The fifty-ninth Commission session of ESCAP concluded on 4 September with firm commitments from members and associate members to urgently address profound social problems, especially poverty, unemployment, social exclusion and deadly infectious diseases.

United Nations Secretary-General Mr. Kofi Annan in a video message to the Commission said that the Asian and Pacific region should try and meet the “terrifying challenge” of reversing the growing threat of HIV/AIDS. “Left unchecked, AIDS will not only devastate millions of lives; it will also impose huge burdens on the region’s health systems, and soak up resources that are badly needed for social and economic development”, the Secretary-General said.

“We know, from experience elsewhere, that the spread can be turned back when – but only when – there is a coordinated response, from all sectors of society and every branch of Government. It requires leadership at every level”.

The proceedings of the session, including the Ministerial Round Table on HIV/AIDS (see page 2) turned out to be just that; a brilliant demonstration of the vital leadership required to take up the fight against the pandemic.

Meeting under the theme of “Integrating economic and social concerns, especially HIV/AIDS to meet the needs of the region”, the Commission provided a stage for powerful pleas for action against the disease that has been contracted by over 8 million persons in the region.

“A deadly epidemic may, if not dealt with in the most effective and expeditious manner, be more dangerous to the world than the impact of war”, said Mr. Korn Debbaransi, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand during the opening session attended by ministers and senior officials from 47 countries. “There is an urgent need for a quick response mechanism to deal with the outbreak of infectious diseases. Access to the right information is critical in times of crisis”, urged the Deputy Prime Minister.

In his policy statement, Mr. Kim Hak-Su, Executive Secretary of ESCAP, stressed that “it is essential for countries to have contingency plans to deal with unforeseen events”, such as public health crises and terrorism, which could occur at any time.

Referring to the theme, Mr. Kim declared “more than even before, it is crucial to promote public health in the region. If we do nothing, or if we do too little, future generations may well hold us responsible for an unraveling of the economic and social gains of the region, threatened as they are by the HIV/AIDS pandemic”.

“The secretariat will strengthen its efforts to assist national and local partners in tackling the spread of HIV/AIDS and, indeed, other major infectious diseases. The secretariat is refocusing its strategies in order to support action towards the achievement of the health and development-related provisions of international mandates, including the Millennium Development Goals”, he said.

The Commission adopted the Regional Action in Follow-up to the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, recognizing HIV/AIDS as a major development challenge and calling for commitment and political will at the highest decision-making levels.

Among other resolutions to promote development in the region, the Commission adopted the resolution on Strengthening Social Safety in the Asian and Pacific region, emphasizing 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 renewed commitment to the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and the Programme of Action of the 1995 World Summit for Social Development.

The Commission also endorsed the Regional Implementation of the Biwako Millennium Framework for Action Towards an Inclusive, Barrier-free and Rights-based Society for Persons with Disabilities during the Decade of Disabled Persons, 2003-2012 and encouraged Governments in the region to sign the Proclamation on the Full Participation and Equality of People with Disabilities.

The sixtieth session of the Commission will be held at Shanghai, China in April 2004 under the theme “Meeting the challenges in an era of globalization by strengthening regional development cooperation”.
(Sources: UNIS Press Releases, draft report of the Commission)