Dinisha Fernando
The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is holding a session in Geneva from the 6th to the 30th of July. The High-level segment, which begins today, will include ECOSOC’s Annual Ministerial Review in Geneva this July, with the theme for 2009 "Implementing the internationally agreed goals and commitments in regard to global public health." Ministerial reviews evaluate the progress made by member states towards the achievement of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) (examples of which include goals to halve poverty and prevent the spread of AIDS) towards their 2015 target date along with other similar objectives and to promote further movement towards the achievement of these goals.
The meetings are comprised of three parts: a global review of the United Nations development agenda, a thematic review, and a series of national voluntary presentations of both developing and developed countries on their progress in implementing MDGs and other internationally agreed development goals. This year’s opening addresses will be made by Sylvie Lucas, President of the Economic and Social Council; Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations; Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, President of the General Assembly; and Hans-Rudolf Merz, President of Switzerland. The Council will consist of five segments: a High-level Segment, Coordination Segment, Operational Activities Segment, Humanitarian Affairs segment, and a General Segment.
This year’s High-level segment is especially pertinent for Sri Lanka as representatives will be presenting a review for the committee and conducting a national voluntary presentation. Having hosted the South Asian Ministerial Review in Colombo from the 16 of March to the 18th, Sri Lanka plays a crucial role in the Review and hence will be presenting a report to the Council today on the effects of the financial economic crisis in South Asia. On Wednesday, Sri Lanka will be participating on a national level with a voluntary presentation, which will cover Sri Lanka’s own efforts to meet the MDGs while coping with the plethora of drastic changes that have occurred in its recent history. Along with this, Sri Lanka will be managing an informative booth at the Innovation fair, which takes place from the 6th to the 9th, supplementing the national presentation. A delegation of senior government officials, led by Dr. H.A.P. Kahandaliyanage, Secretary to the Ministry of Healthcare & Nutrition, will be arriving in Geneva to aid in the presentation.
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations
Geneva
6th July 2009