From 3 to 5 July 2013, the Deputy Executive Secretary of ECLAC, Antonio Prado, took part in various meetings related to the Substantive Session of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), which is being held in Geneva, Switzerland.
In a discussion between ECOSOC and the Executive Secretaries of the five United Nations regional commissions, Mr. Prado stated "The current model of development is unsustainable".
Mr. Prado, who was representing Alicia Bárcena, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), gave an overview of the region's socio-economic situation and shared the proposal in the document Structural Change for Equality: An Integrated Approach to Development, which was launched at the Commission's most recent session in El Salvador in 2012.
The senior official also referred to the regional prospects for building a post-2015 development agenda, highlighting the role of ECLAC as a catalyst for political dialogue on such matters among Latin American and Caribbean countries.
In this context, he described some of the main conclusions from the document Sustainable Development in Latin America and the Caribbean: Follow-up to the United Nations development agenda beyond 2015 and to Rio+20, which was produced by ECLAC with the collaboration of about 20 United Nations agencies.
On Wednesday 3 July, the Deputy Executive Secretary took part in the 2013 ECOSOC Annual Ministerial Review (AMR) on Science, technology and innovation (STI) and culture for promoting sustainable development and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Mr. Prado was also one of the presenters in the panel discussion on Partnerships for productive capacity and decent work, which reviewed various options for strengthening collaboration and coordination in this area within the United Nations, as well as in partnerships with civil society, the private sector and other relevant stakeholders.
During this panel discussion on Friday 5 July, the Deputy Executive Secretary underlined the importance of preserving the civilizing legacy of the European models of the welfare state and social protection (which are a reference point for Latin American and Caribbean countries).
From August, Alicia Bárcena will coordinate the regional commissions of the United Nations, as agreed by their Executive Secretaries in Geneva.
See also:
Press contact:
ECLAC Public Information and Web Services Section.
ECLAC headquarters: Av. Dag Hammarskjöld 3477, Vitacura, Santiago.
E-mail: prensa@cepal.org, Telephone: (562) 2210 2040.
Follow us on: Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and YouTube.
