JOINT EFFORTS TO COMBAT SOCIAL IMPACT OF FINANCIAL CRISIS CALLED FOR AT BANGKOK MEETING
Press Release
REC/53
JOINT EFFORTS TO COMBAT SOCIAL IMPACT OF FINANCIAL CRISIS CALLED FOR AT BANGKOK MEETING
19990526 BANGKOK, 25 May (UN Information Service) -- Government officials and experts on social policy from various countries met today at a United Nations meeting to search for innovative ideas and initiatives to overcome complex social problems arising from the current financial and economic crisis in the Asia and Pacific region.In her inaugural address, Banasopit Mekvichai, Deputy Governor of Bangkok, urged governments to stand firm in their determination to mitigate the impact of the financial crisis that could otherwise impede socio-economic development. "The combined effort of our countries will be essential for the success in dealing with the most crucial challenges that affect the region", said the Deputy Governor.
The Interregional Workshop on Social Implications of the Financial Crisis and Expert Group Meeting on the Agenda for Action on Social Development in the ESCAP Region is being organized jointly by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the United Nations Centre for Regional Development and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, from 25 to 27 May at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok.
In his opening statement, Adrianus Mooy, Executive Secretary of ESCAP, emphasized the vital need for providing social safety nets to the sudden and newly unemployed in countries of the region affected by the current financial crisis. "All governments in the region have an inescapable responsibility to play a crucial role in ensuring social protection and in sustaining social stability", said Mr. Mooy.
He added that there should be more careful targeting of government programmes designed to alleviate social stress, as well as involvement of civil society in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of such programmes. Mr. Mooy also suggested an urgent consideration to establish an effective framework of social protection and social insurance schemes to provide those who slide into extreme poverty.
- 2 - Press Release REC/53 26 May 1999
Lai Shian-Lung, Principal Economic Affairs Official of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, called for vigorous interventions of national and local governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, the press and other stakeholders to overcome the sudden financial and economic difficulties which caused diverse and complex social problems.
The meeting is being convened in line with the commitments made by governments of the Asia and the Pacific region in adopting the regional social development agenda, which paralleled those in the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Social Summit for Social Development in 1995. The commitments reflect the vital importance attached by regional and global communities to three interrelated goals. They are eradication of poverty, expansion of productive employment, and enhancement of social integration.
The agenda of the three-day workshop/meeting includes: discussion on main issues relating to social implications of the financial crisis in Asia; institutional arrangements, including services delivery mechanism; programme development, including programme initiatives; consideration of development trends and emerging challenges to full implementation of the regional social development agenda; and recommendations on regional proposals for the global review of the follow-up to the World Social Summit for Social Development by the General Assembly at its special session in 2000.
Government officials and experts from Armenia, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Samoa, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam, as well as representatives from other United Nations bodies and specialized agencies and representatives from intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, are participating in the workshop/meeting.
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