PEOPLE EXPRESSED IN COMMISSION FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT DEBATE

Press Release
SOC/4493

PEOPLE EXPRESSED IN COMMISSION FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT DEBATE

"We are concerned about an expanding global economy dominated by short- term flows that have no counterpart in the real economy", Eimi Watanabe, Assistant Administrator and Director of the Bureau for Development Policy, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), told the Commission for Social Development this morning, as it continued its consideration of the initiation of the overall review of the outcome of the implementation of the World Summit for Social Development.

She said that it was a global economy that bound people together to a degree not seen before, and in ways that made households and communities in industrialized and developing countries increasingly vulnerable to forces beyond their comprehension and control. Expressing concern that the 1990s would become a new "lost decade" for a several hundred million people, she said that there was need for a new social contract that would bind all together as citizens with equal rights and opportunities, enjoying the right to live a life of meaning and choice.

The representative of Peru said that while the various United Nations' conferences sought consensus on social action, and despite national efforts, indicators showed the continuation of rampant poverty and the growing gap between rich and poor. The set 0.7 per cent official development assistance (ODA) target should remain on a permanent basis for countries to focus on resource transfers. The 1995 Social Summit document was still valid and highlighted the need for a consensual vision for the future.

Thandika Mkandawire, Director of the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development, said that, over the last two years, the Institute had been in a period of transition, both in terms of leadership and programmes, and it intended to intensify its collaboration with other United Nations bodies. Its strength was its ability to bridge the gap between research on

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the local level and policy-making at the international level. It owed its success to its ability to gather people from the North and the South around crucial issues.

Also this morning, as the Commission continued its consideration of the review of relevant United Nations plans and programmes of action pertaining to the situation of social groups, the representative of the Dominican Republic introduced a draft resolution on the International Year of Older Persons, 1999: Towards a society for all ages. Also, a draft text on policies and programmes involving youth was introduced by the representative of Portugal.

In other matters this morning, the Commission decided to renominate, for confirmation by the Economic and Social Council, the following candidates for membership in the Board of the United Nations Institute for Social Development, for a further period of two years: Harris Mutio Mule (Kenya); Valery Tishkov (Russian Federation); Bjorn Hettne (Sweden); Frances Stewart (United Kingdom); and Jonathan Moore (United States).

It also decided to nominate Jacques Roger Baudot (France) as the new member to the Board, for a period of four years to 30 June 2003.

The Director of the Division for Social Policy and Development also addressed the Commission. Statements were also made by the representatives of Germany (on behalf of the European Union), Mexico, and the International Federation of Settlements and Neighbourhood Centres.

The Commission will meet again tomorrow at 10 a.m. to hold a panel on youth and consider the provisional agenda for its thirty-eighth session.

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Commission Work Programme

The Commission for Social Development met this morning to continue its consideration of: initiation of the overall review of the implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development; review of relevant United Nations plans and programmes of action pertaining to the situation of social groups; and programme questions and other matters.

Regarding the review of relevant United Nations plans and programmes of action, the Commission had before it two draft resolutions. The first is entitled International Year of Older Persons, 1999: Towards a society for all ages" (document E/CN.5/1999/L.5) and is sponsored by Croatia and the Dominican Republic. By its terms of the draft, the Commission would urge States to present to the General Assembly -- at the four plenary sessions of its fifty- fourth session devoted to follow-up to the Year -- their national reports on observances of the Year, policy approaches to ageing, and best practices for a society for all ages.

The Commission would also urge interested States, United Nations agencies and bodies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), research centres and the private sector to continue to support the United Nations programme on ageing in developing a long-term, policy-oriented research agenda and in facilitating promotional and coordination activities for 1999 and beyond.

Further, the Commission would request the Secretariat to incorporate, as feasible, the experiences, policies and best practices reported by States into a long-term strategy on ageing, encompassing periodic reviews, for the Assembly's consideration at its fifty-sixth session in 2001. It would also request the Secretary-General to solicit the views of States, NGOs and the private sector on updating the International Plan of Action on Ageing and on the desirability and feasibility of convening in the year 2002 a review of the outcome of the World Assembly on Ageing, including the interrelationship of ageing and development.

By terms of the draft on policies and programmes involving youth (document E/CN.5/1999/L.6), sponsored by Portugal, the Commission would call on all States, all United Nations bodies, the specialized agencies, the regional commissions and the intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned, particularly youth organizations, to make all possible efforts towards the implementation of the 1995 World Programme of Action for Youth. Further, the Commission calls on them to consider the appropriate ways and means to follow up the 1998 Lisbon Declaration on Youth, also taking into account the reports of the second and third sessions of the World Youth Forum of the United Nations system held, respectively, in Vienna in 1996 and in Braga in 1998, in accordance with their experience, situation and priorities.

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It would also call on all States, all United Nations bodies, the specialized agencies, the regional commissions and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to exchange knowledge and expertise on youth- related issues, upon setting up the ways and means to do so.

(For background on documentation before the Commission, see Press Release SOC/4482 of 8 February.)

Review of World Social Summit

EIMI WATANABE, Assistant Administrator and Director of the Bureau of Development Policy, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), said her organization was emboldened by the efforts of some countries to reduce poverty. "Eighty per cent of our programme countries now have working definitions of poverty and have estimated its extent", she said. About 60 per cent of those countries had also formulated plans against poverty. It was now a question of following through on those commitments. However, some reversals had taken place since the 1995 Social Summit and much more remained to be done "if we are to see a world free from poverty and want".

She expressed concern that the 1990s would become a new "lost decade" for a several hundred million people. Not only was the spreading financial crisis eroding the asset base of poor households, undermining the security of livelihoods and mortgaging futures as income earners lost their jobs, but families were also cutting down on meals and basic consumption, while children were being forced to drop out of school.

"We are concerned about an expanding global economy dominated by short- term flows that have no counterpart in the real economy", she said. It was a global economy that bound people together to a degree not seen before, and in ways that made household and communities in both industrialized and developing countries increasingly vulnerable to forces they could not comprehend, much less control.

New threats had also emerged, she noted. She cited the spread of HIV/AIDS, which was robbing poor countries of their youngest, consuming meagre budget resources and adding millions of orphans to the ranks of the poor as one such example. Civil unrest also claimed lives and destroyed much-needed social infrastructure. It was also distressing to see the co-existence of rampant consumerism and the millions living on the edge of survival.

She stressed that what was needed was a new social contract that would bind together all individuals as citizens with equal rights and equal opportunities. The UNDP was strongly committed to the Copenhagen goals and urged its development partners to concentrate on policy proposals of strategic value that could guide efforts in the year ahead. There was also need to focus on the limited number of areas that were known to have a definite pay-off.

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DAUL MATUTE (Peru) said the various conferences of the United Nations had sought consensus on values and action in the social sphere. Generalized concepts had recognized that the reduction of social problems could advance social development. Despite national efforts, poverty was continuing its rampant march, and the gap between rich and poor had grown. Billions were in poverty around the world and official development assistance (ODA) levels had declined. The 0.7 per cent set for cooperating countries should be permanent. The 1995 Summit document continued to be fully valid and highlighted the need for a consensual vision for the future.

In that context he continued, Peru attached particular importance to an effective policy for focusing resources and for addressing the real needs and quantities involved. His country had recognized the need to concentrate on universal access to basic social services. Forty per cent of its national budget had been earmarked for social programmes, and per capita spending had increased from $12 to $180. His Government was also promoting the participation of civil society, NGOs and the private sector.

ADELAM RODRIGUEZ, representative of the International Federation of Settlements and Neighbourhood Centres, said that the Federation was a non- profit organization concerned with all aspects of social development. As an international umbrella organization, which represented various community organizations around the world, it looked forward to working with other organizations concerned with youth. The priority of the Federation was youth concerns, and it appreciated the initiative of Portugal in convening the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth. The Federation recognized that youth constituted over half of the world's population. It urged the United Nations and governments to identify, address and meet the needs of youth in the follow-up mechanism to the World Youth Forum held in Braga.

Review of Relevant United Nations Plans and Programmes

JULIA TAVARES DE ALVAREZ (Dominican Republic) introduced the draft resolution on the International Year of Older Persons, and said that Spain was also a co-sponsor. The draft was not an end in itself, but was meant to make the Year a beginning. The dynamism of the Year should not be limited to its festivities and celebrations, but should serve as a springboard for lasting programmes and policies, including a long-term international strategy. The objective of the draft was to establish a society for all ages, and she hoped that the draft would be adopted by consensus.

MARIA AMELIA PAIVA (Portugal) introduced the draft resolution on policies and programmes involving youth. Two years ago, the Commission had welcomed Portugal's offer to hold the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth in cooperation with the United Nations. Portugal had also offered support in holding the World Youth Forum in Braga in partnership with the Portuguese Youth Council.

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The World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond recognized the importance of meeting at the international level to discuss the concerns of youth, she continued. The meeting had been an opportunity to address youth issues and share experiences and best practices in search for global answers for youth-related questions. The Conference had not been a goal, but a step forward in the implementation of the World Programme of Action for Youth. The objective of the draft was to maintain the Programme of Action within the activities of the United Nations system.

The Dominican Republic, Swaziland and Uganda joined as co-sponsors to the draft on policies and programmes involving youth.

Jamaica and Pakistan joined as co-sponsors to the draft on the International Year of Older Persons.

JOHN LANGMORE, Director for the Division for Social Policy and Development, said the goals of the Division were to strengthen international cooperation for social development. It had an extraordinarily wide range of goals. The first of its activities was to support the inter-parliamentary networks through the global meetings. The Division also had to work on the promotion of common norms, policies and actions agreed upon by the various bodies involved in the process of developing social services. It also functioned to encourage dialogue with civil society -- a task it had done in this meeting and would continue to do in the biennium.

He said implementation of a number of past decisions was also the Division's responsibility. Some of those decisions concerned the disabled, youth, ageing, and the International Year of Older Persons. The Division also had a large branch working on technical assistance. That branch tended to work with developing countries and countries in transition.

Response to Questions

Responding to questions on functions, Mr. LANGMORE said that the Division's resources were extremely limited. There were a wide range of subjects and tasks and very little from the regular budget or extrabudgetary resources to address them.

Replying to a question on the proposed programme of work, he said the views of delegations could be proposed, submitted and incorporated. The outcomes of the working group would be available as working papers. If at times they were not specifically available in that format, they would be circulated to delegations. Responding to a question on the number of expert meetings, he said that there were 24 scheduled for the current session and 31 for the coming biennium.

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Regarding a question raised on the follow-up to the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth, which was held in Lisbon in August 1998, he said that process would be partly financed by voluntary contributions and would be undertaken by the two staff members of the unit and one voluntary professional. Regarding the status of the Braga Youth Action Plan, he said that if the plan was not endorsed in any way by intergovernmental bodies, it would have no status at all.

He said that while programmes were being funded from within the budget, there were some countries which were offering support for the expert meetings. Those extrabudgetary resources were welcome.

In response to another question, on the role of the Division, he said that all of its activities were designed to support intergovernmental bodies.

Replying to a question on the World Youth Forum -- held in Braga, Portugal in August 1998 -- he said that while the meeting had been organized by the United Nations, it had not had the status of a governmental meeting and, thus, did not have that direction or authority.

United Nations Research Institute for Social Development

THANDIKA MKANDAWIRE, Director of the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development, highlighted some of the Institute's research programmes. Over the last two years, the Institute had been in a period of transition, both in terms of leadership and programmes. The period 1997 to 1998 had seen the launching of five new research studies, including one on the relationship between gender and poverty. That project, developed in close collaboration with the UNDP, was currently in its second phase, which looked at the causes of poverty and the means of alleviating it. Other projects included research studies on information technologies and social development, and on the environmental aspects of development.

As a research institution, the Institute was occupied with the dissemination of the results of its research, he said. The most recent development in that regard was the redesign of the Institute's website. In addition to the issues currently under study, the Institute's primary focus in the next year and a half would be the Copenhagen+5 process. Virtually all of its research projects addressed issues raised at the Summit. A full report would be published for Copenhagen+5. The next year and a half would also be busy because the Institute would be thinking of its future direction. Several factors influenced its thinking, including the Institute's mandate, its ability to attract high academic scholars, and its ability to make its research results more widely available.

The Institute intended to intensify its collaboration with other United Nations organizations, he added. It had been encouraged by the revival of

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interest in the social aspect of development. The Institute also intended to seek out new donors from both the North and the South. Its strength was its ability to bridge the gap between research on the local level and policy- making at the international level. It owed its success to its ability to gather people from the North and the South around crucial issues.

The representative of Germany, speaking on behalf of the European Union, said that the member States of the Union were long-term supporters of the Institute. In looking at its research programmes, it was clear that the Institute's activities had direct relevance for the Commission's work. There was no question that both the Commission and the Institute could benefit from a more frequent exchange of information on their activities. He proposed that the bureau of the Commission and the Board of the Institute explore further means of cooperation for the future.

MARIA ANTONIETA MONROY (Mexico) said that it was encouraging that the Director had mentioned Mexico's contribution towards financing the Institute's programmes. Her country would continue along those lines in the next biennium.

AURELIO FERNANDEZ (Spain), Chairman of the Commission, said that during a meeting yesterday, both he and the Director had tried to explore ways to promote better cooperation between the Commission and the Institute. They would continue to explore that issue during the coming year, and perhaps the Commission should consider it in the context of its future programme of work.

The Commission decided to renominate, for confirmation by the Economic and Social Council, the following candidates for membership on the Board of the United Nations Institute for Social Development, for a further period of two years: Harris Mutio Mule (Kenya); Valery Tishkov (Russian Federation); Bjorn Hettne (Sweden); Frances Stewart (United Kingdom); and Jonathan Moore (United States).

It also decided to nominate Jacques Roger Baudot (France) as the new member to the Board, for a period of four years to 30 June 2003, to replace Ms. Herfkens (Netherlands).

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