Intergovernmental dialogue
The United Nations plays a major convening role in supporting dialogue and co-coordinating courses of action to address the challenges associated with the financial and economic crisis. One such example of this was the 47th Session of the Commission for Social Development. The Session was held in New York from 4-13 February 2009 and addressed the social impacts of the crisis.
Statement of General Assembly President on the financial crisis and its impact on development
Ambassador Miguel d' Escoto stressed in an informal meeting on the financial crisis and its impact on development that "countries must work together in the face of the worst global economic crisis in decades to ensure that the world’s most vulnerable, who are the least responsible for the meltdown, do not bear the brunt of the turmoil".
- Full statement of General Assembly President on the financial crisis and its impact on development
- Press conference on the impact of global crises on social development on 4 February 2009
Video [English, 33 minutes]"Unless swift action is taken, global crises, be financial, food or climate related, will have an adverse impact, particularly on the most vulnerable people," said Ambassador Kristi Lintonen, Permanent Representative of Finland. The press conference was also attended by Wim Kok, former Prime Minister of the Netherlands; Elsa Stamatopoulou from DESA's Division for Social Policy and Development and Bience Gawanas, Commissioner for Social Affairs at the African Union.
Presentations (video) were made by:
- Ms. Elsa Stamatopoulou, Acting Director, Division for Social Policy and Development [English, 20 minutes]
- Mr. Tariq Banuri, Director, Division for Sustainable Development [English, 20 minutes]
- Ms. Faith Innerarity (Jamaica), Ministry of Information, Culture, and Youth and Sports [English, 20 minutes]
- Mr. Tavengwa Nhongo (Zimbabwe), Africa Policy Director, HelpAge International [English, 20 minutes]
- Mr. Henk-Jan Brinkman, World Food Programme [English, 20 minutes]
- Mr. Juho Saari (Finland), University of Kuopio [English, 20 minutes]
Statement by UNCTAD’s President at the opening of the Multi-Year Expert Meeting on International Cooperation: South-South Cooperation and Regional Integration
Mr. Supachai Panitchpakdi states that 'South-South exchange - could soften the blow of the economic crisis on vulnerable economies.'
- Secretariat Note: Impact of current global crisis on social development
- Statement by Mr. Sha Zukang, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs
- Chairperson's Summary of the discussions related to the priority theme and emerging issues
- Statements by Date
- Interactive panel
- Side events
- Civil Society Participation
