Millions lose out in Eastern European and Central Asian growth
UN statistics reveal economic growth fails to tackle deep-seated
social problems
Geneva, 27 April 2007 -- Millions of citizens across Eastern Europe
and Central Asia are not benefiting from the marked economic growth in
the region, according to a newly published set of UN statistics.
So marked is this polarisation that among the millions of excluded people
are children who are suffering as badly as their counterparts in the poorest
parts of the world. Tajikistan and Albania have a prevalence of stunted growthamong
children aged below five which is on a par with levels found in least developed
countries.
Women are also finding that they have been left behind by the economic growth.
In many of the countries surveyed in 2003 the difference between men’s
and women’s average wages widened to more than 30%, with peaks of higher
than 50%. Romania and Bulgaria are the exception to this trend, showing a
declining gender pay gap.
In five countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia half of the population
is still living on less than $2 per day.
These findings are part of a new collection of statistics, called Regional
MDGInfo, created jointly by three UN agencies: UNICEF, UNDP and the United
Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). The information collected
spans the years 1988-2005, although the availability of statistics for specific
years and countries varies.
“These statistics, or welfare measurements, are vital,” said
Maria Calivis, UNICEF Regional Director for Central and Eastern Europe and
the Commonwealth of Independent States (CEE/CIS). “They tell us that
too many children, women and families in rural areas of our region are not
doing well, that they and their families are excluded from the current economic
bonanza. The data also tells us who these families are, where they are and
why this should be so,” she added.
The findings suggest people in rural areas are more disadvantaged. The proportion
of populations whose homes are connected to regular water supply ranges from
50% to 80%, but in rural areas this percentage is below 30% in half the countries
surveyed.
Another problem blighting the region is the number of children placed in
institutions. Russia remains the country with the highest rate of children
in residential care, with the database showing more than 1,200 children
per 100,000 are placed in institutions.
Another problem blighting the
region is the number of children placed in institutions. Russia remains
the country with the highest rate of children in residential care, with the
database showing more than 1,200 children per 100,000 are placed in institutions.
“Studying these statistics is like surveying a car dashboard. Both
monitor performance and in this case the engine is growth and social welfare.
The engine is working hard, but we have warning signs of major problems.
If we don’t address each problem, the overall economic and social
welfare performance will be seriously affected,” said Marek Belka,
Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Europe.
He added: “Some countries in the region are also lacking relevant
statistics to monitor issues such as poverty, unemployment, and gender
inequality. We need to strength our efforts to promote a stronger and independent
statistical system for evidence-based policy making”.
“Only the joint efforts of all the UN agencies can bring the countries
of our region closer to the achievement of their commitments towards Millennium
Development Goals”, said Jafar Javan, Chief of Policy Support
and Programme Development at UNDP’s Bratislava Regional Centre. “It
is only logical that the three organizations work together to carry out
activities which improve the monitoring of the MDGs and help the countries
to strengthen their statistical capacities”.
The Regional MDGInfo software and data is freely available on the web
at www.regionalmdg.org and as
a CD. All three UN agencies collaborate to support countries in this region
in their attempt to reach the Millennium Development Goals.
********
For more information contact:
Jean Michel Jakobowicz
UNECE Public Information Officer
Palais des Nations
CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Phone: +41 (0)22 917 44 44
Fax: +41 (0)22 917 05 05
E-mail: [email protected]
Mervyn Fletcher
UNICEF Communication Officer
Phone: +41 (0)79 666 8831
Zoran Stevanovic
UNDP Regional Communication Specialist
Phone: +421 2 59337 428
Ref: ECE/STAT/07/P01