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On May 14-15th 2020 UNANIMA International had the pleasure of participating in the UN75 People’s Forum for the UN We Need, part of the UN2020 Campaign in preparation for the UN75 World Leaders Summit. Initiated in 2017, the UN2020 Campaign is focused on leveraging the UN’s 75th anniversary to take stock and strengthen the United Nations system so that it can better cope with existing and emerging global challenges, in support of a people-centered multilateralism. This campaign is very important to us as it provides an opportunity for us as civil society to collaborate and share our vision with the world and its governments as they prepare for the UN75 World Leaders Summit, which will take place on September 21st this year. To this end, UN2020, along with various NGOs, initiated a global, multi-sectoral, cross-regional dialogue to develop a coherent civil society vision for a strengthened UN system shared in a “UN75 People’s Declaration and Plan of Action”.

 

In preparation for the forum, during April and May, three informal dialogues were planned around elements papers issued by the UN Member State co-facilitators of the UN75s political declaration on April 9th. These papers detailed the most critical issues as expressed by the UN Member States. I was lucky enough to receive an invite to each of these dialogues. This series represented a space for genuine and informal exchange under the given circumstances. With contributions from Member States, UN agencies and Civil Society there were a number of rich inputs, with those participating commending the valuable and wholesome effort of Civil Society throughout the process. Each of the three meetings produced substantive outcomes, detailed further below. They surfaced important points of consensus for continued inquiry, and created concrete proposals for the future.

 

The first session was themed “Acknowledging Achievements and Looking Ahead.” It took place on April 23rd, and was attended by 157 participants. The changing needs of humanity and what is needed to address these was discussed. The dialogue ended with the group highlighting principles and making proposals that should be actioned. Amongst these was a recommitment to the charter and governance reform. The second session was themed “Delivering on Commitments and Responding to Global Challenges”. With 170 attendees, this dialogue contextualized the issues around the theme, and again identified what was needed for it to be addressed. 

 

The third and final of the dialogues was titled: “Building Consensus and Mobilizing for Change”. With 180 attendees, this session recognized that there was already consensus among many of the discussed issues, and that old models were no longer relevant. With further dialogue around what  needed to be changed, concrete proposals such as increased civil society participation, and the reflection upon the People’s Declaration and Plan for Global Action in the UN75 political declaration were put forward among many others.

 

After much preparation the UN75 People’s Forum for the UN We Need took place from May 14th-15th. With 600 registered participants from 75 countries around the world, plus many more on social media, “We the peoples forum” sent a strong message to the UN and Member States that a stronger multilateral system is needed as a matter of urgency. It also gave a strong call to World Leaders that the UN75 High Level Event on September 21st needs to be the catalyst for the transformative changes so urgently needed to successfully address 21st century global challenges.

 

Among the many highlights of the Forum was the release of the UN75 People’s Declaration and Plan for Global Action, titled “Humanity at a Crossroads: Global Solutions for Global Challenges.” Officially presented to H.E. Mr. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, President of the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly during the forum, the document was well received by Member States.  Upon receipt he noted how heartened he was to see the strong support for multilateralism and commitment to the UN Charter Civil Society has noteding our importance in transformative change and the greater good.

 

Four expert panels were delivered at the People’s Forum. Speakers included a former Prime Minister, UN officials, Ambassadors from the Republic of Korea and the European Union, as well as a range of civil society leaders. In closing the forum gave final reflections on the UN Secretariat’s program for leveraging global dialogues on “The Future We Want and the UN We Need.” This segment featured a conversation with UN2020 Campaigner Jocelyn Jayasooria (Malaysia), and Fabrizio Hochschild, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the Preparations for the Commemoration of the United Nations 75th Anniversary. Mr Hochschild appealed to all participants to visit the UN75 site and take the one-minute survey.

 

It is hoped that dialogues will continue into the future offering similar spaces for open conversations between all stakeholders in the coming weeks. The goal of such discussion will act as a platform for ongoing consultations to advance the goals of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations.

 

Photo Credit to UN2020

 

 

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