Geneva Declaration Joint meeting of UNEP National Committees/ROE partner NGOs and Regional Civil Society Forum in preparations for the 5th Global Civil Society Forum

Introduction This paper is drawn up by NGOs and UNEP National Committees, from countries in transition and developed countries of Europe meeting in Geneva on the 27th and 28th of November 2003. Agenda 21 was the first intergovernmental agreement that gave recognition to stakeholders having roles and responsibilities in delivering sustainable development agreements. UNGASS recognised that in order for governments to make betterinformed decisions stakeholders should be integrated in to the deliberation process. The Johannesburg Plan of Implementation recognised that stakeholders working together could become a significant engine to deliver global agreements. We approach the UNEP Global Ministerial Environmental Forum and CSD12 recognising that we are in a time of creating new norms and standards for working within the multilateral system.