Social development issues in the OT – GA Third Cttee debate – Press release (excerpts)

THIRD COMMITTEE SPEAKERS STRESS IMPORTANCE OF CONFERENCE OUTCOMES

IN EFFORTS TO REDUCE POVERTY, PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT, ENHANCE SOCIAL INTEGRATION

Committee Concludes Discussion of Social

Development Questions, Will Take Up Women’s Issues

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Background

The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian, Cultural) met this morning to continue its consideration of social development issues, including questions related to the world social situation, youth, ageing, the family and disabled persons.

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Statements

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RANIA AL HAJ ALI {Syria} …

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She said the Government had also created an action plan for the elderly through 2012, which was in line with the outcome eof the Second World Assembly on Ageing.  The Government had collaborated with non-governmental organizations to implement many development programmes.  With all that in mind one could not talk about social development and ignore the deplorable situation in the Palestinian occupied territories.  The continued Israeli occupation of those territories practically ensured that social development could not be achieved.  The deterioration of the humanitarian situation in those territories had reached unimaginable proportions.  The international community must work rapidly to put an end to the human disaster that was occurring there.

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OMAR KADIRI (Morocco) …

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…  It was the duty of the international community to ensure the safety and well-being of the Palestinian people and to ensure that Israel adhered to all international instruments and humanitarian norms.

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Mr. HAGATI (Kuwait) …

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He added that protracted conflict in many regions and occupation, namely in the Palestinian occupied territories, were major hindrances to development.  The only way past those difficulties was to ensure that peace and development were closely linked.

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