The World Conferences and Summits organized by the United Nations during the 1990s have a regional dimension and, within that context, there is a clear role and specific mandates for the regional commissions. Pursuant to those mandates, the Commissions have undertaken wide-ranging activities in their respective regions, both normative and operational, which included organizing regional and sub-regional follow-up conferences, conducting analytical studies and implementing specific projects. All these activities have been carried out in close collaboration with member States, the various entities of the UN system, other inter-governmental organizations and NGOs. 

The Regional Commissions also serve as policy forums for sharing of experiences and best practices both within their respective regions and across the regions. This is highlighted, in particular, through their convening of regional meetings on the occasion of  the review of implementation of the UN World Conferences and Summits on environment and sustainable development, social development, women, population and human settlements.  These meetings clearly demonstrate that the Regional Commissions are in a unique position to provide a region-wide forum for assessing the situation in these areas, exchanging experiences, developing strategies to face the constraints encountered and facilitating the active interface between governments and civil society.  By doing this the Regional Commissions fulfill one of their main functions which is to provide regional perspectives and concrete directives for further action on key issues addressed by the UN system at the global level.

These reviews show that while major experiences within regions and among regions have been heterogeneous, many of the challenges are common, particularly to developing regions. Some of the major challenges that demand much more intensive action and much greater priority than has been the case so far are: poverty alleviation; gender discrimination especially in employment as well as gender based violence; social integration; achieving democratic governance and responsible citizenship; and securing adequate financing for development. The demographic developments—varied as they are—pose complex and far-reaching challenges that are quite unique to different regions and sub-regions. All the regional reviews reflect the need for social, gender and development indicators for monitoring that would also serve as the benchmark for accountability and early warning mechanisms.

Many countries have made substantial advances in lifting their affected peoples out of poverty and reducing the levels of social exclusion of their communities—commendable contributions made possible by the collective efforts of Governments, civil society institutions and NGOs. Yet, globally, there is cause for deep concern. The number of income-poor in the developing world is again on the rise—estimated to exceed 1.2 billion in 1998 after having declined until 1996. ECA estimates put 47 percent of the African population below the poverty line. Many developing countries, especially in Africa and the least developed countries, are experiencing a financial squeeze exacerbated by high external debt. Some of these countries  spend less than one percent of their GDP on education, and even less on health. The financial crisis that struck many countries in Asia, as well as Russia, with their contagious effects on other countries, was a serious setback whose adverse consequences continue to hinder progress. The intensification of the pace of globalization and liberalization relentlessly expose many developing countries to intense competition, forcing the restructuring of their economies and adding further uncertainties to the circumstances being faced by their vulnerable groups of population. Not many countries have even set the targets for eradicating and/or substantially reducing poverty. Only half of the countries in Asia and the Pacific have any such targets; in Sub-Saharan Africa it is even less—a mere 42 percent. The Social Summit’s other major target to reduce adult illiteracy by half between 1990 and 2000 also suffers from serious setback. Only very marginal progress was recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Middle East and North Africa—the regions with the largest concentration of the illiterates. The position is even more distressing in respect of female literacy. These shortfalls are merely indicative of the overall inadequacies.    

We hope that the serious deficiencies in accomplishing the targets and objectives set by the Global Conferences and Summits will propel their mid-point global review meetings to undertake renewed commitments and determined efforts for the full realization of those targets and objectives. Implementing the goals of global Conferences requires policy measures and skills, institutional infrastructure and financial resources. Evidently, there is no substitute to more vigorous action at the national level. However, in a rapidly globalizing world, the success of national efforts critically depends on the international support measures. Not only that, sustaining the progress will depend on creating the enabling circumstances which require favourable international economic, trade and financial regimes. Countries devastated by prolonged conflicts and/or natural disasters need special support to overcome their vulnerabilities.

The process of the follow-up to the Global Conferences has served both to underline the intricate linkages among the main themes of the various Conferences and to reinforce the fact that meeting the challenges of development requires a comprehensive approach.  The regional commissions will continue to render multisectoral services to their member States, in compliance with their mandates, towards the complete realization of the targets and objectives of those Conferences and Summits.

Danuta Hübner

Executive Secretary of ECE,

Current Coordinator of the Regional Commissions