17 September 2004: The High-Level Committee on Programmes (HLCP) of the UN System Chief Executives Board (CEB) for Coordination held its eighth session in Florence, Italy, from 15-17 September.
In preparing for its 2004 fall session, the Committee focused on: preparations for the 2005 comprehensive review of the implementation of the Millennium Declaration; issues relating to bridging the digital divide; and implementation of the development agenda at the country-level. The Committee also followed-up on decisions regarding transnational crime, financing for development, and conflict prevention, and addressed its work programme for 2004-2005 and beyond. Committee members also heard a briefing by the UN Population Fund on the ongoing 10-year review process of the implementation of the Programme of Action of the 1994 Cairo International Conference on Population and Development.
On preparations for the 2005 UN major review, discussion focused on the formulation of the key messages that would help orient the CEB’s contribution to the approaches that would guide the Secretary-General report on the 2005 event, and on the “accountability” report regarding the UN system’s response to the Millennium Declaration. On bridging the digital divide, the Committee focused on the coherence of policy advice provided to countries in setting comprehensive strategies to harness ICT for economic and social progress, and the opportunities that ICT offers for system-wide knowledge management and knowledge creation.
On its work programme, the Committee considered: follow-up to WSSD; NEPAD; civil society relations; HIV/AIDS and linkages with food security and governance; and communications strategy. The Committee heard an update on the follow-up to the WSSD in the areas of water, oceans and energy, including the adoption of UN-Water’s terms of reference. The Committee also heard a presentation on the Secretary-General’s report on the Implementation of the Report of the Panel of Eminent Persons on UN-Civil Society Relations.
More information can be found in the report of the meeting.