SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION CONTINUES REVIEW OF ITS FUNCTIONING
Press Release
SOC/4393
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION CONTINUES REVIEW OF ITS FUNCTIONING
19960522 The implementation of the outcome of the Copenhagen World Social Summit should be overseen by the Economic and Social Council and not the Commission for Social Development, the United States said this morning as the Commission continued a review of its functions and mandate.The Council was in a much better position to implement that outcome as it had an equal mandate over both the economic and social areas, the representative of the United States said. He also stated that the Commission's mandate, which was now overly broad, should be redefined. It should be more specific, focusing on issues such as disability and ageing. The United States was also against expanding the Commission's membership and called for a reduction in the length of its sessions.
Addressing the issue of poverty eradication which the Commission also took up this morning, the representative of the European Union said combating poverty required broadly based development policies and mobilization of domestic resources, through, among others, more equitable tax system and reduction of excessive military expenditures. He also said the participation of all organs of the United Nations and the Bretton Woods system, as well as the support of actors of civil society were crucial to the Social Summit follow-up.
The representative of China said the inequitable position to which developing countries had long been subjected in international economic and trade relations had contributed to their poverty. Expansion of their imports and exports would decrease their impoverishment. In addition, the role of governments and mobilization of resources were crucial to poverty eradication.
Statements were also made by the representatives of Egypt, Norway, Austria, Peru, Iran, Haiti, Ukraine, Republic of Korea, Jamaica, Belarus, Philippines and Cuba.
When it meets again today at 3 p.m., the Commission will hear a panel discussion on the formulation of integrated strategies for poverty eradication.
Commission Work Programme
The Commission for Social Development met this morning to continue considering the review of its functioning. It was also scheduled to begin a general discussion on "strategies and actions for the eradication of poverty", the substantive theme for its special session, which started yesterday.
A report of the Secretary-General before the Commission on the substantive theme (document E/CN.5/1996/3), recalls the main recommendations of the 1995 World Summit for Social Development related to poverty eradication, including various options for consideration by public authorities and other social actors on which the Commission may wish to make suggestions and recommendations. It notes that those may constitute the Commission's substantive contribution to the elaboration by the Economic and Social Council and the General Assembly of a programme for the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006). (For details, see Press Release SOC/4390 of 17 May.)
Statements
ANDRZEJ KRASSOWSKI, Officer-in-Charge, Social Policy and Development Division, Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development, introduced the Secretary-General's report on strategies and actions for poverty eradication.
He said experts would make presentations to the Commission on the three areas of poverty eradication addressed in the report: formulation of integrated strategies, meeting basic human needs for all and promotion of self-reliance and community-based initiatives. Commission members would have the opportunity of interacting with the experts after their presentation. He drew attention to discussions on matters related to poverty eradication at the substantive session of the Economic and Social Council, in July, and also during the General Assembly's next regular session.
ALESSANDRO BUSACCA (Italy), speaking on behalf of the European Union, said the participation of all organs of the United Nations and the Bretton Woods system, and the support of actors of civil society were crucial to the Social Summit follow-up. In addition, recommendations were essential to improve the United Nations reporting system in the area of social development. The European Union supported the annualization of the meetings of the Commission and believed that its composition should reflect the need for harmonization with other functional commissions of the Economic and Social Council. The review and updating of its methods of work should also be considered.
Addressing the issue of poverty eradication, he said the Platform for Action, adopted at the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women, had drawn attention to the fact that women were disproportionately affected by poverty.
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Therefore, empowerment of women was crucial and their full participation in decision-making and mainstreaming should be considered as complementary strategies. He called for legislative and administrative reforms and an equal access to resources. Emphasizing that the main responsibility for social development lay at the national level, he said respect for human rights was imperative.
"Combating poverty required broadly based development policies, aiming at sound macroeconomic policies, structural changes and mobilization of domestic resources, through, among others, more equitable tax system and reduction of excessive military expenditures", he said. Investing in education, health and basic social services was vital, as was an active private sector. Conditions of groups with special needs like the disabled, poor single parents and the elderly should also be looked into. In addition, the role of voluntary organizations should be enhanced and there should be closer cooperation between governments, donors and civil society.
The European Union was committed to the target of 0.7 per cent of gross national product (GNP) for official development assistance (ODA), he said. International support and technical assistance could play a role in assisting the formulation of national strategies to eradicate poverty. Moreover, international institutions should be invited to increase investments in social sectors.
KARIM WISSA (Egypt) said efforts to strengthen social development should be based on what had already been achieved nationally and internationally. The diversity of cultures should be respected in the implementation of social development programmes. International cooperation in such efforts was also necessary to complement national efforts.
In Egypt development plans aimed at raising economic and social living standards, and eradicating poverty, he said. Individuals were taken into account in programmes to map out the society's development. He praised Norway for sponsoring the recent conference on the 20/20 initiative agreed to at Copenhagen. Egypt could not accept conditions applied by donor countries. The 20/20 concept must take account of the fact that countries differed in terms of their level of development and debt burden.
Non-governmental organizations should participate in the work of the Commission, he said. Expert panels were welcomed. However, decisions are taken by States. Also, items for discussions must be selected by Member States.
HILDE CAROLINE SUNDREHAGEN (Norway) said her Government together with that of the Netherlands had last April convened an international meeting in Oslo to discuss ways to translate the 20/20 initiative agreed to at the social Summit, which is based on the idea of allocating 20 per cent of ODA and 20 per cent of national budgets, to priority basic social programmes. There was a
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broad consensus at the Oslo meeting that the 20/20 initiative should be implemented on a reciprocal basis.
Developing countries were encouraged to prepare country specific programmes and strategies with the aim of achieving universal access to basic social services over a realistic time period, she said. Donor countries and multilateral agencies were invited to provide technical and financial support for the preparations and implementation of such programmes. The Oslo meeting had agreed on the need for improving data collection and reporting systems, both at the country level and on the donor side. It was also agreed that a follow-up meeting should be held within two years to exchange information and experience and to review and assess progress in implementing the 20/20 initiative, she added.
MENG XIANYING (China) said the impoverished population in China's rural areas had decreased from 250 million to 65 million between 1978 and 1994. In addition to its national efforts in eradicating poverty, China would participate actively in international cooperation towards that end. In fact, the eradication of poverty was a requirement for the people's right to existence. An increase in the level of education was also a prerequisite for poverty eradication. However, the course for development and poverty eradication had to be country specific.
Developed countries must contribute more towards the eradication of poverty, she said. Several factors had contributed to the present magnitude of poverty in the developing world and in widening the gap between the North and the South. One of those factors had been the inequitable position to which developing countries had long been subjected in international economic and trade relations. Therefore, the transfer of technology must be accelerated. In fact, a decrease in the impoverished population in the developing countries and an expansion in their imports and exports would benefit developed countries as well. In addition, the role of governments in organizing anti-poverty activities and the mobilization of the resources of the whole society were crucial.
EVELINE HONIGSPERGER (Austria) associated herself fully with the statement of the European Union. Poverty could extend to all levels of society, she said. In fact, it was a very real problem in Europe, specially after budgetary pressures had resulted in the dismantling of much of the social welfare system. Families had either already replaced or would need to replace state institutions in taking care of the elderly, the disabled and the children. In some cases such care had been remunerated, but mostly it had been unremunerated. The increase in the proportion of older population in Europe would also have an effect on the social scenario. It might translate into a longer working life for older people.
She expressed concern at the low birth rate in Europe, adding that the extended stay of children with families in southern Europe might be partly responsible for low fertility, late marriages and single-child families. In
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addition, increasing unemployment called for a family policy and flexible working hours with no gender specificity. Children were most at risk of poverty. Austria had had to reduce family benefits in 1995 and 1996 and that would also impact the situation of children. In fact, a redefinition in the contract among generations might be required. A vertical flow of resources from wealthy to poor households and a more horizontal flow from childless households, including pensioners with no children, to households with children would be required.
JORGE VALDEZ CARRILLO (Peru) said the Commission needed a more dynamic agenda. It should be given a true capacity to take initiatives and make proposals. Peru favoured addressing themes in an integrated manner consistent with the Copenhagen commitments. It also favoured a rational and equitable expansion of the Commission's membership. Also, the Commission should meet annually. Active participation of civil society and by United Nations agencies in its work was important to encourage exchange of opinions and proposals. Working groups should be established and informal consultations should be conducted.
Peru had earmarked more than 40 per cent of the national budget for the social sector, thus doubling the commitment it had assumed at the Social Summit, he said. Its goal for the next five years was to reduce extreme poverty by 50 per cent by applying a development policy designed to link economic and social aspects as efficiently as possible. The platform of activities being pursued within the government's social policy was aimed at addressing problems of those in extreme poverty, developing human capital, promoting job creation and income-creation private investment, and supporting social development. It was also promoting the participation of the very poor in the search for solutions to overcome their situation.
KAMAL KHARRAZI (Iran) said unrelenting poverty was the most serious problem facing humankind. The situation in developing countries had been aggravated by their debt burden and by the protectionist policies practiced by certain States. Eradication of poverty required a long-term national strategy which empowered all segments of the population. Dismantling of trade barriers by developed countries, flow of financial resources and investment to developing nations, transfer of technology, alleviation of debt burden and sharing of experiences were essential.
Prescriptions designed to realize national social integration should be applied equally at the international level, he said. There was a need to forge a rule-based international relations in which might and wealth did not generate rights. "The coercive economic measures and unilateral actions by certain States against developing countries are inconsistent with the objectives of the Charter of the United Nations", he said.
In the last 15 years, rural and urban population living below poverty line in Iran had decreased to about 26 per cent and 12.2 per cent from 48 per cent and 47 per cent, respectively. Poverty eradication was a common
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responsibility of the governments, United Nations bodies, non-governmental organizations and the Commission.
NICOLE ROMULUS (Haiti) said realistic and innovative solutions were required to eradicate poverty which manifested itself in various forms. Urban poverty was increasing rapidly in many countries. Genuine international cooperation was required to combat poverty worldwide. Foreign investment should be made compatible with social needs. Social protection for those who could not meet their needs should be ensured.
The present level of ODA assistance was not adequate to face the growing complexity of the problem of poverty, she said. Vulnerable economies required predictable donor assistance. Countries carrying out structural adjustment were not getting equitable assistance. External indebtedness of poor countries and structural problems of poverty should also be addressed.
O. GORIATCHAIA (Ukraine) said delays in the issuance of documentation had hampered proper preparation by delegations. Decisions taken to promote implementation of recommendations of the Social Summit must take account of the financial situation of the Organization and the functioning of other organs of the United Nations system. There was a need to strengthen the Commission. Her delegation favoured inter-sessional meetings. The Commission could play a valuable role in strengthening international cooperation in achieving the goals of the Social Summit.
KWANG JAE LEE (Republic of Korea) said financial and human resources, which were lacking in developing countries, were required to combat poverty and to meet basic needs. Poverty eradication effort in his country was based on five principles, including a strategy emphasizing the development of human resources. Special attention was also being given to the enhancement of women's economic opportunities and their access to education and productive resources.
His country's experience had demonstrated that in addition to the Government's concentrated effort for economic growth and a strong investment in human resources, a community-based, self-reliant movement was needed for the eradication of poverty. The strong commitment and desire of the people to build a better life for themselves, and financial and technical aid provided by the United Nations and other international organizations, had been the major driving force in the success of the country's efforts to combat poverty.
FAITH D. INNERARITY (Jamaica) said her Government had focused on the social, economic and physical aspects of poverty. It had applied a multifaceted approach in specific deprived communities and had targeted certain vulnerable groups, such as women, children, unemployed youth and low income families. It had also focused on the provision of a social safety net to meet the needs of the chronically poor and the new poor.
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However, Jamaica was aware that massive poverty eradication at the national level would not succeed without comparable, integrated action at the international level, she said. It welcomed the increased level of cooperation between the United Nations and the international financial institutions, and supported the call for the Commission to elaborate a multi-year programme of work to the year 2000.
IGAR GUBAREVICH (Belarus) called for strengthening the mandate of the Commission, rather than increasing its activities. The proposals of the Secretary-General were an excellent basis for discussion in that regard. Inter-sessional meetings should continue, but the Commission should work within the limits of its budget and not ask for new resources. He called for an increased role for non-governmental organizations within the Commission and stressed the principle of equitable geographical representation in the body.
RUTH LIMJUCO (Philippines) called for an integrated approach to address the broad range of social issues. In order to be more representative, the Commission should consider expanding its membership. It should also annualize its meetings and should consider extending its meeting time to perhaps 10 working days. By doing so, it might be able to do away with the need for inter-sessional meetings. She also stressed the need for equitable geographical representation in the Commission and welcomed the participation of non-governmental organizations.
Supporting expanded bureau meetings to prepare for the Commission's sessions, she said a periodic high-level political meeting would also be useful. Although the inclusion of expert panels in the proceedings was a welcome innovation, care should be taken that there was a balance between experts of developed and developing countries. The participation of members of civil society was also welcome.
RODOLFO REYES (Cuba) said the Commission should play a leading role in the intergovernmental efforts to implement the decisions of the Social Summit. The Commission's membership should be expanded with account being taken of equitable geographical representation. Cuba supported annual sessions of 10 working days for the Commission with inter-sessional meetings as well. It also supported the involvement of civil society in the Commission's work. Cuba also supported the organization of expert panels, whose conclusions and recommendations should be presented to the Economic and Social Council through the Commission.
He said the Commission's multi-year programme of work should be properly organized and include far-reaching issues, such as increased resources for social development. An annual general debate should address new approaches to social development.
VICTOR MARRERO (United States) said that the Vice-President of the United States, Albert Gore, had recently stated that the traditional approach to combating poverty through large bureaucracies must be abandoned. In fact,
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what was true for the national government was true for the United Nations as well. The Organization must streamline and make the best use of its resources. It was now for the Commission to explore how best to use its resources. In its proceedings, the Commission should take into account the overall reform in the United Nations and the critical financial situation of the Organization. Under contemplated General Assembly action, the Economic and Social Council would be asked to review the mandates of its functional Commissions to avoid duplication, he added.
The expansive implementation of the outcome of the Social Summit should be overseen by the Economic and Social Council itself and not by the Commission, he said. The Council was in a much better position to do so because it had an equal mandate over both the economic and social areas. "Simply enlarging this Commission and having it meet more often" would not make it more efficient. The Commission should be made more specific, focusing on specific issues, such as disability and ageing. "We should redefine the Commission's mandate which is now overly broad." Moreover, it was unnecessary to expand the Commission beyond its 32 members. Annual meetings were unnecessary and the length of sessions should be reduced. The idea of inter-sessional meetings of the bureau was welcome, as was the participation of non-governmental organizations.
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