The global NGO community organized extensively around the Millennium Summit and the Millennium+5 Summit. Convened in September 2000 and 2005, respectively, the Summits were both immediately preceded by the UN-sponsored DPI/NGO Conference, which took place at UN headquarters in New York. In 2000, NGOs organized a forum in New York, and produced advocacy papers on the content of the Millennium Declaration and the Millennium Development Goals. Many NGOs were disappointed that the 2005 Summit did not yield a similar event.
Millennium+5 Summit (2005) | Millennium Summit (2000)
Millennium+5 Summit - 2005
58th Annual DPI/NGO Conference: Voices for Peace, Partnerships and Renewal
The official website of the DPI/NGO Conference, which brought together thousands of NGO participants and activists from September 7-9, 2005.
UN Meeting of NGOs Hears Call to Eradicate Poverty (September 15, 2005)
As UN delegations scrambled to reach a consensus on the content of the Millennium+5 Summit outcome document, NGOs meeting at the UN clarified their priorities. In response to the US submission of hundreds of amendments to the draft text, including the elimination all references to the Millennium Development Goals, NGO/DPI Conference participants expressed wide agreement that "while the Bush administration may not be on board with them, the world's people are." (People's Weekly World)
NGOs Are "Guardians of the Reform of the International System" (September 7, 2005)
ReliefWeb summarizes the first day of the Millennium+5 DPI/NGO Conference. The day's keynote speakers and panelists touched on many of the priority issues for NGOs in 2005, including the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, and nuclear disarmament.
Civil Society Launches 2005 UN World Summit Website (August 18, 2005)
In an effort to democratize the debate over UN reform, the organizers of the upcoming DPI/NGO conference have launched a website that is open to the public. The website developers recognized the contradiction in advocating for a more democratic UN while simultaneously organizing a conference on that topic that would not be publicly accessible. The website features updated conference news, as well as webcasts of events and live discussions on relevant issues. (UN News)
Millennium Summit - 2000
Documents
Strengthening and Democratizing the United Nations and International Organizations (May 30, 2000)
Theme Six Paper from Millennium NGO Forum on strengthening the United Nations. Global Policy Forum assisted in chairing this working group session.
Martin Khor's Opening Statement to the Millennium Forum (May 28, 2000)
Khor urges an empowering of the UN through greater democratization of global institutions. The speech illustrates the pros and cons of the globalization debate.
Facing the Challenges of Globalization: Equity, Justice and Diversity (May 2000)
This declaration was written with focus on the Millennium Summit. It reviews the challenges of economic globalization and offers suggestions for " how to understand the potential for political and cultural globalization."
Articles
Tools for Global Management (September 13, 2000)
All the high-minded declarations of the Millennium Summit will only lead to new disappointment, Ann Florini opines in the Christian Science Monitor. Governments should rather pledge to strengthen civil society and increase transparency to give the people a say in how the world is run.
NGOs Call For UN Poverty Eradication Fund (May 29, 2000)
The "Declaration and Agenda for Action", drafted by over 100 non-governmental organizations worldwide at the end of the Millennium Forum, calls for a "Global Poverty Eradication Fund", a "Global Habitat Conservation Fund", as well as the creations of a "UN Peace Force" and a "UN Humanitarian Commission". (Inter Press Service)
Groups Fear Exclusion from the UN (May 23, 2000)
With the attention of NGOs on the Millennium Forum, the New York Times brings up the issue of UN access and discrimination against many NGOs due to their stance on human rights and democracy. China, India, Cuba, Sudan and Russia were named as among those UN member states that scrutinize such NGOs.
Learn To 'Govern Better Together', Secretary-General Urges Participants At Millennium Forum, UN Headquarters, New York (May 22, 2000)
Speakers at the Millennium Forum stress the need for NGOs to help redress balance between winners and losers.
CONGO's Plans for the Millennium NGO Forum
Web site of the Conference on NGOs (CONGO) explains the goals of the Millennium Summit, Assembly and Forum and CONGO's own plans and objectives for the Millennium NGO Forum.
Building Global Governance Partnerships - A World Civil Society Conference 1999
Cyril Ritchie provides a project description, the objectives and the value of A World Civil Society Conference 1999.
