UN, strong civil society needed more than ever at this 'crucial period' - Fréchette

At this "crucial period" in human affairs, when shocking violence and bitter divisions have challenged the fundamental values of freedom and tolerance, the United Nations and its civil society partners have perhaps never been more sorely needed, Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette said today.

"At this time, we must reaffirm our commitment to multilateral cooperation, broad-based action, and tolerance and understanding," Ms. Fréchette said, opening the UN Department of Public Information's (DPI) 56th annual conference for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) at the world body's headquarters in New York. "The world needs the United Nations more than ever…[and it] also needs active and committed NGOs and a strong civil society," she added.

This was the vision to which world leaders committed themselves three years ago in the Millennium Declaration, she said. Since then, however, the world had been shocked by violence and beset by division.

That was why the theme of this year's conference - "Human Security and Dignity"- was timely, the Deputy Secretary-General said. "It reminds us of our collective responsibility to all the world's people…and reminds us of the commitment of world leaders to strengthen the United Nations, and to advance the cause of peace, development of the environment and respect for human rights," she added.

The three-day conference - the premier NGO event at the UN - will highlight these issues and give civil society organizations a forum to express their ideas about human rights, people's empowerment and global well-being. About 2,000 representatives associated with DPI and the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) from more than 100 countries around the world are expected to attend. The Conference will for the first time also be webcast live through an interactive site (http://www.ngodpiexecom.org)

Also speaking at the Conference opening, General Assembly President Jan Kavan of the Czech Republic said human security could only be achieved by building on people's strengths to create strong civil society and institutions. NGOs had participated in the work of the UN almost since its inception, and their participation has expanded dramatically during the series of international conferences throughout the 1990s.

He said the UN had a vast array of functions to implement its mandate. The Organization was needed as the only legitimate forum to resolve transnational problems that could not be solved by individual States. Recognizing the support of civil society in the prevention of armed conflict, he had convened an open meeting last week to explore how best to link the work of civil society with the work of governments and the United Nations.

Speaking at a press briefing, former Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Special Adviser to Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Chair of the High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons on UN-Civil Society Relations, told reporters it was his view that “We have to insist on the construction of a peaceful world and this cannot be done without international public opinion and the very active presence of NGOs.”

Mr. Cardoso, who was joined by fellow panel member Mary Racelis, said that following the Iraq crisis, there was a need for a kind of revitalization of a peace movement across the world and new views on how to guarantee that peace. It was also clear that it was not enough for any one government to “take care of peace,” as there was ample room for worldwide civil society and international public opinion to have a say.

“The fact is that nowadays there is an international public opinion may be the only countervailing force towards the power of some governments. So national public opinion is more sensitive to international public opinion and this is how we can move towards a better world,” he said.

Ms. Racelis, who is a research scientist at the Institute of Philippines Culture at Ateneo de Manila University, added that “All of us believe that in the end, if the citizenry – especially those who are more poor, disadvantaged, marginalized – becomes articulate and understands rights, knows issues and can speak to their representatives as peers, that is what really changes government policy significantly, and we have seen it.”

Listen to UN Radio report