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Press
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UNESCAP News Services
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4 September
2003
Press Release No: G/12/2003
Fifty-ninth session (Phase II)
1-4 September 2003
Bangkok
UNESCAP MEMBERS VOW TO FIGHT "TERRIFYING
CHALLENGE" OF AIDS
BANGKOK (United Nations Information Services)
---The 59th Commission Session of the United Nations Economic
and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific concluded today
with firm commitments from members and associate members to
urgently address profound social problems, especially poverty,
unemployment, social exclusion and deadly infectious diseases.
Secretary-General Mr Kofi Annan in a message to
the Commission said the region should gird itself to the "terrifying
challenge" to reverse the growing threat of AIDS. "Left
unchecked AIDS can devastate millions of lives and impose big
burdens on the region's health systems."
Under the theme of "Integrating economic
and social concerns, especially HIV/AIDS to meet the needs of
the region," the Commission organized two roundtables--on
HIV/AIDS and the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
A first-ever UNESCAP-UNDP report stated, for example,
that in the area of health, the region lagged behind. The portion
of underweight children fell from 35 to 31 per cent, not enough
to reach the 2015 target of achieving the MDG goals. Similarly,
by the end of 1990s, more than 100 million children under five
were moderately or severely malnourished, the report stated.
UNESCAP's Executive Secretary Mr Kim Hak-Su told
Ministers "inertia & inaction on HIV/AIDS when we can
prevent death is a crime against humanity. We must act now to
increase resources for targeted interventions - protect 620
million young people in the region."
The Commission adopted four resolutions to promote
development in the region: The Regional Action in Follow-up
to the Declaration of Commitment of HIV/AIDS resolution recognizes
HIV/AIDS as a major development challenge of our times, which
could unravel the many social and economic gains that the region
has achieved. The resolution calls for commitment and political
will at the highest decision-making levels.
The resolution on Strengthening Social Safety
in the Asia and Pacific Region emphasizes that public policy
on social welfare should move beyond "crisis management"
to strengthening the overall social safety systems to help people
manage risks.
The resolution calls for strengthened efforts
to foster social integration and an enabling environment for
social development, by promoting productive employment and eradicating
poverty. It also calls for renewed commitment to the Copenhagen
Declaration on Social Development and the Programme of Action
of the 1995 World Summit for Social Development.
In another resolution on Regional Implementation
of the Biwako Framework for Action Towards an Inclusive, Barrier-free
and Rights-based Society for Persons with Disabilities in Asia
and the Pacific during the Decade of Disabled Persons, 2003-2012,
delegates were encouraged to sign the Proclamation on the Full
Participation and Equality of People with Disabilities.
Funding for the least developed countries (LDC)
was an area of great concern for the Commission. The resolution
on Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed
Countries for the Decade 2001-2010 urged countries to be responsible
for formulating and implementing effective policies to promote
sustainable growth and development.
"The population of the LDCs has risen to
an estimated 700 million, about 11 per cent of the world's population.
However their share of the world's GDP is only about 0.6 percent.
After two decades of efforts to address their social and economic
agenda, development remains still elusive for the 49 LDCs, of
whom 13 are in the Asia-Pacific region," said Mr Anwarul
K. Chowdhury, the UN's High Representative for the Least Developed
Countries, in a statement read out for him.
In discussing emerging issues and developments at the regional
levels, the Commission endorsed a multi-pronged strategy comprising
of research, good practices in poverty reduction, trade and
entrepreneurial development, information and communication and
social development.
The President of Botswana H.E. Mr Festus Mogae
shared his country's strategies for fighting AIDS and urged
members to turn the disease into a development issue involving
all Government Ministries. The UN's Special Envoy of the Secretary-General
for HIV/AIDS in Asia and the Pacific Dr Nafis Sadik called for
a change in attitude toward sufferers, and for countries not
to continue to live " in a make-believe world."
For further information please contact:
Chief, UN Information Services
Tel: (+662) 288-1866-69; Fax: (+662) 288-1052
E-mail: unisbkk.unescap@un.org
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