His Majesty the King of Thailand graciously granted a royal audience to Mr. Kim Hak-Su, Executive Secretary of ESCAP

Mr. Kim Gets Busy

ESCAP Follow-up to Global

United Nations News>

• World's Largest Ever Gathering of Leaders Gives New Direction to UN

His Majesty the King of Thailand graciously granted>
a royal audience to Mr. Kim Hak-Su, Executive Secretary>
of ESCAP at Klai Kangwol Palace in Hua Hin.>

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In his first six months of office ESCAP's new Executive Secretary Mr. Kim Hak-Su got down to business  looking inward and outward to find solutions to regenerate ESCAP's work and effectiveness.  Among the scores of interviews and columns he contributed to the electronic and  print media, including CNN, BBC World Service, Asiaweek, Channel News Asia, Singapore, International Herald Tribune, NHK Japan, Far Eastern  Economic Review, the one below given to correspondents at UN headquarters best encapsulates his thinking.

Mr. Kim Hak-Su stated that during his tenure he would concentrate on transmitting and transferring proven best practices in poverty alleviation in the region to other developing countries.

Mr. Kim, a national of the  Republic of Korea, pointed to the  success of the "new village movement", an initiative which had contributed to the alleviation of  poverty in his country during the 1970s and 1980s.  Could that programme be replicated in other countries? he asked.  ESCAP must try to experiment in new environments, such as landlocked Nepal and  Central Asia.  His programme managers would determine the  efficiency of the practice after a one-year trial period and, if it did not work, further analysis would be required.

A second objective of ESCAP must be to help developing countries deal with globalization, particularly in improving:  their relationships with the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD); their trade negotiation skills and tactics; and their environmental  negotiations, with regard to the numerous protocols and  conventions.

Developing nations had to contend with both the digital and biotech divides, to mention two   major issues, he said.  ESCAP had  developed electronic-related programmes, specifically "e-poverty alleviation", "e-wireless" and "e-smart  village", so that rural people could benefit from the Internet technology revolution.

The importance of detecting and tackling emerging social issues in the Asia Pacific region was a third area of concentration that he wanted to stress.  Population aging, sexually abused and sexually exploited children and youth, and labour migration were other  matters of concern for ESCAP.

In addition to stressing the need to address those issues, he called on ESCAP to become more efficient and productive. There were many agencies, including the Asian Development Bank, which were   doing work similar to ESCAP and  efforts must be made to better  cooperate and avoid duplication, he said.  The establishment of a "Bangkok consensus" with the heads of the 16 agencies based in the ESCAP building here would be a positive  step.

He noted ESCAP's work in the area of transport, particularly in the design of Asian railways and  highways. At present, the Commission was involved in linking the trans-Siberian railway, the  trans-China railway and the Asian highway.  ESCAP's expertise and experience in that area could not be matched.  Statistics was another field in which ESCAP had done pioneering work".  Also, ESCAP's disability programme had achieved  international recognition.

In conclusion, Mr. Kim said ESCAP had assumed a leading role in:  financing for development,  supporting the mobilization of  domestic resources, as in the case of the Bangladesh micro-loan scheme; foreign direct investment, as had occurred in China's economic boom; and traditional official development  assistance, which had been declining.

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Regional aspects of financing for development were discussed at the High-level Regional Consultative Meeting on Financing for Development  held in Jakarta, Indonesia from 2-5  August 2000.

"This conference comes at a time when we wonder whether we have the financial resources to improve our lives.  Let me say that one of or most precious resources are our people.  If we do not have an identity that distinguishes us form other regions we may not be able to tackle problems with a common will," said  President Wahid of Indonesia in opening the conference.

Mr. Kim Hak-Su welcomes H.E. Abdurrachman Wahid,>
President of Indonesia to the High-level Regional>
Consultative Meeting on Financing for Development>
held in Jakarta from 2-5 August 2000.>

ESCAP was the first of the regional commissions to hold a regional preparatory consultative meeting for the upcoming High Level Global Event on Financing for  Development scheduled to be convened by the General Assembly in 2001.

The four-day Meeting was jointly  organized by ESCAP,  the United  Nations Conference on Trade and  Development (UNCTAD) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and hosted by the Government of  Indonesia.  The outcome of the Meeting would form ESCAP's contribution to the Global Meeting.

Discussions at the preparatory Meeting focused on the regional manifestations of issues related to the raising of government revenue, the role of banking system, the role of the government in setting the rules of the game and regulating the financial system, finance for SMEs, social development and on areas for regional cooperation.  The meeting noted that the mobilization of domestic resources was a central issue in economic development.

On the issue of external financial flows, the meeting observed that although the Asian  financial crisis had revealed problems inherent in foreign private capital flows, such flows would nevertheless continue to play a vital role in the region's economic development.

In addition, long-term capital inflows in the form of direct investment could bring a range of  dynamic benefits such as the transfer of technology and improved management practices and building market confidence in the host country.

The Meeting also discussed innovative sources for financing and regional issues and perspectives relating to the external sector including ODA, trade issues among other things. It was attended by representatives from thirty-six members and associate members and  representatives from intergovernmental organizations as well as NGOs.

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Experts on human rights, racism and migration met to discuss the  human rights of migrants, racism and human trafficking, especially of women and children, from 5 to 7  September 2000 at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok, Thailand.

The meeting was a joint effort of ESCAP and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The seminar, entitled "Asia-Pacific Regional Seminar of Experts in preparation for the World Conference against Racism:  Migrants and trafficking in persons with particular reference to women and children," is part of a series of four regional meetings being held in preparation for the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, which will take place in South Africa in September 2001.

The debates at the seminar focused on human rights, racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in the region, with particular regard for migrants and trafficking in persons; exchange information on "best practices" in dealing with racism; discussion of action-oriented strategies; and encouragement of a groundswell of Governmental,  institutional and public support for the World Conference and its goals.

The General Assembly in its resolution 51/111 decided to convene a third United Nations World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance that "will be action-oriented and focus on practical measures to eradicate racism, including measures of prevention, education and protection through the provision of effective remedies."

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The Ministerial Conference on Environment and Development in Asia and the Pacific 2000, the largest regional gathering of environmental ministers in advance of the Rio+10 review session, adopted a Plan of Action designed to give fresh impetus to protecting the environment.

The Ministers adopted the regional action programme for environmentally sound and sustainable development. They endorsed a message to be submitted to the global 10-year review of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) scheduled to be held in 2002.

The Ministers adopted a Declaration--Vision for the 21st Century: Ministerial Declaration on Environment and Development in Asia and the Pacific-- that reflects the commitment of governments in the region to reversing environmental degradation in all areas.

The Conference's main achievement is the regional action programme for 2001-2005 which  focuses on strategies to meet environmental challenges in eight priority  areas: environmental quality and human health; biodiversity; coastal and marine environments; freshwater resources; desertification and land degradation; globalization and policy integration; climate change and sustainable energy development.  The action plan proposes areas for action in each of these areas at the national, sub-regional and regional levels.

Mr. Kim Hak-Su, Executive Secretary of ESCAP, noted in his policy statement that strategies to combat environmental degradation should involve a holistic approach incorporating both economic and  social contexts and considerations.

Another important outcome of the Conference is the Kitakyushu Initiative for a Clean Environment. The Initiative is based on the experiences of the host city, Kitakyushu,  Japan, which is well known for its urban environmental rehabilitation.  The Kitakyushu Initiative will explore areas where the experiences of the city can be replicated and shared with other urban centers of the region.

Representatives from 42 countries attended the Conference, which is the fourth in a series of ministerial-level environment conferences, held in the region every five years since 1985.  Representatives of UN agencies, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations also attended.

The conference was organized by ESCAP in cooperation with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Bank. The Government of Japan was host of the Conference together with the local governments of the City of Kitakyushu and Fukuoka Prefecture.

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There is a need for more regional cooperation and international mechanisms to further the implementation of the Habitat Agenda in Asia and the Pacific.

As part of the preparatory process for the United Nations General Assembly Special Session of  Istanbul+5, a Regional High-Level Meeting for the Asian-Pacific region was held in Hangzhou, China from 19 to 23 October 2000. China's  Ministry of Construction and the City of Hangzhou hosted the meeting.

The meeting was jointly organized by the United Nations Centre for  Human Settlements (Habitat) and  ESCAP in collaboration with The Urban Governance Initiative (TUGI) of UNDP, the Western Pacific Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WPRO-WHO), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the CityNet.

The meeting reviewed and assessed the implementation of the Habitat Agenda in Asia and the Pacific according to five key themes of the Agenda: shelter, urban poverty alleviation, local economic development, urban environmental management, governance and international and regional cooperation. Five background papers on the above themes were tabled at the meeting.

The meeting reaffirmed the importance of the Habitat Agenda as a plan of action to improve the quality of the human settlements in the region. Delegates stressed the need for partnership between urban stakeholders to address urban problems and for broad-based capacity building.

The delegates drew the attention to the need for more regional cooperation and international support mechanisms to further the implementation of the Habitat Agenda in Asia and the Pacific.

A total of 145 participants from five groups of stakeholders in urban development were invited to the meeting: central Governments, local Governments, non-governmental  organizations, research and training institutes and the private sector from 22 countries of Asia and the Pacific, and several regional and international organizations attended the meeting.

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Despite average increase in growth rates, the Asian and Pacific least developed countries (LDCs) still remain extremely vulnerable to external economic and social shocks and natural disasters.

Out of 13 LDCs in the region, only five countries have managed  to cross the figure of US$ 900 per capita income, a figure that has been recently used as one of the criteria for reviewing the list of LDCs.   The other countries are still far below this level.

"ESCAP's calculations show that if these countries maintain the rate of growth observed in the past decade, none will be able to reach the threshold within the next decade.  Bhutan and Lao PRD would require about 20 years; Bangladesh about 25 years; Cambodia, Myanmar and Nepal will not be in the position to reach the benchmark before the middle of this century," says Mr. Kim Hak-Su,  Executive Secretary of ESCAP.

A Regional high-level preparatory meeting for the third United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries was organized jointly by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the United Nations Conference for Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in collaboration with the Government of Bangladesh from 13-15 November 2000 in Dhaka.  The Meeting was attended  by representatives from over 27 members and associate members of ESCAP, as well as representatives from other United  Nations agencies.

LDCs are at a crossroad.  The Programme of Action for the LDCs for the 1990 s  has just ended and the strategy for the next Programme of Action is being formulated.  "It is  crucial that the vital concerns of LDCs in Asia and the Pacific region are duly reflected in the forthcoming Programme of Action," says ESCAP Executive Secretary Mr. Kim Hak-Su.

Within the broad theme of "Socio-economic Development Challenges of Asia-Pacific Least Developed Countries for the New Millenium", the meeting considered four key areas: 1) social issues; 2) economic    infrastructure; 3) trade issues; and 4) financing for development.  The discussions focused around identifying the common issues, priority and constraints of the LDCs.

During 1990-98 the real GDP for the Asian and Pacific LDCs as a group on average grew at around 4.5 per cent per annum, but with large variations among the countries from less than one per cent to over 8 per cent for individual countries.

The persistent high incidence of poverty, poor institutional capacity,  inadequate human resources, low   levels of economic and export diversification and inadequate infrastructure melded with significant external debt burden and decreased inflow of official development assistance (ODA) have coerced LDCs generally to be the weakest segment of the international community.

Against the above backdrop, the Third United Nations Global Conference on the Least Developed, which will be held at Brussels in May 2001, will provide a major occasion for all  48 LDCs worldwide and their development partners to formulate a programme of action to address the particular predicaments and needs of LDCs for the decade of 2000s.

The report of the meeting will be the main regional input towards the formulation of a Global Programme   of Action for Least Developed Countries.

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ESCAP discussed innovative trends in trade and investment policies at the 12th Meeting of the Steering Group of its Committee on Regional Economic Cooperation from 25 to 27 October 2000 in Inchon City, Republic of Korea.

The Steering Group is the "think tank" of ESCAP's Committee on Regional Economic Cooperation and provides a forum for interaction among policy makers, the private sector and the academia.

The Steering Group discussed policies and institutional requirements for future trade and investment policy in view of globalization and emergence of the so-called "New Economy."

The Meeting explored new approaches to trade and investment policies in the post-crisis era in the region with presentations on the regional perspective and on specific experiences of various countries and territories, in particular Hong Kong, China; Malaysia; Republic of Korea; and Thailand.

The Meeting also discussed modalities for promoting complementarities in manufacturing across borders through increased trade and investment.

The meeting, hosted by the Government of the Republic of Korea, was attended by 50 senior officials from developing countries at different levels of development and representatives from the private sector and academia.

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Access to transport and  communication services is a prerequisite for countries to participate in the globalization process said Mr. Kim Hak-Su, Executive Secretary of ESCAP to the Third Session of the Committee on Transport, Communications,  Tourism and Infrastructure Development held from 15-17 November 2000 in Bangkok.

"Unfortunately, in the Asia and Pacific region a range of infrastructure and institutional barriers still  inhibit competitiveness of products and services in the global markets. Provision of truly cost effective transport linkages therefore remains a policy priority," said Mr. Kim.

The Committee Meeting was   inaugurated by H.E. Mr. Suthep Thaugsuban, Minister of Transport and Communications, the Royal Thai Government, who said that transport has played a central role in facilitating the integration of ESCAP regional economies into a multilateral trading system.

In the Tourism sector, the Minister informed the Meeting that in 1999, more than eight million  tourists visited Thailand.  Following the success of earlier initiatives,  the Tourism Authority of Thailand has launched a new campaign titled "Amazing Thailand 2000: Enhancement of the next Thousand Years" to further promote the tourism industry.

The potential economic benefits of tourism are clear and many regional countries are already collecting substantial foreign currency earnings from the sector.  However, there is a need to ensure sustainability in the process of development.  If not, the pristine beaches, forests, mountains and our cultural heritage, which attract tourists, will be destroyed forever, reminded Mr Kim.

Participants discussed changes that are taking place in liner shipping and ports sector that are making it increasingly difficult for developing countries in the region to keep pace, for their shipping lines to remain competitive and for their ports to upgrade their status.  They also considered issues related to multimodal transport and logistics and the barrier which is still need to be overcome if the industry is to meet the expectations of shippers and particularly foreign buyers.

Representatives from over 25 member and associate member countries and other States as well as representatives from other United  Nations bodies and specialized  agencies, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations attended the meeting.
 

ESCAP was recently given an award for pioneering tourism>
for people with disabilities from the Government of Indonesia.>
Seen on the photo, Mr. Kim Hak-Su receives the award from>
Mr. Effendi Batubaara (third from left), Assistant to the>
Indonesian Minister of Communications and Telecommunications.>

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The ESCAP Committee on Socio-economic Measures to Alleviate   Poverty in Rural and Urban Areas held its third session under the theme "Socio-economic implications of demographic dynamics" in Bangkok from 6 to 8 December 2000.

The meeting was opened by Mr. Kim Hak-Su, Executive Secretary of ESCAP, who noted that despite a steady decline in fertility rates, the population growth momentum in the region was such that population numbers were increasing in each year. Population pressure in many countries was a leading cause of the high incidence of poverty in the region.  Roughly one out of every four human beings in the region was suffering from extreme poverty, he said.

The  Executive Secretary stressed the importance of dealing with  population issues to tackle the problem of poverty and other adverse implications of demographic dynamics.  He suggested that countries suffering from population pressure and having relatively high fertility rates needed to redouble their effort to stabilize their populations.

The meeting discussed the following topics: socio-economic dynamics in the ESCAP region;  poverty and socio-economic implications; urbanization and demographic dynamics,  as well as reviewed the major accomplishments of ESCAP related to poverty alleviation programmes.

One of the recommendations of the meeting was that a holistic approach is needed to deal with poverty and population issues.  Provision of social services, gender equity and empowerment of women  should be essential  ingredients of this approach.  It also recommended that population concerns and variables should be integrated in all developments initiatives.

The Committee stressed that   human resources development is the key to tackle poverty and population-related problems.  From this perspective, education should get priority.

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This is the last in a series of articles that U.N. Focus will provide on explaining the objectives of the  revised subprogramme of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

The main objectives  of this subprogramme are to continue to facilitate the development of sustainable national statistical capabilities in the Asian and Pacific region, to disseminate  comparable social, economic and other relevant statistics on the regional members and associate members of the Commission, and to promote the  effective utilization of information technology within the public sector.

The main activities are a) to assist and provide substantive and other  services to the Committee on  Statistics, which plays a central role in promoting and coordinating regional statistical development; b) to organize technical cooperation activities, including advisory services and technical seminars, and disseminate technical material with the aim of promoting skills development and sharing of experience and technical knowledge in statistics and information technology, c) to organize workshops and training programmes in statistics and information technology, especially in association with the statistical training programmes of SIAP;  d) to prepare, review and coordinate at the regional level the development and revision of statistical standards and their eventual implementation; e) to undertake the collection, compilation and dissemination of statistical information on the region, and to  provide statistical support for analytical work undertaken within the secretariat; and f) to maintain close  collaboration and cooperation with relevant regional, subregional and  international organizations to promote improved coordination of technical assistance in statistics.

The end-users of the outputs of this subprogramme are national statistical offices, computerization and information technology focal points, and planning and monitoring and  decision-making agencies in the member and associate member Governments, regional,  subregional and international organizations; non-governmental organizations, national and international institutes, and scholars concerned with economic, social, demographic and environmental research and policies; and individual firms.

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The ESCAP  Committee on Statistics  held its twelfth session at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok from 29 November to 1 December.

The Meeting was opened by Mr. Chirasakdi Poonpol, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Office of the Permanent Secretary, The Prime Minister s Office, Government of Thailand.  He stated that, with appropriate analytical techniques and tools, statistical data help us to identify social and economic problems, to explain how they exist, to predict the directions towards which they will develop, and to design measures to correct them.

The delegates reviewed developments in official statistics over the past year which  had significant implications for national statistical offices  in the region.  Other topics of discussion included:  appropriate use of indicators to measure social and economic progress; statistics on the informal sector; statistics on the information society; statistical classifications: implementation status in the region and the International Comparison Programme: prospects for a regional comparison.

The Committee meeting was attended by representatives from 37 members and associate members of ESCAP and representatives from other United Nations bodies and specialized agencies and related organizations, as well as representatives from intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations.

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To get to the day care centre for children, residents of the Pranee slum in Chatuchak District must cross a wobbly wooden bridge spanning a five-metre wide drainage canal. Over the years, there have been a number of accidents with children and the  elderly loosing their balance and falling into the filthy water below.

ESCAP recently launched a community development project that is tapping resources from the Human Security Fund, which was established by the Japanese Government, to help the community to alleviate some of the adverse effects of poverty. The  self-help project involves the construction of two sturdy metal bridges across the canal and other interventions that will make life safer and more pleasant in the slum community.

Pannee, a slum area in Chatuchak District, is the first pilot community development project that its residents are providing the labour and ESCAP is providing the money from the Japanese fund to make the improvements.

On hand to see the work under way was ESCAP Executive  Secretary, Mr Kim Hak-Su. He visited the   community on September 30 in the hope of seeing ways in which this "Human Dignity Initiative" might serve as a model for poverty alleviation schemes that could be sponsored by ESCAP in other developing countries of the region.

Mr. Kim Hak-Su inspects a pedestrian bridge  being>
constructed during his visit to Pannee, a slum area>
in Bangkok on 30 September 2000.>

Although ESCAP has launched a total of five pilot community development projects in the Bangkok area with the Japanese Fund, the aims of the project go beyond helping individual communities. One of the other goals is to help restore what ESCAP calls "networks of support and self-reliance" at the community level.  Another is to draw lessons from the pilot projects and make recommendations for policy makers and others concerned that would  enable them to activate such networks elsewhere.

A further aim is to formulate a policy framework for governments to use in creating an economic, political and social environment that promotes and nurtures the establishment of  successful community-based initiatives.

For its part, ESCAP plans to conduct similar pilot projects in six other countries in the region. After it gathers information on its experience in these countries, it will hold meetings to draw up a framework for community-based "safety-nets". It will also produce a publication and create a CD-ROM containing training  material, comparative studies and policy guidelines so that others can benefit from the projects. It also plans to mount the information on its website to enable world-wide access to the information in the hope that other countries will be able to imitate the good example of the Pannee community.

Thus, what started out as a project to fix a wobbly old bridge may turn out to have implications for many other communities not only in Thailand but also elsewhere in the world.

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First six months of ESCAP Executive Secretary in office>
 

Mr. Kim Hak-Su reflects as Somdej Mahatthiracharn of>
Wat Chanasongkram (second right) delivers an address>
at the United Nations Peace Seminar held at the UNCC>
on 19 September 2000, Christian representative>
Bishop Michael Bunleun Mansap (second left) and>
Muslim representative Imarm Prasit Amincen also>
addresse  the Peace Day observance.>
 

Vice President of Indonesia H.E. Megawati Sukarnoputri>
(front row middle) inaugurates ESCAP's High-level>
Regional Meeting on Energy for Sustainable Development>
held in Bali from 21-24 November 2000.>

Mr. Kim Hak-Su welcomes former Prime Minister>
of Thailand H.E. Mr. Anand Panyarachun to the>
launch of ESCAP studies on the Status of Sexually>
Abused and Sexually Exploited Children and>
Youth on 15 September 2000 at the UNCC.>

Mr. Kim Hak-Su receives a gift from Prof. Dr. Virah>
Aphimeteetamong, Dean of Chulalongkorn>
University's Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy>
as a token of appreciation for his lecture on the Role>
of the UN in economic and social development in>
the new millennium on 16 November 2000.>

Mr. Kim Hak-Su poses with Chulalongkorn University>
faculty members after the lecture.>

Mr. Kim Hak-Su joins Thailand's Foreign Minister>
H.E. Dr. Surin Pitsuwan (far left), Mr. Jurin>
Laksanavisit (second left) Minister of the Prime Minister's>
Office and Mr. Pino Arlacchi, Executive Director of>
UNDCP during the International Congress In Pursue>
of a Drug Free ASEAN 2015, Sharing the Vision,>
Leading the Change held in UNCC from>
11-13 October 2000.>

Mr. Kim Hak-Su shows a souvenir to Governor of>
Bangkok Mr. Samak Sundaravej during the World>
Habitat Day observance held at the UNCC on>
3 October 2000.  The theme of the event was>
"Women in Urban Governance" where both men>
gave speeches to the observance.>

Mr. Kim Hak-Su shares his vision for ESCAP with>
ESCAP's Division Directors.>

Mr. Manaspas Xuto (standing fourth from left), President>
of the United Nations Association of Thailand hosts a>
luncheon to welcome Mr. Kim Hak-Su on 10 October 2000.>

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Two new studies have recently been released by ESCAP focusing on the situation of sexually abused and sexually exploited young people in the Greater Mekong  Subregion and South Asia.  The studies revealed that health and social services provided are  grossly inadequate to the child victims of rape, and incest and trafficking, prostitution and pornography who face grave physical and psychological health conditions.
 

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The Campaign 2000 for the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons 1993-2002 under the theme "Breaking Barriers to Promote the  Social Integration of Disabled Persons" was held  from 11-15 December 2000 at the United Nations Conference Centre.

Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawali graciously presided over the opening ceremony of the  Campaign 2000 on 12 December 2000.

HRH Princess Soamsawali graciously greets organizers of>
the Campaign 2000 for the Asian and Pacific Decade of>
Disabled Persons 1993-2002 held at the UNCC from>
11-15 December 2000.>

1993-2002 was declared as the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons by the United  Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) at its 49th session in Beijing, China.  The Campaign series were set up with the formation of the Regional NGO  Network (RNN) to promote the Decade.  Since then, campaign  meetings have been held annually to raise the public awareness and to mobilize support of the goal of the Decade "Full Participation and Equality of People with Disabilities".

This is the first time that the meeting is being held in Bangkok.

The 5-day Campaign 2000 included an exhibition of Arts Crafts Posters and Technology :  Freedom from Barriers by  the disabled persons.

The organizers of Campaign 2000 were ESCAP,  Thailand s Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare,  the  Regional NGO Network for the Promotion of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons (RNN) and the National Council on Social Welfare of Thailand under Royal Patronage.

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Mr. Kim Hak-Su explains the United Nations Day exhibition>
to the Prime Minister of Thailand, H.E. Mr. Chuan Leekpai>
during the observance of the Day on 24 October 2000 at UNCC.

The annual United Nations Day observance in Bangkok on 24 October 2000 began with a flag-raising ceremony in front of the UN Conference Centre. This was followed by a formal ceremony in the ESCAP Hall that was presided over by H.E. Mr. Chuan Leekpai, Prime Minister of Thailand.

The official ceremony included a reading of the Secretary-General"s UN Day message by Mr. Kim Hak-Su, Executive Secretary, ESCAP; remarks by Dr. Manaspas Xuto, President of the UN Association of Thailand; and a keynote address by the Prime Minister of Thailand.

An  exhibition on the UN's activities in the Asia-Pacific region  under the theme "The UN Works....for Peace and Development" was organized jointly by the United Nations Information Services and  ten other UN agencies represented in Bangkok. One of the highlights was an exhibition by UNHCR on the work of the winners of a painting  contest held to celebrate its 25th    anniversary in Thailand. The Royal Thai Navy Band provided a light  concert of popular music throughout the celebration.  UNICEF children also sang "Little Sparks for Children Rights" and performed a drama show.

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Some 144 Heads of State assembled at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 6-9 September 2000 at the Millennium Summit resulting in a retrospective historical analysis, and a forward-looking philosophical approach to some of the long-range questions of international relations.

The most striking aspect of the Summit s deliberations was near universal recognition of the growing interdependence of the planet and an emphasis on the need to strengthen the United Nations, and the multilateral system as a whole, to forge "global solutions to global problems."

In spite of the generally positive tone of the debate, some countries  expressed apocalyptic concerns about the future of the planet if urgent remedial measures were not taken, for example, to save small island states from rising sea levels.

The Secretary-General's Report set the tone of the debate, with many delegates making positive references to its focus on "Freedom From Want", "Freedom from War" and "Renewing the United Nations."

The most topical issue was globalization and its political, economic and social effects. Developing countries warned that it should not become means for accentuating "the domination by the strong over the weak" or for widening the income gap between rich and poor nations.

Developing countries made strident calls for the United Nations to help them bridge the growing "digital divide" being brought about by the information revolution.  Development questions, particularly the urgency of poverty reduction and debt relief, and the inter-relationship between development, peace and security received major attention.

The issue of  humanitarian intervention and its political and legal ramifications remained a topical issue. Transnational  problems, such as the environment, the AIDS pandemic and terrorism, crime, drugs and corruption also received a great deal of attention.

The reform of the Security Council  received surprisingly high standing among the topics discussed with many delegates expressing particular impatience with its on-going stalemate.  Particular emphasis was also placed on the need to democratize the major institutions of the multilateral system-most particularly, the principal organs of the UN system, the Bretton Woods Institutions and the WTO.  There was a general emphasis for the UN System to move from a culture of   reaction to prevention.