Highlights from Thursday, 30 June 2005 |
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Web Archives:
Wednesday 29 June
Friday 1 July |
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ECOSOC's High-level Segment continued on Thursday with keynote addresses from two heads of State, as well as statements on achieving the internationally-agreed development goals by 23 ministers and other high-level officials. Delegates also reviewed progress on implementing ECOSOC's 2003 Ministerial Declaration and convened a panel session on employment for growth. |
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Tarja Halonen, President of Finland, said this ECOSOC session is critical to preparations for the September 2005 Summit. On internationally-agreed development goals, she noted that much remains to be done on issues such as infectious diseases, gender inequality, poverty and unemployment. She highlighted the need to reform globalization and the work of the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization. She noted linkages between development challenges and climate change, welcomed discussions on a UN Agency for the Environment and a Peace Building Commission, and said Security Council reform should not overshadow other issues.
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Gérard Latortue, Prime Minister of Haiti, described efforts to bring the “evangelism of development” to Haiti. He recommended various actions, including creating an equitable international economic system, establishing technical schools, seeking new models for financing development, opening industrialized country markets to the South, and developing sustainable development projects. |
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José Antonio Ocampo, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, made an introductory statement, reviewing the “uneven” progress on the MDGs, and urging delegates to use this ECOSOC session and the upcoming September Summit to advance the UN Development Agenda. He highlighted the Secretary-General's recommendations for ECOSOC in his report, In Larger Freedom , which includes
proposals that ECOSOC: organizes annual, ministerial-level assessments as part of a process to acquire a complete picture of implementation of development goals; and hold timely meetings, as and when needed, to assess and promote coordinated action on threats to development.
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Brigitte Giradin, French Minister of Development Cooperation,
said that the prime responsibility for achieving the MDGs lies with developing countries. She highlighted increased ODA, debt cancellation and innovative sources for financing development as important means to achieve MDGs and noted the need for an international environmental organization and ECOSOC reform.
Jean-Louis Schiltz, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid, Luxembourg,
on behalf of the EU, highlighted the importance of attaining the MDGs within a framework of democracy, good governance and human rights. He noted that ECOSOC should provide policy guidance, an integrated analysis and bold action at the operational level for achieving MDGs. He stressed the need for UN reform, increasing volume and quality of aid, trade as a mechanism for development, and creating innovative financing mechanisms
Delano Franklyn, Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Jamaica, speaking for the G-77/China, said implementation of development goals to date had been uneven and “well below expectations.” He proposed that: the international community make development its major priority; provide substantial resources, including honor ODA commitments and reduce conditionalities; coordinate efforts to remove systemic problems, for instance in the trade system; and allow developing countries the policy space to tailor strategies and policies to their needs. |
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Bruce Billson, Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia, emphasized the MDGs as “key performance indicators” and said the East Asian example illustrates the role of broad-based and sustainable economic growth in their attainment. Calling for political leadership to combat HIV/AIDS and address the stigma attached, he feared Asia could become the epidemic's new center.
Eugène Camara , Guinea 's Minister of Planning, emphasized the links between peace, human rights, security, and development, and said Africa would need further support to meet the MDGs. Highlighting external debt as the main problem in achieving the MDGs, Rafael Correa, Minister of Economy and Finance, Ecuador noted the need for mechanisms such as an international debt tribunal, laws to protect the indebted countries from the harsh conditions of creditors, debt restructuring and compensation for maintenance of environmental services. |
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Armand De Decker, Minister for Development Cooperation, Belgium, stressed that the MDGs constitute an important landmark and said global governance requires strong institutions and multilateral practices. Calling for strengthening of the ECOSOC and its closer cooperation with the UN Security Council, WTO, and Bretton Woods institutions, he proposed a small ECOSOC committee for more frequent and focused meetings.
Ezra Suruma, Minister for Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Uganda
Noting Indonesia 's progress in achieving the MDGs, Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Minister for National Development Policy of Indonesia, highlighted the challenge posed by the deep pockets of poverty and Indonesia 's vulnerability to natural hazards in achieving the MDGs. She urged the need for actions such as debt restructuring, debt-to- MDG swaps, South-South cooperation and effective participation of developing countries in global decision-making. |
Panel on employment and growth |
Odile Quintin, Director-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, European Commission, Jane Stewart, Deputy Executive Director, Employment Sector, International Labour Organization, Jose Antonio Ocampo, Under-Secretary General for Economic and Social Affairs,
Chair Jaime Moncayo Garcia, ECOSOC Vice-President, Ecuador, and Moderator Ezra Suruma, Minister for Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Uganda |
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Odile Quintin, Director-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, European Commission,
reported on the recently re-launched EU Lisbon strategy on growth and jobs, and urged use of a social model for employment and integration of employment issues within the MDGs.
José Antonio Ocampo, Under-Secretary General for Economic and Social Affairs, urged making employment a central objective of social and macroeconomic policies, and suggested broadening the Millennium Declaration's youth employment initiative strategy to apply to everyone.
Jane Stewart, Deputy Executive Director, Employment Sector, International Labour Organization, expressed concern that recent strong economic growth in developing countries has not translated into employment growth. Noting that people are forced into the informal economy and are underemployed, she called for employment-intensive growth focused on sectors with high-labor intensity, such as construction and agriculture. |
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Institutional perspectives on the 2003 ECOSOC Ministerial Declaration, which addressed the promotion of an integrated approach to rural development. |
Lennart Båge, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Patrizio Civili, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, ECOSOC President Munir Akram, Pakistan, Council Secretary, Nikhil Seth, Council Secretary, and Jim Morris, Executive Director, World Food Programme |
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Jim Morris, Executive Director, World Food Programme, emphasized the Programme's efforts to achieve integrated rural development, such as building community resilience against natural shocks in Madagascar , training orphan children in managing farms in Kenya , and working to eliminate child hunger in many countries.
Patrizio Civili, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, commented on issues such as interagency collaboration between international food agencies and the extent to which new initiatives could be linked to this declaration. |
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Abdou Aziz Sow, Minister of the
New Partnership for Africa's Development
(NEPAD), Senegal, outlined his country's activities on rural development, including decentralized rural development strategy. Highlighting rural population's access to drinking water, health care, and other services, he noted improvement in nutritional status and literacy. He urged assistance for Africa 's agricultural development and said an African “green revolution” was essential.
Lennart Båge, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD),
emphasized the low funding for agricultural research and the marginal treatment of rural development in Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs).
Carol Kramer-LeBlanc, Millennium Challenge Corporation, explained that her organization is a new development institution that administers the Millennium Challenge Account. She noted the importance of broad-based economic growth, country ownership and accountability, and aid that complements sound national policies. |
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