Twenty Years after World Summit, Human-centred, Inclusive Approach Still Key to Achieving Equitable Social Development, Speakers tell General Assembly
Marking the twentieth anniversary of the World Summit for Social Development, the General Assembly today heard speakers emphasizing the importance of a human-centred approach to development, many citing examples of goals achieved through successful national policies, while others also mentioned growing challenges to progress.
Mogens Lykketoft (Denmark), President of the General Assembly, said that at the 1995 Summit in his nation’s capital, Member States had adopted the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action to advance social development through 10 commitments ranging from poverty eradication and reduction of inequality to promotion of human rights-based social integration. The recently adopted 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development enveloped three dimensions of sustainable development – economic, social and cultural - with poverty eradication still remaining at the very core.
The lesson from the Summit was that momentum must not be lost this time around and Governments, the scientific community, the private sector, civil society and various parts of the United Nations should work together and begin the hard work of implementation, he said. During the current session, the international community must demonstrate that the shift towards a low-carbon, climate-resilient, peaceful and prosperous world was not only feasible but already happening, and that sustainable development was not just a possibility but inevitable.
The representative of Denmark said that if the ambitious 2030 Agenda was to be realized, the international community must leave no one behind, in particular those at risk of marginalization. He cited an example of success from Denmark, where a company called “Specialisterne”, meaning The Specialists, was a leader in the global movement to create jobs for people with autism who would otherwise be outside the labour market.
Also pointing to instances of success, the representative of the Philippines said that, once known as the “sick man of Asia”, her country was now one of the fastest-growing economies on the continent. But progress achieved would be meaningful only if the benefits were felt by all. Towards that end, the Government had developed a conditional cash transfer programme which targeted families most vulnerable to poverty. As of August, approximately 4.4 million households were benefitting from the flagship social development initiative. The World Bank had recently hailed it as one of the largest and best-targeted social safety net programmes in the world.
Many delegates emphasized the centrality of the family unit to social development. The representative of Brazil said that, over the past decade, his country had experienced an unprecedented drop in inequality thanks, among other factors, to the Government’s inclusive definition of families who were the target of its programmes. Had Brazil not targeted all kinds of families — single parent, same sex, no children, no parent families— it would not have lifted 36 million people out of poverty. Instead, it would have contributed to deepening vulnerabilities and compounding discrimination those groups already suffered.
Several speakers discussed national and regional problems accumulating over the past two decades. The representative of South Sudan, speaking on behalf of the African Group, noted that the African family was facing many challenges, including poverty and the work-family balance. While Africa was experiencing positive economic growth, progress was slow in creating productive employment and decent work, with youth facing both unemployment and underemployment. He added that the full implementation of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda was critical for achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Also speaking today were the representatives of South Africa (on behalf of the “Group of 77” and China), Ecuador (on behalf of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States), Egypt (on behalf of the Group of Friends of the Family), Saudi Arabia (on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council), Italy, Indonesia, Morocco, Bangladesh, Kenya, China, India, Russian Federation, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Iran, Kazakhstan, Viet Nam, Peru, Japan, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Andorra, Nigeria, Romania, Cuba, and Honduras, as well as the European Union.
The General Assembly will meet again at 10 a.m. on Monday, December 14 to take action on the reports of its Sixth Committee (Legal) and to consider global health and foreign policy.
Background
As the General Assembly held a high-level meeting on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the World Summit for Social Development, it had before it a report of the Secretary-General titled “Implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly” (document A/70/173).
Opening Remarks
MOGENS LYKKETOFT (Denmark), General Assembly President, said the World Summit for Social Development in 1995 had been attended by more than 14,000 people, include delegates from 186 countries, with 117 represented at the level of Heads of State or Government. Member States had adopted the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action to advance social development through 10 commitments, including eradicating poverty, reducing inequality and promoting social integration. They had also agreed to promote international peace and security, accelerate development in Africa and the least developed countries, and mobilize resources for achieving social progress. They had presented economic development, social progress and environmental protection as interdependent and mutually reinforcing components of sustainable development.
The Millennium Development Goals and the Monterrey Consensus agreed six and eight years later, respectively, had become important vehicles to pursue the objectives of the 1995 Summit, in particular poverty eradication, he said. But those aims had not fully captured the integrity and breadth of the Summit outcome. Thankfully, a more comprehensive approach enveloping the three dimensions of sustainable development was now found at the heart of the recently adopted 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with poverty eradication still remaining at the very core. The lesson from the Summit was that momentum must not be lost this time around. Governments, the scientific community, the private sector, civil society and various parts of the United Nations should work together and begin the hard work of implementation. During the current session, the international community must demonstrate that the shift towards a low-carbon, climate-resilient, peaceful and prosperous world was not only feasible but already happening, and that sustainable development was not just a possibility but inevitable.
Statements
JEREMIAH NYAMANE KINGSLEY MAMABOLO (South Africa), speaking on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China, said that Group had already understood, 20 years ago, the importance of a people-centred approach to development, with an emphasis on poverty eradication, employment generation and social integration that could steer economics to meet human needs more effectively. It was regrettable that social exclusion continued to be a challenge in many parts of the world by virtue of growing inequalities. Governments should strengthen their efforts to create policies that would promote and protect marginalized people’s needs. The adoption of the 2030 Agenda offered a unique opportunity to end poverty and empower women and youth, older persons and those with disabilities, among others. Poverty eradication in all its forms and dimensions, and taking forward the unfinished business of the Millennium Development Goals remained a priority for the Group.
The emerging refugee crises, he said, had created further barriers for many from achieving social inclusion and development, leading to an exacerbation of poverty. International cooperation — including South-South, North-North and triangular cooperation — played a crucial role in realizing and promoting development goals. The Group reaffirmed, in accordance with the United Nations Charter, the need to respect the territorial integrity and political independence of States. It also noted the importance of strengthening the implementation of current arrangements at all levels to protect the human rights of older persons, and encouraged States to continue discussions to explore alternative measures towards that end. In that regard, it welcomed regional developments regarding the strengthening of the legal framework for the protection and promotion of older persons’ rights.
EMMANUEL POTHWEI BENJAMIN (South Sudan) speaking on behalf of the African Group and aligning himself with the Group of 77, said the successful conclusion of the post-2015 development agenda was a clear demonstration of the international community’s commitment to realize the future it wanted. The full implementation of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda was critical for achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Reaffirming the centrality and indispensability of the institution of the family in Africa and its critical role in the continent’s political, cultural and socioeconomic development, he noted that the African family was facing many challenges, including poverty and the work-family balance.
While Africa was experiencing positive economic growth, progress was slow in creating productive employment and decent work, with youth facing both unemployment and underemployment, he said. He called on Member States and the international community to work together for disability-inclusive development and to intensify efforts aimed at promoting and protecting the rights of persons with disabilities in the post-2015 development agenda. Addressing inequality required broadening the scope of the global partnership for development, and the international trade agenda had to support measures targeted at equalizing opportunities for participation in global markets. There was also a need to improve policy coordination across countries in the areas of migration and foreign direct investment.
DIEGO ALONSO TITUAÑA MATANGO (Ecuador), speaking on behalf of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), said that hunger and poverty were among the worst forms of violation of human rights and that the task of eradicating them was an ethical, political, social and economic challenge for all. Additional broad measures were needed for the promotion of inclusive development strategies designed to achieve a more equitable distribution of the benefits of economic growth and to improve access to basic universal services. In that regard, the social inclusion and integration of poor, marginalized people should include the study and coverage of basic human needs.
Good nutrition; universal access to healthcare; access to potable drinking water and sanitation, housing, quality and inclusive education, full employment, decent work; and gender equality must be part of development strategies, he said. Providing basic social services in those areas, based on the principles of equity, equality and accessibility, had to be considered as a way to fight poverty and exclusion and promote social integration. It was essential to work for the promotion and participation of young people in education programmes and actively promote the full social, political, economic and cultural inclusion and integration of persons with disabilities and older persons.
CHARLES WHITELEY, a representative of the European Union, called the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action among the most comprehensive social development plans. Its twentieth anniversary came at a critical time, when the world stood on the cusp of transformation and the 2030 Agenda outlined a new universal paradigm for poverty eradication and sustainable development. Investment in social protections was strategically important for enabling those participating in the labour market, protecting those were excluded from it and preparing others for risks.
While the economic situation across Europe had improved, he said serious challenges remained in the areas of employment and social policy. The Union had the ambition to ensure that economic progress went hand-in-hand with improvement in people’s lives, he said, noting that its yearly economic policy coordination cycle could inspire implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Indeed, social development and social justice could not be attained in the absence of peace and security, or without full respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms.
OSAMA ABDELKHALEK MAHMOUD (Egypt) aligned his statement with the Group of 77 and the African Group, and said he was speaking on behalf of the “Group of Friends of the Family”. It was very disappointing to witness that there were attempts to withdraw the theme of the family from the United Nations agenda for the sake of some controversial issues, he said. Egypt would always be committed to promoting family values in the United Nations system. Emphasizing that family issues should be given special attention by all Member States, in accordance with their own national laws, traditions and religious background, he added that all cultures and traditions respected the family as the main unit of society and the guardian of the rights of the child. Social development could not be smoothly achieved while terrorism was expanding all over the globe. The negative effects of occupation on the social development of the Palestinian people in the Palestinian Occupied Territory were of concern.
ABDALLAH Y. AL-MOUALLIMI (Saudi Arabia), speaking on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council, said the social development achievements realized over the past two decades following the adoption of the Copenhagen Programme of Work deserved commendation. He called on the international community to stand up to the challenges that obstructed development. Since the 1995 adoption, the Gulf Council had worked on creating policies and plans to help realize social development, especially placing importance on improving education and providing equal opportunity to all. It had also supported countries and regions in conflict through providing development assistance with a view to reducing the number of children who did not receive basic education. The Gulf Council’s work extended beyond its geographic borders and it had become one of the greatest contributors in development assistance, exceeding the percentage decided upon by the United Nations.
He went on to say that the Gulf Council had launched many initiatives to invest in the education and training of youth, encouraging civil society to play an important role in development through supporting youth education projects and literacy projects for women, among others. Realizing that enabling women would greatly contribute to social development goals, its members had created national strategies to enable women in all fields. It attached special importance to promoting and respecting the family as the main unit of any healthy society, and as such, provided every type of support towards creating an enabling environment for the family. The Gulf Council had also taken special interest in the elderly and had enacted national legislation to ensure their social care, housing and health care, as well as undertaking programmes to educate those who provided care to the elderly.
INIGO LAMBERTINI (Italy), associating himself with the European Union, stressed the importance of a people-centred approach, which shed light on the individuality of people, rather than mere numbers. Only with such an approach, the needs of people, especially of those belonging to the most disadvantaged or vulnerable groups would be better understood. The forthcoming session of the Commission for Social Development would pay special attention to the needs of disabled people. He also stressed the importance of inter-generational responsibility to find durable and sustainable solutions so that future generations would enjoy a better world. That was stated in louder terms by the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, which joined the principles and goals of the World Summit.
MUHAMMAD ANSHOR (Indonesia) said that in reaffirming its commitment to the Copenhagen Declaration and its Plan of Action, particularly its goal of eradicating poverty, Indonesia was committed to pro-poor, pro-job, pro-growth and pro-environment policies. Those commitments were staples of its development strategy and reflected in the medium-term national development plan. Since 2007, the Government had launched programmes aimed at empowering the most marginalized at the grassroots level by restoring their dignity and confidence, improving health and quality of education, developing their skills, improving their livelihoods, and facilitating greater access to economic opportunities and basic services. Indonesia had also redirected and reallocated fuel subsidies into productive activities and the 2014 Village Law entitled villages to become stronger and democratic; both moves represented major breakthrough programmes promoting social inclusion.
MAJDA MOUTCHOU (Morocco) reaffirmed his country’s part in the collective commitment to goals set forth in the Charter. The record of the Millennium targets showed tangible progress between 1990 and 2015. But despite progress, poverty beset too many people. Meeting those challenges was the collective duty of the international community. Morocco took its commitment very seriously and placed a high priority on the struggle against climatic problems. Morocco was focusing its social development efforts on the region and strongly encouraging the participation of the private sector. Whatever the relevance of the plan to implement the Sustainable Development Goals, its credibility depended on the international community finding resources for it. The tragedy of migrants was one of the manifestations of insecurity besetting many countries. There could be no one-size-fits-all model for development; each region and country has its own specificity.
MASUD BIN MOMEN (Bangladesh) said that the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action represented a unique consensus on three objectives of social development, namely eradication of poverty, promoting full and productive employment, and fostering social integration. Bangladesh stressed the importance of the effective enforcement of labour laws with regard to migrant workers. His country had made progress in respect of most of the social indicators in the last two decades, sustaining a gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of more than six per cent in recent years. He urged all stakeholders to renew their commitments to further advancing social development by intensifying their efforts to implement the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action within the context of the 2030 Goals.
MACHARIA KAMAU (Kenya), associating himself with the Group of 77 and the African Group, highlighted what steps his Government had taken to eradicate poverty, promote gender equality and achieve great strides in the reduction of child mortality and combating HIV/AIDS. In order to tackle inequality and unemployment, the Government had allocated resources to implement social programmes that targeted the most vulnerable sectors of the population. It had initiated zero-interest credit programmes, such as the Youth Enterprise Development Fund and the Micro and Small Enterprises Fund, which targeted youth, women and persons with disabilities. The rights of persons with disabilities had been given constitutional safeguards to minimize their barriers to opportunity. The Government also upheld the rights and welfare of older persons through a social protection fund and it provided them with essential health services. On a global level, implementation of the 2030 Goals would require more partnerships, voluntary contribution and domestic resource mobilization.
ANTONIO DE AGUIAR PATRIOTA (Brazil), associating himself with CELAC and the Group of 77, said that the Copenhagen Summit, which consolidated the notion that development entailed more than economic growth and must have people at its core, had paved the way for the 2030 Agenda. An important element of both was the idea of “leaving no one behind”, with particular attention to youth, older persons, and persons with disabilities. Young Brazilians accounted for more than 25 per cent of his country’s population and in October 2014, Brazil had signed the Ibero-American Convention on the Rights of the Youth, the only legally binding instrument specifically focused on the rights of youth. Brazil recognized the work of the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Youth and other initiatives, but the legal framework to promote and protect youth’s human rights was insufficient.
The rapid growth of the number of older persons was a significant demographic trend, and by 2050 almost 30 per cent of the world’s population would be 60 years or older, he said. But explicit references to ageing and the rights of older persons in core international human rights treaties remained scarce. Consolidating the human rights of older persons into a specific, legally binding document would address the “regulatory dispersion” of those rights, strengthening their monitoring and realization and fostering national policies to better define the responsibilities of States. Over the past decade, Brazil had experienced an unprecedented drop in inequality thanks to social protection measures, such as minimum wage adjustments above inflation, among others, and the Government’s inclusive definition of families who were the target of those programmes. Had Brazil not targeted all kinds of families — single parent, same sex, no children, no parent families— it would not have lifted 36 million people out of poverty. Instead, it would have contributed to deepening vulnerabilities and compounding discrimination those groups already suffered.
WANG MIN (China), associating himself with the Group of 77, said that countries must implement the core tasks in social development in a balanced manner and based on their national priorities. He added that countries should focus on building sound social security systems to effectively safeguard the rights and interests of vulnerable groups. That meant embracing the principle of people-centred development perspective, building sound social security systems and promoting social integration. On the international level, the global community must do its part to strengthen cooperation in social development and increase support to developing countries, especially African countries and least developed nations.
BHAGWANT SINGH BISHNOI (India) said that both the Copenhagen Declaration and the 2030 Agenda placed people at the centre of development. It was imperative that the international community’s efforts for the achievement of poverty eradication be based on the principles of social justice and equity. Globalization and technology had brought considerable benefits to society, but the lack of equity in global processes, among them the widening digital divide, continued to enhance inequality among and between countries. Market reform and structural adjustment programmes needed to focus on all people. The developed world needed to honour its commitments with regard to official development assistance (ODA), particularly to least developed countries.
EVGENY ZAGAYNOV (Russian Federation), associating himself with the Group of Friends of the Family, said the Copenhagen decisions were still as relevant as ever, cross-cutting the 2030 Goals. He supported the view of the Secretary-General that no one should be left behind during their implementation. Specific attention should be placed on programmes providing equal opportunities to people with disabilities. Another major challenge was the ageing population, requiring expanded support. A benchmark for that work was the Madrid Plan of Action on Ageing. Strengthening the family was another important goal which would contribute to maintaining moral values and solidarity between generations. The well-being of the family was one of the main prerequisites of a society’s development and guaranteeing the family’s stability in the long term was crucial. His country would continue to contribute to multilateral dialogue on the whole raft of issues.
CRISTIÁN BARROS MELET (Chile), associating himself with the Group of 77 and CELAC, said that, in recent years, Chile had sought to build a system combining democracy and social justice. In the 1990s, it was just beginning to reengage with the world and consolidate its democracy. Participating in the Copenhagen Summit had been a way of repaying the world’s solidarity during its years of dictatorship. The Copenhagen Summit was a milestone event during which Heads of State realized that, to overcome social difficulties, it was important to prioritize social spending in the public expenditure of each State. Chile understood that, to overcome poverty, the first test of political will was to focus on cooperation and equity. Building an equitable State with social investment and opportunity was only possible if it was based on a new style of cooperation, characterized by a willingness to understand and set aside the idea of confrontation between rich and poor countries. It would also be characterized by horizontal South-South and triangular cooperation.
MIGUEL CAMILO RUIZ BLANCO (Colombia) aligned himself with CELAC and the Group of 77, and said that while the Assembly today highlighted significant progress since the Copenhagen Summit, the international community needed to recognize that there was still a long way to go in implementing everything that was envisaged back then. Since poverty was due to many factors, its eradication was the biggest challenge facing the world, and a prerequisite for sustainable development. Economic growth was necessary but not sufficient to achieving development goals. Full employment was a goal that required the promotion of labour formalization, and developing focused policies that addressed women, young, the elderly, and persons with disabilities, among other groups. Strengthening national and local capacities was needed to achieve equitable social development.
FEDERICO ALBERTO GONZÁLEZ FRANCO (Paraguay) said that his country endorsed the statements made by the Group of 77 and by CELAC. The international community was taking a step in the right direction by adopting the 2030 Agenda. Today, Paraguay welcomed its implementation, which would put an end to poverty. Despite significant progress, reality showed that there was a gap created by social inequality which continued to grow. The main challenge facing his Government was making sure growth was inclusive. The international community needed to address social exclusion. Paraguay had made progress by developing special policies that were rights-based, and over the past decade, had made progress in reducing poverty and extreme poverty. International cooperation was important, a tool which would help support national strategies and programmes.
GHOLAMALI KHOSHROO (Iran) aligned himself with the Group of 77 and with the Group of Friends of the Family. Rising inequalities within and between countries; persistently high unemployment rates, particularly among youth; social tensions and conflicts; environmental degradation and the negative impact of climate change were among the complex and interrelated challenges across economic, social and environmental fields. They called for a more holistic, coherent and integrated policy response. As long as human rights were being abused and viewed by some as political means to impose pressure on others, it should not be expected that balanced and inclusive social development would be realized. Iran was fully committed to the protection and promotion of the institution of the family.
KAIRAT ABDRAKHMANOV (Kazakhstan) said that his country was determined to join international efforts to promote peace and stability, eliminate global poverty and inequalities, solve severe diseases and mitigate the impact of climate change. His country’s bid for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council in 2017-2018 was based on the four pillars of nuclear, food, energy and water security. Reviewing national contributions to international aid and security, which included deployment of military observers in peacekeeping missions in Western Sahara and Côte d’Ivoire, he also detailed economic issues affecting Kazakhstan and national strategies to respond to those issues. Those strategies included “Kazakhstan 2050”, which had been in operation for two years and had achieved international recognition.
PHAM THI KIM ANH (Viet Nam), associating herself with the Group of 77, said that vulnerabilities were becoming more acute, particularly in the face of conflicts and climate change. Women, children, the poor, the elderly and people with disabilities were bearing the brunt. The country’s new poverty reduction programme not only focused on income, but also living conditions, healthcare, education, housing, water and sanitation, and access to information. Social policies must be part of overall development policies, rather than tools to address the negative effects of social-economic development and crises. To sustain those gains, countries must strengthen their resilience and ability to withstand external shocks and recover from other possible mishaps. On an international level, partnerships were indispensable to achieve social development. The international community should continue to strengthen cooperation in capacity-building and technology transfer.
IB PETERSEN (Denmark) aligned his statement with that delivered by the European Union. At the 1995 World Summit in Copenhagen, which at the time was the most significant conference ever to take place in Denmark, he had as a somewhat younger diplomat participated in planning and implementation. Denmark was extremely proud to have hosted the event. Solidarity has been crucial to Danish society as the world knew it today. As part of the 2030 Agenda, the social dimension was solidly reflected. That was of course significant, as social development was recognized as an integral part of sustainable development. If the ambitious 2030 Agenda was to be realized, the international community needed to leave no one behind. In many societies, people were at risk of marginalization. The international community must ensure that they were included and that their human rights were protected and respected. He cited an example from Denmark, where a company called “Specialisterne”, meaning The Specialists, employed consultants to do software testing, data entry, and other work for public and private clients. The company was a leader in the global movement to create jobs for people with autism who would otherwise be outside the labour market. The international community had come a long way in implementing the 1995 Programme of Action, but had to continue the fight poverty.
LOURDES YPARRAGUIRRE (Philippines) said that, once known as the “sick man of Asia”, her country was now one of the fastest growing economies on the continent. But progress achieved would be meaningful only if the benefits were felt by all, especially the poor. Towards that end, the Government had developed a conditional cash transfer programme, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Programme, which targeted families most vulnerable to poverty. As of August, approximately 4.4 million households were benefiting from the flagship social development initiative, of which almost 600,000 were indigenous, and 220,000 of which had at least one person with a disability. The World Bank had recently hailed it as one of the largest and best-targeted social safety net programmes in the world. Regarding the elderly, the Department of Social Welfare and Development was set to implement the provisions of a senior citizens’ law, mandating a monthly pension for all indigent senior citizens.
FRANCISCO TENYA HASEGAWA (Peru) aligned himself with the statements made on behalf of CELAC and the Group of 77 and said that the international community was obliged to reaffirm its commitment towards implementing the Copenhagen programme. The international community had to take measures to address challenges and work towards an ambitious future. There was a need to empower people around the world, to focus on the development of social inclusion programme, and to build more participatory societies. A major task was to transform economic growth into substantive improvement for the world’s populations, a task for which the state was the institution responsible. Peru had a national strategy for inclusion, which was a reflection of the country’s social inclusion policy at national, regional and local levels.
HIROSHI MINAMI (Japan) said his country supported the human-centred approach of the 2030 Agenda, as it aligned itself with the notion of human security. Japan’s charter for ODA had been revised for the first time in 12 years to include language on the importance of the promotion of women’s participation and consideration of children, persons with disabilities, the elderly and other socially vulnerable people in implementing development cooperation. Over the next three years, his country would disburse more than $350 million in assistance to ensure quality education for all people, especially towards the empowerment of women and girls. It also had dispatched persons with disabilities overseas as specialists for vocational training activities. As the world’s most aged society, Japan had undertaken numerous measures, such as improving older people’s access to employment, enhancing their work environment and combating discriminatory dismissal, sharing those experiences with other countries, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. Volunteerism was one important means of implementation for the 2030 Agenda. All States should implement the related resolution submitted by Japan and Brazil and adopted by consensus in the Assembly’s Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural).
RUBÉN IGNACIO ZAMORA RIVAS (El Salvador), associating himself with the Group of 77 and CELAC, said that the goals established in Copenhagen 20 years ago remained valid, but their fulfilment had been unequal. The international community must address the gaps with regards to poverty and opportunity while respecting the sovereignty, vulnerabilities and particular problems of various countries. El Salvador recognized the multiple dimensions of poverty and the need to address its structural causes. The scope of poverty had often been underestimated because it was measured using a basic food basket as an estimate, which did not reflect its complexity. His country had begun using a methodology this year which reflected the multidimensional aspects of poverty. That tool would improve public policy formulation, coordination and evaluation and give the country an opportunity to address the various dimensions of poverty and move forward towards more inclusive and sustainable development.
ANATOLIO NDONG MBA (Equatorial Guinea), associating himself with the Group of 77 and the African Group, said the anniversary of the Summit was a great opportunity to review the work since 1995 and gave new impetus to achieving the Summit’s goals, many of which had not been achieved. The least advantaged countries continued to be disenfranchised from the world economy and affected by poverty. Their work towards the objectives from the Summit has been affected by a whole series of issues, including the decrease in aid and structural impediments such as violent conflict and natural disasters, in addition to global factors such as climate change. Over the last 15 years, Equatorial Guinea’s economic situation had been exceptional due to the discovery of significant oil deposits. However, the recent drastic fall in oil prices had seriously compromised the Government’s efforts and it had now undertaken a plan to diversify its income sources.
ELISENDA VIVES BALMAÑA (Andorra) said that to achieve the 2030 Agenda, in addition to the political will of the public sector, it was also vital to include the private sector and civil society in the implementation process. From the Secretary-General’s report, it was clear that the vulnerabilities were universal in nature, and poverty and precarious employment were particularly acute among the young and elderly. The master plan of Andorran Cooperation for Development prioritized the protection of vulnerable persons and those disenfranchised. Reducing infant mortality, improving maternal healthcare and strengthening women’s involvement in achieving equal rights in society and at work were some of the goals promoted by the Government and civil society organizations as part of that plan. With the adoption of the 2030 Goals, Andorra would revise and adapt its master plan to participate in international efforts to eradicate hunger and poverty in the world.
AMINA SMAILA (Nigeria), associating herself with the Group of 77, the African Group, and the Group of Friends of the Family, said that promoting social justice and the advancement of all was a major objective of her Government. The family was society’s basic and fundamental instrument that united all the dimensions of the 2030 Agenda, she emphasized, urging greater attention to the core contribution of the family and its members to social development. Young people were an asset to any society, with energy that could potentially contribute in no small measure to success. Nigeria had also incorporated the interests of persons with disabilities into its national development plan. An all-inclusive national social welfare policy which took care of the developmental needs of persons with disabilities, orphans and vulnerable children, as well as the elderly within the society, remained the country’s top priority.
ANCA JURCAN (Romania) said her country’s chairmanship of the Commission for Social Development this year was a reflection of its commitment to the development of an inclusive social system, based on equality, efficiency, equity and accessibility, underpinned by respect for human rights, values and the principles of democracy, rule of law and dignity for all. The Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action had represented a turning point in the way the international community viewed social action, and a milestone in the fight to adopt a worldwide policy of social development. That work should continue within the new framework of the 2030 Agenda. The pursuit of sustainable development should be the “silver lining” of a better future. The forthcoming session of the Commission for Social Development in February 2016 was an opportunity to further discuss how it could help implement and monitor the 2030 Agenda in a meaningful way.
OSCAR LEÓN GONZÁLEZ (Cuba) endorsed the statements made on behalf of the Group of 77 and also CELAC, and highlighted the validity of the Copenhagen Programme of Action. In those documents, the international community had agreed that eradicating poverty was the means to achieving development. There had been progress, but much inequality remained. The commemoration of the twentieth anniversary of the Programme of Action called on the international community to reflect on how it could act more effectively to implement the objectives it had set itself two decades ago, yet not achieved. For its part, Cuba had achieved the Millennium Development Goals and had cooperated with other developing countries.
MARY FLORES FLAKE (Honduras) associated herself with CELAC and the Group of 77. Two decades ago, the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action had provided a way to put people at the centre of development. The international community had agreed to promote a vision of inclusive policies and to create an environment which respected human rights and worked towards eradicating poverty. At that meeting, Honduras had spoken on behalf of the Central American family. The report of the Secretary-General shed light on the path to follow in order to achieve the new sustainable development agenda. The present moment was a historic opportunity to interact and work towards an agenda which would build new synergies. Honduras prioritized inclusive social development.