ECA Press Release No. 77/1999

ECA to Host Regional Hearing on UN's Role in the New Millenium

Addis Ababa, 16 June 1999 (ECA) - A cross-section of representatives of African member States, academia, the private sector, the media, and non-governmental organizations are to meet here next week to share views and elaborate proposals on the United Nations they want to see in the 21stcentury.

The meeting, to take place from 24 - 25 June 1999 under the broad theme "United Nations in the 21st Century", is the second in a series of regional hearings being organized by the five UN regional commissions as part of the consultative process being undertaken in preparation for the Millenium  Assembly, planned for the year 2000 in New York.

Views from the hearings will contribute towards a report to be prepared by UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, outlining a vision for the United Nations in the next millennium. These proposals will be presented to the Millenium Assembly, which is expected to feature a large number of Heads of States and government from member States.

"The arrival of the new millennium offers opportunities to think innovatively on how to address the profound economic, social and political development challenges facing the world," states an aide memoire on the hearings. "The United Nations as the global organization has the overriding obligation to consider how to respond to the needs and aspirations of the great majority of society, still on the margins of development. The United Nations must rise to the challenge as a means of restoring faith in the organization's ability to meet the needs of the 21st century."

All the regional hearings are addressing the following broad questions:

• How can the new challenges and expectations of the UN be redefined?
• What kind of United Nations do member States and other stakeholdersdesire?
• How should the UN interact with its constituencies?
• How do UN member States contribute to making all of these happen?

Several areas are also demanding the UN's action, among which the five are significant, namely: peace and security, economic and social affairs, development cooperation, humanitarian action and, of course, human rights. The redefinition process should not lose sight of these and other  pressing concerns, which require ongoing attention and commitment.

The Africa Regional Hearing will address the five core priority areas of peace and security, economic and social affairs, development cooperation, humanitarian affairs and human rights. The two-day hearing will be structured around four plenary panel discussions, focusing on the following themes:

• Addressing Global Problems: the role of the United Nations in the 21st century;
• Addressing the Challenges of peace and security in Africa;
• Cooperation for economic and social development in Africa; and
• Approaching humanitarian and human rights issues within a global context.

A host of eminent panelists are expected to participate.

DATES FOR OTHER REGIONAL HEARINGS:

- Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, Beirut, 23 - 24 May 1999

- Economic Commission for Europe, Geneva, 7 - 8 July 1999

- Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok, 19 - 20 August 1999

- Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, Santiago, 1 - 2 September 1999

For more information on the Africa Regional Hearing, please visit the ECA Website at http://www.un.org/depts/eca . The website will be regularly updated with summaries of the discussion, press releases and other relevant information.ECA contacts for the Africa Regional Hearing are:

1. Ms. Jennifer Kargbo (Secretariat)
Phone: (251-1) 51 72 00 Ext. 35243 or (251-1) 51 58 32
Fax: (251-1) 51 44 16 or 51 58 32E-mail: kargbo.uneca@un.org

2. Mr. Assefa Gebre (Secretariat)
Phone: (251-1) 51 72 00 Ext. 33247 or (251-1) 51 58 32
Fax: (251-1) 51 44 16 or 51 58 32E-mail: gebre.uneca@un.org

3. Mr. Ali Todaro (Logistics and Protocol)Phone: (251-1) 51 01 95
Fax: (251-1) 51 01 64 or 51 44 16E-mail: todaro@un.org or ali_todaro@hotmail.com

Peter da Costa
Senior Communication Adviser
Economic Commission for Africa
P.O. Box 3001 Addis Ababa Ethiopia
Tel: +251-1-51 58 26
Fax: +251-1-51 03 65
Cell: +251-9-20 17 94
E-mail: dacosta@un.org  or ecainfo@uneca.org
Web: http://www.un.org/depts/eca