RES/10/29 The Social Forum

Human Rights Council

Tenth Session

Resolution 10/29. The Social Forum

The Human Rights Council,

Recalling all previous resolutions and decisions adopted on the Social Forum by the former Commission on Human Rights and its Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, as well as by the Economic and Social Council,

Recalling also its resolutions 5/1 of 18 June 2007 and 6/13 of 28 September 2007,

Bearing in mind that the reduction of poverty and the elimination of extreme poverty remain an ethical and moral imperative of humankind, based on respect for human dignity, and noting the report of the Chairperson-Rapporteur of the 2008 Social Forum, held in Geneva from 1 to 3 September 2008, which focused on questions relating to the eradication of poverty in the context of human rights, best practices in the fight against poverty and the social dimension of the globalization process,

Reaffirming the unique nature within the United Nations of the Social Forum, which makes possible a dialogue and an exchange between the representatives of Member States, civil society, including grass-roots organizations and intergovernmental organizations, and stressing that the current reform of the United Nations should take into account the contribution of the Social Forum as a vital space for open and fruitful dialogue on issues linked with the national and international environment needed for the promotion of the enjoyment of all human rights by all,

1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the 2008 Social Forum submitted by the Chairman-Rapporteur (A/HRC/10/65);

2. Takes note with interest of the conclusions and recommendations of the 2008 Social Forum and of the innovative nature of many of them, and calls upon States, international organizations, in particular those with a mandate for poverty eradication, non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, trade unions and other relevant actors to take them into account when designing and implementing poverty-eradication programmes and strategies;

3. Reaffirms the Social Forum as a unique space for interactive dialogue between the United Nations human rights machinery and various stakeholders, including grass-roots organizations, and stresses the need to ensure a greater participation of grass-roots organizations and of those living in poverty, particularly women, especially from developing countries, in the Social Forum sessions, and to this end considers, inter alia, the possibility of the establishment of a voluntary United Nations fund to contribute to providing resources to these organizations so that they may participate in and contribute to the deliberations of future sessions;

4. Underlines the importance of coordinated efforts at the national, regional and international levels for the promotion of social cohesion based on the principles of social justice,

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equity and solidarity and of addressing the social dimension and challenges of the ongoing globalization process and the negative impact of the current economic and financial crises;

5. Requests that the next meeting of the Social Forum be held during 2009, in Geneva, on dates suitable for the participation of representatives of States Members of the United Nations and of the broadest possible range of other stakeholders, especially from developing countries, and decides that, at its next meeting, the Social Forum should focus on:

(a) The negative impact of economic and financial crises on efforts to combat poverty;

(b) National anti-poverty programmes: best practices of States in implementing social security programmes from a human rights perspective;

(c) International assistance and cooperation in combating poverty;

6. Decides that the Social Forum will meet for three working days, in order that it may devote:

(a) Two days to thematic discussions on the topics of the Forum;

(b) One day to an interactive debate with relevant thematic procedures mandate holders of the Council on issues related to the topics of the Social Forum, and to formulating conclusions and recommendations to be presented to relevant bodies through the Council;

7. Requests the President of the Council to appoint, as early as possible, from candidates nominated by regional groups, the Chairperson-Rapporteur for the 2009 Social Forum, bearing in mind the principle of regional rotation;

8. Invites the appointed Chairperson-Rapporteur to announce, in a timely manner, the most appropriate dates for convening the 2009 Social Forum, after holding consultations with States Members of the United Nations and other stakeholders;

9. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to consult all actors identified in the present resolution on the issues referred to in paragraph 5 above and to present a report as a background contribution for the dialogues and debates that will be held at the 2009 Social Forum;

10. Also requests the High Commissioner to facilitate the participation in the 2009 Social Forum, in order to assist the Chairperson-Rapporteur as resource persons, of up to four relevant Council thematic procedures mandate holders, in particular the independent expert on the question of human rights and extreme poverty and the independent expert on human rights and international solidarity;

11. Decides that the Social Forum will remain open to the participation of representatives of States Members of the United Nations and all other interested stakeholders, such as intergovernmental organizations, different components of the United Nations system, especially mandate holders of thematic procedures and mechanisms of the human rights machinery, regional economic commissions, specialized agencies and organizations, in particular the United Nations Development Programme, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organization and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, as well as representatives designated by human rights national institutions and non-governmental

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organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, and shall also be open to other non-governmental organizations, whose aims and purposes are in conformity with the spirit, purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, in particular newly emerging actors such as small groups and rural and urban associations from the North and the South, anti-poverty groups, peasants’ and farmers’ organizations and their national and international associations, voluntary organizations, youth associations, community organizations, trade unions and associations of workers, as well as representatives of the private sector, regional banks and other financial institutions and international development agencies, based on arrangements, including Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/31 of 25 July 1996, and practices observed by the Commission on Human Rights, through an open and transparent accreditation procedure, in accordance with the rules of procedure of the Human Rights Council, while ensuring the most effective contribution of these entities;

12. Requests the Office of the High Commissioner to seek effective means of ensuring consultation and the broadest possible participation of representatives from every region, especially those from developing countries, in the Social Forum, including by establishing partnerships with non-governmental organizations, the private sector and international organizations;

13. Requests the Secretary-General to take the appropriate measures to disseminate information about the Social Forum, invite the relevant individuals and organizations to the Social Forum and take all practical measures required for the success of this initiative;

14. Invites the 2009 Social Forum to submit a report to the Council;

15. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Social Forum with all the services and facilities necessary to fulfil its activities, and also requests the High Commissioner to provide all the necessary support to facilitate the convening and proceedings of the Forum;

16. Decides to continue consideration of this issue under the relevant agenda item when the report of the 2009 Social Forum is submitted to the Council.

45th meeting 27 March 2009

[Adopted without a vote.]

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