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

1 October 2003
Press Release No: N/22/2003

COMMITTEE ON POVERTY REDUCTION TO PROMOTE PRO-POOR POLICIES, STRATEGIES

Inaugural session seeks ways to achieve Millennium Development Goals

BANGKOK (United Nations Information Services) - The inaugural session of UNESCAP's Committee on Poverty Reduction will meet in Bangkok from 8-10 October 2003 at the UN Conference Centre to strategize ways to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals.

An estimated 120 participants from regional Ministries of Finance, Planning, Rural Development, local government officials, national statistical offices and UNESCAP experts in poverty reduction are expected to attend.

The Committee on Poverty Reduction will be inaugurated by H.E. Chaturon Chaisaeng, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand. Other participants of note include Mr. Kim Hak-Su, Executive Secretary, UNESCAP.

The goal of the Committee is to enable UNESCAP members to better design and implement pro-poor policies and strategies to attain the eight United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). During the meeting special emphasis will be given to the first goal - Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.

A special panel discussion will be held on Wednesday, 8 October from 14:00-17:00 hrs to discuss modalities for achieving the MDGs in the region. Among the noted speakers are Dr. Somchai Jitsuchon of the Thailand Development Research Institute who will speak on mobilizing financial resources, Dr. Chia Siow Yue of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs who will discuss pro-poor macroeconomics and social policies, and a representative from civil society, who will speak on the role of civil society in achieving the MDGs.

As a side event to the meeting, the "Asia-Pacific Civil Society Forum: Achieving the Millennium Development Goals" will be held from 6-8 October. The Forum, which is sponsored by UNESCAP and organized by Focus on the Global South, will bring together more than 50 participants from non-governmental organizations throughout Asia and the Pacific.

The Forum will focus on ways to achieve the MDGs in the UNESCAP region including the role of civil society. It is expected to produce a set of recommendations which will be considered by the Committee during its session.

For further information, please contact::
Committee on Poverty Reduction
Mr. Hiren Sarkar
UNESCAP Poverty and Development Division
Tel: +662 288-1642
E-mail: sarkar.unescap@un.org

Asia-Pacific Civil Society Forum
Ms. Chanida Chanyapate Bamford
Focus on the Global South
Tel: +662 218-7363
E-mail: c.bamford@focusweb.org

Media inquiries:
Mr. David Lazarus
Chief, United Nations Information Services
Bangkok
Tel: +662 288-1234; Fax: +662 02 288-1052
E-mail: unisbkk.unescap@un.org

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