(Suva, Fiji – 6 January 2010) – Whilst frequently facing natural disasters, the Pacific region is now dealing with the global economic crisis. Although the effects of the latter have not fully reached the Pacific countries yet, there is clear evidence that its consequences will be dramatic if not tackled properly.
The current global economic crisis represents a challenge, not only for the realisation of the National and Millennium Development Goals, but also for the protection of the most vulnerable populations across the region. At the present time, one in four households in the Pacific States are already below their respective national poverty levels and the current situation does not reflect any optimistic forecasts.
Because of the increase in food prices and the decrease in purchasing power, levels of poverty are expected to worsen whilst living standards will continue to fall, leading to even greater hardship.
Economic shocks often result in a cut in social expenditures, causing negative impacts on people’s well being, mostly that of children’s and women’s, as past experiences have already shown.
“Beneath this global economic crisis lies a global humanitarian crisis in which the future of Pacific Island children hangs in the balance.” says Dr. Isiye Ndombi, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Pacific Representative.
This is why the global crisis emphasizes the importance for Pacific Islands Governments to focus on social protection policies, which UNICEF defines as “a set of transfers and services that help individuals and households confront risk and adversity (including emergencies), ensure a minimum standard of dignity and well-being throughout the lifecycle, and that especially aim to protect the rights of the most at-risk, vulnerable or chronically poor.”
The focus must now be on developing or expanding social protection initiatives. Pacific Governments need to take this opportunity to strengthen public protection of the poorest, not only to protect them from the negative consequences of the economic crisis but also to give their countries and populations better chances and abilities to face other downturns in the future.
Dr. Will Parks, UNICEF Pacific Chief of Policy, Advocacy and Planning Evaluation (PAPE) emphasizes that “the future of the Pacific Islands countries critically depends on whether and to what extent children, young people and women are protected from adverse shocks and human capital is strengthened.”
Reducing social expenditures to protect children and women is not a solution to facing an economic downturn. By protecting and helping the most vulnerable with appropriate social protection policies, Pacific Islands Governments can set the path towards more sustainable and humane prospectives.
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For more information, please contact:
Jean Sese, Director General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs on (678) 27045 or jsese@vanuatu.gov.vu; or
Donna Hoerder, UNICEF Pacific Communications Specialist on (679) 3300439 or dhoerder@unicef.org ; or
Reama Biumaiono, UNDP Communications Associate on (679) 3227704 or reama.biumaiono@undp.org
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