STATEMENT BY MRS ANN THERESE NDONG-JATTA

CHAIRPERSON OF THE GAMBIAN DELEGATION

24th Special Session of the UN General Assembly

Geneva, 27 June, 2000

Mr. President
Excellencies
Distinguished Delegates

I would like to seize this opportunity first of all to join previous speakers in congratulating you, Mr. president, on your election as President of this Special Session, as well as on the able manner in which you have been presiding over our deliberations which, I have no doubt, will lead to a successful outcome.

I also thank you, on behalf of the Gambian delegation and on my own behalf, our hosts the Government of Switzerland, for the excellent arrangements put in place for this Special Session.

Mr. President, please permit me to state that The Gambia associates itself with the statement of the distinguished Chairperson of the Group of 77 and China.

Mr. President

Five years ago, we met in Copenhagen and committed ourselves globally and at the highest political level, to eradicate poverty, enhance employment and promote social integration. This commitment was encapsulated in the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action.

The Second Republic of The Gambia, in full recognition of its part of the responsibility in terms of implementation of the Programme of Action, had put in place a programme of rectification that created an environment conducive to social development. It infused dynamism into the Vision 2020 initiative. An allencompassing initiative, our country's version of the Vision 2020 comprised a froward-looking strategy that places emphasis among other things on guaranteeing a decent standard of living for all our people. Also, a comprehensive National Poverty Alleviation Programme is the focal point for poverty alleviation. In the recent past an institutional co-ordinating mechanism has been put in place for the mainstreaming of gender and poverty concerns programme.

Mr. President

As we embark, during this Special Session, on a five-year review of the implementation of the agreements made at the historic World Summit for Social Development, my delegation re-affirms our national commitment and pledge to redouble our efforts to deliver on the unwavering commitment made five years ago in Copenhagen. In our contribution to the debate during this very important Special Session, we will therefore focus on some issues that we have identified among others, that we think need particular attention.

Mr. President

Over and above the various strategies that have been put in place to implement the commitments in the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action, a flashback will reveal that while some progress may have been made, the hurdles that remain in the path of social development are overwhelming. Thus, while five years may not seem to be a long time, this Special Session, taking place on the threshold of the new Millennium, is an important watershed in the history of human development. Indeed, it accords us the opportunity to reassess and re-evaluate our past concerted efforts to make the world a better place for the global community. It is also an opportune time to look forward, within the context of our re-affirmation of the 1995 Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action while we pledge to take further actions to implement the commitment made at the World Summit for Social Development.

Mr. President

The "outcome" document that comes to us from the preparatory process preceding this Special Session, after long hours of intense and extensive negotiations is, but for some areas of regrettable disagreement arising from some irreconcilable fundamental differences, a useful guide in continuing efforts to implement the Programme of Action. The challenges that have always faced us remain daunting. To a certain extent, their resolution has become more urgent since Copenhagen. Some of these challenges are, to mention a few: the debt burden, armed conflict and the political and economic empowerment of women.

Mr. President

The link of cause and effect between the debt burden and slow rate of development and by extension poverty cannot be overemphasized. Despite repeated appeals for a lasting solution to be found, the debt crisis remains a critical factor for developing countries. As we have always done we once again appeal for cancellation or conversion of the debt stock of the LDCs targeting especially education, health and agricultural provisions for the general population. This would set the tone for a concerted international effort for the eradication of poverty and quality education for all.

With regard to the second issue, that of armed conflict, it cannot be gainsaid, Mr. President, that it diverts the human, natural and financial resources that are needed for social development. There are armed conflicts the world over but we can say without fear of contradiction that more than any other part of the world, the African continent is a case in point of severe development derailment where stagnant development and civil unrest are the norm rather than the exception. In a bid to resolve conflicts, insufficient attention is paid, alas, to the underlying causes of conflict. In this regard, we recall the UN Secretary General's 1998 Report on "the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa" in which a most interesting analysis of the root causes of conflicts on the continent is made. A number of Resolutions have since been adopted in reaction to some of the issues raised in the said Report. Unfortunately, it's the same old story about the problem of implementation. We must not let the momentum of such laudable initiatives falter and we must re-affirm our commitment to minimize armed conflict through concerted efforts, at the national, sub-regional, regional and international levels, to address the diverse and complex problems that lead to armed conflicts particularly in Africa.

Mr. President

As for the last issue that concerns us, it is only in recent years that the significant role that Women play and could play in social development has been accorded international recognition. This recognition was fully acknowledged by the convening in Beijing in 1995, of the Fourth World Conference on Women. Since Beijing, efforts have been made to include women in the decision-making process. In The Gambia for example, we have since witnessed a significant increase in the number of Women Permanent Secretaries and department directors, and the number of women cabinet members has risen to three including the Vice-President who is also responsible for Women's Affairs. The Deputy speaker of the national Assembly is also a woman.

However, in a bid to attain gender equality/equity world-wide, adequate resources must be provided for translation of the various commitments and resolutions into concrete actions; we must mainstream gender in all policies and programmes and we must exercise the political will and commitment that is a pre-requisite to the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action. Finally, as re-affirmed by Governments at the recently concluded Women 2000 Special Session held in New York, we must make microcredit and other financial schemes accessible to women.

Without concrete actions such as those enumerated, Mr. President, the political and economic empowerment of Women to ensure their full participation in national development will continue to elude us and the world will continue to be deprived of the input of a significant percentage of its workforce.

Mr. President

May I conclude by underlining - the fact that the world is sufficiently sensitised but may not be equally convinced in the translating of words into action. To act now and fast is the only firm assurance we can give the citizens of the universe of our commitment to social justice and development.

I thank you all for your kind attention.