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STATEMENT
ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY MISS CHERRYL GORDON, COUNSELLOR,
PERMANENT MISSION OF JAMAICA TO
THE UNITED NATIONS, TO THE GENERAL SEGMENT OF THE ECOSOC ON AGENDA
ITEM 6(b): REVIEW AND COORDINATION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAMME
OF ACTION FOR THE LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES FOR THE DECADE 2001-2010 (
New York, 19 th July 2005) |
I will now make the following comments, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, on Agenda Item 6(b), concerning the Review and Co-ordination of the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the LDCs. Mr. Chairman, The Group of 77 and China thanks the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed, Landlocked and Small Island Developing States, for his introduction of the Secretary-General’s third annual progress report on the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) for the Decade 2001-2010. We recognise that tremendous effort has gone into the preparation of this Report, and have noted, with appreciation, the conclusions and recommendations contained therein. Mr. Chairman, The following are specific remarks and recommendations on the Report and its findings, which we hope will be taken into consideration by all Member States and the Secretariat in our consideration of this item and ultimately, in the follow-up actions to be carried out by the Secretariat in furtherance of the implementation of the Programme of Action for LDCs: First, t he Brussels Programme of Action is a partnership framework between the LDCs and their development partners. It contains time-bound and measurable goals and has set out seven specific commitments, namely, poverty eradication, gender equality, employment, governance, capacity-building, sustainable development and mobilisation of financial resources. These are seen as cross-cutting issues that should be addressed in the implementation. There is no doubt that the achievement of these targets and goals would mean the achievement of the MDGs by the LDCs. Unfortunately, the actual trends reveal persistent challenges to the achievement of these targets and goals in most of these countries – a distressing state of affairs which was repeatedly highlighted in the Secretary-General’s Report. In order to reverse these trends, therefore, the international community must use the opportunity presented by this special year to take the necessary steps to provide the LDCs with the requisite resources to allow for the fulfilment by the LDCs of the commitments set out in the Brussels Programme of Action and in the MDGs. To this end, the G-77 and China calls for:
Second, The G-77 and China emphasises the critical importance of the participation of the LDCs in the annual review of the Brussels Programme of Action by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). In order, therefore, to redress the continued under-representation of LDC experts at the substantive session, we are requesting the Secretary-General to take the appropriate measures to ensure the participation of LDC representatives from capitals through funding from the regular budget of the United Nations. Third, The G-77 and China welcomes the decision of the General Assembly, by its resolution 59/244, paragraph 5, to hold a comprehensive review of the implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action in 2006 during the sixty-first session, in accordance with paragraph 114 of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010. The G-77 and China suggests that the Secretary-General undertake consultations with Member-States, the UN System of organisations and all relevant stakeholders, with a view to assisting the LDCs in preparing their reviews at national and regional levels. Fourth, The G-77 and China recommends that the methodological structure of the annual progress report on the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010 be improved. In this his first attempt to produce a results-oriented progress report, as requested by the ECOSOC, in its resolution 2004/65, the Secretary-General has produced a document which, although quite comprehensive, is lacking in its practical assessment of the progress achieved by the LDCs and their development partners. It would have been useful if the Secretary-General could have provided the Council with indicators on the performances in each of the seven commitments of the Programme of Action and particularly on the goals and targets it contains. It is this kind of analysis that the Group has been expecting since 2002 when it requested amatrix of achievements as an integrated part of the Secretary-General’s Report. The G-77 and China invites the Secretary-General to include the foregoing elements in his next report to the Council, placing greater focus on results, performances and analysis rather than reporting on process. In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, The G-77 and China commends the Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed, Landlocked and Small Island Developing States for its positive efforts in furthering the implementation of the programmes of action for LDCs and small island developing States that are LDCs. The Group notes, in this connection, that it might be useful for the Office of the High Representative to develop a comprehensive advocacy strategy aimed at raising greater awareness on the weak implementation of the commitments, goals and targets of the Brussels Programme of Action and mobilising greater support and more actions for an effective and timely implementation. I thank you, Mr. Chairman. |