..Press Release........ UNESCAP News Services

Date 4 October 2006
Press Release No: G/42/2006

‘ROAD MAP’ TO ERADICATE EXTREME POVERTY IN SOUTH ASIA
GOAL OF MDG FORUM IN NEPAL

MDG Media Awards to be launched at press conference on 11 October

Bangkok (United Nations Information Services) -- More than 100 delegates from eight different South Asian countries meeting in Kathmandu, Nepal, next week are expected to develop a ‘road map’ to eradicate extreme poverty in South Asia by 2015.

High-ranking government Ministers, policy makers, representatives of civil society, business leaders, academics and the media will gather at the South Asian MDG Forum, scheduled for 11-12 October 2006 at the Soaltee Crown Plaza Kathmandu Hotel, to discuss how South Asia can put an end to development problems and work towards meeting the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs ).

Participants of note include Mr. Kim Hak-Su United Nations Under-Secretary-General and UNESCAP Executive Secretary, Mr. Matthew Kahane UN Resident Coordinator & UNDP Resident representative in Nepal and Mr. Hafeez Rahman, ADB Deputy Director General South Asia Department.

As part of the Forum, the MDG Media Awards will be launched at a press conference on 11 October. Open to broadcast producers and journalists in print, radio and television media in the Asia-Pacific region, the Awards carry a US$7,000 winning prize and US$2,000 runners-up prize. The Awards aim to recognize the important role that the media play in creating public awareness of the MDGs and encourage increased reporting on the ‘human’ story behind the MDGs.

The meeting is organised under the auspices of the tripartite initiative between the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia- Pacific (UNESCAP), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

South Asia, one of the world’s dynamic regions, has made good progress towards achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). According to the UN, none of the countries in South Asia is on track to meet all the goals by 2015 and the MDG clock is ticking.

The MDGs are the world’s time-bound and quantified targets for addressing extreme poverty in its many dimensions– income poverty, hunger, disease, lack of adequate shelter, and exclusion – whilst promoting gender equality, education, and environmental sustainability.

More information on the tripartite initiative is available at: www.mdgasispacific.org .

Note to Editors:

You or your representatives are invited to attend the South Asian Media Forum from 11-12 October 2006 at the Soaltee Crown Plaza Kathmandu Hotel, Kathmandu, Nepal. The opening ceremony will begin at 09:00 hrs on 11 October, followed by a press conference at 10.30am.

For further information please contact:

Poverty and Development Division, UNESCAP Bangkok:

Ravi Ratnayake, Chief
Tel: +66 (0)2 288 1902; Fax: +66(0)2 288 3035
Email: ratnayaker@un.org

Stephanie Dunstan, Communications Consultant
Tel: +66 (0)2 288 2172; Fax: +66 (0)2 288 3035
E-mail: unstan@un.org

UN Development Programme, UNDP Nepal:

Lisa Hiller, Communications Officer
Tel: +977 (0) 1 5523200 ext: 1060;
Mobile: +977 (0) 9851012133
Fax: +977 (0) 1 5523991, 5523986
E-mail: lisa.hiller@undp.org

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