The following letter, signed by 60 organizations, has been sent to the President of the UN General Assembly, concerning participation of CSOs and other Stakeholders:
H.E. Volkan Bozkir
The President of the General Assembly
United Nations
New York, NY 10017
16 November 2020
Your Excellency
As civil society organizations and other stakeholders, we strongly welcome the convening of the UN General Assembly Special Session on the COVID-19 pandemic on 3-4 December 2020.
The pandemic presents a threat to global health, safety and well-being, with unprecedented and multifaceted effects. These include the severe disruptions to health care provision, societies, education, economies, global trade and travel. It also is having a devastating impact on the lives and livelihoods of millions of people ranging from so-called “essential workers” to older people, persons with disabilities, those living in slums and remote rural areas, and in the most vulnerable situations and with underlying health conditions.
Throughout the pandemic, civil society and other stakeholders have been working at all levels – global, regional, national and community level. They have, for example, led the science on understanding the virus, the development of vaccines and therapeutics, provided the necessary healthcare, acted as carers, delivered food, and arranged shelter and transportation for those in isolation, and provided information, equipment and psychological support, while also addressing the impacts of the pandemic on the lives people worldwide. They will also be at the forefront of the prevention of future pandemics and ensuring that recovery finance ‘builds back better’ or rather ‘builds forward’ with no one left behind.
Participation in Special Session
We fully appreciate that representatives of non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council are invited to participate in the special session in accordance with the rules of procedure and established practice of the General Assembly (para 3(d)).
We note the procedure for the drawing up of a list by yourself, for the inclusion of other stakeholders, as set out in para 3(e) and in Footnote 2, that is subject to approval on the ‘non-objection basis’. This procedure allows one or more Member States of the United Nations or specialized agencies to object to a stakeholder. While reasons for objection will be made known to your Office and the requestor, the list as presented to Member States for approval will include proposed and final names, but not reasons for objection. Such a process is not transparent and could deny stakeholders that have worked throughout the pandemic the possibility of participating. We therefore request that this procedure be reconsidered as a matter of urgency, especially considering political sensitivities.
We recognize that there is a full agenda for the special session but we would like to express our serious concern that the general debate and interactive dialogue will only include statements from “other stakeholders” if time permits. Their voices must, however, be heard at the special session with its timings adjusted to ensure that they are fully included, taking into account geographical and gender balance.
Inclusion in “compilation of statements”
We are concerned, furthermore, that there will be no outcome document to guide the way forward at this urgent juncture for the management of the virus and its various impacts. On the other hand we support the availability of verbatim records of the special session and a “compilation of the statements delivered by Heads of State and Government, or other dignitaries by means of pre-recorded statements…” In this regard we would request that the statements of other stakeholders also be included.
Publicizing the Special Session
In line with paragraph 5 of the enabling resolution (A/75/L.8), we are committed to join in publicizing the Special Session through our media, social media, and other channels.
Please accept, Excellency, our assurances of the highest consideration.
Signed on behalf of the 60 Organizations, Groups, and Stakeholders listed below
Marianne Haslegrave
Director, Commonwealth Medical Trust
Women’s Major Group
NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC
International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF)
Soroptimist International
African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET)
Associação Brasileira Interdisciplinar de AIDS
Association pour les victimes du monde
Centro de Promoción y Defensa de los Derechos Sexuales y Reproductivos (PROMSEX)
Commonwealth Medical Trust
Equidad de Género: Ciudadania, Trabajo y Familia
Équilibres et populations (Equipop)
Federatie van Nederlandse Verenigingen tot Integratie van Homoseksualiteit – COC Nederlands
Fundación para Estudio e Investigación de la Mujer
Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD)
International Longevity Center Global Alliance
Marie Stopes International
Projonma Academy
Red Dot Foundation
Rutgers
Servicios Ecuménicos para Reconciliación y Reconstrucción (SERR)
University College Dublin
Other NGOs, CSOs and Stakeholders
NCD Alliance
Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance
International Campaign for Women’s Rights to Safe Abortion
Americas TB Coalition
Asia Pacific Alliance for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
Afrihealth Optonet Association
Association de Femmes de l'Europe Méridionale (AFEM)
Older Women’s Network, Europe
Triple Defense Onlus
Women in Migration Network (WIMN)
International Y Alliance
Fundación Arcoiris por el respeto a la diversidad sexual. México
Fundación Mexicana para la Planeación Familiar, A. C. MEXFAM
SEDRA Sevicio Extersion , Desarrollo Rural y Agricultura, Chile
African Women’s Network for Community management of Forests (REFACOF)
Association Femmes Leadership et Développement Durable (AFLED)
CHESTRAD
Global Health South
Let there be Light International
Life for African Mothers
Smile Action International
Southern Africa Climate Change Coalition
Fondation pour un Centre pour le Développement Socio-ECO-Nomique (CSEND)
Burundi Rugby League-Rugby A XIII Cooperative
Access Education International, Kenya
Association of Single Mothers, Kenya
Emonyo Yefwe International, Kenya
Queensway Institute of Technology / The Safe Center, Kenya
West Nile Development Association, Uganda
Aid Organization, Bangladesh
AIHMS-Global & VIKASH-SAMUKHYA, India
Empower Sankar, India
Global South Coalition for Dignified Menstruation
Radha Paudel Foundation
Rajendra Bahadur Adhikari
NEHAP Global
Lanka Fundamental Rights, Sri Lanka
Global Campaign for Education, Palestine
Saudi Green Building Forum (SGBF)
Suitable Agriculture and Environment (Ahmad Mahdavi, Professor emeritus at University of Tehran)
These organizations, networks and stakeholders also support the letter:
Frontline AIDS
Federación Planificación Familiar Estatal
P&D Factor – Associação para a Cooperação sobre População e Desenevolvimento, Portugal
Asociación Ciudadana por los Derechos Humanos/ Argentina
Urgent Action Fund for Women's Human Rights (UAF)
Africa Young Positives Network (AY+)
Ukana West 2 Community Based Health Initiative (CBHI), Nigeria