CYIL vol. 9 (2018)

CYIL 9 ȍ2018Ȏ POVERTY ERADICATION – CONTROVERSIES BETWEEN UN AND WTO Former Secretary General of the UN Boutros Boutros Ghali, in Agenda 21, emphasized the need for strengthening the effectiveness of the UN in the economic and social sectors for fostering and promoting international cooperation facilitating economic and social development. 10 The UN being in charge of promoting “higher standards of living, full employment and conditions of economic and social progress and development” 11 seems to be committed to bringing the WTO into the overall process. It is evidenced, for example, by the Stockholm Declaration, 12 Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States, 13 and Brussels Declaration indicating that a “transparent, non-discriminatory and rules based multilateral trading system is essential for reaping the potential benefits of globalization”. 14 In line with this the participants of the Monterrey conference for the implementation of the decisions of the WTO, expressed believe that poverty could be fought by the effective use of trade opportunities. 15 The Brussels Declaration is also interesting from the perspective of special importance paid to the developing country members and their accession to the WTO, clearly showing the leading role of this organization in international trade relations reflected in the Doha Development Agenda and the crucial importance of trade and economic growth conversion into poverty reduction strategies. 16 Next to drawing a general framework for trade related poverty eradication policy the UN found specific solution in linking trade with job creation opportunities in the service sector, amongst others, by way of establishing expanded trade on an environmentally sound basis. 17 In line with all these developments, poverty eradication demands mandatory consideration of the common, but differentiated responsibilities between developed and developing countries. The idea is reflected in the GA Resolution about the process of preparation of the environmental perspective, 18 as well as in the UN charter, UN Millennium Declaration; 19 10 Resolution Adopted by the General Assembly, A/RES/48/166, 17 February 1994, An Agenda for Development. 11 UN Charter, Article 55. 12 The United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, Stockholm, 5-16 June 1972, available at: http:// www.un-documents.net/unchedec.htm: Principle 8 – Economic and social development is essential for ensuring a favorable living and working environment for man and for creating conditions on earth that are necessary for the improvement of the quality of life. 13 Charter of economic rights and duties of states, Preamble, GA Res. 3281(xxix), UN GAOR, 29th Sess., Supp. No. 31 (1974) 50, stating that: The promotion by the entire international community of the economic and social progress of all countries, especially developing countries. 14 Brussels Declaration, Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, Brussels, Belgium, 14-20 May 2001. 15 Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002, is available on < http://www.un.org/esa/ffd/monterrey/MonterreyConsensus.pdf>, accessed 14 March 2018, pp. 6, 7, 11. 16 Brussels Declaration, Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, Brussels, Belgium, 14-20 May 2001. 17 Programme of Action adopted at the International Conference of Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994, is available on [accessed 15 June 2018], pp. 18-19. 18 Process of preparation of the Environmental Perspective to the Year 2000 and Beyond, Article 8. Para b., General Assembly, A/RES/38/161, 19 December 1983, Meeting no. 102. 19 Millennium Declaration and Agenda 21. https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/dsd/dsd_aofw_nsds/nsds_ index.shtml – Millennium Declaration further underlines the readiness to create an environment at the national and global levels conducive to development and to the elimination of poverty giving special emphasis to the implementation of strategies to ensure the chance for young people everywhere for finding decent and productive work.

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