Economic cooperation: The composition and role of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) could be strengthened, especially in relation to international economic issues affecting social development. Closer interaction could be required between the ECOSOC system and the IMF, World Bank and the WTO, and between the ECOSOC system and key regional inter-governmental groupings outside the UN system.

Financial markets: Cooperative taxes and regulatory requirements could be introduced to reduce excessive volume and volatility in short-term international transactions.

Trade: Priority in future global trade negotiations could be given to areas where greater freedom of trade would be of special importance to developing countries. A UN Code of Conduct for International Business, based on the draft UN Code of Conduct for Transnational Corporations, could be developed.

Taxation and user charges: International standards for national taxation could be adopted in order to promote fair international competition and efficient revenue collection. Cooperative taxes or user charges on selected international resources could be introduced.
 

Human rights: Greater efforts could be made to achieve universal ratification of the core international human rights treaties, especially the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The processes and resources available to human rights treaty bodies for monitoring compliance with the treaties could be strengthened.

Income: A campaign could be commenced to ensure adoption of national strategies and timetables for reduction and eradication of income poverty. International standards could be adopted for basic income support systems to provide protection during periods of hardship or vulnerability.

Education: Specific international targets in relation to basic education and literacy could be included in a short list of WSSD priority targets which are to be achieved by a specified date.

Health: Specific international targets in relation to basic health and primary health care could be included in a short list of WSSD priority targets to be achieved by a specified date.

Employment and livelihood: Appropriate indicators could be developed and adopted for measuring progress in different types of economies towards achieving the goal of full employment. Greater efforts could be made to achieve universal ratification and monitoring of ILO core labour standards.

Social inclusion: International standards could be developed and adopted for recognition of non-governmental organisations by national governments.  
Resources for collection and analysis of social data on gender-sensitive and income-sensitive bases could be increased.
The specific targets relating to income poverty, basic education and health could comprise a list of up to ten targets to which top priority would be given at national and international levels up to the year 2005.

Preparatory Meetings: Expert meetings could be convened on priority issues such as international financial markets, taxation and full employment. Ministerial meetings on WSSD implementation could be held in each ECOSOC region, and NGO forums could be held at national, sub-regional and regional levels. Regional meetings could be held with senior media representatives to consider the relevance of the media to WSSD implementation. 

Preparatory Reports: Reports could be obtained from national governments and UN country coordinators on WSSD implementation in individual countries. Reports could also be requested from the IMF, World Bank, WTO UNDP, ILO and other intergovernmental organisations, especially about implementation of sections of the WSSD agreements in which they are specifically mentioned. The UN secretariat could provide a summary of key proposals for WSSD implementation which have been made since the Summit by high-level commissions, conferences or experts.

Comité des Sages: A small Comité des Sages, or eminent persons group, could be established to prepare a brief report recommending key proposals for action which it believes should be considered at the Special Session.

Draft Statement: It could be agreed that the principal outcome of the Special Session will be a brief statement, consisting mainly of specific decisions about action involving the UN system and some specific recommendations for very high priority action by others. This statement could be accompanied by an extensive summary by the UN secretariat of information and proposals which are to be referred by the Special Session for further consideration by relevant organisations and processes. An independent drafting expert could be appointed to prepare a draft statement which will help to initiate and focus discussion at the first substantive session of the Preparatory Committee (to be held in May 1999) about the statement to be considered at the Special Session.
 

NGO Participation: NGOs could be provided with prompt access to working draft documents and to proposed amendments during meetings of the Preparatory Committee and the Special Session. NGO access to Bureau meetings and leaders of inter-governmental groups during meetings could be improved. Prompt circulation to governments of specific NGO proposals to amend working drafts could be facilitated. Opportunities could be provided for selected NGO representatives to be panellists in plenary sessions and to participate in detailed drafting sessions.