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IN THE CORRIDORS I

Several people have commented on the concrete and constructive nature of NGO input in this process. Some of the key NGO proposals have included a corporate Human Development Index, which would measure the social responsibility of corporate activity, and a call for 50% of all development assistance to directly benefit the social development needs of women.

Despite the copious number of interventions in the Plenary last week, government efforts were also focused on generating concrete results. This was most evident by the work of: the small informal group chaired by Canada on the Programme of Action; the G-77, in the preparation of its alternative text; and the EU, Canada and others in their work on the Declaration. Nevertheless, several delegates and observers have expressed concern regarding the state of Chapter V on the means of implementation. Considered to be the most important of all chapters for its role in operationalizing the Programme of Action, it has generated the fewest concrete proposals so far. This chapter will most likely be the subject of heated and protracted debate this week.