THIRD COMMITTEE TAKES UP SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ISSUES; CENTRALITY OF ANTI-POVERTY STRATEGIES STRESSED

Press Release
GA/SHC/3517/

THIRD COMMITTEE TAKES UP SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ISSUES; CENTRALITY OF ANTI-POVERTY STRATEGIES STRESSED

CORRECTION

On page 8 of Press Release GA/SHC/3517 issued 6 October 1999, the statement of the representative of Bangladesh should read as follows:

HOSNE ARA WAHID (Bangladesh) said she welcomed the World Programme of Action for Youth. In Bangladesh, one in every three persons was a youth. The Government paid great attention to their development. The updated national youth policy focused on encouraging the broadest participation of youth through bottom-up planning and a participatory implementation process at the grass- roots level. The strategy was based on integrating youth in all aspects of national development. Through a programme of microcredit facilities, the Government had introduced a self-employment system benefiting over half a million youth.

In addition, she said, the Government had undertaken leadership training programmes aimed at the rural areas. It had provided education and health services for youth, including a drug-control element. The same kind of programme was being implemented for the disabled. The Government’s programme for the elderly included a pension allowance and social security. The National Plan for the Older Persons, already finalized and soon to be adopted, addressed issues related to the physical and psychological well-being of the elderly, along with their economic advancement and their involvement in cultural activities.

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