Lech Walesa of Poland Suggests Chance for “Ordinary Citizens of World”
To Contribute; Others Stress Importance of Economic, Social ‘Protection Systems’
The International Human Solidarity Day was launched at a ceremony at United Nations Headquarters this morning with a call by the former President of Poland for a special “fund of human solidarity” to provide a better life for the world’s poor.
Lech Walesa, a Nobel Peace Laureate and a founder of Poland’s solidarity movement, said the fund should not replace the many important and valued initiatives of Governments and intergovernmental bodies, but should give ordinary citizens of the world the possibility to contribute, however modestly. He said the fund could be administered by the United Nations Secretary-General, with Governments assisting by disseminating information about it and exempting payments to the fund from taxes and other fees.
In speech of welcome, the Chairperson of the General Assembly’s Second Committee (Economic and Financial), Tiina Intelmann, said the International Human Solidarity Day was proclaimed by the General Assembly (resolution 60/2900) as an initiative in the fight against poverty. It should remind everyone about the commitment to poverty eradication, the raising of awareness of the importance of solidarity and the encouragement of the debate on ways to promote solidarity for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
The President of the Economic and Social Council, Ali Hachani, said that in a world increasingly pushed towards individualism and market economics, the renewal of solidarity was a sign of hope especially for those who found it more difficult to pull themselves out of a life of poverty.
The General Assembly in its resolution decided that the International Human Solidarity Day should be observed on 20 December each year.
Ahmed Al-Haddad, Chef de Cabinet, made a statement on behalf of the President of the General Assembly.
Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, José Antonio Ocampo, said that meaningful efforts against poverty required that much more attention be given to developing genuinely integrated economic and social policies aimed at preventing economic crises and developing permanent social protection systems. There was a need for global initiatives and national policies that strengthened the economic dimensions of solidarity, along with the social and humanitarian dimensions.
Statements were also made by the representatives of Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil and Burkina Faso.
A logo, which the Second Committee Chairperson described as expressing the idea of solidarity, was unveiled. The logo had human figures embracing the globe in a gesture of solidarity and shared responsibility. The figures were represented by different colours, yet united.
Statements: http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2006/dev2600.doc.htm
Please also see:
DELEGATES WORRY HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL COULD SQUANDER CHANCE TO RESPOND TO ABUSES IT WAS SET UP TO ADDRESS, AS GENERAL ASSEMBLY REVIEWS COUNCIL’S FIRST REPORT
Speakers Welcome Two Special Sessions on Middle East; Caution Council
Against Remaining Mute on Other Pressing Situations, Like War-Torn Darfur
Just seven months after the United Nations General Assembly created a Human Rights Council to replace the much criticized Commission on Human Rights, Assembly diplomats, today, appeared divided over the new body’s early direction: some warned that it should not be turned into a board of “inquisition” against countries in the South, while others were disappointed that the Council might be squandering the opportunity to respond to the very abuses it had been set up to address.
During the Assembly’s review of the Human Rights Council’s first report, most speakers acknowledged that the new Council was still developing its own working methods and procedures for addressing specific countries’ human rights situations. Many welcomed the Council’s two special sessions -- one on the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the other on rights violations committed during Israel’s 33-day war with Hizbollah in Lebanon. Others praised the Council’s recommendation that the Assembly adopt the international Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.
But, even during the early transition phase, delegations were concerned that the Council -- created to provide a more effective and less politicized replacement for the discredited Human Rights Commission -- could become bogged down by the same politically motivated decision-making. Warning the Council to steer clear of double standards and selective targeting of human rights situations in Southern countries, speakers from the developing world said that no country’s human rights record was above reproach. (more)
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2006/ga10531.doc.htm
U.N. Human Rights Council http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil
To Contribute; Others Stress Importance of Economic, Social ‘Protection Systems’
The International Human Solidarity Day was launched at a ceremony at United Nations Headquarters this morning with a call by the former President of Poland for a special “fund of human solidarity” to provide a better life for the world’s poor.
Lech Walesa, a Nobel Peace Laureate and a founder of Poland’s solidarity movement, said the fund should not replace the many important and valued initiatives of Governments and intergovernmental bodies, but should give ordinary citizens of the world the possibility to contribute, however modestly. He said the fund could be administered by the United Nations Secretary-General, with Governments assisting by disseminating information about it and exempting payments to the fund from taxes and other fees.
In speech of welcome, the Chairperson of the General Assembly’s Second Committee (Economic and Financial), Tiina Intelmann, said the International Human Solidarity Day was proclaimed by the General Assembly (resolution 60/2900) as an initiative in the fight against poverty. It should remind everyone about the commitment to poverty eradication, the raising of awareness of the importance of solidarity and the encouragement of the debate on ways to promote solidarity for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
The President of the Economic and Social Council, Ali Hachani, said that in a world increasingly pushed towards individualism and market economics, the renewal of solidarity was a sign of hope especially for those who found it more difficult to pull themselves out of a life of poverty.
The General Assembly in its resolution decided that the International Human Solidarity Day should be observed on 20 December each year.
Ahmed Al-Haddad, Chef de Cabinet, made a statement on behalf of the President of the General Assembly.
Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, José Antonio Ocampo, said that meaningful efforts against poverty required that much more attention be given to developing genuinely integrated economic and social policies aimed at preventing economic crises and developing permanent social protection systems. There was a need for global initiatives and national policies that strengthened the economic dimensions of solidarity, along with the social and humanitarian dimensions.
Statements were also made by the representatives of Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil and Burkina Faso.
A logo, which the Second Committee Chairperson described as expressing the idea of solidarity, was unveiled. The logo had human figures embracing the globe in a gesture of solidarity and shared responsibility. The figures were represented by different colours, yet united.
Statements: http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2006/dev2600.doc.htm
Please also see:
DELEGATES WORRY HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL COULD SQUANDER CHANCE TO RESPOND TO ABUSES IT WAS SET UP TO ADDRESS, AS GENERAL ASSEMBLY REVIEWS COUNCIL’S FIRST REPORT
Speakers Welcome Two Special Sessions on Middle East; Caution Council
Against Remaining Mute on Other Pressing Situations, Like War-Torn Darfur
Just seven months after the United Nations General Assembly created a Human Rights Council to replace the much criticized Commission on Human Rights, Assembly diplomats, today, appeared divided over the new body’s early direction: some warned that it should not be turned into a board of “inquisition” against countries in the South, while others were disappointed that the Council might be squandering the opportunity to respond to the very abuses it had been set up to address.
During the Assembly’s review of the Human Rights Council’s first report, most speakers acknowledged that the new Council was still developing its own working methods and procedures for addressing specific countries’ human rights situations. Many welcomed the Council’s two special sessions -- one on the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the other on rights violations committed during Israel’s 33-day war with Hizbollah in Lebanon. Others praised the Council’s recommendation that the Assembly adopt the international Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.
But, even during the early transition phase, delegations were concerned that the Council -- created to provide a more effective and less politicized replacement for the discredited Human Rights Commission -- could become bogged down by the same politically motivated decision-making. Warning the Council to steer clear of double standards and selective targeting of human rights situations in Southern countries, speakers from the developing world said that no country’s human rights record was above reproach. (more)
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2006/ga10531.doc.htm
U.N. Human Rights Council http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil