The newly-elected President of the UN Economic and Social Council
(ECOSOC), Lazarous Kapambwe of Zambia, today outlined the body's
agenda for the coming year and pledged to work to strengthen its
effectiveness in carrying out the United Nations' global development
agenda.
"I represent the region that is lagging behind the most in terms of
development in all socio-economic sectors and I pledge to do my best
to ensure that Africa's challenges as well as all other regions are
tackled in the best way possible by the Council," Mr. Kapambwe, the
Permanent Representative of Zambia to the UN, told ECOSOC in his
acceptance speech.
In his remarks, Mr. Kapambwe said that ECOSOC needed to accelerate its
review and coordination of the implementation of the eight Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs), which range from halving extreme poverty to
halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary
education, all by the target date of 2015.
He also noted that ECOSOC could benefit from contributions to its work
by international academia and institutions, such as parliaments, local
governments and national and regional economic and social councils.
Mr. Kapambwe was
<"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2011/ecosoc6455.doc.htm">elected
ECOSOC's sixty-seventh president at an organizational meeting of the
Council today. ECOSOC is the United Nations' principal organ to
coordinate economic, social, and related work of the 14 UN specialized
agencies, functional commissions and five regional commissions. It
serves as the central forum for discussing international economic and
social issues, and for formulating policy recommendations addressed to
member states and the UN system.
Mr. Kapambwe stressed the importance of promoting closer collaboration
between the Council and its functional commissions, and better linking
of its work with that of the executive boards of UN funds and
programmes, as well as other UN regional entities, in order to enhance
the UN's system-wide coherence.
On the issue of peacebuilding, Mr. Kapambwe indicated that ECOSOC has
a clear role to play in strengthening the link between post-conflict
situations and development.
"I intend, during my tenure, to pursue as a priority the deepening of
the dialogue between the Council and the Peacebuilding Commission,
through more regular joint bureau meetings," he said. The
Peacebuilding Commission is an intergovernmental advisory that
supports peace efforts in countries emerging from conflict.
Mr. Kapambwe pointed out that climate change has exacerbated the
threat of natural disasters to development, peace and security –
making it imperative that ECOSOC pay close attention to the
connections with its policy making and coordinating roles.
On efforts to aid Haiti, which is dealing with the effects of the
January 2010 earthquake, a cholera epidemic which erupted in October
and political turmoil following elections late last year, the ECOSOC
president said he was committed to ensure that Haiti remained on top
of the Council's agenda.
"We look forward to future recommendations of the ECOSOC Ad Hoc
Advisory Group on how the UN system, in collaboration with the
international community, can strengthen its support of a Haitian-led
recovery process," Mr. Kapambwe said.
Addressing the ECOSOC meeting, Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose
Migiro noted ECOSOC's experience and expertise in a wide spectrum of
UN concerns, including climate change, human rights, humanitarian
crises, global poverty and underdevelopment.
"You can help us make the most of this year's strategic
opportunities," she said, adding that despite progress made towards
achieving the MDGs, one billion still live in extreme poverty and five
million infants still die every year of preventable diseases.
"In order to create a more stable and prosperous world for future
generations, we need durable solutions based on a sustainable approach
that links social, economic and environmental challenges," said Ms.
Migiro, noting that ECOSOC is critical to the process thanks to its
ability to bring many partners to the table and promote wider
engagement on all levels.
"All of our efforts must be underpinned by a strong United Nations.
That is why this year is also a time to continue strengthening the
United Nations from within," the Deputy Secretary-General said. "This
Council can provide effectiveness where it counts – in the field, on
the ground where we operate, in areas blighted by poverty, war and
natural disasters."
In his remarks to the meeting, the outgoing president of ECOSOC
president, Hamidon Ali of Malaysia, outlined the Council's successes
over the past year, highlighting, among other accomplishments, the
recognition that gender equality is not only a development goal in
itself, but a means towards achieving other globally agreement
development priorities, including the MDGs.
Jan 18 2011 4:10PM
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