FOCUS ON SOCIAL, RATHER THAN ECONOMIC, ASPECTS OF GLOBALIZATION IS INDEX OF REDIRECTED EMPHASIS, SAYS WORLD BANK

Press Release
GA/SHC/3575

FOCUS ON SOCIAL, RATHER THAN ECONOMIC, ASPECTS OF GLOBALIZATION IS INDEX OF REDIRECTED EMPHASIS, SAYS WORLD BANK

Third Committee Hears Nine Speakers As Debate on Social Development, Ageing Continues

Effective development was no longer a matter of macroeconomic stability but of a holistic approach, with equal elements of the economic, institutional, structural and social dimensions, a representative of the World Bank said this afternoon.

She made that statement in reference to the combination of dialogue and protest surrounding the Bretton Woods institutions meeting that had just opened in Prague. She was addressing the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) as it met to continue considering social development and follow-up of the 1999 International Year of Older Persons.

The Bank’s focus on the social rather than the economic picture was an indication of its redirected emphasis, she continued. The Bank itself had reaffirmed its commitment to reshaping itself in order to contribute fully to an equitable world, with numerous projects aimed at addressing the needs of older persons, children and youth.

However, she added that the world was at now a precipice. As CNN flashed images of violent demonstrations from Prague, the spectre of protester’s anger should be a warning to the international community. In a globalizing world, dialogue was more important than ever to shape meaningful commitment to both developed and developing countries.

The representative of Singapore pointed out that demographic developments transcended national borders. He said that as thinning crowns and receding hairlines became more prevalent, the world should take heart. First, it was growing older together. In addition, “less hair meant more face."

The demographic development of ageing had consequences beyond national borders, he continued. Falling populations and increasing costs for elderly care in developed countries had long caused national concern. Reforms were needed to cope with ageing populations. The difficulties experienced by those engines of growth would soon be felt also in the developing world. The impact on the global economy would be reflected worldwide.

Third Committee - 1a - Press Release GA/SHC/3575 5th Meeting (PM) 26 September 2000

Common interest dictated that a society should care for its ageing members, he said. The elderly were a vital link with tradition, and an important source of cultural identity and social stability. While change was necessary for vitality, stability and security were equally important to help withstand the buffeting winds of change. A respected and resourceful senior was a ballast for culture.

Also addressing the Committee this afternoon were the representatives of Bahrain, Nepal, Algeria, Indonesia, Sudan, Burkina Faso and Pakistan.

The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 28 September, when it will continue considering questions related to social development and the follow- up of the 1999 International Year of Older Persons.

Third Committee - 3 - Press Release GA/SHC/3575 5th Meeting (PM) 26 September 2000

Committee Work Programme

The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) met this afternoon to continue 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 1999 International Year of Older Persons. (For background see Press Release GA/SHC/3573 of 25 September.)

Statements

MOHAMMED Al-SUWAIDI (Bahrain) said the concept of social development encompassed all persons in the community, including young and old and the disabled. New development theories focused on the individual, unlike classical development theories in which the human element was missing. Listing his country’s programmes to promote the rights of women and children, he said that older persons occupied a position of respect -– accorded them from religious scruples -- in Bahrain. Also, concerted efforts were being made on behalf of those who were disabled by disease or accident.

In all those social advancement efforts, he continued, the government coordinated with civil society elements and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Furthermore, social development programmes in Bahrain built on already-established working programmes, thus increasing the chances for expanded and continuing progress.

KRISHNA PRATAP MALLA (Nepal) said that five years ago, world leaders assembled in Copenhagen for the World Social Summit had agreed to foster social development through a set of goals that included promoting full employment, eradicating absolute poverty and providing a dignified life for all, including the aged, the disabled and women. It was very disheartening to note, then, that despite continued commitment to those goals, the world still suffered the ills of poverty and social disintegration. A large portion of the population, especially in developing countries, still lived without clean drinking water, access to basic education and proper healthcare services. Moreover, five years after Copenhagen, widespread poverty and inequality persisted, sparking the sad notion that this was a trend that would continue. That was disturbing, since poverty eradication was the most fundamental means of ensuring sustainable social development. Eradication of poverty not only required political will and decisive national action, it also required international support and cooperation.

As a least developed country, he said, Nepal continuously employed a proactive approach in its social development agenda. It encouraged programmes such as mobilizing local resources, strengthening and developing social welfare centres and enhancing public awareness about the need for protection of women. Nepal had also initiated a modest assistance programme for the disabled, widows and senior citizens. Senior citizens were “the assets of society”, he said, as they passed down social values, traditions and culture; they in particular should be provided social and economic protection. He strongly felt that the United Nations, through its specialized agencies, should enhance its support of national poverty reduction programmes. He also encouraged developed countries to provide developing countries with appropriate technologies and the requisite resources to advance economic growth.

DALILA SAMAH (Algeria) said that while the coming Third Millennium would be rich in new technology and information that could bring the world together, that new era could also see widening gaps between the developed and the undeveloped, rich and poor, strong and weak. If the international community did not face up to the serious challenges recognized over the last few years, including globalization and poverty, with their attendant marginalization and despair, the results would be catastrophic. It was important, therefore, to maintain international momentum towards achieving the goals set out at the Copenhagen Summit, paying particular attention to resource allocation. It was only by working together that implementation of the commitments agreed upon could be ensured.

She went on to say that social development was most often a result of economic development. Economic development, however, was often affected by situations outside the control of specific countries or governments. In order to enhance development measures and avoid the denigration of modest gains achieved in the social sphere, Algeria placed great importance on consolidating family situations. Forging intergenerational links through programmes developed to ensure strengthening the family were vital to Algeria’s social development strategies.

National action plans on ageing were also being developed. Those programmes would include significant participation from NGOs as well as the private sector. The dedication and celebration of the International Year of Older Persons had allowed the international community to determine the special circumstances related to the elderly, particularly in developing countries. In that regard, the General Assembly’s decision to hold a second World Summit on Ageing in 2002, with that issue placed squarely on the agenda, was very important. Today the priority was to ensure that all societies should become tolerant, harmonious and inclusive so that all people, regardless of age, could make their undoubtedly invaluable contributions. “This is most important”, she said, “as we are the older persons of the future.”

BALI MONIAGA (Indonesia) said that despite rhetorical support, poverty rates had increased in many countries since 1995. That was true of Indonesia, which had gone through a severe financial crisis that wiped out many of its social development successes in a few short years. Indonesia accepted its responsibility. It had uncovered weaknesses and was working to restore lost social services and move its social development programme forward.

With regard to the world social situation, he said the question of cultural homogeneity was most interesting in the context of national sovereignty and globalization. The issue would command attention for years to come as State sovereignty continued to be challenged from many directions. Demographic changes posed serious questions and needed answers today. In developing countries, for example, the prevalence of disease and HIV-AIDS was changing the nature of healthcare. New demands were further straining budgets and infrastructures.

That was also true with regard to the ageing of the world population, he continued. By the year 2025, Asia and the Pacific region were expected to be home for 56 per cent of the world's older persons. The work of the technical committee in preparing for the 2002 Assembly on Ageing was helping to address the challenges.

ZAINUL ABIDIN RASHEED (Singapore) said that at the dawn of a new millennium, while it might not be fashionable to speak of “sunset years”, there was in fact a practical reality that demanded such a categorization. With “thinning crowns” and receding hairlines becoming more and more prevalent around us, such times might well be called the “graying years”. He encouraged the Committee to take heart, as “less hair also meant more face.” All was not lost, as the world was growing older together. Now was the time to face the issue of ageing squarely.

Demographic developments would have consequences beyond national borders, he continued. Falling populations and the increasing costs for care of the elderly in almost all developed countries had long been cause for national concern. Those countries were the engines of growth for the global economy, and if they had difficulties sustaining their economic performance, the adverse affects would be felt around the world. At the national level, developed countries would have to reform their systems to cope with ageing populations. Following a period of youthful population growth, developing countries would soon be facing a similar problem. The World Assembly on Ageing would be an excellent opportunity for countries to exchange ideas and experiences in dealing with ageing populations.

Singapore was conscious of the need for a comprehensive approach to deal with the issue of ageing. Its own population was ageing rapidly, and its basic philosophy in policies for the elderly was to encourage personal responsibility. Singapore constantly tried to improve its compulsory savings scheme, upon which citizens drew for retirement and healthcare. Also, an Inter-Ministerial Committee had recently established a basic policy framework in such areas as health, employment and social cohesion. Both justice and the common interest required that a society cared for its ageing members. The elderly represented a vital link with history and tradition, and provided an important source of cultural identity and social stability. While the ability and willingness to change were necessary for the continued vitality of any society, it was equally necessary for societies to be stable and secure to avoid being disoriented by the buffeting winds of change. A respected and resourceful senior citizenry provided an important ballast for cultural stability.

ILHAM IBRAHIM MOHAMED AHMED (Sudan) said it was difficult to separate economic and social development, particularly in such areas as eliminating poverty and alleviating the negative effects of globalization. Social development called for national effort and for political will, as well as concerted international effort. The problem of external debt, for example, had a negative impact on social advancement in the developing and least developed countries. The international economic system needed to be more transparent and its institutions more stable. Both needed to be more responsive to modern problems, particularly with regard to economic interdependence. The competitiveness of developing countries must be enhanced, especially through the transfer of technologies.

That competitiveness was hampered in the context of the global market and multilateral trade, she said, by obstacles such as customs measures and tariffs imposed by developed countries. The World Trade Organization (WTO) should conduct of study of those practices with a view to reevaluating and readjusting them. Other practices, such as economic sanctions, should also be discontinued in favour of ensuring nutrition for all people. In the same way, the many aspects of disease control today could only be addressed through international cooperation.

developing nations still faced obstacles in SERAPHINE TOE (Burkina Faso) said that poverty eradication was the major priority facing the international community in the coming millennium. Widespread poverty in many developing countries had been exacerbated by the spread of the HIV/AIDS virus. And despite modest gains in some areas of development, many spheres such as health and education.

Burkina Faso had taken on poverty eradication as its priority goal, she continued. In order to reduce poverty 35 per cent by 2015, the Government had focused its medium- and long-term programmes on four areas: providing basic education with a move toward universal education; providing better healthcare and medical training; ensuring access to clean drinking water; and enhancing agricultural capabilities. She stressed that in order to achieve those goals, the State would have to refocus its role, ensure allocation of resources and investigate new partnerships. She appealed to her country’s development partners to help ensure Burkina Faso’s sustainable development. She believed that an important outcome of such aid would be increased public and private investment in the country.

MUNAWAR SAEED BHATTI (Pakistan) said social development concerned basic human needs in every person's life. From that angle, the world social situation remained far from satisfactory. Income disparities between rich and poor had galloped, with the digital divide aggravating the situation. More than a billion people remained mired in abject poverty. Disease pandemics remained a scourge, with millions dying from preventable diseases and women from birth-related complications.

Poverty was the main cause of the abysmal social situation, he said. Sustained economic growth, which created and expanded sustainable livelihoods, was the solution. That was particularly true for developing countries and in relation to shared social challenges, such as population, ageing and the plight of the disabled. In that regard, education was the main vehicle for empowering people to be responsive.

CLARE FLEMING, World Bank Representative of the United Nations, noted the combination of dialogue and protest surrounding the meeting of Bretton Woods institutions just opening in Prague. She said the World Bank President had reaffirmed the Bank's commitment to reshaping itself in order to fully and authentically contribute to a more equitable world. The Bank's emphasis on the social, rather than the economic, picture testified to its shifting focus. Effective development was no longer seen through the lens of growth and macroeconomic stability. It was seen in the context of a broadened understanding of the need for a holistic approach, one composed equally of economic, institutional, structural and social dimensions.

She detailed the Bank's extensive work in addressing the specific needs of older persons, children and youth. Those included the funding of educational programmes, integrated management programmes in health-related fields, and employment investment programmes. She said the world stood at a precipice, however. As CNN flashed images of violent demonstrations in Prague on the news, the spectre of violence should be a marking stone to the world community. It was more urgent than ever in a globalizing world to listen, share, communicate and enter true dialogue. That was how commitment to all countries, both developing and developed, would take shape in a meaningful way. * *** *