Spring/Summer 1999

ESSENTIAL MATTER

UNRISD Virtual Forum on Initiatives

Copenhagen Plus Five will provide an opportunity for all actors—governmental, non-governmental, religious, media, business and others—to come together and consider concrete follow-up actions taken since the World Summit for Social Development. Unlike Rio Plus Five, which was used to renegotiate the agreed text, Copenhagen Plus Five is planned as a "General Assembly of Initiatives".

In this spirit, UNRISD has inaugurated a Copenhagen Plus Five section on its Web site, to stimulate the flow of information and increase communication prior to the meeting in June 2000.

One highlight of this new section is the Virtual Forum on Initiatives, which is collecting, categorizing and communicating information on follow-up work to the Summit and/or in preparation for Copenhagen Plus Five. Participants in the Virtual Forum use an on-line form to enter the description and background of their initiative, as well as to provide additional information and references to key documents that others might find useful. Participants also select thematic, organizational and geographical keywords that allow others to situate the initiative. All groups and organizations supporting the Social Summit are encouraged to participate.

What are the benefits of participation?

• You may search for related initiatives and organizations engaged in similar work.
• Hyperlinks are made to your organization's e-mail and Web site.
• You may ensure that the most timely information on your initiative is available on the Web by updating the form at any time.
• If you are going to Copenhagen Plus Five, the Virtual Forum gives you a headstart on networking.
• If you are not going to Copenhagen Plus Five, the Virtual Forum allows you to network with other organizations carrying out Summit-related initiatives.
• You will receive monthly updates on Copenhagen Plus Five news via an e-mail list.

The Virtual Forum on Initiatives is a service maintained by UNRISD at no cost to participants and users.

In addition to the Virtual Forum, the Copenhagen Plus Five section of UNRISD ON-LINE includes UNRISD Work for Copenhagen Plus Five, UNRISD Work in Follow-Up to the Social Summit, UNRISD Work for the Social Summit and Related Links.

• UNRISD Work for Copenhagen Plus Five will include studies published for Copenhagen Plus Five in the Institute's series of Occasional Papers, the overview chapter of Taking Global Responsibility for Social Development: Policy Reform and Institutional Change in the 1990s, the UNRISD report for Copenhagen Plus Five; and information about any events or other activities organized by UNRISD.
• UNRISD Work in Follow-Up to the Social Summit and UNRISD Work for the Social Summit link to conference reports, Occasional Papers, Briefing Papers and other relevant information available on UNRISD ON-LINE in the Global Conferences section.
• Related Links provides references to other relevant links. Please send us your information for consideration.