|
UN: UNESCAP
AND THAI GOVERNMENT LEAD GATHERING MARKING INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE
ERADICATION OF POVERTY: 17/10/2007
(MaximsNews Network)
|
UNITED
NATIONS - / MaximsNews Network /
- 17 October 2007 –Today
the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
in collaboration with the Government of Thailand marked the 20th Anniversary
of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty in ceremonies at the
United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok.
"Today we mark a day to remember those who continue to live with poverty,
violence and hunger", said Ms. Noeleen Heyzer, United Nations
Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP, in her welcome address
to the participants. "Despite the remarkable economic progress of the last
two decades, the Asian and the Pacific region is home to more than two thirds of
the world's poor. We gathered here today because fighting
poverty still remains our greatest challenge", she continued.
With "People Living in Poverty as Agents of Change" as the theme of
the Day, the commemoration commenced with a singto (lion dance) performance by a
homeless community in Bangkok and personal testimonies from representatives of
the poor.
In her keynote address, H.E. Khunying Dhipavadee Meksawan, Minster of the Prime
Minister's Office, stated that the Thai government has embarked on three major
poverty-eradication initiatives guided by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej's
philosophy of a Sufficient Economy. The three initiatives are the
Happiness and Well-being Strategy, Village/Community Development, and Social
Development Strategy.
The Minster concluded by saying that "I am sure that the Royal Thai
Government and the United Nations will continue working together hand-in-hand in
the 'War on Poverty' until the victory is ours".
The Day was also part of the global "Stand Up and Speak Out against
Poverty" campaign, which is led by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in New
York, with all Headquarters staff and representatives of Permanent Missions as
well as people throughout the world..
Here in Bangkok, after the official ceremony in the UN Conference Centre, Ms.
Noeleen Heyzer, H.E. Khunying Dhipavadee Meksawan and Gwi-Yeop Son, UNDP
Resident Coordinatior and UNDP Resident Representative in Thailand, led over
1,000 UN staff, Thai government officials and the public to form a human chain
from Makawan Bridge between Government House and the United
Nations compound to stand up and speak out against poverty and inequality and
demand that governments around the world keep their promises to meet the
Millennium Development Goals. Last year, a record of 23.5 million people
took part worldwide. The number is expected to double this year, setting
another new Guinness World record.
The Commemoration ended with the first screening in Thailand of the
award-winning documentary film, Buddha's Lost Children by Mark Verkerk, at the
United Nations Conference Centre.
For further information, please contact:
Thawadi Pachariyankul
United Nations Information Services
Tel: (+662) 288 -1861; Fax: (+662) 288-1052
E-mail: unisbkk.unescap@un.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Labels: United
Nations, U.N.,
~~~~~
MaximsNews.com, An Independent Voice from the
U.N., provides commentary and analysis from
leading world figures: King Abdullah II
(Jordan), HRH Prince Zeid Ra'ad Zeid Al-Hussein
(Jordan), Sir Brian Urquhart, Hans Blix, Amb.
Richard Holbrooke, Anwar Ibrahim, Bianca Jagger,
Dr. Nafis Sadik, Shashi Tharoor, Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Noeleen Heyzer,
Masood Haider, Kerry
Kennedy, Ian Williams, Stephen Schlesinger, Sen.
Timothy E. Wirth, Marc Morial, Amb. Jayantha
Dhanapala (Sri Lanka), Amb. Pierre Schori
(Sweden), Amb. William H. Luers, Susan Roosevelt
Weld, Rory Kennedy, Mehri
Madarshahi, J. Michael Adams, Gloria Feldt,
Jeffrey Laurenti, Rodney D. Smith, Ashley
Bommer, Rory
O'Connor, Genevieve Stamper, Max Stamper and
others.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MaximsNews®
LLC
NEWS NETWORK FOR THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
MaximsNews Network® LLC is a Global News Network reaching over 30,000 in the International Community. It is associated with MediaChannel.org and Globalvision News Network, global news and media information services with more than 350 news affiliates in 135 countries.
Established in 1999.
The views expressed are the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of MaximsNews®
LLC.
MaximsNews.com
U.N. ® LLC www.MaximsNews.com
| MaximsNews@MaximsNews.com |
Please
contact us about Republishing:
Syndication@MaximsNews.com ©Copyrights 1999 - 2007, MaximsNews® LLC. All rights
reserved.
|
