Intergovernmental Preparatory Committee

For Third United Nations Conference

 On Least Developed Countries

3^rd Meeting (AM)

NGOS ADDRESS PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES CONFERENCE

In a short meeting this morning, the Intergovernmental Preparatory Committee for the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries heard an address by a representative of a parallel meeting of non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

During its current one-week session, the Preparatory Committee is conducting the first formal reading of a draft programme of action and considering national reports on preparations for the Conference, which will take place in Belgium in May. 

In her statement on the draft programme of action, Motarilavoa Hilda Lini of the NGO the Pacific Concerns Resource Center Inc. said that, in its substance, the draft pointed in a number of encouraging directions, which should be developed and built on as a positive lead for the international community. 

The Conference in May could mark another step forward in lifting the burden of debt from the world's poorest people, she said.  It should also give a strong signal for ensuring strengthened flows of official development assistance (ODA) to those countries.  The event had a vital role in setting a positive agenda for the upcoming financing for development conference, and in strengthening donors' commitment to the United Nations target of allocating

0.15 per cent of gross national product to development assistance for least developed countries. 

Social services, measures to support and empower the poor, gender equity, youth involvement, education and health were among the key issues, she said. Expecting poor countries to benefit from globalization, while obligating them to conform to more rigorous deregulation than rich countries, was unjust and unworkable.  Special and differential treatment should be reflected in concrete measures and not only in extended time frames.  Developed countries must open up tariff- and quota-free access for all products from least developed countries.

Some important issues were missing or inadequately addressed in the draft, she continued.  The marginalization of the least developed in the world economy was mirrored by the marginalization of their civil society representatives at the Conference.  Information, consultation and dialogue at the national level were urgent, as were actions by the United Nations and donors to support participation with resources.

Some of the main NGO concerns over the substance of the draft included the fear that human and labour rights could be misused to justify new forms of

economic conditionality and protectionism.  She appealed to the delegations to recall their human rights commitments and obligations and to integrate the human rights framework in an appropriate way in national contributions to the Conference.  It was imperative to make the connection between the culture of peace and good governance, to bring development and eradicate extreme poverty in the LDCs. 

Local communities should be involved in peace-building, mediation and reconciliation, she said.  Governments were responsible for addressing the inequities that led to conflict.  The NGOs were also asking for a total ban on the import of all small arms and light weapons into regions of violent conflict.  Peace initiatives in LDCs could not be successful until the sale of arms, originating mainly from the five permanent members of the Security Council, was ended. 

She also stressed the need to provide LDCs with an infrastructure which could directly improve the quality of life for the poor, especially in rural areas.  She welcomed the fact that serious attention was being paid to globalization's role in development.  However, much of civil society worldwide was sceptical as to the realism of such an approach, which needed careful analysis.  Beyond technical measures to make globalization development friendly, there were also basic questions of global economic justice, which had to be addressed. 

In conclusion, she said that governments -- both those of LDCs and, crucially, those in the North, must be accountable for ensuring effective action.  Follow-up strategies must fully address both the internal issues of the LDCs and global economic and political inequities.

The Committee will continue its work at a date to be announced.

* *** *