to Improve Practical Arrangements in Support of Strengthened Participation of Non-governmental Organizations in the work of the United Nations
Statement of
"69. The Secretary-General is requested to make every effort to enhance and streamline as appropriate Secretariat support arrangements, and to improve practical arrangements on such matters as greater use of modern information and communication technology, the establishment of an integrated database of non-governmental organizations, wide and timely dissemination of information on meetings, distribution of documentation, provision of access and transparent, simple and streamlined procedures for the attendance of non-governmental organizations in United Nations meetings, and to facilitate their broad-based participation. From 1996/31, Consultative relationship between the United Nations and non-governmental organizations
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Effective use of modern information and communication technology offers remarkable opportunities to strengthen participation of Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the work of the United Nations - in particular to enable more effective participation by NGOs that do not have representatives in New York or Geneva. While it is important to acknowledge - and to take steps to remedy - the discrepancy in access to information and communication technology between developed and developing countries, even the relatively limited current access by NGOs from developing countries has provided a dramatic improvement in access to United Nations information in those countries and to participation of NGOs in the work of the United Nations. Technological developments have moved at such a pace that a relatively modest investment can enable very rapid capacity-building of information infrastructure in developing countries - provided that there is an appropriate enabling regulatory environment. Meanwhile, the impact of such strengthening of information infrastructure will offer substantial opportunities for more effective participation from developing countries in the global economic marketplace, |
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The following practical arrangements are being offered as the first of several concrete steps by which modern information and communication technology can be applied to strengthen the participation of NGOs in the work of the United Nations. The steps presented here can be taken immediately - at virtually no cost. some subsequent recommendations may require a little more time - and more in-depth consideration by the General Assembly - however all can easily be implemented by the beginning of the new Millennium - and would also offer benefits to Member States and their missions to the United Nations.
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