United Nations
United Nations System Common Position on Incarceration
The present paper sets forth the United Nations system common position on incarceration. It addresses prison and associated challenges at the global regional and national levels and constitutes the common framework for United Nations support to Member States in relation to incarceration. The paper reflects a “One UN” approach aimed at supporting efforts to rethink the current overreliance on and implementation of incarceration including through better coordination and integrated efforts. The United Nations system common position on incarceration is based on the understanding that no one should be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention and that the deprivation of liberty in response to a criminal charge or offence should constitute a measure of last resort with due consideration first being paid to non-custodial sanctions or measures. It also acknowledges that as part of individualized balanced and proportionate criminal justice responses to offending well managed prisons constitute an important aspect of the justice chain. Prison services that respect human dignity and operate in line with international norms and standards constitute a core element of efforts to maintain peace and security public safety and respect for human rights.
Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2024
Given the urgency of the SDG Stimulus and that public debt distress is likely to remain a major macroeconomic policy challenge for Asia and the Pacific in coming years the Survey 2024 will continue to focus on fiscal and public debt challenges and policy options. After outlining the changing economic financial and development context and its medium-term fiscal implications the Survey 2024 will dive deeper into policy options that developing Asia-Pacific economies as debtors and as part of the international community can explore to boost affordable and long-term financing for essential public spending on sustainable development and reduce the associated sovereign credit risks and costs. In addition to identifying ‘what’ policy actions should be taken the Survey 2024 will also give emphasis on ‘how to’ implement the needed policy actions. Insights from approaches such as political economy behavioural science and country case studies will be used.
Foreword
Our world is engulfed in a perfect storm. The ongoing effects of the cost-of-living crisis are joined by multiple conflicts geopolitical tensions rising mistrust and the triple planetary crisis of climate change biodiversity loss and pollution.
Macroeconomic prospects, challenges and policies
Macroeconomic conditions in the developing Asia-Pacific region continue to remain challenging despite higher GDP growth and moderating inflation. Average economic growth in the region picked up from 3.5 per cent in 2022 to 4.8 per cent in 2023; however the rebound was concentrated in only a few large economies. In other developing Asia-Pacific economies economic growth remained moderate in 2023. On the external front countries that rely on merchandise exports faced weak external demand especially from China and Europe. On the domestic front although global commodity prices have receded from their 2022 peaks following the outbreak of war in Ukraine and international sanctions related to that war average inflation in the Asia-Pacific region remained relatively high thus repressing household consumption.
Affordable and long-term financing for Governments: Domestic taxation and savings
Developing Asia-Pacific countries are confronted with the trilliondollar challenge of financing effectively in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic the Sustainable Development Goal financing gap in the developing countries of Asia and the Pacific was estimated at $1.5 trillion annually or equivalent to 5 per cent of the combined GDP of economies in the region (ESCAP 2019). This estimate is likely to have increased since then. Globally such a financing gap in a group of 48 developing countries amounts to $2.3 trillion.
Fiscal implications of global megatrends
The rapidly evolving global landscape propels fiscal policy into profound transformations frequently venturing into uncharted territory
Affordable and long-term financing for Governments: Multilateral development cooperation
In the wake of the substantial financing needs for investing in the Sustainable Development Goals and tight global financing conditions (see chapter 1) increasing access to affordable and long-term financing for Governments cannot be achieved solely through domestic policy actions (see chapter 2). In February 2023 the United Nations Secretary-General outlined a vision to deliver financing at scale in his SDG Stimulus to Deliver Agenda 2030 initiative (United Nations 2023d). Taking a cue from this global agenda the present chapter explores three areas of stronger international development cooperation that can help increase access to development financing by Governments in the Asia-Pacific region.
Explanatory notes
Analyses in the Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2024 are based on data and information available up to 15 February 2024.
Acknowledgements
The Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific is a flagship publication of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). Published annually since 1947 the Survey is a valuable companion for policymakers civil society academia United Nations entities including the Resident Coordinators/United Nations Country Team Units and other stakeholders in the Asia-Pacific region; it provides forward-looking analyses and recommendations on economic conditions and key sustainable development challenges.
Preface
The 2024 edition of the Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific depicts a mixed picture of the region’s economic landscape.
United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business Solutions in Support of Digital Product Passports
This paper describes why ECE-UN/CEFACT standards and tools are ideally suited to support DPP development explains which current and forthcoming ECE-UN/CEFACT standards and tools can assist in the development of DPPs notably the traceability and transparency standards; and provides specific recommendations on how ECE-UN/CEFACT standards and tools could be further developed to support the adoption of DPPs. This paper supports the outcomes of the seventieth Commission session on Digital and Green Transformations for Sustainable Development in the Region of the Economic Commission for Europe (E/ECE/1504) and is part of the ECE Sustainability Pledge initiative for sustainable value chains in critical sectors for the circular economy.
Treaty Series 3117
In accordance with Article 102 of the Charter and the relevant General Assembly Resolutions every treaty and international agreement registered or filed and recorded with the Secretariat since 1945 is published in the United Nations Treaty Series. At present the collection includes about 30000 treaties reproduced in their authentic languages together with translations into English and French as necessary.
Treaty Series 3136
In accordance with Article 102 of the Charter and the relevant General Assembly Resolutions every treaty and international agreement registered or filed and recorded with the Secretariat since 1945 is published in the United Nations Treaty Series. At present the collection includes about 30000 treaties reproduced in their authentic languages together with translations into English and French as necessary.
Summary of UNECE Trade Facilitation Recommendations
Trade is playing a key role in advancing the digital and green transformations. At the same time the digital and green transformations are changing the way how goods and services are traded internationally. The United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT) under the umbrella of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) supports this global agenda through tools and guidance on effective and transparent solutions for trade facilitation and e-business. To date UN/CEFACT and UNECE developed a series of nearly 50 policy recommendations and over 950 data exchange standards. These are used globally to simplify standardize and harmonize trade procedures and information flows. This 2023 edition of the Summary of UNECE Trade Facilitation Recommendations provides an update on the status and availability of policy recommendations adopted by the UN/CEFACT Plenary since the previous 2019 edition. The latest UNECE Recommendations contribute to mitigating the impact of pandemics and crises on trade flows; addressing disruptions in global supply chains; enhancing the traceability transparency and sustainability of value chains; and enhancing public-private collaborations to advance trade facilitation efforts among others.
Note by the Secretariat
Under Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations every treaty and every international agreement entered into by any Member of the United Nations after the coming into force of the Charter shall as soon as possible be registered with the Secretariat and published by it. Furthermore no party to a treaty or international agreement subject to registration which has not been registered may invoke that treaty or agreement before any organ of the United Nations. The General Assembly by resolution 97 (I) established regulations to give effect to Article 102 of the Charter (see text of the regulations vol. 859 p. VIII; https://treaties.un.org/Pages/Resource.aspx?path=Publication/Regulation/Page1_en.xml).
No. 53566. United States of America and Indonesia
Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Indonesia concerning the establishment of the American-Indonesian Exchange Foundation (AMINEF). Jakarta 16 February 2009