New Global Human Order --
Quality, Human Development And Integration
Address by The Honourable, Mr Clement
Rohee, The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Guyana, to the High-level
Symposium on the call for a New Global Human Order, Georgetown, Guyana,
August 26-27, 2000.
The Government of Guyana welcomes you all and thanks you for your
attendance at this symposium on the New Global Human Order,
a concept that was articulated by the late Dr Cheddi Jagan. It is our
hope that this initiative will take root in the international
community. To those of you who have travelled from other parts of the
globe to be here, I want to express special greetings. I would like to
take this opportunity on your behalf to express a word of appreciation
to the United Nations Development Programme and particularly to its
Resident Representative for the cooperation received in hosting the
Symposium and for the many indications of support that we have received
for the principles enshrined in the concept of the New Global Human
Order.
As we enter the 21st Century we need to defuse the high levels
of tension in the governance of the global economy. Many analysts have
acknowledged that the world is characterized by the economic
globalization, which dictates global regulation. This has been viewed
as the underlying source of problems in the international economy, which
requires a consensus on the ground rules to govern global relations.
This has been the source of the rising public protest so dramatically
expressed in Seattle and which has spread to almost every city where the
Bretton Woods Institutions and the World Trade Organization have tried
to hold meetings.
It is important to point out that as the Secretary General of
the United Nations has said in his Report to the Millenium Assembly
governance does not mean world government, but rather, a commitment to
consensus and collaboration. On this basis, the problems we face are
not merely confined to development thinking. Just as important, is the
task of translating concepts into action and the political will required
to ensure that the system works for every citizen in the world.
One of the striking features of the 20th Century has been the
level of economic growth achieved when compared with preceding
centuries. Yet, the gap between the richest and poorest countries has
widened dramatically during recent years. This is partly because the
international economic system allows the rich countries to get richer
and the poor countries to become poorer at a rapid pace. Looking at
some of the statistics that have recently come out of the World Bank, it
has been estimated that of a world population of some six billion
people:
* 1.3 billion people live on a dollar a day or less
* 3 billion people, that is half of the world’s population live on $2
a day or less
* 80% of the six billion people live in substandard housing
* 70% of the six billion people do not know how to read
* 50% of the six billion people suffer from malnutrition
* Less than 1% of the six billion people has access to the Internet
Despite this situation, discussions on inequality and the rising
tide of economic insecurity have slipped from view over the past two
decades. In 1969 the International Commission (known as the Pearson
Commission) chaired by the former Canadian Prime Minister, Lester
Pearson brought to our attention that: “The wider gap between the
developed and the developing countries has become the central problem of
our time”.
This statement is as valid now as it was in 1969 as global
inequality exacerbates political instability in poor nations, encourages
migration to the developed countries, damages the environment and
facilitates the spread of diseases such as HIV/AIDS.
Our world continues to be plagued by a multiplicity of
conflicts, both old and new, inter-state and intra-state, that not only
imperil global peace and security but also sap our economic and social
vitality.
Accompanying these threats to international security and
stability are strong economic and social forces, which impact negatively
on many countries. While globalization and trade liberalization have
benefited strong economies, it has also exposed weaker states to
marginalisation from the world economy. Severe economic and social
dislocations have followed in its wake, accentuating the particular
vulnerabilities of small developing countries, many of whom are
dependent on a single agriculture crop - like bananas or sugar - for the
livelihood of their peoples.
The challenge, therefore, for the international community and
for policymakers in the new millennium is to redress these imbalances in
the global economy in a comprehensive and sustainable manner so as to
ensure the smooth integration of developing countries, in particular the
smaller economies, into the globalizing world economy on an equitable
basis.
To benefit from the international trading system developing
countries must receive significant debt relief and necessary ODA to
boost their overall productive capability. Consequently in the face of
rampant globalization, it is imperative that the international community
should come together to create a modern development vision and strategy
aimed at bridging the dangerous division which now separates the
prosperous from the poor nations. This new approach should be based on
an international consensus on development and on the rights and
obligations of the partners. In this respect North-South relations must
be reviewed to see how they may be enhanced and put on a new basis for
mutual trust and advantage.
The Cologne Initiative to expand the scope and provisions of
relief for the heavily indebted poor countries was a welcome step
forward. Unfortunately, however, it does not go far enough to alleviate
the debt burden which the developing countries still bear. The
situation of many low-income countries has been made even more acute by
the rapid decline of ODA in the wake of globalization’s spread and
over-reliance on the market to promote development. Nothing short of
the cancellation of some of these countries’ debt will be sufficient to
improve their circumstances to the point where they can be active
participants in the world economy.
Indeed, there is an acute need for a new global agenda with the
objective of putting a human face to the market-place. Policies aimed
merely at creating unsustainable social safety nets are hardly lasting
solutions. The root causes of the structural and endemic problems of
the developing countries, which ultimately lead to global instability,
must be addressed.
Speaking for Guyana, our efforts at influencing the
international development agenda must be informed by our experience here
at home. These efforts must in turn inform the strategies we pursue at
the domestic level for our political, social and economic upliftment.
In other words we must pursue appropriate actions locally while we think
globally. This was precisely the spirit and context in which the
New Global Human Order was initiated and is being
promoted by Guyana.
For example in the Draft document of our National Development
Strategy (NDS), which is now in the public’s domain for discussion, the
first two listed objectives of the Strategy are stated as:
* to attain the highest rates of economic growth that are
possible
* to eliminate poverty in Guyana
No one can deny that these objectives - to which the New
Global Human Order speaks most profoundly - are laudable,
realistic and very relevant for the modernizing of our nation as much as
they are pivotal and of critical importance to the smooth integration of
the Guyana economy in the international economy.
In Guyana, in 1999, about 35% of the population were estimated
to be living below the poverty line with 19% living under conditions of
extreme poverty. Such conditions cannot be good for us and should
continue to be the target of specific public policy actions. It is
however not enough to assert that the statistics represent a decrease of
8% in absolute poverty levels and a 10% decline in extreme poverty
levels over the seven-year period from 1993 - 1999.
As is, we stated in the Government’s Interim-Poverty Reduction
Strategy Paper, which was recently compiled, “reducing poverty to very
low and tolerable levels will take time...... In addition, systemic
issues such as weak land administration and a non-responsive public
sector persist and continue to adversely affect the business
environment.” Against this background, therefore, the following goals
have been identified in the Strategy Paper for the reduction of poverty
in Guyana:
* creating opportunities for income generation;
* job creation;
* reducing mortality rates;
* achieving primary universal education; and
* eliminating gender disparity in education.
These goals are broadly consistent with international
development goals and attainment of these targets, among other things,
is predicated on high and sustainable growth rates and the full support
of the international donor community. The Government of Guyana is
committed to working with all stakeholders towards the achievement of
these conditions which, I daresay, are basic and absolutely necessary
for any civilized society in the 21st century.
In a statement to the UNCTAD X Conference in February this
year, UNCTAD Secretary General reflected: “For developing countries,
struggling to cope with these wrenching changes, the challenge is
straightforward even if it is not easy. Rather than reconcile
themselves to the need to adapt to a supposedly unmodifiable global
system, they must strive to shape it according to their own development
needs at their own pace and in line with their own strengths and
weaknesses. This process will, of necessity, go hand in hand with the
struggle to integrate themselves successfully into a transformed and
more open economic system..... Contrary to what one frequently hears, it
is not the amount and pace of international integration that counts but
its quality. There is such a thing as too much and too rapid
integration of the wrong kind”.
The New Global Human Order (NGHO), I wish to
suggest, is about quality, is about human development, and most
certainly is about integration of the right kind.
In calling for a New Global Human Order (NGHO),
the late President Jagan recognized that peace and development concerns
are interlinked. The concept links Third World issues with concerns in
the developed countries and suggests common solutions to common
problems. In this regard it includes North-South Cooperation, a sound
economic and fiscal system; partnerships between the government, private
sector and civil society; and strategic strengthening of capacity
building of institutions and human resources.
At the first South Summit, held in Cuba in April of this year,
G-77 Governments declared the following: “We.... Call on the
international community at the dawn of the new millennium to give
priority to the development agenda of developing countries and adopt
urgent and resolute actions which will help them to overcome the
obstacles to their development objectives. In this context we stress
the need for a new global human order aimed at reversing the growing
disparities between rich and poor, both among and within countries,
through the promotion of growth and equity, the eradication of poverty,
the expansion of productive employment and the promotion of gender
equality and social integration”.
Inspired by this vision and leadership, the Government of
Guyana's initiative for a New Global Human Order
address the ineffectiveness of the current approaches and existing
arrangements in handling global issues. Looking back at the evolution
of development thinking, one is struck by the manner in which theories
and strategies have moved in and out of fashion in a seemingly circular
movement. Nonetheless, there is a growing consensus that the causes of
underdevelopment are neither just home-made nor exclusively attributable
to the international system but derive from a combination of internal
and external factors. The existing neo-liberal model advocated by the
Bretton Woods institutions and imposed on developing countries often end
in disaster. A viable alternative model is required to facilitate
developing countries’ participation in the global economy. The United
Nations Conferences of the 1990s drew attention to the importance of
people-centered development and that abstract blueprints are not useful
as development strategies. Experience has demonstrated that development
strategies are multidimensional and must be adjusted to the particular
situation of a given country. This has been key to facilitating the
dialogue on development beyond ideological boundaries and on the basis
of analyses of the socio-economic realities and country-specific
interests. It is this momentum that the international community ought
to seize and focus attention on the challenges of integrating the
economic, social, environmental and good governance dimensions of
development into a comprehensive concept of sustainable human
development.
In 1999, Gallup International sponsored and conducted a
Millennium Survey of 57,000 adults in 60 countries. Allow me to relate,
briefly, the people’s responses to five key issues.
First, what matters most in life?
* People everywhere valued good health and a happy family
life more highly than anything else. Where economic performance was
poor, they also stressed jobs.
* Where there was conflict, people expressed a strong
desire to live without it. Where corruption was endemic, people
condemned it.
Second, Human Rights:
* Respondents showed widespread dissatisfaction with the
level of respect for human rights.
* In one region fewer than one in 10 citizens believed that
human rights were being fully respected, while one third believed they
were not observed at all.
* Discrimination by race and gender were commonly
expressed concerns.
Third, Environment:
* Two thirds of all the respondents said their government
had done too little to redress environmental problems in their country.
* Respondents in the developing countries were among the
most critical of their government’s actions in this respect.
Fourth, The United Nations:
* The survey showed that most people around the globe
consider the protection of human rights to be the most important task
for the United Nations. The younger the respondents, the greater the
importance assigned to this goal.
* United Nations peacekeeping and the provision of
humanitarian assistance were also stressed.
* Globally, less than half of those interviewed judged the
performance of the United Nations to be satisfactory, although a
majority of the young were favourably inclined.
Fifth, Democracy:
* In most countries the majority said their elections were
free and fair.
* Despite this, two- thirds of all respondents considered
that their countries were not governed by the will of the people. This
opinion held even in some of the oldest democracies in the world.
In an effort to promote a discussion on how best the New
Global Human Order initiative may be advanced, we have prepared
a paper on the subject. It is at best tentative and incomplete and must
therefore be considered a work in progress. I hope that the discussion,
which we will have today and tomorrow will serve, to enrich the ideas,
contained in the paper and, more importantly, suggest a strategy for
taking the idea forward.
If it is deemed feasible, the Government of Guyana would like,
together with other like-minded and supportive states, to take the
proposal to this year’s Millennium Assembly for consideration. We have
been encouraged to do so not only by the prevailing disenchantment with
the slow implementation of the Development Agenda, but by the fact that
the idea of a New Global Human Order appears to be
finding increasing resonance among certain developed countries and
leaders. The road ahead will not be easy but we are convinced that the
initiative must now be launched if we are to make any headway in forging
a new international consensus on development.
I wish to reaffirm the Government of Guyana's intention to
continue working for the creation of a New Global Human Order
aimed at the eradication of poverty and the establishment of a just and
more humane system of international relations. As part of its strategy
to advance the initiative, the Government of Guyana considered it
necessary and timely to hold this Symposium.
Let me again welcome all the participants to this Symposium and
express the hope that coming out of it will come a clear and action
oriented strategy for establishing a New Global Human Order.
I thank you.
New
Global Human Order Symposium -
Bio-Data of International Participants
Ambassador Percy Metsing Mangoaela: --
Permanent Representative of Lesotho to the United Nations
Ambassador Anwarul Karim Chowdhury: --
Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations
Ambassador Makarim Wibisono: -- Permanent
Representative of Indonesia to the United Nations
Ambassador Baghder Asadi: -- Ambassador of the
Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations (in charge of Economic
and Social Issues)
Ambassador S.R. Insanally: -- Permanent
Representative of Guyana to the United Nations
Ambassador Adriano Benedetti: -- Ambassador,
Embassy of Italy, Venezuela
Ambassador Rolf Berg: -- Ambassador and Special
Envoy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway
Sir Alister McIntyre: -- Chief Technical
Adviser, RNM; -- Former Vice Chancellor, UWI - - Assistant Secretary
General, Development and International Cooperation, UN - Deputy
Secretary General, UNCTAD
Professor Denis Martin Benn: - - Michael
Manley Professor of Public Affairs/Public Policy; -- Former Director of
UNDP’s Special Unit for TCDC; -- UNDP Resident Representative and
Resident Coordinator in Jamaica (1991-1994); -- Head, Economic Affairs
Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1973 - 1979)
Dr. Uner Kirdar: -- Former Director, UNDP
Development Study Programme; -- Extensive experience and expertise in
field of Human Development
Dr. Joseph Edmunds: -- Director, Office of the
General Secretariat of the OAS in Suriname
Mr. John Langmore: - Director of the Division
for Social Policy and Development, UN - Chairman of Australian
National Committee for WSSD
Mr. Richard Nunes de Souza: -- Coordinator,
Circle of Friends for the Promotion of the New Global Human Order, UK;
-- Working Toward Debt Cancellation and a Definitive Solution of the
Guyana Debt Problem
Ms. Liana Cisneros: -- Coordinator, Latin
America, JUBILEE 2000; -- Working Towards Debt Cancellation and a
Definitive Solution of the Guyana Debt Problem.
Advancing The Initiative Of The New Global Human Order --
Summary Of Key Issues
Inspired by a vision of the enormous potential for human development
created by the end of the Cold War, the accelerated rate of
technological development, and the deepening interdependence of nations,
the late President Dr Cheddi Jagan urged that States should now grasp
the opportunity to build an enlightened international partnership based
on mutual respect, democratic governance, popular participation and
equal opportunity for all peoples to live in peace and prosperity. At
the heart of the proposal is the eradication of poverty and overall
human development. Essential to its success is the political will to
address these challenges by identifying new and innovative ways of
financing development and by mobilizing all actors on the domestic and
international stage in support of this cause.
The concept of the New Human Global Order calls
for a people-centered sustainable development policy and programme aimed
at the eradication of poverty and the establishment of a just and more
humane system of international relations.
In August 1996, the Government of Guyana organized an
International Conference to discuss the creation of the New Global Human
Order. The assessment and many of the recommendations administered on
the occasion of that Conference, have since appeared in various forms
and fora and translated in diverse programmes for international action,
though not in a coherent and comprehensive manner.
As part of its strategy to advance advocacy of the initiative
the Government of Guyana with the assistance of the United Nations
Development Programme convened a Symposium on August 26-27, 2000 in
Georgetown, to increase awareness of the issues involved and to meet the
challenges of the emerging New Global Human Order.
Arising out of the Symposium the following key issue areas were
adumbrated as pivotal to move the process forward:
1. Philosophical/Intellectual Framework
There is an urgent need for a new consensus on socio-economic
development. The New Global Human Order addresses in a coherent manner a
number of inter-related issues that provide economic security and
sustainable human development. In so doing:
** To empower the United Nations capacity in developmental
matters. The United Nations must be the main trust of global policy
making.
** The New Global Human Order seeks to enhance global governance
through the strengthening of multilateralism.
** The New Global Human Order seeks to establish partnerships
between North and South and South and South.
** The New Global Human Order is not about welfarism, it is
about empowering people with the capacity to meet their basic needs.
** The New Global Human Order seeks to integrate the key
elements of human development, human rights and human security issues.
2. Development Agenda
Over the last two decades the development agenda has been
subjugated to the process of globalization. As a result there is urgent
necessity for emphasis on a development agenda that empowers developing
countries and their autonomy in decision making. This involves:
** Coherence between actions at the domestic level and actions
at the international level.
** The development perspective of the New Global Human Order is
people-centered and multi-dimensional in its strategy and focus.
** Eradication of Poverty with emphasis on empowering vulnerable
groups such as women, youth and indigenous populations.
** Access to affordable credit for micro-enterprises
entrepreneurs.
** The use of science and technology including new information
technologies, to build capacity for training and education and research
and development.
3. Global Humanism
The New Global Human Order recognizes the linkage between peace
and development concerns. The initiative links developing country’s
issues with concerns in the developed countries and suggests common
solutions to common problems which are underscored in the broad areas of
human development, human rights and human security concerns.
4. Partnership
The effective realization of the New Global Order calls for
strengthened partnership among the various actors at the inter-state and
intra-state levels. This would necessitate a renewed role of the State
i.e., that the State is no longer the dominant actor in society and must
function with a view to accentuating the social partnership and ensure
the effective delivery of social services. This social partnership is
seen in the following contexts:
** North - South relations - Government/Government. The South
needs the active support and participation of the North to achieve
viable solutions including, in particular, the need for resources.
** South - South Cooperation - Government/Government.
** South - South Cooperation Government/Civil Society;
Intra-State Cooperation.
5. Financial Reforms
The issue of reforms to the financial infrastructure was
addressed in the context of the need for new resources for development
and greater transparency and collaboration between borrowers and
lenders. Special mention was made of the following points:
** The Bretton Woods Institution and the WTO should be brought
into close working relationship with the UNGA and ECOSOC.
** The need for faster and deeper Debt Forgiveness.
** Increase the level of ODA to fulfil the United Nations target
of 0.7% of GNP and to address the new developmental concerns.
** Access to affordable loans and credit.
** The imposition of a tax on international currency
transactions. Reference was made to a recent proposal which was adopted
at a Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly in Geneva.
This proposal was tabled by Canada and supported by the European Union.
6. Advocacy and Propagandization
In order to advance discussion of the initiative on the
international agenda a number of practical steps were outlined.
— First organize a series of actions to coincide with the
Millennium Assembly of the United Nations.
– Organize a High-Level Panel Discussion in New York. This
could include representatives at the UN, NGO representatives, etc.
– Initiate discussions at the UNDP Ministerial Meeting
scheduled for September 11, 2000.
– Encourage Heads of States to speak of the issue at Regional
“Round Tables.”
– Get a number of co-sponsors (say 25) to support the matter
being placed as an item on the Agenda of the Millennium Assembly, in
particular, the Plenary Session.
– Discussion of the issue by Ambassadors in the South Summit
Follow-up Meeting and the Ministerial Meetings of the G-77 and NAM in
mid-September.
** Advance the issue for discussion within regional
organizations (including the OAS General Assembly) and regional
institutions, international institutions, the media and NGOs.
** Place the issue for discussion at the Caribbean Community’s
“Civil Society Encounter” in 2001.
** Establishment of a NGHO Website.
** Circulate the Final Document of the Symposium to various
institutions, including Ministerial level representatives of Foreign
Affairs and Finance.
** The President of Guyana may consider addressing the President
of the UN General Assembly on the matter and request that the Final
Document be circulated at the Millennium Assembly.