A/64/PV.26 General Assembly
It was so decided.
42. Report of the Economic and Social Council Report of the Economic and Social Council (A/64/3) Notes by the Secretary-General (A/64/207 and A/64/335) Integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields Reports of the Secretary-General (A/64/87 and A/64/263) The President (spoke in Arabic): In connection with agenda item 48, I would like to remind the members of the General Assembly that, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 57/270 B, of 3 July 2003, the Assembly, on the recommendation of the General Committee, decided at its 2nd plenary meeting, on 18 September 2009, to consider the chapters of the annual report of the Economic and Social Council relevant to the integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits, including the participation of the President of the Council in its discussion. At the same meeting, with regard to agenda item 42, the Assembly took note of the clarification that, in implementing resolution 58/316, the relevant parts of chapter I of the report of the Economic and Social Council that are under agenda items already allocated to the Main Committees will be considered by the Committee concerned for final action by the General Assembly. I now give the floor to Her Excellency Ms. Sylvie Lucas, President of the Economic and Social Council, to introduce the Council’s report. Ms. Lucas (Luxembourg), President of the Economic and Social Council (spoke in French): I have the honour to introduce the 2009 report of the Economic and Social Council, which is contained in document A/64/3. The most severe global financial crisis since the Great Depression has had devastating effects on the world economy. We have noted that progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) has slowed, and even reversed. The adverse impacts could be long-lasting and damaging for human development. The Council’s work this year is generally centred on the overall effort to help countries overcome the crisis. My comments will focus first on some of the main outcomes of the Council’s work to date, and then on areas for future action. The 2009 annual ministerial review focused on global public health. The review provided major political impetus for the implementation of global public health goals. It also helped to place the issue of health at the centre of the development agenda. By promoting consensus on issues ranging from non-communicable and communicable diseases, neglected tropical diseases, health systems and health literacy, to intellectual property rights, climate change and health, the ministerial declaration opened up vistas for new collaborative efforts and new partnerships and engagement by new and diverse stakeholders. The national voluntary presentations made by Bolivia, China, Jamaica, Japan, Mali, Sri Lanka and the Sudan demonstrated the added value of the Economic and Social Council as a platform to engage the global community in exchanging critical lessons learned in the implementation of the MDGs. The annual ministerial review attracted a diverse range of actors from Governments, civil society and the private sector. The review generated political momentum for collective action to advance the global health agenda. That is a strong rallying point; we need to utilize that potential. Many other outcomes of the work of the Economic and Social Council this year are of key relevance to the work of the General Assembly. By bringing together all concerned parties, the special high-level meeting of the Council with the Bretton Woods institutions, the World Trade Organization and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development provided a first opportunity to have an inclusive exchange of views on the global financial and economic crisis. It highlighted the need to address the crisis in a coherent and coordinated manner, as well as the urgency of dealing with its human impact in order to prevent it from becoming a large-scale human tragedy. The summary record of the discussions was transmitted to the President of the General Assembly for the preparation of the draft final document of the International Conference on the World Economic and Financial Crisis and Its Impact on Development. Another issue that the Council considered, both during the special high-level meeting with the international financial and trade institutions and throughout a large part of the year, is closely linked to the question of an effective response to the crisis, that is, the need to ensure follow-up to the Monterrey Consensus and the Doha Declaration on Financing for Development and the commitments made therein. In line with the mandate given to the Council by heads of State and Government at the Doha Conference, which was reaffirmed at the International Conference on the World Economic and Financial Crisis and Its Impact on Development, the Council made recommendations to the General Assembly for strengthening and ensuring a more effective and inclusive intergovernmental process to carry out the financing for development follow-up. Some of the key recommendations pertained to the holding of the Economic and Social Council’s special high-level spring meeting with international financial and trade institutions, including the suggestions of holding the meeting at least five weeks earlier and extending it to take place over two days, allowing up to two full days of the Council’s annual substantive session to the issue of financing for development and giving more pre-eminence to the Assembly’s consideration of this issue. Several other mandates were entrusted to the Council by the Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and Its Impact on Development, which was held in New York last June. The Council intends fully to implement those mandates. The Council has requested me to conduct open-ended informal consultations on the matter, which are currently under way. I hope that we will be able to make recommendations to the Assembly in the not-too- distant future. Finally in that context, I would like to emphasize the Council’s welcome of the initiative of the International Labour Organization on the theme “Recovering from the crisis: a global jobs pact”. The Council also welcomed the request made of the Secretary-General to report on the follow-up and implementation of the Global Jobs Pact by all relevant actors at the Council’s session in 2010. During the Council’s substantive session, Member States recognized and encouraged the ongoing strengthening of humanitarian coordination, with references to the role of the Emergency Relief Coordinator, the strengthening of the Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator function, the issue of gender mainstreaming and the need for improved needs assessments. Members also emphasized the need for humanitarian actors and donors to strengthen coordination with Governments. The Council also took up the issue of the implementation of the Assembly’s guidance on operational activities. The concrete outcomes attested to the continued strong commitment of Member States to the 2007 General Assembly triennial comprehensive policy review of operational activities for development. Some of the Council’s recommendations also reflected the broad consensus that exists with regard to the General Assembly’s system-wide coherence process. They also served to contribute to the Council’s informal consultations, in particular in connection with the governance and funding of United Nations operational activities. In addressing United Nations operational activities, the Council will not lose sight of the global dynamics of development cooperation. The Development Cooperation Forum is now widely recognized as the focal point within the United Nations system for holistic consideration of development cooperation issues. In that context, I would like to mention the first high-level symposium on the theme “Accountable and transparent development cooperation: towards a more inclusive framework”, which will be hosted by the Government of Austria on 12 and 13 November. In order for the Development Cooperation Forum to be able to advance the global dialogue on this important issue in 2010, it is important that Member States and other stakeholders actively participate in the upcoming preparatory process. I am pleased that our efforts to strengthen interaction and institutional links between the Council and the Peacebuilding Commission are also beginning to bear fruit. Therefore, during its substantive session, the Council called for enhanced engagement with the Commission, including with the various country- specific formations. On 29 October, the Council and the Commission will hold their first joint event, in partnership with the World Food Programme, to consider the impact of the food and economic crises in post-conflict countries. The Secretary-General will also participate at that meeting. I very much hope that this relationship will be further strengthened in the years to come, as the Council undoubtedly has a role to play in peacebuilding and post-conflict development. The Council’s recent renewal of the mandate of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti, which was intended to support that country when it comes to its medium- and long-term development, is a vivid reflection of that. The high number of countries that have volunteered to make national presentations next year is a clear reflection of the Council’s role as a forum for discussion and the exercise of mutual accountability. Next year could therefore be a unique opportunity to further strengthen voluntary national presentations as an accountability mechanism to help the international community to review and fine tune development policies and their implementation towards the achievement of the MDGs. Through those activities, the Council has been able to expand the range of stakeholders with whom the United Nations can establish partnerships to advance the achievement of the MDGs. The special philanthropy event that was held last February — which was well attended by Member States, members of the corporate world and representatives from the philanthropic, non-governmental and academic communities — discussed in particular how philanthropy can contribute to advancing the global public health agenda. The Council intends to further expand its outreach to the philanthropic community. Another special event, focusing on gender equality and the empowerment of women, is already being prepared. My experience as President of the Economic and Social Council has shown me the potential of the Council to generate momentum towards the timely realization of the MDGs by bringing together many diverse constituencies on issues of global importance, while maintaining focus on results. I urge the General Assembly fully to utilize that potential to mobilize efforts that can contribute to the realization of the great vision embodied in the MDGs.
I have the honour, under agenda item 42 and on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, to deliver this statement on the 2009 report of the Economic and Social Council.
The Group of 77 and China welcomes the report on the work of the Economic and Social Council during 2009 (A/64/3). On behalf of the Group of 77 and China, let me first express our gratitude to Her Excellency Ambassador Sylvie Lucas of Luxembourg, President of the Economic and Social Council, for the leadership provided by her and the members of the Council’s Bureau during the entire year, but most particularly during the Council’s substantive session. We would also like to take this opportunity to extend our gratitude to all the facilitators of draft resolutions for their great efforts in reaching consensus on very difficult issues.
The year 2009 has been a critically relevant one for the work of the Council. A string of crises has placed the United Nations at the centre of global discourse and policy responses. The current economic and financial crisis and the issues of food security, climate change and energy have again served to underscore the centrality of inclusive multilateralism and the unparalleled convening role and legitimacy of the United Nations with regard to those matters. The world body must step up to the challenge.
The Economic and Social Council has indeed made important contributions to the work of the United Nations in addressing those challenges. The spring meeting with the Bretton Woods institutions, the World Trade Organization and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development was an important opportunity for a discussion on the international financial crisis and its impact on development.
The Group believes that the current crisis has further highlighted the urgent need for substantive and comprehensive reform of the international economic and financial system and architecture. It has also stressed that international financial institutions should have a clear development orientation. The G-77 and China will continue to work to make the Council’s spring meeting more relevant and productive.
We are concerned that the implementation of agreed commitments continues to be the Achilles heel of the United Nations development agenda. The decisions of the 2005 United Nations Summit encapsulated the agreed commitments of all Members on development. Those commitments include both the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and other development goals internationally agreed upon during the series of major international conferences and summits held over the past decade, such as the International Conference on Financing for Development, which produced the Monterrey Consensus, the Doha trade conference, the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development and, more recently, the high-level Conference on the World Economic and Financial Crisis and Its Impact on Development.
During this year’s substantive session the Economic and Social Council adopted by consensus the ministerial declaration on the theme of global public health (see A/64/3, para. 56), which was a major landmark. It called for concerted action on critical issues related to global public health and referred to the need to strengthen international cooperation. The ministerial declaration augurs well for a stronger Council and is considered to be ground-breaking in many ways. It paves the way ahead for concerted action on many critical issues related to global public health, calling for strengthening international cooperation to confront unforeseen threats and epidemics, such as the current H1N1 pandemic, and for strengthening political will to achieve MDGs 4 and 5.
Most important, the declaration acknowledges the impact of the global financial and economic crisis on developing countries and calls for strengthening the global partnership for development. It further stresses that international cooperation and assistance, in particular external funding, need to be more predictable and better aligned with national priorities. The G-77 and China believes that ensuring a conducive international environment is imperative for the
achievement of the MDGs and critical for assisting our global efforts to advance global public health. The G-77 and China looks forward to the full and effective implementation of the ministerial declaration on global public health.
The Economic and Social Council has indeed made further strides towards its own strengthening by convening annual ministerial reviews, which are evolving into an effective forum for an exchange of experiences and best practices. They are also helping to shed light on obstacles facing countries in achieving the MDGs and exploring ways and means to overcome them. The number of presentations by developing countries, and the depth and diversity of the issues discussed in those presentations, is a clear signal of the seriousness with which developing countries are approaching the annual ministerial review. We look forward to a greater level of participation by the developed countries to further enhance the review process and its outcomes.
The G-77 and China equally believes that the annual ministerial review can further be enriched by the contribution and active engagement of United Nations funds, programmes and agencies, in addition to the international financial and economic institutions. The Group has always maintained that the Council should seek to make the annual ministerial review and the Development Cooperation Forum action- and results-oriented. We believe that the review would be more fruitful if its themes could emerge from the information and data provided by functional and regional commissions, with a view to monitoring the implementation of development goals and commitments.
The G-77 and China welcomes the Council’s adoption of decision 2009/240, which set in motion a process to conclude discussion in the United Nations Forum on Forests on the means of implementing sustainable forest management. The G-77 and China welcomes the consensus agreement reached recently pertaining to means of implementation of sustainable forest management. We believe that, without the necessary financing, the global objectives on forests and the non-legally binding instrument on all forests will be but empty words. Furthermore, inadequate funding diminishes the effectiveness of the United Nations Forum on Forests as an international forum for the implementation of sustainable forest management.
We equally welcome the agreements reached during this session on key mandates on the economic and financial crisis outcome document (resolution 63/303). We have made progress and have set in motion the process for fulfilling our responsibilities on the Global Jobs Pact, the implementation of agreements with Bretton Woods institutions, the promotion and enhancement of the United Nations development system and the ad hoc panel of experts. We look forward to further progress on that matter.
We hope that the Council will be able to redouble its work on crafting global policy responses to the development challenges we now face. The Group of 77 and China will remain constructively engaged in that effort.
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union (EU). The following countries align themselves with this statement: Turkey, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Armenia and Georgia.
The European Union thanks the Secretariat for the comprehensive report of the Economic and Social Council (A/64/3). It is indeed useful to have in one place such a compilation of all of the Council’s activities, resolutions and decisions. We also thank Ambassador Lucas, President of the Council, for introducing the report. We congratulate her for her skilful and productive leadership of the Council.
The European Union would like to take this opportunity to reiterate its full support for the Economic and Social Council as the principal organ for the coordination of the economic, social and related work of the United Nations, as well as the central forum for discussing international economic and social issues. The report before us shows the broad scope of the activities of the Council. In my statement, I will comment on some of the activities and achievements of the Council during its substantive session last July. I will also make a few comments on the working methods of the Council.
First, on an overall note, I would like to express the appreciation of the European Union for the constructive spirit that prevailed during the negotiations in the Council. Good results were achieved and, with just a few exceptions, consensus
agreements could be reached on the many draft resolutions that were introduced during the session.
The Council’s high-level segment this past July was a milestone in the recognition of the importance of global public health for economic and social development. Never before has global public health been discussed at that level in the United Nations system. The ministerial declaration on global public health (see A/64/3, para. 56), which the Council adopted by consensus, creates new opportunities to take forward health issues in both the Council and other parts of the United Nations system. The European Union will continue to be a key actor in joint efforts to tackle global health problems, including those aggravated by gender inequality and the current financial and economic crisis. We will maintain our commitment to global health for all.
The discussions in the high-level segment stayed focused on the theme of the segment and benefited greatly from the active participation of Member States, United Nations organizations, other international organizations and members of civil society. During that segment, the Council showed its usefulness as a high- level forum for debating key issues in the economic, social and related fields.
The European Union recognizes the central role of the Economic and Social Council in promoting the integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences. We appreciate the discussion in the coordination segment on the periodicity of the Secretary-General’s report on that subject. We look forward to the further review of that issue in the Council.
The European Union welcomes the Council resolution on the implementation of system-wide reforms in United Nations operational activities for development within the context of the triennial comprehensive policy review (resolution 2009/1). It gives key guidance for further reforms in this area. The European Union underscores the importance of strengthened support by the United Nations system to national development priorities. In that regard, the EU reiterates its support for delivering as one and is pleased to see that that approach is being replicated in an increasing number of countries, on their request.
The European Union also welcomes the Council’s adoption by consensus of the resolution on United
Nations emergency humanitarian assistance (resolution 2009/3). It sends a clear message of global unity around the humanitarian agenda. The interactive dialogue during the humanitarian affairs segment, which included high-level participation from the United Nations system and representatives of Member States participating from capitals, proved to be very useful and could serve as a model for further deliberations in the Council.
Today’s increasingly complex humanitarian challenges call for a deeper and more engaged global partnership on international emergency humanitarian assistance, involving the United Nations, its Member States and all relevant regional organizations and humanitarian actors. The European Union remains firmly committed to that global partnership.
The European Union appreciates the adoption of the resolution on the Global Jobs Pact (resolution 2009/5), in line with paragraph 58 of the outcome document of the June Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and Its Impact on Development (Assembly resolution 63/303). The resolution highlights the crucial importance of employment and a well-functioning labour market in the efforts to limit the negative impact of the economic and financial crisis. We call on the United Nations system to follow up on that resolution.
The European Union also welcomes the resolution on a strengthened and more effective process for the follow-up to the Monterrey Consensus and the Doha Declaration (resolution 2009/30), which will contribute to improved quality of discussion, increased interaction and enhanced cooperation between all stakeholders. We reaffirm our commitment to stay fully engaged in that process, including through our active participation in the Council’s special high- level meeting with the Bretton Woods institutions, the World Trade Organization and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. That is a critical vehicle for strengthening the dialogue between the United Nations and the key stakeholders.
The EU also looks forward to participating in the deliberations on financing for development in the Second Committee and in the high-level dialogue of the General Assembly that is to take place on 23 and 24 November. The high-level dialogue should focus on substantive issues, in particular new challenges and
emerging issues, while reaffirming the holistic approach of Monterrey and Doha.
The European Union is pleased with the action that the Council took as follow-up to the outcome of the Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and Its Impact on Development. The EU is now actively engaging in the consultations on the three reports of the Secretary-General that were mandated by the Council in its decision of 31 July (decision 2009/258). We stand ready to review progress on those discussions at the Council’s resumed substantive session to be held before the end of this year in accordance with the decision.
The training institutes of the United Nations play an important role in advancing the know-how and coherence of individual agencies and their staff. The EU welcomes the Council’s reaffirmation of reforms in the United Nations System Staff College and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, as well as its support for results-based management in those institutions.
Unfortunately, as the European Union stated in the Council, we see a negative trend in the working of the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations. We are concerned that the guiding principles for granting consultative status in the Council are gradually being undermined. Civil society actors should be allowed to support and enrich the work of the United Nations by providing perspectives that complement, and sometimes differ from, those of the Member States. The EU urges the members of the Committee to work together to defend and uphold the guiding principles agreed by the Member States in Council resolution 1996/31.
Important steps have been taken to improve the effectiveness and relevance of the Economic and Social Council. We saw good results in that regard during the July session in Geneva, but more needs to be done. Further clarity is needed with regard to the division of labour between the Council and the General Assembly in order to focus the agenda of the Council on issues where it can add value. It would also be useful to look into the allocation of items to the different segments of the substantive session — to avoid overlaps, for instance.
There is a worrying trend of introducing draft resolutions at a very late stage. That creates difficulties for delegations, particularly smaller ones, in preparing
for the consultations on the drafts. It also has the risk of leading to decisions of poor quality. Before any consideration of changing the rules of procedure, the EU would urge better discipline in that regard.
Furthermore, we all need to make greater efforts to adhere to the assigned deadlines for each segment of the Council. For example, the negotiations on the two draft resolutions for the coordination segment were not concluded until two weeks after the segment was over. That creates difficulties for delegations in participating effectively in the negotiations and, again, risks leading to poor-quality decisions.
An inherent problem with the organization of work of the substantive session of the Council is that negotiations on draft resolutions take place in parallel with the plenary meetings, panel discussions, round tables, et cetera. Many representatives who could contribute to an interactive and fruitful debate in the plenary sessions are tied up in negotiations. It is difficult to see how this problem can be fully solved, but better discipline in introducing resolutions in time and in keeping deadlines for the segments would help to minimize the problem.
The European Union stands ready to discuss those and other ways of improving the working methods of the Council.
The all-encompassing nature of the current global crises, including the food, financial and energy crises, has led to a sharp decrease of capital flows to the developing countries and has jeopardized the international community’s achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Belarus highly commends the work of the Economic and Social Council in the current environment. We consider it necessary to continue to strengthen the Council’s role as the body mandated to enhance the effectiveness of the work of United Nations institutions, funds, programmes and related organizations. That work should place special emphasis on ensuring system-wide conditions to encourage equitable international trade and provide consultative and technical assistance to developing and middle- income countries.
In the current context, the main objective for the Economic and Social Council in the area of financing for development should be the implementation of the
outcome documents of the United Nations Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and Its Impact on Development, which was held in June 2009, and of the Doha Conference on Financing for Development, held in December 2008. Belarus welcomes the establishment of an ad hoc open-ended working group of the General Assembly to follow up on issues pertaining to the financial crisis and is ready to contribute to its activities.
We also welcome the decisions to considerably increase International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank financial resources for expanded lending to needy countries. We support the proposals aimed at developing new lending mechanisms to provide effective assistance to countries facing financial problems, including middle-income countries.
The adoption by the Economic and Social Council of new forms of partnership between the United Nations and other organizations opens up additional possibilities for enhancing the efficiency of international efforts. We hope that the practice of holding high-level meetings with the participation of the IMF, the World Bank, the World Trade Organization and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development will continue.
A summit will take place here in New York in 2010 that will be a unique forum to bring together heads of State and Government of the Group of Eight, the Group of Twenty, the European Union, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Commonwealth of Independent States and others. Belarus believes that the 2010 summit should be viewed as one of partnership that serves as a platform for exploring and putting into practice the idea of global partnership.
We suggest that the 2010 United Nations summit adopt a mechanism, system or plan for close cooperation among Member States in order to overcome global challenges. Over the coming months, delegations could submit their proposals and contributions for such a document. Negotiations could begin as early as January 2010. We call on the Economic and Social Council to take an active role in the preparation of that document.
Given the global financial and economic crisis, the role of the United Nations as a universal platform for finding collective ways to approach the current problems facing the international community
only continues to grow. Now more than ever, we need a coordinated international policy aimed at implementing the main agreements on international development. That will provide a real and solid basis for a safer, more stable and more equitable future. The Economic and Social Council can become one of the effective instruments for developing such a policy, as well as the necessary forum for discussing at the political level the overall principles for sustainable economic development, thereby providing a basis for a new global economic order.
The main task facing the Economic and Social Council in the context of international efforts to deal with the crisis continues to be that of ensuring a coordinated response by the United Nations system to challenges in the area of development, while taking into account the work being done by the leading international financial and trade bodies, as well as by regional, subregional and other multilateral forums.
Achieving the potential of the United Nations as a useful mechanism to advance global anti-crisis efforts first and foremost requires more effective cooperation with the Bretton Woods institutions in the context of following up the Monterrey and Doha Conferences on Financing for Development. It also requires a qualitative improvement in the coordinating function of the Economic and Social Council in the context of integrated and coordinated implementation of the decisions taken at the major social and economic United Nations conferences.
We believe that the Economic and Social Council can make an important contribution to preparing for the September 2010 high-level plenary meetings of the General Assembly, which will include the participation of heads of State and Government. At that forum, particular importance should be attached to promoting development cooperation during the Council’s 2010 substantive session. We hope that that forum will result in an interesting and results-oriented dialogue that includes the participation of the broadest possible spectrum of partners.
Russia commends the outcome of the work of the Economic and Social Council over the past year, in particular during the substantive session. That session produced political guidelines for further work on the key issues of global health and sustainable development, with emphasis on helping countries to
overcome the negative consequences of the crisis in the social sphere.
The high-level segment, in particular the annual ministerial review on the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals, was of practical importance for the entire United Nations system. For the first time at the United Nations — outside of the context of the World Health Organization (WHO) — a comprehensive discussion took place on the issue of health in all its aspects. Without impinging on the leading role and mandate of WHO, the Economic and Social Council was able to make an effort to mainstream the health-care agenda at the United Nations and clarify the policy strategy to address existing health challenges. The ministerial declaration adopted during that segment (see A/64/3, para. 56) provides a good normative basis for stepping up efforts in the area of health and for increasing coordination between the various bodies of the United Nations system.
A good foundation was also established for at long last putting into practice the principle of delivering as one at the United Nations to respond to global challenges while respecting the very nature and mandate of independent agencies of the United Nations system and the division of labour within the existing institutional global health system.
Another important outcome of the session was the reaffirmation of the role of the Economic and Social Council as the central mechanism for ensuring system-wide coherence with regard to follow-up efforts on the outcome of the major conferences in the economic and social fields.
We welcome the adoption of Economic and Social Council resolution 2009/29, which points out the need to step up the work of the substantive session in order to avoid any duplication between the coordinating and general segments. The coordinating segment should be an effective mechanism for monitoring the effectiveness of the work of the many inter-agency thematic groupings, including, of course, Secretariat coordinating bodies.
The outcome document of the United Nations Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and Its Impact on Development (resolution 63/303) assigns important tasks to the Economic and Social Council, including supporting the coordinated efforts of the Organization to respond to the crisis and
ensuring the effectiveness of cooperation between the United Nations and international financial institutions.
For our part, we are ready for constructive dialogue with all partners to reach consensus decisions. We believe that an ad hoc open-ended working group of the General Assembly should be the main intergovernmental platform for follow-up to the June Conference. We believe that it would be appropriate to combine discussion of the key issues on the anti-crisis agenda within the work of that working group. In particular, that entails establishing, under the aegis of the United Nations, a panel of experts on the world financial and economic crisis and its impact on development.
Brazil associates itself with the statement delivered by the representative of the Sudan on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. Brazil also commends Ms. Sylvie Lucas’s leadership of the Economic and Social Council, in particular during the Council’s substantive session.
Both the report of the Council (A/64/3) and the very existence of an agenda item on integrated follow- up to the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields underscore the importance of the Council in promoting coordination, coherence and cooperation in the United Nations system.
As President Lula has indicated on a number of occasions, most recently at the Assembly’s general debate, Brazil believes that the Council needs to be strengthened with a view to ensuring that it plays a more prominent role in policy discussions and deliberations on substantive development issues. The financial and economic crisis has further demonstrated the urgent need to improve coordination and coherence in the United Nations system — including the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council, the funds, programmes, specialized agencies and the multilateral financial institutions — both at the policy and operational levels.
Brazil recognizes that there have been initiatives over the past few years to improve inter-institutional and intergovernmental coordination, as exemplified by the ministerial declaration on implementing the internationally agreed goals and commitments with regard to global public health, which was adopted by the Economic and Social Council this year. The annual ministerial review can be an important occasion for
reviewing progress on specific policy questions and for the making of concrete recommendations.
The Development Cooperation Forum also provides a valuable opportunity for promoting coordination and exchanging information on relevant development cooperation issues. Furthermore, the Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) is playing an increasing role in promoting coordination at the administrative level between the 28 agencies that form the United Nations system.
However, it is clear to my delegation that additional measures are warranted. The actions and initiatives taken by the United Nations funds, programmes and specialized agencies, including the Bretton Woods institutions, often seem to be disconnected from the guidelines adopted by Member States at the Economic and Social Council and the General Assembly. Given the responsibilities of specialized agencies in the follow-up to, implementation and monitoring of the outcomes of United Nations conferences and summits, it is particularly important to foster closer cooperation among the governing bodies at the United Nations, most notably the Economic and Social Council.
The CEB has taken important steps to implement common strategies and methodologies, but it seems to suffer from a deficit of accountability to Member States. The nine joint actions adopted to address the financial and economic crisis were timely. Looking ahead, the response of the United Nations system to the crisis needs fully to take into account the outcome of the Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis (resolution 63/303), which was adopted in June.
The Secretary-General’s report on the response of the United Nations development system to the crisis clearly indicates that that has not yet taken place. In that regard, the establishment of an enhanced intergovernmental follow-up mechanism for the financing of the development process is an important step in the right direction, aimed at engaging the Bretton Woods institutions in substantive discussions with the members of the Economic and Social Council and other relevant United Nations bodies, including the General Assembly.
It should be recalled that the Monterrey Conference is the only major United Nations conference in the economic and social fields that does not have a permanent intergovernmental body to
oversee the implementation of its outcome. That certainly is an issue that merits further study and discussion by the membership.
Allow me first of all to thank the Secretary-General for the reports under consideration today (A/64/3, A/64/87 and A/64/263) and for his continued commitment to ensuring coordinated and integrated follow-up of the major United Nations economic and social conferences and summits.
Indonesia associates itself with the statement delivered by the representative of the Sudan on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.
The broad vision of shared development priorities reflected in the historic United Nations conferences and summits remains a vital benchmark for achieving equitable development. In the same vein, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), whose purpose is to sharpen our focus on some of the most urgent issues addressed by the conferences and summits, has been a tremendous catalyst in accelerating progress towards the wider goal of equitable growth.
Significant advances have been made over the past 20 years, in large part because of the MDGs. Yet, in addition to the ever-increasing number of new challenges awaiting solution, perceivable challenges still stand out in every region. The financial, fuel and food crises, climate change and new viruses and diseases are some of the emerging problems that, if not addressed fully and effectively, could contribute to undermining our efforts.
Against that backdrop, we need to build global partnerships within a new spirit of multilateralism. To impart new impetus to global partnerships, the first key step is to implement reforms in all key areas of the international economy. Greater efforts should be devoted to the workings of the international financial architecture so that it becomes a force for equitable growth.
Along the same lines, key structural reforms in trade and development are particularly crucial to realizing a more open, free and equitable trading system. The need to reach a successful conclusion to the Doha Development Round and to fulfil the Monterey Consensus cannot be overemphasized, as it will ensure the attainment of the MDGs.
However, reforms should take into account future challenges as well, including the interrelated issues of climate change and food and energy security. The establishment of the annual ministerial review and the Development Cooperation Forum three years ago was a vital initial step in the reform process to strengthen the role of the Economic and Social Council with regard to the timely implementation of the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits.
We therefore welcome the holding of the third annual ministerial review this year. With a focus on global health, the review took a further step towards addressing new challenges facing the world. We fully support and look forward to contributing to the assessment of the ministerial declaration on global health, as well as to integrating the question of health into the development agenda. Given the many health issues we face, there is an urgent need for a fair, transparent, equitable and efficient framework for the sharing of information about viruses as well as benefits, including access to and the distribution of affordable treatments.
Next year’s ministerial review will focus on the issue of gender equality and the empowerment of women. We therefore welcome the adoption of resolution 63/311 on system-wide coherence, and in particular the steps that have been taken to strengthen the role of the United Nations in the areas of gender equality and women’s empowerment.
We also look forward to the second session of the Development Cooperation Forum, which will demand effectiveness in development cooperation at the national and international levels. Likewise, we look forward to a more democratic and transparent United Nations that is accountable and operates in a coherent manner. Overall, the Economic and Social Council should play a crucial role in addressing all new development challenges and in promoting all development aspects in a concerted manner.
Given the uneven progress on all fronts with respect to the outcomes of United Nations conferences and summits, including the MDGs, there needs to be a greater effort to ensure their timely and full realization. That entails a concerted effort on the part not only of Member States, but also of the related international framework.
Indonesia welcomes the recent outcome of the United Nations Conference on the World Financial and
Economic Crisis and Its Impact on Development (resolution 63/303). However, the follow-up action prescribed in the outcome needs to be implemented in a full and timely manner. In that regard, it is our hope that the open-ended working group established as a result of the Conference should undertake to translate the outcome into meaningful measures that promote human development. It should also expedite discussion on the reform and strengthening of the international financial system by providing concrete recommendations.
The outcome of the Conference also recommended that the Economic and Social Council study the possibility of establishing a panel of experts. While Indonesia recognizes the potential contribution of a panel of experts, clear terms of reference on its work, composition and responsibility need to be further explored, as that is crucial to ensuring the intergovernmental nature of such a panel.
With only a short time left to achieve the MDGs, we need to ensure a conducive global economic environment. It is crucial for the international community to realize the entire package of development commitments that serve as the world’s engines for growth. The decision of the General Assembly to convene a high-level MDG review summit with all stakeholders in 2010 must lead to solutions and answers. The summit should provide solutions on all development aspects that can contribute to translating the MDGs into a reality in all regions.
It is worthwhile to seriously consider the proposal to prepare a report on the major United Nations conferences and summits prior to the quadrennial comprehensive policy review of operational activities that will start in 2012. The report should better identify gaps in the implementation of the major outcomes of United Nations conferences and summits.
Finally, the integrated and coordinated follow-up of United Nations conferences and summits must reach and have an impact on the unfortunate poor who depend on us to speak on their behalf.
We have heard the last speaker in today’s debate. The Assembly has therefore concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda items 42 and 48.
Programme of work The President (spoke in Arabic): I would like to make an announcement concerning agenda item 70, “Strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including special economic assistance”.
I have requested Ms. Sylvie Lucas, Permanent Representative of Luxembourg to the United Nations, to be the coordinator of the informal consultations on the draft resolutions under agenda item 70, and she has graciously accepted. May I request those delegations intending to submit draft resolutions under this agenda item to do so as early as possible in order to allow time, if need be, for negotiations, with a view to reaching consensus on the draft resolutions. The first meeting of the informal consultations on this agenda item will be Thursday, 29 October 2009, at 3 p.m. in Conference Room 3.
I also wish to inform members that, on Thursday, 29 October 2009, as indicated in the schedule of plenary meetings contained in document A/INF/64/3/Rev.1, the General Assembly will consider, in the morning, agenda item 75, entitled “Report of the International Criminal Court”. In the afternoon of the same day, the Assembly will consider agenda item 72, entitled “Report of the International Court of Justice”, which was initially scheduled for the morning.
Members are also informed that elections and appointments relating to the Committee for Programme and Coordination, the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme, the Committee on Conferences and the Joint Inspection Unit scheduled for Monday, 2 November 2009, have been postponed to Tuesday, 3 November 2009, in the morning.
The meeting rose at 11.25 a.m.