THIRD COMMITTEE ELECTS TWO VICE-CHAIRPERSONS, RAPPORTEUR; BEGINS SUBSTANTIVE WORK FOR FIFTY-FIFTH SESSION

Press Release
GA/SHC/3573

THIRD COMMITTEE ELECTS TWO VICE-CHAIRPERSONS, RAPPORTEUR; BEGINS SUBSTANTIVE WORK FOR FIFTY-FIFTH SESSION

Under-Secretary-General for Economic And Social Affairs Addresses Committee

The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural), beginning its substantive work for the fifty-fifth session of the General Assembly, this morning elected, by acclamation, Hazel de Wet (Namibia) and Mostafa Alaie (Iran) as Vice- Chairpersons. Sarah Paterson (New Zealand), the Committee’s other Vice- Chairperson, was elected last week.

Also this morning, the Committee elected Anzhela Korneliouk of Belarus as Rapporteur.

As the Committee started its consideration of social development and follow- up to the 1999 International Year of Older Persons, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Nitin Desai pointed out the relationship between the Committee's work and concerns about globalization. Issues such as widening inequality, persistent poverty, a "democratic deficit" in political views and integration of social and financial concerns were all on the Committee's agenda. The Committee's job was to help the world come up with options to challenges presented by globalization.

The Director of the Division for Social Policy and Development, John Langmore, then introduced the 2000 Report on the World Social Situation. He noted the “mixed record of achievement” in the Report on crucial issues such as living conditions, housing and health. The Report concluded with a series of questions to stimulate discussion about globalization and development, change of boundaries between public and private domain and access to biotechnological advances.

The Chief of the United Nations Programme on Ageing, Alexander Sidorenko, introduced the report on follow-up to the 1999 International Year of Older Persons. He highlighted initiatives taken by the Secretariat, including establishment of an Internet database on international ageing policies.

Ageing and youth were the major themes addressed by the Committee today. The representative of France, speaking on behalf of the European Union and associated States, expressed special concern about ageing women because of social prejudice and stereotyping.

Third Committee - 1a - Press Release GA/SHC/3573 3rd Meeting (AM) 25 September 2000

The representative of Senegal emphasized initiatives his Government had undertaken on behalf of youth and brought attention to the 2001 Youth Summit in Dakar being organized in cooperation with the United Nations Youth Unit. A youth representative for Norway encouraged the participation of youth representatives in next year's meeting to review the World Summit on Children.

The Committee Chairwoman, Yvonne Gittens-Joseph (Trinidad and Tobago) made a short welcoming statement.

Also addressing the Committee this morning were the representatives of the United States, Cuba, Bangladesh and Rwanda.

The Committee will meet again tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. to continue considering questions related to social development and follow-up to the 1999 International Year of Older Persons.

Third Committee - 2 - Press Release GA/SHC/3573 3rd Meeting (AM) 25 September 2000

Committee Work Programme

The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) met this morning to begin considering social development, including questions related to the world social situation and to youth, ageing, disabled persons and the family. It would also consider follow-up to the International Year of Older Persons (1999).

The Committee has before it a number of reports. An Economic and Social Council report contains an overview of the 2000 Report on the World Social Situation. A report by the Secretary-General outlines the follow-up to the 1999 International Year of Older Persons. Relevant chapters of the Economic and Social Council’s report for 2000 (document A/55/3 -- to be issued) are also before the Committee, as is a draft resolution on the International Year of Volunteers.

The Economic and Social Council’s report on the 2000 world social situation (document E/2000/9) is an overview of a longer report issued as a sales publication and providing a summary of global developments from a social perspective. Six sectors of world society are covered: demographic and economic trends; changes involving families, social groups, civil society and institutions; living conditions; social pathologies; education, technology and information; and finally, influential challenges.

The report describes the demographic landmarks of the new millennium in which the world’s population for the first time surpasses 6 billion after doubling in a single generation from 1960. While the rate of population growth is slowing, ageing is a global phenomenon with shifts in the world population distribution. National economies perform diversely in a world economy where the market model is triumphing to make economies unprecedentedly open and also vulnerable to external shock. Since dynamic economies capable of generating expansion are necessary for social progress and countries with the narrowest economic base are the least dynamic, a wide gap between developing and developed countries is now a chasm. There is a danger the world over of modern enclaves being integrated into a global economy while the backcountry drifts outside the mainstream of progress.

In the area of institutional frameworks, the most striking change reported is a dramatic reduction in the size of the nuclear family, with a declining role for the family as an economic unit of production. The rights of individual family members are increasingly recognized, but women’s lives are marked by a double burden of increased outside responsibility and continuing primary responsibility for the household. As civil society organizations grow in importance, traditional actors such as trade unions are losing influence, while cooperatives are seeing increased memberships. Politically, a half-century of decolonization that facilitated the rise of strong centralized governments has given way to a decade of democratization and a search for new ways of meeting social needs through services, particularly in the direction of public spending by purpose.

The report details the world employment situation and outlines a mixed record of achievement concerning living conditions. Work, wage and income disparities continue to increase among nations and within them. While lack of food supplies at the global level are no longer a major factor in undernutrition, food denial for political reasons, crop failures due to disasters and failed distribution systems are growing causes of hunger and starvation. Diseases dominate the global health picture, with proliferating travel and expanding interchange of food products creating enormous challenges for health services in both developed and developing countries. Differences in available space and quality of dwellings manifest living standard disparities between upper and lower income strata in societies and between average income recipients in developed, as against developing, countries.

Regarding the social pathologies of violence, armed conflict, discrimination, prostitution, corruption and organized crime, the report notes decreased government support of such practices. It also notes an increase in incorporating grievance mechanisms and redress procedures into national law, and in ratifying international instruments.

Identifying education, technology and information as the commanding aspects of social change, the report shows education as both opening doors to social mobility and shutting off possibilities for the excluded. Also, while the technological explosion in communication has created opportunities for all to access information resources and participate in the global economy, the successful spread of old technologies in developing countries and commercial exploitation of the new has proven to depend on more than just access and technological literacy. Technical and professional support networks are also required, as are access to credit and venture capital. Since acceptance by groups with a vested interest in maintaining the status quo is key, immigrants returning home can be in the vanguard of successful change in exploiting technological opportunities.

Finally, the report examines issues related to equity and ethics in five major development areas: globalization; the role of government in promoting the common good; the shift to market approaches in meeting social needs; changing boundaries between private and public domains; and bio-medical developments. The questions posed on the issues are intended to raise discussion and help shape the future policy agenda for local, national and international action.

The Secretary-General’s report on follow-up to the International Year of Older Persons (document A/55/167) reviews activities and developments related to the Year, observed in 1999. The report highlights initial preparations for a second World Assembly on Ageing, to be held in Madrid in April 2002, on the twentieth anniversary of the first World Assembly. The second Assembly will be devoted to the overall review of the first and to adoption of a revised Plan of Action and a long-term strategy on ageing.

According to the report, while the essence of the Plan of Action remains useful, its content and policy recommendations are in need of a fresh, updated approach to contend with today’s demographic and socio-economic realities. Therefore, the preparatory process leading up to the Assembly has begun, with the revision of the International Plan of Action on Ageing at its core. The revised Plan of Action will focus particular attention on the situation of developing countries, where the majority of older persons reside and where demographic ageing will proceed at an unprecedented rate.

The United Nations programme on ageing has begun to facilitate the important process of bringing the Plan of Action into the twenty-first century, the report continues. The Secretary-General has begun consulting with governments, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to present their views on progress and obstacles in implementing the Plan, as well as on priority issues to be addressed in a revised Plan and the proposed long-term strategy. The Secretary-General has also established a technical committee to assist him in formulating proposals during the preparatory process.

The report notes that the celebration of the 1999 International Year of Older Persons produced a vast array of other events and initiatives organized by Member States, the United Nations system and intergovernmental and non- governmental organizations. An international conference on rural ageing was held, as was an expert group meeting on sustainable social structures in a society for all ages. During four plenary meetings devoted to follow-up of the Year, Member States noted their extensive national efforts in support of the Year, and that commemoration of the Year had provided a unique opportunity to evaluate the likely impact of the demographic revolution on societies and to develop strategies to meet the new challenge.

Further to the report, Member States and other actors had embraced a holistic approach to ageing, highlighted by the four-dimensional conceptual framework developed by the United Nations programme on ageing that comprised the situation of older persons, lifelong individual development, multigenerational relationships and the interplay between population, ageing and development. The concept of a society for all ages marks a turn in tide away from viewing ageing as a narrow, “added on’ issue to a more integrated viewpoint of ageing as lifelong and society-wide.

Of particular interest to Member States was the need to address the effect and impact of the uneven gains of globalization on older persons, particularly in developing and transitional countries, and measures to reform pension schemes and welfare institutions. The issue of human rights for older persons, particularly older women, continued to draw attention from various actors; in every part of the world, women comprise the majority of older persons, but they still face special obstacles to full participation in the life of their communities. Member States also noted that the International Year of Older Persons has clearly opened doors to link the importance of policy support in two directions: throughout the life course and within the changing development landscape.

In addition to the reports, the Committee has before it a resolution concerning the 2001 International Year of Volunteers (document A/C.3/55/L.2), recommended by the Economic and Social Council for adoption by the General Assembly. By this resolution, the Assembly would decide that two plenary meetings of its fifty-sixth session would be devoted to the question of volunteering, to coincide with the close of the International Year of Volunteers on 5 December 2001.

Election of Vice-Chairpersons and Rapporteur

YVONNE GITTENS-JOSEPH (Trinidad and Tobago), Chairwoman of the Committee, made a short welcoming statement.

The Committee then elected, by acclamation, Hazel de Wet (Namibia) and Mostafa Alaie (Iran) as Vice-Chairpersons, in addition to Sarah Paterson (New Zealand) who had been elected during the Committee's organizational session. Also by acclamation, the Committee elected Anzhela Korneliouk (Belarus) as Rapporteur.

Introductory Statements

NITIN DESAI, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, said the theme of globalization had dominated discussions in the General Assembly, the Millennium Summit and other important gatherings. Many aspects of globalization were related to the Committee's work. The main question regarding globalization was to look at areas of concern from the perspective of taking action. What were the problems and how could they be addressed?

He said that of first concern was the fact that despite globalization's great potential for bringing about equality, it was leading instead to greater inequality. Related to that was the persistence of poverty and deprivation. Because globalization was leading to great prosperity for so many people, the existing levels of poverty were no longer acceptable. Also of concern was how to manage globalization, particularly in the financial sectors and in issues of governance. A "democratic deficit" was beginning to emerge, a sense that existing mechanisms did not reflect the views of all peoples. Finally, there was a growing sense that social and financial concerns of life should be better integrated than they were at present.

It was the Committee's responsibility to address those issues, he said. Its job was to help the world identify viable options for dealing with the concerns presented by globalization.

JOHN LANGMORE, Director of the Division for Social Policy and Development, introduced the 2000 Report on the World Social Situation (document E/2000/9). He said that while the Third Committee did not have the tradition of a general debate, the facts and figures presented in the Report might certainly provide enough fuel to begin one. The Report highlighted a “mixed record of achievement” on crucial issues such as regional living conditions, housing and health. He also highlighted the Report’s findings on trafficking in women, corruption and, a relatively recent development, the opportunities the Internet provided for various abuses along those lines. He also noted the inequities in provision of basic education.

Finally, he said the Report concluded with a series of interesting questions. While the Economic and Social Council’s final report would not attempt to answer those questions — on globalization and development, change of boundaries between public and private domain and access to biotechnological advances -- it would certainly put them on the table for discussion.

ALEXANDER SIDORENKO, Chief of the United Nations Programme on Ageing, introduced the report on the follow-up to the International Year of Older Persons (document A/55/167). He said the report highlighted, among other things, the General Assembly special session on the Year of Older Persons. Other sections noted several initiatives of the Secretariat, including the establishment in February 2000 of a database on international policies on ageing and development. In support of revising the Plan of Action adopted at the first World Assembly on Older Persons, the report also highlighted the United Nations research agenda on ageing, which had been set up to streamline international policies on this issue.

PATRICK MONOD-GAURAUD (France), speaking on behalf of the European Union and associated States, said meeting the needs of ageing persons was a priority from a number of perspectives, including that of ensuring social welfare and creating a society in which all participated. Of particular concern were issues associated with the ageing of women because of social prejudice and stereotyping.

The links between ageing and development were significant, he said. New support structures were needed for ageing populations worldwide in both cities and rural areas. Among recent initiatives already launched by European Union countries were a database and a research programme focusing on ageing in urban areas. The second World Assembly on Ageing in 2002 would be an important step in addressing the problems of an ageing society. A revised action plan for long-term objectives would be a good basis for a global approach to new demographic realities.

The broadest possible segment of society should participate in that Assembly, he said. Governments, United Nations agencies, social partners and research centres should all contribute so that a society for all ages could be built.

IBRA DEGUENE KA (Senegal) said progress still lagged behind the most basic requirement today in the social arena, particularly with regard to ageing. The momentum of last year's International Year must not be lost -- and everything must be done to build on its framework. Intergenerational relations were a major factor in development, and solidarity between generations was key to social advancement. In Africa, where the economic and social situations were deteriorating, an in-depth study should be carried out on ageing. It should take into account the socio-economic situations of specific regions.

With regard to the overall social situation of the world, he said a main concern was the weakening of the family as a unit of production. Also of concern were the continuing prevalence of diseases worldwide and the preponderance of negative aspects to globalization.

The Government that had come to power in Senegal during March of this year was very committed to social issues, he said. Questions related to youth were at the forefront of its agenda. Initiatives had been undertaken, including for training and employment of youth. Young people were also being mobilized in cooperation with the United Nations Youth Unit to prepare for the 2001 Youth Summit in Dakar, the first such forum to be held in Africa.

LARRY CARP (United States) said that the Secretary-General’s latest report noted that much had been accomplished during the International Year of Older Persons. The task was to maintain that momentum. In that regard, he was pleased to note that the United States Committee for the International Year of Older Persons had not folded up shop when the Year came to an end. On the contrary, its work had just begun; membership on the Committee continued to grow as individuals government-wide saw it as a forum for sharing information about issues related to ageing and a vehicle for developing a comprehensive, federal response to ageing. The rapid growth of the older population over the next 50 years, however, would intensify the need for policy-makers, researchers and community leaders to better understand the health and economic needs of older Americans.

He said that older people had made great strides in the United States. A recent federal report confirmed that at the start of this new century, older Americans were living longer and enjoying greater prosperity than in any previous generation. But despite those advances, persistent inequalities between the sexes, income classes, and racial and ethnic groups continued to exist. While poverty rates had declined and there had been a substantial increase in net worth for older Americans, major disparities still existed, with older blacks and women reporting fewer financial resources.

The United States Committee on Older Persons had responded to all those needs by proposing a number of initiatives to improve the quality of life for older Americans and their caregivers, he said. President William Clinton had recently proposed a new affordable Medicare prescription drug benefit and had proclaimed September 2000 as “Health in Ageing Month”. Looking ahead, he said that the time had come to take a fresh look at a long-term strategy on ageing; the Plan of Action adopted in Vienna in 1982 desperately needed to be brought into the twenty-first century.

LUIS ALBERTO AMOROS NUÑEZ (Cuba) said that, despite the fact that mankind was now wealthier than at any time in human history, the goal of equitable social development for all seemed farther away than ever. Disparities between industrialized and developing countries persisted. Indeed, for poor countries, income per capita was less than it had been 15 years ago. Poverty and unemployment were increasing, and many countries were headed towards a crisis, because of speculative financial movements. It was clear that economic policies and models needed to be developed that would stress social justice and equality for everyone, not just a few, rich nations. Without equality in distribution of wealth, social development would be just a dream. The Cuban experience had shown, even in the shadow of the economic blockade imposed by the United States, that social development was achievable and could, indeed, contribute to economic development and fair and equitable distribution of wealth.

In Cuba, the idea of fair and equitable distribution had been promoted and supported there for more than 40 years, he continued. Special attention had been given to various social groups, such as the elderly, youth and the disabled elderly. Youth were playing an important role in all spheres of life in Cuba and increasing their opportunities for participation was one of the Government’s basic objectives. Cuba also stressed the idea that positive social situations for the elderly and ageing, in general, were not only legitimate aspects of life, but important development indicators. Free health care and social security were guaranteed, and today life expectancy in Cuba was 75 years of age. It was important to note that the predicted boom in elderly persons over the next few decades would be a particular challenge faced by developing countries. The international community must act quickly to address that important issue.

ANWARUL KARIM CHOWDHURY (Bangladesh) said the Millennium Declaration had reinforced the critical need for social development. An unprecedented number of world leaders had committed themselves to many aspects of it. To make the promises become a reality, six factors would have to be considered.

First, effective steps had to be taken to eradicate poverty, he said. Then, women had to be taken into serious account in matters related to social development. The vulnerable had to be protected by enhancing social safety nets, the beneficiaries and civil society actors had to be brought in to help governments; there should be strong State frameworks for social development and finally, international cooperation had to be supported through resources, knowledge and capacity-building.

In addition, he said, social development should become a core United Nations activity. The effectiveness of relevant bodies should be strengthened, particularly that of the Commission for Social Development.

JOSEPH MUTABOBA (Rwanda) gave a brief account of some of the social development goals his country was trying to achieve following the genocide of 1994. He noted that in order for social development to be realized and sustained, several prerequisites must be in place: peace and security, resource availability, proper planning mechanisms and skilled manpower to implement relevant policies. In that light, it was tragic that teachers, engineers and doctors had been among the nearly 1 million civilians who had lost their lives in that conflict. It would take time to fill the vacuum created in all the countries’ professional fields. The people would have to “start from scratch” to rehabilitate the shattered economy.

The Government was committed to raising allocation of resources to the social sector, he said. Some priorities in that regard included universal access to primary health care and primary education by 2005, elimination of discriminatory laws against women and support of all efforts to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS.

He went on to say, however, that the efforts of the Rwandese people to rebuild and recover from the past crises had been frustrated by debt problems -- some of which, sadly, originated from the purchase of machetes and pangas that had been used in the slaughter of the population. Nevertheless, debts were debts. He was encouraged by Canada’s call on creditor nations and international financial institutions for debt moratorium for the poorest nations so that the resources paid on interest could be diverted to social development.

He appealed to the international community to support the initiatives of the Rwandese people in post-conflict-building. Those to whom Rwanda owed debts should reconsider their position and cancel those debts so that the country could funnel the small amount of resources it did have into research and social development.

ESPEN OPHAUG, a youth representative from Norway, said that the need for universal primary education, human rights education and education for peace were important issues facing today’s youths and the international community. Also, the importance of youth participation and representation at local, national and international levels should be recognized. Young people often felt that they had no say in the decisions affecting their lives. When they tried to participate, they were told policy issues were “matters for adults”.

It was vital, however, he continued, to include young people in decision- making processes, not just because they would be affected by decisions that were made, but because their fruitful and constructive participation would guarantee that their thoughts and opinions would be heard. In that regard, he encouraged governments to include children and young people in their delegations to next year’s follow-up meeting to the World Summit for Children.

He went on to say that most studies showed that education was one of the most important factors to development and growth. It was sad, then, that there were 130 million children in developing countries without access to primary education. Education was not just a human right to be safeguarded; indeed, it was an important factor in real development. He urged Member States to promote elementary education for all, take appropriate action to reduce drop-out rates and to use the Dakar Framework for Action as a guideline to support that work.

The 1995 United Nations Declaration for Human Rights Education would provide an important opportunity to focus on the rights of children and young people, he said. All too often, the basic human rights of young people were not being safeguarded. Moreover, many of the world’s youth were very often unaware of their rights. Thus, the need to focus on youth in the promotion of human rights was crucial. Finally, he urged all Member States to ratify the two optional protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child -- children in armed conflict, and the sale of children, child prostitution and pornography.

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