ESCAP Unveils "Bold" Reform to Meet Millennium Needs

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) has announced a revised secretariat structure to meet the demands of the 21st Century.

The restructuring which streamlines ESCAP's programmes structure is the final phase of the reform process that began in January 1996 to comply with the overall UN reform efforts and the provisions of a Commission resolution, said the executive secretary of ESCAP Mr. Adrianus Mooy.

"The secretariat restructuring aims to conform to the crux of the reform exercise which was to ensure conformity/congruence between the conference, programme and secretariat structure of ESCAP to enable it to respond more effectively to the evolving economic and social needs of members and associate members through multidisciplinary and intersectoral action", said Mr. Mooy.

In planning for the reforms, ESCAP staff members were given the chance to contribute their views. In-depth examinations were carried out with a view to achieving better focus in the work of the Organization, on the basis of its comparative advantage. "We hope to improve our ability to meet the priority needs of region effectively and efficiently", said Mr. Mooy.

Most of the revised secretariat structure came into immediate effect July 1998, while some have been slated for 1 January 2000.

The following is the new line-up:

Effective 2000: Trade and Industry Division (TID) will consist of trade policy, trade promotion, industry and technology sections.

The Social Development Division (SDD) will consist of social policy and integration of disadvantaged groups, human resources development and women in development.

Effective immediately: The Population and Rural and Urban Development Division (PRUDD) with sections consisting of population and development, rural development and the ESCAP/ UNCHS Joint Section on Human Settlements.

Environment and Natural Resources Development Division (ENRDD) will cover the environment, energy resources, water and mineral resources and space technology applications.

Transport, Communication, Tourism and Infrastructure Development Division (TCTIDD) covers General Transport Coordination and Communication sections, Land and Water Transport Unit.

There were no changes to the Development Research and Policy Analysis Division (DRPAP) and the Statistics Division.

The reorganization has been welcomed by member states who met in New York in July for the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) meeting which scrutinized the role of the regional commissions in socio-economic development by looking at their reform efforts.

"Regional Commissions are well placed to build on the network of sub-regional organizations. Indeed ESCAP is already undertaking commendable initiatives in this regard. It already provides substantive support to sub-regional organizations through its analytical and project-based work", said India's Deputy Permanent representative Mr. Satyabrata Pal.

"With regard to the type of activities undertaken by the Regional Commissions we believe that fostering regional cooperation and integration is their main function. Because of their interdisciplinary and multi-sectoral approach, the Regional Commissions fall within categories of normative tasks which carry analytical and norm setting functions as well as operational activities which provide technical assistance, project execution and training. The Group of 77 and China consider both these categories of the utmost importance, " stated a Group of 77 statement.

SG's Report: Commissions are regional expression of UN

The Report of the Secretary General to the meeting reaffirmed the Commission's role as regional outposts of the UN, carrying out certain functions "so as to contribute to the Organization's work programme. On the other hand, as regional expressions of the UN, they occupy a niche in the institutional landscape of their respective geographical areas".

The Regional Commissions can play an important role not only as suppliers of inputs to the global work programme, but links between national and global activities.

Regional activities and regional commissions offer the possibility of greatly improving the overall effectiveness and efficiently of the UN. Indeed, many of the Organization's functions and activities cannot be carried out in each country owing to a lack of critical mass on the Organization's part at the national level; but often it is not practical nor cost effective to try to carry out these activities and functions from a centralized headquarters, the Report added.

Regional activities can greatly assist the Organization in integrating topics in the economic and social and political spheres (including post-conflict, peace building situations) and in "building bridges" between economic and social policy makers.

The Secretary General has asked his deputy to convene yearly meetings in each geographical area between regional commissions and all UN funds and programmes, agencies and departments engaged in regional and intercountry activities to promote joint action and avoid overlapping. The Report also calls for strengthening coordination between the regional commissions and non-United Nations regional bodies.

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ESCAP NEWS

United Nations Day in Bangkok
Highlight on UN in our lives

On the occasion of the fifth third anniversary of the United Nations, ESCAP in collaboration with other United Nations agencies in Bangkok organized a week-long celebration programme of activities.

The interesting programmes were designed to showcase and highlight the work of the United Nations in our daily lives.

Mr. Adrianus Mooy, Executive Secretary of ESCAP, raises the UN flag at the official ceremony of the UN Conference Centre.

The celebration commenced on 24 October at the United Nations Conference Centre with an official ceremony of a televised UN Day statement of the United Nations Secretary-General Mr. Kofi Annan followed by statements of Mr. Adrianus Mooy, Executive Secretary of ESCAP, Mr. Manaspas Xuto, President of UNAT, Mr. Sutasn Ngemmune, Minister of Justice and Chairman of National Committee to Commemorate the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Prime Minister of Thailand H.E. Chuan Leekpai delivered the opening remarks on "Good Governance and Human Rights: partnership building between the State, business and society".

Prime Minister of Thailand H.E. Chuan Leekpai addresses delegates at an
International Symposium on Human Rights and Business Ethics, held on
United Nations Day, 24 October at the UN Conference Centre in Bangkok.

The ceremony was followed by an "International Symposium on Human Rights and Business Ethics" as part of the commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on the 10th of December. The Key note address to the Symposium was delivered by H.E. Mr. Anand Panyarachuan, Former Prime Minister of Thailand and the Chairman of the National Commission for the Formulation of Policy and Action Plan on Human Rights.

The next day on 25th October, over six thousand people participated in the United Nations 10 km International Run.

From 26-30 October, a United Nations Film Festival was organized in the Theatre of the United Nations Conference Centre.

The celebration culminated in a United Nations Fair in Convent Road which is one of the busiest roads in Bangkok. The Fair was organized by ESCAP in collaboration with all UN agencies and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. The event was officiated by the Governor of Bangkok and the Executive Secretary of ESCAP. The highlight of the event was the colourful international parade by the UN staff members and students from international schools. The event comprise of exhibitions mounted by various UN agencies, UN Women's Association of Thailand and Non-governmental organizations. Sales of products from UN-sponsored projects and from different countries were also included. The Day also comprised of many cultural performances from many Embassies and performances by international schools' students as well as Thai cultural shows from different parts of the country. This was the first time that such an activity had taken place.

Mr. Adrianus Mooy, Executive Secretary of ESCAP (left) and Dr. Bhichit
Rattakul, Governor of Bangkok cut the ribbon to open the United Nations
Day Fair held at Convent Road in Bangkok as part of the UN Day celebrations.

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HOPE FOR POVERTY ALLEVIATION DESPITE CRISIS

The first session of ESCAP's the Committee on Socio-economic Measures to Alleviate Poverty in Rural and Urban Areas was organized from 15-17 September 1998 at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok.

H.E. Mr. Bhichai Rattakul, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, delivers an address at the inaugural session of the Committee Meeting of Socio-economic Measures to Alleviate Poverty in Rural and Urban Areas.

"There is good reason to hope for reversal of poverty trends and a better tomorrow despite the gloom and doom of the on-going regional economic crisis, according to H.E. Mr. Bhichai Rattakul, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand in addressing to the session.

He said that although there had been an increase in the number of people living in poverty because of the crisis, their long-term future was not bleak.

The Committee was established by ESCAP in 1997 as part of a revamped programme designed to increase the responsiveness of the regional body to the development challenges facing countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

The main purpose of the Committee is to review and analyze the global and regional trends and developments that are having an impact on the poverty situation in the region and recommend development policy options and programme strategies.

"The economic downturn started so suddenly last year gave us such a shock and made us eager to examine every option that might help us to get back on track and improve the lot of the people we serve, especially those who are extremely poor and powerless", said the Thai Deputy Prime Minister.

In her opening statement to the meeting, the Deputy Executive Secretary of ESCAP, Ms. K. Mizuta said that the financial crisis and economic crisis affecting the region for the past year threatens the past decades of notable progress in ensuring the well-being of populations.

"The economic crisis now affecting much of Asia is likely to strike the poor hardest". Ms Mizuta said that ESCAP was currently working on several programmes to assess the impact of the ongoing economic crisis on the poverty situation. She added that ESCAP is devoting its efforts towards identifying the most effective strategies for poverty alleviation, in both rural and urban areas and to assisting governments and civil society to implement those strategies.

"The ultimate objective of all the programmes of ESCAP is the eradication of poverty, as that is the primary goal of economic and social development.

The major issue considered at the three-day meeting was "economic liberalization and rural poverty alleviation: the economic, social and demographic impacts". Senior official engaged in policy formulation on poverty alleviation from 20 ESCAP member countries participated in the meeting.

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Call for end to trafficking in women

Globalization of the world economy has given rise to a global sex industry. The easy money to be made has seen trafficking in women become a lucrative business for organized criminal networks. The deepening poverty faced by many countries in the region, brought about by the recent economic turmoil of the Asian financial crisis is likely to see an increase in the commodification of women.

Responding to calls for less talk and more action, Government and non-government representatives from 14 countries in the Asia and Pacific region together with United Nations Bodies and Specialized Agencies adopted the Bangkok Accord and Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Women at the conclusion of the Regional Conference on Trafficking in Women.

The two-day conference, held from 3-4 November in Bangkok, was organized by the Women in Development Section, Social Development Division of ESCAP, in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Office of the National Commission on Women's Affairs of Thailand (ONCWA) and Asian Women's Fund (AWF).

The Bangkok Accord and Plan of Action represents regional consensus on joint actions needed at national, sub-regional and regional levels to tackle trafficking in women. The adopted Plan of Action is divided into two parts - actions at national level and at the sub-regional, regional and multi-lateral levels.

At national level, comprehensive guidelines for action are provided in the important areas of prevention, protection and humanitarian treatment of victims, repatriation and reintegration, sanctions against traffickers, medical and psychological intervention, information and monitoring mechanisms and participation of concerned parties.

Specific provisions include the establishment and strengthening of multi-sectoral national mechanisms consisting of government agencies, NGOs and other relevant entities of civil society, allocation of financial and human resources to implement action, developing a community-based partnership to combat trafficking, fostering cooperation with media organizations to develop sensitivity towards the rights of trafficked persons, including the right to privacy and positive imaging of women in the media and promotion of consultative processes with victims of trafficking and organizations dealing with victims in the formulation of legal reforms, protection and reintegration strategies.

At the sub-regional/regional/multi-lateral levels, provisions include the creation of sub-regional and bilateral treaties to set up frameworks for action, promotion of more collaboration, coordination and cooperation among international agencies to maximize existing resources by avoiding duplication of activities and integration of the issue into new dimensions such as human security and combating and preventing organized crime.

International, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donor agencies and organizations were urged to pledge their financial support towards implementation of the Plan of Action in the concerted fight against trafficking in women in the region.

ECPAT International (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and
Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes) joins the United Nations
Fair with an exhibition stall to publicize their work in Thailand.

Gender perspective incorporated ESCAP has initiated efforts to incorporate a gender perspective into project activities in response to the agreed conclusions of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on mainstreaming the gender perspective into all policies and programmes in the United Nations system. To introduce the concepts of gender mainstreaming and foster discussion on its importance, particularly in the context of United Nation's goals and policies, training for ESCAP staff was conducted. Staff members who are responsible for project design and implementation examined ways that the concepts of gender mainstreaming were related to their areas of work and were introduced to analytical methodologies for integrating socio-economic and gender impact analysis into the project proposal formulation stage. A total of 47 participants, including Bangkok-based United Nations agencies, received the two-day training. During the workshop, gender considerations were examined for projects focusing on urban crime and corruption, trade and investment, tourism, population, commodity market, environmental concerns in economic development, membership in the World Trade Organization, local governance and other development issues.

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ESCAP meeting call for liberalized policies

Asia and Pacific countries damaged by the financial crisis should promote economic growth by liberalizing investment policies, according to a meeting organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

The call was made at the tenth Steering Group Meeting of the Committee on Regional Economic Cooperation of ESCAP which was convened from 9 to 11 September 1998 at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok.

The Steering Group is a "think tank" of the ESCAP's Committee on Regional Economic Cooperation comprising representatives of governments, the private sector and academia. Its main task is to develop innovative approaches to topical issues relating to economic cooperation and make specific recommendations.

In opening the meeting Mr. Adrianus Mooy, Executive Secretary of ESCAP called on Asian and Pacific countries to increase trade within the region to alleviate the impact of the economic crisis.

"Asia, whose impressive growth over the past decade stemmed from intra-regional trade, can no longer count on itself as a robust export market", said ESCAP's Executive Secretary.

The three-day meeting focused on various aspects of intraregional and interregional trade, trade facilitation and the integration transitional economies. It reviewed the critical problems faced by disadvantaged economies in transition and suggested concrete measures for their integration into the global and regional process of industrial and technological development.

One of the concrete suggestion was that the meeting agreed that it was time to revisit a proposal to establish a regional institution to finance and promote trade through export credit and credit grantees which was first suggested in the early 1990's but did not materialized then. According to the Mr. Adrianus Executive Secretary of ESCAP "the idea was to help developing countries with risk assessment, improve their access to quality information and financial resources, and achieve economies of scale"

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The ESCAP secretariat recently published profiles on women in Indonesia and the Islamic Republic of Iran, Nos. 14 and 15, respectively, of its new statistical series on 19 countries of the Asian and Pacific region.

Under the series, in addition to the most recent publications, profiles are being published on Bangladesh, China, India, Japan, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, in Asia and Cook Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu in the Pacific.

Copies of these profiles that have been published may be ordered by writing to the Director, ESCAP Statistics Division, United Nations Building, Rajadamnern Nok Ave., Bangkok 10200, Thailand.

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ESCAP provides a forum for all member Governments of the region
to review and discuss economic and social issues in order to strengthen
regional cooperation.

Under the revised programme structure of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the 10 subprogrammes have been streamlined to 7 subprogrammes. Thus, U.N. Focus will provide a series of article explaining the objectives of each subprogramme beginning with Subprogramme 1: Regional Economic Cooperation: trade and investment.

This subprogramme will be implementing the Action Programme for Regional Economic Cooperation in Trade and Investment. The envisaged policy analyses seek to address the emerging challenges and opportunities in the region in the light of regional and global developments in order to facilitate exchange of experience and best practices through dissemination of research and extension of technical assistance and advisory services.

Emphasis continues to be placed on issues arising from the implementation of the Uruguay Round agreements and their implications for the region. There will be also special focus o promotion of regional cooperation for enhancing trade efficiency and electronic commerce as well as promotion of exports of developing countries with particular attention to the areas of commodities, textiles and exports of small and medium sized enterprises. In this context, special emphasis will be devoted to the needs of the least developed, landlocked and island developing countries and disadvantaged economies in transition.

More specifically, activities will aim at assisting the least developed countries in harmonizing their trade liberalization commitments with their national priorities and realizing the full potential of their exports in areas where they have comparative advantage; the Pacific island developing countries, in diversifying their trade and economic links; and the disadvantaged economies in transition, particularly of the Commonwealth of Independent States, in renewing their intra-trade relations and their economic integration into the region.

The activities are also aimed at enhancing institutional capacity-building and strengthening networks of institutions which support trade and investment flows.

In addition, the activities will be undertaken to promote private capital flows for trade-related investment including the development of capital markets. Cooperation between countries will be encouraged to promote capital market development in the developing countries of the region which would include the economies in transition.

Activities will also address the need for strengthening regional information services for trade and investment as well as the promotion of intraregional and interregional cooperation aimed at expanding trade and information flow.

Highlights at ESCAP in November Infrastructure Development Meeting The First session of the Committee on Transport, Communications, Tourism and Infrastructure Development will be convened by ESCAP on 18-20 November 1998 at the United Nations Conference Centre, Bangkok. The Committee's agenda includes review of implementation of the New Delhi Action Plan on Infrastructure Development in Asia and the Pacific. Under the agenda item on major issues in transport, communications, tourism and infrastructure development, the Committee will discuss a) prospects for container shipping and port development, b) commercialization and private sector involvement in ports, c) Inland water transport policy development and its integration within international and domestic transport systems and d) strengthening national capabilities and promotion of regional cooperation in sustainable tourism development. Statistics Meeting ESCAP is scheduled to organize its tenth session of the Committee on Statistics on 24-26 October 1998 at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok. Topic of discussions include review of statistical activities in the region; statistical development challenges at the turn of the century: effects of the financial crisis on statistical services; information resources and technology: a) Information resources management: success and challenges and b) Information technology applications in the national statistical service and in the public sector.

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The 53rd session of the General Assembly opens

The General Assembly of the United Nations opened its fifty-third session on 9 September 1998 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. It brings together the delegations of all Member States, many of them led by head of Government or Foreign Ministers, for an examination of international issues.

This year H.E. Mr. Didier Opertti, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay has been elected President of the General Assembly.

H.E. Mr. Didier Opertti, President of the 53rd session of the General Assembly

On Monday, 21 September the General Assembly opened its annual general debate, with world leaders calling for joint action to combat international problems and a strengthened United Nations to meet the challenges of the new millennium.

In his address to the GA, the Secretary-General reported on achievements in the area of reform, saying that the Organization could not afford to rest on its laurels. "Reform is an on going process, and I shall continue working on ways to improve our performance", he said.

Mr. Annan said that the single greatest impediment to good performance was the "financial straight jacket" binding the United nations. He appealed to those Member States that had fallen seriously behind with their contributions to follow good example by others. "There can be no substitute for full and timely payment of what is due", he stressed.

Looking forward to the Millennium Assembly, which will be held in the year 2000, the Secretary-General said it should serve as an opportunity to identify a select few of the world's most pressing problems and set a precise, achievable programme for dealing with them.

On the subject of globalization, the Secretary-General noted that millions of people are experiencing it not as an opportunity, but "as a force of disruption or destruction, as an assault on their material standards of living or on their traditional way of life." He said that the United Nations was prepared to work with international financial institutions in formulating a response which could address the financial, economic, social and political aspects of the problem.

"We need to rediscover the connection between peace and economic security the unifying principle on which this Organization was founded". If we, in this hall, really make up our minds to pool our resources, to set aside our differences, and to work together, there is almost nothing we could not achieve, said the Secretary-General.

New Database for locating UN Depository Libraries A new database of information about Depository Libraries of the United Nations System (DEPOLIB) has now been launched on the World Wide Web, giving internet users "one stop shopping" to locate where such libraries exist. DEPOLIB is a searchable, and browse-able, source of contact information such as addresses, telephones/fax numbers and e-mail addresses, as well as click-able links to the home pages of those libraries which have websites of their own. Information can be located as to the extent of the collection with respect to United Nations system materials--for example, whole, partial of since certain years. United Nations system material is published in several official languages, therefore, DEPOLIB gives an indication of which language a selected depository library has its United Nations collection. However, it does not contain a catalogue of each depository library's United Nations collections. DEPOLIB can be accessed from the official website locator of the UN SYStem of Organizations--http://www. unsystem.org --or directly at htpp://www. unsystem.org/depolib.

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The goal of planning communications at the heart of the strategic management of the UN will require the active support and engagement of all senior UN officials, Under Secretary-General for the Office of Communications and Public Information, Mr. Kendaku Hogen told a gathering of UN Information Centres and Services Directors in September in New York.

The Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Deputy Secretary-General Louise Frechette were among the senior people that met the Directors. Mr. Annan briefed them about the Millennium Assembly in Year 2000 and stressed the need to continually renew the UN's strong links with civil society.

Mr. Hogen outlined the Department of Public Information 's (DPI) strategy to information directors and senior staff from 21 countries in New York in September.

Mr. Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations greets Directors of UN Information Centres and Services from around the world at their recent meeting held at Headquarters.

Some of the major points:

* DPI will substantially strengthen its Internet operation and a new media button on the UN Home Page will present information material in a manner that the media can readily utilize. The UN Website will be expanded to include all six official UN languages.

* A strengthened news-disseminating capacity will be sharply tuned to media needs and to build closer media contacts.

* The Department will strengthen its working links with civil society.

* DPI will try to create a true culture of communications in the Secretariat.

* The Department will adopt a "total quality management" approach to all its outputs, carefully reviewing each to ensure that it meets a priority goal.

Both underlined the importance of the UN Information Centres and Services in keeping alive the UN message and linking "global concerns to local".

The challenges facing the UN to get its messages across to the people was increasing every day as the media "narrow casted" instead of broadcasted its news, said Director of Communications, Mr. Shashi Tharoor.

UNIS Bangkok also presented a paper on its work programme for UNESCAP.

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Rights of Indigenous People On the occasion of the International Day of the World's Indigenous People on 5 August, Secretary-General Mr. Kofi Annan called for international community to ensure that indigenous people enjoy their human rights. "Today, we have the opportunity to reflect upon the diversity of indigenous cultures and reaffirm the international community's commitment to the world's indigenous people, wherever they live. It is an opportunity to raise an awareness about indigenous people's distinctive ways of life, language, customs and traditions as well as their contribution to culture worldwide. Many of these are enjoying renewed recognition and rebirth; but others are facing marginalization and threats to their development", said the Secretary-General. The International Day for the world's Indigenous People was established in 1995--the year that launched the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People. The objective of the Decade is to strengthen international cooperation for the solution of problems faced by indigenous people in areas such as human rights, the environment, development, education and health. The United Nations system is increasingly active in promoting the rights of indigenous peoples and developing programmes to bring lasting benefits to these communities. Member states and indigenous peoples are now examining a draft declaration which would set out the rights which all indigenous people should enjoy.

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