WUNRN
Least Developed Countries: http://www.unohrlls.org/en/ldc/25/
The Least Developed Countries (LDCs)
represent the poorest and weakest segment of the international community.
Extreme poverty, the structural weaknesses of their economies and the lack of
capacities related to growth, often compounded by structural handicaps, hamper
efforts of these countries to improve the quality of life of their people.
These countries are also characterized by their acute susceptibility to
external economic shocks, natural and man-made disasters and communicable
diseases. The current list of LDCs includes 48 countries; 33 in Africa, 14 in
Asia and the Pacific and one in Latin America.
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UN CONFERENCE ON LEAST DEVELOPED
COUNTRIES:
ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF RURAL WOMEN
IS KEY
UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet
addresses the opening session of the 4th UN Conference on the Least Developed
Countries,
May 9, 2011 - Istanbul—At the opening session of the of the Fourth UN Conference of the Least Developed Countries (LDCIV), government representatives and high-level leaders, including UN Women Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director Ms. Michelle Bachelet, came together to analyze and discuss the challenges as well as progress made within least developed countries.
Ms. Bachelet was one of a number of speakers, including UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, World Bank Managing Director Mr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and government representatives, who stressed the need to promote gender equality within rural communities during the opening session, chaired by H.E. President of the Turkish Republic and the Government of Turkey Abdullah Gül.
“Globally, rural areas have lagged far behind in terms of progress
on all of the MDG indicators, including those related to gender equality,” Ms.
Bachelet said. “This is particularly significant for the LDCs, since more than
70 percent of their populations live in rural areas.”
In her speech, Ms. Bachelet spelled out the measures that need to be taken to make gender equality and women’s empowerment central in the next Istanbul Plan of Action to be adopted as forward looking recommendations to the LDCIV. In particular, she highlighted the need for greater investment in agriculture and rural development as well as women and girls’ access to healthcare, education, labour-saving technology as well as clean and renewable energy in rural communities.
During the session, participants assessed the implementation of the Brussels Plan of Action. Special emphasis was put on the need to enhance the productive capacity of the LDCs, promote potentials for agricultural development, health, education and trade, address climate change, increase aid for trade, oversees development assistance, good governance and accountability.
Speakers at the opening session included H.E. President of Benin Thomas Yayi Boni, H.E. Prime Minister of Nepal Jhala Nath Khanal, H.R.H First Lady of Bahrain Sheikha Sabika bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, President of the European Commission Mr. Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the General Assembly Mr. Joseph Deiss, Director-General of the World Trade Organization Mr. Pascal Lamy.