UNESCAP eNews Bulletin United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

June 2003

MDG report a ‘wake-up’ call to region

Poverty reduction measures in Asia Pacific have been characterized as “missed opportunities” by the first UN report assessing the region’s progress towards achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in poverty alleviation. The report, Promoting Millennium Development Goals in Asia and the Pacific: Meeting the challenge of poverty reduction, will be launched in Bangkok on 4 June at the UN Conference Centre. It states that while the region has achieved “one of the largest decreases in mass poverty in human history,” disparities still exist in the field of gender equality, child mortality and the environment. The joint effort by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) says that many of the region’s governments will not fulfil their commitment to achieve the MDGs in poverty reduction by the year 2015. The MDGs were first set out by world leaders at the UN Millennium Assembly in September 2000. v

UN calls for digital ‘divide-nd’ at regional broadcasters meeting

The increasing gap between digital “haves” and “have nots” is the most pressing information challenge facing the Asia Pacific, according to senior United Nations officials speaking at a high level broadcasting conference in Bangkok on 27-28 May. Mr. Kim Hak-Su, (pictured left) Executive Secretary of UNESCAP, told participants that despite the rapid development of Information and Communication Technology, “not all countries of the world, including in the Asia-Pacific region, have equitable, affordable, and quality access to ICT.” Mr. Shashi Tharoor (pictured right), who heads the UN Department of Public Information, highlighted the need to find innovative ways to use new technology to alleviate the plight of the estimated 1.3 billion people worldwide living on less than a dollar a day. “We must add two letters to the ‘digital divide’, and seek to declare a ‘digital dividend’,” he said. The conference, organized by the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD), brought together regional communications ministers and media representatives to discuss the information challenges presented by globalization. Recommendations from the meeting will be released in a report presented at the World Summit on the Information Society later this year. v

First International UN Peacekeepers Day celebrated

The first International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers was observed by the United Nations family in Thailand on 29 May to pay tribute to all the men and women who have served in peacekeeping operations, and to honour the memory of those who have lost their lives in the cause of peace. UNESCAP in collaboration with the Supreme Command Headquarters, the Peace Operations Center of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, marked the event with a flag-raising ceremony, followed by a panel discussion on peace-makers and peace-builders. The ceremony also celebrated the valuable contribution made by the countries of Asia and the Pacific to UN peacekeeping operations since they began in 1948. v

Regional policy dialogue and seminar on WTO accession

With the 5th WTO Ministerial Conference in Cancún, Mexico only three months away, UNESCAP will convene a high level regional policy dialogue and seminar on facilitating WTO accession through regional cooperation. From 10-13 June, business leaders, top government negotiators and high-level trade officials from the region will meet in the UN Conference Centre, Bangkok to review key issues of concern in the Cancún preparatory process, common problems and propose ways to facilitate WTO accession for UNESCAP members. The meeting is part of UNESCAP’s ongoing programme of technical assistance on WTO agreements. v

Experts meet to promote rights of persons with disabilities

Over 40 representatives from self-help organizations, NGOs and the public sector are expected to attend UNESCAP’s Expert Group Meeting to protect and promote the rights of persons with disabilities between the 2nd and 4th of June. The focus of the meeting, organized by the Emerging Social Issues Division, is to formulate proposals for an integrated convention to protect and promote the rights of persons with disabilities in Asia and the Pacific. The organizers hope to raise awareness about disabled persons’ rights and encourage the public to view these issues not as charity but rather as basic human rights. v

Women encouraged to participate in public decision making

Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (pictured right) joined over 200 women mayors, legislators and elected officials at the first National Summit of Women Mayors and Councillors in Manila between the 13th and 15th of May. The event, co-organized by UNESCAP’s Gender and Development Section and Poverty Reduction Section, aimed to encourage women’s participation in public decision making. Four other regional summits on women in governance will take place in Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand later this year. v

UNESCAP Calendar Ø Launch of Promoting Millennium Development Goals in Asia and the Pacific: Meeting the challenge of poverty reduction (Bangkok, 4 June) Ø World Environment Day (5 June) Ø World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought (17 June) Ø World Refugee Day (20 June) Ø International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (26 June) Ø International Day in support of victims of Torture (26 June) For further event details, please visit UNESCAP at: www.unescap.org	UN News Centre For the latest news from the UN, please visit the News Center – www.un.org/news
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