Economic and Social Council

 
21st plenary meeting
3 July 1995

 1995/2. Joint and Co-sponsored United Nations Programme on Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling its resolution 1994/24 of 26 July 1994 concerning the Joint and Co-sponsored United Nations Programme on Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) which was established to provide an internationally coordinated response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic, to provide global leadership in response to the epidemic and to achieve and promote global consensus on policy and programmatic approaches to the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Recalling further that the Programme is charged with promoting broad- based political and social mobilization to prevent and respond to HIV/AIDS within countries, ensuring that national responses involve a wide range of sectors and institutions, and advocating greater political commitment in responding to the epidemic at the global and country levels, including the mobilization and allocation of adequate resources for HIV/AIDS-related activities.

Emphasizing the urgent need to make the Programme operational as soon as possible, but no later than January 1996,

1. Welcomes the report of the Committee of Co-sponsoring Organizations of the Joint and Co-sponsored United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, 1/ which will be of assistance in the further consideration of the operations of the new programme, while recognizing the modifications that have been made to the arrangements set out in the report, as outlined by the Chairperson of the Committee, and the need for the Programme to operate in accordance with the provisions of Council resolution 1994/24;

2. Endorses the arrangements outlined in section VI of the report (Governance and management) and decides to add the following to the functions of the Programme Coordination Board listed in paragraph 101 of the report:

(a) To establish broad policies and priorities for the Programme, taking into account the provisions of General Assembly resolution 47/199 of 22 December 1992;

(b) To make recommendations to the co-sponsoring organizations regarding their activities in support of the Programme, including those of mainstreaming;

3. Requests the Programme Coordination Board to give detailed consideration to the report of the Committee of Co-sponsoring Organizations and to agree on the modalities for implementation of the arrangements set out in that report, taking into account the changes referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 above;

4. Calls upon the co-sponsoring organizations, as soon as possible, to finalize and sign a legal document in the form of a memorandum of understanding outlining the responsibilities and functions of the co-sponsors, consistent with the provisions of Council resolution 1994/24, and to submit that document to the Council, through the Programme Coordination Board at its first substantive session, for consideration at a resumed session;

5. Requests the Executive Director of the Joint and Co-sponsored United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS to report on the status of implementation of the new programme, through the Board, to the Council early in 1996;

6. Decides that each of the six co-sponsors will participate in the work of the Programme Coordination Board and have full rights, except the right to vote;

7. Decides further that five non-governmental organizations will be invited to take part in the work of the Programme Coordination Board, in accordance with the report on the informal consultations on arrangements with regard to non-governmental organizations, submitted to the Council by the Permanent Representative of Australia and annexed to the present resolution;

8. Calls upon each of the six co-sponsoring organizations to give their full support to the establishment of, transition to and smooth functioning of the Joint and Co-sponsored Programme;

9. Appeals to all Governments, international institutions, non-governmental organizations and the private sector to support the Programme with adequate contributions to its resources;

10. Decides that the participation, as observers, of Member States and non-member States that are not members of the Board, in the work of the Board, should be consistent with the rules of procedure of the Council.

Annex

ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE PARTICIPATION OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE WORK OF THE PROGRAMME COORDINATION BOARD: REPORT ON THE INFORMAL CONSULTATION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL

1. The meeting on 9 June 1995 considered the question of the final arrangements for the Programme Coordination Board, particularly the participation of non-governmental organizations, and the report of the Committee of Co-sponsoring Organizations of the Joint and Co-sponsored United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. The Board is a governance structure composed of Member States, with the participation of the six co-sponsors and eligible non-governmental organizations.

2. The deliberations of the meeting are summarized in the following terms:

(a) Non-governmental organizations would be invited to take part in the work of the Programme Coordination Board. Such invitations would need to be reviewed periodically. Non-governmental organizations invited should be those either in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council or in relationship with one of the six co-sponsoring organizations or on the roster of non-governmental organizations dealing with matters pertaining to HIV/AIDS, in accordance with the rules, procedures and well-established practice of the United Nations system;

(b) The process of identification of the non-governmental organizations that sought to participate in the work of the Board would be determined by the non-governmental organizations themselves. The Board would formally approve the nomination of those organizations;

(c) There would be five such non-governmental participants, three from developing countries and two from developed countries and countries with economies in transition;

(d) In making the selection, non-governmental organizations would be encouraged to seek competent and relevant representatives, for example participation by groups concerned with economic and social development and groups representing people affected by HIV/AIDS;

(e) The need for rotation among non-governmental organizations was recognized; the appointment of an individual organization should not exceed three years;

(f) Non-governmental organizations would be advised of the terms and conditions of their participation. It would be made clear to them that such participation would include:

A seat at the table with 6 representatives of the Committee of Co-sponsoring Organizations and the 22 Member States;

Non-governmental organizations would be able to speak;

Non-governmental organizations would have no negotiating role;

Non-governmental organizations would not participate in any part of the formal decision-making process, including the right to vote, which is reserved for representatives of Governments;

(g) These arrangements for the participation of non-governmental organizations are not to be regarded as setting a precedent;

(h) Funding would be made available for the representatives of developing countries and for each of the three non-governmental organizations from developing countries to cover the costs of one representative each to attend Board meetings. Such funds would cover the cost of daily subsistence allowance and travel only and would be based on existing eligibility criteria.

3. It was also recommended that the Economic and Social Council should review the Programme at its organizational session for 1996.

Notes

1/ See E/1995/71.

Date last posted: 5 December 1999 13:27:00
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