A Central American regional Forum
Guatemala City, November 30-December 2, 1998


     In addition to the detailed recommendations from the workshop the participants compiled a list of overall priority actions for consideration at the UN review of implementation of the Copenhagen Summit agreements.

Prioritize the commitment to combat poverty

1. The participants called upon governments in the region to prioritize the Commitments made at Copenhagen to eradicate poverty. Target dates with national strategies should be made at the earliest possible date.

2. It is critical that an enabling environment of peace and tolerance, providing access to land, credit, training and technical support without gender bias, be sustained in Central America.

Urge the active involvement of international and intergovernmental organisations

3. Agencies of the United Nations, and other intergovernmental agencies and international financial institutions should provide detailed reports on their roles in implementing summit commitments.

4. The UN’s Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean should be urged to implement its mandate to organize meetings with the appropriate ministers to monitor progress on implementation of the Summit agreements.

5. Governments should be encouraged to submit accurate national reports on progress made in implementing Summit commitments within the agreed timeframe.

6. Agencies of the United Nations should be asked to work with governments and representatives of civil society to provide a mechanism for continued, transparent, national monitoring of the Copenhagen commitments.

Strengthen the ability of civil society organisations to participate

7. Civil society organisations need to strengthen regional networks within Central America to monitor Social Summit outcomes and ensure that commitments are carried out.

8. Civil society organisations need to create strategic alliances to develop an effective follow-up plan to monitor the progress made in the implementation of Summit commitments.

9. It is important that resources, both technical and financial, are provided to strengthen the efforts of civil society to facilitate and
promote civil participation. Civil society organisations should prioritise local development programs, help strengthen community organizations and encourage greater participation in dialogue with government.

Popularize the Summit commitments

10. In order to disseminate information on the commitments to communities, international and national Summit commitments should be communicated through a national communications strategy developed by the government and civil society using a variety of media.