Please see attached, the opening statement by International Co-ordinator at the Asia-Pacific LDC Ministerial Meeting on Graduation and Post-2015 Development Agenda that was held on 16-18 December in Kathmandu. The opening session was chaired by the Nepalese Foreign Minister with the Nepalese Prime Minister as the Chief Guest, including remarks by the Vice-Chair of the National Planning Commission, the Nepalese Finance Minister, and the UN-OHRLLS Under-Secretary-General.
The statement critiques the failed development paradigm which has doubly increased the number of LDCs from 24 in 1971 to 48 today and which has aggressively prioritized profits and markets over people’s rights and planetary boundaries. Critical issues of social protection, climate justice, trade justice, debt cancellation, ODA commitments, and obligations are key to the graduation of LDCs as well as the demand for a stand-alone goal for LDCs in the context of the upcoming Post-2015 development agenda/Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) have been highlighted. Graduation of at least half of the LDCs by the decade is a major objective of the ongoing Istanbul Programme of Action for the LDCs (IPoA).
- Local media coverage can be viewed at www.myrepublica.com
- Media article “Graduation challenges of LDCs: greater political will essential” based on the statement can be viewed at www.thehimalayantimes.com
- Related links: www.socialwatch.org, www.unohrlls.org
(File) LDC Watch Statement at the Asia Pacific LDC Ministerial Meeting – 69 kB (File Size)
