Open Letter
ATT: H.E. Hon. Abdulla Shahid, President of the United Nations General Assembly
H.E. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations
Permanent Representatives of Member States to the United Nations
Re: Civil Society and “Our Common Agenda”
Excellencies,
We are writing as national and international civil society organizations and networks regarding the need for open, transparent and inclusive modalities for the follow up processes to the Secretary-General’s Our Common Agenda (OCA) report.
We view the OCA report as a necessary and important catalyst for a revitalized United Nations system. Moreover, we are encouraged by the support governments have demonstrated for the report following its launch September 10, during the High-level statements at the opening of the 76th session of the General Assembly, and at recent plenary meetings.
At the same time, we are concerned over reports that, as UN participation arrangements adapt to hybrid meeting rules, the pandemic is being used to unnecessarily limit opportunities for constructive engagement with civil society representatives at the United Nations.