General Assembly Session 54 meeting 28

The President

Members will recall that at its 3rd plenary meeting, on 17 September 1999, the General Assembly decided that agenda item 109 would be considered directly in plenary meeting, for the sole purpose of taking action on the draft resolution entitled "Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women", which was recommended to the General Assembly for adoption by the Economic and Social Council in its resolution 1999/13 of 28 July 1999, on the understanding that this would not set a precedent. The draft resolution has been issued as document A/54/L.4.

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/54/L.4, entitled "Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women".

May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/54/L.4?

The President

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 109.

The President

I should like to inform members that, in a letter dated 6 October 1999 addressed to the President of the General Assembly, the Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations, in his capacity as Chairman of the Group of Western European and Other States for the month of October, requests that the General Assembly hear in plenary meeting a statement by the Observer of Switzerland on agenda item 37, "Implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development".

Taking into account the importance attached to the issue under discussion, it is proposed that the General Assembly should take a decision on that request.

May I take it that there is no objection to the proposal to hear a statement by the Observer of Switzerland on this item?

Mr. Insanally (Guyana)

Less than a year from now, the special session of the General Assembly on the implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and further initiatives will be convened. Member States of the United Nations will then have the opportunity to assess the achievement of the goals set by the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action and to propose further measures for its implementation. It will also be an occasion on which Governments and the international community can recommit themselves to the enhancement of social development for the peoples of the world.

On behalf of the Group of 77 and China, I would now like to speak of the particular social development concerns that we have and the ways and means by which they may be addressed.

At the outset, let me say that in an age which has witnessed outstanding scientific and technological progress, it is disquieting to see the rising number of people living in abject poverty. The eradication of poverty remains the foremost challenge for the developing world, where policy makers struggle on a daily basis to respond to the most basic needs of their peoples despite dwindling financial resources, disappointing economic growth rates and their countries' growing marginalization in the world's economy. For too many countries, the target of halving poverty by the year 2015 has proved elusive, and indeed, the President of the World Bank and the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) appear to have confirmed, at their recent meeting in Washington, that the goals which the international community had set itself for such important social services as health and housing will not be fulfilled as expected.

In the light of this pessimistic projection, the Group of 77 and China calls for a redoubled effort to arrest the rampant process of social degradation. We are convinced that people-centred development with an emphasis on poverty reduction, employment generation and social integration can lead to an improvement in the living conditions of the world's peoples. To be effective, however, poverty eradication strategies need to be holistic, multi-pronged and broad-based, paying particular attention to the needs of women and children, who constitute the majority of the world's poorest. Equally important, they must promote and incorporate policies for universal access to basic and primary education, improved literacy, increased life expectancy, reduced infant and maternal mortality rates and the achievement of levels of health that lead to socially and economically productive lives. Poverty eradication strategies must also address the social ills of unemployment and underemployment.

The goal of full employment for poverty reduction cannot be overemphasized. The Group of 77 reiterates its call for increased attention to be paid to employment expansion, particularly for women, youth, the disabled and older persons. Recognizing the important contribution of self-employment and the informal sector for the provision of employment opportunities, we would also advocate initiatives that encourage such enterprise. As studies have clearly shown, such forms of employment are of particular significance in times of economic difficulty, including those associated with structural adjustment programmes, when retrenchment is usually widespread and investment in the social sector is generally reduced. The informal sector and microcredit schemes have enabled the poor and other vulnerable social groups not only to sustain themselves but also to participate in development, thereby reducing the potential for social unrest.

If nothing else, our experience since 1995 has taught us that the achievement of social development goals set in Copenhagen will depend in large measure on sustained domestic growth and an enabling international environment. Developing countries need to be assured of a more level playing field for the marketing of their products and more favourable and fairer terms of trade. At the forthcoming World Trade Organization ministerial meeting in Seattle, and later, at the tenth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in Bangkok, we must ensure that these needs are met.

Our high debt-servicing bills also remain a serious impediment to our future development. Admittedly, there have been several commendable initiatives, the latest being the Cologne initiative, which have effectively reduced the debt stock. Unfortunately, however, they are not nearly enough to relieve the burden faced by many developing countries. For the poorest of these, we must aim for debt cancellation, which alone can provide the breathing space necessary for recovery. We would also again urge an immediate reversal of the declining trend of official development assistance from the agreed target of 0.7 per cent of the gross national product of donor countries and the creation of more incentives to encourage more capital flows and investments to developing countries.

As the financial crisis in Asia effectively demonstrated, globalization and liberalization of the world economy can be quite destructive, especially for weak economies. Sudden and widespread poverty, unemployment and homelessness can quickly sweep away decades of progress and economic development. It is worrying to note that the concern about the reliability of the prevailing financial architecture, which peaked when the crisis was full blown, appears to have dissipated almost completely. However, I believe that since the situation has not changed fundamentally, it would be foolish to be lulled into complacency. There is still an urgent need for greater macroeconomic vigilance to protect developing countries from the uncontrolled consequences which globalization has been known to bring.

In reviewing the Copenhagen commitments, we must be sensitive to the particular difficulties facing Africa, the least developed countries and small economies generally as they seek to respond to the social needs of their population. The deteriorating external economic environment has made it extremely difficult for those countries to address the structural deficiencies which inhibit their productivity and economic growth. Furthermore, many of them are prone to natural and other disasters which severely sap their ability to address social needs.

Thus far, the preparatory process for the special session has amply revealed the shortcomings in our efforts to reach the goals of the Social Summit. The Group of 77 and China looks forward to the timely issuance of the reports requested of the United Nations system during the first session of the Preparatory Committee, since they can provide an even clearer assessment of the magnitude of the obstacles encountered. As with the national reports and studies done at the regional level, the recommendations offered therein could serve as a basis for the active consideration of those issues by the Commission for Social Development when it meets next year. The Group is confident that the members of the Bureau of Preparatory Committee and the United Nations Division for Social Policy and Development, which have provided excellent leadership thus far in our preparations, will ensure that the review process is a productive one.

In concluding, let me emphasize our view that to succeed, the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action require a strong partnership among Governments, civil society and the international community. All stakeholders should contribute actively to the implementation of the Summit's commitments since all have an interest in securing a socially stable world.

Ms. Korpi (Finland)

I have the honour to take the floor on behalf of the European Union on agenda item 37, entitled "Implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development". The Central and Eastern European countries associated with the European Union -- Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia -- and the associated countries, Cyprus and Malta, as well as the European Free Trade Association countries members of the European Economic Area, Iceland and Liechtenstein, have expressed their wish to align themselves with this statement.

Almost five years have passed since heads of State and Government gathered in Copenhagen to recognize the significance of social development and human well-being for all and to give these goals the highest priority. They acknowledged the urgent need to address profound social problems, especially poverty, unemployment and social exclusion, that affect every country.

In June 2000 in Geneva, the Member States will meet again to reaffirm their commitment to the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action. They will review and assess progress made regarding the implementation of the Copenhagen commitments and consider initiatives and actions to implement them further. Regarding the outcome of the special session, the European Union would welcome a substantive, balanced and concise political declaration. In respect of the review and appraisal, the agreed conclusions of the Commission for Social Development since the Summit should become part of the final outcome.

The European Union is fully committed to the preparatory process leading to the special session of the General Assembly in June 2000. It is our sincere wish to make that session a success. The European Union welcomes the progress made on many important issues during the inter-sessional informal consultations of the Preparatory Committee at the beginning of September. Much more clarity was achieved regarding the views of various negotiating groups. The European Union is pleased that it was possible to reach an agreement on the participation and accreditation of non-governmental organizations at the special session. The results of those informal consultations provide us with a good basis to continue the preparatory process.

There will be more information available and better understanding regarding the state of world social development and progress made since the Summit as soon as the national reports have been analysed by the Secretariat. The Summit has clearly had an impact on Government policies, as well as on United Nations and World Bank development activities. A preliminary assessment, however, indicates that despite some progress, much remains to be done.

The European Union welcomes the initiative, taken by the Council of Europe, to support the preparations for the special session in the European region by organizing, in cooperation with the Government of Ireland, a European meeting on social development. The meeting is being preceded by preparatory work focusing on the three main themes of the meeting: social integration, an enabling environment and poverty eradication. At the same time, the European Union hopes that the preparations for the European meeting will contribute to closer and better cooperation between the intergovernmental organizations that are active in the field of social development in Europe.

Since the Summit, changing trends in trade, new technologies and the process of globalization have offered new opportunities, but they have also created new challenges for the implementation of the Summit goals. Eradication of poverty remains an unmet goal. The challenge of eradicating poverty can, however, be met on the basis of a broad agreement reached among all actors since Copenhagen on appropriate strategies to reduce poverty. These include strengthening the financial and economic architecture at the macro level, while at the national level promoting explicit pro-poor policies, investment in basic social services, participatory strategies and the empowerment of women.

The ongoing discrimination against women in all societies concerning access to education and gainful employment must be given special attention.

Productive employment is a key element in eradicating poverty and in enhancing social integration. The overall issue of social integration, particularly universal access to social services, deserves more attention. In this context of social integration, the importance of families must be recognized. Therefore, policies in both developed and developing countries need to be formulated which ensure that livelihoods are sustained and vulnerability reduced generally. At the same time, these policies should give specific attention to groups with special needs, such as the long-term unemployed and young people. Also fundamental rights at work, as contained in the International Labour Organization (ILO) Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work adopted in June 1998 must be respected. Furthermore, the European Union encourages speedy ratification of the ILO Convention concerning the prohibition and immediate action for the elimination of the worst forms of child labour, which was concluded this year.

Universal and lasting peace and sustainable development can be achieved only if they are based upon social justice. It is important to enhance the promotion of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, democracy, good governance, participation by civil society, and equality between women and men. Respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms is also an essential prerequisite for social integration.

The implementation of the Copenhagen commitments and the preparatory process for the special session of the General Assembly is to be seen not in isolation, but in close relation to the integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the other major United Nations conferences and summits, as well as other global negotiations such as the World Trade Organization (WTO) Millennium Round. Those conferences gave new impetus and new strength to international efforts in the fields of human rights, equality between men and women, social development, education, population policy, drugs and crime related issues, environment and sustainable development, trade and development, human settlements and food security. Those conferences and summits resulted in a challenging global agenda on the threshold of the new millennium.

There is broad agreement that Governments bear the primary responsibility for the implementation of these commitments. The international community, including United Nations system, plays an important role in assisting Governments to enhance their capacity to meet the challenges. It is clear, however, that only consistent, coherent and coordinated joint action will make it possible for the United Nations system to assist effectively in the implementation of the commitments made at the United Nations conferences and summits.

The Bretton Woods institutions are major global players in the economic and social field, and as such are important partners within the United Nations system. The European Union welcomes the World Bank's initiative on principles and good practices in social policy. We strongly support the view of the Bank's Development Committee that further development of these principles would be best pursued within the broader framework of the United Nations system through cooperation between relevant agencies and the international financial institutions. The European Union will welcome positive discussion on these and related issues in the preparatory process leading up to the special session next year. We call for the process to continue with a view to establishing a framework of principles and good practices in social policy that would also take account of the need for flexibility in differing national situations. The European Union would also welcome strengthened cooperation within the multilateral system to share information on existing internationally developed standards and good practices in social policy and to make that information more easily accessible to all actors. The European Union shares the view that the social dimension should be integrated in all aspects of the multilateral system, including trade.

The European Union welcomes Economic and Social Council resolution 1999/55 on integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to major United Nations conferences and summits. The contribution of the Economic and Social Council, especially the progress made on the issue of how to continue developing a limited number of common indicators for conference follow-up, was timely and welcome. This positive dialogue should now continue as a part of the Copenhagen + 5 process, thus making it possible both at the national and the international levels to better assess the progress made in the implementation of the Copenhagen commitments. One important element in this process is national capacity-building, which could include support for the authorities responsible for national monitoring and evaluation.

Effective implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action requires the strengthening of community organizations, non-governmental organizations and other relevant actors of civil society to enable them to participate effectively in the design, implementation and evaluation of social development policies, strategies and programmes. Governments play a crucial role in creating an enabling environment for civil-society participation, including the activities of volunteers. The European Union will continue to explore ways and means to promote active participation by representatives of employers' and workers' organizations in the work of the special session to be held in Geneva next year.

In the context of social development, issues of children and youth should not be overlooked. Poverty eradication, unemployment and social exclusion among young women and men are particularly important issues to be tackled, as they may have devastating effects on the social cohesion of societies and on the entire life span of an individual. Active participation by young people, and by the organizations representing them, in policy-making, especially on issues that have direct relevance to their lives, should be supported both at national and international levels.

Society must be organized in such a way that it can provide opportunities and security for all its members, thus allowing social cohesion to develop. This principle of being an actor, but also a beneficiary on an equal basis, applies particularly to persons with disabilities, indigenous people and groups with special needs. Special action based on the principle of non-discrimination is needed to ensure that these groups can live full and productive lives, have equal access to social services such as education and health care, and participate in the design and implementation of policies that affect their lives and development.

The European Union calls for a comprehensive approach to development, recognizing the primary responsibility and ownership of the Government. This approach should take into consideration not only the level of official development assistance, but also other elements such as good governance, trade, private investment, debt and transfer of technology. We reiterate that efforts should be strengthened towards the fulfilment of the official development assistance target of 0.7 per cent of gross national product by all donor countries, and we acknowledge that this will require a reversal in the downward trend of official development assistance overall. We would also encourage donor and recipient countries, based on mutual commitment, to fully implement the 20/20 initiative. Assistance should concentrate on assisting recipient countries in building an enabling domestic environment for social development.

Moreover, the unsustainable debt burden of the heavily indebted poor countries must be addressed. In this respect, the European Union welcomes the Group of Seven's Cologne initiative on debt alleviation and calls upon all organs of the United Nations, the Bretton Woods institutions, other actors and civil society to support the initiative and to collaborate in this respect, so that freed resources will be invested by national Governments in education and social services.

Creditor countries and institutions should take action to achieve rapid progress towards deeper, broader and faster debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Debt Initiative and through other means to ensure a permanent way out of unsustainable debt burden for the poorest countries, thus demonstrating their commitment to economic and social reform and poverty reduction.

The European Union will continue to support Africa and the least developed countries in their efforts to implement the commitments made at Copenhagen. Full implementation of these commitments requires the mobilization of all development actors at all levels. The European Union shares the Secretary-General's view that a fundamental element in finding solutions to the problems in Africa is to address the causes of conflicts and to promote durable peace and sustainable development. In this respect, peace, democracy, human rights and development are strongly interlinked.

The European Union looks forward to a further dialogue on these issues in the preparatory process for the special session.

Mr. Bouah-Kamon (Cote d'Ivoire)

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