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From the 26th to the 30th of June
the United Nations convene |
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by Isthar D.- Adler At the invitation of the Swiss Government, from the 26th to the 30th of June 2000, the General Assembly of the United Nations will hold a special session in Geneva under the heading of “World Summit for Social Development and Beyond: Achieving Social Development for All”, to consider progress in the implementions of the commitments made by 186 countries at the first World Summit for Social Development which took place in Copenhagen in 1995. At this special session for a five year review of efforts to eradicate or alleviate world poverty, unemployment and social disintegration, the General Assembly will also consider further initiatives to make the Copenhagen commitments a reality. At the first World Summit for Social Development, held in March 1995 in Copenhagen, Governments reached a new consensus on the need to put people at the centre of development. At the largest gathering ever, world leaders pledged to make the conquest of poverty, the goal of full employment and the fostering of social integration their overriding objective. Five years on, they are convening in Geneva this June, to review what has been achieved, and to commit themselves to new initiatives towards developing a true culture of peace in the third millennium. Speaking on behalf of his Government, His Excellency Ambassador Daniel Stauffacher, Delegate of the Swiss Government for the follow-up Conference to the World Summit for Social Development, said “Switzerland is honoured that the United Nations accepted its invitation to host this important event. We hope that the international city of Geneva, which has hosted so many important meetings, will prove an ideal setting for the debates that will take us all into the new century”. He emphasised “this is a crucial time in the development of our world: globalisation offers much potential for a better life, but those still living in the shadow of poverty and conflict will be threatened by it if we do not find ways to harness the positive elements it offers and diminish the negative. It is the responsibility of all of us to play our part in ensuring that the overall goals of the World Summit are achieved, that societies can emerge from poverty, that people can find work and a livelihood in a climate of environmental sustainability, that we are free and equal to build our lives and enjoy our fundamental rights”. A time to share ideas and coordinate efforts towards “the next step in social development”, in what promises to be a lively debate which will also include the participation of representatives of the International Association of Educators for World Peace-IAEWP and the Lama Gangchen World Peace Foundation-LGWPF, who will be introducing the proposal for the creation of a permanent Spiritual Forum for World Peace at the United Nations. The world conferences of the nineties have succeeded in making a long term impact by mobilizing both national as well as local Governments and Non Governmental Organisations into taking action on major global problems and issues; establishing international standards and guidelines for national policies; serving as a forum where new proposals can be debated and consensus sought; setting in motion a process whereby Governments make commitments and report back regularly to the United Nations. At the June Meeting there will also be a civil society arena, the “Geneva 2000 Forum”, that will complement the official proceedings which aims to attract national and international Non Governmental Organisations, local authorities, unions, academics, business partners and others, and which will be the site of major events that will also be open to the general public. If you wish to have more information on the Forum and related events, please connect with: To keep up to date with the latest news, draft reports and any other information on the Special Session, please go to the United Nations official website on: |
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