KATHMANDU, July 11: Stating that the South Asian region is reeling under climate injustice meted out to them by the developed countries, civil society organizations have sought parliamentary audit of Nepal´s foreign debts and called for cancellation and repudiation of all illegitimate debts.

STATEMENT BY DR. ARJUN KARKI, INTERNATIONAL CO-ORDINATOR, AT THE POLICY DIALOGUE PANEL ON ACHIEVING THE MDGS BY 2015: AN AGENDA FOR MORE AND IMPROVED DEVELOPMENT CO-OPERATION, UN DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION FORUM

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK, 30 JUNE 2010

Madame Moderator, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

I thank you very much for the opportunity to share my thoughts in this very important panel discussion on behalf of LDC Watch in this policy dialogue on achieving the MDGs by 2015. LDC Watch believes that while reviewing the progress made on the Millennium Declaration at the High Level Plenary in September 2010, progress and setbacks made on the MDGs in the LDCs need to be assessed separately. This is because while the situation in other developing countries may be improving, conditions in LDCs are likely to deteriorate in this decade. Further, we need to break down national data by specific populations - to look at the progress of marginalised groups and not just overall progress. We also need to find ways to measure progress in Human Rights and Gender Justice to accompany the social and economic progress reflected in the MDGs.

STATEMENT BY DR. ARJUN KARKI, INTERNATIONAL CO-ORDINATOR, AT THE SIDE EVENT ON ENHANCING ODA FOR LDCS’ DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSFORMATION, DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION FORUM

UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK, 30 JUNE 2010

Mr Chairman, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

I would like to thank the organisers for giving me the opportunity to speak on behalf of LDC Watch. As you are aware, LDC Watch has been leading the mobilisation and consolidation of LDC civil society inputs towards its interventions at the Fourth UN Conference on LDCs (LDC IV) in 2011, aiming to produce a pro-poor next-generation LDC development agenda together with all stakeholders in this process.

WASHINGTON, Jul 12, 2010 (IPS) - Six months ago Monday, an earthquake rocked the western hemisphere's poorest country, driving it deeper into poverty and burying it under its nascent infrastructure.

LILONGWE, Jul 10, 2010 (IPS) - As government implements a new HIV/AIDS treatment regimen according to latest world standards, a major grouping of non-governmental organisations are concerned that the high cost of the new medication will mean government will no longer be able provide free treatment to as many people as before.