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UN
social conference ends with mixed reactions (M Khor/TWN)
A major United Nations Conference on Social Development concluded
with a resolution to halve the rate of extreme poverty by 2015, as well as
many other decisions to tackle economic and social problems. Some UN
officials put on a brave front in hailing the results. However, many
NGOs felt the basic causes of poverty and lack of development lay with the
model of globalisation and these were not adequately tackled.
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Patents
versus affordable medicines at Geneva 2000 (C.Oh/TWN)
One of the key decisions of UNGASS was that governments may freely
exercise options available to them under international agreements to protect
and advance access to life saving and essential medicines. (8 July 00)
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Annan
replies to WCC over "BW for All' report (C.Raghavan/SUNS)
In a letter to the World Council of Churches General Secretary, the
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said that the “A Better World for All”
report that he co-signed was not a policy document but a compendium of desirable
targets and objectives agreed to by co-sponsoring organizations, though there
may well be differences among them on how to achieve these goals.(4 Jul 00)
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UN
officials hail UNGASS success, NGOs 'disappointed'(M Khor/TWN)
Although senior UN officials have hailed the final outcome at UNGASS
as a success, NGOs however, expressed their disappointment at the low priority
accorded by governments to the meeting and a lack of will to carry forward
the Copenhagen vision of social development.(2 July 00)
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Copenhagen+5
is barely Copenhagen, if not minus (C.Raghavan/SUNS)
A special session of the UN General Assembly ended with the adoption
of an 'outcome document' spelling out further initiatives to implement the
commitments made in Copenhagen,but lacking any commitments from the rich
countries. (2 July 00)
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Summit
fatigue, or trying peoples' patience? (S.Singh)
A report on the mid-day briefing to journalists by UN spokespersons
on the last day of the Special Session. (30 June 00)
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Great
disappointment of NGOs on likely outcome(C.Raghavan/SUNS)
Although some minor forward movements are anticipated in the final
outcome, NGOs, at a press conference during the UN General Assembly special
session, have however expressed disappointment at the failure of governments
to commit themselves to concrete measures for achieving targets set at the
Copenhagen and Beijing summits. (30 June 00)
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Democracy
begins at someone else's home (G.Capdevila)
When it came down to democratisation policies for the developing
countries, the rich countries got everything they wanted at the UN General
Assembly special session, but they steadfastly refused to consider the issue
of democratising the international financial institutions, an issue that
was brought up by the developing countries. (27 June00)
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Salvaging
international cooperation (S.Singh)
A fundamental change seems to be underway at the UN General Assembly
special session whereby the fabric of international development cooperation,
which for so long has been moving along in stitches, could well be in the
process of being torn apart. (28 June 00)
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Churches
protest "BW for All" report (C.Raghavan/SUNS)
The 'Better World for All' report which was launched in Geneva by
the UN Secretary-General together with officials of the World Bank, IMF,
and the OECD, came in for continued criticism, this time with the World Council
of Churches joining the chorus of protests.(28 June 00)
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Corporate
rights to prevail over public health? (C.Raghavan/SUNS)
A clash between corporate rights and public health came in a working
group of the Special Session, where the G77 proposed a formulation to exclude
from patentability essential and life-saving medicines. The rich countries
made it evident that in such a clash, corporate property rights must prevail.
(28 June 00)
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Long
standing North-South divisions crop up (G.Capdevila)
Long standing differences between the industrialised North and the
developing South wasted no time in making an appearence once the debates
in the working groups at the UN General Assemby special session got underway
(26 June 00)
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Helping
the G7 to catch up on social priorities! (S.Singh)
The proceedings of the press conference that launched the controversial
'Better World for All' report on the opening day of the UN General Assembly
special session is highlighted above. (27June 00)
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A
Report that's getting curiouser and curiouser (C.Raghavan/SUNS)
Explanations and clarifications offered by the representatives from
the IMF, World Bank, the OECD, the UNDP and the UN Development Group have
only added to the controversies and confusion that is now overshadowing the
UN General Assembly special session on Copenhagen plus 5. (27June 00)
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Reviewing
progress or resetting targets? (C.Raghavan/SUNS)
A report on the progress of the working groups on the second day of
the special session. (27June 00)
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A
better world for whom? (R.Bissio)
A commentary on the 'proof copy' of the controversial 'Better World
for All' report that has raised advanced criticism from development NGOs.
This report is due to be launched on the first day of the UN General Assembly
special session.(23 June 00)
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UN-BWI-OECD
'Better World for All' report riles many (C.Raghavan/SUNS)
A highlight of the contents of the 'Better World for All' report.(26
June 00)
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Globalisation
must have a 'heart' too (S.Singh)
A report on the comments made by UN General Assembly president
at a press briefing.(26 June 00)
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Special
session faces difficult negotiations (C.Raghavan/SUNS)
A report on the opening day of the UN General Assembly special session
to review progress made on targets set at the Copenhagen Summit in 1995.(26
June 00)
