PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR MILLENNIUM SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT HEARS STATEMENTS FROM NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

Press Release
SOC/4544

PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR MILLENNIUM SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT HEARS STATEMENTS FROM NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

The Poor Can `No Longer Wait' For Radical Economic Change, Caritas Representative Warns

The second Preparatory Committee for the 2000 Social Development Summit, to be held in Geneva from 26 to 30 June, met this afternoon to hear statements by non-governmental organizations seeking inclusion of their concerns in the Summit’s outcome. The preparatory session, which began at Headquarters on 3 April, was expected to suspend or conclude its work on Friday, 14 April.

The forthcoming social development review comes five years after the consensus adoption by 186 countries of the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development (1995), which charted a new course towards people-centred development. Today’s meeting was addressed by representatives of the following groups: Caritas Internationalis; International Association of Charities; Caucus on the Rights of the Child; Third World Network on behalf of the African Caucus; World Confederation of Labour; International Chamber of Commerce and the International Organization for Employers; and Citizens’ Coalition for Economic Justice.

A representative of the International Chamber of Commerce and the International Organization for Employers said that although the tide of globalization had not lifted all boats a new set of guidelines -– whereby multinational corporations would exercise the social responsibility being considered in this forum -- was unnecessary. Multinational corporations had raised the standards in the countries in which they operated, and most of them already had some form of internal policy guidelines or codes of conduct, formulated on a voluntary basis. The business community opposed the use of “soft law” or judgements by outside parties, which risked irreparable damage to their reputations and bottom lines. The business community took literally the Secretary-General’s point that companies could best promote human rights and environmental and labour standards by upholding them.

Preparatory Committee for - 2 - Press Release SOC/4544 Special Session on Social Development 12 April 2000 4th Meeting (PM)

The poor could no longer wait for radical change in global economic practice, a member of Caritas warned. Since Copenhagen, large population segments in the North and South continued to be marginalized. At the same time, the assets of the three richest people in the world amounted to more than the total gross national product of all of the least developed countries. Clearly, policies to stimulate economic growth did not automatically improve income distribution. Action was needed to stimulate pro-poor growth, as well as additional resources to accelerate debt relief for more countries. Another challenge, indeed a form of human disaster, had been the speculative currency crises, which could be prevented by: regulatory frameworks controlling financial speculation; measures to address the volatility of short-term capital flows; and studies to assess a possible currency transaction tax.

Also emphasizing the plight of the poor, a member of the International Association of Charities said the most impoverished individuals should be integrated into society through education and decent work. Implementation of policies to alleviate poverty must have a time-bound framework. Recognizing the potential of individuals should be a central aspect of development programmes. Those required innovation, education and media support, as well as the vital contribution of women.

A representative of the Third World Network, speaking on behalf of the African Caucus, said that current trends had created a disabling rather than an enabling environment to implement the Copenhagen commitments, particularly in Africa. It was shocking that, following the financial crisis of the past decade, the Preparatory Committee would consider adoption of a document that would ignore the negative impact of globalization, particularly its disproportionate effects on African women. New goals must be set, including cancellation of the debt of the poorest countries.

The developed world had survived, and even benefited, from globalization, but the process had disabled vulnerable economies, said a member of the Citizens’ Coalition for Economic Justice. Global cooperation would help devise concrete measures to prevent further financial crises. A tax of 0.1 per cent on foreign exchange transactions, for example, could stabilize exchange rates, deter speculation and generate substantial revenues for social development. The Copenhagen commitments had bound countries to provide official development assistance, but the declining trend had forced developing countries to rely on private capital.

The World Confederation of Labour representative underscored the difficulties facing the “Group of 77” developing countries and China, and noted that the proposed political declaration ignored the worsening situation. It was impossible to imagine the children of developing countries participating in the global technological revolution when they were increasingly trapped between the worst forms of child labour and HIV/AIDS. Also, employees in developing countries had not been sufficiently compensated to cross a bridge out of poverty. The Social Summit should summon the political will of both developed and developing countries needed to fight global poverty.

Preparatory Committee for - 3 - Press Release SOC/4544 Special Session on Social Development 12 April 2000 4th Meeting (PM)

A representative of the Caucus on the Rights of the Child called on creditor nations to find resources for education and on developing countries to recognize that the sensitive, moral and transparent use of such resources was in their hands. Without education, there could be no democracy or full exercise of human rights, no health, and no social mobility. Rather, rigid social structures in which power was consolidated by an elite minority would be preserved. If the world did not rethink development and its goals from the point of view of children, then “why are we here?” she asked.

The Permanent Observer of Switzerland, Daniel Stauffacher, briefed members on the status of organizational preparations for the Geneva Summit. All of the preparations were on track, he said. The programme for the week was available in the Conference Room and on the Web site: Geneva2000.org.

The Preparatory Committee will meet again at a date and time to be announced.

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