Feature

A Working Partnership--The UN and Civil Society

Interview with Gillian Sorensen

SGIQ: What do you see as the positive role of civil society in the UN system?

Gillian Sorensen: I think the role of civil society is essential and indispensable for the UN. It is, in the views of many, the authentic voice of the people. It is citizens' action in many forms, and on many, many issues. There are 4,200 accredited NGOs at the UN. That of course is just a fraction of the universe of the civil society in the world at large. And they do good work. They educate, they mobilize, they publicize, dramatize, they raise funds, they raise consciousness, they can lobby. They are really very, very important. Some of them work on the front lines, especially those who are involved in refugee issues, and famine and food issues, and others are more involved in political activity, or educating, trying to inspire political representatives to act and vote in support of UN issues. So civil society is very diverse and it is wide-ranging. The Secretary-General has referred to NGOs as "our essential partner." I think that's a good term. 


A New Relationship

SGIQ: How has the role and impact of civil society changed?

GS: It's changed quite a lot. In the very beginning, in 1945, when the Charter was drafted, you will see pictures of delegates at work. There were about 50 NGO representatives attending at that time. 

They sat properly at the far edges of the room. They only observed and listened, they did not participate. For the most part, they did not criticize. They were there to support and to follow the proceedings. Of the 50, all except one are still active, Rotary for instance, the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, the Red Cross, a number of peace groups and 15-20 faith-based NGOs. 

The NGO Caritas Niger was at the forefront of efforts to tackle child malnutrition in the recent crisis in Niger  [R. Maro/version-foto.de]

But, how has it changed? Today, NGOs are much more politically savvy. They know that it's not enough just to sit and listen. They want to be involved, they want to participate, and they insist on it. In the UN now, no major conference is planned without considering from the start, "How are we involving civil society?" not just in the event, but in the planning and preparation for that conference. And I think the degree of expertise, outreach and skills with which they mobilize and publicize the issues is really impressive. 

There are two good examples in recent times. One was the move to create the convention to ban land mines. It was NGOs who led. They were passionate on this issue, and they generated a great amount of publicity in support of banning land mines and reducing or prohibiting the manufacture or sale of land mines, and making very vivid the terrible consequences of land mines. They did a remarkable job, and they really were ahead of most governments on this.

Another example is the work for the International Criminal Court. NGOs were so expert in this issue, and they were so good at responding to criticisms or concerns and in persuading governments why this mattered, and why it was in national interest as well as global interest to establish the International Criminal Court.


A Need for Coordination

SGIQ: What sort of changes would you like to see in the future?

GS: I would hope that in areas of common interest NGOs would make a big effort to collaborate or to coordinate their efforts, because the UN is sometimes overwhelmed with requests for information and speakers and access. For instance, there are hundreds of human rights NGOs, and their particular emphasis might vary from one group to another, but overall, they have a common cause. To the extent that those human rights NGOs can speak with one voice, that increases their impact, and that makes it much easier for the UN to work with them. 

SGIQ: Do you see space for some sort of civil society forum or assembly parallel to the General Assembly? 

An NGO workshop during the 57th Annual UN Department of Public Information/NGO Conference on the Millennium Development Goals  [UNDPI Photo]

GS: I don't really support a standing permanent people's assembly. It's very costly, and the question is raised: who nominates, who selects those people, whom do they represent? What I do personally support and encourage is meetings that are focused on a particular subject coming up at the UN that mobilize relevant NGOs on that subject. If you are taking on the entire range of issues that the UN addresses, I just think it's too much for one meeting. And you would have to ask: is it going to be a permanent forum; who will underwrite it? Where in fact would they meet? 

SGIQ: How can coordination among civil society be improved? 

GS: The Internet has changed everything. Because information moves fast now, among the community of NGOs and from the UN offices to civil society, and the flow of communication is much more open, the ability of UN officials to speak with NGOs and work together is much more open than in the early decades. I think people really do feel joined and connected. It is almost a tradition that NGOs will complain of not getting enough information or access, but in my years with the UN, I've seen it open up a great deal, and I think that the UN is making an outstanding effort to have a truly collaborative partnership. I have heard the Secretary-General say that the UN cannot do this alone. Look at the membership of all the NGOs, which reaches into the millions--those are the foot soldiers, a mighty, peaceful army. Those are the voices in the field and front lines and the capitals around the world, carrying messages forward and letting politicians know that their citizens care, and they vote, and they want their political representatives to take notice of that.


Creative Tension

I find that for the most part, the relationship between civil society and the UN is constructive and active and healthy, but there is one thing that concerns me. There is a handful of NGOs there who achieved accreditation--really a few--who, in fact, are not supportive of UN goals and historic purposes. That has created some real problems. As I say, it is a very small number, but it may be a sign that the UN has to be prepared to have NGOs in their midst who are in fact opposing what have been historic UN goals. 

SGIQ: But, for the most part, you see a healthy relationship?

A poster by the Australian Network to Ban Landmines which has successfully lobbied the Australian government for funding to address the effects of land mines

GS: Yes, I do. But it is evolving, and there is always a certain tension, a creative tension. Civil society has independence, has freedom and flexibility, which the UN does not have sometimes. Civil society wants to move fast. And so this tension always exists to some degree, and we acknowledge that, and we've tried to work with that. It's not necessarily bad, but it just exists because you're talking about two quite different entities. The UN is essentially a voluntary organization of governments, and civil society is a free, independent, voluntary association of citizens who speak for themselves. So you are coming at it from two different directions. The relationship between the UN and civil society is a constructive and extremely important relationship, and I hope and believe that it will flourish and grow in the 21st century.

>>Next Page>>