South Centre
Formation31 July 1995
TypeIntergovernmental organisation
Legal statusTreaty
PurposeEconomic development for the South
HeadquartersGeneva, Switzerland
Region served
Global South
Membership
53 states
Official language
Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish
Executive Director
Carlos M. Correa
Parent organisation
South Commission
AffiliationsUnited Nations
Websitesouthcentre.int

South Centre is an intergovernmental organisation of developing nations, established by an intergovernmental agreement (treaty), which came into force on 31 July 1995, with its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. It functions as an independent policy think tank, whilst also holding observer status at the United Nations and other development agencies.

Creation

The South Centre was created by the South–South cooperation in 1995.

Its predecessor, the South Commission, recognized the need to strengthen South-South cooperation in international affairs. In its report The Challenge to the South, the South Commission emphasized the need for countries of the South to work together at the global level.[1]

Observer status

The South Centre has an observer status in the following forums:

OrganisationDateResolution / Website
United Nations General Assembly15 January 2009; 5 November 2008 [2]
UN Economic and Social Council27 July 2006[3]
World Intellectual Property Organization19 August 2002[4]
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development12 June 2007[5]
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change2 November 1998[6]
Convention on Biological Diversity[7]
International Criminal Court21 November 2008[8]
World Trade Organization Committee on Trade and Development4 June 1999[9]
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change9,10 April 2008[10]
Group of 24[11]
Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade 28 April 2013[12]
Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal28 April 2013[13]
Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants28 April 2013[14]
World Health Organization (WHO)23 May 2013[15]
Green Climate FundJune 2013[16]

Member states

Member States

The Council of Representatives is composed of high-level representatives of the centre's member states. It meets annually, and on an inter-session basis when required, in order to examine the work of the centre and to provide policy and operational guidance. All states signing and ratifying or acceding to the agreement are required to appoint a high-level individual as their representative to the council. This individual should have been recognized for his or her commitment and contribution to the development of the South as well as the promotion of South-South cooperation. The council appoints a nine-member board and elects the centre's chairperson. From its members, the council elects a convenor and a vice-convenor.

As of 2017, the following 54 states have signed, ratified, or acceded to the intergovernmental agreement:[17]

Former members

Publications

South Bulletin, a regular publication of the South Centre, takes stock of ongoing debates on major global policy challenges and delivers regular flow of analysis and commentary to policymakers in the South.[18]

Research papers, published articles, analytical notes and other publications are also made available in English, French and Spanish on the South Centre website under "Publications".

References

  1. ↑ "The Challenge to the South" (PDF). South Centre.
  2. ↑ https://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=A/63/453 United Nations General Assembly
  3. ↑ https://www.un.org/docs/ecosoc/documents/2006/decisions/Decision%202006-244.pdf UN Economic and Social Council
  4. ↑ http://www.wipo.int/members/en/organizations.jsp?type=IGO_W List of WIPO Observers
  5. ↑ http://www.unctad.org/en/docs/tdigolistd7_en.pdf United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
  6. ↑ http://unfccc.int/cop4/resource/docs/cop4/14a01.pdf United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
  7. ↑ http://www.cbd.int www.cbd.int Convention on Biological Diversity
  8. ↑ Resolution ICC-ASP/7/Res.3, Pursuant to rule 92, paragraph 1 and 2
  9. ↑ http://www.wto.org/english/theWTO_e/igo_obs_e.htm World Trade Organization
  10. ↑ http://www.ipcc.ch/meetings/session28/final-report.pdf Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
  11. ↑ "G-24". Group of 24.
  12. ↑ Rotterdam Convention information document 13
  13. ↑ Basel Convention information document 30
  14. ↑ Stockholm Convention information document 34 (UNEP/POPS/COP.6/INF/34/Rev.1)
  15. ↑ WHA Resolution WHA66/46
  16. ↑ http://gcfund.net/partnerships/observers.html List of GCF Observers
  17. ↑ "The South Centre members". South Centre.
  18. ↑ "The South Centre Bulletin". South Centre.

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