From: Andrew Lang <lang@igc.apc.org>
Subject: Cristina Cerna informs
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: daemon@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: ?
Date: Sat, 23 Jan 1993 14:18:01 GMT

/* Written  5:36 pm  Jan 22, 1993 by cvasconi@nicarao.apc.org in igc:carnet.alerts */
/* ---------- "Cristina Cerna informs" ---------- */
Regional Conference on Human Rights
Elaborated by the Communication and Press Department - CODEHUCA

Cristina Cerna - informs on advances and perspectives of the
Preconference

Cristina Cerna, one of the five members of the preparation
committee of the World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna,
informed CODEHUCA on the up to now reached advances.
The most important advance has been the coordination of the non
governmental organizations (NGO's); Cristina Cerna hopes that the
coordination will continue so that an even better coordination can
be reached with other NGO's of other regions for the Conference in
Vienna.
With her 13 years of experience in the Organization of American
States (OAS) for the Interamerican Commission, she recognizes that
the advances made in human rights nearly always are reached by non
governmental organizations.
When asked what could be the role of NGO's at this Preconference
she said that the governments of Latin America and the Caribean are
taking into account the suggestions of these groups, and the above
can be guaranteed as she will be part of the editing committee.
The United Nations representative considered that it was very
important to give priority in Latin America and the Caribean,
together with Africa, regarding the protection of economic, social
and cultural rights.
At this moment there is a satelite meeting in Geneva on how to put
in practice the Pact on these rights, how to create mechanisms to
implement better this Convention, and she said that this item is a
priority for the Conference in Vienna.
She mentioned that the preparations and the perspectives for the
World Conference have three levels, 1. the regional meetings, one
in Tuniz in November 1992, and the one in Asia that will be held in
Bangkok in March 1993.
The second level is the periodical sessions of the preparation
commission, in which there are four sessions of intergovernmental
meetings, of which three already took place and the last one will
be held in April.
The most important, she said, are the satelite meetings organized
by NGO's, governments, United Nation's Agencies and other groups
that want to express a special interest.
The above enriches the contents of the conference as it promotes
ideas and interests of groups that have been working on these
topics.
Work has been done on the six objectives of the world conference,
and during the third period the participants tried to reach
agreement on the agenda; however, this failed as the different
regions had different priorities for the agenda, and finally an
appendix was written with a proposal for an agenda of 7 pages and
with 50 items on it.
If it was not possible to reach agreement on one item in one week,
how would it be possible to reach agreement on 50 items in two
weeks?
In her opinion, the task for today will be to focus on those items
that should be elaborated and on the final declaration. They should
find consensus on the principal goals for the future and not to try
to make declarations on all the world's rights.