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PREPCOM HIGHLIGHTS: THURSDAY, 3 FEBRUARY 1994
The Preparatory Committee continued its discussion of Agenda Items 3 and 4: "Status of the preparations for the WSSD" and "Analysis of the core issues to be addressed by the Summit and policy measures to attain its objectives."
SRI LANKA: stated that poverty alleviation programmes which provide opportunities for productive employment rather than charity and welfare grants enhance social dignity and foster enterprise. He added that national efforts should not clash with international structures and that balance must be achieved between national options and international obligations.
SWITZERLAND: said that the declaration should reflect the central elements of a world peoples charter and should renew those values necessary for a harmonious life. The quality of society is measured in the way it treats its weakest members. Regarding the core issues of the Summit, he called for greater imagination beyond the solutions that have been articulated to date.
UNITED KINGDOM: noted that the development of mutually supportive national and international economic environments is crucial to the third core issue, expansion of productive employment. To this end, special priority must be given to addressing the debt problems of the poorest and most indebted countries, notably through the Trinidad Terms Initiative.
LIBYA: said that until now, the economic sector of the UN has not been able to assist in resolving global economic problems such as unemployment and poverty. He said that the increase of employment opportunities is a basic pre-condition to the alleviation of poverty. Basic training should be assured for women. He noted that the coercive measures and boycotts imposed on Libya are hindering social development there.
LATIN AMERICAN ECONOMIC SYSTEMS: highlighted the organization's major activities, including the preparation of documents and regional meetings of experts, as well as the preparation of a book on the key topics for South America.
LATVIA: affirmed the importance of identifying excluded groups, such as persons released from prisons and orphans, and the physically and mentally handicapped. Over 20% of Latvia's population is subjected to some form of exclusion, yet the country does not have the resources to address this growing problem.
FRANCE: raised questions to be addressed by the WSSD: how to combat poverty and exclusion; what is meant by productive employment; how to assure social cohesion through education and training; and how to re-launch employment after structural adjustment.
BENIN: said that social development must be defined as the elimination of unacceptable disparities in and between nations. He noted the lack of global attention to the deprivation of democratic and human rights faced by the rural and urban poor in the developing world.
THE HOLY SEE: said that where people live in extreme poverty, they live in insecurity. Pope Paul VI said in 1969 that development was the new name for peace. We must respect the centrality of the human person, as was stressed in Principle 1 of the Rio Declaration. The primary concerns should be basic health care and the elimination of diseases that threaten child survival.
GHANA: said that social development must be enhanced for all in light of the bleak world social situation. He noted the serious social consequences that have resulted from structural adjustment programmes in Ghana. He highlighted the need for an enabling economic climate to redress the imbalance of resource distribution and the need to empower people to take effective control of their own societal goals.
BAHAMAS: said that the impact of poverty and social exclusion are more acutely felt in developing countries that must deal with the added burden of structural adjustment programmes. He noted that the WSSD must act decisively to set a new and dynamic social agenda with humans at the centre of social development. A clear consensus is emerging around the need for a different framework to address global social problems.
IRAN: suggested that the PrepCom should: give due attention to priorities; identify the obstacles; provide people-centered programmes; classify expectations and avoid duplication.
INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF SETTLEMENTS AND NEIGHBORHOOD CENTRES: described the important role of organizations such as the IFS in providing the machinery to help implement the national and international social services that will be addressed by the WSSD.
WOMEN'S ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION: said that the world is experiencing a global nervous breakdown. She called for a new development paradigm for a people-centered economy to: redirect World Bank resources into small-scale credit; create new incentives for socially-responsible businesses; develop new international codes of corporate responsibility; and create new education and awareness strategies. She asked why the 39 conventions and declarations referenced by the Secretariat do not have the full support of the international community and stated that gender equity is fundamental to the mission of the Social Summit.
LITHUANIA: said that it is necessary to balance political and social progress, particularly for those countries evolving towards market economies. He noted the difficulties in earning adequate pay as one of the main causes of poverty in Lithuania. He called for government statements to match the statements made before the PrepCom. He said that the Summit should lay the groundwork for cooperation between all sectors and at all levels.
TURKEY: said that the draft declaration should lay out principles regarding: cooperation between social partners; linkages between social development and technological changes; the international economic climate; and the resources needed to support social development. Integration requires effective education, training and policies to expand productive employment.
NICARAGUA: on behalf of the Central American group, said that in the last 30 years, despite ambitious social programmes, poverty has been steadily increasing. The real causes of poverty stem from political sources and require fundamental changes in the conduct of governments and international relations. He said that the impoverished of the world cannot feed themselves with UN resolutions or international agreements. They need productive employment and guaranteed work. He added that South America should move from the theoretical to the practical.
EGYPT: proposed that the declaration should: address inclusion of social development objectives in financial institutions; stimulate structural and economic reform for vulnerable groups; build on the Rio commitments; and enshrine the role of women.
PARAGUAY: said that civilian and political rights are necessary in order to obtain the acceptable minimum standards of living. He stated that restrictions on currently existing resources should strengthen programmes to help the most vulnerable and added that state reforms should not undermine the neediest sectors.
ITALY: stressed the need to develop safety net policies for the poor and to eliminate waste, delays, duplication, and inefficiency. He called for the family unit to be targeted by social programmes.
CHINA: noted that the declaration should: give a clear explanation of the relationship between economic development and social progress; highlight the important role of the comprehensive coordination and management of institutions in social development; ensure that international cooperation is conducted in a comprehensive, effective and fair manner; and stimulate the development of a new international economic order of justice, equality, mutual benefit and cooperation.
TOGO: noted the near total collapse of basic institutions such as hospitals and schools in Africa. He stressed that if these problems, particularly among the rural poor, are to be resolved, then the developed countries must commit themselves to providing 0.7% of their GNP.
NEPAL: said that programmes should accelerate adult literacy, and provide health facilities, education, clean water and sanitation. Employment for rural women is most important. Nepal's priority is rural development in health care, training and education and an increased role for women in these sectors.
CAMEROON: said that strategies relating to improvement of life for women, children and the disabled remain insufficient. Few structures exist for disabled people, such as vocational training and professional rehabilitation. Economic policy must create employment in the rural sector, particularly among youth.
ALGERIA: noted that building a new social space could help consolidate a sense of identity, combat destabilization, guarantee security, and enhance peace and security. A social development strategy must remedy structural imbalances, relieve the debt burden, and ensure access to markets and employment.
UNHCR: stressed the link between social development, human rights and the protection of vulnerable groups and people living in refugee-like situations. People must engage in participatory development. She emphasized the distinction between forced and voluntary migration.
WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME: WFP's mission is to support programmes to reduce hunger and poverty. She said food for humanitarian assistance is food for development, and self-sustaining food production in a time of peace is of great importance.
SPAIN: said that policies must be reorganized for nondiscrimination for all people, especially the most vulnerable. Social reintegration policies for refugees and migrant workers are important. The WSSD should take into account Agenda 21.
COTE D'IVOIRE: noted that the problems of society have been well known for many years. The problem is the mobilization of resources. She said policies should be geared to national needs.
NIGERIA: stated that statistics indicate the current situation in Africa is worse than in the 60s. He said that the most successful social programmes in Nigeria are the community-based ones. In addressing the core issues, he proposed the need to: create multi-sectoral cooperatives; use the mass media in awareness raising; and better manage existing resources.
DISABLED PERSONS INTERNATIONAL (SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE DISABLED): stated that for true prosperity, people must implement their own solutions and noted that prejudice and paternalism block the potential of disabled people. Solutions proposed by the WSSD must include the disabled, or they will include nobody.
ICVA: said that the exclusion of individuals and whole regions has grown. Wealth is found increasingly in the hands of a few. He noted that the net flow of resources from South to North continues. Greater equity in distribution of resources is needed.