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Dr Kim Hak-Su, Executive Secretary: A
sense of mission and responsibility for ESCAP in the new millennium
Dr Kim Hak-Su is the new Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic
and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), appointed to
the post on 1 July 2000. Dr Kim, a prominent economist, served as the
Ambassador for International Economic Affairs of the Republic of Korea
before joining ESCAP. He has extensive experience in central banking,
development planning, private sector management as well as international
organizations. He has also served as the President of the Hanil Banking
Institute and Secretary-General of the Colombo Plan Secretariat. Dr
Kim shared with us his vision for and views on ESCAP on the occasion
of his new appointment.
ESCAP launches new studies on sexual abuse
and sexual exploitation of young people in Asia
On 15 September 2000, ESCAP launched two new subregional studies on
the situation of sexually abused and sexually exploited children and
youth in Asia. The reports were based on primary qualitative research
in 11 countries from the Greater Mekong Subregion and South Asia, and
represent the first comprehensive regional examination of the status
of sexually abused and sexually exploited children in Asia, focusing
on their health and psychosocial needs. Here are some of the startling
facts.
Training for better care of young victims
Women and men who provide services at shelters, drop-in centres and
other establishments that serve sexually abused and sexually exploited
children have one thing in common: a strong desire to help children.
As in any profession, knowledge and skills need to be continuously strengthened
to couple this desire to help. Unfortunately, this need is often overlooked
in the field of service provision. This article outlines the experience
of an ESCAP HRD activity aimed to meet this training need.
Statement by Mr Nihal Rodrigo, Secretary-General,
SAARC
In July this year, an ESCAP HRD Course on Psychosocial and Medical Services
for Sexually Abused and Sexually Exploited Children and Youth was held
in Kathmandu and Pokhara, Nepal. The Opening Ceremony was attended by
Mr Nihal Rodrigo, Secretary-General, SAARC, underscoring the commitment
of SAARC to this important issue. Here is the text of his statement
at the Course.
Promoting HRD among youth
The project "Promoting HRD among youth in transitional and less advantaged
countries Phase II" came to a close in December 2000. The project, initiated
in June 1998, has been implemented by the Human Resources Development
Section, ESCAP in collaboration with the Christian Conference of Asia
(CCA) and Evangelische Zentralstelle Fur Entwicklungshilfe (EZE). The
aim of the project has been to assist in building the capacity of Government
and NGO personnel in seven transitional and less advantaged countries
of the ESCAP region to more effectively promote broad-based training
and skills development for youth. Here is an update on project activities
last year.
Asian tourism operators form network to fight
child sex tourism
To help coordinate efforts in combating child sex tourism, delegates
representing regional governments, NGOs and the tourism industry attended
a two-day Workshop, co-organized by the United Nations Economic and
Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and ECPAT Australia
(End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking), at the
United Nations headquarters in Bangkok from 22 to 23 August 2000.
Youth voices in the Republic of Korea
ESCAP's mandate as the focal point for youth includes awareness raising
on key issues for young people in Asia and the Pacific and promotion
of the participation of young people in the decision-making process
in society. At a youth conference held in Seoul in August 2000, we took
the opportunity to ask the participants from the Republic of Korea about
the issues and the concerns facing young people in their country today.
Sharing information for human development
Since 1990, an annual International Youth Forum has been held in the
Republic of Korea to promote international awareness and friendship
among young people. The theme of this year's Forum was "Information-Oriented
Society and Youth", and was organized by the National Council of Youth
Organizations in Korea (NCYOK), in cooperation with the Asian Youth
Council (AYC) and the World Assembly of Youth (WAY) and sponsored by
the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Republic of Korea. ESCAP was invited
to deliver a presentation on the topic of "Sharing Information for Human
Development". Here is an extract from the presentation.
BOOK REVIEW: UNDP Human Development Report 2000
In 1990, the United Nations Deve-lopment Programme (UNDP) launched its
first annual Human Development Report, which became the principal composite
index of comparative national achievements in human development. The
UNDP Human Development Report 2000, proposes a bold and compelling approach
to 21st century development theory that advocates a human rights-based
approach to human development.
HRD COUNTRY PROFILE: India
In the past few decades, India has made great strides in economic growth
and human resources development. According to the UNDP Human Development
Report 2000, India is ranked 128 out of 174 countries in the Human Development
Index (HDI), placing it in the medium category. Despite its laudable
economic and social achievements, India still faces a myriad of challenges
in tackling a range of socio-economic problems. Here, we review India's
status in the sectors of population, economy, health, and education.
© 1997-2001 United Nations ESCAP.
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