Pakistan has stressed the need for responding to the challenges and opportunities faced in advancing the aspirations for economic and social development. "There is no greater challenge to humanity, nor a greater threat to world peace than the failure to realise the charter's vision of promoting better standards of life and larger freedoms," said Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations Ambassador Munir Akram.
Addressing the organisational session of the Economic and Social Council (Ecosoc) on Wednesday, Munir Akram said the reform of the Ecosoc was one of the important institutional issues that should be addressed at the 2005 summit.
He hoped the Ecosoc itself would undertake another introspective examination of how it could make itself more effective and relevant.
The envoy hoped that convening of early informal consultations to discuss the ideas and suggestions, which several delegations were ready to advance.
"I believe that several incremental steps can be adopted. Some of the steps on reform may include keeping the Ecosoc in continuous session, holding meetings to deal with emergencies, such as the recent Tsunami disaster, allowing Ecosoc to deal with topical issues and the revival of Group of 27," he said.
He said that during 2004, the Ecosoc had registered significant results. Among these achievements were:
-- The successful convening of the high level segment and the adoption of the draft ministerial declaration on resource mobilisation and enabling environment for poverty eradication in LDCs.
-- The high level segment policy dialogue on important developments in the world economy through a series of round tables on topical themes covering trade and investment issues of concern to the LDCs, with the participation of the heads of BWIs, WTO, Unctad.
-- Convening of high level dialogue on key policy issues in the area of the UNs operational activities for development with the involvement of the relevant stakeholders.
-- The adoption of council resolution 2004-05 confirming the Ecosoc commitment to strengthening the UN emergency humanitarian assistance activities.
Munir Akram said that during the current year, "we will need to build on these achievements and respond to the challenges and opportunities for advancing the aspirations for economic and social development."
"There is no greater challenge to humanity, nor a greater threat to world peace than the failure to realise the charter's vision of promoting better standards of life and larger freedoms," he added.
Over one billion people live on less than a dollar a day; another 2.7 billion struggle to survive on less than two dollars a day, 11 million children die each year from preventable diseases. Besides, 114 million children do not attend primary school and 564 million women are illiterate.
"In our globalised world, prosperity cannot be sustained while poverty afflicts many.
The imbalances in trade and budget deficits, rising oil prices and fluctuating currencies are signals of global economic fragility. "Yet, today, we also have the collective capacity to end hunger and poverty within our lifetime, as the financial resources, technical means and workable blue prints for national and international actions are available," he said.
He said: "This year, 2005, when we review the Millennium Declaration and celebrate the 60th anniversary of the UN, is the moment when we must muster the global solidarity required to fulfill the commitments we have undertaken to realise the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and implement the decisions of the Monterrey, Doha and Johannesburg conferences."
The envoy said that the choice of themes for the high level as well as co-ordination segments, focusing on the achievement of internationally agreed development goals, including the MDGs, would clearly complement the review process for the 2005 Summit.
The special high level meeting of the council with the Bretton Woods Institutions and the World Trade Organisation could also make a contribution to the 2005 summit, he said, adding that an important first step would be to choose a few sub-themes, under the overall theme of coherence, co-ordination and co-operation that were topical and relevant to financing for development.
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