statement by the Swedish Minister for Development Co-operation, Migration and Asylum Policy

Statement by

Ms. Maj-Inger Klingvall

Swedish Minister for Development Co-operation

Geneva, June 26 2000

Mr/Mrs President,
Your excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

"Poverty is pain; it feels like a disease. It attacks a person not only materially but also morally. It eats away one's dignity and drives one into total despair. "This is how poverty is described by one of the voices cited in "Voices of the poor", a recent World Bank study. These words highlight the fact that poverty and exclusion are not just a lack of material resources. It is also a lack of rights, knowledge, influence and health which may differently affect various groups in society. Poverty is a lack of power. Which, in turn, is a matter of democracy. Poverty reduction requires investments that can empower people to work for a better life for themselves, their family and their societies. It requires integration between economic and social policy, based on an inclusive strategy, which encompass each and everyone.

Human rights are universal, which requires that rights-based policies should be applicable to all individuals; men, women, young people and ` children. The Conventions on human rights clearly establishes that each and every government have a responsibility to guarantee civil and political rights, as well as social, economic and cultural rights to every member of the society. In this context, I would like to underline the importance to recognise the rights of the child, to fulfil the provisions set out in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. National policies and strategies must target the whole population.

If poverty and social exclusion are to be tackled, we must see the linkage between political, economic, environmental and social development. This requires a strong partnership between governments, NGO:s and other actors in the international community. The United Nations plays a key role in this context. This is clearly expressed in the Secretary-General's report to the Millennium Summit. Individuals, as well as governments, expect the United Nations to take a more active lead in the fight against poverty.

The World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen, 1995, was a groundbreaking event. For the first time in history, world leaders explored the interlinkage between social development and economic growth.
Since Copenhagen we know that progress has been made. The Summit has inspired the world community to place poverty reduction highest on the agenda. We must confirm at this meeting that our joint target should be that the proportion of people living in extreme poverty must be reduced by half by the year 2015. We should also agree on how to reach the other global development targets.
This requires renewed efforts. Since Copenhagen we have also seen backlashes, in particular in areas where armed conflicts and HIV/AIDS have had devastating effects. Further action must be taken. The international co-operation must be strengthened. I will here highlight some important areas:

· Firstly, countries with more advanced economies must take the target of 0. 7 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for Official Development Assistance (ODA) seriously. Progress must be made in reaching this goal. I'm glad to say that for the coming years Sweden will be able to further increase our allocations to 0.8 per cent with the aim of again reaching one (1) per cent of GDP for ODA. In addition to increasing the volume of aid, Sweden has launched a major review and evaluation on our development co-operation policy.

· Secondly, we must alleviate the heavy burden of debts facing developing countries. An important instrument to this end is the HIPCinitiative. Sweden has been a strong supporter of the HIPC-initiative since it was launched in 1996. Together with our Nordic friends and the Netherlands and Switzerland we have delivered substantially more than half of paid-in contributions to the fund. HIPC requires sustained efforts over several years. Broad participation and fair burden-sharing are essential.

· Furthermore, we must improve the working conditions for workers all over the world. With regard to employment and labour the Social Summit identified certain core labour standards to be applied all over the world regardless of level of development. This paved the way for the ILO Declaration on Principles and Rights at Work, which will become a milestone for human rights at work, for development and for social justice. I hope that we during this session will be able to reconfirm our unreserved support for the Declaration and send a message to all international organisations to be active in the protection of human rights of workers all over the world.

· Finally, the issue of equality between women and men. The Special Session on Women (UNGASS), in early June, where I participated myself, could record both achievements and obstacles in its plus 5review. This Session, Beijing plus 5, adopted action-oriented documents with a clear gender perspective and a strong recognition of the mutually reinforcing links between gender equality and poverty eradication. This must be crucial elements for us here, in setting a framework for social development.

Mr/Mrs Chairman,

In concluding, poverty eradication requires political will and commitment. An even distribution of growing wealth is a fundamental tool to establish a more fair and equal society. We should commit ourselves to a comprehensive strategy, which includes full employment, a fair distribution of resources, a social policy where services and programmes reach the whole population. These are key elements in a national, as well as an international, policy for a sustainable development.

Thank you.