UNITED NATIONS LEADERS JOIN FORCES TO MEET CHALLENGES OF GLOBALIZATION
Press Release
ECOSOC/5803
ECO/7
UNITED NATIONS LEADERS JOIN FORCES TO MEET CHALLENGES OF GLOBALIZATION
19981102 NEW YORK, 31 October (Administrative Committee on Coordination) -- Chaired by the United Nations Secretary-General, the Administrative Committee on Coordination (ACC) composed of the Executive Heads of all United Nations Agencies, Funds and Programmes as well as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), committed themselves to a united effort to tackle development challenges arising from globalization and the adverse effects of the financial crisis.The United Nations leaders detected signs of hope that the world is beginning to emerge from the crisis, but said the danger of the crisis worsening remained real. They underlined that effects of the financial turmoil could be felt long after the crisis was over; no country was immune and these events threatened to unravel much of the social progress achieved over the last 40 years. There was an urgent need, they said, to bring immediate help to those suffering acute hardship as a result of the crisis, but also to address long-term issues. In the words of the Secretary-General "Human beings and the protection of their basic human rights are the centre of United Nations concerns." The United Nations system must act jointly, with vigour and determination, globally and, especially, at the country level.
The United Nations leaders committed themselves to work together in monitoring the impact of the crisis on societies and individuals, in helping individual countries carry out the necessary structural and institutional reforms, and in strengthening or building basic social services, livelihood opportunities and safety nets for the least fortunate. They emphasized that equity and social justice, beyond their inherent value, are also necessary for political and financial stability.
The United Nations leaders welcomed the World Bank proposal to work with other organizations of the United Nations system towards comprehensive development frameworks led by the government of the country concerned. These would cover such areas as infrastructure, human development, poverty eradication, the balance and interaction between urban and rural economies, and the environment, as well as social safety nets. They also undertook to forge closer links between the United Nations and World Bank arrangements for development support at the country level.
- 2 - Press Release ECOSOC/5803 ECO/7 2 November 1998
At the global level, the various United Nations bodies pledged to undertake joint efforts in specific areas of worldwide concern, as has already been done in combating HIV/AIDS and in regulating electronic commerce. Another good example is the Roll Back Malaria campaign, launched jointly on Friday by the World Health Organization (WHO), World Bank, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the Culture of Peace initiative launched by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in close consultation with the Secretary-General and in cooperation with other organizations of the system.
The United Nations leaders also reviewed the ongoing reform processes under way in the organizations of the system and how these could reinforce actions by individual organizations. They took up the issue of the challenge of peace and prosperity in Africa, particularly in the light of the Secretary-General's report on "The Causes of Conflict and the Promotion of Durable Peace and Sustainable Development in Africa" and agreed on an effective follow-up, including by harmonizing their efforts. They also expressed concern over the deterioration in the security environment in which the United Nations system and its staff were required to work and committed themselves to minimizing risks to their staff.
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