The Economic and Social Council this morning, in the context of its agenda item on social and human rights questions, considered issues relating to social development; crime prevention and criminal justice; narcotic drugs; United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action; human rights; and the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

Janet Lim, Assistant High Commissioner for Operations of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), in an oral report on coordination aspects of the work of UNHCR, said in the past year, UNHCR had worked closely with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee, contributing to the development of new policies required to further humanitarian reform, and had redoubled efforts to discharge responsibilities as global lead of the protection, emergency shelter, camp coordination and camp management clusters to assist internally-displaced persons. Within the Committee, UNHCR and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs had taken the lead in expanding the scope of discussions on humanitarian space by pursuing conceptual clarity and identifying good practices. On United Nations reform, UNHCR was engaged in five of the eight pilot countries selected for the Delivering as One initiative.

Bacre Waly Ndiaye, Officer in Charge of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, in an introductory statement, said the report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights focused on the implementation and monitoring of economic and social rights. It complimented three previous reports to the Economic and Social Council, which addressed, respectively, the issue of legal protection of economic, social and cultural rights, the concept of “progressive realization”, and the application of the principle of equality between men and women and the prohibition of discrimination against women in respect of their economic, social and cultural rights. With this series of reports, the High Commissioner aimed to clarify key concepts for the adequate translation of international human rights commitments regarding economic, social and cultural rights into domestic legislation and practice, and for the adequate monitoring of compliance with those international obligations.

Sevil Atasoy, President of the International Narcotics Control Board, said multilateral drug control should be acknowledged as one of the twentieth century's greatest achievements. Over 95 per cent of United Nations Member States, covering 99 per cent of the world's population, had agreed to be bound by the provisions of the conventions. The licit control system had managed to absorb the significant increase of the number of substances controlled under the conventions and the continuously rising licit demand for narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. Despite the ever-increasing scope of the international drug control system, diversions of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances from the licit to the illicit market were virtually nonexistent. However, to claim that challenges did not exist would be to negate reality.

In the general discussion on these issues, speakers said that in the current context where countries were being severely affected by the global economic and financial crises, the social progress achieved in many of the developing countries during recent decades, in particular on the Millennium Development Goals, was being threatened. The world demand for humanitarian aid continued to increase, incited by the growing gravity of natural disasters, a growth in conflict and a worsening of vulnerabilities due to the world financial crisis, the growth of populations and of urbanisation. Each country had the primary responsibility for its economic and social development.

Despite progress made, children worldwide were still suffering from various forms of exploitation and violence. For this reason, the international community needed to redouble its efforts to ensure that all children, who were the most vulnerable, were adequately protected and cared for, and were able to fully enjoy their rights. Protecting and promoting human rights was a process that would require both individual and collective efforts at all levels. The world drug problem was no longer a problem at the national level, but was now a global problem with development and security challenges. The time was now for the international community to tackle the world drug problem and to ensure that all people lived in health, dignity, peace, and security.

Speaking in the general discussion were Sweden on behalf of the European Union, United States, Namibia, Thailand, Belarus, United Kingdom, Russia, India, Algeria, Pakistan, Iran, Saint Lucia, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Also speaking were the representatives of International Drug Policy Control, and International Alliance of Women.

This afternoon at 3 p.m. the Council is scheduled to take action on draft resolutions and decisions on social and human rights questions, economic and environmental questions, as well as on United Nations research and training.

Reports

The Council has before it a Report on the forty-seventh session of the Commission for Social Development (E/2009/26), which notes that during the session the Commission for Social Development considered “social integration”, the priority theme for the 2009-2010 review cycle, and the review of relevant United Nations plans and programmes of action pertaining to the situation of social groups. On the priority theme, the Commission held a panel discussion elaborating on social integration, taking into account the relationship with poverty eradication and full employment and decent work for all, and engaged in an interactive dialogue with the Executive Coordinator of the United Nations Volunteers programme. During the panel discussion, under the agenda item entitled “Emerging issues”, the Commission discussed the current global crises and their impact on social development. The Commission also addressed the subject of programme performance and implementation for the biennium 2006-2007 and the proposed programme of work for the biennium 2010-2011 and heard statements by the Director of the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development and the Commission’s Special Rapporteur on disability.

The Council also has before it a report on the eighteenth session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (E/2009/30), which contains a large number of decisions and resolutions for the Economic and Social Council to adopt, as well as a summary of the thematic discussions on economic fraud and identity-related crime and on penal reform and the reduction of prison overcrowding, including the provision of legal aid in criminal justice systems; discussion and action taken on: world crime trends and responses; integration and coordination of efforts by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and by Member States in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice; preparations for the Twelfth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice; use and application of United Nations standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice; policy directives for the crime programme of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the role of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice as its governing body, including administrative, strategic management and budgetary questions; provisional agenda for the nineteenth session of the Commission; and other business.

A Report on the fifty-second session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (E/2009/28) contains a decision and two resolutions for adoption by the Economic and Social Council, as well as a summary of the thematic debate on tools for enhancing the effectiveness of international drug control and international cooperation in the fight against illicit drugs, specifically: data collection for effective drug control, including on the misuse of cyberspace; and strengthening of regional and cross-border cooperation, including data-sharing; as well as an elaboration of follow-up to the twentieth special session of the General Assembly: general overview and progress achieved by Governments in meeting the goals and targets for the years 2003 and 2008 set out in the Political Declaration adopted by the Assembly at its twentieth special session; a summary of discussions on: drug demand reduction; illicit drug trafficking and supply; implementation of the international drug control treaties; policy directives to the drug programme of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime; strengthening the United Nations machinery for drug control; administrative and budgetary questions; and the High Level Segment.

The Council has a Report on the eighth session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (E/2009/43), which contains three decisions for adoption by the Economic and Social Council, as well as an elaboration of the venue, dates and proceedings of the session; adoption of the report of the Permanent Forum on its eighth session; and organization of the session.

The Council also has before it the report of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs on outcome of the high-level segment of the fifty-second session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs on progress achieved in meeting the goals and targets set out in the Political Declaration adopted by the General Assembly at its twentieth special session (E/2009/98), which contains the Political Declaration and Plan of Action on International Cooperation towards an Integrated and Balanced Strategy to Counter the World Drug Problem, adopted during the high-level segment of the fifty-second session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, which sets out demand reduction and related measures and supply reduction and related measures including in the areas of control of precursors and of amphetamine-type stimulants, international cooperation on eradicating the illicit cultivation of crops used for the production of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and on alternative development, and countering money-laundering and promoting judicial cooperation to enhance international cooperation. The report also contains the outcome of the four round-table discussions held during the high-level segment.

The report of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Fortieth and Forty-First Sessions, contained in (E/2009/22), highlights its organizational and other matters; gives an overview of the present working methods of the Committee; submission of reports by States parties under articles 16 and 17 of the Covenant; consideration of reports submitted by states parties under articles 16 and 17 of the Covenant and of a document submitted by the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK); substantive issues arising in the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; additional decisions adopted and matters discussed by the Committee at its fortieth and forty-first sessions; other activities of the Committee in 2008; and the adoption of its report.

The report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on Implementation of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, contained in (E/2009/90), presents the concepts of implementing and monitoring human rights with specific reference to economic, social and cultural rights. The report addresses the specific challenges posed by the complex array of obligations that stem from economic, social and cultural rights, including progressive realization and non-discrimination; outlines various ways of monitoring legislation and other normative measures, such as regulations, policies, plans and programmes, and elaborates on monitoring the realization of rights, paying particular attention to human rights impact assessments, the use of indicators and benchmarks and budget analysis; and addresses the issue of monitoring violations of economic, social and cultural rights.

Introduction of Reports

JANET LIM, Assistant High Commissioner for Operations of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), in an oral report on coordination aspects of the work of UNHCR, said in the past year, UNHCR had worked closely with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee, contributing to the development of new policies required to further humanitarian reform, and had redoubled efforts to discharge responsibilities as global lead of the protection, emergency shelter, camp coordination and camp management clusters to assist internally-displaced persons. Within the Committee, UNHCR and OCHA had taken the lead in expanding the scope of discussions on humanitarian space by pursuing conceptual clarity and identifying good practices. On United Nations reform, UNHCR was engaged in five of the eight pilot countries selected for the Delivering as One initiative. UNHCR was also involved in the work of the Committee's informal Task Force on Climate Change, and this had contributed to the identification of humanitarian consequences resulting from climate change. As part of the United Nations Security Management system, UNHCR was actively in the United Nations change process to increase efficiency in delivering life-saving humanitarian assistance in challenging environments.

UNHCR continued to reinforce bilateral relationships with key partner organizations on a range of operational issues. In 2008, it channelled $ 400 million, or one quarter of total expenditure, through 635 non-governmental organizations (NGOs). In June 2009, the High Commissioner participated in the annual meeting of the Global Humanitarian Forum, a unique forum bringing together on an equal footing the United Nations, inter-Governmental bodies, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and NGOs. No small measure of UNHCR's success in the past year would have been possible without the close cooperation of its partners. Governments, regional and international organizations, United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, NGOs and refugees and internally-displaced persons themselves had contributed in profound ways to provide assistance. UNHCR appreciated this strong commitment to work in partnership to achieve results.

BACRE WALY NDIAYE, Officer-in-Charge, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, introducing the two reports submitted on human rights, said the report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights focused on the implementation and monitoring of economic and social rights. It complimented three previous reports to the Economic and Social Council, which addressed, respectively, the issue of legal protection of economic, social and cultural rights, the concept of “progressive realization”, and the application of the principle of equality between men and women and the prohibition of discrimination against women in respect of their economic, social and cultural rights. With this series of reports, the High Commissioner aimed to clarify key concepts for the adequate translation of international human rights commitments regarding economic, social and cultural rights into domestic legislation and practice, and for the adequate monitoring of compliance with those international obligations. The report contained concrete recommendations to strengthen the implementation and monitoring of economic, social and cultural rights. The High Commissioner hoped that this report could offer guidance to Member States to comply with their international obligations regarding economic, social and cultural rights.

Turning to the report of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Mr. Ndiaye said, at its fortieth and forty-first sessions, the Committee considered reports submitted by nine States parties to the Covenant and a document submitted by the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, based on a request by the Committee. At its forty-first session, the Committee adopted reporting guidelines on treaty-specific documents to be submitted by States parties under Articles 16 and 17 of the Covenant. The new guidelines took into account the harmonized guidelines for common core documents, as well as the Committee’s evolving practice in relation to the application of the Covenant. During the sessions the Committee also held a Day of General Discussion on the right to take part in cultural life; and a half day of general discussion on draft General Comment No.20 on non-discrimination and economic, social and cultural rights, which was recently adopted. Before concluding Mr. Ndiaye highlighted a significant development which had a major impact on the Committee’s work, which was the adoption of the Optional Protocol to the Covenant by the General Assembly on 10 December 2008. The Protocol would be open for signature and ratification at a treaty event to be held in New York on 24 September 2009.

Sevil Atasoy, President of the International Narcotics Control Board, said over the past twelve months, the Board was engaged in various activities. The annual report of the Board for 2008 was officially launched in some 21 countries in February 2009. The Board also published a special report on the follow-up to the Special Session of the General Assembly on the world drug problem. Multilateral drug control should be acknowledged as one of the twentieth century's greatest achievements - over 95 per cent of United Nations Member States, covering 99 per cent of the world's population, had agreed to be bound by the provisions of the Conventions. The licit control system had managed to absorb the significant increase of the number of substances controlled under the conventions and the continuously rising licit demand for narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. Despite the ever-increasing scope of the international drug control system, diversions of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances from the licit to the illicit market were virtually nonexistent. However, to claim that challenges did not exist would be to negate reality. This was an important issue of public health, one that deserved special mention.

The second chapter of the report dealt with the normative aspects of the Board's work, with an emphasis on the operation of the international drug control system, as well as any challenges and possible remedial actions. In recent years, there had been a marked increase in the smuggling of cocaine consignments from South America through West Africa into Europe. The international community should provide Governments of countries in West Africa with all the assistance necessary to address the problem. Another development of concern was the continued illegal sale of internationally controlled and uncontrolled substances over the Internet. Since 2004, the Board had drawn the attention of Governments to the problem of trafficking in and abuse of ketamine, which was not currently under international control. The third chapter of the report examined the implementation of the drug control treaties at the national and international level. The Board also encouraged Governments to devote more resources for the treatment of drug addicts, which should be both in line with sound medical practice and the international drug control conventions. The international drug control system had stood the test of time with credit, but it was not perfect. It was undoubtedly capable of improvement, for that reason, there were procedures for its modification.

General Discussion on Social and Human Rights Questions

BENGT GUNNAR HERRSTROM (Sweden), speaking on behalf of the European Union, said in the current context where countries were being severely affected by the global economic and financial crises, the social progress achieved in many of the developing countries during recent decades, in particular on the Millennium Development Goals, was being threatened. It was important that States take timely and adequate measures to stimulate employment and to prevent and limit job losses and social impacts. Each country had the primary responsibility for its economic and social development. Enhanced coordination between economic, employment and social policies was among top priorities and the involvement of all relevant economic and social actors – in particular the social partners – was fundamental to ensure that short-term actions aimed at stabilising the labour market were coherent with longer-term objectives of economic, fiscal and employment policies and with sound public finances. Social integration and social cohesion were key objectives of social and economic development and played a vital role in long-term sustainable development, stability and prosperity of every society. Furthermore, the creation of favourable conditions for children to develop their skills, to fulfil their potential, to participate actively in society, and for young men and women to integrate in the labour market was essential for sustainable growth and development.

JOHN SAMMIS (United States) said the United States strongly supported national and international efforts to combat crime and corruption. Much of the progress that had been achieved under the Conventions on Transnational Organized Crime and Against Corruption could be attributed to the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime. The goal should now be to achieve broad practical application and implementation of the conventions. The principle underlying the work of UNHCR was the collective responsibility of Governments to protect people forced to flee across borders. The positive developments of UNHCR’s internal reform over the last year were recognised, and it should continue to finalise these efforts in order to show the positive impact of reform on beneficiaries’ lives. As donors, aid programmes should be coordinated and duplication avoided, while ensuring maximum flexibility in the funding to UNHCR so that it could carry out its mandate. The United States took note with interest of the report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the implementation of economic, social and cultural rights, which were to be progressively realised in accordance with available resources, and that no remedies could be mandated for violations. The United States believed that its belief in social justice, the rule of law that prevailed in the country and the dynamic economy were unequalled in allowing for individual growth and upward mobility, a sure sign of access to these rights.

SELMA ASHIPALA-MUSAVYI (Namibia) said with regard to narcotic drugs and speaking as Chairperson of the fifty-second Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the fifty-second session was impressive as it adopted a declaration and programme of action. Cognisant of the impact of narcotic drugs and its impact at the global level, Member States evaluated and reviewed results in the past decade, and thus approved a declaration and programme of action on narcotic drugs. The Commission also recognized the role played by non-governmental organizations at this session. She recalled that the General Assembly adopted resolution 63/197 in which it decided to consider the results of the fifty-second session of the Commission at its sixty-fourth session. This plenary meeting would provide an opportunity for Member States to reaffirm their commitment expressed in the declaration and programme of action. She called on all States to participate actively in this plenary meeting. She highlighted that the world drug problem was no longer a problem at the national level, but was now a global problem with development and security challenges. The youth of the world were wasting away as a result of drug abuse. Increasingly women and girls were being used as couriers for drug transportation, and were victims of abuse and violence in this regard. The time was now for the international community to tackle the world drug problem and to ensure that all people lived in health, dignity and peace, with security.

SIHASAK PHUANGKETKEOW (Thailand) said this year marked another important year for the protection and promotion of human rights worldwide. The outcome declaration achieved by consensus at the Durban Review Conference in April demonstrated that, despite differences, the international community remained united in its common goal of combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, wherever they occurred. Despite progress made, children worldwide were still suffering from various forms of exploitation and violence. For this reason, the international community needed to redouble its efforts to ensure that all children, who were the most vulnerable, were adequately protected and cared for, and were able to fully enjoy their rights. The report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees underscored the need for stronger partnerships and coordination more than ever. Protecting and promoting human rights was a process that would require both individual and collective efforts at all levels. Thailand reaffirmed its commitment to work within its own borders, regionally, and globally to advance the human rights agenda in all its dimensions.

VITALIY KORNEV (Belarus) said with regard to social development, at present there was a negative trend at the world level portrayed by a lack of social protection for populations, and as such it was necessary to strengthen the role of ECOSOC to confront this trend. Belarus had taken measures at the national level to deal with this issue, and among the measures taken had adopted a law aimed at providing foreign citizens and stateless persons with refugee status. This measure was taken in close cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. On the comprehensive implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, Belarus was a multi-ethnic State, with a rich and positive experience in inter-religious dialogue and respect for differences. The Government aimed to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance at all levels. The Government had ensured that its domestic laws were in line with international instruments, and held inter-religious dialogue seminars to create an atmosphere for religious tolerance and mutual respect for difference. Freedom, justice, human dignity, and eliminating poverty were some of the priorities the Government consistently focused on. In May 2009 at United Nations Headquarters in New York, thematic debates were held on elaborating the global plan of action in combating human trafficking. Belarus welcomed the efforts taken to eliminate this crime, and called on UNCHR to give particular attention to organizing training with respect to human rights and trafficking in persons. In the regular plenary session of ECOSOC in 2008 Belarus proposed a resolution on trafficking in persons. In conclusion it was their hope that ECOSOC would closely consider the global plan of action for trafficking in persons.

JONNA JEURLINK (United Kingdom) said regarding the Political Declaration of the High Level Segment of the fifty-second session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, this declaration marked the end of the 10-year review of the international community's efforts in drug control. The negotiations to adopt this declaration were long and complex. Many areas of agreement existed, and equally there were a significant number of differences in approach and understanding that in the end were not wholly resolved. Many of these differences centred around how best to ensure that the international drug conventions were applied most effectively while maintaining respect for and diligence towards other international obligations. The United Kingdom did not believe these differences were insurmountable. There was a need for a balanced approach. Drug trafficking and misuse was a complex phenomenon with many different aspects and effects. The different bodies within the United Nations system must increasingly work together so that policies and decisions made in one body were transferred to others and that efforts neither duplicated nor contradicted one another. The United Kingdom hoped the political declaration would serve as a basis for ongoing dialogue in this area.

ALEXEY GOLTYAEV (Russian Federation) said social development should be considered in light of the multifactor effects of the present global economic and financial crises and which required discussion on a collective basis. International institutions in this regard had to be strengthened, namely ECOSOC and the Commission on Social Development. The main guideline for this remained with States’ responsibility to increase the standard of living of citizens and the security of their well-being. On the question of crime prevention and criminal justice, the Russian Federation praised the Commission for its work. They called for a central coordination mechanism to coherently respond to global terrorism. On drugs and narcotics, the Russian Federation called for the effective stopping to the flow of narcotics coming from Afghanistan, and for the further strengthening of the Paris-Moscow process in this regard. Russia attached great importance the International Narcotics Board, as a central body that embodied the universal values, guidelines and principles on drugs and narcotics. With regard to the comprehensive implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, the outcome document brought new impetus to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance at the international level. Russia called on States who had not ratified the final outcome document to do so.

ARINDAM BAGCHI (India) said India had consistently supported the protection and promotion of the rights of indigenous peoples, and it was India's understanding that the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples did not define what constituted indigenous peoples, and that the issue of indigenous rights pertained to peoples in independent countries who were regarded as indigenous on account of their descent, or a geographical region to which the country belonged, and who, irrespective of their legal status, retained some or all of their own social, economic, cultural and political institutions. Consistent with this definition, the entire population of India was indigenous. One of the reports that was submitted by the United Nations Development Programme to the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues interchangeably used the term "tribal" with "indigenous" in the Indian context. India had a clear understanding on the distinction between the two terminologies, and had stated the same in various international fora - the United Nations system should ensure that it used the correct terminologies in all its public documents and reports.

ZAKIAL IGHIL (Algeria) said with regards to the oral report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the world demand for humanitarian aid continued to increase, incited by the growing gravity of natural disasters, a growth in conflict and a worsening of vulnerabilities due to the world financial crisis, and the growth of populations and of urbanisation. There was a need for international solidarity and burden-sharing, including a co-partnership relationship between donor countries and those responsible for hosting refugees. Migratory flows were another challenge to be dealt with, and often led to tragic circumstances. The efforts of the High Commissioner were applauded, and there should be close cooperation with other international institutions in the field of international migration. The search for a solution to prolonged refugee situations should be identified in a global and integrated framework including countries of origin and based on the full enjoyment of rights recognised by international instruments and the scrupulous respect of international legality.

CHU GUANG (China) said with regard to the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), they had done a great deal of conducive work and scored positive results in many parts of the world, especially in conflicts. There was a drop in world refugees by 8 per cent since reports of last year. China congratulated UNHCR for continuing to seek a permanent solution to the issue of refugees. The root cause of the issue of refugees lay mainly in the irrational international political order. It was important to uphold shared responsibility to eradicate the issue of refugees while maintaining stability and peace.

MUHAMMAD AYUB (Pakistan) said Pakistan strongly condemned the killings of staff of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) over the past year. The Government of Pakistan was providing all necessary assistance to internally displaced people to ensure their safe and secure rehabilitation and integration. Pakistan continued to host three million, and UNHCR had an important role to play in their rehabilitation.

AHMAD RAJABI (Iran) said with regard to narcotic drugs, Iran, being the neighbour of the biggest producer of narcotic drugs, was engaged in a full fledged conflict with narcotic drugs. The amount of poppy cultivation and production of drugs increased in 2007 in East Asia, and the main reason was due to drug cultivation and production in Afghanistan. Estimates showed that 82 per cent of world opium production came from there. There was also a 17 per cent growth rate in the land cultivated in Afghanistan. Iran was one of the shortest routes for the transport of drugs to the global market. With regard to the involvement of the private sector and non-governmental organizations in the treatment of drug abuse, 700 private centres were operational across the country last year, which showed a significant increase in non-governmental organizations treatment of drug abuse. Despite the position Iran was in, it received the least amount of financial support from the international community. Within the arena of international fora on illicit drugs, States that had state of the art technology politicized its use. The lack of common procedures in dealing with illicit drugs remained some of most important challenges facing this illicit drug trafficking.

DONATUS ST. AIMEE (Saint Lucia) said one of the least considered aspects of globalization was its influence on socialisation processes and institutions that focused on preventative measures rather than punitive measures in terms of societal norms. As the world moved towards one culture, this was putting a lot of stress on those norms and institutions, with serious aspects of deviant behaviour being seen, whether drugs or others, and these needed to be dealt with. Once there was a stress in a society, it began to be seen in the legal system. This was the case in Saint Lucia, where the old practice of the extended family system was coming under stress due to the economic downturn. There was nothing to be put in its place, and this was causing stress. The matter was how to deal with this deviant behaviour, whilst ensuring that the rights of individuals and of societies were respected and protected. Small populations with limited resources found this very difficult. Saint Lucia was trying to keep its legal system up to date, whilst ensuring that societal values were still there, providing support, and would move the emphasis away from punitive measures but to preventative measures so as not to spend all its resources on building correction facilities.

MARCELLO SCARONE AZZI, of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), said the fight against racism, discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance was at the heart of UNESCO’s mandate since its very creation in 1945. The efforts to define standard principles, concepts and universal criteria to support the fight against racism and discrimination eventually resulted in the milestone Declaration on Race and Racial Prejudice adopted in 1978. The Durban Declaration and Programme of Action was a comprehensive, action-oriented document that proposed concrete measures to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance. A number of recommendations were specifically addressed to UNESCO. Consequently, in 2003, at the thirty-second session of the General Conference, UNESCO Member States adopted an Integrated Strategy to Combat Racism, Discrimination, Xenophobia and Intolerance in order to respond to the challenges emerging in modern societies as well as to ensure follow-up to the requests addressed to UNESCO in the Durban documents. Over the years, UNESCO had pursued an array of work based on this Integrated Strategy and the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. For example, the Slave Route Project, launched in Benin, in 1994, had the objective to, among other things, contribute to a better understanding of the causes, forms of operation, issues and consequences of slavery in the world.

MIKE TRACE, of International Drug Policy Consortium said with regards to the adoption of the report of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the International Drug Policy Consortium had come together to advocate for human and effective drug policies, based on the principles of human rights, social inclusion, and public health, and understood the complexities and sensitivities in this area of drugs policy. Significant problems in the international drug control system had not been correctly dealt with in the Commission. The report this year was of particular significance - it included the adoption of a Political Declaration, but it was important to record that, behind the agreed text, there were significant differences of policy and perspective between Member States that would need further discussion if the drug control system were to remain fit for purpose for the next ten years. Given the real and practical dilemmas arising from the realities on the ground, the challenge for the Commission was to meaningfully review the evidence, and debate what changes to systems and strategies would be needed to achieve better results in the future. The drug policy debates and decisions made in Vienna took place in isolation from the rest of the United Nations system, but had a deep impact on the wider social and health challenges. As a coordinating mechanism, ECOSOC needed to seek better coherence between the outcomes of the different functional commissions on this issue, and the Secretary-General should consider ways to ensure that the United Nations could truly "speak as one" on the issue of drug control.

HELENE SACKSTEIN, of the International Alliance of Women, said according to the latest World Health Organization (WHO) statistics in April 2009, 536,000 women died every year of complications before, during and after pregnancy and childbirth. The global maternal mortality ratio of 400 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2005 had barely changed since 1990. Most of these deaths were preventable and failure to address this situation was a great social injustice. In addition, according to the 2006 UN Special Rapporteur’s report on the highest attainment of physical and mental health, for every woman who died from pregnancy-related complications, approximately 30 more suffered injuries, infections and disabilities. There was no single cause of death and disability for men between the ages of 15 and 44 that was close to the magnitude of maternal deaths and disabilities. These shocking statistics revealed chronic and entrenched inequalities. The burden of maternal mortality was borne disproportionately by developing countries. In many affluent countries, marginalised women, women living in poverty, ethnic minority or indigenous women were more vulnerable to maternal mortality. In others, women were simply excluded from the quality health care they may have needed simply because they were women. Furthermore, maternal mortality and morbidity rates revealed sharp discrepancies between men and women in their enjoyment of sexual and reproductive health rights.


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