Defining the Present, Securing a Shared Future, Asserting Civil Society Participation at the United Nations

“Eighty years ago, in a world scorched by war, leaders made a choice. Cooperation over chaos. Law over lawlessness. Peace over conflict. That choice gave birth to the United Nations – not as a dream for perfection, but as a practical strategy for the survival of humanity. Many of our founders had seen first-hand the hell of the death camps and the terror of war. They knew that true leadership meant creating a system to prevent a replay of those horrors. A firewall against the flames of conflict and World War III. A forum for sovereign states to pursue dialogue and cooperation. And a concrete affirmation of an essential human truth: We are all in this together.” — António Guterres, United Nations Secretary General, address to the Opening of the General Debate of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly, 23 September 2025

“For eight decades, the United Nations has embodied our shared resolve to prevent war, promote human rights, advance social progress, and build a world of peace, prosperity, and justice. And for nearly as long, CoNGO has walked side by side with the United Nations — serving as a bridge between “We the peoples” and the intergovernmental institutions that carry their hopes. Your story is part of the UN’s story — a story of partnership, advocacy, and the steady widening of civic space at the heart of multilateralism. I commend the leadership of CoNGO and to all its member organizations for this unwavering commitment.” —H. E. Mr. Lok Bahadur Thapa, President of ECOSOC, Opening Statement to the CoNGO 28th General Assembly

“Throughout more than seven decades of history, CoNGO has demonstrated that civil society is here to offer solutions. This Assembly is not only an institutional procedure; it is an opportunity to affirm a vision for the future. You will elect leadership, review principles, assess trajectories, but above all, you will review an ethical pact, for neither poverty, nor authoritarianism, nor the climate crisis can be overcome without an active, coordinated, and free civil society. Defending truth and human rights under all circumstances. Strengthening participation, further opening the doors to youth, Indigenous peoples, women, and historically excluded communities, must be amoral imperative. And transforming cooperation into concrete action will be the true measure of success.” —H. E. Michelle Bachelet, Former President of Chile, Keynote Address to the 28th CoNGO General Assembly

“We convene today amid numerous global crises—climate change, pandemics, forced migration, authoritarian regimes, technological disruptions, and ongoing conflicts. These existential threats pose substantial risks to humanity and the planet, underscoring the heightened importance of the United Nations and multilateral cooperation. Addressing these threats requires an open, transparent, and inclusive governance system, guided by ethical responsibility, respect for human dignity, and democratic participation…We must defend democratic discourse and reverse the shrinking of public space so that civil society, nongovernmental organizations, and grassroots movements can serve as stewards and defenders of justice, peace, sustainable development, and human rights.” — Liberato Bautista, CoNGO President, Conversations Segment of the President’s Report to the 28th CoNGO General Assembly

I. Defining Our Present: Multilateralism — Renewed and Inclusive

At this pivotal moment, we reaffirm our commitment to rebuilding trust through inclusive, networked, and effective multilateralism grounded in the United Nations’ enduring values. A genuine partnership between the UN and civil society is essential, recognizing the indispensable role of diverse voices in shaping global governance. By embracing openness and collaboration, we strengthen democratic discourse, uphold the rule of law, and ensure that multilateralism remains a living framework capable of addressing today’s complex challenges.

Drawing on CoNGO’s 77-year legacy, we stand ready to build bridges to the future of multilateralism. Civil society broadens participation, defends civic space, and advances a just, peaceful, and sustainable world. It revitalizes global decision-making by linking local realities to international norms, promoting accountability, and ensuring that evidence informs policy. In doing so, civil society safeguards the integrity of multilateral processes and champions international law, making the UN system more responsive, inclusive, and transformative for generations to come.

Accelerating the SDGs Amid Headwinds
In the face of mounting global challenges, we must turn urgency into partnership and action to close the ambition–delivery gap and keep the promise of the Sustainable Development Goals alive. While bold targets have been set — ending poverty, achieving gender equality, universal health coverage, and driving climate action — progress often falls short because of resource constraints, weak implementation, and external shocks. Closing this gap requires turning commitments into concrete, measurable actions that deliver real-world results. This calls for bold collaboration across sectors and borders, ensuring every pledge translates into tangible progress for people and planet. By placing equity and gender justice at the center, we affirm that no one will be left behind and that every voice matters in shaping a future grounded in fairness and opportunity.

Accelerating the SDGs also requires addressing conflict and displacement through solutions rooted in human dignity. Prevention, protection, and durable pathways must guide our collective response, reinforcing the truth that peace and security are inseparable from sustainable development. Through these efforts, we can turn headwinds into momentum — advancing a vision of a just, inclusive, and resilient world for all.

Human Rights, Climate Justice, and Resilience
Climate change and nature loss are systemic risks to peace, health, and resilience, demanding urgent, united action. These intertwined crises undermine human rights and destabilize communities, making it imperative to confront them with bold, inclusive, justicegrounded solutions. By recognizing the inseparable link between environmental integrity and human dignity, we commit to advancing pathways that protect both people and planet. We must champion resilient, nature-positive approaches that safeguard ecosystems and strengthen the social fabric of communities. This includes honoring free, prior, and informed consent in all relationships with Indigenous peoples and their resources, and ensuring that development respects rights and traditions. By embedding equity and sustainability at the core of climate action, we can transform vulnerability into resilience and create a future in which human rights and environmental stewardship advance together.

A Human-Centered and Rights-Based Digital Future
“Technological progress must prioritize long-term public value over speed, efficiency, or profit. Innovation should be judged by its contribution to justice, care, sustainability, and human flourishing. Digital decisions today must protect future generations, ensuring a just, inclusive, and rights-based digital future for all.” (Section E. CoNGO Compendium of Principles of NGO Good Practice)

Technology must be a bridge to opportunity, not a barrier. To achieve this, we must close digital divides so that innovation advances human rights and empowers every individual to participate fully in society. A truly inclusive digital future ensures universal connectivity and access, enabling education, economic growth, and civic engagement across all communities.

Equally important is promoting rights-respecting digital governance. This requires open public discourse, co-creation with diverse partners, and robust accountability mechanisms to safeguard privacy, freedom of expression, and democratic values. By embedding human rights at the core of digital transformation, we can shape a future in which technology amplifies dignity, equity, and shared progress.

Safeguarding Civic Space — Inside and Beyond the UN
Civic space—the freedom to speak, organize, and act—is vital to civil society and multilateralism. An open, vibrant civic space is the cornerstone of democratic governance and global cooperation. Yet CIVICUS reports that over 70% of the global population lives in countries with repressed civic space. Without urgent reform, the UN risks repeating patterns of exclusion that sideline people’s voices. Civil society effectively connects local realities to global policy and amplifies the voices of marginalized communities in international forums.

Today, we must protect and expand opportunities for meaningful participation, ensuring that voices from all sectors of society can engage freely and safely in shaping decisions that affect our shared future. This commitment spans both physical and digital spaces, affirming that inclusion is essential to legitimacy and progress. Processes must be fair, timely, and accessible — whether in person or online — so participation is not hindered by geography, technology, or systemic barriers.

By safeguarding civic space within and beyond the United Nations, we strengthen trust, foster accountability, and empower civil society to build a just, peaceful, and sustainable world. Together, these commitments define our present and chart our shared course. Multilateralism, sustainable development, human rights, climate justice, digital inclusion, and civic space are interconnected pillars of a just and peaceful world. By embracing collaboration and accountability, we turn challenges into opportunities and headwinds into momentum. This is the moment to act boldly and collectively — so the promise of the United Nations and the power of civil society converge to build a future grounded in dignity, equity, and resilience for all.

II. Securing Our Shared Future: Addressing the Existential Threats to People and the Planet

To secure a future where humanity and nature thrive together, we must act decisively to confront existential threats to peace, prosperity, and the planet. This requires aligning our efforts with global roadmaps that turn vision into impact, ensuring that CoNGO’s contributions strengthen sustainable development, advance international peace and security, and harness science, technology, and innovation for the common good. By embedding digital cooperation and ethical governance into these strategies, we empower communities and uphold universal rights.

Our shared future depends on transforming global governance to be more inclusive, accountable, and responsive to the needs of all people — especially women, youth, and future generations. Gender equality and social justice must remain at the heart of every initiative, driving fair and enduring progress. Through cross sector and cross-border collaboration, we can turn today’s challenges into opportunities for systemic change, building a resilient world where equity, sustainability, and solidarity guide every decision. Together, we can ensure that the promise of multilateralism becomes a lived reality for generations to come.

Civil Society Leadership for Transformation
Civil society is at the forefront of global transformation, uniquely positioned to mobilize collective action and drive systemic change. By building cross-committee coalitions, we can shape policy agendas, guide negotiations, and amplify solutions to the most urgent challenges of our time. These coalitions must span critical areas — peace and security, sustainable financing, education, gender equality, social justice, digital cooperation, space governance, and youth engagement — to ensure that every aspect of global progress reflects inclusivity and shared responsibility.

Through collaboration and innovation, civil society can turn dialogue into impact by connecting local realities to global frameworks and ensuring commitments translate into meaningful outcomes. This leadership is not just about advocacy; it’s about co-creating solutions that advance equity, resilience, and sustainability for all. Together, we can turn aspirations into action and build a future where multilateralism flourishes and humanity advances.

Climate–Nature–Equity
To safeguard the well-being of people and planet, we must champion a just transition that is both equitable and nature-positive. This means accelerating progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals while ensuring that no community is left behind. By embedding equity and inclusivity into every action, we create pathways that empower all interest-holders and partners to thrive in harmony with nature.

Together, we can turn ambition into action — building resilience, restoring ecosystems, and fostering prosperity for generations to come. Our shared commitment to climate, nature, and equity will not only address today’s challenges but also unlock a future in which sustainability and justice are the foundation of global progress.

Data for Delivery
To deliver on our collective commitments, we must harness the power of data as a catalyst for action. Strengthening inclusive, community-generated evidence ensures that lived experiences shape solutions, fostering trust and accountability at every level. By elevating voices from the ground, we lay a foundation for decisions that reflect real-world needs and aspirations.

Producing rigorous research, parallel reports, and policy briefs will provide data-driven alternatives that inform policy and practice. These efforts reinforce civil society’s role as a credible partner in driving transformative change. Together, we can turn evidence into impact—building transparent, responsive systems that drive progress toward a more just and sustainable future.

Securing our shared future requires bold, united action from civil society. As CoNGO members, we must lead with vision and resolve — championing equity, sustainability, and solidarity in every initiative. Let us harness data to drive accountability, advocate for climate- and nature-positive solutions, and ensure that global governance reflects the voices of all communities.

By forging partnerships, amplifying lived experience, and turning commitments into measurable impact, we can turn today’s challenges into opportunities for systemic change. Together, we have the power to shape a world where justice, resilience, and multilateralism are not just aspirations but realities. The time to act is now — let us rise to this moment and lead the transformation our planet and people urgently need.

III. Asserting Civil Society Participation at the United Nations

Protect and Expand Access
Civil society must be placed at — not near — the decision-making table, ensuring meaningful engagement across physical, digital, and political spaces. True inclusion requires more than symbolic presence; it demands active participation in shaping global priorities and solutions. By embedding civil society voices at the heart of deliberations, we strengthen legitimacy, foster innovation, and uphold the principles of transparency and accountability
that define the United Nations.

To achieve this, we must protect and expand access through clear, streamlined, and transparent accreditation and participation pathways. Hybrid and accessible participation models should be enabled across all regions and constituencies, reducing barriers to engagement. This includes addressing visa and logistical challenges and creating welcoming spaces for civil society actors. When participation is equitable and unhindered, the UN becomes a stronger, more representative institution that reflects the diversity and dynamism of the global community it serves.

Institutionalize Co-Creation
To secure meaningful engagement, we must institutionalize co-creation as a core principle of global governance. Establishing structured, standing dialogues among civil society, negotiators, and UN entities will ensure that diverse perspectives inform decisions from the outset. These dialogues foster collaboration, transparency, and mutual accountability, strengthening the legitimacy and impact of multilateral processes.

Equally important is promoting participation compacts that embed civil society in every stage of the policy cycle: agenda setting, drafting, and follow-through. By formalizing these commitments, we elevate civil society to an indispensable partner in shaping solutions that reflect the realities of communities worldwide.

Together, we can transform consultation into collaboration, ensuring that global decisions are inclusive, responsive, and grounded in
shared responsibility.

Ethical Digital Transformation
Ethical digital transformation must be at the heart of our global engagement. We commit to advancing human rights–centered approaches to data and technology, ensuring accountability, accessibility, and inclusion by design. This means building systems that protect privacy, uphold dignity, and empower participation, while embedding safeguards that reflect our shared values.

We pledge to respect the knowledge and rights of Indigenous and marginalized communities through free, prior, and informed consent, equitable access, and robust protections. By using digital platforms for campaigns, petitions, and storytelling, civil society can connect directly with global audiences—shaping public will and driving institutional action. Together, we can harness technology as a force for justice, amplifying voices and building a future in which innovation serves humanity and strengthens democracy.

Funding the United Nations
“Alarmed by the current liquidity crisis facing the United Nations, which stems from the nonpayment of assessed contributions by certain Member States and has severely impacted the implementation of agreed programmes and mandates across the entire system, [CoNGO] calls on governments to publicly commit to adopting a sufficiently increased UN regular budget, reversing all recent trends toward seeking economies and reductions at the expense of programmes that require multilateral action. Member States must pay their assessments on time, in full, and without conditions. Financial constraints undermine the credibility and effectiveness of the United Nations.” (CoNGO 28th General Assembly Statement, Responding to the UN Financial Emergency: Funding Our United Nations)

The financial challenges facing the United Nations underscore the urgency of strengthening its capacity to fulfill its mandate. With delayed or reduced payments from major contributors creating a significant budget shortfall, the UN has been forced to impose hiring freezes, cut program spending, and borrow from reserves. These measures threaten the continuity of essential services and the progress we have collectively fought to achieve. Looking ahead, the planned $500 million reduction in the 2025 core budget—a 15% cut— could lead to a workforce reduction of nearly 20%, affecting approximately 3,000 jobs. Civil society must stand firm in advocating for sustainable funding models and innovative partnerships that safeguard the UN’s ability to serve the global community. Together, we can champion solutions that preserve the integrity of multilateralism and ensure the UN remains a strong, responsive institution capable of advancing peace, equity, and sustainable development for all.

CoNGO Commitments – How We Will Lead
CoNGO is committed to leading with purpose and innovation, ensuring civil society’s voice remains strong and influential in global governance. We will launch a monitoring effort on participation and access to identify barriers and share practical solutions, reinforcing transparency and accountability. At the same time, we will convene cross-committee task forces focused on digital cooperation, youth and future generations, and climate action— bringing diverse expertise together to tackle the most pressing challenges of our time.

The members of CoNGO form the foundation of its mission. Under the guidance of the President and the Board, CoNGO’s objectives are realized through collaboration with its substantive NGO and regional committees. These committees—vital platforms for expertise, deliberation, advocacy, and multilateral engagement—serve as crucial mechanisms for articulating civil society priorities within the United Nations system and across regional contexts. As highlighted during the pre-assembly 2025 Summit of NGO Substantive Committees, CoNGO’s effectiveness depends on active member participation in both substantive and regional committees. The new leadership is committed to transparent, collaborative governance, firmly grounded in the collective contributions of these committees. The assembly mandate to create the Council of NGO Substantive Committee Chairs is a step toward collaborative leadership.

We are committed to growing CoNGO’s membership worldwide and ensuring geographic and thematic inclusivity and diversity. To deepen our impact, we will establish a solidarity mechanism that expands participation for under-resourced member organizations, ensuring equity and inclusion across our network. By building broad-based coalitions that span sectors, regions, and identities, and by leveraging the expertise of individual NGO members and the collective strength of the CoNGO Board and committees, we will advance shared objectives with unity and resolve. Together, we can turn commitment into action, amplifying civil society’s role in shaping a just, sustainable, and inclusive future.

Civil society belongs at the heart of global decision-making, not on its margins. To protect and expand access, institutionalize co-creation, embrace ethical digital transformation, and advocate for sustainable UN funding, CoNGO members must lead with unity and resolve. This is our moment to turn principles into practice—building transparent pathways, forging partnerships, and amplifying voices across regions and generations. Let us commit to bold, collaborative action that strengthens multilateralism and ensures the United Nations remains a beacon of equity, inclusion, and shared responsibility. Together, we can shape a shared future where civil society drives progress for all.

Call to Action
Paraphrasing the UN Secretary General’s remarks at the UNGA 80 opening ceremony: “Progress requires countries to look beyond narrow interests, rebuild trust, and act together. While we cannot solve every challenge here, we can unite behind solutions that move humanity toward a better, fairer, more peaceful, and more equal world.”

Recalling our 2019 declaration on the occasion of the UN’s 75th anniversary, “we call upon the United Nations and Member States to enter into a dialogue with civil society to create innovative partnerships that respond to the challenges of a changing world…(which) requires the robust participation of the peoples of the world so that the benefits of multilateralism are felt in their daily lives. Everyone must work in concert so that the United Nations we need for the world we want prospers in a rules-based international order. We call upon Member States to recognize the vast potential of civil society as an essential element of the international system, defining the present and shaping the future.”

Together, we will rebuild trust, reignite momentum, and reimagine multilateralism so that
every community has a voice and every person’s dignity is protected. CoNGO’s strength lies
in its members and the collaborative partnerships they engage with.

Let us turn shared values into collective achievements, now.