Welcome to the United Nations 
OHCHR 
Press releases
Default title
30 June 2000
Share
General Assembly
24th Special Session
30 June 2000 (PM)
General Assembly Special Session Approaches Conclusion
Foreign ministers and delegates this afternoon continued urging the international community to provide support and resources to the world's developing countries so they did not fall farther behind in the new world economy.
The speakers, addressing the United Nations General Assembly Special Session as the week-long conference neared its conclusion, reminded representatives of UN Member States of the commitments that were made at the 1995 Copenhagen Social Summit to help the poorest nations of the world. Since then, they maintained, industrialized developed countries has profited massively from globalization, while developing nations had suffered through continued and increased poverty and the social problems which accompanied it.
Several of the delegates spoke of the need for the international community to continue providing aid to the developing world, while others stressed the importance of cancelling Third World debt. The representatives said that the struggle to build a fully developed social society was exacerbated by massive debt payment commitments. The money owed, they said, would be much better served if it were invested in things like sustainable economic development, education and health care.
Also joining the discussion, for the first time this session, were observer governments and organizations, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
Officially titled the "World Summit for Social Development and Beyond: Achieving Social Development for All in a Globalizing World", the Special Session -- the twenty-fourth in the General Assembly's history -- is intended to review the fulfilment of 10 international commitments made at the Copenhagen summit which are aimed at eradicating poverty, achieving full employment, and strengthening social integration.
The original Copenhagen commitments relate to (1) an enabling environment for social development; (2) poverty eradication; (3) full employment; (4) promotion of social integration; (5) equality and equity between women and men; (6) universal and equitable access to high-quality education and health services; (7) acceleration of development in Africa and in the least-developed countries; (8) inclusion of social development goals in structural-adjustment programmes; (9) resources for social development; and (10) international cooperation for social development.
Speaking were the Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau; the Minister of Finance of Kenya; a Minister of Algeria; the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare of Zimbabwe; the First Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Affairs of Kyrgyzstan; the Chairperson of the Delegation of Lebanon; the Commissioner of Social Improvement of Antigua and Barbuda; the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare of Thailand; and the Special Adviser to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Manpower Development of the Seychelles.
Also speaking from observer governments and organizations were the Head of the Department of Economy of Switzerland; Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace of the Holy See; Chairman of the Observer Delegation of the International Organization of La Francophone; Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid of the European Community; Director-General of Social Cohesion of the Council of Europe; the Senior Regional Advisor of the International Organization of Migration; the Assistant Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity; the Chairman of the Observer Delegation of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta; a Representative of the United States Virgin Islands; Assistant Secretary-General for Social Affairs of the League of Arab States; and the Secretary for Health, Women and Community Affairs of Tuvalu.
NGOs speaking were Third World Network; International Chamber of Commerce/International Organizations of Employers; Service and Research Foundation of Asia on Family and Culture; International Confederation of Free Trade Unions; Azerbaijan Women and Development; International Cooperative Alliance; Social Watch; International Council on Social Welfare; and European Women's Lobby.
The Special Session was scheduled to reconvene later on Friday, 30 June, to conclude its session.
Statements
CAETANO N'CHAMA, Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau , said as the world moved toward globalization, more and more problems were prevalent, and poverty was the greatest challenge and the greatest task. Five years had passed since Copenhagen, yet poverty continued to be a scourge for millions of people. Given this situation, this forum served as a step that would help deal with the problem. Guinea-Bissau was recently the theatre for a conflict for 11 months which had devastated the country. Apart from the material damage and the loss of life, the GDP fell by 28 per cent, which further aggravated the situation of poverty. Recovery would be a difficult task, and it was necessary to enlist the help of the international community.
In May 1999, the international community promised $ 215 million in aid, but those promises were never fulfilled. Nothing had been reformed in the country. The country did what was asked of it, and still aid did not come. Other assistance did come from international organizations and other friendly countries to help with democratic elections in the country, and that was appreciated. The new Government had the responsibility of continuing the economic and social development process, and restoring the country's respectability. There was also a programme for reintegration of fighting forces, and the World Bank had already approved funding for it. There needed to be a tripartite effort between the Government, private business and civil society. When they came together, progress would be seen. Statistics showed that most poverty was situated in Africa and Asia, where more than one billion people lived in extreme poverty. Good governance and relief of debt were two factors that would be influential in the eradication of poverty. Poverty was a reality in Guinea-Bissau. Forty-nine per cent of the population was classified as poor, and 25 per cent of it was classified as very poor, living on less than $ 1 a day, which obviously kept them from education, health care and nutrition. The Government had adopted a strategic paper for t he reduction of poverty. The focus of the paper included sustained economic growth, investment of human resources, and promoting the construction of social housing and the provision of loans.
CHRIS OKEMO, Minister of Finance of Kenya , recalled that in 1995, many had hoped that economic development would gradually but surely improve their lives. However, the contrary was true; social development in those parts of the world that the Copenhagen Summit was meant to benefit had in the best case scenario stagnated, and in the worst case scenario had deteriorated to an all-time low. While all those commitments were capable of standing alone, their overriding objective was the eradication of poverty. In Kenya, the problems of poverty had been thrust to centre stage. Thirty-seven years after independence, Kenya was threatened by perilously low standards of living among its peoples. Economic growth had slowed mainly due to globalization on one hand, and natural disasters on the other, as well as the goal-shifting mind-set of some of Kenya's bilateral and multilateral partners. Traditional social safety systems which had been tried and tested over centuries in Africa, had now been undermined and had collapsed as a result.
The approach that Kenya had pursued so far to fight poverty had not had the desired effects and the time had come to give Kenyans the means, the tools and the capacity to produce for themselves. In fact, some of the policies embarked upon over the years had had the net capital effect of adversely impacting Kenyan economic capacity. Since independence, Kenya had consistently tried to create an economic, political, social, cultural and legal environment that would enable it to work free of interference. Nevertheless, the key to true social development lay in eradicating poverty. The Bretton Woods financial institutions should adapt and be responsive to changing circumstances without shifting goal posts. Bilateral and multi-lateral debt should be written off for those countries that would meet the criteria.
NOUREDDINE BOUKROUH, Chairperson of the Delegation of Algeria , said it had been five years since the World Social Summit at Copenhagen. Though there was gratification in this progress, it was still true that the situation was not satisfactory. There was still insufficient progress on infant mortality, education and health care. There were still increases in unemployment, widespread poverty, and problems with armed conflicts. There was a wide gap between the developed nations of the north and the underdeveloped countries of the south. The deterioration in terms of trade had continued. The technological gap had widened. These negatives aspects affected not only the developing countries, but the entire world economy. Needs were increasing. Debt burden was increasing.
Africa, particularly sub-Saharan Africa, had been hit hard. Local and regional conflicts still affected countries. The foreign debt was much too heavy for those nations to be able to develop social standards. All these led to a drop in the standard of living for the population. In Algeria, there was a referendum of civil society that had re-established civil peace and security. Together with economic reforms, progress was being seen. A national conference on social policy would be convened in October, and that would define the confines and objectives of social policy for the future in Algeria.
UKTOMKHAN ABDOULAEVA, First Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Affairs of Kyrgyzstan , said the transition period, faced by Kyrgyzstan and many other countries, had led to worsening conditions for much of their populations; there had been negative growth; in Kyrgyzstan, over 50 per cent of the population lived below the poverty level. Kyrgyzstan supported the proposal to hold a major regional conference to discuss the problems of transition countries in achieving social development. Further possibilities for debt relief should be considered. Kyrgyzstan had taken a number of steps to improve social conditions over the five years since the Social Summit; measures had been taken to promote equal participation by women in all aspects of life; to help the elderly; to eradicate poverty by the year 2015; to support the disabled; and to aid development in villages. Foundations were also being laid for a national development policy.
Kyrgyzstan attached primary importance to strengthening international, commercial, economic, scientific, technical and other forms of cooperation. Kygyzstan's central position along the Silk Road placed it in a prime spot for developing international cooperation along trade routes running from Portugal to Japan. Globalization meant that all had to recognize that no country could deal alone with the challenges that faced mankind. With sufficient will and effort, countries working together could surmount these challenges. There should be balanced, flexible and manoeuvrable policies at the international level.
WALID NASR, Chairperson of the Delegation of Lebanon , said Lebanon believed that civil society could contribute a lot in the building of the society. The Government was also convinced that civil society played an important role in the country. Today, Lebanon was faced with economic challenges. The policies developed by Lebanon included reform of its monetary system and employment schemes. In general, as was the case for other developing countries, Lebanon was in search of ways in which it could benefit from globalization. It was also expecting changes in trends of bilateral and multilateral agreements in favour of developing countries.
Mr. Nasr referred to the situation in Southern Lebanon and said that the courage of citizens in defending their territory there was appreciated. The situation called for measures to be adopted in the economic and social fields in order to bring the situation to normal.
PATRICIA BIRD, Commissioner of Social Improvement of Antigua and Barbuda , said the Government of Antigua and Barbuda reaffirmed the commitments it had made at Copenhagen and identified poverty eradication, employment creation, and health and social integration as core issues for immediate action. These issues could ensure building human capabilities and increase the dignity of personhood. Many meetings throughout the 1990s had put poverty eradication high on the agenda of the international community. Yet, areas of vulnerability existed. The elderly, young single parents, and the disabled were the most marginalized. It was also easy to forget the unfortunate persons who were affected by the destruction caused by the hurricanes that struck the region between September 1995 and 1998.
For the elderly, the Government had instituted measures aimed at providing relief to citizens through price controls on a number of basic food items. It had also provided assistance costing several million dollars per year. For persons over 80, the Government had devised an exemption of payment for public utilities. A home care programme for the elderly and incapacitated had been introduced in order to enable these persons to remain in their own homes instead of being placed in an institution. Elderly persons who did not qualify for social security were given a government pension. To enable people to attain secure and sustainable livelihoods, the youth skills programme was continued. It was specifically geared toward young unemployed mothers who were paid while in training. Of the 768 persons in training, 98 per cent were female between the ages of 18 and 45.
PRASONG RANANAND, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare of Thailand , said globalization had brought about an amazing transformation for the better, although it also was true that in many cases the development process had undergone a setback since 1995; if the world was to be transformed into a better place, strong political will and vigorous implementation of the agreed initiatives was necessary. Unfortunately, alarming and undesirable effects were taking place against a backdrop of a decline in overseas development aid (ODA) -- this decline had to be urgently addressed, and 20/20 initiatives must be seriously implemented. Thailand wished to appeal to countries to support the United Nations so that it could carry out its core missions. Fulfilling the mandate to combat poverty and the ambitious goal of halving it by 2015 would require coherence between national and international strategies and programmes. Measures on the domestic front required corresponding measures at the international level.
There should be safeguards to ensure that economies could integrate themselves into the global economy without risking macroeconomic instability; and the international trading system had to make way for a more level playing field. In Thailand, the social crisis had caused problems and exposed weaknesses, but also had had a silver lining -- it had showed that industrialization must be matched with social development, and had played a part in the adoption in 1997 of a new, precious, and highly democratic Constitution.
MARIE-PEIRRE LLOYD, Special Advisor to the Minister for Social Affairs and Manpower Development of the Seychelles , said that since independence in 1976, her country was committed to the development of each and every citizen regardless of gender, age, ethnicity or disability. Following the Copenhagen Declaration, her Government had actively pursued follow-up by forming a working group for social development which was mandated to formulate a social development strategy and which translated the ten commitments of the Declaration. In the Seychelles, while one did not see much absolute poverty, women and children often bore a disproportionate burden of relative poverty. Single parent families were the most vulnerable. The country's strategy called for improved targeting by according special consideration to social policy, planning and programming aimed at intensifying efforts to target pockets of poverty, thereby protecting those in need.
Ms. Lloyd said that disparities in wealth, status and power were barriers to social development and thus could serve as triggers of social conflicts between groups. The equitable distribution of both the burdens and benefits of development was also central to the country's strategy. Both horizontal and vertical equity remained at the heart of efforts to support and promote distributive justice.
FLORENCE CHITAURO, Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare of Zimbabwe , emphasized that her country strongly believed that justice, equity, social security and poverty reduction were necessary prerequisites for the sustenance of peace, security and development not only for Zimbabwe but also for the entire world. For many developing countries, the implementation of the programme of action of the Copenhagen Summit was met with a number of constraints. Those included among others, heavy foreign debt, unstable world prices of major commodities and poor balance of payment support as well as unfavourable terms and trends in international trade. On the domestic scene, one had seen high inflation, a shrinking private sector, growing unemployment, unequal resource distribution and deepening poverty. That situation had been worsened by a high incidence of natural disasters. Zimbabwe strongly believed that poverty was a denial of fundamental human rights.
Zimbabwe was concerned that developing countries had not been able to share in the benefits of globalization on an equal footing with developed countries. Developed countries were urged to take into account the possible negative impact of their domestic economic, monetary and fiscal policies on developing countries and to apply measures that were sensitive to the needs and interests of developing nations. The terms of international trade had worsened and financial resources had declined in most developing countries, including Zimbabwe.
PASCAL COUCHEPIN, Head of the Department of Economy of Switzerland , said social development was a global challenge, and it was obvious that the international community needed to work together. It was essential to put a human face on globalization. The errors of the past should not be repeated. Some 70 years ago, many chose not to open up trade to others, and instead turned to nationalism. All the views expressed at the General Assembly showed that there was no ready-made recipe for social development. Switzerland looked forward to Geneva 2000 because it believed in the political will expressed in the United Nations. Switzerland alone could not do much. That was why it hoped the international community would come together.
To promote the North-South dialogue, Switzerland had worked hard to create a dialogue. It supported debt relief, and was active in the World Bank. It believed that access to education and training was the key that opened the door to social integration. Education and health care were keys. It was up to the UN to ensure that the global social angle accompanied the rules to globalization.
BISHOP DIARMUID MARTIN, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace of the Holy See , stated that the Copenhagen Summit embraced "a political, economic, ethical and spiritual vision for social development". That mirrored what the documents of the Holy See had traditionally called "integral human development", a development approach which addressed the human person in his or her entirety, and addressed at the same time the needs of the entire human family. Economic growth would foster social development above all if it was set in a framework not only of functioning governance structures, but also a public administration at the service of the community, an infrastructure which facilitated the contribution of citizens and a private sector with a focused social orientation. Social development flourished in those societies which were participatory and democratic, in which human rights were fostered, and in which citizens could become the true protagonists of the decisions which affected their lives.
In too many parts of the world today, the primary causes of poverty were linked to war and conflict. War and conflict impeded all forms of social stability and progress. They caused disastrous human consequences in terms of loss of life and injury, even to children and the innocent. The natural environment and basic human infrastructures were damaged, thus setting back the progress of decades. The possibility of attracting productive investment was eliminated. Peace was a rich concept which in its biblical roots summed up what one today would called social development. It was a relationship between people in which they lived in harmony among each other and in harmony with their environment.
RIDHA BOUARID, Chairman of the Observer Delegation of the International Organization of La Francophonie, said that the question of social development had retained its importance over the past five years. Most national policies and strategies implemented by international organizations now carried an important social dimension. Ethics, fairness, integration, human security and development were keys to the new paradigm of cooperation and partnership. Progress had been recorded since the Copenhagen Summit, though its fruits had not always been equally distributed. Encouraging headway had been achieved in areas such as illiteracy, life expectancy, education, access to basic social services and gender equality. Many commitments, however, had not been met. With 1.3 billion people living on less than $ 1 dollar a day and some 800 million suffering from malnutrition, the primary objective of Copenhagen still had yet to be achieved. The objectives of full-employment, social integration, the development of Africa and increased allocation of resources to social development also needed to be achieved.
International cooperation and solidarity was essential more than ever. More active cooperation strategies with donor countries had to be put in place to eradicate poverty and assure everyone access to basic social services. At the international level, it was essential to relieve the debt burden of heavily indebted poor countries, reverse the current decrease in overseas development assistance (ODA), create a more transparent and coherent international financial architecture, better protect populations by sharing the advances in medicine, take action in favour of basic labour standards and fight against child labour, and allow developing countries to have greater access to the markets of developed countries. The objective of earmarking 0.7 per cent of GDP for ODA was far from being achieved. More international cooperation was needed to fight against organized crime, the degradation of the environment and serious pandemics. International solidarity was also needed in respect of migrant workers. Medical research at the international level devoted less than 10 per cent of its funds to health problems affecting 90 per cent of the world population. The unprecedented spread of AIDS required the mobilization of the entire international community.
POUL NIELSON, Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid of the European Union , said on the policy level, the message from Copenhagen had proved its value and impact. The agenda called for new and innovative solutions to the problem of multilateral debt, introducing the thinking that led to the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries initiative. What was then a progressive demand had become widely embraced by international financial institutions. Poverty reduction, which was spearheaded at the Social Summit, had become the mainstream development objective, and was being turned into operational realities in development programmes across the world. Over the past week, there had been a reaffirmation of the goals set out in the Copenhagen Programme of Action, which was welcomed by the European Community. The Copenhagen commitments, strengthened by the Amsterdam Treaty which entered into force in May 1999, were priorities both at the European level and in the EU ' s external policies, especially regarding developing countries and the Least Developed Countries.
So international consensus was moving in the right direction. However, no real impact was seen in developing countries. Globalization involved increased risks of marginalization, in particular for the poorest countries. The figures were compelling -- for example, 86 per cent of global consumption was concentrated on 20 per cent of the population, and an increasing number in absolute terms of people lived below the poverty threshold. Policy was in place, institutions were there, but more political energy was needed for the implementation of these policies. And donors should be more generous. There was no excuse for cutting aid budgets. EU aid given through its Community programmes handled by the Commission remained stable. It represented 10 per cent of global overseas development assistance. But everybody needed to do more.
CONSTANTINOS PILAVACHI, Director-General of Social Cohesion of the Council of Europe , said that the forty-one Member States of the Council of Europe, covering between them almost the whole of the European continent, had reinforced their commitment to social development. That new emphasis on social issues had found expression at the highest level when, at the Second Council of Europe Summit in October 1997, the Heads of State and Government identified social cohesion as one of the foremost needs of the wider Europe. In addition, the Council, with the support and encouragement of the UN, organized the European Conference on Social Development as a regional contribution to the preparation of this Special Session. The Council promoted social development in Europe in two main ways: through the European Social Charter, which enshrined a wide range of social rights in the form of an international legal instrument with a sophisticated supervisory machinery; and through its strategy for social cohesion, by which it was developing an integrated, cross-sectoral approach to the principal social problems facing European countries today.
In order to give a specific follow-up to the Geneva Special Session, the Council was planning to address itself directly to the issue of poverty and social exclusion, for example, by offering governments help in developing integrated national anti-poverty strategies. It was necessary to devise strategies with precise objectives, targets and monitoring mechanisms, and to involve poor people plans and implement them.
PILAR NORZA, Senior Regional Advisor for the International Organization of Migration , said that migration was a phenomenon of global dimension. Canada, Australia, the United States and Western Europe just received a fraction of migrants around the world. Most migrants moved from one developing country to another. Migrants were vulnerable and were almost always deceived by false promises and great expectations. Although progress had been achieved since Copenhagen in protecting migrants' rights, many of the promises had not been fulfilled. The International Organization of Migration had contributed to ensuring that some of the promises with regard to migration were fulfilled. Some had benefitted from globalization but others had not. The international community had sophisticated mechanisms which defended the human rights of migrants. There was no need for new instruments. The existing mechanisms had to be implemented. Migration was no longer seen as a positive force. Migrants were marginalized and discriminated against. They were often exposed to racism and racist violence and were treated as scapegoats. Often their contributions were ignored.
Migration was a constant feature in the history of mankind. The battle against smuggling of and trafficking in migrants required strengthening of international cooperation to prevent tragedies such as the one which occurred in Dover, where 58 migrants were found dead in a container. The struggle against criminals involved in smuggling of and trafficking in migrants had to be stepped up. In recent years the battle against trafficking and smuggling had become of central importance to the International Organization of Migration. International cooperation was essential in order to provide an appropriate response to the trafficking in migrants. Greater attention should be devoted to prevent violations of migrants rights.
DOUTOUM MAHAMAT, Assistant Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity , said the OAU was pleased that the Special Session was being held. It offered the international community a chance to review the progress since Copenhagen, and it provided the opportunity to address issues that could bring about further change in globalization. The OAU had placed social development at the top of its priority list. With respect to the Copenhagen commitments, they had been considered, updated and acted upon by members of the OAU. On the basis of these guidelines, African States had taken appropriate measures to best benefit their respective populations. The OAU helped mobilize these States to bring about change and implement the commitments. Regional consultations had been held in other African bodies as well, focusing on job creation, education and health.
It was true that many things still needed to be done to fully realize the objectives of Copenhagen. But what the OAU was doing, in fact, what many were doing, made it easier to see progress and results. Infant mortality rates had fallen thanks to vaccination campaigns and better health care. In the area of training, modest progress had been made, although many problems needed to be rectified in educational systems. Integration of women into national development was being done, although more needed to be done in order to reach satisfactory levels. The OAU was committed to eradicating all forms of discrimination against women in all forms of life. It was working closely with the private sector to get more women into the workforce. The respect of human rights was being realized in Africa as well, although the early experiences had not always been the best in certain areas. Often good efforts were thwarted over chronic unemployment or under-employment. Other obstacles were the persistence of infectious diseases and social and economic conflicts. Both situations created horrible refugee situations, which led to the further spread of disease. Without peace, there could be no development, and without development, there could be no lasting peace. It was senseless to think that there could be peace while people lived in poverty without the minimum necessary for their personal and collective prosperity. More support was needed from the international community to ensure peace in Africa and to sustain the necessary conditions for harmonious development.
PIERRE-YVES SIMONIN, Chairman of the Observer Delegation of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta , said that the process of the Copenhagen Summit had not produced all the effects expected since 1995. Inequalities continued to be aggravated, exclusion had not regressed, and the respect for human rights in general had not shown any improvement. In brief, economic globalization was not coupled with the human and spiritual globalization, as was witnessed by the number of ethnic and religious conflicts around the world. However, Copenhagen had undeniably achieved a commitment without precedent for the international community. The achievements made in that regard were encouraging. The 1995 Summit had prompted a spirit which was not only maintained but was reinforced here in Geneva with the text to be adopted at the end of the Special Session.
The Sovereign Military Order of Malta had concentrated its activities in three health areas in which the Assembly was concerned. It was fighting against leprosy in many countries of the world, particularly in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Leprosy was considered to be a phenomenon of poverty. The Order had been working in that field for centuries. The second field was the combat against HIV/AIDS, to which the Order had established a pilot programme in Senegal to pursue its efforts. It also continued to distribute medicines to needy people in 60 countries.
CARLYLE CORBIN, Minister of State for External Affairs of the United States Virgin Islands , said that while the advent of globalization had accelerated growth in most of the developed world, most of the countries of the South had yet to see the promised benefits of this phenomena. As indicated by a 1999 United Nations University report, the benefits of globalization remained distant and illusive. This could be no better illustrated than when examining the difficulties facing many small island developing countries whose economies and the social development of their people were being impacted by this new globalized world. In effect, small size, a high degree of openness and a lack of economic diversification had always rendered small island developing countries vulnerable to shifts in world economic conditions. The rapid pace of globalization had intensified that vulnerability.
The substantial social dislocation caused by the onset of natural disasters in small island societies had set back progress in social development. In the past, small States were able to partially offset structural disadvantages by specializing in activities that enjoyed preferential access in some large markets. These avenues were rapidly disappearing as a result of evolving world trade arrangements and rules. At the end of the twentieth century, the richest countries in the world were 69 times richer than the poorest countries in the world. It was this glaring fact that must serve to motivate the international community to use all of its resources to resolve the issues of poverty alleviation and sustainable development, and to foster a new global economic environment that would allow the developing countries the necessary space to make the necessary adjustments to globalization.
DAW ALI SWEDAN, Assistant Secretary-General for Social Affairs of the League of Arab States , said the Arab States had made important advances in the field of social development. Many sectors of Arab society still continued to suffer from poverty and unemployment. Some of the difficulties were inherited and some were new. The biggest challenge was Israel's occupation of the Arab territories.
The League of Arab States called on the international community to establish an international atmosphere to balance social development. It affirmed the right to development of all people. In the objectives of bilateral and multinational cooperation, overcoming poverty was important. Donor countries should fulfill their commitments to help developing countries. That was both a moral and a political commitment. Cancelation of debts of the least developed countries, including the debt owed to the international financial institutions, should be carried out. There needed to be a recognition of cultural diversity, and there needed to be a recognition of territorial integrity. Boycotts and economic sanctions needed to be halted because of their effects on the poor, women and the elderly. The international community should strive for peace in the Middle East. The Palestinian peoples should be able to establish their own sovereign State. Some three billion people suffered through marginalization and poverty -- therefore, the League of Arab States called for the establishment of an international solidarity fund that would help those most in need. Five years after Copenhagen, time was still needed to create the necessary mechanisms.
MISALAIMA NELESONE, Secretary of Health, Women and Community Affairs of Tuvalu , said that her country was an island in the Pacific with a population of about 10,000 people, and was barely 4 metres above sea level. Tuvalu, like many Pacific countries, was a long distance from markets and it was more vulnerable to environmental change, particularly the rising of the sea levels. It also greatly lacked the resources to meet the needs of its people. Education was therefore the only key, hence the move by the Government of Tuvalu to establish an education system of "Education for Life" which emphasized education for all. Medical treatment was free for all. Tuvalu in its progress for development was coming to rely heavily on the cash income system as the subsistence existence and economic system was becoming less important for most of the people. Moreover, Tuvalu people were living in a conflicting world of that of their traditional way of life and the modern lifestyle. Those were the causes of the social dilemmas that the people in Tuvalu and the Pacific were facing.
Despite the Tuvalu Government's commitments and its dreams for the advancement of social development and welfare, it felt that it would need a lot of technical and financial assistance to implement and consolidate social development and welfare in Tuvalu.
YAO GRAHAM, Third World Network , said that since the Copenhagen Social Summit, social conditions had worsened in most African countries. This came in a global context of expansion of prosperity for the North and growing poverty for the majority of people in the South. A strikingly lower number of Heads of State and Government had taken part in this Special Session, confirming fears about the unsatisfactory level of commitment to the outcome of Copenhagen.
The crushing burden of external debt had undermined the capacity of African governments to provide and ensure even the minimum of resources for social development. The so-called enhanced HIPC formula did not provide an adequate framework for dealing with the debt problem. The HIV/AIDS pandemic was claiming more lives in Africa than all wars and natural disasters the continent had had in the past two decades. For Africa, one of the root causes of the spread of HIV/AIDS was poverty. Since Copenhagen, international terms of trade had moved against most African exports. The World Bank and IMF remained the instruments of a few powers. The World Trade Organization had emerged as a much stronger voice of transnational corporations. Neo-liberal economic policies that had done so much to undermine social development should not be allowed to wear the dress of the UN. The slow suffocation of the UN was rooted in the agenda advanced by the Secretary-General's report "A Better World For All".
ASHRAF TABANI, the International Chamber of Commerce and the International Organizations of Employers , said almost all countries realized that the market system was the key to achieving social development, including creation of jobs, and the private sector was looked upon as the principal source of employment creation. Since the Copenhagen Summit five years ago, the performance in this regard had been mixed, in many areas it was robust and impressive, while in other areas, the employment situation and the alleviation of poverty in many parts of the world continued to be unsatisfactory and a cause for concern. Thus the commitments made in Copenhagen remained as valid and challenging as they were five years ago. The business community reaffirmed its endorsement of this programme once again.
It was obvious that many countries for one reason or another had been unable to benefit from the technology and capital coming into the market -- and that the pressure of global competition could result very often in painful local social dislocation. Large pockets of poverty continued to exist in many countries. Among the countries unable to achieve growth, the proximate cause in an important group had been civil or international conflict or endemic internal disorder, which had seriously undermined their economic potential. A larger and more diverse group consisted of countries that lacked major aspects of good governance or incurred heavy foreign debts because of faulty domestic policies and governmental mismanagement or those where large populations suffered from widespread debilitating diseases. The people of these countries were thus denied the fundamental conditions for economic growth and participation in the global market.
CATHERINE BERNARD, Service and Research Foundation of Asia on Family and Culture , said the civil society organizations from the countries in the Asia-Pacific region wanted to voice their disappointment and regretted that the commitments made by Governments during the Copenhagen Summit in 1995 remained unfulfilled. According to reports and evaluations made, those commitments were not implemented due to improper financial investments in the countries themselves as well as continued decreasing resources from the rich countries and the Bretton Woods institutions. The Asia-Pacific countries strongly urged the international community gathered here in Geneva to assure and support debt cancellation for all developing countries. Monopolies and transnational companies should ensure the availability of life-saving drugs in the developing countries; and Governments should ensure that civil society organizations participated and had a voice in the plan, programmes and development process in their countries, among other things.
FACHSON SHAMENDA, International Confederation of Free Trade Unions , said that since Copenhagen, too little had been done. Global unemployment and under employment totalled nine hundred million persons. The number of export processing zones, where workers had virtually no rights, had almost doubled. At least two hundred and fifty million children were at work and women made up seventy per cent of the world's poor. Globalization should be redefined and changed so that it would work for people. Debt relief and development assistance for developing countries should be increased to help billions of workers, especially in informal work, to improve their jobs and lives.
A further priority should be world-wide progress towards providing health care, unemployment insurance, an old-age pension and decent education for children everywhere. The Special Session was taking place in the inaugural year of the twenty-first century. It provided the opportunity to reassert a people-centred model of development. It could give the UN a lead role in defining the new century as one which could fulfill its potential to meet the needs and aspirations of people. The task of the international community was to work together to achieve that goal.
ELMIRA TEYMUR SULEYMANOVA, Azerbaijan Women and Development , said in spite of the diversity of political, social and cultural situations in Europe, one could not ignore and separate the problems that were affecting people both in the Eastern and Western parts of the continent, since they were interrelated. The general challenges and obstacles in the Eastern European countries were negative impact of globalization aggravated by transition; destroyed economies and erosion of the social protection systems; high unemployment; low income; lack of security; and different forms of marginalization.
The organization proposed that Governments actively promoted human rights, especially economic, social and cultural rights for all people living in their countries, by undertaking the following actions: show more political will and commitment and be held accountable at the national level; accelerate the reconstruction of the economy of the countries in transition by providing specialized education, training and job creation; design and implement gender sensitive policies and programmes for social protection equally accessible for all groups, including women, children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, Roma, refugees and internally displaced persons; recognize growing poverty and inequalities within their own countries and reaffirm the role of public expenditures, which should be regarded as an investment and not as costs to be reduced to the minimum possible; and provide immediate means to housing, appropriate health care, education and the right to live in peace and security in their own communities.
BRUCE THORDARSON, International Cooperative Alliance , said that placing people at the centre of development was the purpose of cooperatives. Cooperatives were autonomous associations of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise. Cooperatives were based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity. Cooperatives effectively created and maintained employment in both urban and rural areas around the world. They provided income to both members and employees in the form of shares of surplus or profits depending on the type of cooperative. They also provided self-employment to over 5 million people in Europe and nearly 14 million in India alone to cite only two examples. Cooperatives were employers too; they provided over 100 million jobs and were the second largest employer in many countries of Africa. Economic and social development could only be realized if undertaken in effective partnership. Cooperatives were working with governments and other civil society organizations to ensure the well-being of people around the globe.
HECTOR BEJAR, Social Watch , said that most of the commitments made in Copenhagen had not been fulfilled. In Latin America and the Caribbean, instead of a decrease in poverty, there had been an increase in the wealth of a few. Children continued to live in misery and semi-slavery conditions. Discrimination against women, indigenous peoples, ethnic minorities and Afro-American communities had not been eradicated. ILO Convention 169 had not been complied with. There had not been progress in social development. In many Latin American countries and the Caribbean, democracy was restricted by the military, transnational corporations and dictatorships disguised as democracies.
It had been said that there were no resources for social development but there were resources to continue servicing external debt, which was suffocating Latin America. Over the past five years, rather than social development, the priority of Latin American governments had been to concentrate resources in the world's most unjust region. Latin American governments and the international financial institutions were called upon to devote additional resources to social development. Creditor countries were called upon to forgive foreign debt and Latin American governments were asked to ensure an efficient, transparent and democratic management of resources. It was necessary to democratize the UN system, beginning with the Bretton Woods institutions. The World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank needed to be restructured.
QAZI FARUQUE AHMED, International Council on Social Welfare , said although there had been some progress over the last five years, it was slow and inadequate. On the other hand, more had happened for disabling the environment rather than enabling it for social development. Overseas development assistance (ODA) from northern countries had declined and was nowhere near reaching 0.7 per cent of GNP as countries committed to five years ago. Volatility in international financial markets, particularly in currency transactions, due to abominable speculations, had ruined the economies of many developing countries, throwing more people into poverty. At the national level, there was hardly any progress in land reform and access to adequate micro finance services was still inadequate. Resources for primary and secondary education were still well below what was required. Military expenditure was more for grandiose and national ego, and took away precious resources from social development.
In view of all this, the International Council on Social Welfare proposed a three point plan. It called for strengthening the ECOSOC system; implementing standards already agreed upon and establishing some new standards, particularly economic, governance and business standards which had social development consequences; and adopting an Anti-Poverty Pact. That concept of reciprocal commitments could be implemented by establishing an international Anti-Poverty Pact involving both developed and developing countries, as well as international financial institutions. The Pact would involve commitment to mobilization of resources, as well as to anti-poverty outcomes.
ALIDA SMEEHES, European Women's Lobby , underlined that in the West, the strong universal social protection systems built over the last fifty years were being dangerously chipped away. In addition, unemployment rates, while going down, remained unacceptably high, new flexible labour patterns brought about new forms of instability and disadvantages, both at work and in families; an emerging social class of " working poor" forced whole families into marginalization and social exclusion; and the gap between the "have" and the "have nots" was widening, among other things. Governments should recognize growing poverty and inequalities within their own countries and reaffirm the role of public expenditures which should be regarded as an investment, not as a cost to be reduced to the minimum, as long as they were based on principles of equality and sustainable development. She hoped the next five years would see more substantial progress than had been evident in the last five in the implementation of the commitments of the Social Summit.
CORRIGENDUM
On page 7 of press release SOC/00/11 of 29 June 2000, the representative of Honduras, Marco Antonio Suazo was incorrectly identified. He is Chairperson of the Delegation of Honduras.
* *** *
24th Special Session
30 June 2000 (PM)
General Assembly Special Session Approaches Conclusion
Foreign ministers and delegates this afternoon continued urging the international community to provide support and resources to the world's developing countries so they did not fall farther behind in the new world economy.
The speakers, addressing the United Nations General Assembly Special Session as the week-long conference neared its conclusion, reminded representatives of UN Member States of the commitments that were made at the 1995 Copenhagen Social Summit to help the poorest nations of the world. Since then, they maintained, industrialized developed countries has profited massively from globalization, while developing nations had suffered through continued and increased poverty and the social problems which accompanied it.
Several of the delegates spoke of the need for the international community to continue providing aid to the developing world, while others stressed the importance of cancelling Third World debt. The representatives said that the struggle to build a fully developed social society was exacerbated by massive debt payment commitments. The money owed, they said, would be much better served if it were invested in things like sustainable economic development, education and health care.
Also joining the discussion, for the first time this session, were observer governments and organizations, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
Officially titled the "World Summit for Social Development and Beyond: Achieving Social Development for All in a Globalizing World", the Special Session -- the twenty-fourth in the General Assembly's history -- is intended to review the fulfilment of 10 international commitments made at the Copenhagen summit which are aimed at eradicating poverty, achieving full employment, and strengthening social integration.
The original Copenhagen commitments relate to (1) an enabling environment for social development; (2) poverty eradication; (3) full employment; (4) promotion of social integration; (5) equality and equity between women and men; (6) universal and equitable access to high-quality education and health services; (7) acceleration of development in Africa and in the least-developed countries; (8) inclusion of social development goals in structural-adjustment programmes; (9) resources for social development; and (10) international cooperation for social development.
Speaking were the Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau; the Minister of Finance of Kenya; a Minister of Algeria; the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare of Zimbabwe; the First Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Affairs of Kyrgyzstan; the Chairperson of the Delegation of Lebanon; the Commissioner of Social Improvement of Antigua and Barbuda; the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare of Thailand; and the Special Adviser to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Manpower Development of the Seychelles.
Also speaking from observer governments and organizations were the Head of the Department of Economy of Switzerland; Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace of the Holy See; Chairman of the Observer Delegation of the International Organization of La Francophone; Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid of the European Community; Director-General of Social Cohesion of the Council of Europe; the Senior Regional Advisor of the International Organization of Migration; the Assistant Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity; the Chairman of the Observer Delegation of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta; a Representative of the United States Virgin Islands; Assistant Secretary-General for Social Affairs of the League of Arab States; and the Secretary for Health, Women and Community Affairs of Tuvalu.
NGOs speaking were Third World Network; International Chamber of Commerce/International Organizations of Employers; Service and Research Foundation of Asia on Family and Culture; International Confederation of Free Trade Unions; Azerbaijan Women and Development; International Cooperative Alliance; Social Watch; International Council on Social Welfare; and European Women's Lobby.
The Special Session was scheduled to reconvene later on Friday, 30 June, to conclude its session.
Statements
CAETANO N'CHAMA, Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau , said as the world moved toward globalization, more and more problems were prevalent, and poverty was the greatest challenge and the greatest task. Five years had passed since Copenhagen, yet poverty continued to be a scourge for millions of people. Given this situation, this forum served as a step that would help deal with the problem. Guinea-Bissau was recently the theatre for a conflict for 11 months which had devastated the country. Apart from the material damage and the loss of life, the GDP fell by 28 per cent, which further aggravated the situation of poverty. Recovery would be a difficult task, and it was necessary to enlist the help of the international community.
In May 1999, the international community promised $ 215 million in aid, but those promises were never fulfilled. Nothing had been reformed in the country. The country did what was asked of it, and still aid did not come. Other assistance did come from international organizations and other friendly countries to help with democratic elections in the country, and that was appreciated. The new Government had the responsibility of continuing the economic and social development process, and restoring the country's respectability. There was also a programme for reintegration of fighting forces, and the World Bank had already approved funding for it. There needed to be a tripartite effort between the Government, private business and civil society. When they came together, progress would be seen. Statistics showed that most poverty was situated in Africa and Asia, where more than one billion people lived in extreme poverty. Good governance and relief of debt were two factors that would be influential in the eradication of poverty. Poverty was a reality in Guinea-Bissau. Forty-nine per cent of the population was classified as poor, and 25 per cent of it was classified as very poor, living on less than $ 1 a day, which obviously kept them from education, health care and nutrition. The Government had adopted a strategic paper for t he reduction of poverty. The focus of the paper included sustained economic growth, investment of human resources, and promoting the construction of social housing and the provision of loans.
CHRIS OKEMO, Minister of Finance of Kenya , recalled that in 1995, many had hoped that economic development would gradually but surely improve their lives. However, the contrary was true; social development in those parts of the world that the Copenhagen Summit was meant to benefit had in the best case scenario stagnated, and in the worst case scenario had deteriorated to an all-time low. While all those commitments were capable of standing alone, their overriding objective was the eradication of poverty. In Kenya, the problems of poverty had been thrust to centre stage. Thirty-seven years after independence, Kenya was threatened by perilously low standards of living among its peoples. Economic growth had slowed mainly due to globalization on one hand, and natural disasters on the other, as well as the goal-shifting mind-set of some of Kenya's bilateral and multilateral partners. Traditional social safety systems which had been tried and tested over centuries in Africa, had now been undermined and had collapsed as a result.
The approach that Kenya had pursued so far to fight poverty had not had the desired effects and the time had come to give Kenyans the means, the tools and the capacity to produce for themselves. In fact, some of the policies embarked upon over the years had had the net capital effect of adversely impacting Kenyan economic capacity. Since independence, Kenya had consistently tried to create an economic, political, social, cultural and legal environment that would enable it to work free of interference. Nevertheless, the key to true social development lay in eradicating poverty. The Bretton Woods financial institutions should adapt and be responsive to changing circumstances without shifting goal posts. Bilateral and multi-lateral debt should be written off for those countries that would meet the criteria.
NOUREDDINE BOUKROUH, Chairperson of the Delegation of Algeria , said it had been five years since the World Social Summit at Copenhagen. Though there was gratification in this progress, it was still true that the situation was not satisfactory. There was still insufficient progress on infant mortality, education and health care. There were still increases in unemployment, widespread poverty, and problems with armed conflicts. There was a wide gap between the developed nations of the north and the underdeveloped countries of the south. The deterioration in terms of trade had continued. The technological gap had widened. These negatives aspects affected not only the developing countries, but the entire world economy. Needs were increasing. Debt burden was increasing.
Africa, particularly sub-Saharan Africa, had been hit hard. Local and regional conflicts still affected countries. The foreign debt was much too heavy for those nations to be able to develop social standards. All these led to a drop in the standard of living for the population. In Algeria, there was a referendum of civil society that had re-established civil peace and security. Together with economic reforms, progress was being seen. A national conference on social policy would be convened in October, and that would define the confines and objectives of social policy for the future in Algeria.
UKTOMKHAN ABDOULAEVA, First Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Affairs of Kyrgyzstan , said the transition period, faced by Kyrgyzstan and many other countries, had led to worsening conditions for much of their populations; there had been negative growth; in Kyrgyzstan, over 50 per cent of the population lived below the poverty level. Kyrgyzstan supported the proposal to hold a major regional conference to discuss the problems of transition countries in achieving social development. Further possibilities for debt relief should be considered. Kyrgyzstan had taken a number of steps to improve social conditions over the five years since the Social Summit; measures had been taken to promote equal participation by women in all aspects of life; to help the elderly; to eradicate poverty by the year 2015; to support the disabled; and to aid development in villages. Foundations were also being laid for a national development policy.
Kyrgyzstan attached primary importance to strengthening international, commercial, economic, scientific, technical and other forms of cooperation. Kygyzstan's central position along the Silk Road placed it in a prime spot for developing international cooperation along trade routes running from Portugal to Japan. Globalization meant that all had to recognize that no country could deal alone with the challenges that faced mankind. With sufficient will and effort, countries working together could surmount these challenges. There should be balanced, flexible and manoeuvrable policies at the international level.
WALID NASR, Chairperson of the Delegation of Lebanon , said Lebanon believed that civil society could contribute a lot in the building of the society. The Government was also convinced that civil society played an important role in the country. Today, Lebanon was faced with economic challenges. The policies developed by Lebanon included reform of its monetary system and employment schemes. In general, as was the case for other developing countries, Lebanon was in search of ways in which it could benefit from globalization. It was also expecting changes in trends of bilateral and multilateral agreements in favour of developing countries.
Mr. Nasr referred to the situation in Southern Lebanon and said that the courage of citizens in defending their territory there was appreciated. The situation called for measures to be adopted in the economic and social fields in order to bring the situation to normal.
PATRICIA BIRD, Commissioner of Social Improvement of Antigua and Barbuda , said the Government of Antigua and Barbuda reaffirmed the commitments it had made at Copenhagen and identified poverty eradication, employment creation, and health and social integration as core issues for immediate action. These issues could ensure building human capabilities and increase the dignity of personhood. Many meetings throughout the 1990s had put poverty eradication high on the agenda of the international community. Yet, areas of vulnerability existed. The elderly, young single parents, and the disabled were the most marginalized. It was also easy to forget the unfortunate persons who were affected by the destruction caused by the hurricanes that struck the region between September 1995 and 1998.
For the elderly, the Government had instituted measures aimed at providing relief to citizens through price controls on a number of basic food items. It had also provided assistance costing several million dollars per year. For persons over 80, the Government had devised an exemption of payment for public utilities. A home care programme for the elderly and incapacitated had been introduced in order to enable these persons to remain in their own homes instead of being placed in an institution. Elderly persons who did not qualify for social security were given a government pension. To enable people to attain secure and sustainable livelihoods, the youth skills programme was continued. It was specifically geared toward young unemployed mothers who were paid while in training. Of the 768 persons in training, 98 per cent were female between the ages of 18 and 45.
PRASONG RANANAND, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare of Thailand , said globalization had brought about an amazing transformation for the better, although it also was true that in many cases the development process had undergone a setback since 1995; if the world was to be transformed into a better place, strong political will and vigorous implementation of the agreed initiatives was necessary. Unfortunately, alarming and undesirable effects were taking place against a backdrop of a decline in overseas development aid (ODA) -- this decline had to be urgently addressed, and 20/20 initiatives must be seriously implemented. Thailand wished to appeal to countries to support the United Nations so that it could carry out its core missions. Fulfilling the mandate to combat poverty and the ambitious goal of halving it by 2015 would require coherence between national and international strategies and programmes. Measures on the domestic front required corresponding measures at the international level.
There should be safeguards to ensure that economies could integrate themselves into the global economy without risking macroeconomic instability; and the international trading system had to make way for a more level playing field. In Thailand, the social crisis had caused problems and exposed weaknesses, but also had had a silver lining -- it had showed that industrialization must be matched with social development, and had played a part in the adoption in 1997 of a new, precious, and highly democratic Constitution.
MARIE-PEIRRE LLOYD, Special Advisor to the Minister for Social Affairs and Manpower Development of the Seychelles , said that since independence in 1976, her country was committed to the development of each and every citizen regardless of gender, age, ethnicity or disability. Following the Copenhagen Declaration, her Government had actively pursued follow-up by forming a working group for social development which was mandated to formulate a social development strategy and which translated the ten commitments of the Declaration. In the Seychelles, while one did not see much absolute poverty, women and children often bore a disproportionate burden of relative poverty. Single parent families were the most vulnerable. The country's strategy called for improved targeting by according special consideration to social policy, planning and programming aimed at intensifying efforts to target pockets of poverty, thereby protecting those in need.
Ms. Lloyd said that disparities in wealth, status and power were barriers to social development and thus could serve as triggers of social conflicts between groups. The equitable distribution of both the burdens and benefits of development was also central to the country's strategy. Both horizontal and vertical equity remained at the heart of efforts to support and promote distributive justice.
FLORENCE CHITAURO, Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare of Zimbabwe , emphasized that her country strongly believed that justice, equity, social security and poverty reduction were necessary prerequisites for the sustenance of peace, security and development not only for Zimbabwe but also for the entire world. For many developing countries, the implementation of the programme of action of the Copenhagen Summit was met with a number of constraints. Those included among others, heavy foreign debt, unstable world prices of major commodities and poor balance of payment support as well as unfavourable terms and trends in international trade. On the domestic scene, one had seen high inflation, a shrinking private sector, growing unemployment, unequal resource distribution and deepening poverty. That situation had been worsened by a high incidence of natural disasters. Zimbabwe strongly believed that poverty was a denial of fundamental human rights.
Zimbabwe was concerned that developing countries had not been able to share in the benefits of globalization on an equal footing with developed countries. Developed countries were urged to take into account the possible negative impact of their domestic economic, monetary and fiscal policies on developing countries and to apply measures that were sensitive to the needs and interests of developing nations. The terms of international trade had worsened and financial resources had declined in most developing countries, including Zimbabwe.
PASCAL COUCHEPIN, Head of the Department of Economy of Switzerland , said social development was a global challenge, and it was obvious that the international community needed to work together. It was essential to put a human face on globalization. The errors of the past should not be repeated. Some 70 years ago, many chose not to open up trade to others, and instead turned to nationalism. All the views expressed at the General Assembly showed that there was no ready-made recipe for social development. Switzerland looked forward to Geneva 2000 because it believed in the political will expressed in the United Nations. Switzerland alone could not do much. That was why it hoped the international community would come together.
To promote the North-South dialogue, Switzerland had worked hard to create a dialogue. It supported debt relief, and was active in the World Bank. It believed that access to education and training was the key that opened the door to social integration. Education and health care were keys. It was up to the UN to ensure that the global social angle accompanied the rules to globalization.
BISHOP DIARMUID MARTIN, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace of the Holy See , stated that the Copenhagen Summit embraced "a political, economic, ethical and spiritual vision for social development". That mirrored what the documents of the Holy See had traditionally called "integral human development", a development approach which addressed the human person in his or her entirety, and addressed at the same time the needs of the entire human family. Economic growth would foster social development above all if it was set in a framework not only of functioning governance structures, but also a public administration at the service of the community, an infrastructure which facilitated the contribution of citizens and a private sector with a focused social orientation. Social development flourished in those societies which were participatory and democratic, in which human rights were fostered, and in which citizens could become the true protagonists of the decisions which affected their lives.
In too many parts of the world today, the primary causes of poverty were linked to war and conflict. War and conflict impeded all forms of social stability and progress. They caused disastrous human consequences in terms of loss of life and injury, even to children and the innocent. The natural environment and basic human infrastructures were damaged, thus setting back the progress of decades. The possibility of attracting productive investment was eliminated. Peace was a rich concept which in its biblical roots summed up what one today would called social development. It was a relationship between people in which they lived in harmony among each other and in harmony with their environment.
RIDHA BOUARID, Chairman of the Observer Delegation of the International Organization of La Francophonie, said that the question of social development had retained its importance over the past five years. Most national policies and strategies implemented by international organizations now carried an important social dimension. Ethics, fairness, integration, human security and development were keys to the new paradigm of cooperation and partnership. Progress had been recorded since the Copenhagen Summit, though its fruits had not always been equally distributed. Encouraging headway had been achieved in areas such as illiteracy, life expectancy, education, access to basic social services and gender equality. Many commitments, however, had not been met. With 1.3 billion people living on less than $ 1 dollar a day and some 800 million suffering from malnutrition, the primary objective of Copenhagen still had yet to be achieved. The objectives of full-employment, social integration, the development of Africa and increased allocation of resources to social development also needed to be achieved.
International cooperation and solidarity was essential more than ever. More active cooperation strategies with donor countries had to be put in place to eradicate poverty and assure everyone access to basic social services. At the international level, it was essential to relieve the debt burden of heavily indebted poor countries, reverse the current decrease in overseas development assistance (ODA), create a more transparent and coherent international financial architecture, better protect populations by sharing the advances in medicine, take action in favour of basic labour standards and fight against child labour, and allow developing countries to have greater access to the markets of developed countries. The objective of earmarking 0.7 per cent of GDP for ODA was far from being achieved. More international cooperation was needed to fight against organized crime, the degradation of the environment and serious pandemics. International solidarity was also needed in respect of migrant workers. Medical research at the international level devoted less than 10 per cent of its funds to health problems affecting 90 per cent of the world population. The unprecedented spread of AIDS required the mobilization of the entire international community.
POUL NIELSON, Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid of the European Union , said on the policy level, the message from Copenhagen had proved its value and impact. The agenda called for new and innovative solutions to the problem of multilateral debt, introducing the thinking that led to the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries initiative. What was then a progressive demand had become widely embraced by international financial institutions. Poverty reduction, which was spearheaded at the Social Summit, had become the mainstream development objective, and was being turned into operational realities in development programmes across the world. Over the past week, there had been a reaffirmation of the goals set out in the Copenhagen Programme of Action, which was welcomed by the European Community. The Copenhagen commitments, strengthened by the Amsterdam Treaty which entered into force in May 1999, were priorities both at the European level and in the EU ' s external policies, especially regarding developing countries and the Least Developed Countries.
So international consensus was moving in the right direction. However, no real impact was seen in developing countries. Globalization involved increased risks of marginalization, in particular for the poorest countries. The figures were compelling -- for example, 86 per cent of global consumption was concentrated on 20 per cent of the population, and an increasing number in absolute terms of people lived below the poverty threshold. Policy was in place, institutions were there, but more political energy was needed for the implementation of these policies. And donors should be more generous. There was no excuse for cutting aid budgets. EU aid given through its Community programmes handled by the Commission remained stable. It represented 10 per cent of global overseas development assistance. But everybody needed to do more.
CONSTANTINOS PILAVACHI, Director-General of Social Cohesion of the Council of Europe , said that the forty-one Member States of the Council of Europe, covering between them almost the whole of the European continent, had reinforced their commitment to social development. That new emphasis on social issues had found expression at the highest level when, at the Second Council of Europe Summit in October 1997, the Heads of State and Government identified social cohesion as one of the foremost needs of the wider Europe. In addition, the Council, with the support and encouragement of the UN, organized the European Conference on Social Development as a regional contribution to the preparation of this Special Session. The Council promoted social development in Europe in two main ways: through the European Social Charter, which enshrined a wide range of social rights in the form of an international legal instrument with a sophisticated supervisory machinery; and through its strategy for social cohesion, by which it was developing an integrated, cross-sectoral approach to the principal social problems facing European countries today.
In order to give a specific follow-up to the Geneva Special Session, the Council was planning to address itself directly to the issue of poverty and social exclusion, for example, by offering governments help in developing integrated national anti-poverty strategies. It was necessary to devise strategies with precise objectives, targets and monitoring mechanisms, and to involve poor people plans and implement them.
PILAR NORZA, Senior Regional Advisor for the International Organization of Migration , said that migration was a phenomenon of global dimension. Canada, Australia, the United States and Western Europe just received a fraction of migrants around the world. Most migrants moved from one developing country to another. Migrants were vulnerable and were almost always deceived by false promises and great expectations. Although progress had been achieved since Copenhagen in protecting migrants' rights, many of the promises had not been fulfilled. The International Organization of Migration had contributed to ensuring that some of the promises with regard to migration were fulfilled. Some had benefitted from globalization but others had not. The international community had sophisticated mechanisms which defended the human rights of migrants. There was no need for new instruments. The existing mechanisms had to be implemented. Migration was no longer seen as a positive force. Migrants were marginalized and discriminated against. They were often exposed to racism and racist violence and were treated as scapegoats. Often their contributions were ignored.
Migration was a constant feature in the history of mankind. The battle against smuggling of and trafficking in migrants required strengthening of international cooperation to prevent tragedies such as the one which occurred in Dover, where 58 migrants were found dead in a container. The struggle against criminals involved in smuggling of and trafficking in migrants had to be stepped up. In recent years the battle against trafficking and smuggling had become of central importance to the International Organization of Migration. International cooperation was essential in order to provide an appropriate response to the trafficking in migrants. Greater attention should be devoted to prevent violations of migrants rights.
DOUTOUM MAHAMAT, Assistant Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity , said the OAU was pleased that the Special Session was being held. It offered the international community a chance to review the progress since Copenhagen, and it provided the opportunity to address issues that could bring about further change in globalization. The OAU had placed social development at the top of its priority list. With respect to the Copenhagen commitments, they had been considered, updated and acted upon by members of the OAU. On the basis of these guidelines, African States had taken appropriate measures to best benefit their respective populations. The OAU helped mobilize these States to bring about change and implement the commitments. Regional consultations had been held in other African bodies as well, focusing on job creation, education and health.
It was true that many things still needed to be done to fully realize the objectives of Copenhagen. But what the OAU was doing, in fact, what many were doing, made it easier to see progress and results. Infant mortality rates had fallen thanks to vaccination campaigns and better health care. In the area of training, modest progress had been made, although many problems needed to be rectified in educational systems. Integration of women into national development was being done, although more needed to be done in order to reach satisfactory levels. The OAU was committed to eradicating all forms of discrimination against women in all forms of life. It was working closely with the private sector to get more women into the workforce. The respect of human rights was being realized in Africa as well, although the early experiences had not always been the best in certain areas. Often good efforts were thwarted over chronic unemployment or under-employment. Other obstacles were the persistence of infectious diseases and social and economic conflicts. Both situations created horrible refugee situations, which led to the further spread of disease. Without peace, there could be no development, and without development, there could be no lasting peace. It was senseless to think that there could be peace while people lived in poverty without the minimum necessary for their personal and collective prosperity. More support was needed from the international community to ensure peace in Africa and to sustain the necessary conditions for harmonious development.
PIERRE-YVES SIMONIN, Chairman of the Observer Delegation of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta , said that the process of the Copenhagen Summit had not produced all the effects expected since 1995. Inequalities continued to be aggravated, exclusion had not regressed, and the respect for human rights in general had not shown any improvement. In brief, economic globalization was not coupled with the human and spiritual globalization, as was witnessed by the number of ethnic and religious conflicts around the world. However, Copenhagen had undeniably achieved a commitment without precedent for the international community. The achievements made in that regard were encouraging. The 1995 Summit had prompted a spirit which was not only maintained but was reinforced here in Geneva with the text to be adopted at the end of the Special Session.
The Sovereign Military Order of Malta had concentrated its activities in three health areas in which the Assembly was concerned. It was fighting against leprosy in many countries of the world, particularly in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Leprosy was considered to be a phenomenon of poverty. The Order had been working in that field for centuries. The second field was the combat against HIV/AIDS, to which the Order had established a pilot programme in Senegal to pursue its efforts. It also continued to distribute medicines to needy people in 60 countries.
CARLYLE CORBIN, Minister of State for External Affairs of the United States Virgin Islands , said that while the advent of globalization had accelerated growth in most of the developed world, most of the countries of the South had yet to see the promised benefits of this phenomena. As indicated by a 1999 United Nations University report, the benefits of globalization remained distant and illusive. This could be no better illustrated than when examining the difficulties facing many small island developing countries whose economies and the social development of their people were being impacted by this new globalized world. In effect, small size, a high degree of openness and a lack of economic diversification had always rendered small island developing countries vulnerable to shifts in world economic conditions. The rapid pace of globalization had intensified that vulnerability.
The substantial social dislocation caused by the onset of natural disasters in small island societies had set back progress in social development. In the past, small States were able to partially offset structural disadvantages by specializing in activities that enjoyed preferential access in some large markets. These avenues were rapidly disappearing as a result of evolving world trade arrangements and rules. At the end of the twentieth century, the richest countries in the world were 69 times richer than the poorest countries in the world. It was this glaring fact that must serve to motivate the international community to use all of its resources to resolve the issues of poverty alleviation and sustainable development, and to foster a new global economic environment that would allow the developing countries the necessary space to make the necessary adjustments to globalization.
DAW ALI SWEDAN, Assistant Secretary-General for Social Affairs of the League of Arab States , said the Arab States had made important advances in the field of social development. Many sectors of Arab society still continued to suffer from poverty and unemployment. Some of the difficulties were inherited and some were new. The biggest challenge was Israel's occupation of the Arab territories.
The League of Arab States called on the international community to establish an international atmosphere to balance social development. It affirmed the right to development of all people. In the objectives of bilateral and multinational cooperation, overcoming poverty was important. Donor countries should fulfill their commitments to help developing countries. That was both a moral and a political commitment. Cancelation of debts of the least developed countries, including the debt owed to the international financial institutions, should be carried out. There needed to be a recognition of cultural diversity, and there needed to be a recognition of territorial integrity. Boycotts and economic sanctions needed to be halted because of their effects on the poor, women and the elderly. The international community should strive for peace in the Middle East. The Palestinian peoples should be able to establish their own sovereign State. Some three billion people suffered through marginalization and poverty -- therefore, the League of Arab States called for the establishment of an international solidarity fund that would help those most in need. Five years after Copenhagen, time was still needed to create the necessary mechanisms.
MISALAIMA NELESONE, Secretary of Health, Women and Community Affairs of Tuvalu , said that her country was an island in the Pacific with a population of about 10,000 people, and was barely 4 metres above sea level. Tuvalu, like many Pacific countries, was a long distance from markets and it was more vulnerable to environmental change, particularly the rising of the sea levels. It also greatly lacked the resources to meet the needs of its people. Education was therefore the only key, hence the move by the Government of Tuvalu to establish an education system of "Education for Life" which emphasized education for all. Medical treatment was free for all. Tuvalu in its progress for development was coming to rely heavily on the cash income system as the subsistence existence and economic system was becoming less important for most of the people. Moreover, Tuvalu people were living in a conflicting world of that of their traditional way of life and the modern lifestyle. Those were the causes of the social dilemmas that the people in Tuvalu and the Pacific were facing.
Despite the Tuvalu Government's commitments and its dreams for the advancement of social development and welfare, it felt that it would need a lot of technical and financial assistance to implement and consolidate social development and welfare in Tuvalu.
YAO GRAHAM, Third World Network , said that since the Copenhagen Social Summit, social conditions had worsened in most African countries. This came in a global context of expansion of prosperity for the North and growing poverty for the majority of people in the South. A strikingly lower number of Heads of State and Government had taken part in this Special Session, confirming fears about the unsatisfactory level of commitment to the outcome of Copenhagen.
The crushing burden of external debt had undermined the capacity of African governments to provide and ensure even the minimum of resources for social development. The so-called enhanced HIPC formula did not provide an adequate framework for dealing with the debt problem. The HIV/AIDS pandemic was claiming more lives in Africa than all wars and natural disasters the continent had had in the past two decades. For Africa, one of the root causes of the spread of HIV/AIDS was poverty. Since Copenhagen, international terms of trade had moved against most African exports. The World Bank and IMF remained the instruments of a few powers. The World Trade Organization had emerged as a much stronger voice of transnational corporations. Neo-liberal economic policies that had done so much to undermine social development should not be allowed to wear the dress of the UN. The slow suffocation of the UN was rooted in the agenda advanced by the Secretary-General's report "A Better World For All".
ASHRAF TABANI, the International Chamber of Commerce and the International Organizations of Employers , said almost all countries realized that the market system was the key to achieving social development, including creation of jobs, and the private sector was looked upon as the principal source of employment creation. Since the Copenhagen Summit five years ago, the performance in this regard had been mixed, in many areas it was robust and impressive, while in other areas, the employment situation and the alleviation of poverty in many parts of the world continued to be unsatisfactory and a cause for concern. Thus the commitments made in Copenhagen remained as valid and challenging as they were five years ago. The business community reaffirmed its endorsement of this programme once again.
It was obvious that many countries for one reason or another had been unable to benefit from the technology and capital coming into the market -- and that the pressure of global competition could result very often in painful local social dislocation. Large pockets of poverty continued to exist in many countries. Among the countries unable to achieve growth, the proximate cause in an important group had been civil or international conflict or endemic internal disorder, which had seriously undermined their economic potential. A larger and more diverse group consisted of countries that lacked major aspects of good governance or incurred heavy foreign debts because of faulty domestic policies and governmental mismanagement or those where large populations suffered from widespread debilitating diseases. The people of these countries were thus denied the fundamental conditions for economic growth and participation in the global market.
CATHERINE BERNARD, Service and Research Foundation of Asia on Family and Culture , said the civil society organizations from the countries in the Asia-Pacific region wanted to voice their disappointment and regretted that the commitments made by Governments during the Copenhagen Summit in 1995 remained unfulfilled. According to reports and evaluations made, those commitments were not implemented due to improper financial investments in the countries themselves as well as continued decreasing resources from the rich countries and the Bretton Woods institutions. The Asia-Pacific countries strongly urged the international community gathered here in Geneva to assure and support debt cancellation for all developing countries. Monopolies and transnational companies should ensure the availability of life-saving drugs in the developing countries; and Governments should ensure that civil society organizations participated and had a voice in the plan, programmes and development process in their countries, among other things.
FACHSON SHAMENDA, International Confederation of Free Trade Unions , said that since Copenhagen, too little had been done. Global unemployment and under employment totalled nine hundred million persons. The number of export processing zones, where workers had virtually no rights, had almost doubled. At least two hundred and fifty million children were at work and women made up seventy per cent of the world's poor. Globalization should be redefined and changed so that it would work for people. Debt relief and development assistance for developing countries should be increased to help billions of workers, especially in informal work, to improve their jobs and lives.
A further priority should be world-wide progress towards providing health care, unemployment insurance, an old-age pension and decent education for children everywhere. The Special Session was taking place in the inaugural year of the twenty-first century. It provided the opportunity to reassert a people-centred model of development. It could give the UN a lead role in defining the new century as one which could fulfill its potential to meet the needs and aspirations of people. The task of the international community was to work together to achieve that goal.
ELMIRA TEYMUR SULEYMANOVA, Azerbaijan Women and Development , said in spite of the diversity of political, social and cultural situations in Europe, one could not ignore and separate the problems that were affecting people both in the Eastern and Western parts of the continent, since they were interrelated. The general challenges and obstacles in the Eastern European countries were negative impact of globalization aggravated by transition; destroyed economies and erosion of the social protection systems; high unemployment; low income; lack of security; and different forms of marginalization.
The organization proposed that Governments actively promoted human rights, especially economic, social and cultural rights for all people living in their countries, by undertaking the following actions: show more political will and commitment and be held accountable at the national level; accelerate the reconstruction of the economy of the countries in transition by providing specialized education, training and job creation; design and implement gender sensitive policies and programmes for social protection equally accessible for all groups, including women, children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, Roma, refugees and internally displaced persons; recognize growing poverty and inequalities within their own countries and reaffirm the role of public expenditures, which should be regarded as an investment and not as costs to be reduced to the minimum possible; and provide immediate means to housing, appropriate health care, education and the right to live in peace and security in their own communities.
BRUCE THORDARSON, International Cooperative Alliance , said that placing people at the centre of development was the purpose of cooperatives. Cooperatives were autonomous associations of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise. Cooperatives were based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity. Cooperatives effectively created and maintained employment in both urban and rural areas around the world. They provided income to both members and employees in the form of shares of surplus or profits depending on the type of cooperative. They also provided self-employment to over 5 million people in Europe and nearly 14 million in India alone to cite only two examples. Cooperatives were employers too; they provided over 100 million jobs and were the second largest employer in many countries of Africa. Economic and social development could only be realized if undertaken in effective partnership. Cooperatives were working with governments and other civil society organizations to ensure the well-being of people around the globe.
HECTOR BEJAR, Social Watch , said that most of the commitments made in Copenhagen had not been fulfilled. In Latin America and the Caribbean, instead of a decrease in poverty, there had been an increase in the wealth of a few. Children continued to live in misery and semi-slavery conditions. Discrimination against women, indigenous peoples, ethnic minorities and Afro-American communities had not been eradicated. ILO Convention 169 had not been complied with. There had not been progress in social development. In many Latin American countries and the Caribbean, democracy was restricted by the military, transnational corporations and dictatorships disguised as democracies.
It had been said that there were no resources for social development but there were resources to continue servicing external debt, which was suffocating Latin America. Over the past five years, rather than social development, the priority of Latin American governments had been to concentrate resources in the world's most unjust region. Latin American governments and the international financial institutions were called upon to devote additional resources to social development. Creditor countries were called upon to forgive foreign debt and Latin American governments were asked to ensure an efficient, transparent and democratic management of resources. It was necessary to democratize the UN system, beginning with the Bretton Woods institutions. The World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank needed to be restructured.
QAZI FARUQUE AHMED, International Council on Social Welfare , said although there had been some progress over the last five years, it was slow and inadequate. On the other hand, more had happened for disabling the environment rather than enabling it for social development. Overseas development assistance (ODA) from northern countries had declined and was nowhere near reaching 0.7 per cent of GNP as countries committed to five years ago. Volatility in international financial markets, particularly in currency transactions, due to abominable speculations, had ruined the economies of many developing countries, throwing more people into poverty. At the national level, there was hardly any progress in land reform and access to adequate micro finance services was still inadequate. Resources for primary and secondary education were still well below what was required. Military expenditure was more for grandiose and national ego, and took away precious resources from social development.
In view of all this, the International Council on Social Welfare proposed a three point plan. It called for strengthening the ECOSOC system; implementing standards already agreed upon and establishing some new standards, particularly economic, governance and business standards which had social development consequences; and adopting an Anti-Poverty Pact. That concept of reciprocal commitments could be implemented by establishing an international Anti-Poverty Pact involving both developed and developing countries, as well as international financial institutions. The Pact would involve commitment to mobilization of resources, as well as to anti-poverty outcomes.
ALIDA SMEEHES, European Women's Lobby , underlined that in the West, the strong universal social protection systems built over the last fifty years were being dangerously chipped away. In addition, unemployment rates, while going down, remained unacceptably high, new flexible labour patterns brought about new forms of instability and disadvantages, both at work and in families; an emerging social class of " working poor" forced whole families into marginalization and social exclusion; and the gap between the "have" and the "have nots" was widening, among other things. Governments should recognize growing poverty and inequalities within their own countries and reaffirm the role of public expenditures which should be regarded as an investment, not as a cost to be reduced to the minimum, as long as they were based on principles of equality and sustainable development. She hoped the next five years would see more substantial progress than had been evident in the last five in the implementation of the commitments of the Social Summit.
CORRIGENDUM
On page 7 of press release SOC/00/11 of 29 June 2000, the representative of Honduras, Marco Antonio Suazo was incorrectly identified. He is Chairperson of the Delegation of Honduras.
* *** *