Civil Society Participation in the United Nations

In this article, Luis Alfonso de Alba provides an overview of the participation of civil society and ngo’s in the United Nations, and underlines the achievements of these organizations and the limitations they have faced in their struggle to influence different un negotiation processes. Firstly, he briefly examines the legislative framework through which civil society participation has taken place and the context of this participation within the United Nations. Subsequently, he deals with the need to adapt this legislative framework to civil society demands for greater participation and the consequent need to define key concepts to make this participation possible. With regard to Mexico, De Alba sets out to review the kind of relationship that the country, as a UN Member State, has managed to establish in different negotiation processes with civil society. In his conclusion, he looks at the importance of considering foreign policy as a lever for essential changes at national level.