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C 2003/I/PV |
Thirty-second Session
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Rome, 29 November – 9 December 2003
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THIRD MEETING OF COMMISSION I
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2 December 2003 |
The Third Meeting was opened at 14.45 hours
Ms H. Wögerbauer
Chairperson of Commission I, presiding
La troisième séance est ouverte à 14 h 45
sous la présidence de Mme H. Wögerbauer,
Président de la Commission I
Se abre la tercera sesión a las 14.45 horas
bajo la presidencia de la Sra. H. Wögerbauer,
Presidente de la Comisión I
Ms Louise FRESCO (Assistant Director-General, Agriculture Department)
It is a great pleasure for me to introduce this item. Although the document is short it does not mean that the item is unimportant. Quite the contrary. We are very pleased at FAO to have been designated by the United Nations as the lead Agency with other partners in and outside the UN to work on the International Year of Rice.
It is the first time that this crop has ever been designated by the UN as an item for an International Year. And I think that it reflects the great importance of this crop to poverty, chronic hunger and to development in general. We expect that rice, and the need for rice, will increase tremendously. In order to show you some of the multi-faceted aspects of rice, which is far more than just a source of food or a source of income, but is very interwoven with the culture of many important countries in the world and has expanded to all continents, we will show you a three and a half minute video that gives you, I think, the most beautiful pictures that we have been able to find on rice.
(Video Film on Rice)
Ms Louise FRESCO (Assistant Director-General, Agriculture Department)
Thank you very much for the opportunity to share this short video with you. Let me just highlight two or three things that we feel quite strongly about that are of immediate relevance to the International Year of Rice.
One, is that rice is the fastest growing crop in Africa and we assume that its importance can only grow as the control of water, a subject I believe is so dear to many of our African colleagues, will increase as well. Secondly, rice is feeding, as you heard in the video more than half of the world's population. That, in itself makes the crop unique compared to all other crops in the world. Now, we have had remarkable increases in rice production in the last 30 or 40 years. However, in the last decade the increases in yield have flattened somewhat and we do not have the same spectacular successes in the increase in rice production as before.
Secondly, we have a major chance in using sustainable agricultural technologies including some of the advanced genetic technologies to tackle some of the problems of rice in difficult environments, in salt affected areas, in drought affected areas and to look for ways of making rice even more nutritious to the poorer population.
There are maybe some interesting breakthroughs and there is some very important research that is going on in a number of Member States in areas like hybrid rice. So we have this International Year of Rice and the temptation, of course, is always to think about organizing one big conference. We, as a Secretariat, have decided that the world is tired of conferences after this heavy decade from Rio to Johannesburg and that our approach with you, and with your agreement as Member countries, would be very much a low key approach. An approach to use rice as a prism, as an entry point to discuss in many countries the importance of rice as a food, rice as an economic motor, and rice as an issue in development. We have worked with many of our Member countries in a very low key and low cost way to try to promote a new awareness and use rice also as a way to start a national debate. And that debate is interesting, I believe, in the entire world. Just to give you some examples, with some countries we are talking about a national competition for the best rice farmer with the prize to be handed out by the Head of State. In some countries, we are discussing a possibility of dedicating a postage stamp to rice. We are discussing with one or two important museums if we can have an exhibition on rice and culture. We are talking and in fact have already worked on making a recipe book with the world's rice recipes and if you go to our exhibit in the Atrium you will see our calendar with rice recipes from around the world. We hope also that within the OECD countries, which have come to rice very late, the discussion on rice could stimulate a debate on the importance of food and food quality and importance of tradition. Here in Italy we are discussing the possibility of using the national rice dish, the risotto, which I believe all of you have eaten here in the building, as a starting point for a national debate.
So while we do all this in a very low-cost manner, obviously some support is still needed. So we hope - next to me is sitting the Director of the Plan Production and Protection Division - we hope that with your help we may be able to continue to develop activities in all the countries of the world to celebrate this Year of Rice in a true fashion, that is close to what rice really means. Rice is a poor man’s and poor woman’s crop, but it is also a sign of life and it is in this spirit that we wanted to have a special celebration. Not through big events, not through expensive media exposure, but on the ground with farmers and with consumers.
Richard HUGHES (United States of America)
First of all it is good to see your able leadership in the chair and I would like to thank you for the opportunity to speak on the International Year of Rice 2004 and FAO's leadership role.
The performance of the rice sector for many developing countries particularly in Asia has profound importance for ensuring food security and proving income levels for the vast majority of the poor and ensuring environmental sustainability. Developing countries and international donors should prioritize the need for establishing sound economic policies for this sector which includes prices, markets and, of course, trade to ensure that the benefits of new technologies and markets are fully exploited. Rice represents 60 percent of the total cropped land in Asia, and rice production has significant environmental impacts on land, water, and forests. Thus, we need to promote sound environmental management of the natural resource base to ensure the sustainability of rice production systems. Developing countries and international donors should promote increased productivity of rice production to meet food needs and protect the environment. Recent advances in new rice varieties, including those developed through biotechnology, show great promise for increasing productivity, while reducing pesticide use and increasing nutrient content.
Related to the previous point, efforts such as the development of Pro-Vitamin A (Golden Rice) at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) which has the potential for improving childhood nutrition throughout the developing world, and the development and dissemination of highly productive New Rice for Africa (NERICA), a cross of Asian and African rice varieties, developed by the West Africa Rice Development Association (WARDA) should be supported.
We want to highlight the importance of women who traditionally shoulder many of the responsibilities for rice farming. A more productive rice sector enables women farmers to gain increased income and diversity into other income earning activities. The increased income has important ramifications throughout the household on childhood nutrition, education, and further investment.
I would also like to take the opportunity to note that we are pleased with the successful completion of a high-quality draft sequence of the rice genome. The International Rice Genome Sequencing Project, with Japan taking the leadership role, shows the positive results from public and private partnerships. These international efforts will help contribute to improving lives of many people worldwide. Access to the rice genome sequence has already made a major impact on the scientific community. Access to genes of this major agricultural crop provides an immediate resource for engineering the quality and quantity of rice production. With access to the rice genome, scientists will have new tools available for exploiting the capability of plants. Perhaps the largest use of the rice genome besides increased production will be the leveraging of the sequence to other cereals such as maize, wheat, barley and oats.
We look forward to seeing the implementation of the International Year of Rice on the Agendas of the 2004 FAO Regional Conferences.
In closing the United States would like to commend FAO particularly on the visually pleasing logo design and, of course, Rice is Life.
Nobuhiko KAHO (Japan)
We would like to express appreciation to the FAO Secretariat for their explanation on the outline of International Year of Rice 2004 and for its initiatives and preparatory works so far, including the preparation of a logo and a slogan of the year.
The government of Japan considers that the International Year of Rice is a good opportunity for the Member countries to extend the information about rice and its contribution to the world food security. As you are aware, rice is the staple food in Japan and to the most of Japanese people, the slogan “Rice is Life” is very realistic. So, we are a lot interested in this international event. Now in Japan, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is taking an initiative to prepare for the year 2004 and has made an arrangement to set up a Committee for the promotion of the International Year of Rice 2004, which would be composed of private corporations, institutions and individuals.
The activities planned so far in Japan include general symposia, academic seminars, events on planting, harvesting and cooking of rice, contests of photographs, essays, videos and paintings, an issue of commemorative postage stamps and an exhibition of agricultural machinery, some of which Ms Fresco referred to just now.
To the Japanese Nation, rice itself, rice cultivation or production and paddy fields are very important not only as staple food but as an indispensable part of a traditional life and culture. And we suppose this is also true of the people in the other Asian countries and in some of the other regions. So, at this opportunity we would like to ask the Secretariat for its continuous and stronger initiatives for the promotion of actual activities throughout the year.
Japan is also willing to share information and experiences with FAO and other countries on this matter, as the minister of Japan addressed in his plenary speech yesterday.
Sanjay KAUL (India)
India has already endorsed the Declaration of 2004 as the International Year of Rice and we are now in the process of drawing up an Agenda for due observance of this landmark occasion. The Government of India firmly believes that this observance will bring to bear the much needed importance on arguably the world's most important cereal crop.
In India the occasion has a particular significance and relevance. Apart from being regarded as one of the main creators of evolution of rice cultivation worldwide, this cereal occupies a pride of place in our culture and religious observances, encompassing events from birth to death. On a more practical plain, cultivation of rice accounts for 23 percent of the gross crop area or more than 40 million hectares. Around 46 percent of India's total cereal production is also contributed by this crop. We therefore believe that increasing rice production beyond the present level of over 90 million tons is very closely linked to our fight against hunger.
With the adoption of high-yielding varieties, improved techniques and other inputs our productivity has come up to a level of about two tons per hectare and the figure unfortunately has remained stagnant at that level. We therefore look forward to the International Year of Rice as providing the much needed impetus to break the psychological barrier of two tons to a hectare. We do believe that the same concern would also apply globally.
At this juncture, my delegation would like to emphasize the need for engaging the global community in establishing joint and mutually beneficial activities, including information generation and exchange, transfer of advanced technology, application of good management practices and the formulation of recommendations based on successful case studies. We expect the FAO to play a catalytic role in providing a fresh direction to research and extension initiatives in rice cultivation so that this staple of more than a billion human beings keeps pace with increasing population and demand.
The sustainability of rice cultivation will, in particular, need to be given further emphasis. In India areas under intensive cultivation of rice have been eroding the natural resource base. Soil, water and natural vegetation in these areas are under intense pressure, not simply due to the aberrations of nature, but owing largely to the degradation brought about by increased population and faulty or incomplete application of modern practices and technology. We therefore hope that the ensuing year will see operationalisation of initiatives which would address these pressing concerns.
I would like to finally, on behalf of our delegation, appeal to my colleagues from the main rice-growing countries of East and South Asia to give deep thought to the introduction of initiatives and innovations which could be the hallmark of the International Year of Rice and which duly take into account the local problems, and more importantly, the local ethos which is so inextricably linked with the cultivation of rice.
Ms Ruth OKWELE (Uganda)
Uganda welcomes the initiative to declare 2004 the International Year of Rice. Currently, Uganda produces low quantities of rice and most of the rice consumed is imported. We recognise the part played by rice in food security. Most of the rice produced in Uganda is by small-scale farmers and less than two percent is produced by large state owners. Therefore with increased irrigation and with the government goal to substitute rice imports in five years and to increase irrigation from two to ten percent, the International Year of Rice 2004 will enhance the strategies to increase both rice production and consumption in Uganda.
Japan is supporting the new Rice for Africa Initiative. This programme is based in Uganda and this programme is behind the goals that have been set by the government. In Uganda there is a custom to award the best investor in investment and this year the award went to the company that produces rice. This therefore shows that Uganda has a capability to produce good quality rice and to improve on the food security of the population and the income of the farmer. We also look forward to participating in the International Year of Rice in the same way America is and we look forward to using the experiences of Japan in this endeavour.
Sra. Ursula DOZAL ALVARADO (México)
Solamente una intervención muy pequeña, México desea expresar su simpatía con las actividades que se realizarán durante el año 2004 para conmemorar el Año Internacional del Arroz, dado que estamos conscientes de la importancia de este cereal como medio para disminuir la seguridad alimentaria, sobre todo en los países donde es parte de su dieta básica.
Ms Maryam Ahmed Mustafa MOUSSA (Egypt) (Original language Arabic)
I wish to extend my gratitude to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for having chosen 2004 to celebrate the International Year of Rice. Egypt is glad to make its contribution to these efforts. Egypt is, in fact, well interested in rice crops and has made untiring efforts to increase rice production. In recent years, it registered the highest global production rates for rice per production unit, with an average production rate exceeding 3.9 tons/acres, one acre equaling 4200 m2. A Rice Research Institute was established in Egypt. Furthermore, Egypt offers fellowships to many Asian, African, and some Latin American countries through the Egypt International Center for Agriculture within Egypt’s Ministry of Agriculture. Egypt is glad to exert further efforts to improve global food crops, in particular through FAO’s work and the trilateral technical cooperation programme which is being currently implemented and which consists in sending Egyptian experts to some African countries using FAO funding.
Matallah Sabane TRAORE (Mali)
Nous félicitons la FAO de consacrer l'année 2004 comme l'Année internationale du riz, ce qui prouve une fois de plus, que la FAO est très proche des préoccupations agricoles d'un pays souvent démuni.
Le Mali est un pays sahélien possédant une très grande zone de riziculture dans le Delta central du fleuve Niger grâce à un aménagement en barrage. Nous avons plus d'un million de terres irrigables en zone sahélienne où la pluviométrie est de l'ordre de 500 à 600 mm/an. Mais sur ce million d'hectares irrigables, depuis près de 40 ans, seulement 80 000 hectares sont exploités, et les coûts des aménagements actuels sont de l'ordre de 5 millions de francs CFA, que l'on fasse la conversion en euros ou en dollars. C'est pour dire qu'aujourd'hui la contrainte majeure à la production de riz comme aliment de base est un problème financier.
Heureusement, ces derniers temps nous sommes en train de concevoir avec la FAO un programme de maîtrise des eaux des petits barrages et des bas-fonds pour rendre les coûts d'aménagement plus supportables; parallèlement il y a effectivement le riz Nérica qui vient d'être développé et qui constitue un réel espoir pour le développement de la riziculture. Nous remercions la FAO et demandons qu'une attention particulière soit apportée aux coûts des aménagements hydro-agricoles qui deviennent de plus en plus chers.
Pornprom CHAIRIDCHAI (Thailand)
Rice is Life, the slogan of the International Year of Rice as we all know. It is particularly true for my country. Rice has been a part of Thai life since the ancient days and will continue to be so. The Government of Thailand is pleased that the International Community has recognised the importance of rice and prepares for the observance of the year. The government has established a National Committee to arrange activities. The Committee has the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives as the Chair. Representatives from various ministries and other stakeholders also sit on the Committee. The emphasis will be placed on the benefit that the rice farmer will gain from the activities in observing the year.
Thailand is one of the leading countries in food production. Our government has expressed its aspiration to turn Thailand into the world kitchen. Rice will definitely be a very important part of this scheme.
Thailand has expertise in rice production and we wish to share our expertise with other countries. In the International Year of Rice we wish to take this opportunity to enhance international collaboration in all areas regarding rice.
My delegation wishes to confirm to you the support of the International Year of Rice and the Thai Government has now approved the budget to organise several activities to celebrate the International Year of Rice in Thailand.
Baba Fada ALKALI (Nigeria)
Rice is indeed a special crop. It is easy to handle and in Nigeria it has become very popular. It used to be a traditional crop for ceremonial occasions, but because of its simplicity for handling and cooking and so forth, it has become a very popular oven commodity.
Nigeria has a large demand for rice, about five million metric tons annually and the production is about three million metric tons, so we have a shortfall to meet. Our President has set up a Presidential Committee on Rice which is exploring all the potentials, irrigation included, to meet this shortfall. Recent developments, such as the NERICA, New Rice for Africa, offers great potential. This is an upland variety of rice that does very well under marginal conditions and produces much more than what we traditionally obtained under rain fed conditions. This is developed by WARDA (West African Rice Development Association) in conjunction with other scientific bodies.
The International Year of Rice 2004 is highly endorsed by Nigeria and in fact there is a National Committee now in the offing to really address the issue of putting rice on the front burner in Nigeria.
Nobuhiko KAHO (Japan)
I would like to add one thing. On behalf of the Japanese delegates I thank my colleague delegates for their reference to the Japanese contribution to the technological development of rice.
Latsukabé FALL (Sénégal)
Je voudrais simplement dire que le Sénégal est un grand pays importateur de riz. Nous importons presque 800 000 tonnes de riz par an. Nous avons un observatoire du riz du Sénégal qui se charge de fixer les prix et de s'aligner sur les prix internationaux.
Nous avons transformé cet observatoire du riz en comité préparatoire de l'Année internationale du riz, pour 2004. À ce titre, nous comptons travailler avec la FAO, aussi bien pour la préparation, la mobilisation que pour la réalisation d'aménagements plus productifs pour la culture du riz.
Mohamed Said Mohamed Ali HARBI (Sudan) (Original language Arabic)
I would like to thank the organization for designating 2004 as the International Year of Rice. Rice is a strategic crop for food security and Sudan imports it to insure that security . We have placed rice at the top of the priorities included in our strategic plan for the five years ahead.
On this occasion, I would like to extend our thanks to the Japanese government for its support in establishing a pilot farm and training our professionals in the field, and to the FAO for its initiative.
Ms YOUNG-A KWON (Republic of Korea)
Considering the fact that rice is a staple food for more than half the global population, it is well understood that we are putting our efforts ultimately into alleviating starvation and poverty on a global level by increasing the international society's understanding of the factors that threaten rice production. On the other hand though we should not overlook the fact that rice has great multi-functionality, not only as food but also as a product that preserves environment, culture and heritage. Moreover we need to recognise that agriculture focussed on rice has created various cultures according to various Regions. In this sense the International Year of Rice 2004 will provide an opportunity for recognising the importance of rice, not only from the viewpoint of rice as food, but also from multi-functionality perspectives such as environment and culture. In this respect the Republic of Korea has organised an event team and is planning and reviewing international symposiums and commemorations for the International Year of Rice events.
The Republic of Korea requests FAO members' great interest and cooperation.
ANDRADJATI (Indonesia)
I think we would like express the Government of Indonesia's support to the FAO in deciding the year 2004 as the International Year of Rice and at the national level, the Government will decide and implement the programme to support the International Year of Rice.
Ms Louise FRESCO (Assistant Director-General, Agricultural Department)
It is a pleasure to hear so many expressions not just of interest in the International Year of Rice, but also so many descriptions of the activities that are being undertaken at the national level, and let me add that many of the countries that have spoken are actually countries that are very active in the International Working Group which has been established for the purpose of celebrating the International Year of Rice. Many of you have made very useful comments on the intricacies of rice, both from an economic and from an ecological point of view. I would like to refer you to the rather detailed concept paper we have produced on the subject which you can find on our web page and is available in all languages.
The only item I would like to add in response to the United States is that all the regional conferences of FAO, that as you know will take place in the course of next year, have the International Year of Rice as a special agenda item. So the subject will come back at Regional level once more with you and I hope that by that time there will be even more detailed programmes and more work of National Committees that has been done. In any case, rest assured that the Secretariat and the special group we have set up here in FAO to deal with this is at your disposal at any time, to discuss and further elaborate your national celebration of the International Year of Rice.
CHAIRPERSON
In summary, I have the following: Commission I welcomes the lead agency role in the implementation of the Year for Rice for increased food security, poverty alleviation and sustainable agricultural development. Countries have been informed about the activities in their countries on rice production and on the activities concerning the International Year of the Rice and have encouraged FAO to do even more on this major item.
This item is concluded.
I wish to inform you that this morning I had announced the meeting of the Friends of the Chair Group for drafting the Resolution and I have been informed now of the processes underway. We have made good progress. However, the paper has not yet been translated into all languages. Therefore, I would like to move now to Item number 10 first before starting the fisheries item concerning FAO Initiatives to Fight Hunger, to follow-up the World Food Summit and the Millennium Development Goals. You should have document (C 2003/16) before you. I would like to invite Mr Pingali, the Director of the Economic Development and Analysis Division, to introduce the item.
Prabhu PINGALI (Director, Agricultural and Development Economics Division)
It is my pleasure to introduce the document, Strengthening Coherence in FAO Initiatives to Fight Hunger. Before I start let me say that this document was also presented on Saturday to the International NGOs Meeting and the report from the International NGO group has also been tabled for your reference. As all of you know, the World Food Summit Goal of reducing the number of hungry by half by 2015 is a goal that has prompted FAO to take on a series of initiatives targeted towards hunger reduction. The World Food Summit Goal is also presumed within the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations of reducing the proportion of hungry by half by 2015 time period. So what this paper does is, it places the initiatives that FAO has taken on since the World Food Summit and puts them in the broader context of the dimensions of food security in the conceptual context of the twin track approach that was elaborated on in the Anti-Hunger Programme Paper, released by FAO as a draft during the World Food Summit follow-up five years later in 2002, and the final version of it which was released at this Conference. This paper relates the hunger initiatives relative to the strategic plan of FAO and it also presents the initiatives that have been taken in terms of the multiple facets, in terms of analysis, advocacy and action.
Let me start with some basic facts. I think most of you who have seen the State of Food and Security 2003, have seen that the progress towards meeting the World Food Summit Goal is disappointing and, that despite a lot of progress in several countries, the overall efforts at hunger reduction have been less than we all hoped for. We all know that hunger continues to be predominantly a problem in rural areas. Seventy-five percent of all food insecurity is in rural areas, although growing urban food insecurity is a challenge that we are beginning to face and we will see an increase in that problem as we look ahead. Hunger is costly to society and there is a side event on that topic, The Social Cost of Hunger, later this week. Food insecure people tend to have lower levels of productivity, and they tend to have higher poverty. We all know that poverty causes food insecurity, but there is increasing evidence to show that food and secure populations are also tending to become poorer, and in turn the poorest of the poor. Food insecure populations tend to have higher mortality and higher incidences of sickness, learning disabilities among children, and, of particular importance, food insecure populations tend to be less willing to take risks, risks that would be crucial for moving these populations out of food insecurity and out of poverty.
What we would like to do first is present to you the basic concept of food security. I think the essential point we would like to make here is that food security is a multidimensional concept. It is a concept that certainly looks at the availability of food, the physical access of food, but it also looks at the access to food, utilization of food and stability of access to food. In terms of availability, the supply side, in terms of the actual quantities that are available within a border, with a national border, within a community and within a household, is something we are all very familiar with. We have looked at domestic production, import capacity, and sometimes looking at ways to fill that gap through food aid. But access is an issue that continues to be very important even in areas that are food self-sufficient. Access, being able to acquire the food, having the entitlements to acquire the food, is an issue that is determined by income, income distribution, access to assets, physical assets such as land and other capital assets and also depends very much on the markets and market infrastructure in order to be able to exchange that food within a particular community and within a particular region. Also important in terms of access and utilization are infrastructure and systems that are in place for ensuring food safety for ensuring clean water, etc.
In terms of stability of access, we are aware of weather related problems and price variabilities that can affect the stability of access, but increasingly one of the areas that is causing increased instability of access to food, is protracted crises and protracted emergencies of all sorts. Many of them being human induced emergencies, civil strikes of one form or another. What this paper does is, it relates the dimensions of food security to FAO's conceptional framework on the twin track approach, trying to show how one can enhance the various dimensions of food security looking at them through the twin track approach. The twin track approach essentially is looking at ways in which to increase productivity and increase opportunities for the hungry to be able to acquire food through policy reform and through investments while, at the same time, ensuring direct and immediate measures to enhance access to food for the most vulnerable populations. This direct and immediate access could be in terms of food aid or it could be in terms of other types of safety nets that are in place. It is only when the most vulnerable have immediate access to food that they are able to take advantage of other opportunities to enhance their productivity and enhance their opportunities for improving incomes.
We have placed in a table in the paper, a matrix that shows the twin track approach and the dimensions of food security and shows examples of instruments of policy and instruments of programmes that will allow us to address the various dimensions of food security, relative to the twin track approach. I do not want to go through all of them, but if we look at the very first column in terms of availability of food, one clear instrument is improving rural food production, especially small-scale farming systems, or investing in rural infrastructure in order to improve the availability of food. On the second track in terms of immediate and direct access to food, food aid is one instrument that can allow that and also market information systems which will allow small farmers to acquire market price information, technology information, etc. On the access side, one can look at enhancing income opportunities and other entitlements to food and here, entitlements could be entitlements to land, entitlements to physical resources, etc. And, on the twin track, on the direct and immediate access, looking at School Meal Programmes, Food for Work Programmes, Cash Transfer Programmes and Nutrition Intervention programmes. So we have a way in which we have presented different instruments that will enhance food security, emphasizing the dimensions of food security they enhance, at the same time emphasizing the twin track approach.
But it is important for us to remember that the effectiveness of any intervention depends crucially on the policy environment in which these interventions are made. It depends on the policies that promote economic growth, policies that promote trade, macroeconomic stability, the quality of the institutions, an environment that enables participation of various stakeholders and communities and the poor themselves in the process of development; securing access to resources and the right to food and market institutions. The policy framework can be targeted towards the various dimensions of food security. It can range anywhere from international trade issues, to labour market policies, to the management of food stocks.
In this context, what we have done in the paper is to look at the various initiatives that FAO has embarked upon since the World Food Summit, initiatives that directly target hunger reduction. We have talked about these initiatives in terms of the way in which they address a variety of objectives. The most common objectives that these initiatives address are Advocacy and Information, Policy Assistance and Technical Assistance Projects and Programmes. The FAO initiatives are described in detail in the paper and I just want to go over them very briefly.
The International Alliance Against Hunger (IAAH) was endorsed in the follow-up to the World Food Summit five years later and that was in 2002. The International Alliance Against Hunger is a primary instrument that is in place now to encourage political will and to encourage commitment in the fight against hunger. It is an instrument that brings together international and national stakeholders in the process of fighting the problem of hunger and in bringing resources to this issue. The Anti-Hunger Programme (AHP) is a document that provides the conceptional background for FAO's work on hunger reduction but it also provides a list of priority areas for investment in the global fight against hunger. It shows these priorities and it costs them out in terms of what it will take to be successful in meeting the World Food Summit and the Millennium Development Goals. FIVIMS Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Mapping System, is an initiative that came out of the World Food Summit in 1996. It is an information system that allows us to identify where the poor are, who the poor are, what their needs are, who the most vulnerable populations are, and to be better able to target safety net programmes to these populations. And these safety net programmes could be various including issues such as food aid. The Intergovernmental Working Group on the Right to Food, (IGWG) which was established also after the follow-up to the World Food Summit is a mechanism by which countries are getting together to look at voluntary guidelines for the progress of realization of the right to food.
The National Strategies for Food Security and Agriculture Development Horizon 2015, is an initiative that was embarked upon primarily to help countries look at their agriculture and food security strategies to look at ways in which they could incorporate, within one strategic plan, a process of addressing the World Food Summit Goals and the Millennium Development Goals and to look at a way to use these strategies both for an investment and an action purpose, but also in terms of advocacy. Regional Programmes for Food Security are one scale up providing a regional perspective to the food security challenge, particularly looking at major subregions such as Sub Sahara Africa. In the case of Sub Sahara Africa, under the auspices of NEPAD there has been a very specific effort which has been the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP). Here again the idea is to look at the best initiatives available for restarting agriculture in Africa, to addressing the long term challenge of food insecurity in the region. The special programme for food security is an initiative that is now run in one hundred countries across the world. The special SPFS targets, poor small holder agriculturalists of smallholder fishery populations, livestock populations, etc. living in marginal areas and looking at how these populations can have better access to low cost technology to improve their productivity and improve their food security.
How do all of these initiatives fit in within the strategic framework of FAO? We know that within the strategic framework of FAO, there is a goal, the goal of access of all people at all times to sufficient nutritionally adequate and safe food, ensuring that the number of chronically under nourished people is reduced by half no later than 2015. This strategic goal has five specific objectives: a) Eradication of food insecurity and poverty, b) Policy and regulatory framework, c) Sustainable food supply and availability, d) Sustainable use of natural resources, and e) Improved decision-making. What we did in the paper is to classify the hunger initiatives of FAO since the World Food Summit, relative to the five strategic objectives.
In this light, I am showing you some examples of that relationship between the initiatives and the strategic objectives. For instance, the very first one looks at the International Alliance against Hunger and the focus of the International Alliance against Hunger, relative to the strategic objectives is, primarily in the area of improved decision-making and improved commitment to the challenge to fight hunger. But certainly that decision-making process has direct impact on strategic objectives, a) which is to reduce food insecurity and reduce poverty. Similarly one can see how the different initiatives are related directly to the strategic framework and the strategic objectives of FAO.
In conclusion, let me say that FAO has responded to the need for improved coherence and improved consistency in the whole process of addressing food insecurity and addressing hunger issues. In looking at the need for improved coherence and consistency, FAO has established an analytical framework especially the twin track approach, looking for addressing hunger reduction, it is addressed within the framework of the strategic plan and the strategic plan has acted as a guide for action in this process and it has created a process that integrates advocacy, policy assistance as well as projects and programmes that are all targeted towards hunger reduction. We believe that this framework will allow us to participate more effectively in national and other international initiatives in fighting hunger.
Eugenio CAMPO (Italy)
Speaking on behalf of the European Community and its 15 Member States, the ten acceding countries of the European Union associate themselves to this statement. We are grateful to the Secretariat for its comprehensive presentation of the various initiatives developed by FAO to address the problems of hunger and food insecurity under different perspectives. The document (C 2003/16) provides a wide overview of the efforts undertaken in recent years and contains useful analyses and information on the overall hunger response strategy. The European Union recognizes that substantial progress towards reaching the objectives of the World Food Summit and the Millennium Development Goals is only possible, if there is concrete and concerted action by all stakeholders aimed at promoting economic growth, development and social infrastructure. Such action should be focused on rural development policies in support of poor and hungry people.
As agriculture and rural non-farm activities are the key sectors to be announced, if livelihoods are to be improved for the large majority of the poor and undernourished population. The several FAO initiatives follow different paths for promoting progress towards the reduction of hunger and malnutrition. Although it is true that these initiatives are somehow interconnected, there appears to be a risk of dispersion of efforts and resources as well as insufficient use of possible synergies. Specific attention should thus be devoted to the coordination of hunger reduction and food security strategies including rights based strategies. Not only at an international level, but also at national level where efforts should be focused. In particular the National Strategies for Food Security and Agriculture Development (NFSAD) and the Special Programme for Food Security (SPFS), particularly in its second phase, should be coordinated with the national poverty reduction strategies if the overall effort is to yield effective progress in the reduction of hunger and poverty which are so closely interrelated.
The European Union believes that a high priority for FAO and FAO Representatives at the country level is an active and effective engagement in Poverty Reduction Strategy Processes. These are the framework in which national effort takes place. FAO should be involved early and throughout the overall Poverty Reduction Strategy Process. It is generally recognised that the links between Poverty Reduction Strategies and sectoral strategies, including agriculture and rural development, are rather weak. FAO could give a substantial contribution to improve the situation with clear and consistent guidance and oversight from Headquarters.
FAO's anti hunger response seems to put excessive emphasis on a twin track approach, where the first track is based mostly on supporting rural development and the agricultural sector, while the second track focuses on food aid. The focus of the approach concentrates on agriculture productivity, while other important issues such as good governance, democracy, human rights, decentralization, institutional building, are not adequately highlighted.
In the light of the above comments we would suggest that attention be paid to rationalizing and streamlining the several ongoing initiatives and reinforcing their complementarity in order to further the synergies between their operational and normative components. This would enhance their effectiveness, and contribute to a pro-poor policy environment and to the creation of favourable conditions; including more complementary, social and economic policies conducive to increasing growth where the hungry and the poor live.
In this respect it should be underlined that most programmes can be effective provided that they are based on accurate information and analyses of poor and hungry communities and a vulnerable population as a whole. Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Mapping Systems (FIVIMS), for instance, is a very important programme which reflects the importance of hunger and poverty analysis and early warning systems in respect of manmade and natural emergencies that add so much to hunger and poverty. The outputs and results of these programmes should be increasingly used in order to address in a timely manner, specific and often immediate needs in hunger and instability areas.
There is no doubt that FAO has considerably stepped up its activities in support of its membership, in line with the recommendations of WFS and on the basis of the Millennium Declaration Goal on Poverty and Hunger Reduction. Given the huge dimension of the hunger and poverty problem, practical measures are useful if they, as it has been partly accomplished, lead to effective policies and institutions in support of the poor and hungry and the small farmer. When improving its initiatives, FAO should take special care in furthering synergies between their operational and normative components. In its initiatives FAO should further elaborate its cooperation with other relative organisations especially World Food Programme and IFAD.
The increased intention of the International Community to rural development is also demonstrated by the High Level Segment of the ECOSOC, held earlier this year which provided an important contribution to concerted efforts of the United Nations System. FAO members should be better informed of FAO's role in these concerted efforts, including its involvement in the Poverty Reduction Strategy processes. The Common Country Assessment and the UN Development Assistance Framework and in the reporting of the Millennium Development Goals. A report should be prepared for the 127th Council covering also FAO's involvement in the UN Development Group. Other positive signals are emerging at the regional level and one is represented by the Maputo Declaration of the African Union in the context of NEPAD. The Maputo Declaration gives a central place to an increased allocation of resources in support of agriculture and rural development in the effort to reduce poverty and malnutrition. We are therefore confident that these programmes, modified in line with the content of our statement, will contribute to the goal of halving hunger and malnutrition.
Veli-Pekka TALVELA (Finland)
Finland speaks here on behalf of all the Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. We also want to express our support to the thorough statement made here a while ago by the delegation of Italy on behalf of European Community and its 15 member states and the 10 acceding countries.
The documentation which has been provided for this Conference demonstrates that we are not on track to reach our ambition of halving the number of undernourished people by 2015. Global data, although alarming, hides the fact that the situation is even more appalling within certain regions. Strengthened action is needed. Although responsibility lies primarily at the national level, the donor community must take its responsibility in actions towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals, notably actions within MDG 8.
FAO has an important role in bringing together, analysing and presenting data as a basis for the UN monitoring of progress towards the Millennium Development Goals.
We appreciate FAO's participation in the UN Millennium Task Forces set down by UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, notably the Hunger Task Force, the Sustainability Task Force, and the Trade Task Force. FAO's increased openness towards collaborating with other UN agencies, as well as with partners, is commendable. We urge that such collaboration continues and improves. In order to improve FAO's ability to take its responsibility in implementing the MDGs, further progress has to be made in strengthening the overall agricultural policy at the national level.
FAO is the arena for the ongoing work of an international Working Group on developing Voluntary Guidelines for the Right to Adequate Food at the national level. We see these voluntary guidelines as a valuable tool in the fight against hunger and in reaching the Millennium Development Goals. Hoping that the end result will be a set of operational guidelines to assist member countries implementing the right to adequate food, the work receives our continued strong support.
The fight against poverty and hunger cannot be won without improving the conditions and rights of women. Women constitute half of the world's population and they are central in the production of food in most developing countries. We encourage FAO's continued effort to mainstream gender in its activities.
The goal to reduce by half the proportion of people suffering from hunger by 2015 is but a measurable benchmark towards the final objective which we have pledged at the 1996 World Food Summit: that is to eradicate hunger. Furthering this goal, FAO's work to promote sustainable development is commended, and should be strengthened.
We appreciate FAO's positive contributions in the UN Standing Committee on Nutrition. In March 2004, this committee will meet with the explicit objective to review and further discuss efforts to reach the Millennium Development Goals within the UN family. The Nordic countries strongly support this initiative, and urge FAO to continue its positive role in promoting the Millennium Development Goals.
Tom MUGISA (Uganda)
Uganda has made significant progress in achieving economic growth and visible improvements in the quality of life of the population since the 1990s. The country has recorded an average GDP growth rate of 6 percent per annum, a rise in primary school enrolment from 2.3 million in 1992 to over 7.3 million in 2002, as well as a significant decline in HIV/AIDS prevalence rates from 18.5 percent to 6.1 percent in 2000. The individual income poverty declined from 56 percent in 1992 through 44 percent in 1997 to 35 percent in 2000. However, due to declining terms of trade, especially the fall in the price of major export crops like coffee, and civil strife in some parts of the country, the poverty level has risen from 35 percent to 39 percent in 2003. This needs to be reversed in these early stages.
The key government initiatives to address food security derived from Uganda's Vision 2025 which advocates for a "Prosperous people, harmonious nation, a beautiful country." The key interventions here include the Poverty Eradication Action Plan which is Uganda's PRSP. It was approved in 1997 and it has been implemented since with the objective to reduce absolute poverty to 10 percent or less by 2017. It also encompasses a national policy measure to attain the Millennium Development Goals.
Under our PEAP for PRSP we have had various sector action plans: development on roads, health sector, education, agriculture (PMA), private sector development, law and order and natural resources sector.
Under the Plan for Modernization of Agriculture (PMA) which is the Government's operational framework for eradicating poverty by transforming subsistence farming to commercial farming, the objectives here are to increase incomes and quality of the poor subsistence farmers, to improve household food security, to provide gainful employment and promote sustainable use and management of natural resources.
As part of the PMA we have a number of interventions which include reorienting agricultural research and technology development to a demand-driven that is responsive to the needs of small farmers, reorienting advisory services to ensure that farmers are empowered to contract and control extension services, and here we are grateful to FAO for advisory services and also on HIV/AIDS. The other component under the PMA is on use and management of natural resources. We have had policies, strategies and investment plans in various sectors: on land, water for production, fisheries, wetlands, range lands, and for example, under land we have had a Land Sector Strategic Plan, a Land Act and have also initiated a systematic demarcation and adjudication programme to ensure that farmers, especially small farmers, land rates, especially women's land rates are assured. Under rural financial services, trying to assure that access to rural-based services, products for savings, transfers, and agricultural credit are improved.
Under agro-processing and marketing, assisting small farmers to produce to the market. We have had support from FAO to design a strategy on marketing and agro-processing.
Another intervention under PMA is on agricultural education focusing on transfer of skills to farming as a business and also changing attitudes in the school system and also in the non-school system.
The other two interventions under PMA: one, is on physical infrastructure focusing on roads, community farms market roads, also providing for ICT and energy for road transformation. On food, we have had a national policy on food and nutrition approved. We are now in the process of designing a strategy to operationalise it with an investment plan focusing on agro-ecological zones, industrial clustering for private sector driven programmes, market integration, gender mainstreaming, disaster and grain/food reserve and food monitoring. Because some parts of the country are affected by war we have had interventions especially for the internally displaced people where the World Food Programme has been very supportive and has provided internally displaced people with food.
The additional government interventions that cover primary health care, malaria control, rural water and sanitation. We have had, in collaboration with IFPRI and GTZ as well as other partners, organized an African meeting on food and nutrition which is scheduled to be held next year in April in Kampala. These interventions are important and all relevant for sustainable food security.
We have also had additional support from government partners, especially under this Special Programme for Food Security, FAO. The TCP Programme supports control of animal diseases; FAO Emergency Food Security Unit which supports displaced persons; TeleFood Trust which supports to over 20 grassroots projects, especially targeting women.
In addition we are collaborating with other regional initiatives within the NEPAD, African Union, East African Community, IGAD and COMESA, plus bilateral and multilateral partnerships with the World Bank, IFAD, USAID, EU, UNDP, UNICEF, DANIDA, JICA.
Conclusion: Uganda reaffirms her support to the renewed commitment by our Government at the last Food Summit, five years later, to reduce the number of hungry people in the world by half by the year 2015. Let me take advantage of this and wish to thank FAO and other partners for the important role they play in providing support to food security initiatives.
Roger CORNFORTH (New Zealand)
New Zealand is supportive of the WFS Plan of Action and is actively implementing both national and developing country partner programmes in line with the Plan of Action.
New Zealand acknowledges and supports the intention to establish regional programmes as well as nationally focused action. The New Zealand Agency for International Development, Nga Hoe Tuputupu-mai-Tawhiti, is particularly interested in FAO's development of a programme on food security for the Pacific Small Island Developing States.
New Zealand is committed to the elimination of poverty and in the importance of achieving food security where these are priorities for our developing country partners. We note that the prevailing wisdom in development assistance is for donors and multilateral programmes to harmonize programmes and modalities in alignment with developing partner strategies, priorities and mechanisms. The New Zealand Agency for International Development is committed to this approach, in terms of partnership and equity as well as efficiency. To this end we would strongly urge FAO to make the principle of harmonization a priority in this work, both for the benefits it is likely to bring to programme objectives as well as to the sustainability of national efforts.
We note that the International Alliance Against Hunger is a mechanism that has a harmonization Agenda and support this. We also note, however, that such initiatives as National Strategies for Food Security and Agricultural Development will in some developing countries benefit from being pursued, not as discrete strategies in their own right but as integrated components of other, nationally prioritized, strategic plans and processes. In this regard, we note that the Pacific Small Island Developing States have committed themselves to the development of national strategies for sustainable development by 2005 in accord with the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation. Such countries may find it more sustainable to integrate these activities should they prioritize food security within their development plans. As donors we must respect national priorities and seek to work with our development partners, otherwise plans and strategies will not have national ownership and are unlikely to be sustained.
While we are in no doubt that many FAO member developing countries will have a clear priority for food security, we would still urge FAO to seek to achieve maximum harmonization of activities in alignment with national strategies and systems as a matter of priority.
New Zealand is fortunate to be a net food exporting country. As such we understand the value of an open, rules-based international trading regime for agricultural produce. We are committed to such a regime and have taken unilateral national initiatives to support this. New Zealand has no tariffs on food imports and our market, although small, provides free access for developing country food products. We see this as an important component of overall initiatives to fight hunger. New Zealand believes that FAO has an important advocacy role to play in making trade work for development.
New Zealand notes that the full title to this agenda item includes follow-up to the MDGs yet the paper only makes a very general reference to the MDGs. We consider that FAO needs to make a greater effort to monitor its progress towards the MDG targets.
New Zealand intervened in the agenda item in the first meeting of this commission to recommend that FAO place an urgent priority on the development of quantitative and qualitative monitoring and evaluation of progress towards gender relative MDGs. We understand that gender monitoring and evaluation is waiting on FAO development of an overall integrated monitoring and evaluation system. We would observe that the same issue applies to this item.
As a consequence we urge FAO most strongly to attend to this matter as a fundamental priority for the Organization.
Ms Sharon KOTOK (United States of America)
The United States thanks the Secretariat for the thoughtful report and presentation on "Strengthening Coherence in FAO's Initiatives to Fight Hunger."
Three-quarters of the world poor and hungry are located in rural areas and depend directly and indirectly on agriculture and agriculture-related activities not only for their food, but also for their incomes. Increasing agricultural productivity is essential to promoting rural development, reducing malnutrition and eradicating poverty on a sustainable basis. Investment in the agricultural sector decreased in the last decade. We need to apply the lessons learned from that experience in order to make renewed agricultural investments work in favour of the rural poor.
The United States fully supports the goal of reducing the number of undernourished people to half their present level no later than 2015. In that regard, we welcome the Maputo Declaration of the Heads of African States and Governments of the African Union to adopt sound policies for agricultural and rural development and to commit to allocating ten percent of national budgetary resources towards this end.
The United States agrees with many of the report's findings, including, and I have six examples. First, that policy responses to hunger must be multifaceted and should aim at helping the hungry and poor to break out of the hunger trap. Second, that an anti-hunger strategy can be sustainable if it is based on broad-based economic growth with emphasis on rural development that creates sound economic opportunities for the hungry and the poor. Third, that it is necessary to have safety nets in place to protect those who cannot acquire sufficient food for themselves. Fourth, that a supportive pro-poor policy environment, both internationally and nationally, can contribute to effective and sustainable food security programmes. Fifth, that an enabling policy environment should be conducive to broad-based economic growth, sustainable utilization of natural resources, and private investment complementing public investment. And sixth, that, at the international level, a conducive policy environment implies measures to promote peace and political and economic stability as well as a trading environment that protects and promotes the development and food security interests of developing countries.
We applaud the Secretariat for recognizing in paragraph 22 the need for a concerted effort for women to participate fully in programmes to increase agricultural productivity. We would like to add the need to ensure that agricultural research be conducted, technology developed, and extension and irrigation services be provided with women's role as food producers in mind.
There are a few ideas in the report with which we are not in total agreement and we have highlighted these issues in past interventions, as well. For example, the World Food Summit and its follow-up define food security in the three dimensions of "availability, access and utilization". Paragraph 16 provides a new definition of food security that adds a fourth dimension, "stability of access." We hope that this definition continues to place responsibility for food security with national governments and does not imply that continuous food aid is a component of food security.
On the issue of the right to food, the United States believes it is more useful to focus on measures to achieve food security than on a right.
And, on the need for US$24 billion in additional public investment, we are sceptical of this figure because we honestly do not know how much will be needed to meet the goals of the World Food Summit. Moreover, without a clear sense of policy reforms needed, it is extremely difficult to project how much is needed and feasible in terms of private versus public investment.
The United States believes that the international hunger goal will only be achieved by making lasting improvements one country at a time, which requires committed national efforts supported by the international community to mobilize and use well all development resources. Those resources will come primarily from growth, the private sector and from the creation of new freedoms and opportunities for the citizens of vulnerable countries.
All segments of global society, including developed and developing country governments, NGOs, universities, the private sector and international financial institutions, have a role to play in ensuring that the rural poor can escape from the vicious cycle of poverty and malnutrition. We are working actively to support these goals with our international partners.
In this regard, the United States has an Initiative to End Hunger in Africa, which calls for a wide-ranging partnership that includes African leaders from the private sector and governments, civil society, donors, and private companies to work and invest in small-scale oriented agricultural growth strategy. The strategy is designed to empower African farmers in key countries and regions by increasing access to both new technologies and markets. The goal is to double the production of the basic food crops that make up African diets and increase family income.
The United States also has an active national Alliance to End Hunger at the initiative of the United States non-profit and not for-profit private sector. The US Alliance aims to create political will for intensifying efforts to address hunger in the United States and abroad, and consists of over 25 advocacy, farm and religious groups, foundations, businesses, universities, think tanks, food assistance networks and the media. The U.S. Alliance has served as a model of cooperation between governments and civil society organizations to implement World Food Summit commitments and the International Alliance to End Hunger
It would be useful for FAO to provide an annual results-based status report to the Committee on World Food Security on progress and achievements of the eight FAO programmes listed in Table 2. This report could include for each programme the following three things: 1) Countries FAO is working in; 2) Concrete outputs and deliverables; and 3) Coordination with other stakeholders.
We welcome the renewed coordination among FAO, WFP and IFAD and FAO's partnerships with governments, international organizations, non-governmental organizations and the private sector in the fight against hunger.
Ms Bettina CORKE (International Alliance of Women)
It is with great pride and pleasure that I speak to the report of the informal meeting of observers from the International Non-Governmental Organizations held last Saturday and submitted to the Conference under (C2003/Information/1).
In our analysis of Agenda item 10 and here I would like to draw your attention to our comments on part three which is Strengthening Coherence in FAO Initiatives to Fight Hunger, we referred in particular to FAO paragraph 13 , paragraph 16 to 22 and if I may hear in the brief time that I have, I would like to say that we welcomed very much, paragraph 30 which advocates greater accountability of governments because we believe that food security cannot be achieved without a national policy framework which requires governments to review and reassess their policy framework for food security because we believe that food security cannot be achieved without national food sovereignty.
In conclusion, I would like to say that we looked at sharpening the focus, we welcomed very much the African regional initiative of NEPAD as noted in paragraph 50 and we noted that agriculture and this return to the needs of agriculture is the only economic sector named specifically under NEPAD 1st action plan reflecting the fact that it directly affects the livelihoods of over 70 percent of Africa's people's.
In closing, and here again I refer to our report, in our closing statement, this refers to paragraph 56 and 61, we express the opinion that some radical rethinking was necessary by the Member States of FAO if we were to eliminate hunger, we reinforced the need for food sovereignty and we suggested that three criteria might be respected that of the affectiveness of international government, so that the affectiveness of international governments of food and agriculture might take place. Democratic choice, effective control of threats in relation to food safety and a priority to food sovereignty. It was also emphasized that the trade issues being discussed were not a separate topic, but an integral part of an overall approach to fight hunger.
Sanjay KAUL (India)
We would like to begin by conveying our appreciation to Mr. Pinagali's excellent presentation on the FAO initiative to fight hunger and would like to reaffirm the Government of India's Delegation strong support to this initiative.
The Indian Constitution is wedded to the ideals of a State that ensures justice, liberty and equality in their widest connotations to all sections of our society. In this context, the State is committed to secure for all its citizens variously defined dignified assistance and therefore encompasses food security.
India has not only attained self-sufficiency in the matter of food production but also has the world's largest public distribution system, which reaches right up to the village level through a network of over half a million, what we call Fair Price Shops. Under our Public Distribution System, a fixed quantity of staple cereals, wheat and rice, are distributed at affordable prices. The present scale of issue is as high as 35kg per family per month and over 20 million tons of food grains are issued under this Public Distribution System to 65 million households below the poverty line. This basket of commodities to the Fair Shop Network also provides other essential commodities like sugar and kerosene oil. To cater to the food needs of the poor and destitute special arrangements have been made for providing general improvement in the health standards of children and a perceptible reduction in the incidents of malnutrition. Due to this government's targeted interventions, we have been able to achieve in the phase of unprecedented drought a situation where domestic cereal prices remain stable despite a 15 percent decline in food production last year. Indians recognize that availability of food does necessarily ensure access. The incentive of poverty alleviation is generation of income to facilitate access our poverty alleviation programs, therefore lays emphasis on provisional employment including self-employment particularly the areas susceptible to a high degree of unemployment or under-employment. More than $ US 3 billion are earmarked every year for such programs alone in the central budget. Many of these major programs now ensure a certain food component in the wage. These approaches have resulted in a substantial reduction in the poverty ratio from 36 percent to 26 percent in the last decade. India also has now fixed a target for reducing the poverty ratio by another 5 percentage points in the year 2007 and 15 by the year 2012. India is confident and expects that the World Food Summit target of reducing the number of malnourished families by half by the year 2015 will be achieved well before the target date.
We strongly believe that the right to food essentially entails empowerment of the poor, especially women, for obtaining food. The policies and programmes pursued within the existing constitutional framework meet these demanding standards in an abundant measure. We strongly feel that more than formal codification, the right to have access must be based on food grains at rates on a sound policy and a comprehensive institutional framework based on such a policy. We believe that our policies and programs which have been outlined above seek to achieve, and have achieved significant success in these difficult but mandatory objectives. In this context, we await with interest and expectation the next round of deliberations in the Committee on World Food Security in September, 2004.
I would like to add that during the acute drought in the country last year, more than 9 million tons of food grains where distributed completely free of cost of wages which enabled around 75 million people to obtain their food requirement during this drought. This enterprise generated about one billion man days which in many of our States compensated the loss of employment suffered by agricultural workers, small and marginal farmers. I am also pleased to share with this August forum that the preliminary findings of survey to assess the nutritional status of the drought affected population have brought home the point that the Food for Work Intervention have not only prevented increased morbidity, but there is a sound policy and a comprehensive framework based on such a policy.
My delegation takes this opportunity to reiterate Government of India commitments to promoting food security and improving access to food to enable us to meet our developing goals. We fully endorse part six of the document pleased for a consideration at this Conference.
Sra. Ursula DOZAL ALVARADO (México)
La delegación de México desea agradecer a la Secretaría la preparación de este documento y reconocer los esfuerzos de la FAO en la lucha contra el hambre. Sin embargo, México desearía que dicho informe se reflejara en los acuerdos alcanzados en la Conferencia Internacional sobre Financiación para el Desarrollo y, así mismo, deseamos subrayar que si bien los Objetivos de desarrollo del Milenio reflejan las principales metas establecidas en diferentes conferencias de las Naciones Unidas, en las cuales se reitera el compromiso común del mundo para mejorar la calidad de vida de sus habitantes, es necesario saber los parámetros de referencia en la erradicación de la pobreza.
Es importante considerar que, aún cuando los objetivos de las cumbres sobre alimentación y del milenio fueron endosados por todos los países que integran la comunidad de naciones, se debe tener presente que esta es una tarea primordialmente nacional que debe contar con el apoyo y el respaldo de la comunidad internacional y de los organismos internacionales. En este contexto, México, con el Programa Oportunidades, ha avanzado de manera significativa en la lucha contra la pobreza y la desnutrición a nivel nacional, como lo constatan las cifras de 4.5 millones de familias que están siendo beneficiadas con il mismo y que, si se potencia, bien podría beneficiar a un poco más de 20 millones de mexicanos.
Existe una urgente necesidad de que la asistencia internacional y las intervenciones de los organismos de las Naciones Unidas a favor de la población más vulnerable se realicen en forma coordinada e integrada, tanto con los gobiernos como con los propios organismos multilaterales y los sectores privado y social, de manera que se pueda lograr un mayor y mejor impacto de los recursos que se destinan a proyectos o programas para la población más desfavorecida en los países en desarrollo.
La delegación de México desea proponer la creación de instancias y mecanismos que realcen la eficacia de las acciones destinadas a prevenir las causas y consecuencias de la inseguridad alimentaria en las naciones en desarrollo, sobre todo en los menos adelantados. En ello se debe tener en cuenta, entre otras cosas, la adecuación de metodologías a las particularidades de los países que padecen los más altos índices de pobreza extrema e inseguridad alimentaria, como también a las diferencias existentes entre regiones y al interior de los países.
Es indispensable que los organismos internacionales adopten un enfoque regional o local y reconozcan que, dentro de los países en desarrollo, las regiones no son homogéneas en el nivel de desarrollo económico y social. Pensamos que las estrategias para la superación de la pobreza y la disminución del hambre y la desnutrición deben estar centradas en la ampliación de las capacidades de los individuos, la generación de opciones de ingreso, la formación de patrimonio y la promoción de la protección social. Igualmente, es conveniente generar programas alimentarios integrales que contemplen las diversas fases de la cadena alimentaria, como los sistemas de abasto, alimentación y nutrición.
También se puede promover la cooperación técnica y horizontal, con el apoyo de los organismos de cooperación internacional, para la identificación y aprovechamiento de prácticas innovadoras que contribuyan a la disminución del hambre y la desnutrición, con el objeto de fortalecer las acciones de los gobiernos nacionales y consolidar el logro de los objetivos asumidos en la Cumbre Mundial sobre la Alimentación.
Nobuhiko KAHO (Japan)
The government of Japan would like to accept the report as a kind of information document which explains the outline of FAO initiatives to fight hunger. But we would like to expect the FAO Secretariat to make more concrete and quantitative analysis on each initiative. At the same time, we would like to draw attention to two international initiatives other than what are listed up in the document (C 2003/16). They are the “Third World Water Forum” combined with the Ministerial Meeting on Water for Food and Agriculture held in Kyoto in March and “Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 3)” in September of this year. At the former event, a Ministerial recommendation was adapted that expressed three challenges of “Food Security and Poverty Reduction”, “Sustainable Water Use” and “Partnership”. After the meeting the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan had proposed to Asian rice cultivating countries to settle on “International Network on Water and Ecosystem in Paddy Fields” with which we can try to relate the three challenges of the declaration.
At the TICAD 3, the Head and leaders stressed the necessity of the support of the international society to the New Partnership For Africa's Developments (NEPAD) and made a wide range of discussions concerning the cooperation between African countries and donors. Especially, it was confirmed that agriculture should be the basis of the economy for African countries and that the agriculture and rural development would be a key to their economic growth. I have now introduced you two international meetings because both of them were not only hosted by our government but also fully supported by FAO with the attendance of its Director-General Dr Diouf and his high-level staff.
Since the objective of both Conferences concerned with world food security, I believe they could also be included in the list of FAO initiatives to fight hunger. And at the same time the Government of Japan would also like to request the FAO Secretariat to follow up and analyze the results of these two meetings to be effectively succeeded to their next sessions in coming years.
CHAIRPERSON
I have now Senegal on my list but before giving the floor to Senegal I would like to announce that the statement of the distinguished delegate of Algeria was handed over to me and I would take this statement, which will be included into the report. Now, I would like to give the floor to Senegal.
Latsukabé FALL (Sénégal)
Je serais le moins long possible, mais d'emblée je dirais qu'après avoir remercié les présentateurs du rapport de ce soir nous constatons que le schéma est celui que nous approuvons au Sénégal, et nous travaillons dans ce sens; mais ce schéma nous semble incomplet parce nous constatons actuellement que les pays qui ont davantage de ressources publiques en agriculture ont une incidence de la faim moins élevée. D'un autre côté, on constate que l'aide publique au développement est toujours en baisse et qu'à Mobutu les Chefs d'État ont demandé à ce qu'il y ait un rééquilibrage des ressources budgétaires et que les secteurs agricoles puissent bénéficier d'au moins dix pour cent du budget.
Nous profitons de l'occasion pour remercier la FAO qui nous a beaucoup aidés lors de la période de sécheresse et les inondations, non pas en nous donnant à manger mais en nous permettant de travailler et de diversifier nos productions pour produire de façon équilibrée pour une alimentation substantielle, et de pouvoir régler le problème des céréales.
Dans le cadre de l'aide de la FAO, j'aimerais aussi souligner, et je dois vous rappeler que dans le préambule de la Constitution de 2001 du Sénégal, le rôle de la femme et l'importance de la femme sont immédiatement affirmés. Dans le Gouvernement du Sénégal, qui était dirigé par un Premier Ministre femme, il y avait plus de cinq femmes ministres. Ce sont ces mêmes femmes qui, dans le milieu rural, occupent des fonctions importantes dans les collectivités locales avec le maraîchage en tête, c'est-à-dire la production de ressources pour produire des revenus pour acheter des aliments. Nous dirons donc que le Sénégal est assez avancé et que la volonté politique affirmée par le Chef de l'État, en premier lieu, a permis d'utiliser cette aide de la FAO et du PAM de manière efficace, ce qui nous a permis déjà de relever un premier défi qui a fait passer la production de maïs à plus de 750 pour cent en moins d'un an.
Donc, lorsque la volonté politique existe et quand il y a les moyens, les ressources, il est possible d'avancer. C'est pourquoi nous demandons, et Monsieur le Ministre l'a demandé hier en plénière, que la FAO soit dotée d'un budget à croissance réelle pour pouvoir relever les défis qui ont été affirmés ici à Rome en 2002 au cours du Sommet mondial de l'alimentation: cinq ans après.
Mais le problème fondamental de notre sécurité alimentaire, c'est-à-dire de notre agriculture en général, c'est le manque d'infrastructures généralisées en Afrique, d'infrastructures de communication et d'infrastructures de stockage, de traitement et de transformation des produits. Il se trouve aussi que, malgré nos efforts, malgré la baisse croissante de l'aide publique au développement et le manque de revenus des ressources, nous sommes toujours confrontés à des contraintes extérieures et ces premières contraintes c'est le commerce international qui fait que, avec notre productivité plus faible, parce que nos intrants sont achetés plus chers, notre équipement plus cher, nous sommes bombardés, envahis par les productions qui viennent concurrencer nos productions locales.
Il se trouve que certains, malgré leurs efforts, ont quelquefois leur production qui se gâte entre leurs mains ou est invendue. Certaines fois c'est aussi bien les productions des pays avancés qui viennent nous concurrencer.
Le cas du coton a été cité plusieurs fois, le cas de l'arachide également, et pour le Sénégal nous pouvons parler du riz, de la pomme de terre et même des oignons.
Nous pensons donc que, quand on parle de sécurité alimentaire il existe un volet qui n'est pas encore totalement étudié, c'est l'environnement. Il y a l'accessibilité, la disponibilité mais il y a également l'environnement international qui constitue un frein et un goulot d'étranglement ainsi qu'un motif de découragement pour nos producteurs. C'est ainsi que par exemple certaines années les productions que l'on importait au Sénégal coûtaient moins cher que la production hors champ. Vous voyez comment l'on peut décourager des producteurs lorsqu'ils se trouvent dans une situation peu favorable pour l'obtention des intrants et des équipements.
En ce qui concerne la FAO nous pouvons simplement dire que nous avons hautement apprécié son appui au Sénégal, parce qu'elle nous a permis de relancer les cultures vivrières et de cibler maintenant les villages, de rendre de façon plus ponctuelle l'eau qui est la source principale de sécurité alimentaire parce que l'agriculture sans maîtrise de l'eau n'est pas une agriculture. Nous pensons que l'apport de la FAO dans le cadre du Programme national de développement agricole va contribuer hautement à la sécurité alimentaire dans notre pays.
Flávio MIRAGAIA PERRI (Brazil)
Brazil welcomes Document C2003/16, in which the Secretariat summarizes initiatives developed by the Organization over the past years to address the problems of hunger and food insecurity.
In Brazil, the government, civil society and the private sector have agreed to fight poverty and hunger in a concerted way. The Zero Hunger Programme is part of the Brazilian response, on the national level, to the call made by Heads of State, Government and their representatives, to the establishment of the International Alliance Against Hunger. The Brazilian Zero Hunger Programme is being developed under a two-dimension view, similar to FAO's twin-track approach. First, by tackling emergency situations, through the strengthening of cash transfer policies. Secondly, by dealing with the structural problems, through the adoption of integrated policies devoted to land distribution, agricultural development, education and public health.
The present document C 2003/16 also emphasizes the international context in the fight against hunger. Paragraph 29 affirms that "at the international level," and I quote "a conducive policy environment implies measures to promote peace and political and economic stability as well as a trading environment that protects and promotes the development and food security interests of developing countries". We could not agree more.
In this context we do agree with the Mexican observation that our deliberations should reflect the Millenium Goals and the results of the Monterey Conference. They constitute an important framework within which to give inputs to FAO initiatives to fight hunger.
The performance of national economies are closely interlinked with the international issues of trade, finance and technology flows. Our present and urgent challenge, therefore, is to find a new paradigm. In this quest, national efforts will not be successful if nations do not take into account the dimension of international trade and, in particular, the trade in agricultural products. In fact, agriculture is the area of production in which developing countries have comparative advantages and where the poorest among the poor can still earn their living.
The fact that national and international events do not take place independently is undisputable to the common sense. It was exactly this perception that illustrated the actions taken by Brazil, concerted with other developing countries, in the nineties, in the promotion and creation of an "Agenda for Development" which would stand parallel and simultaneous to the pre-existing "Agenda for Peace". Peace and security remain hand-in-hand with a balanced social and economic development.
May we note the chain formed by the issues concerned. It has not been occasional that the outcome of the negotiations in Doha became known as "Doha Development Agenda". Developing countries' expectations have been formed around the idea that the present framework of negotiations will lay heavy emphasis on the consequences related to the real possibilities of an integrated and balanced social and economic development, pervading the World Trade Organization of its duties towards development.
There can be no doubt that agriculture is at the centre of the Doha Round and that development is its essential component.
It would be important to underline that events in Cancun were the result of an extraordinarily complex Agenda from which outstood, at that moment, the issue of agricultural products.
In the chapter of asymmetries among countries – which have opened great divides between them – in spite of the efforts of developing countries, the continuing negotiations must recall in a serious and comprehensive manner the concrete meaning of special and differential treatment provisions contained in the negotiation platform reached in Doha.
Brazil is part of the group of developing countries entitled G-20, which has the potential of aggregating countries and affinity groups around the development of a well-known negotiating platform which is coherent, solid and representative.
Formed in the lead-up to the WTO Ministerial Conference, the G-20 is an informal gathering of developing countries aimed at achieving the faithful implementation of the Doha Ministerial Declaration mandate in agriculture. The Group is convinced that meaningful results in agriculture will translate into reality the lofty objectives of the Doha Development Agenda. Group members believe that without substantial reduction in trading-distorting domestic support; substantial increase in market access; phasing out of all forms of export subsidies; and effective special and differential treatment, it will not be possible to arrive at the twin objectives of a free and fair agricultural trading system, and to enable developing countries to effectively take account of their development needs, including food security and rural development. The G-20 is, therefore, a key stakeholder in agriculture trade negotiations fully committed to their successful completion.
The international community's task at present will be to launch negotiations under this new spirit and in the context of a transparent, inclusive, incremental process, which does not impose timeframes and agendas which dissimulate deadlines and create "brinkmanship". It is imperative that values underlying the multilateral system guarantee understanding on common hearings, flexibility and imagination, in an atmosphere free of impositions and prejudices, in full attendance of and respect for the mandate and time framework set out in Doha.
To finalize, allow me to say that we will be following with interest the statement by the International Alliance of Women to be completed later on at the proper order and time.
Sra. Hilda Graciela GABARDINI (Argentina)
Siguiendo sus indicaciones mi intervención será muy breve. Quiero referirme al párrafo 29 del Documento 16 en discusión cuya presentación agradezco. Con relación a este párrafo, Argentina, que también es miembro del G-20, lo apoya plenamente, así como lo señalado por la delegación de Brasil respecto a este mismo párrafo. Creemos que es absolutamente necesario revitalizar las negociaciones en la OMS a fin de cumplir con lo dispuesto en el mandato de Doha, tanto en lo concerniente a los contenidos del mismo como a los plazos para lograrlo. La demora en lograr unas bases efectivas y concretas en la negociación multilateral sólo perpetúa la actual situación de inequidad y desequilibrio de la producción y el comercio de alimentos. El párrafo 31 señala y cito: "En el ámbito nacional, las políticas macroeconómicas deberían propiciar la estabilidad necesaria para estimular las inversiones y el ahorro". Mi país está haciendo grandes esfuerzos en este sentido, pero ello no basta sin la sustancial reducción de las destrucciones al comercio en todas sus formas.
CHAIRPERSON
Before giving the floor to Cuba I would like to remind people that the Working Group on Split Assessment will convene at 17.30 hours in the Red Room. All members of this Working Group should attend the meeting in the Red Room.
José A. QUINTERO (Cuba)
Ante todo mi delegación desea agradecer a la Secretaría por el documento que se nos presenta para el análisis en esta Comisión y suscribimos totalmente las palabras de las distinguidas delegaciones de México y Brasil. El tema en cuestión es de suma importancia al igual que la cuestión del Programa de Labores y Presupuesto (PLP); ambas se interrelacionan y se condicionan uno al otro. Las iniciativas presentes en el documento son todas muy importantes y demuestran el compromiso de la FAO para dar cumplimiento a los objetivos acordados en la Cumbre Mundial sobre la Alimentación. No obstante, queremos enfatizar la importancia particular del Programa de Seguridad Alimentaria como una de las iniciativas que asisten a los países de bajos ingresos y con déficit de alimentos.
Cuba coopera con el Programa Especial de Seguridad Alimentaria (PESA) de la Organización a través de la concesión de asistencia técnica a un grupo de países en desarrollo y reafirmamos nuestro compromiso de continuar cooperando con esta iniciativa de la FAO y de ampliarla a los países que la necesiten. Mi delegación reconoce que el documento acierta cuando nos plantea que los avances en la reducción de la pobreza son pocos y son escasos los países que han alcanzado éxito en este sentido.
Cuba desea hacer hincapié en la aseveración de que la pobreza y el hambre persisten fundamentalmente por la falta de voluntad política para luchar contra ella de forma más resuelta, en gran medida porque, después de haber adoptado los compromisos, la Comunidad Internacional no logra movilizar los recursos necesarios para tales fines. Creemos firmemente, como ha sido planteado aquí, que las políticas nacionales son importantes para la lucha contra el hambre. Sin embargo, serán limitados sus resultados si no logramos que a nivel internacional se dediquen más recursos a la lucha contra el hambre. Ciertamente, tal como plantea el documento, el enfoque de doble componente es una estrategia adecuada, pero debe ir acompañado de políticas destinadas a mejorar los niveles de educación y de salud de la población. La existencia de altos índices de analfabetismo y malos indicadores de salud impiden a las personas el acceso a los alimentos para alimentarse adecuadamente y, en general, librarse de la pobreza.
La delegación cubana se congratula con el hecho de que el documento reconozca que las políticas implementadas en el ámbito internacional tienen su influencia en el logro de la eficacia y sostenibilidad de los programas de seguridad alimentaria, y que reconozca la necesidad de que el entorno comercial internacional promueva y proteja los intereses en materia de desarrollo y de seguridad alimentaria. Por último, Cuba apoya este documento que tenemos ante nosotros y una vez más plantea su compromiso con los objetivos de la Cumbre Mundial de la Alimentación. Es por ello que invitamos a todos los miembros de la FAO a hacer suyas todas y cada una de las iniciativas de la FAO para la lucha contra el hambre.
Jacques CHAVAZ (Switzerland)
The Conference is invited to provide the Secretariat's guidance on the initiatives of FAO to fight hunger with a view to accelerating progress towards the achievement of the World Food Summit goals.
My delegation thanks the Secretariat for the preparation of the document number 16. We have studied it carefully and have the following comments.
The document describes the various initiatives of FAO and explains the way they contribute to the fight against hunger. We welcome this overview. Once the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture enters into force, it will have to be integrated. The World Food Summit: five years later, in its Final Declaration, has recognized the importance of the International Treaty in Support of Food Security Objectives. Therefore the treaty will have to be considered as one initiative of FAO to fight hunger.
Let me turn now to the Right for Adequate Food. My country welcomes the progress during the first two sessions of the Inter-Government Working Group, IGWG. This group is mandated to elaborate a set of Voluntary Guidelines to support the progressive realization of the Right to Adequate Food in the context of national food security. IGWG has created momentum for the beginning of real negotiations and established an appropriate inter-sessional negotiation mechanism.
Switzerland puts great importance on a successful elaboration of these Voluntary Guidelines. My country is ready to actively participate in the inter-sessional negotiation mechanism.
Document number 16 emphasizes the fact that anti-hunger strategies require the support of vote collation of stakeholders to face the political will for action.
In Switzerland's view, this approach needs to be reflected in the Voluntary Guidelines. They should include substantial provisions on the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders while fully acknowledging the primary obligation of States for the progressive realization of the Right to Adequate Food.
My country submitted a proposal in this regard to IGWG. It is a sum of collective action of States and all relevant stakeholders that contribute to the progressive realization of this Right. The Voluntary Guidelines, in applying the multi-stakeholder approach would take the International Community one step forward and constitute an important operational instrument for achieving the aim of halving the number of people suffering from hunger by 2015. Right of adequate food is enshrined in many international instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and its General Common 12, as well as the 89 Convention of the Rights of the Child.
Furthermore, it is related to a number of issues dealt with in other international instruments and agreements, in particular, the Food Aid Convention. These vast body of laws show the great importance the international community assigns to the right to adequate food. Hence, FAO and IGWG are given a heavy responsibility by being mandated to help make the specific human rights operative for everyone. This means that the Voluntary Guidelines also need to cover situations in which the Progressive Realisation of the Right to Adequate Food is most jeopardised. That is, in situations of conflict, occupation and emergency. Consequently the guidelines need to specify the relation to the International Humanitarian Law. They have to take International Humanitarian Law very seriously and must not undermine it.
The progressive realisation of the right to adequate food in the context of national food security is affected by many factors within and outside State borders. The Voluntary Guidelines need to take this into account and address international dimensions, in particular the issues of international food aid, cooperation as well as monitoring and reporting, while respecting the competencies of other International Fora.
My delegation believes that it is of utmost importance that the guidelines, reinforce the Koreans in the multilateral system. We hope that the work of the IGWG will be fruitful and provide the international community with voluntary guidelines that are comprehensive, properly oriented and operational. Switzerland will continue to participate actively in this process.
Pornprom CHAIRIDCHAI (Thailand)
My delegation supports the initiatives of FAO on the International Alliance against Hunger. I can assure you that these are not mere words. Actions have been taken seriously in my country in the fight against hunger. The Director-General knows very well as he has met and discussed with our Prime Minister, Dr Thaksin Shinawatra. Some of you too, may have heard before that our Prime Minister has vowed to eradicate poverty from our country. He started clearly the time frame of six years to accomplish the goal.
I wish to share with the Conference Members here, some of the Poverty Eradication Programmes in my country. The first one is an Asset Conversion Scheme. This scheme aims to enable poor people to gain additional capital to invest in small businesses of their own. The fund can be obtained by revaluating their assets which includes the rights of access to land. The second is the provision of direct support to the poor through a New Service Window. In this scheme, an authority has been set up to identify and register poor people. The registration is open for any individual to come forward and register his or her complaints to the government together with the type of assistance needed. The registration will serve as the basis to provide help directly to the target people.
With these few examples, I trust that you are not in doubt about the political will of the Government of Thailand in the fight against poverty and hunger. My delegation believes that all nations should share ideas, learn from each other and join hands in the International Alliance Against Hunger. My delegation also associate itself with the statement made by the distinguished delegate of Brazil regarding fair trade practice. We believe that the International Trade issue is related to the issue of food security and should be incorporated into the Guidelines of the Right to Adequate Food.
Mir Dad PANSSHERI (Afghanistan)
Regarding national food security in Afghanistan, as you know Afghanistan is under the international rehabilitation as part of the agriculture sector. Unfortunately, we are facing two main problems; that is food security, and secondly, the cultivation of the poppy crops in Afghanistan. The poppy cultivation of Afghanistan mainly originated from the poverty of our farmers.
Of course, food security is a big issue, and my country has a policy for that. We should undertake agricultural research, extension programmes, plant protection and also increase the agricultural services for the farmers and give them credit in loans.
Unfortunately, two years have passed since we gave a promise to the donor countries to reach our goal. We made a national policy for Food Security for ten years to develop agriculture through food security. There are, unfortunately, thousands or several hundred international organizations, including those countries which are establishing different methods within the country to such an extent that they are not very effective.
We appreciate help from the Iranian Government, India, France and the United States of America. Recently they have understood about food security. They set up a strict programme for our country. We are running on diet. For this reason, I wish for the international organizations to work closely with the Government of Afghanistan especially in preserving agriculture and livestock. We do not want to disturb the cultivation of the poppy but of course it is the desire of the internationals. Besides that, rehabilitation in Afghanistan is directly related to security, including the poppy cultivation. And I wish to bring your attention to this special situation in Afghanistan.
Mokhtar REGUIEG (Algérie)
Bien que l'accroissement et l'extension de la pauvreté et l'insécurité alimentaire constituent un phénomène mondial lié aux mutations structurelles de l'ordre économique international, à l'accélération des changements technologiques ainsi qu'à l'affaiblissement des régulations nationales, c'est dans les pays du Sud qu'ils revêtent leur forme la plus critique.
Les processus de désintégration économique et sociale à l'œuvre dans les pays du Sud ne colportent pas seulement de graves dangers pour ces pays, mais sont également porteurs de graves risques pour la paix et la sécurité dans le monde.
Le Sommet du Millénaire et les Sommets mondiaux de l'alimentation ont consacré cette prise de conscience, tout en dressant l'inventaire des inégalités patentes sur le plan du développement économique, social, culturel, scientifique et technique.
Ces rencontres de haut niveau constituent un engagement à l'échelle mondiale par lequel la Communauté internationale reconnaît qu'il est inadmissible de laisser perpétuer la pauvreté de masse et la faim dans le monde et ce, compte tenu des ressources disponibles et des progrès technologiques du monde contemporain.
Il existe une interdépendance étroite entre les divers objectifs du Millénaire et les engagements des Sommets mondiaux de l'alimentation, mais il reste que l'élimination de la pauvreté et de la faim constituent le principal d'entre eux. Aucun autre ne pourra être réalisé si celui-ci n'est pas atteint.
Il reste, qu'on est aujourd'hui loin de l'objectif de réduire de moitié, d'ici 2015, le nombre de personnes qui souffrent de la pauvreté, de la faim et de la malnutrition. Au rythme actuel, le nombre de personnes pauvres (1,2 milliard) qui vivent avec moins d'un dollar par jour n'atteindra, d'ici 2015, que 10 pour cent, soit un taux nettement inférieur à l'objectif fixé.
C'est dire combien il est aujourd'hui indispensable d'œuvrer à l’élaboration d'un cadre conceptuel qui favoriserait la création d'un climat propice au développement et à l'élimination de la pauvreté.
Il s'agit par là, de favoriser de nouvelles approches qui permettent de satisfaire les besoins de développement des populations pauvres et des plus vulnérables d'entre elles.
Un tel impératif suppose une gestion internationale concertée des mutations en cours pour maîtriser le changement et l'inscrire dans une perspective de développement. Il implique également, outre une nouvelle répartition des activités productives à l'échelle mondiale, un minimum de prévisibilité et de stabilité économique indispensable pour organiser le changement.
La Communauté internationale est, dans cette perspective, mise au défi de stimuler la concertation pour une restructuration et une revitalisation cohérente et viable des institutions internationales de développement, afin de leur permettre de prendre en charge efficacement la problématique du développement et organiser son action en faveur d'un système international plus sûr, plus équilibré, plus équitable et capable d'atteindre des objectifs du millénaire et du Sommet mondial de l'alimentation.
L'amélioration de l'environnement économique et commercial international revêt une importance particulière pour les pays en développement qui aspirent à participer pleinement à l'économie mondiale dans le contexte actuel de la mondialisation.
La Conférence internationale sur le financement du développement de Monterrey constitue une étape importante dans la traduction de l'élan politique donné par le Sommet du millénaire en une série de réponses concrètes à l'appui des objectifs arrêtés par le millénaire.
Le climat international hautement chargé d'espérance est fortement imprégré d'enthousiasme, né à la faveur des rencontres internationales de ces deux dernières années (Conférence de Monterrey, Sommet mondial de l'alimentation: cinq ans après, de Rome, Sommet de Johannesburg), ainsi que les initiatives de la Banque mondiale dans les domaines de la santé, de l'éducation, de la lutte contre la pauvreté et du PPTE (Pays pauvres très endettés), a malheureusement cédé la place aux inquiétudes et aux interrogations face aux petits progrès réalisés, qualifiés d'ailleurs d'inférieurs aux prévisions et de loin des objectifs tracés par le Sommet du millénaire et le Sommet Mondial de l'alimentation.
L'Afrique a pris courageusement l'initiative de penser et de lancer le projet ambitieux du NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa's development). Cette démarche proprement africaine, vise en substance à hisser le continent au rang d'acteur responsable, maître de son destin et auteur de son propre développement. Dans cette perspective, le NEPAD met en exergue la volonté de développer les capacités et les potentialités d'abord africaines aux niveaux national et régional, afin de mettre définitivement fin à la situation actuelle de pauvreté.
L'atteinte de ces objectifs reste tributaire du degré d'engagement et d'action des pays développés, des pays en développement et des institutions internationales concernées.1
Ms Francesca RONCHI PROJA (Observer for International Federation for Home Economics)
We think that FAO Initiatives to Fight Hunger: Follow-up to the World Food Summit and the Millennium Development Goals (C 2003/16) are good ones and provide a good summary of the recent initiatives undertaken by FAO. The Federation for Home Economics, which I represent, in its official statement at the World Food Summit has identified itself with all the commitments of the plan of action. One point is related to Table 1 in Document 16. It includes many actions in which home economists working in developing and developed countries find themselves involved directly or indirectly both in rural and urban areas. We would like to suggest that home economics programmes be added in Table 1. I wish to recall that home economics is specifically mentioned in the WFS Plan of Action under Commitment 2, but is now disappearing unfortunately from all FAO documents and programmes. The role of home economics is important especially in rural areas, in extension services, at household level and in advisory capacity to food industries as concerns food safety, food handling and processing, to mention only a few issues.
IFHE has a long history of cooperation with FAO and now of the new initiatives launched by FAO upon proposal of WFS:fyl, it is taking action in support of the International Alliance Against Hunger (IAAH). Information is sent to its membership through the IFHE Newsletter, stimulating collaboration with other partners – NGOs, FAO and other UN agencies at national and regional levels. One important related initiative is the collection of information on "successes and problems" by a contest "Best Practices" in the elimination and prevention of poverty worldwide. This fits in with the UN Decade for the eradication of poverty, which is recognized as a major cause of hunger. The contest is open to all members and results will be reported at the next IFHE Congress in Kyoto next year. IFHE continues to pursue at UN, NY, the resolution passed at its last Congress in Accra, year 2000, for an International Year for Food Security. We trust this proposal will obtain the support of other INGOs – it has already the support of some, such as ACWW.
In line with the spirit of collaboration, key element of the IAAH, IFHE already holds joint meetings with other INGOs at regional level, example with Consumers Organizations, and invites other NGOs and UN Agencies to its official meetings.
The second point that I would like to make refers to paragraph 55. This paragraph gives the impression that FAO considers only one group as the main interlocutor for the WFS Follow-up and as supporter of the rural and urban poor. This ignores completely the support and participation of the main international NGOs which have formal status with the Organization and are not members of that group as, for example, my own. We may agree with some of the policies, activities and initiatives of that group but as a principle, international NGOs tend to maintain their independence and join hence, with other groups only if fully informed and involved.
Aksel NAERSTED (Observer for International Poplar Commission)
I will finish first the report from the meeting between FAO, CSOs and NGOs. I would like to underline that we have a very good and fruitful cooperation with FAO and I would like to encourage the delegates to read the report from the meeting which you have got. With reference to the speeches by the delegates from New Zealand, Brazil, Argentina and others. I would like to draw their attention to some of the view points, requests and questions to FAO from our meeting.
We have said that trade is not a separate but an integrated part of an overall approach to fight hunger as many of the delegates also have said. I would like to quote one of the paragraphs from the report, number 18. The meeting concluded that the multilateral mandate for food and agriculture is with FAO, not with the WTO. FAO must take full responsibility to protect the right to food, generic resources and food serenity. In particular, FAO was asked to (1) analyse the WTO's impact on farmers and food security and make recommendations based on this analysis, (2) analyse the impact of corporate concentration of the current functioning of agriculture markets and make recommendations accordingly; (3) support farmers, organizations, social movements, NGOs in their effort to explore possible mechanisms to control supply or agriculture products and to ensure remunity prices, (4) support small producers to organize themselves and increase their control of the market and the value-added, and finally the meeting said that overall, the participants concluded that the WTO has had a negative and destructive impact on food security, food serenity on small farmers and their livelihood. The liberalization of trade and privatization of product resources, which are vital to food and agriculture production, include fisheries, land and water, is aggravating hunger and malnutrition.
Henri CARSALADE (Assistant Directeur général, Département de la coopération technique)
Tout d'abord, au nom de l'Organisation, je voudrais remercier l'ensemble des membres de la Conférence pour les commentaires qu'ils nous ont apportés, tous positifs, nourris d'exemples nationaux, les conseils, les avis que nous allons incorporer à notre compréhension et notre action dans ce domaine, qui est l'un des domaines principaux de l'Organisation.
J'insisterai simplement sur deux points. Le premier est le thème de la cohérence: cohérence interne à l'action de la FAO, mais aussi cohérence au sein des Nations Unies et celui de la coordination: coordination au niveau national ou dans le cadre des objectifs du millénaire pour le développement et suivant ce qu'a dit le Représentant de l’Union européenne, point de vue que nous partageons, nous travaillons pour éviter la dispersion et nous travaillons dans la clarté au niveau national. Ceci nous amène à renforcer notre association avec les plans de réduction de la pauvreté, à travailler sur l'appropriation nationale et à donner suite à la volonté d'harmonisation que la plupart des pays, récipiendaires et bailleurs de fonds, ont exprimée. Je viens moi-même de revenir de Washington et de conduire une mission où j'ai discuté avec la Banque Mondiale pour mettre en place les moyens d'une association précoce de la FAO à l'étude et à la mise en œuvre des plans de réduction de la pauvreté afin d'y inclure la dimension de la sécurité alimentaire et dans un certain nombre de cas, de corriger les oublis qui ont marqué, par rapport à la sécurité alimentaire, certaines stratégies de lutte contre la pauvreté. Ceci est le premier ensemble de choses que nous faisons et nous renforçons notre action dans ce domaine, dans le cadre de la coordination au sein des Nations Unies et avec le bailleur de fonds.
Le second point qui a été rappelé et sur lequel je voudrais insister rapidement, c'est le souci qu'ont nos pays membres de voir la FAO travailler davantage en association avec le Programme alimentaire mondial et le FIDA; là également, nous avons changé de niveau d'intervention et intensifié notre effort en commun. Je viens de signer avec le Programme alimentaire mondial un protocole d'actions communes qui sera diffusé très prochainement aux pays membres et je crois que vous serez frappés par le haut niveau d'intégration, je dis bien d'intégration, de nos efforts de développement que nous conduisons désormais et j'espère avoir la possibilité de le faire très rapidement avec le FIDA. Rappelez-vous également des déclarations qui ont été faites hier par M. Morris et M. Båge à la Conférence. Ils ont tenu le même langage que moi et je crois que nous aboutissons aujourd'hui à une nouvelle étape, à un nouvel âge, de nos relations entre les trois organisations romaines et je crois que l'on peut s'en féliciter. Je voulais simplement insister sur ces deux points. Il y en a beaucoup d'autres, mais vous m'avez donné un temps très limité.
Ms Eva CLAYTON (Assistant Director-General/Special Adviser to the Director-General)
I would like to stress one of the points that was discussed, as it does involve the international line. Several of you call for greater coordination and collaboration, not only with the United Nations agencies, but also with the integration of the World Food Summit Goals, the Millennium Goals and the Monterey Goal, trying to find how we coordinate those and achieve them mutually. I would like to say the Organization is certainly moving to that coordination and steps are being taken within the house.
This also relates to coordination between greater coordination, as you say. It has been a working relationship between the World Food Programme and IFAD and IPGRI all the time. Not only was the agreement signed very recently, but all four of our organizations co-sponsored the exhibit and formulated a joint statement sending out to their organizations and their field staff that they were working together towards an International Alliance.
Finally, I also want to note that several of the countries did note that they supported the international alliance and either had formed in their country—I note, in New Zealand, Brazil, the United States, Thailand, as well as the Federation of Home Economics as well as a number of the NGOs in those areas, so indeed, these are areas that are important to you and we want you to know the status of those activities.
Prabhu PINGALI (Director, Agricultural and Development Economics Division)
First of all, I would like to thank all the commentators for the very useful comments and compliments that this paper received. Just a few points that I would like to clarify. We have taken note of all the comments made, and we will take them into account as we go ahead.
I just wanted to address a couple of issues. I think it is important to emphasize, that any efforts that are being made to look at National Food Security Strategies is being done within the overall context of the PRSP activities that are taking place at the country level. It is being done looking at overall national strategies that countries are pursuing. The idea is to bring food security strategies within a broader perspective of overall economic growth and development strategies at the country level.
In terms of international coordination, certainly our efforts feed in to the MDG, pursue the MDG goals, especially those related to hunger, poverty, trade and other MDG goals too. As was mentioned earlier, FAO is actively participating in the Task Forces of the Millennium that were set up by Kofi Annan: the Task Forces on Hunger, Poverty, Trade and Natural Resources.
The twin track approach was first put out in Monterey as a joint framework by FAO, WFP and IFAD. It was a framework that was accepted jointly by these three organizations. The twin track approach goes much beyond production and productivity issues as I mentioned during my presentation. It takes into account the broader policy framework and the institutional framework necessary for poverty reduction.
One particular question on the dimensions of food security was the issue of adding stability of access. I think from our perspective, stability of access does not imply that we are advocating continuation of food aid for stability. There are several alternate mechanisms for rebuilding social safety nets that buffer households and that face food insecurity. The idea of explicitly recognizing stability of access, is to look at policy options that are available to buffer households as they face shocks—which could be weather related, economic shocks, or protracted crises.
We take on board the request to report to the CFS on the progress relative to the initiatives and this is something that we will carry forward to the CFS bureau.
Regarding ECOSOC, we would like to report that for the latest session of ECOSOC, FAO joined with IFAD, the World Food Programme and the World Bank in preparing a background paper for the High Level Segment on Rural Development. Also the Director-General of FAO co-chaired one of the Ministerial Round Tables in the ECOSOC preparatory segment. We can provide you more information on this if you so desire.
Finally, we would like to recognize the support given by several Member countries for the process of developing Voluntary Guidelines for the Right to Food. This is a process that is ongoing and the support given is very much appreciated.
Arnaldo DE BAENA FERNANDES (Brazil)
I did not hear any word from the Secretariat on the issue of trade. Many delegations during this debate here in this Conference have mentioned, that the trade issue is a very important instrument to tackle and fight hunger and poverty in developing countries. I do not know if this misunderstanding was because there is no representative from the Department of Economics and Social Affairs here in this meeting. However, Brazil and many other delegations would like our words to be reflected in the final report of this Conference regarding those issues - the importance of trade and FAO's work on that regarding technical capacity and so on.
Prabhu PINGALI (Director, Agriculture and Development Economics Division)
As a representative of the Economics and Social Department, I certainly recognize the importance of trade and the important role that trade plays in ensuring and enhancing food security. The reason we did not go into further detail on this is that as we speak there is a Round Table going on looking at the trade issues. There is a lot of the discussion related to trade and food security going on in the next room. We were hoping that the discussion and the summary will come to Plenary at some point. Therefore, we did not pursue that here, but certainly the point is noted and will be carried forward.
CHAIRPERSON
Commission I welcomes the document on the ongoing process on strengthening coherence in FAO initiatives in principle, but still work has to go on and be improved. Strengthened action is needed for instance in improving the rights and the role of women, and more specific reference should be given to the Millennium Development Goals and the Monterey Conference.
I have also heard about many improvements made in the various countries and the desire to receive regular reports on achievements in the Committee on Food Security, taking into account the importance of trade, the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources and the work done by the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Right to Food. So, this brings me to the conclusion of this Item.
This item is now concluded.
We should now proceed with our next point but we have now only a quarter of an hour left so we have to make a decision. There is the option to get on after we have brought in a new team of interpreters, after 18.00 hours so they will be ready for the next three hours so that we can conclude our business today.
Can we proceed in this way? Are there any comments? Seeing none so I will start with the item now and then after a short break of five minutes I will continue at about 18.05 hours sharp.
Agenda Item 9 is: The Progress Report on the Implementation of the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing. You will have the main document before you. That is document C 2003/21.
Concerning the Friends of the Chair Group, I would like to inform you that this group has finished its work on the Resolution. That Resolution is now being translated into all languages and people will get it as soon as it is available. I would like to start now with the introduction of Item 9. Afterwards when the draft resolution is available, we can move to the interventions on the draft before us. I will start with the introduction, then make a short break at 18.00 hours for five minutes, and then come back again to the item.
I would like now to give the floor to Mr Nomura to introduce this item.
Ichiro NOMURA (Assistant Director-General, Fisheries Department)
The FAO Committee on Fisheries expressed concern, at its Twenty-fifth Session in February 2003, about the continuing high and growing incidence of IUU fishing and the lack of effective implementation of the International Plan of Action-IUU. IUU fishing has far-reaching consequences for the long-term sustainable management of fishery resources. When such fishing goes unchecked, the system upon which fisheries management decisions are based becomes fundamentally flawed. This situation leads to the non-achievement of management goals and the loss of both short- and long-term social and economic opportunities. In the extreme, IUU fishing could lead to the collapse of a fishery or seriously affect efforts to rebuild fish stocks that have already been depleted.
To address this situation, Members are strongly urged to work together to effectively implement the IPOA-IUU. The scope of the IPOA-IUU is broad, and its approach is holistic. It contains a range of measures to deal effectively with IUU fishing. Elaboration by states of National Plans of Action (NPOA) on IUU-Fishing is one vitally important measure, since these national plans are the basic vehicle for moving from concept to action.
The International Plan of Action-IUU sets out clearly the responsibilities of all States and flag States. It describes measures to be taken by coastal States and port States, and elaborates internationally agreed market related measures. It refers also to responsibilities and measures of States acting through Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs), and of States that are not members of Regional Fisheries Management Organizations. The measures are integrated and should be applied in accordance with international and other applicable law. Similar to other instruments, particularly the Code of Conduct, implementation is carried out by governments and interested stakeholders, including industry, fishing communities and Non-Government Organizations.
At the Twenty-fifth Session of COFI, many Members proposed a range of initiatives for addressing IUU fishing more effectively. These included actions to strengthen the functions of Regional Fisheries Management Organizations. Many Members from developing countries indicated a lack of capacity constrained implementation and they appealed to FAO to continue to provide technical assistance to facilitate implementation, especially for the development of national plans to implement the IPOA.
In response to this appeal, FAO will seek to expand provision of technical assistance in support of IPOA-IUU initiatives, including through FISHCODE, the multi-donor-supported FAO Programme of Global Partnerships for Implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.
Initiatives undertaken to date by FAO, and some that are planned, include the following:
Translation and distribution of the IPOA to Member States and relevant organizations; preparation, translation and distribution of FAO technical guidelines on Implementation of the IPOA; preparation, translation and distribution of a simple language explanation about IUU fishing entitled "Stopping Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing". An Expert Consultation to Review Port State Measures to Combat IUU Fishing was held in November 2002. COFI at its Twenty-fifth Session endorsed the proposal of the Expert Consultation that a technical consultation should be convened to address substantive issues relating to the role of the port state, and as appropriate principles and guidelines for the establishment of Regional Memoranda of Understanding On Port State Measures to Combat IUU fishing. That technical consultation will be held in September 2004.
Also in November 2002 the Department of Fisheries contributed to the International Conference on IUU Fishing that was hosted by the Government of Spain.
In November 2003, FAO, in cooperation with the Government of the United States of America, convened an Expert Consultation on Fishing Vessels Operating under Open Registries and their Impact on IUU Fishing. This was the first meeting of this type to be convened by FAO.
Again, in November 2003, FAO organized for the southern and east African sub-region, the first of a series of regional workshops with the objective of capacity-building within countries so that they are better placed to elaborate national plans of actions and, as a result, meet the requirements of IPOA.
As agreed at the Twenty-fifth Session of COFI, a Technical Consultation to review progress towards full implementation of the IPOA-IUU will be held in FAO Headquarters here in Rome in June 2004. In order to provide this Technical Consultation with information on the current status of implementation of the IPOA-IUU, FAO will very shortly distribute questionnaires to all FAO Members and to Regional Fisheries Management Organizations. I appeal to all FAO Members to collaborate with the Secretariat in this initiative. The responses to the questionnaire will be summarized and presented in a report to the Technical Consultation.
The document in front of you contains some suggested strategies that could contribute to a full and effective implementation of IPOA. I am aware that you have many other pertinent suggestions. Therefore, I will not take much of your time.
Permit me to emphasize once more how important it is for countries to elaborate National Plans of Action on IUU Fishing. These plans are needed as a matter of priority.
Let me reiterate that FAO stands ready to assist Members in these efforts as part of its commitment to eradicate IUU fishing.
CHAIRPERSON
Before closing the meeting I would like to give the floor to the Chair of the Friends of the Chair Group to report back to me about things that have been going on in this group and then, afterwards I will break for a short time, and may I also remind Members of the Working Group on Split Assessment to join the Red Room because they do not have a quorum. So Members of the Group on Split Assessment, they should go to the Red Room.
So I would now like to give the floor to New Zealand.
Ms Jane WILLING (New Zealand)
I would like to thank the participants that took part in the Friends of the Chair Working Group this morning. We had an extremely fruitful and constructive discussion and I think that the draft text that is currently being translated should satisfy most of the concerns that were raised about the original Resolution. Before I proceed though I would just like to make the comment that the reason for tabling a Resolution in this Commission was to focus the discussion and debate in this Forum on some of the initiatives that have already been undertaken to address IUU issues. It was not the intention of the Resolution to open and renegotiate any of those previous debates. It was, however, an opportunity to also signal the direction that further work can take on this extremely important issue. That is the reason for tabling the Resolution.
In terms of the report back from the Working Group, as I said before, constructive progress was made to reach an outcome on all the issues that had been outstanding, contentious and yet to be resolved. We are hopeful that this Commission will accept the draft and translated report from the Friends of the Chair. This is one of two issues that I would like to raise in relation to that. Firstly, I do understand that there are several countries here that need to check with their capitals before they can confirm any text that comes out of this Commission.
CHAIRPERSON
Thank you very much New Zealand. I would now like to break at 18.10. We will adjourn for ten minutes now to let the new interpretation team to come in and then we will start again in ten minutes. So we will break now for ten minutes.
The meeting was suspended from 18.00 to 18.30 hours
La séance est suspendue de 18 h 00 à 18 h 30
Se suspende la sesión de las 18.00 a las 18.30 horas
CHAIRPERSON
This ten minutes break is now a half an hour break. I am sorry for that but let us continue our work. As you know we have no quorum, we will only start the discussion and we will come back tomorrow morning at 09.30 to conclude a new Resolution because I have been informed that some delegations had to contact their Capital to get advice to the new Drafted Resolution and so we will start our discussion of the Agenda Item 9 now and then we will go on with the Agenda Item tomorrow morning. Making our decisions concerning the Resolution. I have an announcement to make because I was asked by several people, the Drafting Committee of our Commission will start immediately after the adjourning of our meeting of today and will take place in Room 209 in building D in the Lebanon Room. So may I now ask people to start with their intervention, the first on my list is Australia, and then I see Indonesia, the European Community, Malaysia, Norway, Japan and the US. So first let me start with the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries my dear neighbour, the Minister of Australia, you have the floor Sir.
Ian MACDONALD (Australia)
IUU fishing activity impacts upon us, in our exclusive economic zones and on the high seas. It depletes the stocks that we are trying to carefully manage and it destroys marine ecosystems. Not only is IUU fishing increasing globally, fuelled by rising fish prices, overcapacity, weak regulation and lack of political will, it has evolved to become a sophisticated criminal activity – hiding behind corporate veils, corrupt regimes and legitimate fishing interests.
As Australia indicated in its statement on IUU fishing at the FAO Committee on Fisheries meeting in February this year, we are highly critical of the small number of countries which provide a safe-haven for illegal activity, either by facilitating illegal activity or allowing it through lax regulation and enforcement.
Australia is appreciative of the efforts of the FAO in facilitating international cooperation to combat IUU fishing, however, the onus is on each nation to take a stand and recognise that the short-term financial gains involved in harbouring and supporting illegal operators are not worth the long-term pain for global fisheries resources. We are all acutely aware of the vital protein source that seafood supplies for the world's developing nations – we must do all we can to ensure these resources remain available to future generations.
IUU fishing is increasing rapidly as a result of flag-of-convenience or open vessels registers; continued growth of, and overcapacity in the world's fishing fleets; governments, rogue international companies and individuals being prepared to sponsor, and make short-term profits from IUU fishing activity; and a lack of political will in some countries to deal effectively with illegal fishing where it affects their economic interests.
Australia believes that to be effective, we collectively need to deal with the problem of IUU fishing from as many angles as possible, including; diplomatic pressure on countries that are not meeting their international obligations; cooperation between responsible States to form strong networks, to frustrate the trade in illegal catches by seizing them in ports and markets; strengthening multilateral agreements to ensure that they are current and assist in combating illegal fishing; improving flag-state control over fishing vessels; strengthening regional fisheries management organisations; and on-the-water enforcement – perhaps multilaterally.
The role of a flag-state is clearly set out in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and other instruments. A flag-state extends certain protection to vessels flying its flag. However this comes with corresponding obligations. A fundamental part of this balance is the requirement for a genuine link between the registered vessel and flag State.
We must agree to a minimum criteria that defines the genuine link between a fishing vessel and its flag-state. If these criteria are not met by a State when flagging a fishing vessel, that vessel should be effectively stateless.
Australia calls on the FAO to facilitate the development of such criteria through its Technical Consultations on the IPOA-IUU next year.
Along with a small, but determined group of like-minded countries, Australia has been active in combating IUU fishing in the remote Southern Ocean particularly in relation to the Patagonian Tooth-fish, sometimes called the Chilean Sea Bass Mero. The capture on 28 August this year of the alleged illegal fishing vessel, Viarsa 1, after the longest chase in Australia's maritime history and through some of the most hostile sea conditions known on this planet, illustrates our determination to combat illegal operations. I would like to thank those nations that indicated support at that time and particularly South Africa and the United Kingdom, who provided on the water assistance demonstrating what international cooperation can achieve. Australia believes that the increased illegal fishing in the Southern Ocean is symptomatic of what is happening and will continue to happen to the world's oceans if the international fishing community fails to tighten up and apply the international laws governing the use of our marine resources.
Regional Fisheries Management Organisations, must take the difficult decisions even though that may affect their member country's short-term economic interests. If the hard decisions are not made, RFMOs will become irrelevant.
At the recent meeting of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) some very small steps were taken in the right direction, such as the adoption by seven member nations on a trial basis of a centralised vessel monitoring system to be managed by the Commission. I urge other CCAMLR nations to show their support in combating IUU fishing by joining this trial programme. Despite these small steps, it is clear that CCAMLR has a long way to go before it can be regarded as a serious player in the management of IUU fishing activity in the Southern Ocean.
Australia is also gravely concerned about the status of tuna stocks in the Indian Ocean. We are bitterly disappointed that, after seven sessions of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission, members have been unable to develop a management framework to ensure the future of the tuna and billfish stocks. Best scientific estimates currently indicate that the level of bigeye tuna catch has been up to 60 000 tons over the recommended level for annual maximum sustainable yield (MSY). If this organization cannot take meaningful and practical steps to manage the stocks sustainably, it may be necessary to organize an inter-sessional meeting of Ministers to try to find the political will to ensure these fisheries are effectively managed.
This is Rome, and perhaps the lack of real commitment in CCAMLR and IOTC can be likened to Emperor Nero fiddling while Rome burnt.
Returning to the specific subject of this Agenda item, the IPOA-IUU, I am pleased to advise that the Australian Government has committed to developing its National Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate IUU Fishing, and intends to present this plan to the FAO in 2004. As well Australia has this week introduced into the Australian Parliament the necessary legislation to enable us to implement the 1993 FAO Compliance Agreement.
It appears likely that the Commission will agree on a Resolution on IUU Fishing to be put to the FAO Conference re-stating existing commitments which quite frankly have not made a lot of difference. The Resolution will be a signal of good intention will be a signal of the good intentions of all countries represented here today. Unfortunately though, in the fight against IUU fishing, we need more than just good intentions – we need commitment and action. Australia had hoped for a stronger Resolution on IUU fishing, especially in the light of the gravity of the situation for the world's fish stocks. However, a positive, collective signal to the world community about our resolve against IUU fishing is better than no signal at all. I hope that the good intentions of countries here today can be translated into practical action to combat IUU fishing.
This is the time to really try to make a difference for future generations. These are our fish for our people, for our countries. Not for the pirates or for the organized criminal international cartels and companies which rape and pillage the world's fisheries resources. It is our time to stand up and be heard. FAO, COFI and the OECD processes earlier this year provided us with the impetus for action. Let us do everything in our power to ensure that there is real action to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU Fishing.
Timbul SITUMORANG (Indonesia)
The Government of Indonesia is deeply concerned with Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported Fishing. Indonesia itself has become the victim of foreign vessels committing IUU fishing in its territorial waters. The Indonesian policy on Fisheries Management is based on the Code of Conduct on Responsible Fisheries, (CCRF) where monitoring, controlling, surveillance and enforcement are factors to support the implementation of Fisheries Management. Indonesia is willing to cooperate with the ICCAT and other international institutions in managing the fish resources, especially the tuna stock in a responsible manner. On the 9th meeting of the CCSBT in Canberra in October 2002, Indonesia officially joined the CCSBT with the status of a cooperating Non-Member country.
In order to combat IUU fishing of tuna, the large scale long-line vessels in the CCSBT area, the following measures have been taken: the fishing vessels which had previously obtained fishing licenses were re-registered; further inspection to control the fishing licenses have been increased; the formalisation of bilateral cooperation on fishing, with countries whose large number of vessels have been operating in Indonesia's exclusive economic zone. With this formalization, both parties, aside from giving fishing licenses in quota, will cooperate in monitoring fishing vessels, flying foreign flags that operate in Indonesia's GEE.
The Government of Indonesia has also informed the concerned parties such as the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission and Convention for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna, or CCSBT, of the corrective actions to prevent and combat IUU fishing in Indonesia.
My delegation would also like to support your proposal that we should postpone the adoption of the Draft Resolution until tomorrow so that we will have enough time to study the Draft Order and consult our respective Capitals.
Mme Vilma DU MARTEAU (Communauté européenne)
Je m'exprime au nom de la Communauté Européenne et de ses 15 États Membres. Les dix pays adhérents à l'Union européenne s'associent également à cette déclaration.
La Communauté européenne et ses États Membres souhaitent que la Conférence de la FAO adopte les documents C 2003/21 sur la pêche illicite ainsi que le projet de résolution s'y rapportant. Ces documents reprennent les conclusions du rapport de la vingt-cinquième session du Comité des pêches (COFI) sur la pêche illicite qui ont déjà été approuvées par la Communauté Européenne et ses États Membres. Toutes les conclusions du COFI sont importantes dans la mesure où elles contribuent à faire avancer la Communauté internationale dans sa lutte contre la pêche illicite, non régulée et non reportée.
De plus, les positions de la Communauté Européenne et de ses États Membres sur la pêche illicite ont été prises en compte lors du dernier COFI. En ce sens, la Communauté européenne ne peut que se féliciter des résultats du COFI qui s'est prononcé, notamment, sur:
En conclusion, la Communauté européenne et ses 15 États Membres invitent la Conférence de la FAO:
Ibrahim SALLEM (Malaysia)
Malaysia would like to congratulate FAO on its continuous efforts in promoting the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing. IUU Fishing activity is recognized as a major problem which undermines the effectiveness of long-term sustainable fisheries management. The IUU can be classified as a collective failure among fishing nations. Some fishing nations do not carry out their duties and responsibilities to ensure their nationals and fishing vessels observe and comply with the international arrangement to conserve common fisheries resources.
Malaysia believes that all nations have to cooperate to establish an agreed and effective Fisheries Management Mechanism to combat this IUU fishing.
Malaysia would also like to voice its concern regarding the initiative to use trade measures to combat IUU fishing. The implementation of trade barriers without full responsibility and transparency may lead to unfavourable consequences especially unilateral action by certain irresponsible countries. If this initiative is still being considered it must be dealt with carefully so as not to affect the livelihood of small-scale fisheries.
Finally, Malaysia fully supports the FAO initiative to develop IPOA to combat IUU fishing on the high seas. However, due consideration should be given to small-scale coastal tropical fisheries needs, as well as the ability of developing countries to implement it.
Malaysia hopes that she will be given the opportunity to further strengthen the human and institutional capacity to address IUU fishing and in the implementation of this IPOA IUU.
On the desirability of convening a FAO Technical Consultation of IPOA IUU and the International Plan of Action for the Management of Fishing Capacity, scheduled to be held in Rome in June 2004, Malaysia would like to express interest to participate in this Consultation.
Einar TALLARSEN (Norway)
The Commission has before it a draft Resolution on the subject of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing. Norway supports the Resolution together with the International Plan of Action and the Strategy outlined in the progress report. This Resolution offers us a platform for further action.
The Norwegian delegation would still like to highlight a few aspects of the matter.
It has been underlined on several occasions today that IUU fishing is a major threat to sustainable fisheries management and marine biodiversity. It occurs both in areas under national jurisdiction and on the high seas. A number of international instruments were developed during the 1990s regarding the management of world fishery resources which also address the issue of IUU fishing. The legal framework is in place and we urge those States which still have not joined these agreements to do so.
Norway has participated very actively in developing these instruments and in implementing corresponding measures, at both the regional and the national level. My country has experienced the detrimental effect of IUU fishing in the Barents Sea and introduced, as early as ten years ago, measures such as blacklisting of IUU vessels and denying them access to Norwegian ports.
Norway has advocated the introduction of similar measures in several regional fisheries management organizations and we are pleased to see that several regional bodies, in different parts of the world, now have established schemes for blacklisting IUU vessels.
A key word in our combat, which is not too strong a word, against IUU fishing is cooperation. Vessels engaged in IUU fishing move in and out of areas under jurisdiction of different States and operate within areas of competence of several regional organizations. Companies and individuals usually have nationalities that are different from those of the vessels themselves and fish deriving from IUU activities is traded internationally. It is therefore absolutely necessary that agencies, International Organizations and States, establish mechanisms, both formal and informal, for the exchange of information and other forms of cooperation.
In the strategies chapter of the progress report on IUU fishing one of the items concerns national and regional monitoring and control systems. Norway is a strong proponent of such systems which are an effective means of combating IUU fishing, especially when they are combined with other measures, such as the exchange of information on catches and landings. A growing number of fishing vessels operate under flags of convenience, this has already been pointed out but it is a matter of great concern. Flagging and re-flagging of vessels is also very simple, in some cases it will only take a few moments work on the internet. There are sites offering registration services of states with a turn around of 24 hours or less. The need for Port State measures is closely linked to the lack of flag state responsibilities. As long as a significant number of flag states fail to exercise proper control over their fishing fleets, port state measures remain an important means of counteracting IUU fishing and we greet initiatives which have been taken recently to address this issue.
A significant portion of the world's fisheries is managed by developing countries. Many countries lack the means for proper surveillance and enforcement of regulations in their fishing zones. It is therefore a matter of high priority to assist them in enforcing IUU related legislation and help them acquire the means to do so. We are happy to note the decision by the United Nations General Assembly to establish an Assistance Fund to assist developing countries in implementing the UN Fish Stocks Agreement. This Fund is to be administered by the FAO. It is not yet a confirmation that the Organization occupies centre stage in international efforts against IUU fisheries and we trust the Organization to pursue these efforts with unabated vigour and determination.
Hideki MORONUKI (Japan)
There is no doubt that achievement of sustainable fishery is indispensable from various viewpoints including food security, employment, income generation and thus overall human welfare. However, as all of us are aware, sustainable fishery is threatened by unlawful IUU fishing and there is an urgent need to rectify such a situation immediately. In order to combat IUU fishing, as is described in the document (C 2003/21), several actions have been taken at several fora including the elaboration of international management tools. In the course of the establishment of those precious management tools, FAO has played and is still playing a very important role. Japan highly commends FAO for its leadership in this regard.
However, Japan is deeply concerned about the current situation where those tools are not properly implemented. In order to pursue responsible and sustainable fisheries and to combat IUU fishing, we have established in collaboration with FAO, the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries as well as the associated International Plans of Action, including the one for combating IUU fishing. However it is widely known that only a limited number of States have developed and implemented National Plans of Action in accordance with those IPOAs.
Although it is also widely known that there are a variety of reasons behind this delayed implementation, we have to keep in mind that nothing could be rectified until the IPOA and other management tools are properly implemented by each State. We have to be aware that the fisheries sector has been accused for its delayed actions on some issues including IUU fishing and over capacity. Some environmental extremists are even insisting on a total ban of some fishing activities under the pretext of environmental protection, without a proper scientific basis, and neglecting the important role of fisheries.
Japan cannot accept such an extreme and unbalanced opinion while of course Japan cannot accept IUU fishing either. Japan considers that, as is mentioned in the document (C 2003/21), implementation of IPOAs through the development of NPOAs by each State, is one of the most effective solutions to rectify the situation.
In relation to this Japan fully recognizes the importance of capacity building in some countries, especially in developing countries. Japan has supported those capacity buildings of those countries through its FAO Trust Fund Projects and intends to continue such support in the future. In this regard I would like to draw the attention of the distinguished delegates to the decision made at the 25th FAO Committee on Fisheries to organize an Intergovernmental Technical Consultation on IUU and Over capacity in June 2004 in order to expedite and support the implementation of IPOA and NPOAs. Japan has decided to provide financial support for the organization of this important meeting and strongly wishes that this technical Conference could become one of the milestones for preventing, deterring and eliminating IUU fishing.
William H. BRAKEL (United States of America)
Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing is a growing threat to global marine and freshwater fish stocks and thus a threat to food security. The international community has spoken out against this problem for more than ten years. We have passed Resolutions at the United Nations, we have negotiated agreements and adopted a Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. FAO, through its Committee on Fisheries, developed an international plan of action to deal with these problems. FAO has published a comprehensive set of guidelines on measures that States can employ to deal with these problems.
The time for rhetoric is past. Each responsible flag state, fishing state, port state and market state needs to act. Action should include participation in a global conference on monitoring, control and surveillance that we expect will take place in Malaysia during the second quarter of 2004. Action can include participation in a growing monitoring, control and surveillance network for the exchange of information on fishing activities. There is no cost for participation in this network.
Action should include completion by all COFI members of effective national plans of action to implement the International Plan of Action on IUU. That requires work but it is necessary work. We encourage members to use the FAO guidelines. There are numerous sources of assistance in developing the infrastructure needed for sustainable fisheries. States need to request such assistance. Donors tell us they get few requests for assistance. We also wish to take note of the links between excess harvesting capacity and IUU fishing problems, and we urge members to take part in the FAO technical consultation to be held in Rome in June 2004.
Finally, we strongly support the concept of an FAO Conference Resolution to raise the profile and underscore the importance of preventing, deterring and eliminating IUU fishing and look forward to the adoption of such a Resolution this week.
Víctor Hugo MORALES MELÉNDEZ (México)
Aprecio desde luego el detallado informe que acaba de presentarnos el Sr. Nomura sobre este importante tema. La delegación de México está de acuerdo con el informe que presenta la Secretaría y reitera el interés para apoyar los trabajos tendientes a combatir la pesca ilegal no declarada y no reglamentada de conformidad con lo acordado en el Plan de Acción de la FAO. En ese sentido, me es grato informar que el Gobierno de México está trabajando en la formulación del Plan de Acción Nacional para combatir la pesca ilegal no declarada y no reglamentada.
Mi delegación considera que la FAO debe tener un papel fundamental en el apoyo a la formulación e instrumentación de los planes de acción nacionales y considera que debe ser en este marco donde se aborda el problema de conformidad con lo acordado y establecido en el propio plan de acción. Ello es importante en virtud de que el tema se presenta en diversos foros y no sería conveniente reabrir la discusión sobre las posibles medidas a tomar para combatir este tipo de pesca, en especial las medidas comerciales y del estado del puerto. En este sentido, las medidas establecidas en el IPOA (Plan de acción internacional para la conservación y ordenación de los tiburones) son las que deben aplicarse y los programas que deben registrarse en el futuro deben estar orientados a la aplicación de los planes nacionales con el apoyo de la FAO para ello.
Con respecto al tema de la posibilidad de aplicar sanciones comerciales multilaterales, debe señalarse que en el Plan de Acción de la FAO, se habla de manera concreta de la posibilidad de aplicar este tipo de sanciones sólo como último recurso.
En relación con el proyecto de resolución que gentilmente presentó la delegación de Nueva Zelandia, deseo puntualizar que mi delegación participó con buen ánimo en el grupo de amigos de la presidencia. En la reunión de este grupo, hicimos observaciones específicas y, en general, consideramos adecuado el proyecto de resolución pero como han declarado algunas delegaciones aún esperamos la opinión de las autoridades centrales para manifestarnos sobre la eventual aprobación del mismo.
Carlos Alberto AMARAL (Angola)
Nous considérons d'importance capitale l'inclusion de ce point sur la pêche illégale dans les travaux de la Conférence pour permettre d'analyser les meilleures formes d'application du Plan d'action international visant à prévenir, à contrecarrer et à éliminer la pêche illicite et permettre une plus grande sensibilisation des pays sur la nécessité de travailler ensemble dans la lutte contre la pêche illicite, afin de protéger les ressources halieutiques qui ont été excessivement exploitées, comme nous le confirme le document du Secrétariat dans son paragraphe 5, nous indiquant que soixante-quinze pour cent des ressources halieutiques mondiales ont été exploitées, surexploitées ou se trouvent épuisées.
Tous, nous reconnaissons l'importance de l'application du Plan d'action, mais nous savons que son application exige des cadres, des moyens techniques et financiers, que la plus grande partie des pays en développement ne possèdent pas, parce que dans le propre Plan d'action international, il avait été prévu une aide particulière à ces pays. Dans la pratique, malgré certaines actions accomplies, ces initiatives sont encore insuffisantes pour permettre sa réalisation dans le délai prévu de trois ans.
Comme nous dit le rapport, peu de pays ont élaboré les plans; cela est le signal qu'il y a des difficultés. S'il y a des difficultés dans l'élaboration des plans nationaux, que se passera-t-il lors de sa mise en œuvre qui exige encore plus de moyens techniques et financiers?
J'aimerais dans ce sens encourager la FAO et les pays ayant plus d'expérience et de moyens techniques et financiers, à renforcer la collaboration avec des pays qui ont de grandes difficultés, soit par le biais tant de la coopération bilatérale que multilatérale, en particulier dans les domaines de la formation, l'actualisation de la législation, en moyens techniques de surveillance et de financement.
La coopération bilatérale et régionale est considérée également importante, non seulement dans le domaine d'échange d'informations et d'expériences, mais aussi dans l'utilisation commune des moyens de surveillance.
Le rapport étroit entre la pêche illicite et la surcapacité des flottes de pêche est reconnu. C'est pourquoi la Consultation technique prévue en juillet 2004 peut contribuer à l'application des respectifs plans d'action. A cet effet, il serait intéressant que le Groupe d'experts chargé d'étudier la question des subsides puisse conclure ses travaux jusque là, parce que l'on sait que l'augmentation exagérée des flottes est due en particulier aux subsides alloués par certains pays à leurs armateurs, pour la construction de nouveaux bateaux.
Les mesures proposées au paragraphe 30, pour promouvoir l'application du Plan d'action, reflètent bien ce qui a été discuté au cours de la vingt-cinquième session du COFI et nous sommes d'accord avec ces mesures.
Nous sommes convaincus, qu'avec la volonté politique et la coopération internationale, nous pourrons, jusqu'en l'an 2015, enregistrer des résultats satisfaisants de l'application de ce Plan et d'autres engagements internationaux en ce qui concerne la récupération des stocks, comme il avait été décidé à Johannesburg au Sommet sur le développement durable.
Nous avons constaté que la participation des ministres et responsables de l'agriculture des pays membres à la 32ème Session de la Conférence est considérable. Le nombre de ceux qui ont la responsabilité des pêches s'est réduit.
Si nous tenons compte de l'existence d'autres thèmes liés aux pêches qu'il importe d'aborder au plus haut niveau, mis à part ce thème à l'étude, nous pensons, comme l'a proposé le Chef de la délégation du Sénégal en plénière et soutenu par d'autres délégations, y inclus la mienne, qu'il serait important que le Directeur général de la FAO convoque une réunion des ministres des pêches pour débattre de ces thèmes.
Sra. Hilda Graciela GABARDINI (Argentina)
En primer término deseo agradecer a la Secretaría la presentación de este documento y al señor Nomura la efectiva presentación que hiciera al inicio de esta sesión. La República Argentina está fuertemente comprometida en la lucha contra la pesca ilegal no declarada y no documentada y ha participado activamente en las reuniones que han tratado esta cuestión. En este sentido, mi delegación desea efectuar algunos comentarios. Deseamos destacar que, no obstante la indudable contribución que realizan las organizaciones regionales de ordenación pesquera (OROP) respecto de la aplicación del Código de Conducta para la Pesca Responsable, el papel central en la implementación de dichas directrices permanece, a nuestro entender, en los Estados. Estos últimos son los actores que disponen, cuantitativa y cualitativamente, de los medios más relevantes para aplicar y controlar el cumplimiento del Código y los planes de acción internacionales.
Un ejemplo de esta mayor capacidad de acción de los Estados se refleja en la consideración de las medidas que el Estado de un puerto podría llegar a adoptar de conformidad con el derecho internacional, en beneficio de un mayor control del cumplimiento de las medidas de conservación pesquera, que el próximo año serán objeto de una consulta técnica. Por otra parte, no debe desconocerse que la formación y el funcionamiento de las OROP plantean desafíos a los Estados, que en muchos casos adquieren una dimensión política significativa, además de las dificultades inherentes a la adopción y aplicación de medidas de conservación. Por estas razones entre otras, los esfuerzos de la cooperación internacional en este término deberían concentrarse en los Estados y, por intermedio de éstos, pasar a las organizaciones regionales de organización pesquera.
Cabe señalar que la Argentina es uno de los países que ha respondido a los cuestionarios relativos a la implementación del Código de Conducta y los planes de acción internacionales (PAIs) relacionados, documento COFI 2003/3-Rev.1, y que está realizando los esfuerzos necesarios para mejorar su capacidad de controlar el cumplimiento de estas recomendaciones, en el contexto que imponen las características propias de su sistema federal de gobierno. Este proceso tiene lugar en mi país a través del Consejo Federal Pesquero, órgano en el que participan tanto las autoridades nacionales como las provinciales en materia de administración y conservación pesqueras. A modo de ejemplo de los avances logrados en el transcurso del corriente año, la Argentina ha implementado un nuevo mecanismo de seguimiento satelital para la flota pesquera, que opera en las aguas bajo su jurisdicción y control, que mejora considerablemente la operatividad de los procedimientos vigentes con anterioridad, en consonancia con las directrices contenidas en el plan de acción de Johannesburgo en esta materia.
Resulta además un adelanto significativo en el plano internacional la entrada en vigor en el año 2003 del acuerdo sobre el cumplimiento, adoptado por la FAO en 1993, el cual consideramos una herramienta valiosa para hacer frente a algunos de los problemas que plantea la pesca ilegal no declarada y no regulada. La Argentina es parte de este tratado y exhorta a los países que aún no han adherido a este instrumento a que lo hagan, con el fin de mejorar las posibilidades de aplicar y controlar el cumplimiento de las medidas de conservación y ordenación en alto mar.
La elaboración de los planes nacionales de implementación del PAI-Pesca INDNR (Plan de acción internacional para prevenir, desalentar y eliminar la pesca ilegal, no declarada y no reglamentada) en los plazos previstos en el plan de acción de Johannesburgo será un desafío difícil de cumplir. Sabe coincidir con lo manifestado en el párrafo 21 del Documento en discusión, en cuanto a que el plazo de tres años previsto en el PAI-INDNR para desarrollar tales planes posiblemente resultará insuficiente para varios países, en particular, para aquellos que deben conciliar intereses de orden político, económico y social para establecer un plan nacional realista y de cumplimiento posible y efectivo.
Finalmente, en referencia al proyecto de resolución presentado, por el momento mi delegación no puede dar su consenso para la adopción del mismo. Ello porque, si bien mi delegación participó hoy en el grupo de amigos del Presidente con espíritu ampliamente cooperativo, se han introducido modificaciones en el mismo que no nos permiten dar nuestro apoyo, pese a nuestro compromiso en la lucha contra la pesca ilegal no declarada y no reglamentada, hasta que mi Gobierno no se expida sobre el nuevo proyecto que, por otra parte, acabamos de recibir hace pocos minutos en su versión española. Por lo tanto, y con esto termino, deseo solicitar que la adopción de esta resolución sea pospuesta hasta que podamos contar, como lo han declarado otros países, con el consentimiento de nuestros gobiernos.
Wang YAMIN (China) (Original language Chinese)
We are pleased to note that the international community is making progress in preventing, deterring and eliminating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities. China, as a responsible country, believes that the IUU fishing practice endangers natural aquatic, biological resources and threatens the sustainable utilization of natural resources. We support working out measures against IUU fishing practice and have noted that the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002, and the Rio Conference, attached great importance to this issue and the Johannesburg Plan of Action has also addressed this issue.
The Chinese Government has adopted a series of measures to combat IUU fishing practice within its jurisdiction and has stepped up law enforcement activities. Within our Exclusive Economic Zone we have carried out fishery administration patrols to monitor and stop IUU fishing practice. At the same time we have also carried out law enforcement cooperation with fishing law enforcement agencies of other countries.
In 2002 the Chinese Fishery Administration vessels sailed to the North Pacific Ocean to monitor the operation of Chinese ocean fishing vessels and fulfilled our flag-state obligations. In 2003, the Chinese Fishery Administration continued to carry out cooperation with the United States coast guards and we have detected and seized five suspicious vessels which used drift nets on the high sea upon their returning to Chinese ports and dealt with the case in the strongest manner.
We are continuing to observe the issue of the use of force in law-enforcement activities on high seas so as to tackle this issue in a proper manner.
With regard to IUU fishing, we support cooperation in training and capacity building under this port of FAO and relevant international financial institutions so as to help countries to fulfil their commitment obligations in this regard.
Ms Nontokazi Margaret RAMABENYANE (South Africa)
South Africa would like to join in with the voices of others in welcoming and approving the report presented to us by the Secretariat. We would also like to thank New Zealand for preparing the draft resolution on IUU fishing, an issue which is of major concern to South Africa.
The United Nations Secretary General has in the past warned that the prevalence of illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing, considered to be one of the most severe problems currently affecting world fisheries which will have far reaching consequences for the long-term sustainable management of fish stocks. It is clear that the high-level of IUU fishing will continue particularly because of the unwillingness or inability of flag states to control the activities of their vessels. Illegal fishers, mainly flying flags of convenience, will also continue to offload illegal catches in the ports of countries that do not strictly apply Port State control measures. In this regard, we welcome the FAO's continued work to promote Port State measures to combat IUU fishing.
It is only through coordinated and cooperative action within the frameworks of the respective regional FAO groups and the relevant international and regional agreements and organizations, such as the FAO, that the devastating economic and ecological effects of IUU fishing can be effectively addressed.
South Africa is committed to taking all possible steps with the resources at its disposal to combat IUU fishing. In this regard, South Africa has ratified the UN Fish Stocks Agreement and is in the process of ratifying the FAO Compliance Agreement.
South Africa also fully supports the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, the FAO International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate IUU Fishing, as well as the relevant elements reflected in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, including plans of action on fishing capacity and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
We look forward to the FAO's continuing work in this regard. South Africa therefore wishes to register its full support for the adoption of the Resolution and we will also cooperate in supporting any effort to enhance and strengthen the implementation of the IPOA IUU.
Malloum Ousman BABA (Cameroun)
Je saisis cette occasion pour exprimer toute la satisfaction de la délégation camerounaise au Secrétariat pour la qualité des rapports, l'analyse qu'ils contiennent ainsi que les stratégies proposées.
Il ne fait aucun doute que le Code de conduite pour une pêche responsable et les plans d'action internationaux connexes visant à prévenir, à contrecarrer et à éliminer la pêche illicite, non déclarée, non réglementée, jouent un rôle crucial dans la promotion d'un développement durable à long terme des pêches, surtout dans les pays en développement qui disposent d'un potentiel important insuffisamment exploité. C'est pourquoi le Cameroun approuve entièrement les mesures suggérées et donne plein effet à la mise en œuvre du Plan d'action international. Par conséquent, nous soutenons le projet de résolution pour adoption par la Conférence.
Je saisis également cette occasion pour réaffirmer l'adhésion du Cameroun aux principes énoncés dans le Code de conduite pour une pêche responsable et les Plans d'action nationaux y afférents. A cet égard, le Cameroun est actuellement engagé dans la mise en place d'un système de surveillance légère de ses zones territoriales. Par ailleurs, des négociations sont en cours avec la FAO pour l'examen et la révision de la législation nationale en matière de pêche et d'aquaculture.
Cependant, il faut élaborer et appliquer les plans d'action nationaux pour donner effet aux plans d'action internationaux. Ceci nécessite le renforcement des capacités et des institutions sur les plans techniques et financiers pour appliquer de manière efficace les plans d'action internationaux sur la pêche illicite et les dispositions du code de conduite pour une pêche responsable; aussi, nous accueillons avec satisfaction la proposition d'appui aux pays en développement.
Pour finir, nous voudrions également appuyer la proposition faite par le Sénégal, appuyée par l'Angola, de l'organisation par la FAO d'une réunion des ministres des pêches.
Pornprom CHAIRIDCHAI (Thailand)
My delegation appreciates the Secretariat in preparing this report. Thailand considers that IUU is an international problem that strongly and negatively impacts fishery resources and needs to be solved together. My delegation is very happy to note that there is a good unity among members in combating IUU fishing.
Thailand has supported the implementation of the Plan of Action to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing and has taken several steps in introducing many legal measures to enforce IUU combat. Regarding the adoption of the Resolution, my capital needs some time to study the proposal.
Haidar Ali MURAD (Kuwait) (Original language Arabic)
I would like to express our appreciation of the report and we would like to add our name to the countries that have supported this project and we would like to express our thanks to New Zealand for suggesting this Resolution. We would also like to say that the IUU and its combat is in fact a constraint in providing sustainable fisheries and we would like to emphasize the fact that to fight this fishing should be assisted by the organization particularly in our area and is through the regional organizations. We suffer in our area from this type of fishing. Kuwait has taken several measures in order to protect the fish stocks, but at the same time there are several problems which we are facing, which are faced by other countries, especially due to the IUU fishing in this area.
Finally, we would like to express our support for implementing this Resolution of this plan of action.
Ali RASHAD (Egypt) (Original language Arabic)
We appreciate the efforts to protect the resources particularly the fisheries resources and therefore we support the implementation of an international plan to ban the IUU fishing and also we should have the agreement of my country on this Plan of Action in order to abide by this Plan of Action.
Ichiro NOMURA (Assistant Director-General, Fisheries Department)
I do not believe there was a specific question which put me in a position to give you an answer. It seems to me that you are much more knowledgeable than I am. On a couple of points I would like to supplement a comment. I think Norway said that FAO has now been given a new task to administer a Trust Fund, which was just approved by the General Assembly and we need to initiate our internal work, and in order to be able to administer the fund in consultation with the New York Headquarters Office, and we would like to take this opportunity to appeal. We remember that you kindly contribute to the Financial Resources Trust Fund.
Several countries proposed to have a high-level meeting including an administrative level on fisheries. The Resolution, about which, almost all members spoke, I sensed that there was nobody who was against the idea of adopting the Resolution. I did not hear anyone who particularly stated particular articles in the Drafted Resolution. Three or four countries stated that they need time. My sense is, since not all, but some of them who wanted to have time, really participated and really made a very valuable contribution to the Friends of the Chair. We hope we can adopt that as soon as possible when at least you receive some response from the government which will not be too long in the distant future.
CHAIRPERSON
That brings me to the end of the item. In conclusion, I would like to state the following: the Commission welcomes the progress report in general, but further work must to be done in this respect. In this context, various proposals concerning the implementation have been made. For instance, a Technical Meeting of FAO should be held next June, as well as an administrative meeting on this objective.
Concerning the adoption of various Resolutions, I have understood that Mr. Nomura has also pointed out that there have been no voices against this Resolution; however, there is still some time needed for people to communicate with their Capitals and to obtain final approval. Therefore, I would like to propose to take the Resolution and seek consensus during our meeting in the Plenary after having concluded this item. My proposal is now to take the Resolution to the Plenary on Tuesday of next week to reach a final decision on the Resolution.
It was announced by the Secretariat and you will find it also in the time-table, that we will meet to adopt our report on Thursday at 9.30 in this room and leaving out the point of the Resolution because it will come to a decision next Tuesday to give people enough time to receive action specifics from their Capitals.
That will be bringing the end of the meeting. I thank you very much for the time it has taken. I would like to inform you also that there will be no meeting tomorrow morning because we have concluded our items. Only the item of the resolution has been left out for decision next Tuesday. It will be decided on the Resolution next Tuesday in the Plenary and we will have the adoption of our Draft Report on Thursday at 09.30 hours. The drafting committee for this occasion will meet in the Lebanon Room immediately after we have now concluded here. With this I would like to conclude our work of today.
The meeting rose at 19.40 hours
La séance est levée à 19 h 40
Se levanta la sesión a las 19.40 horas
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1 Texte reçu avec demande d’insertion au rapport verbal.
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