Globalization Must Be ‘More Inclusive’ To Benefit World’s Poor – UN Official
Warning of growing inequalities both within and between countries at a time of widespread economic growth, a senior
United Nations official today said the process of globalization must be made more inclusive in order to benefit the
world’s poor.
Speaking to reporters in New York, Kemal Dervis, the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP),
said economies are expanding at a virtually unprecedented rate.
“At the same time, we can characterize our age as one of exploding inequalities,” he said, arguing that the poorest are
not benefiting from globalization.
Ever increasing inequalities bring “tensions, social problems, frustrations, alienations,” he pointed out, stressing
that the process of economic integration must be made more inclusive.
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – a set of timebound targets for tackling global ills – are a “tremendously
powerful mobilizing force” to address these concerns, he said.
While emphasizing that the international community must do its part, he said responsibility ultimately lands at the
national level. “It is, of course, the countries at the end of the day that have to achieve” the MDGs, he said.
For its part, the UN system would work to improve its development activities, he said. Toward this end, it would carry
out the recommendations of a High-Level Panel on UN System-wide Coherence, which reached a number of vital
recommendations aimed at reducing inefficiency and optimizing resources.
Following his presentation, Mr. Dervis was asked about funding of a UNDP disarmament programme in Karamojong, Uganda.
Some 13 women and nine children were reported killed there in November, sparking an appeal from the UN Children’s Fund
(UNICEF) for restraint. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour urged the Government to review its forced
disarmament strategy of the Karamojong and end violence and abuses against civilians in the area.
“The situation in Uganda is a tough one and concerns us a lot,” replied Mr. Dervis. “In terms of what we were doing
there, there has never been any UNDP funding or involvement with UPDF [Uganda Peoples Defence Force] disarmament
activities.” He added that UNDP appreciates attention to all such issues. “We really welcome any type of question of
this sort because we want to be totally transparent as to our activities at the country level.”
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