BANGKOK (UNIS/PINA) — The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific on Wednesday announced major changes to the way it would carry out future work in the region.
The new structure would focus on three thematic areas: poverty reduction, managing globalization, and addressing emerging social issues.
Given the expertise of some Asian countries, it was also announced a new emphasis would be placed on the region-wide promotion of information, communication and space technology.
“As important as discussion and dialogue is to the U.N., we need very much to follow-up our words with action,” said Kim Hak-Su, ESCAP’s executive secretary.
Announcing a plan to reform and revitalize U.N. ESCAP, Kim said it was time “to change the way the U.N. works in Asia and the Pacific.”
The changes were announced after a closed-door roundtable meeting of government ministers at the 58th annual commission session being held in Bangkok. The ministers are expected to adopt a resolution to grant approval.
“I am also committed to making the work programs more results oriented,” Kim said, referring to the millennium development goals of halving poverty by 2015.
“In a sense all our work at the commission is devoted to reducing poverty and this we will try to do.”
The proposed changes “are focused and supported by member countries. They are pleased that we are soul-searching and trying new avenues of making a difference in the lives of the region’s peoples,” Kim said.
