that Mr Hlatshwayo was serving here as an interim arrangement.

The Secretariat would like to thank Mr Hlatshwayo for his services and for making sure the Process remained on course throughout the difficult times we have gone through.

Mr Lesejane previously worked for the South African Council of Churches (SACC). He is a man of vast experience on civil society issues and is thus perfectly suited for this challenging task. He was initially seconded by the SACC to act as Mr Hlatshwayos deputy at the Secretariat a position he filled until the appointment in question.

ARRANGEMENTS AND DRAFT PROGRAMME FOR THE GLOBAL FORUM

Deliberations at the Global Forum shall be divided into several themes. The Global Forum shall be referred to as the Global Peoples Forum and the theme to run through as a rallying point will be: A Sustainable World is Possible."

The Global Peoples Forum should be a forum and space for all forms of civil society groupings pulling to the fore those involved in social change processes like the landless people, anti-globalisation movements, human rights - with a view of integrating sustainability within the vision and actions. With the approach of WSSD, civil society groups face a key challenge of how to take full advantage of the gathering of heads of state in order to promote civil society vision and proposals for policies and actions to build a better world.


The Global Peoples Forum should be a place to have all people together to explore ideas and alternatives and determine the changes that need to be made in making sustainable development possible. All progressive organs of civil society should participate in the Global Forum and be in Johannesburg with one objective.


Organisations will take lead in facilitating various commissions to encourage participation of major groups and international NGOs and enhance discussions on the broad stated issues. To revive the focus on Agenda 21, the process will begin with a draft document using points from the multi-stakeholder dialogue papers. This document will incorporate 21 points to be used as text to unite civil society and lobby governments. It must be included in the final text.


There will be three Pillars::


[A] UN Track (Sandton Convention Centre


  1. MSD Process
  2. Civil Society Issue -base Lobby
  3. Political, cross cutting lobby
  4. Presentation of alternative country assessment reports
  5. Endorsing treaties.


[B] Global Forum


  1. Seven days of thematic workshops
  2. Three days of discussion of cross-cutting issues
  3. One day outside activity
  4. One day visit to communities and/or projects
  5. Review and/or revival of Alternative Treaties.


[C] Political Activity


  1. 1.One massive rally involving all participants and local civil society entities
  2. Hold governments and multinationals accountable through peoples tribunals
  3. Youth rally, passing the Torch for sustainable development
  4. Womens Train.


The first three days of the Summit will deal with cross-cutting issues and take a form of a political event, which will involve key speakers to lead debates. There will be seven days of discussion of thematic issues.


Cross-cutting Issues (three days)


Over-arching theme: building social movements for sustainable development

 

  1. Governance and Self-determination:


      1. Participation, regulation, enforcement
      2. Corruption and Global transparency
      3. Ethics and values
      4. Global public governance.


  1. Globalisation


      1. Corporate accountability and regulation
      2. Corporate responsibility
      3. Foreign direct investment
      4. Impact and implications
      5. Competition Policy.


  1. Poverty Eradication


      1. Alliances and global coalitions
      2. Networking and peoples partnerships
      3. Alternative economic models
      4. Critique and alternative studies.



Thematic Approach (seven days: daily themes)


  1. Human Security


      1. Human rights - environmental justice, right to food, shelter and development
      2. Natural disasters - political management
      3. Man-made disasters - militarism, terrorism, planning policies, mining
      4. Peace
      5. Jobs and the living wage.


  1. Food Security


      1. Water - watershed management, pricing policy, water safety
      2. Sustainable agriculture - access to resources, best practices, land use policies and natural resources.


  1. Trade and Economics


      1. Trade policy - impact and implications of WTO and the Trade policies
      2. Investment
      3. Market Access
      4. Employment - fair wage, job security
      5. Globalisation and Corporations - corporate accountability and responsibility.


  1. Financing Development


      1. ODA
      2. Debt - ecological, social, economic
      3. Financial stability
      4. Payment of environmental services
      5. Taxation
      6. Subsidies.


  1. Science and Technology


      1. Renewable energy
      2. Technology transfer and development
      3. Monitoring and assessment mechanisms
      4. Bio-technology - implications and impact
      5. Traditional knowledge.


  1. Health and Education


      1. HIV/AIDS
      2. Communicable diseases
      3. Access to universal education
      4. Education for sustainable development.



  1. Environment


  1. Natural resources management
  2. Environmental policies
  3. Climate change
  4. Bio-diversity
  5. Forest
  6. Oceans
  7. Desertification
  8. Wetlands
  9. Rivers and watersheds
  10. Access to the environment


From Bali to Johannesburg


Various strategies to manage discussions have been agreed. Just a few:


  1. Organise a strong and functioning ISG and develop a strong communication network
  2. Schedule meetings through teleconferencing, email
  3. Track developments in UN process
  4. Follow up developments throughout the last Prepcoms including the Multi-stakeholder Dialogues
  5. Develop and use indicators on UN performances scorecards
  6. Share reports between ISG framework facilitators and communicate information
  7. Reach out to all groups and not just limit participation to prescribed major groups as stipulated by the UN.


The Secretariat looks forward to the Global Forum. The whole world has been galvanised to prepare for this all-important event. We are still confident that sufficient arrangements have been made to cater for the expected 50 000 civil society delegates. We will be updating the public constantly of developments as they take place here or abroad.


Please visit our website (worldsummit.org.za) to check for latest developments.

 

For more information, contact:

Muzi Khumalo

Media & Communications

WSSD CS SECRETARIAT

Tel: +27 11 403 4119

Cell: +27 72 255 9071