STATEMENT BY H.E. MS. MAIJA PERHO

MINISTER OF SOCIAL AFFAIRS AND HEALTH, FINLAND

24th Special Session of the General Assembly

Geneva, 26-30 June 2000

Mr. President
Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen

Let me start Mr President by congratulating you for your election of the President of this very important Special Session

Finland fully aligns herself with the statement given by the distinguished Minister of Social and Labour Affairs of Portugal, Mr. Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues, on behalf of the European Union.

During this week we will again raise deliberations of social development to the high political level. I am convinced that the achievements which were reached five years ago in Copenhagen will not only be amplified but also augmented and strengthened here in Geneva.

Mr. President

I would like to make a few remarks on the issues that are of particular interest to Finland. These issues are universalism and equal opportunities, gender, human rights including sexual and reproductive rights, health and education, and financing of social development.

All of these issues are cornerstones of social development, and are increasingly recognized as such for economic development as well. The dimensions of sustainable development - social and economic development and environmental protection - are interdependent and mutually reinforcing. I would like to emphasize that particularly sustainable social development is a prerequisite for development and well-being.

Mr. President

In Copenhagen, Heads of State and Government acknowledged the urgent need to address the profound social problems, especially poverty, unemployment and social exclusion, which affect every country. In view of the rapidly progressing globalisation their call is even more timely today. Globalisation is a process that is generating a growing interdependence in today's world. Globalisation comprising both challenges and opportunities can also lead to increased vulnerability and, in the worst case, to increased marginalisation. The challenge we are facing is to make the process beneficial to all.

Finland is fully committed to the implementation of the Copenhagen commitments. This applies to both domestic and international policies, including development co-operation. The aim is to create a continuously developing society that will guarantee everyone an opportunity for meaningful work, independent living and active participation in community and in the whole of society. Our focus in increasing social integration and reducing poverty is to ensure that all people have access to basic social services and that additional especially targeted social services are available to the groups with special needs. In achieving a society for all, it is our experience that it might not be enough to assist people in need with the specially targeted measures.

During the Copenhagen +5 preparatory process it has been widely agreed that the essential elements in creating an enabling environment for social development are full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, democracy, good governance and equality between men and women. The responsibility to enforce these rights and principles rests with national governments.

The governments also have the main responsibility for ensuring the availability of and universal access to basic social and health services. These services can be provided by public and private sectors and supplemented by third parties, such as NGOs and voluntary work. To provide more resources for those services and therefore also for broader poverty eradication objectives, Finland encourages the Governments of developed and developing countries to give thorough consideration for the implementation of the 20/20 initiative.

The international community, especially the UN system, should strengthen its support to the Governments of developing countries, as well as to countries with economies in transition, in their efforts to implement the Copenhagen commitments. The financing for the development process hopefully provide political impetus and mobilize resources not only for social development but also for the full integrated and co-ordinated implementation of the outcome of the major UN conferences and summits.

Mr. President

A high level of economic inclusion will be an essential element for maintaining social cohesion while responding to the challenges of globalization and phasing in a knowledge-based society. In particular with the spread of IT-intensive production, the risk of marginalisation of ageing and unskilled labour has grown. Modern information and communication technologies should be available for all. The potential of these technologies must be exploited in order to broaden the reach of basic education, particularly in the direction of the excluded and underprivileged groups.

Improvements in economic performance and labour market outcomes make it possible to restore full employment as a basic priority in economic and social policies. The respect for, the promotion and realisation of the principles contained in the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and its Follow-up are essential also in this context.

We cannot stress enough the overwhelming weight of the evidence we have today of the profitability of investing in the social sector. Long term investment in health and education and other basic social services produces better socio-economic results than any other investment. This increases economic productivity, which helps to achieve full employment, eradicate poverty and promote social well-being.

Women and girls should be specially taken into account in guaranteeing universal access to quality basic education as well as to quality primary health care services including sexual and reproductive health services and family planning.

Mr. President

A further issue of importance to my delegation is the further development of internationally approved principles and good practices in social policy, as was proposed in the initiative of the World Bank in April 1999. Taking into consideration the central role of the United Nations in establishing principles, standards and norms, the countries present here should also give their full support to the UN by taking the lead in this effort.

Finally, Mr. President, I would like to reiterate one important message of the Copenhagen summit. Peoplecentred social development should also be seen in the context of security. Poverty, social disintegration, unemployment, demographic pressures, epidemics - especially HIV/AIDS, mass migrations, are modern threats to security. Therefore investments in social development are also investments in the very basic elements of the modern societies: stability, security and peace.

Thank you, Mr. President