Fifty-Ninth General Assembly
Plenary Meeting
41st Meeting (PM)
GENERAL ASSEMBLY TAKES UP
ANNUAL REPORT OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL,
CULTURE OF PEACE, ROLE OF
SPORT IN PEACE, DEVELOPMENT
Taking up the annual report of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC),
for the first time in its entirety, the General Assembly today considered
the year-round work of the central United Nations forum for discussing
international economic and social issues, and which coordinates the activities
of the Organization's specialized agencies.
Introducing the report, Council President Marjatta Rasi (Finland)
said that over the past few years, the ECOSOC had made significant strides
in addressing the international development agenda in a holistic and coordinated
manner. The Council aimed to tackle the development challenges of the
day, and had promoted integrated implementation of the outcomes of the
United Nations conferences and summits by effectively coordinating the
activities of the United Nations system, by providing a forum for dialogue
on the emerging challenges of development, their policy implications and
how to design effective international responses.
While delegations supported the notion of a new global human order, which
the representative of Guyana called a genuine and earnest attempt to find
common ground on which future international cooperation could be solidly
founded -- aiming to redistribute global wealth and put global poverty
in check -- many speakers urged the Council to do more in managing globalization
and promoting equitable socio-economic development. They joined the representative
of Pakistan in urging the ECOSOC
to optimize its resources and opportunities -- including an improvement
in its work programme -- and serve as an instrument to strengthen multilateralism.
Some speakers praised the measures taken recently to recentre the Council's
agenda, particularly towards follow-up of the major United Nations conferences,
but several saw little progress in other areas. Belarus' representative
regretted that the ECOSOC had not managed to fully perform its mandate
of effectively monitoring and organizing the work of its functional commissions. It
was important to pass from routine automatic approval of reports and decisions
of those commissions to comprehensive analysis, and, if necessary, to correct
those decisions.
Thailand's representative said
the ECOSOC's credibility depended on its ability to respond more timely
and flexibly to current crises or opportunities. As a result, it might
be imperative for the body to enjoy the flexibility of holding more focused,
ad hoc sessions on critical and urgent issues. In order to increase its
visibility and political profile, the ECOSOC would need to increase its
expertise and specialization in economic and social issues, she added.
Noting that in the past, relevant sections of the Council's report had
been discussed in the Second Committee (Economic and Financial), which
would then provided delegations the opportunity to present their cases
in detail and to hear suggestions tailored to their needs, the representative
of Honduras was concerned that reform measures adopted last year moved
the discussion of the report directly into the Assembly, depriving developing
countries of an essential step of dialogue and negotiation. A mechanism
needed to be found to correct what now amounted to a gap in communication
between delegations and the Council, he said.
When the Assembly turned its attention to sport, the representative of Barbados,
speaking on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), said that sport
could be used as a powerful promoter of development and peace. Sport also
promoted the spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play, and taught
teamwork, discipline, leadership, trust, respect for others, and even coping
skills.
The representative of the United States said
her Government supported international athletic competitions because they
promoted understanding and respect for cultural diversity, fostered international
partnerships, and increased greater awareness of global social issues,
such as human rights, the role of women in society, and drug prevention. Moreover,
they generated a deep sense of national pride. She hoped that the International
Year of Sport and Physical Education (2005) would further dialogue around
the world, as sport could be a useful tool of diplomacy.
The representative of China,
set to host the 2008 Olympic Games and the Thirteenth Paralympic Games,
said his Government and the Chinese people were working and doing everything
they could to prepare. The construction of stadiums and facilities and
preparations for an environmental, social and urban infrastructure were
all under way. China would continue
to work with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and other governments
to display the Olympic spirit. It would do its utmost to make the Games
a wonderful occasion to maintain peace, promote development and enhance
exchange among civilizations.
In addition, the Assembly began its evaluation of global efforts to support
the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the
Children of the World (2001-2010), ahead of the Secretary-General's mid-term
progress report to be submitted next year. The Assembly's interim consideration
follows up on implementation of the 1999 Declaration and Programme of Action
on the Culture of Peace, which promotes, among others, solidarity and tolerance
among all civilizations and cultures, including towards ethnic, religious
and linguistic minorities.
The representatives of Tunisia and Philippines introduced
draft resolutions on, respectively, sport as a means to promote education,
health, development and peace, and the promotion of cooperation among religions.
Also speaking today were the representatives of Jamaica, Iceland, Haiti, Azerbaijan, Switzerland, United
Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan and El
Salvador.
The Assembly will meet again tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m. to continue
and conclude its joint debate on matters related to the culture of peace
and sport for peace and development. It is also expected to begin its
discussion on follow-up to the 2002 special session on children.
Background
The General Assembly met this afternoon to discuss the Report of the Economic
and Social Council (ECOSOC), and the role of the United Nations in promoting
a new global human order. Its joint debate was also expected to include
consideration of matters related to sport and peace for development and
the follow-up to the outcome of the 2002 special session on children.
Reports
The Assembly will have before it the ECOSOC's annual report (document
A/59/3 and Add.1), which details that body's work for the year, including
an accounting of its special high-level meeting this past spring with the
Bretton Woods institutions and the World Trade Organization (WTO), as well
as its annual high-level segment, which was devoted to resource mobilization
and enabling environment for poverty eradication in the context of the
implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries
for the Decade 2001-2010. An addendum to the report lists the composition
of the Council and its subsidiary and related bodies.
The Assembly will also consider a note by the Secretary-General transmitting
the report of the Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund
(UNFPA) on the 2004 Population Award (document A/59/160). This
year, two Australians dedicated to groundbreaking work on some of Africa's
greatest challenges received the Award in New York. The individual award
went to demographer John Caldwell, who has done extensive research on the
HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa, while the award for an institution went to
the Addis AbabaFistulaHospital, a vital service that Dr. Catherine Hamlin
helped establish in Ethiopia over
30 years ago.
The annual Award honours individuals and institutions for their outstanding
work in the field of population and in the improvement of the health and
welfare of individuals. The Award Committee, chaired by Ambassador Iftekhar
Ahmed Chowdhury of Bangladesh,
selected the winners after reviewing nominations received from around the
world. The Committee is made up of United Nations Member States, with
the UNFPA as its secretariat. Each winner received a certificate, a gold
medal and an equal share of a monetary prize. The report also notes that,
as at 1 January 2004, the Trust Fund had a total of $736,308. Interest
income in 2003 was $13,277. Expenditures in 2004, including the prizes,
totalled $46,759.
Also before the Assembly is the Secretary-General's report on public
administration and development (document A/59/346), which outlines
proposals for commemorating, during the Assembly's sixty-first session,
the tenth anniversary of its resumed fiftieth session on public administration
and development. It suggests that the commemoration could be an opportune
time to evaluate progress made in revitalizing public administration
and to share successful experiences that have contributed to the achievement
of the Millennium Development Goals.
In that context, the report recalls the April 2004 recommendations formulated
by the Committee of Experts on Public Administration on repositioning and
revitalizing public administration to accelerate process in achieving development
goals, and sets forth a number of benchmarks that could guide countries
in this process.
The report also draws the Assembly's attention to recommendations on preparatory
and supporting actions that could be taken in connection with the anniversary's
observance, including hosting the Global Forum on Reinventing Government
at Headquarters in 2006; devoting the ECOSOC's high-level segment in 2006
to the changing role of administration; and celebrating United Nations
Public Service Day and the presentation of the Organization's Public Service
Awards in a more visible manner.
On matters related to the culture of peace, the Assembly has before it
the Secretary-General's note transmitting the report on the International
Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the
World (2001-2010) (document A/59/223), which was prepared by the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It
follows four other reports, which provide the strategy for the implementation
of the Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace and the International
Decade.
In the report, the Secretary-General states that, in the present international
context, it is fundamental to renew the common commitment to a true culture
of peace by strengthening efforts to develop dialogue and mutual understanding. One
aspect of this is to create a dialogue among civilizations by building
bridges between cultures and communities. In this context, the UNESCO
General Conference endorsed the 2003 New Delhi Declaration and the "Message
from Ohrid", adopted by the Regional Forum on Dialogue among Civilizations.
Those messages set out new approaches, concepts and perspectives, using
the vectors of education, science and technology, cultural diversity, the
media and information and communication technologies (ICT), with a view
to construct a framework for dialogue, particularly at the regional and
subregional levels. To confront current challenges, it is necessary to
act in a holistic and coherent manner -- and the International Decade provides
a comprehensive framework for such action.
According to the report, the Declaration and Programme of Action on a
Culture of Peace have stressed the way in which different action areas
have to be combined, leading to joint relevant activities. The efforts
of various United Nations agencies, programmes and research institutions
are, therefore, an important contribution to the overall objectives of
the Decade. To further advance the concept, close inter-agency cooperation
might be desirable, especially as the Decade's midpoint approaches. At
the country level, resource mobilization for various kinds of activities
will be critical for sustaining the momentum of, and renewing commitment
to, the International Decade.
Before the Assembly is another note by the Secretary-General transmitting
the report of the UNESCO Director-General on promotion of religious
and cultural understanding, harmony and cooperation (document A/59/201),
which focuses on three topics: the use of education as a means of promoting
sustainable tolerance and peace; an overview of the activities designed
to promote inter-religious dialogue; and the implementation of activities
in support of dialogue among civilizations, which has become the principle
focus of the organization's efforts. The report concludes that inter-religious
dialogue is an important part of dialogue among civilizations. It implies
dialogue both among religions and within a single religion.
Indeed, the key issue raised by the dialogue is the place of ethics in
the relationship between societies, peoples and individuals. Hence, inter-religious
dialogue constitutes an essential element of the dialogue among civilizations. In
keeping with its ethical and intellectual mandate, the UNESCO, working
with other United Nations organizations, as well as non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) and academia, continue to promote its programme on inter-religious
dialogue, particularly since religious intolerance still exists. The report
adds that it is vital for the international community to encourage inter-religious
organizations and movements working for peace to engage in active dialogue
and cooperation, with a view to enhancing the values of pluralism.
By the terms of a draft resolution on promotion of cooperation among
religions (document A/59/L.15), the Assembly would affirm that cooperation
among religions constitutes an essential element of the dialogue among
civilizations and of the culture of peace. It would also request the
Secretary-General to bring the matter of cooperation among religions
to the attention of all governments and relevant international organizations,
in order to obtain their views and comments and to submit a report on
his findings by next year.
On sport for peace and development, the Assembly has before it the Secretary-General's
report on the International Year of Sport and Physical Education (2005)
(document A/59/268), which describes current and planned activities, initiatives
and networking at the international, national and local levels and provides
examples of the potential of sports-related projects and programmes for
the promotion of health, education, development and peace. It also provides
examples of partnership initiatives among governmental organizations, as
well as with vibrant civic groups concerned with the area.
The report also details the Organization's efforts to formulate a public
information strategy for the Year, and notes that a logo has been approved
and a complementary slogan is being worked on. Since 2005 has also been
marked the International Year of Microcredit, the lead agencies will work
closely to develop synergies, as well as to reduce costs and maximize impact. It
also notes that a framework will have to be developed for long-range activities
beyond 2005, as well as confirming a launch day for the Year, and developing
a calendar of events.
By the terms of the draft resolution on sport as a means to promote
education, health, development and peace (document A/59/L.9), the
Assembly would decide to launch the International Year of Sport and Physical
Education on 27 October 2004. It would also invite governments, appropriate
bodies of the United Nations system and sports-related institutions to,
among other things, organize events to promote the role of sport and
physical education for all when furthering their development programmes
and policies, to advance health awareness, the spirit of achievement
and cultural bridging and to entrench collective values.
The report of the Secretary-General on the follow-up to the United
Nations special session on children (document A/59/274) provides
an update on progress in realizing the commitments set out in that meeting's
final document "A World Fit for Children", with a view to identifying
problems and constraints and making recommendations on actions needed
to achieve further progress.
The final section of the report -- "Ways Forward" -- notes that in the
two years since the adoption of the session's outcome, there have been
numerous but often isolated examples or rapid progress in both individual
countries and regions. Those examples demonstrate accelerated progress
is possible but also that current efforts need to be scaled up and better
supported, both by resource allocations and by action at the political
level.
Two notable innovations since 2002 are the recognition of children and
young people as a major constituency and their involvement in many government-led
decision-making processes. The report stresses that the United Nations
system will continue to support the aims of the special session, with the
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) working closely with governments
and other international partners for the collection and dissemination of
information on progress and experience gained in the implementation of
the Declaration and Plan of Action.
ECOSOC Report, New Global Human Order
ECOSOC President MARJATTA
RASI (Finland), introducing
that body's report, said that over the past few years, the ECOSOC had made
significant strides in addressing the international development agenda
in a holistic, coherent, coordinated manner. It had done so largely by
brining together important institutional stakeholders at one forum to address
the development challenges of the day. The Council promoted integrated
and coordinated implementation of the outcomes of the United Nations conferences
and summits, by effectively coordinating the activities of the United Nations
system, by providing a forum for dialogue on the emerging challenges of
development, their policy implications and how to design effective international
responses. That had enabled the Council to attract a large number of high-level
policy makers, heads of United Nations bodies and stakeholders, including
civic actors.
She went on to discuss the specifics of the Council's 2004 agenda, highlighting,
among other things, the policy dialogue of its high-level segment on the
world economic situation and international cooperation, and the high-level
meeting with the Bretton Woods institutions and the WTO. This year, that
meeting focused on specific areas of the Monterrey Consensus -- adopted
in 2002 by the International Conference on Financing for Development --
and their impact on the attainment of the Millennium Goals. It also helped
maintain the political momentum on financing for development, build a closer
relationship with the international financial institutions and led to the
development of a strategic platform where actions in support of the Consensus
were discussed.
During the Council's high-level segment, delegations had addressed the
extremely important theme of resource mobilization and enabling environment
for poverty eradication in the least developed countries. She then touched
on each of the Council's other segments including general, operational,
and coordination segments, which had specifically achieved significant
progress on the issue of gender mainstreaming and had reviewed United Nations
support for rural development in developing countries. She highlighted
another important and innovative event, joining the Council's operational
and humanitarian affairs segments to discuss the issue of transition from
relief to development, where delegations stressed the need to develop a
common understanding of when transition began and how rehabilitation and
reconstruction should be linked.
One of the Council's major contributions had been its increasing involvement
with countries emerging from conflict and the increasing collaboration
with the Security Council in such matters, she said, particularly noting
the work of the Ad Hoc Advisory Groups on Guinea-Bissau and Burundi. In
the area of conflict prevention, the Council had decided in July to reactivate
its Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti,
which would focus on a long-term development strategy for that country. The
ECOSOC was perhaps the only United Nations body which had shown the immense
capacity to reform, innovate and adapt to changing realities. That process
had been ongoing, and the Council looked forward to further enhancing its
role. It also looked forward to the report of the High-Level Panel on
Threats, Challenges and Change to provide further impetus. Finally, she
acknowledged the effective participation of NGOs in this session of the
Council's work.
CHRISTOPHER HACKETT (Barbados), speaking on behalf of the Caribbean
Community (CARICOM), said that the evolving process of globalization was
leading to greater integration of markets, larger economies of scale, and
higher levels of prosperity for some. At the same time, there were also
growing inequalities in the distribution of its benefits. Disparities
between rich and poor within and among countries had increased, and that
had an adverse impact on human development. Those challenges facing the
international community suggested the need for coherent multilateral approaches
in addressing today's global problems.
He believed that the concept of a new global human order offered a framework
for integrating the economic, environmental, social, cultural and political
aspects of development. It was opportune to operationalize that approach
to development under the ambit of the United Nations, he continued, given
that the underlying objective of the new global human order could provide
a sound platform, not only for achieving the Millennium Development Goals,
but also for the promotion of development over the long-term. That would
be a central challenge as States prepared for next year's review summit.
BAYNEY KARRAN (Guyana)
said development policies over the past decade had been discussed largely
in terms of whether or not they enabled a country to take full advantage
of a world economy that was [more] closely integrated than at any other
time in history. Far from the goal of redistributing global wealth that
animated most of the development discourse since the 1960s, "we appear
to be faced instead with the redistribution of global poverty", he said.
The new global human order, he said, was a genuine and earnest attempt
to find common ground on which future international cooperation could be
solidly founded and to provide a comprehensive and holistic framework for
development cooperation. Far from competing with other initiatives and
proposals already in existence and currently being pursued, it was intended
as a complementary device for facilitating consensus on what actions needed
to be taken. Conceivably, it could also serve as a safety valve if, or
when, the established negotiating process floundered or failed.
The central challenge for the international community was to find the
political will to energize efforts to create a new development paradigm
for the twenty-first century, he said. The new global human order was
not a stand-alone process on development, but instead an all-embracing
solution to the challenges of that process. Therefore, he would work with
Member States to present a resolution to address the next steps in the
consideration of the proposal for the new global human order.
STAFFORD NEIL (Jamaica)
said that over the past year, the Council had made good progress on the
discharge of its mandate, as well as in reaching decisions on most issues
before it, even though a few matters remained unresolved. The high-level
meeting with the Bretton Woods institutions had provided a welcome opportunity
for dialogue and exchange of views on the implementation of commitments
and on the management of the global economy. It was particularly important
to maximize the potential of such a forum to influence decision-making
on macroeconomic policies and development cooperation. Also, more effort
should be made to ensure that the high-level segment's outcome went beyond
presidential summaries and that it would be more practical and action-oriented.
He went on to urge the Council to continue to improve its preparatory
processes to ensure that the discussions were more narrowly focused; one
day did not allow enough time to handle too broad an agenda. Touching
on the accomplishments during each of the Council's segments, he noted,
nevertheless, that some elements of the work were still outstanding and
that more time needed to be given to examine the work and decisions of
the Council's subsidiary bodies. He had been disappointed that there had
been some resistance to discussion of international tax matters. The advantages
of reforms in that area were clear. There was no hidden agenda, he said,
adding that the objective was cooperation through the establishment of
an intergovernmental structure, which was inclusive and broadly representative. He
hoped that issue would be completed during the resumed session next week. He
also stressed the need for the issue of Council reform to move from the
discussion phase to the consideration and adoption of concrete proposals.
IGOR KRASNOV (Belarus)
said it was regrettable that the Economic and Social Council had not managed
to fully perform its mandate of effectively monitoring and organizing the
work of its functional commissions. It was important to pass from routine
automatic approval of reports and decisions of those commissions to comprehensive
analysis, and, if necessary, to correct those decisions. The role of the
Council in the coordination and strategic guidance of United Nations operational
activities should be further enhanced. That body should also further strengthen
its interaction with the Security Council, in order to combine efforts
for the creation of favourable conditions for the reconstruction and development
of States which had suffered from armed conflicts.
The ECOSOC's 2005 substantive session should serve as an important stage
for the review of the implementation of decisions adopted at the Millennium
Summit and other major international forums recently held under the aegis
of the United Nations in socio-economic and related fields. Like the Organization,
the ECOSOC too was at a difficult stage of reform and revitalization. Belarus,
with the necessary experience and knowledge, was ready to make its own
constructive contribution to that process. It was on that basis that it
aspirated to be elected to the Council for the term 2007-2009.
SALEEM SAIFULLAH KHAN (Pakistan)
said it was regrettable that, despite consultations during the substantive
session, except for the theme for 2005, Member States were unable to reach
an agreement on the themes for the multi-year work programme. He was,
however, encouraged to see the ECOSOC assume an active role in a number
of key areas, by spearheading important initiatives in the past years. The
Manifesto on Poverty provided the conceptual basis for the Millennium Development
Goals. Similarly, the establishment of the Information Communication Technologies
Task Force, the endorsement of the New Partnership for Africa's Development
(NEPAD), and the holding of the International Conference on Financing for
Development would not have been possible without the substantive input
of the ECOSOC.
The ambit of the Council's activities was undergoing a positive expansion,
which was a welcome development, he said. Development issues had economic
and social dimensions, and the two were becoming increasingly intertwined. An
integrated approach to economic and social development would avoid duplication
and overlap, in addition to ensuring strengthened coordination and utilization
of resources at all levels. He added that a major shortcoming commonly
attributed to the ECOSOC was its inability to enforce decisions and its
relative powerlessness in comparison to the international financial, trade
and economic institutions.
The ECOSOC, he continued, should optimize its resources and opportunities,
including an improvement in its programme of work, and serve as an instrument
to strengthen multilateralism. It should play a role in managing globalization
and promoting equitable socio-economic development, as well as play a role
in the preparations for the 2005 event, which would focus on follow-up
to the Millennium Summit and other United Nations conferences. The process
of United Nations reform would not be complete without according equal
emphasis to enhancing the role of the Organization in promoting a global
development agenda, and by empowering its various organs, including the
ECOSOC.
HJÁLMAR W. HANNESSON (Iceland)
said that while the international community had committed to addressing
the problems and challenges facing the poorest nations, progress had been
mixed. Although a number of nations had progressed at an unparalleled
rate, others had lost headway and needed urgent attention. Concerted efforts
were required to accelerate progress to meet internationally agreed goals.
He said the theme of the 2005 Economic and Social Council high-level and
coordination segments was particularly relevant, adding that those meetings
would constitute a major input into the Assembly's 2005 high-level review. There
would be important events next year with regard to women's issues and the
promotion of gender equality. The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)
would be dedicated to the review of the Beijing Platform for Action and
the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly.
The Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the Vienna Declaration on
Human Rights declared that all human rights were universal and inalienable,
he noted. The protection and promotion of human rights was a primary responsibility
of governments. As such, he was deeply concerned that the ECOSOC failed
to approve a resolution last summer to reverse the decision of the Commission
on Human Rights (CHR) on Human Rights and Human Responsibilities. The
Commission's decision, together with the pre-draft declaration on human
rights and human responsibilities, constituted a direct assault on the
foundations of human rights and international human rights law by claiming
that such rights were conditional.
FRIZNEL AZOR (Haiti) said
the weakening of institutions in developing countries was without doubt
a serious break in socio-economic development, often impeding such development
and favouring corruption. In that context, one could not deny the vital
role that efficient public administration could play in negating adverse
socio-economic conditions and creating wealth. Equity, transparency and
accountability would improve public administration.
It was also necessary, he continued, to strengthen State institutions,
provide proper training and adequate human resources, and properly use
technologies. Failure to respect such requirements often harmed the proper
functioning of public administration and more often than not led to acts
of irresponsibility and corruption. Also, the qualifications of officials
must be commensurate with the responsibilities assigned to them. National
institutions that were weakened must be strengthened if they were to be
reassigned the functions they were originally given. He welcomed international
assistance to strengthen his country's institutions.
He said the issue of creating a new global human order had long been the
concern of philosophers. The founders of the Organization, and later the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, had respect for the integrity of
human beings and of their social and economic rights. Human beings had
to be restored to their true place and the Millennium Declaration was a
model to help achieve that. Racism, xenophobia, the systematic violation
of human rights, terrorism and HIV/AIDS were great threats to mankind,
as were hunger and poverty. Saying the challenges were clear cut, he called
on leaders to invest more to address them.
PHANTIPHA IAMSUDHA (Thailand)
said she firmly believed that the realization of a people-centred approach
to development and the empowerment of individuals, particularly through
the goals of poverty eradication, achieving full employment and enhancing
social integration, were inextricably linked to international peace and
security. The Millennium Goals could serve as a basis for defining a more
action-oriented ECOSOC and providing more focus to its agenda. However,
the ECOSOC should be given an increased and clearly defined role as a forum
for reviewing and evaluating United Nations system-wide efforts to achieve
the Goals. The ECOSOC's credibility depended on its ability to respond
more timely and flexibly to current crises or opportunities. As a result,
it might be imperative for the ECOSOC to enjoy the flexibility of holding
more ad hoc, focused sessions on critical and urgent issues.
In order to increase its visibility and political profile, the ECOSOC
would need to increase its expertise and specialization in economic and
social issues, she said. The Council might also benefit from the convening
of increased high-level policy debates on cross-sectoral economic and social
development issues. With regard to its relationship with other bodies,
the ECOSOC should continue to develop public-private partnerships and increase
public awareness of development issues. It should also develop more established
coordination with international financial organizations and regional economic
groupings by encouraging the organizations to present their annual reports
for the Council's comment and evaluation. The ECOSOC also needed to expand
its coordination with the Security Council on specific economic situations,
as well as enhance coordination with the Assembly.
YASHAR ALIYEV (Azerbaijan)
said he was pleased to note an incremental and closer engagement of the
Economic and Social Council in promoting economic and social development
through its policy guidance and recommendations. He recognized the important
role of the Council in ensuring coordinated follow-up to and implementation
of all major United Nations conferences and summits. The elaboration of
the multi-year work programme based on a cross-sectoral approach contributed
to strengthening the Council's role in the review and follow-up process.
He emphasized the importance of increased interaction between the ECOSOC
and international financial and trade institutions. The spring meeting
of the Council, on financing for development, was an important dialogue
for promoting coherence and preserving collaborative approaches, and for
evaluating the efficiency of the follow-up to Monterrey. In the implementation
process, he added, the support of the functional commissions was crucial. He
also stood for the strengthening of the Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and valued efforts toward streamlining
the ECOSOC's working methods.
MARCO SUAZO (Honduras)
said the Council's report was particularly important for developing and
least developed countries, and small island developing States (SIDS). Honduras fell
into those categories and was, therefore, concerned by the procedural changes
that had led to today's first-ever discussion of the report in its entirety
by the Assembly. In the past, the relevant sections of the document had
been discussed in the Second Committee (Economic and Financial), which
provided delegations the opportunity to present their cases in detail and
to hear suggestions tailored to their needs. The Second Committee then
made its recommendations on which the Assembly would subsequently act.
But the reform measures adopted last year moved the discussion of the
report directly into the plenary, he continued, and with that many delegations
had been deprived of that essential step of dialogue and negotiation. A
mechanism needed to be found to correct what now amounted to a gap in communication
between delegations and the Council. The most challenged countries on
the planet could not be deprived of that outlet. On other matters, he
stressed the need for greater and better coordination between the ECOSOC
and the Security Council. Later in the discussions he added, his delegation
would present a draft resolution on public administration and development,
which would focus on combating corruption; placing information technology
at the service of civilian populations; and promoting e-government, among
other things. His delegation would also participate in discussions on
finding ways to place specific items on the agenda of the Second Committee.
Culture of Peace, Sport for Peace and Development
ALI HACHANI (Tunisia)
introducing the draft resolution on sport as a means to promote education,
health, development and peace (document A/59/L.9), said he hoped the text
would receive support from all delegations. Both sport and education were
important for physical and mental health. He reaffirmed that the dimensions
of the resolution were at the heart of the Millennium Declaration, which
requested above all cooperation, dialogue and coordination. It was up
to the international community to establish the foundations and related
activities, and to stop factors that impeded physical and mental development,
particularly steroid abuse and the use of sport for commercial purposes. Athletes
must be used to protect athletes from the latter.
Those who flouted the rules of sport and went against fair play must be
confronted, he stressed. Health, development, sport and peace were four
dimensions that the United Nations must focus on. He hoped initiatives
would be put in place to help the resolution achieve its objectives, that
there would be an international convention to combat the use of steroids
and that a code of conduct would be established. The draft resolution,
he noted, proposed measures for sport and education that would make the
world safer. He hoped that the Secretary-General would launch the International
Year of Sport and Physical Education on 5 November, as per the oral amendment
he read out.
LAURO L. BAJA (Philippines)
introduced the draft resolution on the promotion of cooperation among religions
(document A/59/L.15), the first draft of which had been introduced last
year, and whose concept had been allowed to germinate since then. Recent
positive developments had reinforced his belief that now was an opportune
moment to introduce a revised version. First, the Panel of Eminent Persons,
created by the Secretary-General last year to review the relationship between
the United Nations and civil society, reported that religious and spiritual
groups deserved greater attention by the Organization because of their
explicit representational role or wide membership. Such groups provided
powerful community leadership; shaped public opinion; provided advice on
ethical matters; facilitated reconciliation between conflicting communities;
and identified the needs of vulnerable groups.
Secondly, he said, the UNESCO had stated that a particularly important
dimension of the dialogue among civilizations was inter-religious dialogue,
which implied both dialogue among religions and within a single religion. The
key issue raised by the dialogue among civilizations was the place of ethics
in the relationship between societies, people and individuals. The UNESCO
had also stated that world religions and beliefs could contribute tremendously
to the promotion of a culture of peace if they could resolve to collectively
face the problems confronting the world today, such as terrorism and sectarian
violence, while practicing tolerance within their respective religious
communities and in their interfaith relations.
Thirdly, he added, the heads of State and government of the Asia-Europe
Meeting had decided, at their summit early this month in Hanoi, to launch
an initiative called interfaith dialogue. The theme was to build interfaith
harmony within the international community. He called for the activation
of the caucus of that Meeting in the United Nations to push that idea forward.
CHRISTOPHER HACKETT (Barbados),
speaking on behalf of the Caribbean Community, said that sport could be
used as a powerful promoter of development and peace. Sport was a participatory
way for children and young people to learn values and lessons that could
be long lasting. Sport also promoted the spirit of friendship, solidarity
and fair play, and taught teamwork, discipline, leadership, trust, respect
for others, and even coping skills. Sports could provide the supportive
and self-sustaining environment that could help prepare young people to
meet the difficult challenges that they were most certain to experience
in their lives.
The CARICOM countries, he continued, had a long history in using sport
in schools for such child development purposes. Changing social values
were, however, creating new challenges for successfully incorporating sports
in that way, and the CARICOM looked forward to working with the United
Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and UNESCO in incorporating sports and
physical education into some of their country and regional Caribbean programmes. He
also encouraged the UNICEF to include the global and regional governing
bodies of cricket-playing countries in their partnerships with the sports
world.
ZHANG YISHAN (China) said
his Government attached importance to the development of sport, and its
fundamental goal was to improve people's health. Since 1995, when China promulgated
the "Program of Building Up National Health", his nation had seen a series
of achievements in the area of sports. Public awareness of health issues
were raised, sport activities mushroomed and physical education was a major
course at the primary, secondary and tertiary educational levels. During
this year's Olympic Games, the Chinese team won 32 gold medals, a historic
record. At the Twelfth Paralympics, the Chinese team ranked first in gold
medals and in the total number of medals.
In 2008, China would host the
Olympic Games and the Thirteenth Paralympic Games, he said. His Government
and the Chinese people were working and doing everything they could to
prepare. The construction of stadiums and facilities and preparations
for an environmental, social and urban infrastructure were all underway. China would
continue to work with the International Olympic Committee and other governments
to display the Olympic spirit. It would do its utmost to make the Games
a wonderful occasion to maintain peace, promote development and enhance
exchange among civilizations.
PETER MAURER (Switzerland)
said that the report and draft resolution on the issue of sport underlined,
once again, that sports could make a remarkable contribution to the promotion
of peace and the pursuit of several development goals, whether such goals
were individual, social, cultural or economic. Sport conveyed fundamental
human values that corresponded to those of the United Nations Charter,
such as respect for opponents, acceptance of rules, fair play and team
spirit. Switzerland had taken a variety of measures to promote the effective
use of sport for peace and development, such as organizing an International
Conference on Sport and Development in 2003, and supporting numerous projects
and programmes in which sport was considered as a means of achieving human,
social and economic goals.
At the international level, Switzerland intended
to provide financing and logistical support to the United Nations Office
in Geneva for the International Year of Sport and Physical Education. His
country would also organize the second International Conference on Sport
and Development in Macolin from 4 to 6 December 2005. Switzerland would
also continue systematically to integrate sport in development cooperation
and humanitarian aid, and to strengthen its role by regularly exchanging
information with bilateral and multilateral development organizations. At
the national level, Switzerland had
established a committee for the International Year that consisted of government
bodies, sport associations, NGOs and representatives of business and science.
SUSAN MOORE (United States)
said her Government supported international athletic competitions because
they promoted understanding and respect for cultural diversity, fostered
international partnerships, and increased greater awareness of global social
issues, such as human rights, the role of women in society, and drug prevention. Moreover,
they generated a deep sense of national pride. The report correctly stated
that sport brought individuals and communities together, and that it could
be a powerful vehicle through which the United Nations could work toward
achieving its goals.
She hoped that the International Year would further dialogue around the
world, as sport could be a useful tool of diplomacy. Among its sport diplomacy
programmes were those to help educators teach children the importance of
diversity and cultural understanding, done in connection with the National
Football League, and foreign citizens studying in the United
States as Fulbright Scholars. During 2005, she said
the United States would host major
athletic events, such as championships in speed skating, luge and track
cycling, among others. Those types of exchanges forged constructive partnerships
within the international community, not only between athletes but also
between organizers, hosts and spectators. She added that sport exercised
a deep hold on the human imagination, and it also transcended all perceived
barriers across ethnicities, ages, genders, religions, and abilities.
MOHAMED OBAID AL KATTAM AL ZAABI (United Arab Emirates)
welcomed initiatives aimed at strengthening cooperation and partnership
between the United Nations system and the International Olympic Committee,
and their joint activities to advance development, humanitarian assistance,
protection of the environment and the improvement of health and educational
services. He stressed the need to exert special efforts to assist developing
nations, especially small and poor countries, to rebuild their infrastructure
to enable them to participate in the Olympic Games and fulfil their training
requirements.
Great attention had been devoted to promote sport in the youth sector,
in particular traditional sport and leisure activities. Efforts made in
that direction resulted in the establishment of the ZayedSportCity, the
Supreme Council for Youth and Sport, and the National Olympic Committee,
which supervised the strategies aimed at advancing sport activities. In
addition, budgets were allocated to promote the establishment of new and
modern sport clubs, associations and specialized teams across the country. As
a result, the number of sport clubs had increased from 8 in 1970 to 31;
the number of associations and unions increased from 3 in 1973 to 23.
Sport and physical education should hold a fundamental place in the educational
system, he said, adding that sport contributed to physical, psychological
and social balance among children and youth. His country had incorporated
physical education in its educational system, including in primary education
and at the university level. In addition, leisure activities were vigorously
pursued, including boy and girl scouts activities, which had become one
of the most active movements in Asia. He hoped the observance 2005 as
the International Year for Sport and Physical Education would serve to
promote the concept of sport for all. Also, he looked forward to reaching
an international consensus on the elaboration of an anti-doping convention
to combat the drug abuse in sports.
PHUCHPHOP MONGKOLNAVIN (Thailand)
said he attached paramount importance to the culture of peace, which was
necessary for today's world, in which violence and terror were commonplace. His
Government viewed the promotion of sports and health care, as well as using
sport as a means to promote child development and fight against drug addiction,
as national policies. Not only was sport important to Thailand because
it helped people live a healthier lifestyle, but it also promoted social
interaction, relationships and business partnerships, as well as cultivated
a culture of peace. Every person, both young and old, could benefit from
sport. Children, in particular, could benefit tremendously from sport,
as it helped them in their overall development process, promoted their
self-expression, and helped build social connections, as well as kept them
away from illegal activities, such as drugs and crime.
Domestically, his Government had introduced many initiatives this year
to promote awareness and better understanding of the value of sport. They
included a countrywide outdoor aerobics event, with the Prime Minister
playing an instrumental role. In a time when conflicts were increasing,
sport could play a crucial role in bringing people together after the conflict
had ended, promoting trust and friendship, and helping in the reconstruction
process of a community. The United Nations had an important role to play
in promoting sport in that regard, and he supported the creation of a code
of good practice to enhance cooperation between MemberStates and international
sports bodies.
HAJRA TARIQ AZIZ (Pakistan)
said the Declaration on a Culture of Peace, adopted by the Assembly in
1999, proclaimed that the development of a culture of peace was integrally
linked to the rights of all people to self-determination. The Declaration
further called for the elimination of all forms of racism, racial discrimination,
xenophobia and related intolerance. Following "9/11", suspicions and misunderstandings
between different faiths and cultures had been accentuated. Some had utilized
that to advance their self-serving thesis of an inevitable clash of civilizations,
others had exploited it to justify the repression of people of other faiths
and cultures. Such dangerous trends, she said, were deliberately fuelled
by those who believed they would gain from a clash of religions and cultures. Cooperation
must be the paradigm for collective endeavours. The promotion of understanding,
harmony and cooperation among religions was the indispensable avenue through
which the veil of ignorance would be lifted.
The key issue raised by the dialogue among civilizations was the place
of ethics in the relationship between societies, peoples and individuals,
she said. It was vital that the international community encourage inter-religious
organizations and movements working for peace to engage in a more active
dialogue with a view to promoting harmony and coexistence. Ethnicity,
religion, culture, language or race should not be allowed to become a source
of divisiveness. She recalled that General Pervez Musharraf had outlined
a concrete strategy of Enlightened Moderation, which sought to promote
socio-economic emancipation, human resource development, and a just and
peaceful resolution to disputes. Enlightened Moderation was a vital strategic
option to prevent the current international system from dissolving into
interminable conflict and strife.
YERZHAN KH. KAZYKHANOV (Kazakhstan)
said the report provided an overall strategy of the international community
regarding the implementation of the Programme of Action on a Culture of
Peace. It also reflected a broad range of activities carried out by the
United Nations system, international institutions and civil society, which
together had made an important contribution to the objectives of the International
Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the
World. Resolution 58/128 underlined the importance of promoting understanding
and tolerance among people in all their diverse religions, beliefs, cultures
and languages. Kazakhstan shared
the view that under current conditions, it was fundamental to renew the
common commitment to a true culture of peace by strengthening efforts to
develop dialogue and mutual understanding.
Resolution 58/5, he continued, recognized the important role of sport
in the implementation of the internationally agreed development goals. Sport
had become a powerful instrument by which the Organization could work toward
achieving its important goals. He believed that proclamation of the year
2005 as the International Year of Sport and Physical Education would broaden
the general perception of sport and encourage further development of intercultural,
post-conflict, and peace-building dialogue. He also concurred with the
view that the practice of sport was vital to the holistic development of
young people, fostering their physical and emotional health.
CARMEN MARÍA GALLARDO (El Salvador)
said her country had learned how to turn a signed peace into real peace. But
such peace was only possible if there was resolve by those who had laid
down their weapons to consider ideas. Her country was dedicated to working
with the United Nations to find peaceful solutions to conflicts. But new
threats had arisen, which transcended borders and necessitated finding
mechanisms to address them, as well the related deteriorating socio-economic
conditions. The manifestations of international terrorism and its destabilizing
effects compelled the international community to redouble efforts to promote
a dialogue among religions and civilizations.
Now was the time for the international community to direct its activities
towards specific actions to build a culture of peace, she said. Peace
was an evolving and dynamic process involving society and was not just
the lack of conflict. Salvadoreans, who were witnesses to peace, knew
that it was only possible through national reconciliation. She also stressed
that there could be no peace without development. In his report, the Secretary-General
had raised important points for consideration, which must be kept in mind
as "we embark on the process of a culture of peace", she said. There was
a need to disseminate values that fostered peace, or it could not be sustained. Today,
the right to peace was one of the fundamental pillars of human rights.
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