The United Nations (UN) system collaborates extensively with civil society organisations (CSOs) in many areas of its work, such as in policymaking, consultancies and in project implementation. The role of civil society, especially in support of the UN's initiatives around the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), was the focus the Asian Civil Society Forum (ACSFA) held in Bangkok, Thailand from 22 to 25 November 2004. The forum was organised by the Conference of Non-Governmental Organisations in consultative relationship with the UN (CONGO). Around 300 participants from non-government organisations (NGO) or civil society organisations (CSO) attended, some working on national or regional level advocacy.

Both the UN and CSOs acknowledge the need for better relations, especially in the light of the fact that many of the outcomes they hope to achieve depend on mutual co-operation. There is also the fact that proper accreditation need to be obtained by CSOs in order to have a consultative status with the UN, sometimes making full participation difficult.

In his keynote speech however, former Thai Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan said civil society requires an environment of democracy to operate, but democratic spaces are growing smaller for action.

"The process of globalisation, rather than bringing security, stability and democracy, is now dividing the people, stressing the people, undermining identities of the people, making it more difficult for people to live, to participate and to contribute," said Pitsuwan, referring to countries whose democracies have failed or are marked by extremisms, fundamentalism and conflict.

The UN initiated a review of UN-CS relations by creating a High-Level Panel on UN Civil Society Relations headed by former Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso. The output of this review is thus referred to as the "Cardoso Report." The panel submitted its findings to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who integrated his own findings and proposals into a Secretary General's report. His report would, in turn, be presented to the General Assembly for discussion and approval.

Day 1 of the ACSF was devoted to discussion and feedback to the Cardoso report. Former Cardoso panel member Mary Racelis of the Philippines presented a summary of the report and recounted the deliberations that went into its writing. Among the report's recommendations were: improving of the accreditation process for NGOs and CSOs, expansion of a Partnership office, and the creation of a trust fund to support NGOs from developing countries to access and participate in UN processes.

Afternoon sessions allowed groups from the three sub-regions (Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia and South Asia) to express their reactions to the Cardoso Report. They were likewise invited to share their inputs in drafting a document in the plenary sessions that followed.) However, some of the NGOs unfamiliar with UN processes at the ACSF were at the level of seeking accreditation.

Saradha Lyer of Third World Network Malaysia spoke from her experience of engaging the UN for the past 20 years. She remarked that the Cardoso Report has been over-hyped and disappointing, creating a bureaucracy in the form of a Partnership office, and losing the independent body of the Non-Government Liaison Service that currently handles UN-NGO relations. Lyer also said many governments are already opposed to greater NGO participation in UN processes. She asked that NGOs take an opportunity cost approach to engaging the UN, but averred that the Cardoso Report has forced civil society to undergo internal questioning of its own motives and roles in global governance. Other NGOs also seemed sceptical of the Global Compact being integrated into UN partnerships because it opens up too much space for business interests. By definition, the Global Compact is a voluntary international corporate citizenship network initiated to support the participation of both the private sector and other social actors to advance responsible corporate citizenship and universal social and environmental principles to meet the challenges of globalisation.

The remaining days of the ACSF were devoted to discussions of the MDGs in relation to trade and finance, human security, democracy and human rights, sustainable development and environment. Isis International Manila joined Foundation for Media Alternatives and other communications activists in a panel on the fourth day, focusing on Communication Rights.

Onsite reports on the ACSF will be made available through the Isis website, while documents, resources and audio files will also be made available as links and downloads.

Onsite report from Aileen Familara of Isis International-Manila, written 23 November 2004 in Bangkok, Thailand