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Statement by

H.E. DR. MOZAMMEL HOSSAIN

Hon'ble Minister of State for Social Welfare

Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh

Geneva, 26 June, 2000

Mr. President

Mr. Secretary General

Excellencies

Distinguished Delegates

May I begin Mr. President, by reaffirming that we have every confidence in your ability to lead our deliberations to success.

Five years ago in Copenhagen, the international community made a solemn commitment to implement a "Global Agenda for Social Development". It is with this same sense of commitment, that we are gathered here to take stock of the progress since achieved, and to chart a future course of action to accelerate social development.

Mr. President,

The Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had a vision of a Sonar Bangla or Golden Bengal where every citizen lived in dignity, free from the scourge of poverty, illiteracy, homelessness and hunger. We continue to be inspired by his vision in our stride towards upholding the basic rights of our people in the face of daunting challenges. Our present government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina places high priority upon social development. While I shall share some of our experience with you the rest is contained in the Country Paper that is being circulated.

Mr. President,

As a follow-up to the Copenhagen Summit, a National Plan of Action within the framework of the country's Fifth Five Year Plan (1997-2002) was adopted. A National Committee comprising representatives of relevant Ministries of the Government as well as from the civil society was established in 1996 to implement the National Plan of Action. Specific time bound programmes were adopted to implement the Summit goals. Bangladesh has in fact, gone beyond fulfillment of the 20 - 20 initiative. About 40% of the total allocation of resources of Annual Development Programme is now devoted to social sectors.

We have made poverty eradication , expansion of productive employment and social integration our focussed priority. Almost 42% of the total allocation of current Annual Development Programme is devoted to agriculture, rural development, social welfare, youth development, primary education and health sectors. Among other anti poverty programmes are Ashrayan (projects for the homeless), Vulnerable Group Development Programme, food for work, food for education and special projects for the disabled persons, and allowances for distressed widows and the aged.

The success of micro-credit programme in Bangladesh is well-known. The programme is not only geared towards poverty eradication but has a significant impact on the empowerment of women in Bangladesh. The Micro Credit Summit which was cochaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Washington in February 1997, recognised micro-credit as a key strategy for achieving the goals of WSSD. The Summit endorsed a global campaign to reach 100 million of the world's poorest families with credit for selfemployment by the year 2005.

Bangladesh has been espousing the cause of social development in all major international fora including in the recently held UNGA Special Session for Beijing + 5. At the regional level, Bangladesh is also actively committed to the objectives of Dhaka Declaration for poverty eradication adopted by SAARC countries, aiming at eradicating poverty from South Asia preferably by 2002.

Mr. President,

We have placed special emphasis on generation of productive employment. A comprehensive employment strategy has been included in our Fifth Five Year Plan.

Social integration is a Constitutional commitment for Bangladesh. Particular emphasis is given to the most vulnerable and marginalised groups in the society. The Chittagong Hill Tracts Accord which brought to an end decades long insurgency had also paved the way for greater integration of the tribal population in the national mainstream.

Mr. President,

It is yet too early to draw absolute conclusions about the WSSD follow up actions on the socioeconomic indicators of Bangladesh. However, there is enough evidence to indicate that increased allocation in the social sectors has contributed significantly towards attainment of summit goals. To give some examples, our population growth rate has dropped from 1.81% in 1995 to 1.5% in 1998; adult literacy has increased to 58% in 1998 from 43.2% in 1995 and 44.7% of the population were living below the poverty line in 1999 compared to more than 47.9% in 1996.

Mr. President,

The creation of an "enabling environment" for social development, cannot be achieved successfully without collective commitment of the international community. The Copenhagen Summit had made specific commitment for strengthening international, regional and sub-regional cooperation for social development.

WSSD had identified specific targets and action by international community for the LDCs and Africa. There has not been much progress in fulfilling the agreed target of earmarking 0.15% to 0.2% of GNP as ODA for the LDCs. Most LDCs continue to confront problems of access to markets, decline in FDI and technology transfer. Unless urgent steps are undertaken, the goals of social development will remain elusive for most LDCs. We hope the upcoming G-8 Summit will come up with firm commitment to alleviate the situation of the LDCs.

Mr. President,

However, encouraging though some achievements may appear, much more remains to be done. As we identify new initiatives at the Special Session who would like to recommend the following

· ECOSOC as the body primarily responsible for coordinating international efforts in the follow-up to the UN Conferences, including the WSSD, needs to be further strengthened and made more effective through fostering a closer working relationship with its subsidiary bodies, and the UN funds and programmes, as well as with the specialized agencies of the United Nations;

· It is also imperative that the ECOSOC interacts and engages more closely with regional groups which are outside of the UN system. Such interaction could help in a constructive engagement and augmentation of resources available with the UN and at the regional level for the specific needs of countries in respective regions;

· It is essential to have regular interaction among the UN System, the Bretton Woods institutions, the WTO and UN Member States to establish effective partnership for social development;

· Establishment of a high-level Task Force comprising all major multilateral actors for a coordinated and transparent implementation of the WSSD goals and commitments;

· Renewal of commitments, including through adequate resource mobilization and allocation, and transfer of technology for achieving Summit commitments for developing countries particularly for the LDCs;

· Fulfillment of- ODA targets with special attention to the LDCs and effective implementation of the 20/20 initiative aimed at ensuring increased resources for social development.

· Setting up of a `Globalization Fund' to finance the social development programmes to address the problems arising out of globalization.

Mr. President,

The Copenhagen Summit placed social development at the center of the global political agenda. And it is our firm conviction, that given necessary political will and our collective efforts, we should be able to achieve the goals of social development and establish a more just, peaceful and prosperous social order in the new millennium.

I thank you, Mr. President.