- Civil society invested significant time and energy in the Summit of the Future.
- Diplomatic tussles over Pact for the Future language cast doubts on civil society participation.
- Strengthening the UN’s human rights pillar and promoting citizen participation is critical.
World leaders gathering at the United Nations in New York for the Summit of the Future on 22-23 September are to agree upon three key documents to set a blueprint for future action. They will sign off on the Pact for the Future to tackle global challenges through a multilateral rights-based approach, the Global Digital Compact to address digital and data divides, and a Declaration on Future Generations.
Over the past year, civil society representatives have invested substantial time and effort to shape the Summit's processes and outcomes. However, diplomatic negotiations on the Pact for the Future have been hampered by disagreements over language. That has resulted in ongoing uncertainty about how outcomes will reflect civil society contributions, facilitate accountability, and create pathways for meaningful participation at the UN in line with contemporary needs.
“So far, the Pact for the Future offers little in terms of innovation to enhance people’s and civil society participation at the UN,” said Mandeep S. Tiwana, Chief of Evidence and Engagement at CIVICUS. “If the situation remains the same, it would be a missed opportunity for the international community to advance the aspiration of a People’s United Nations. Already, intersecting global crises, political rivalries between countries, and limitations of heavily state-centered approaches are causing diplomatic impasses and hampering the UN’s effectiveness.”
New research from CIVICUS highlights cautious optimism among civil society observers. Despite significant efforts there are concerns that the Summit’s outcomes may fall victim to diplomatic tussles between powerful states, failing to deliver action. The latest Pact for the Future draft includes a commitment to strengthen UN’s human rights pillar. It currently receives only about five percent of the regular budget, forcing the UN’s human rights machinery to rely on underfunded voluntary contributions.
CIVICUS made three innovative recommendations to the Pact for the Future’s co-facilitators, the governments of Germany and Namibia. These include a UN parliamentary assembly, a world citizen’s initiative, and a people’s or civil society envoy to better connect people’s needs and aspirations to the UN.
“Unfortunately, several forward-looking proposals presented by civil society have found little traction in various drafts of the Pact for the Future,” said Jesselina Rana, UN Advisor at CIVICUS. “However, we are optimistic that the Pact will bring the human rights pillar of the UN on par with peace and security and sustainable development."
CIVICUS has identified several priorities for strengthening the UN’s human rights pillar. These include:
- Enhancing resource allocations for independent thematic and country focused human rights experts who are forced to operate on extremely tight budgets;
- Strengthening capacities to investigate the most serious human rights violations such as war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide; and
- Implementing the UN’s guidance note on civic space. It urges the protection of human rights defenders from intimidation and reprisals, meaningful and safe participation of civil society in governance processes and the promotion of supportive laws and policies.
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