ESCAP meeting urges quick action to end discrimination against women

Countries in the ESCAP region were urged to ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women by Year 2000 during the High-level Intergovernmental Meeting to Review Regional Implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action which took place in Bangkok from 26-29 October 1999. One of the goals of the Beijing Platform for Action, adopted in 1995 at the Fourth Wold Conference on Women, was universal ratification of the Convention. Of the remaining 27 States which have not yet ratified the Convention, a large proportion comes from the ESCAP region. The meeting had the participation of over 800 representatives from governments, NGOs, international agencies and organizations, advocacy groups, private sector organization and professional bodies.

The meeting focused on key issues within the context of global trends and demographic changes in the region. The participating countries presented reports which highlighted gaps in meeting targets, the obstacles faced as well as future action and plans for progress.

The issues around economic empowerment for women, including the impact of globalization and the Asian economic crisis; the feminization of poverty; and the unpaid work of women in their roles of mother, wife, and family worker were among the main concerns of this regional review. Similarly, issues of women’s rights as human rights were also on the agenda. Those included using a rights-based approach to empowerment, integrated approaches to combat violence against women, trafficking of women and children which are prevalent in three sub-regions—South-east Asia, South Asia and Central Asia.

ESCAP, DESA and UNCRD join with Thailand to organize Workshop on Social Implications of the Financial Crisis

There should be more careful targeting of government programmes designed to alleviate negative social implications, as well as involvement of civil society in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of such programmes; this was the message emanating from an Inter-regional Workshop on Social Implications of the Financial Crisis and Expert Group Meeting on the Agenda for Action on Social Development in the ESCAP Region, held on 25-27 May 1999 in Bangkok.

The Workshop was a joint initiative of ESCAP, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), and the United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD).

The Workshop addressed the social implications at the national and local level of the Asian crisis. It is in line with the Declaration and Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development, providing developing countries with assistance in resolving problems of poverty, unemployment and social exclusion.

The Workshop was held in conjunction with the Expert Group Meeting on the Agenda for Action on Social Development in the ESCAP Region. The Meeting focused on the related regional social development priority concerns and recommendations for regional action in the follow-up of the World Summit for Social Development.

United Nations to discuss integration of Indo-China countries into global trade system

A seminar on Integration of Indo-China into Global Trading Environment under the Forum for the Comprehensive Development of Indo-China was held in Ho Chi Minh City, on 7 and 8 October. The two-day seminar was organized by ESCAP in collaboration with the foreign Trade and Investment Development Centre of Viet Nam with financial assistance from the Government of Japan.

The seminar brought together senior policy makers and high-level private sector representatives, including leading multinational manufacturers and national chambers of commerce and industry, to examine prospects for the accession of the Indo-China countries to the World Trade Organization.

United Nations meeting urges environmental consideration in economic policy making

A High Level United Nations meeting held in Bangkok from 12-15 October called for greater integration of environmental factors into economic policy making to ensure sustainable development of the region. Organized by ESCAP, the Second Session of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Development was attended by senior officials from ESCAP member and associate member countries.

The agenda for discussion during the three-day session included policy issues for integrating environmental considerations into economic decision-making; efficient utilization of energy in supply-side facilities and demand-side management; and integrated assessment, development and management of land and mineral resources for sustainable economic development. In addition, a panel discussion on "A Sustainable Energy Future for All" was organized in line with the nineteenth special session of the General Assembly in 1997, which adopted the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21.

WTO and ESCAP sign MOU

The World Trade Organization (WTO) and ESCAP signed a "Memorandum of Understanding on 4 August 1999 concerning a Joint Training Programme for Developing Countries". Keen interest and support for this joint initiative has been expressed by developing countries and they have urged early implementation of the activities envisaged under the programme, especially in view of the forthcoming negotiations on trade and services.

ESCAP and the SIDS