Intergovernmental dialogue
The United Nations plays a major convening role to support dialogue and coordinated courses of action to address the challenge. The Commission for Social Development plays an important role in addressing the social impacts of the crisis. Its 47th Session was held from 4-13 February 2009 in New York.
- 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
- Emerging Issues Panel on the global crises and their impact on social development on 9 February 2009
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
- 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
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."
"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 were made by:
Mr. Supachai Panitchpakdi states that "South-South exchange – could soften the blow of the economic crisis on vulnerable economies."