Recommendations for priority action

    During the closing session of the Forum, participants agreed on the following priority recommendations for implementation of the Copenhagen Commitments:

    It is essential for all parties working within civil society to adopt a people-centred approach to human development. Such a concept would aim at creating an enabling political, social, economic and democratic environment to overcome obstacles related to achieving sustainable development. The participants at the forum called upon governments to:

• Establish dates to set clear national strategies to implement the agreements made at the Copenhagen Summit.
  
• The outcome of these strategies should be manifested in practical policies and projects that positively affect the lives of the poor, particularly women, youth, children and people with special needs. These strategies should include specific actions to address unemployment, poverty, and lack of education. These strategies should also recognise the need to preserve spiritual and ethical family values.
  
• Allocate a minimum percentage of their budget towards implementing projects which address basic needs, including access to universal education, basic income support and basic health services.
  
• Seek the commitment of the various donor agencies and international organisations to implement the 20/20 initiative to support basic social services.
  
• Address women’s issues in the context of human rights by working towards eliminating all forms of discrimination against women.
  
• Enhance women’s participation in social, cultural and political life through support mechanisms geared towards improving the status of women at national and regional levels.
  
• Support the strengthening of existing regional mechanisms, such as the Arab League, in implementing the Copenhagen Commitments, including consideration of a regional Arab fund to help support the implement of national projects to meet basic needs.
  
• Enhancing the role of civil society in monitoring the implementation of the Copenhagen commitments through establishing mechanisms for co-ordination with government and private sectors by 2000.
  
• Strengthening the capacity of civil society to enable organisations to function more effectively with respect of the laws and policies of each country.
  
• To recognise the importance of partnerships with civil society, especially networks of non-government Arab organisations to encourage national, regional and international co-operation to exchange information and work in an objective and transparent manner.
  
• Maximise the use of the academic world to conduct social research, as well as providing the necessary training for the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of policies and projects in the field of sustainable social development.
  
• Stimulate co-operation between the private sector and the non-government sector to subsidise projects for poverty alleviation and productive employment.
  
• Optimise the use of the mass media to draw attention to the Copenhagen commitments and to highlight the need for effective partnerships between government, private sector and NGOs in their implementation.