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| ..Press
Release................................
UNESCAP News Services |
Date 6
June 2005
Press Release No: L/21/2005
COMBATING POVERTY AND MAKING GLOBALIZATION
WORK FOR ALL
Bangkok (United Nations Information Services)
– As the regional arm of the United Nations, the Economic
and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) serves
as the UN's main economic and social development centre for
Asia and the Pacific. Under a reform programme initiated by
UNESCAP Executive Secretary Mr. Kim Hak-Su, a new, focused and
effective conference structure was established in 2002, consisting
of three cross-cutting thematic areas:
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Reducing Poverty – UNESCAP works with
governments and civil society to improve the income and quality
of life of the poor. It emphasizes strengthening national
capacities to develop and implement effective policies and
programmes and promoting regional and intersectoral cooperation
and knowledge sharing.
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Managing Globalization – UNESCAP works
to strengthen national capacities to manage globalization,
with the aim of maximizing its benefits and minimizing its
costs. The emphasis is on building government capacities to
negotiate effectively in multilateral and regional trade forums;
developing regional infrastructures; increasing access to
information, communication and space technology; and advocating
for policies that promote environmental sustainability.
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Addressing Emerging Social Issues – UNESCAP
works to support countries in building national capacities
to develop and implement policies and programmes that address
emerging and persistent social issues. Particular attention
is given building effective partnerships with all sectors
of civil society and to promoting the rights of vulnerable
groups, including women, youth, persons with disabilities,
older persons, people living with HIV/AIDS, especially among
the poor.
Founded in 1947 in Shanghai, China, UNESCAP moved
to Bangkok, Thailand in 1949 and currently has 53 members and
nine associate members. It covers an enormous and diverse geographical
region, from Turkey in the west to the Pacific island nation
of Kiribati in the east, from the northern borders of the Russian
Federation to New Zealand in the south. Its membership includes
three of the world’s most populous countries and has some
of its most highly industrialized economies. While a number
of countries are approaching middle-income status, Asia-Pacific
also has 14 least developed countries, 12 landlocked developing
countries, and 17 small island developing states. Although the
region is rapidly establishing itself as the powerhouse and
brain center of the world economy, it is also home to 700 million
people living on less than a dollar a day, accounting for nearly
two-thirds of the world’s poor.
In addition to the Secretariat in Bangkok, UNESCAP
has several regional institutions. These include the Pacific
Operations Center (soon to relocated from Port Vila, Vanuatu
to Suva, Fiji), Asian and Pacific Centre for Agricultural Engineering
and Machinery (Beijing, China), Asian and Pacific Centre for
Transfer of Technology (New Delhi, India), Centre for Alleviation
of Poverty through Secondary Crops’ Development in Asia
and the Pacific (Bogor, Indonesia), and Statistical Institute
for Asia and the Pacific (Chiba, Japan). The newest regional
institute – the Training Centre for Information and Communications
Technology for Development – was approved in May 2005
at the 61st Commission Session. Funded by the Republic of Korea,
it is expected to open in 2006.
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