Issue 64 June 1998
NGO Forum on Social Development
Kuala Lumpur, Sept 1997
NGO Forum on Social Development
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 8th-10th September 1997
NGOs throughout Asia and the Pacific gathered in Malaysia in September last year to discuss progress in the commitments made by governments at the 1995 World Summit on Social Development (Copenhagen).
At the meeting Pacific Island delegates formed a working group to address differences between Asian and Pacific Island countries; the invisibility of the PICs presence in the Forum; and to build a better understanding of common PIC issues.
The workshop groups looked at what their governments, NGOs and private sector organisations had done to implement the Plan of Action from the Summit in Copenhagen There was concern that the limited mineral, forest and marine resources need to be looked after for future generations. Specific mention was made of the role of Malaysian logging companies in PNG, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Fiji. Climate change is seen to be the result of major deforestation in parts of Asia. This can have devastating flow-on effects in Pacific Island countries.
The Pacific Working group also expressed concern about the ability of Pacific nations to compete with Asian tiger economics in the more open global trading environment. It was generally agreed that Pacific Island Governments had not made much effort to create enabling environments for social groups and individuals to participate fully in society.
A range of suggestions were to advance some of the Working group's concerns. These included:
--strengthening NGO networks.
--developing partnerships between NGOs, governments and the private sector,
--improving the status of and gender related policy,
--improving transparency and accountability of government.
--greater opportunity for participation in its processes.
Delegates wanted to see greater emphasis on human and civil rights through education and the increased development of civil society. They also sought development of NGO Codes of Conduct and commitment from international NGOs to support and develop local NGOs rather than work in competition with them.
Source: PIANGO Link, February 1998.
Contact: Henry Vira, coordinator, Pacific Island Association of Non Government Organisations (PIANGO) Secretariat, PO Box 9127, Nadi Airport Post Office, Nadi, Fiji. Fax (679) 724332.
Many to Many
a quarterly publication issued by
Operation Peace through Unity
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Anthony Brooke and Gita Brooke, co-founders
Te Rangi, 4 Allison Street, Wanganui 5001, New Zealand
phone/fax: +64-6-345-5714 ~ e-mail: Many to Many
under the aegis of
Operation Peace Through Unity
is a communicating link between
'we, the peoples' of all nations, races, creeds and ideologies offering in the spirit of the preamble of the United Nations Charter an instrument for the furthering of better relationships based on deepening mutual understanding and the aspiration to promote unity and cooperation beyond all differences.