13 May 2008
New York — Angolan deputy minister of Urbanisation and Environment, Mota Liz, is since Monday in New York, USA, to attend a debate about sustainable development taking place from May 14-16, at the UN Headquarters.
The debate will include sessions of ministerial dialogues with the heads of UN agencies, funds and programmes, regional and international organisations.
The meeting is part of the 16th session of the Commission on Sustainable Development that started on May 5 to analyse matters concerning agriculture, rural development, land, drought, desertification, climatic changes and the situation in Africa.
Several panels for discussion have been set up to tackle the revision of the strategy for the small insular developing States, the revision of the decisions of the said commission on water and sanitary services.
Several side-events are also being organised, with highlight to the African Ministerial Resort, with the participation of the heads of African delegations with a view to designing an African Vision of Sustainable Development.
The discussions have proved that Africa has the will to secure sustainable development, especially through the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).
However, this requires the international community to continue supporting the effort of the continent towards promoting peace, stability and security, prevention and resolution of conflicts, democracy, good governance, respect for human rights, which are fundamental factors for development.
The need for the establishment of a balanced system of international trade, the elimination of bilateral and multilateral external debt, public aid to development are also relevant aspects for a change in the current situation in Africa.
The regional debate also analysed, at separate sessions, matters concerning other regions like Asia, Pacific, Latin America, Caribbean and Europe, which provided an opportunity to identify the obstacles and specific constraints in respective zones, as well as an exchange of ideas on the best solutions to improve the situation.
The session is taking place at a time the world is hit by a rise in the prices of basic consumer goods, constraints caused by climatic changes, reduction of existing energetic resources and the concern to produce foodstuffs in quantities enough to feed about 6.5 billion inhabitants of the planet.
The Commission on Sustainable Development was launched by the UN General Assembly in December 1992, with the purpose of securing the effective implementation and follow-up of the decisions from the UN Conference on Environment and Development, including the "Land Summit" or "Rio Summit".
Grouping 53 member states, the commission is a functional organ of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations that has been meeting every year since June 1993.
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