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Public Participation in Different International Forums Dr. Anke Stock Gender and Rights Coordinator WECF

Content WECF’s Work UNECE/WHO-EURO: Protocol on Water and Health WHO–EURO: Environment and Health Process UNCED: Commission on Sustainable Development UNEP: Governing Council Recommendations UN Conference on Environment and Development

WECF Network of 100 women’s and environmental NGOs Region: EECCA Issues: Water and sanitation, chemicals, sust. rural development and energy

PWH Strongly influenced by Aarhus Convention (see Protocol‘s text) Implementation of PWH based on pp principles Outreach by Secretariat Capacity and financial means not sufficient Existent since 1999 Strongly influenced by the Aarhus Convention of 1998 – many articles refer directly to the three pillars of the Aarhus Convention – Art. 5 which is about “principles and approaches” promotes the need for access to information, pp and access to justice in relation to the issues of water and health But the PWH furthermore links the implementation which is, inter alia, based on setting targets for water management to public participation. This creates an obligation for the parties mainly at local and national level, but it also refers to civil society. Only 4 countries have started this process so far and lacks here are apparent. Just two weeks ago a workshop on access to information and pp for parties and NGOs was organised by the secretariat and WECF – best practices and were collected and guidance paper on pp will be developed out of results of the workshop. Furthermore, the idea to join forces with the AC on pp (maybe within the Task Force on PP) came up. Within the work of the forum itself the secretariat reaches out to civil society and tries to get civil society involved in the decision-making processes (WECF involved in drafting work programme) – but here – as well as- on the national level lack of capacity and financial means are obstacles for more involvement.

Environment and Health Process Civil society involved from the beginning 2 seats for civil society in bureau Parma (5th Ministerial Conf.) showed flaws in pp This process was launched in 1989 – a series of ministerial conferences has been held so far every five years – this year in Parma/Italy. Many ways for NGOS to get involved For us it was interesting since we had a seat in the bureau for long – there are two seats for civil society: one environmental NGO and one Health NGO – both NGOs are elected - In Parma pp was not so easy. It was only for the NGO partners possible to take part in the discussions in the plenary sessions, rest had “Observer status”. Thus, for long standing partners pp is easy, but not for newcomers. And a new high level committee was established to shape the profile of the process more – now it is only 4 countries - in the aim to keep the group small other stakeholders, such as civil society did not get in – this is a pitty and not a good development

CSD System of 9 major groups of Agenda 21 Provides speaking slots, participation in round tables with ministers, etc. Problem: organisation of the major groups (elections, representativeness, loss of dynamics) – capacity-building Established 1992 to ensure follow-up of UN Conference on Environment and Development Involvement of civil society guaranteed by the 9 major groups of the Agenda 21 (women, children and youth, indigenous people, NGOs, local authorities, trade unions, business and industry, scientific and technological community, farmers) – this process provides for good rules for pp These rules entail rights and obligations for civil society: speaking slots, seats in round tables with ministers, right to comment on the agenda and the right to nominate people from your group. At the moment the possibility to have two representatives of the major groups in the bureau are discussed, but the chances to get these seats are not high. Problem: the individual groups need to be self-organised – ideally in a democractic way, which means elections of the key representatives – this does not always happen and thus the question of representativeness arises – sometimes no rotation happens which provides for no dynamics – within some groups the one with the most money take the lead (business etc.) – amongst the group of „women“ there is now a rotating system in place (so every two years another NGO or group of NGOs takes the lead – depending on the issues of the CSD cycle).

UNEP: Governing Council Since 5 years same structure for civil society as under the CSD (major groups) Regional representatives Participation of civil society at ministerial round tables – discretion of the parties Again the major groups system – plus regional representatives – there used to be finances to organise preparatory meetings, not anymore There are good rules in place now, even though the original “Rules” for NGO participation are very limited (rule 69) More is happening in practice: Good participation of civil society at ministerial round tables (3 representatives of civil society allowed) – not a general rule, is decided on a year to year basis, thus means it needs support by parties – which has been given so far

Recommendations PP is not always enshrined in general rules Capacity-building essential Financial means are necessary to guarantee participation So often pp still depends on the discretion or informal habits of the parties or a forum – this should be not like this – pp is a right! Capacity building on both sides is essential –also involving training youth Financial means are necessary – idea: try to sponsor a few representatives of every stakeholder group (e.g. major group) to take part in all meetings – it is also interesting if NGOs are part of government delegations, but there are two sides of the coin - as an NGO you are not so free in a government’s delegation

Recommendations cont. Representativeness: guidelines for internal structures of major groups Speaking rights (e.g. interventions) should be improved Set up guidelines on how major groups should be structures – elections, rotation etc. Often Civil society is only allowed to speak at the end of a session – this could be changed

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