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25 September 2000
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25 September 2000
PRAGUE, 23 September 2000 - UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson said in Prague today that the two sides in the globalization debate should start talking to each other.
"Praga dialogi locus - Prague the place for dialogue' the fair and very open meeting we had today in the Prague Castle is proof that a dialogue between more than 300 representatives from non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, politicians, intellectuals and journalists is possible and that together we can talk about the problems of development in the poorest regions of the world. I welcome President Havel's initiative in calling this meeting. It is a positive step in that it brings in civil society and lets its voice be heard. It shows that international economic policy issues are a matter for concern to all of us, not just to the economic specialists. It recognizes, too, the depth of concern that exists about the impact of globalization," the High Commissioner said.
During the discussion, many issues were raised such as the role of the international institutions like the UN, the World Bank, and the IMF, and specifically the question of debt cancellation. The role of civil society, especially non-governmental organizations, in the developed and the developing countries was also raised, as was the issue of economic globalization and the possibilities of its regulation, and development of the world's poorest regions versus human rights and environmental policy.
Among the issues raised by Mrs. Robinson was that globalization is not a new phenomenon but the scale and speed of its expansion is. These are legitimate, indeed vital, issues and they need to be addressed by the world's leaders. In a way, the protestors in Seattle and elsewhere were ahead of the world's leaders in that they identified the scale of the problem before they did.
Mrs. Robinson said it is time to link the debate in the street with the debate taking place in so many other contexts. Globalization and the international economic order are firmly at the top of the agenda. Now comes the hard part of sitting down and trying to work out how to improve the situation. All of us share a big stake in this - that much at least we have in common.
It would be wrong to be blind to the economic benefits that globalization has brought to some. The High Commissioner said that the real question she sees is how can we humanize globalization, how can we shape it in such a way that it can benefit all instead of some?
Mrs. Robinson said the fight against poverty is an example. Tackling poverty and exclusion is the greatest challenge of our time. The best way to address these problems is through a human rights-based approach.
There are some signs of recognition, for example on the part of the World Bank, of the merits of the rights-based approach, she added. The Bank has been actively participating in the UN Working Group on the Right to Development which met last week in Geneva. It should go further. The UN Committee which monitors implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights recently wrote to the President of the World Bank and the Managing Director of the IMF pointing out their firm view, after years of examining States' compliance with international treaties that "poverty and human rights are inextricably linked and that the consideration of human rights can greatly enhance poverty reduction strategies".
As for how to tackle these issues, the High Commissioner said there is no easy answer but the different interests involved - developmental, financial, environmental, trade, human rights - need to have a closer dialogue.
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PRAGUE, 23 September 2000 - UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson said in Prague today that the two sides in the globalization debate should start talking to each other.
"Praga dialogi locus - Prague the place for dialogue' the fair and very open meeting we had today in the Prague Castle is proof that a dialogue between more than 300 representatives from non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, politicians, intellectuals and journalists is possible and that together we can talk about the problems of development in the poorest regions of the world. I welcome President Havel's initiative in calling this meeting. It is a positive step in that it brings in civil society and lets its voice be heard. It shows that international economic policy issues are a matter for concern to all of us, not just to the economic specialists. It recognizes, too, the depth of concern that exists about the impact of globalization," the High Commissioner said.
During the discussion, many issues were raised such as the role of the international institutions like the UN, the World Bank, and the IMF, and specifically the question of debt cancellation. The role of civil society, especially non-governmental organizations, in the developed and the developing countries was also raised, as was the issue of economic globalization and the possibilities of its regulation, and development of the world's poorest regions versus human rights and environmental policy.
Among the issues raised by Mrs. Robinson was that globalization is not a new phenomenon but the scale and speed of its expansion is. These are legitimate, indeed vital, issues and they need to be addressed by the world's leaders. In a way, the protestors in Seattle and elsewhere were ahead of the world's leaders in that they identified the scale of the problem before they did.
Mrs. Robinson said it is time to link the debate in the street with the debate taking place in so many other contexts. Globalization and the international economic order are firmly at the top of the agenda. Now comes the hard part of sitting down and trying to work out how to improve the situation. All of us share a big stake in this - that much at least we have in common.
It would be wrong to be blind to the economic benefits that globalization has brought to some. The High Commissioner said that the real question she sees is how can we humanize globalization, how can we shape it in such a way that it can benefit all instead of some?
Mrs. Robinson said the fight against poverty is an example. Tackling poverty and exclusion is the greatest challenge of our time. The best way to address these problems is through a human rights-based approach.
There are some signs of recognition, for example on the part of the World Bank, of the merits of the rights-based approach, she added. The Bank has been actively participating in the UN Working Group on the Right to Development which met last week in Geneva. It should go further. The UN Committee which monitors implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights recently wrote to the President of the World Bank and the Managing Director of the IMF pointing out their firm view, after years of examining States' compliance with international treaties that "poverty and human rights are inextricably linked and that the consideration of human rights can greatly enhance poverty reduction strategies".
As for how to tackle these issues, the High Commissioner said there is no easy answer but the different interests involved - developmental, financial, environmental, trade, human rights - need to have a closer dialogue.
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