Second Session of UNCTAD’s Panel of Eminent Persons Held in Switzerland

Second Session of UNCTAD’s Panel of Eminent Persons Held in Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland  12/7/2011

Margarita Cedeño de Fernández, reported on the work being done by the Office of the First Lady in the Dominican Republic, including work in the area of social inclusion, technology and gender issues.

The First Lady stressed that importance of events of this magnitude saying that one of the tasks connected her participation on the panel is to redefine globalization …

Participating in the second Panel of Eminent Persons, called by Secretary General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Supachai Panitchpakdi, where participants discussed interesting topics and shared experiences which they then used to draw up a report the organization will present to delegations at next year’s UNCTAD summit.

The meetings proved to be fruitful and each panel member committed to continue working on the report and to attend the next meeting in January, 2012.

The First Lady stressed that importance of events of this magnitude saying that one of the tasks connected her participation on the panel is to redefine globalization as well as to guarantee that all citizens of the world have the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of it.

Cedeño de Fernández, in a Twitter entry, said it was an honor to represent the interests of women living in extreme poverty or that work in the informal sector. “Today we are wrapping up the second work session of the Panel of Eminent Persons which is drawing up the document for the upcoming UNCTAD Summit. This group seeks to define strategies that will enable UNCTAD to fulfill it development mission.”

Others participating on the panel included Tarja Kaarina Halonen, President of Finland; Jagdish Bhagwati, Professor and Co-President of the University of Columbia, Thabo Mbeki, former President of South Africa; Lord Mark Malloch-Brown, former UN Deputy Secretary General; Mohamed “Mo” Ibrahim, founder of Celtel and the Mo Ibrahim Foundation; Mari Elka Pangestu, Minister of Commerce of Indonesia; Joaquim Alberto Chissano, former President of Mozambique; Yongtu Long, Secretario General of the     G-20 Research Center and Benjamin Mkapa, former President of Tanzania.

At the next UNCTAD meeting, to take place next year, participants will deal with issues related to globalization’s effect on development under the title: “Working toward an inclusive and sustainable growth and development.”  The Dominican First Lady will argue for a more humane face of globalization so that everyone will equally enjoy its benefits.

She has been a member of UNCTAD´s Panel of Eminent Persons since last January when she was invited to join by the organization´s Secretary General.

The Panel of Eminent Persons is comprised of eight knowledgeable members who are experts on development issues and who have been private advisors to UNCTAD. The Panel was established in 2005 with the goal of strengthening the role of the organization in the area of development as well as to determine the best strategies to fulfill its mission of promoting the integration of developing countries in the world economy.

UNCTAD is the focal point of the United Nations in its dealings with commerce, development and related issues within the sphere of finances, technology, investment and sustainable development.

Since its creation in 1964, UNCTAD evolved gradually until it became an authority based on knowledge, whose work includes orienting current policy debate on the reflection and analysis of development issues while attempting to line up national policies with international actions to achieve sustainable development.