Changing The Way The UN Works in Asia

Bangkok (United Nations Information Services) -- The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) today announced major changes to the way the Organization would carry out future work in the region.

"As important as discussion and dialogue is to the UN, we need very much to follow-up our words with action," said Mr. Kim Hak-Su, UN ESCAP's Executive Secretary.

Announcing a plan to "reform and revitalize UN ESCAP," the Executive Secretary said it was time "to change the way the UN works in Asia and the Pacific and perhaps we can be a reference to other regional Commissions."

The new structure would focus on three thematic areas: poverty reduction, managing globalization, and addressing emerging social issues.

In order to better streamline the day-to-day work of ESCAP, the Commission is giving its programme of work a sharper focus.

"I am also committed to making the work programmes more results oriented," Mr. Kim said referring to the Millennium Development Goals of halving poverty by 2015. " In a sense all our work at the Commission is devoted to reducing poverty and this we will try to do."

Given the special expertise of some Asian countries in space and satellite technology, it was also announced a new emphasis would be placed on the region-wide promotion of 'Information, Communication and Space Technology,' or ICST.

The proposed changes "are focused and supported by member countries. They are pleased that we are soul-searching and trying new avenues of making a difference in the lives of the region's peoples," Mr. Kim said.

Ministers debated this morning about the format of future Commission sessions and called for innovative thinking while also reminding the Secretariat that countries must be allowed to voice their concerns in a forum that they have come to rely on, said Mr Kim.

The Ministers also spoke of a desire for more high-profile speakers to be invited to the annual conferences.

The changes were announced after a closed-door roundtable meeting of Government Ministers at the 58th annual Commission Session being held in Bangkok. The Ministers are expected to adopt a resolution to grant approval tomorrow.

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