ASIAN MAYORS JOIN FORCES TO TACKLE URBAN POVERTY

United Nations warns that the urbanization of poverty could overwhelm Asian cities and Towns

Mayor of Kabul expected at news conference, Tuesday, 9 July 2002, 13:30 hours

United Nations Information Services (Bangkok) - Mayors from 50 Asian cities have been told that poverty could soon overwhelm Asia's cities and towns unless the urban poor are given a greater role to play in the economy and allowed to share in the benefits of urban development.

The urbanization of poverty is largely a result of Asia's rural poor flocking to the cities in increasing numbers in search of better paying work. Rather than discovering prosperity, many are finding only poverty of a different kind in a new environment, according to studies conducted by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP).

The mayors, as well as local and national government officials, NGO's and others, are among more than 150 participants taking part in the Fourth Asian Mayors Forum and Regional Workshop on Good Governance for Poverty Reduction and Social Development - Exchange of Tools, Techniques and Good Practices, co-sponsored by UN ESCAP, taking place at the United Nations Conference Centre from 9-11 July 2002.

"I'm afraid that all too often in this region, urban policies and regulations do not effectively support poverty reduction," Mr. Kim Hak-Su, United Nations Under-Secretary General and Executive Secretary of UN ESCAP, said in a welcoming speech to delegates. He added that governments needed to do more to eliminate "barriers that prevent the poor from participating in the economy, and in benefiting from development."

According to UN ESCAP, cities face unprecedented challenges due to rapid urbanization and economic globalization. The objective of the meeting is to develop mechanisms to collect and analyze good practices in poverty reduction, and to make the experiences available for replication and up scaling.

Note to Editors:

A news conference to discuss common problems faced by Asia's cities is scheduled for Tuesday, 9 July at 13:30 hours at the Theatre, United Nations Conference Center, Bangkok. Among the mayors expected to participate are Mr. Fazal Karim Aymaq, Kabul, Afghanistan; Mr. Keshav Sthapit, Kathmandu, Nepal; Mr. Prasanna Senaka Rupasingha Gunawardena, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

For further information please contact:

United Nations Information Services/Bangkok
Tel: +662 288-1862-69; Fax: +662 288-1052; E-mail: unisbkk.unescap@un.org

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