ESCAP to hold 57th Commission Session

 Reduction of disparities between urban and rural areas in countries of the ESCAP region, access to infrastructure and services, opportunities for socio-economic mobility and control over natural resources and local development will be the main focus for discussion at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) 57th annual session from 19 to 25 April 2001.

 This year’s theme topic of the session is “Balanced development of urban and rural areas and regions within the countries of Asia and the Pacific.”

Delegates are also expected to discuss implications of recent economic and     social developments in the region and recommend policy responses.  Other subjects on the agenda include environment and natural resources development; transport, communications, tourism and infrastructure development; statistics and least developed, landlocked and island developing countries.

 Ministers and senior officials from 61 member and associate member countries and territories of ESCAP are expected to participate in the Commission session.

 The Commission session will be divided into two segments: the Senior Officials’ Segment (19-21 April) and the Ministerial Segment (23-25 April).

 A feature of this year’s session will be a special session of the regional preparations for the General Assembly on HIV/AIDS and the Ministerial Round Table.

Poverty in Asia and the Pacific, 1987-1998

	People living on less than $1 per day (millions)
	1987	1990	1993	1996	1998
East Asia and the Pacific(excl. China)	114.1	92.0	83.5	55.1	65.1
China	303.4	360.4	348.4	210.0	213.2
South Asia	474.4	495.1	505.1	531.7	522.0
Asia and Pacific (excl. Central Asia)	891.9	947.5	937.0	796.8	800.3
World	1 183.2	1 276.4	1 304.3	1 190.6	1 198.9
Asia and Pacific as per cent of world	75.4	74.2	71.8	66.9	66.8

Developing Nations Call for Efforts to Integrate into Globalization

 The ESCAP Meeting of Eminent Persons on Integration of Asian Developing Countries into the International Trading System concluded with a call on developing countries to exert efforts to integrate into economic globalization to ward off being marginalized in the process.

 The Meeting was organized by ESCAP and hosted by the Chair of the fifty-sixth session of ESCAP, H.E. Mr. Kamal Kharrazi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Tehran on 10 to 11 March 2001.

 The Eminent Persons Meeting discussed in more depth issues related to integration of Asian developing countries into the international trading system, with special emphasis on countries with economies in transition from a centrally-planned to a market economy as well as from a single product to a diversified product economy.

 The Meeting focused on three major issues: a) the rationale for integration in the context of globalization and liberalization; b) the role of government in the integration process and c) the role of the private sector in the integration process.

 In addressing the closing session, the Iranian Foreign Minister stressed the significance of globalization management, saying that all countries, whether big or small, should actively participate in the process.

H.E. Mr. Kamal Kharrazi,
Foreign Minister of the
Islamic Republic of Iran

 He called for comprehensive dialogue between developing countries and developed countries in a bid to bridge the gap dividing the two sides, saying that regional economic cooperation will be an ideal framework to achieve integration of developing nations into the international trade system.  He also underscored the importance of the private sector in the economic development.

 The Meeting was attended by eminent persons from the Asian and Pacific region, including Dr. Suphachai Panichapakdi, former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand and the future Director General of WTO.  The Meeting addressed the imbalances in the multilateral trading system between the developed countries on the one hand and the developing countries, in particular the economies in  transition, on the other.

 “The theme has assumed renewed importance in the context of the globalization process and the establishment of the World Trade Organization which has strengthened the institutional framework of the multilateral trading system in a globalized world,” said Mr. Kim Hak-Su, ESCAP Executive Secretary.

 The Meeting was a follow up to the deliberations of ESCAP fifty-sixth session, held in June last year, on the theme topic of “Development through globalization and partnership into the twenty-first century: an Asia-Pacific perspective for integration of developing countries and economies in transition into the international trading system on a fair and equitable basis.”

 The recommendations and results of this Meeting will be presented to this year’s fifty-seventh Commission session.
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 While some of the least developed countries (LDCs) in the region achieved considerable economic and social progress over the past decade, these countries still face  severe structural constraints in  accelerating their development.  These countries may become further marginalized due to the quickening pace of
globalization and increasing digital divide between developed and developing countries.

 These were some of the conclusions made at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific’s (ESCAP) fifth session in February of the Special Body on Least Developed and Land Locked Developing Countries with the adoption of multi-faceted recommendation for the Asian and Pacific region.

 Eleven out of thirteen least developed and landlocked countries of the region, ranging from Bhutan to Vanuatu, adopted recommendations with special focus on social issues, economic infrastructure, external trade and finance for development in the least developed countries.

 Executive Secretary of ESCAP Mr. Kim Hak-Su warned, however, that progress achieved so far rests on the fragile foundation of a narrow economic base, undiversified export structure and a high degree of vulnerability to external shocks.

 Therefore, the Special Body felt that it was imperative for international community to pay greater attention to the developmental needs of LDCs.

 The recommendations adopted by ESCAP Special Body will form the regional input to the Programme of Action to be adopted at the Third United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries scheduled to be held in May 2001 in Brussels.

Mr. Kim Hak-Su (middle), Executive Secretary of ESCAP,
chats with the American representative (left) during the
fifth session of the Special Body on Least Developed and
Land Locked Developing Countries held in Bangkok
from 20-21 February 2001.
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Mr. Kim Hak-Su, Executive Secretary of ESCAP gives
further explanations to the journalist from the Nation
after his presentation of the 2001 Economic and Social
Survey to the media on 3 April 2001.

 The 2001 Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific was launched  on 3 April 2001 in 15 capital cities in the region as well as in New York and Geneva.

 In Bangkok, the Survey was presented to the media by Mr. Kim Hak-Su, Executive Secretary of ESCAP.  The Survey is the flagship publication of ESCAP and was launched as a prelude to the 57th annual Commission Session, to be held in Bangkok from 19 to 25 April 2001.

 The 2001 Survey provides valuable and timely analysis and information on the principal policy challenges facing the Asia and Pacific region, in addition to an analytical review of the impressive recovery experienced by the region during 1999 and 2000.   The Survey also discusses the subject of financing for development from the perspective of the ESCAP region.

 Some of the findings of the Survey are as follows.  The economic performance of the ESCAP region has strengthened in 2000.  The average growth rate of the developing economies of the region increased by 1 percentage point while the economies improved their collectively growth rate by 1.3 percentage points.

 However, the Survey predicts that growth in the region is likely to decelerate by 1 percentage point and inflation to pick up modestly in 2001.

 The principal challenge facing the region is to maintain the momentum of growth in the face of potentially unfavourable external developments.  This requires national and subregional policies and initiatives.

 The Survey makes a number of recommendations in the following areas of policy:  a) Domestic resources; b) International private capital flows; c) Official development assistance; and d) International systemic issues.
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 The eighth session of the ESCAP Committee on Regional Economic Cooperation was held in Bangkok from 14 to 16 March 2001.  The Meeting concluded with recommendations that ESCAP, in close collaboration with the World Trade Organization (WTO) assist member countries in the areas of 1) awareness-creation on accession procedures, the implications and opportunities of WTO membership; 2) the integration of WTO agreements into national legal frameworks; 3) capacity-building in negotiating and implementing trade agreements and 4) monitoring of adherence to multilateral trading rules and regulations.

 The Committee also recommended promoting and assisting regional and subregional mechanisms for monitoring cross-border financial flows.   Priority should be accorded to assisting developing countries and those countries whose economies in transition in capacity-building and policy sensitizing through
training, workshops and other forms of technical assistance in the areas of liberalization, globalization, the attraction of foreign direct investment, skills development, business and technology incubation and risk-financing systems.  Assistance to the least developed countries and other disadvantaged countries should be intensified in the above areas according to the Committee.

 The Committee Meeting was attended by representatives from 24 member and associate member countries and representatives of other United Nations organizations and specialized agencies as well as intergovernmental organizations.
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 Desperately poor, with insufficient rain-fed land to feed her family, Mrs. Priyanni, turned to brick making as a sideline to supplement her husband’s meager wages.  The other 156 families in Bowarenna Watta village of Sri Lanka were equally poor, but Mrs. Priyani was the only part-time brick maker.

Mrs. Priyanni (left) with one of her
trainees at the oversize brick kiln
ready for firing.

 In 1995, under the ESCAP/FAO “Success-Case-Replication” (SRC), Mrs. Priyanni was trained by a retired ESCAP staff member, Mr. Jan B. Orsini, to use the SRC system to spread successful enterprises among the poor. Upon her returning home, she began to train her neighbors in brick making while
introducing a new “oversize” brick, more than twice the size of the traditional brick  which proved to be very popular.

 By the year 2000, Mrs. Priyani had trained some thirty of her neighbors, who in turn, had trained their own relatives, so that 152 of the 156 families in that village were now producing oversize bricks.  The tiny  “tuk-tuks” that had purchased small quantities of bricks at the main road, have gradually been replaced by large six-wheel flatbed trucks that drive right up to the villager’s brick stacks.

 The net income gained by each family in the first year of brick sales equals 54 times the cost spent on the SCR training.  The SCR method was tested in Bhutan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Mongolia, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam, from 1995 to 1998, and the average ratio of training costs to net income gain was 1 to 12, proving SCR to be very cost-effective.  SCR has also proven very self-reliant because it uses local success cases for replication. ESCAP plans to replicate the SCR method further as its best practices in other countries of the region.
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 The Spastics Society of Tamil Nadu, India, has been unanimously selected as the recipient of the 2000 ESCAP Human Resources Development (HRD) Award for the “Empowerment of People with Disabilities.” The Award carries a US$30,000 prize contributed by the Government of Japan.

 The Spastics Society of Tamil Nadu (SPASTN), an NGO, was chosen as the winner of the Award for its rights-based approach to the empowerment of people with disabilities, which truly reflected ‘full participation and equality’ - the spirit of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons 1993-2002, and for its wide impact in bridging the gap between grass-root groups and policy makers. A special mention of SPASTN’s use of indigenous cultural methods for raising awareness of the rights of persons with disabilities was also made.

 In addition to the Spastics Society of Tamilnadu, the two runners-up selected were the Institute of Research, Empowerment and Development for People with Different Abilities of Indonesia, and the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed, Bangladesh.

 Ten per cent of the world’s people have some form of disability. Many suffer extreme prejudice and are excluded from their communities, and frequently isolated within their own families.

 SPASTN works to empower people with disabilities so that they can determine their own development, and contribute to the economic, social, and cultural advancement of their communities on an equal basis with others in society.

 The Award is given annually by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). The Award will be presented to SPASTN during the 57th ESCAP Commission Session on Monday, 23 April 2001.

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 The observance of the World Water Day under the theme “Water and Health” was organized by ESCAP on 22 March 2001 at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok.

 “Access to clean water and proper sanitation are a major factor in disease reduction, and a basic human right”, pointed out both the United Nations Secretary-General and the Director General of WHO in their messages, which were read out by Mr. Kim Hak-Su, Executive Secretary of ESCAP and Mr. Terrence Thompson, representative of WHO/SEARO respectively to participants during the ESCAP observance.

 Dr. Suraphol Sudara, a noted marine scientist, delivered his statement on the Water Cycle by giving a global view and emphasizing that whilst man thinks he can control nature, its resources being there for his materialistic selfish greed, this is far from the case.

 “The natural water cycle proceeds uninterrupted, whatever, so man’s interventions simply act as a blockage, which leads to the ‘natural’ disasters we are expe-riencing.  Natural resources are to be ‘used’ with the understanding for common good, not for selfish gain and greed,” explained Dr. Suraphol.

 The event included two video presentations on “Most Vital Resource: Water” and “Cleaning Up” and a slide presentation of the Third World Water Forum.  Three panel discussions were organized on “Perspectives on Water and Health: Vision in Action”; “Water and Health: Prevention is Better than Cure” and “NGO and Volunteers: Initiatives on Water Conservation”.   An exhibition was also jointly organized by the United Nations family as well as government departments and NGOs.

 The observance was participated by over 200 representatives from the United Nations organizations and specialized, government and non-governmental organizations as well as students and academics.

Everyone needs basic water and sanitation.  Long-term solutions
should be complemented by interim measures to promote health.
Source: Water for Health: Taking Charge 2001, WHO
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Review of Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the 1990s: Subregional Studies

 This publication reviews the implementation of the Programme of Action and identifies some common issues currently faced by the LDCs countries, and proposes recommendations to address constraints.  A focus is upon actions and partnerships between the least developed countries, the developing countries in each subregion, and the international community at large.
 
 
 
 

 The publication contains the Ministerial Declaration on Environment and Development in Asia and the Pacific 2000, and the Regional Action Programme for Environmentally Sound and Sustainable Development, 2001-2005, to promote their implementation.
 
 
 
 
 
 

 The publication highlights the experiences of selected countries of the region in small rural industries (SMIs) as instrument in reducing rural-urban disparities, facilitating economic recovery and social stability, and improving the quality of life of the rural poor.  It also discusses the role of SMIs in countries affected by the economic crisis.
 
 
 
 
 

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Mr. Kim Hak-Su, (left) Executive Secretary of ESCAP,
and Mr. Yasuyuki Nodera, ILO's Assistant
Director-General congratulate each other after
the signing ceremony for a new framework of
cooperation between ESCAP and ILO on 23 January
2001 in Bangkok.

 A ground breaking video series exploring the right to development was given its initial launch in Geneva during the 57th Session of the Commission on Human Rights.  Produced for ESCAP by Young Asia Television (YA*TV), A Matter of Rights interprets the right to development in day-to-day terms.

 The basic message of the series is that the access of ordinary citizens to the basics of life, such as nutrition and adequate income, is as much a part of human rights as the right to liberty or freedom of opinion.  The series will be released in May 2001 to selected NGOs and public broadcasters throughout the Asian and Pacific region.

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