(12 April 2010) The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) will hold its Thirty-third Session in Brasilia, capital of Brazil, from May 30 to June 1, 2010.
This is ECLAC's most important event of each biennium. The Session gathers representatives of its 44 member States and nine associate members to discuss the region's economic, social and environmental development, examine the activities carried out by ECLAC in the preceding biennium, and set the priorities of its work programme for the following two years.
Nearly 300 government delegates and over 150 representatives of United Nations specialized agencies, non-governmental organizations and special guests, including prominent economists from the region, are expected to attend.
Participants will analyze the document "Time for equality: closing old gaps, blazing new trails", which sets forth a comprehensive view on the future of Latin America and the Caribbean based on a detailed examination of the current scenario and a set of recent historical truths on the problems of development in the region.
The ECLAC document suggest a broad array of State policies to stimulate growth, encourage productivity, foment greater territorial coordination, generate better conditions for employment and labor institutions and provide public goods and social protection, under a universal and redistributive perspective.
ECLAC Executive Secretary Alicia Bárcena informed of the details of the meeting today in Santiago to ambassadors and diplomats of Commission member and associate States. She stressed the importance of the issues to be discussed and urged governments to send high-level delegates to the Session so as to make the most of this opportunity to discuss within ECLAC the proposal prepared by the Office of the Executive Secretary that is reflected in the document "Time for equality: closing old gaps, blazing new trails".
The Thirty-third Session will take place at the Hotel Royal Tulip Brasilia Alvorada and will be inaugurated on Sunday, May 30 by Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim, and the Executive Secretary. As host country, Brazil will preside over the Session.
The Committee on South-South Cooperation will meet that afternoon. This Committee reviews economic cooperation among developing countries and multilateral assistance funneled through the United Nations.
On May 31, ECLAC's Executive Secretary will present the Session's main working document to delegates and a high-level session will be held with the participation of President Leonel Fernández of the Dominican Republic - host country of ECLAC's Thirty-second Session.
The high level session on the State, politics and social pacts will conclude on Tuesday, June 1 with the participation of the President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who will deliver a lecture at its closure.
More information on ECLAC's Thirty-third Session is available here.
For further questions, contact ECLAC's Information Services. Email: dpisantiago@cepal.org ; telephone: (56 2) 210 2040/2149.
