ACC ENDORSES GENERAL THRUST OF SECRETARY-GENERAL'S REPORT ON AFRICA
Press Release
ECOSOC/5805
ACC ENDORSES GENERAL THRUST OF SECRETARY-GENERAL'S REPORT ON AFRICA
19981105 NEW YORK, 31 October (Administrative Committee on Coordination) -- The Executive Heads of the United Nations Funds and Programmes and Specialized Agencies, and of the Bretton Woods Institutions unanimously endorsed the general thrust of the Secretary-General's report on "The Causes of Conflict and the Promotion of Durable Peace and Sustainable Development on Africa". Meeting at United Nations Headquarters on 30 and 31 October, as members of the United Nations Administrative Committee on Coordination (ACC), they agreed on the importance of focusing on the challenge of peace and prosperity in Africa and reducing its vulnerability, recognizing the crucial relationship between sustainable development, good governance, respect for human rights and durable peace.At a time when the attention of the international community is focused on the current financial crisis and the countries and regions most immediately affected, the United Nations leaders agreed that it is especially important to ensure that there is not, as a result, a lessening of support for Africa and of the regional and national efforts to promote its development programmes. They also agreed that this commitment to recovery and sustainable development must continue to be implemented in full partnership with African leaders, the Organization of African Unity (OAU), subregional intergovernmental organizations, other institutions, and civil society at large.
The United Nations leaders reaffirmed that peace and prosperity must be sought as a single objective, with equal priority and equal persistence, emphasizing the broader nature of human security and the diverse ways in which it must be pursued. In addition, they expressed their full support for a comprehensive and holistic approach to conflict resolution, peace-building, development and democracy-building. They also welcomed the support of the international community to ongoing initiatives such as the United Nations System-wide Special Initiative on Africa, the Second Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD II).
The leaders are particularly concerned over the many multifaceted and complex challenges Africa faces today, including poverty eradication and environmental sustainability. Within this context, they expressed serious concern over the ravages of HIV/AIDS of which the consequences, in human, social and economic terms, could be devastating. They underlined the urgency for concerted action in addressing these problems.
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It was agreed that both the report and its recommendations would be brought to the attention of the governing bodies of the respective organizations represented at ACC to gain wider understanding and commitment. Members of ACC appealed to the international community to exercise the necessary political will and unity of purpose in supporting the efforts of the governments and peoples of Africa to address the challenges of peace and sustainable development.
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