*************************************************************************** The electronic version of this document has been prepared at the Fourth World Conference on Women by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women Secretariat. *************************************************************************** AS WRITTEN THE COMMISSION ON GLOBAL GOVERNANCE CO-CHAIRMEN: INGVAR CARLSSON SERIDATH RAMPHAL STATEMENT PRESENTED ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSION ON GLOBAL GOVERNANCE BY WANGARI MAATHAI At the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, Sept 4-15 1995 Madam Chairman, I am speaking on behalf of the Commission on Global Governance which is co-chaired by Swedish Prime Minister Ingvar Carlsson and Shridath Ramphal, former Secretary- General of the Commonwealth. The Commission's report is called "Our Global Neighbourhood, in recognition that despite our diversity and distances, the planet Earth is our common home, and the electronic media and the capacity to cover long distances within hours has truly made us neighbours. The report addresses itself to a-wide-range of global issues and explores new possibilities for international cooperation. The report is about ."global governance," rather than a "global government" and it is about the collective management of our common affairs. The report calls for putting women at the centre of global governance. It emphasizes that gender sensitivity must be introduced into the conceptual, decision-making, and operational stages of all multilateral and government agencies. Many of the issues that have been a concern to women at the just-concluded NGO Forum and at this official conference are symptoms of economic, political and social forces operating at local, regional and global levels. These forces include the globalization of the economy; increasing impoverishment and marginalization of millions of people, especially women; militarization and the growing trade in small arms and land mines; fear and the culture of violence which is exemplified by racism, xenophobia, and rising ethnic nationalism; and the degradation of the environment due to population pressure, overconsumption, an pollution. The Commission's report addresses itself to the causes of these symptoms. It recognizes that many of these symptoms will best be addressed by getting to the root causes through genuine world-widecooperation between governments, a reformed United Nations and menbers of civil society. This cooperation demands political will from governments and a collective commitment to all humanity. The report calls for a more representative United Nations concerned not only with military security, but also with the economic security of people as indeed promised by the Charter in 1945. This security should include the security of people within their own borders, not withstanding the principle of sovereignty. People security ought to be paramount. The continuing phenomenon and dynamism of peoples' movements as represented at this Conference and by the thousands of NGOs at the Forum bears testimony to the collective will of the people, and here in particular, of the women of the world, to participate in shaping their destiny and safeguarding their rights and those of future generations. "Our Global Neighbourhood" recognizes the force of civil society as being an irreversible catalytic agent of change. It further recognizes the need to formally institutionalize and provide space for these non-state actors within the United Nations system. Only then can the Charter's vision of "We, the people" be seen to be fully realized. The report further acknowledges that some states are economically and politically very powerful, and others are at the other end of the spectrum. But at the same time it recognizes the interdependence of states and peoples and therefore sees the need for humanity to find common ground where shared values could provide the basis for genuine partnership and cooperation. Such values include respect for basic human rights, justice, equality and equity, nonviolence, caring, and integrity. A neighbourhood with such values would seek liberty for all,-would promote mutual respect and tolerance, and would demand that rights go hand in hand with responsibilities. Such a neighbourhood would also require that the strong as well as the weak subscribe to a rule of law. It would combat the corrupted as well as the corrupting, and would encourage participatory and legitimate democratic governance within all relevant institutions. Such is the neighbourhood that women worldwide are trying to build. Indeed many of these values are reflected by many women in their own daily lives. These values ought to be shared not only by men and women in general, but also by the institutions and mechanisms of governance, such as the United Nations, sovereign governments, Briton Woods institutions, and transnational corporations. A free press can play a vital role in promoting these values so that they become a common heritage of humanity everywhere. With this in mind and noting that this is the Fourth Women's Conference, we wish to emphasize that it is necessary to ensure that there is a follow-up not only within the United Nations but also with respect to national commitments. In the coming months and years, it will be important to integrate gender into General Assembly debates, monitor the application of General Assembly decisions, and stimulate political and diplomatic thinking towards advancing the cause of women. Therefore, the report recommends, inter ail, that a Senior Adviser on Women's issues be appointed in the office of the UN Secretary-General to act as the principal advocate of the interests of women. Madam Chairman, "Our Global Neighbourhood" reinforces the vision of the world through women’s eyes as we enter the 21st century. As the Secretary General of this conference Gertrude Mongella said at the opening ceremony, "there is no turning back." Thank You.