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ODC CONFERENCE ON SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

The Overseas Development Council (ODC) convened a meeting from 24-26 June 1994 in Princeton, New Jersey, of policymakers, academics and NGOs concerned with the Social Summit. One of the recommendations was that principles guiding the Social Summit Declaration and Programme of Action should include an affirmation that people are the ends -- not the means -- of economic progress and development. Governments and international institutions should place greater emphasis on increasing productive capacities and opportunities of people through the provision of education and training, health services, clean water and sanitation, and access to credit. Governments should be encouraged to create an enabling environment for civic organizations. Women, ethnic and racial minorities and other groups who suffer from discrimination must be empowered. Economic development strategies should include employment generation as a key goal. The Social Summit should also establish procedures to reform the IMF, World Bank, UN and GATT/WTO to increase efficiency, transparency, coordination and effectiveness.