– As Prepared –

Statement by H.E. Mrs. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, President of the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly

14 May 2019

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen:

I want to thank the States once again for their extensive and constructive participation in this event, the panelists for their presentations and, of course, the moderators for directing our debates so skillfully. I also acknowledge the substantial contributions of civil society.

Likewise, I would like to especially thank G77+China for facilitating the organization of this Debate on one of the greatest challenges of our time: reducing inequalities between and within countries.

Today’s debate has left us valuable contributions for the High-Level Political Forum and the Summit in September.

We agree that Goal 10 is central to achieve the other 16 SDG and its targets.

We also agree that there is not a single recipe to reduce inequalities, but to achieve it there are two main ingredients which are: a greater political will on behalf of Governments and more multilateralism.

Also, in the different equations, we found that budgets, cohesive work, integral social programs, investing in human talent and, of course, peace and supportiveness between people, generations and peoples are indispensable.

We must continue to promote innovative sources of investment through associations between the public and the private sectors to move closer towards universal healthcare access.

Likewise, we must favor the social ownership of the 2030 Agenda as a survival kit.

Excellencies,

From today’s dialogue, we also realized that we will not be able to reduce inequalities if we do not confront and eradicate all forms of discrimination.

We must privilege a multidimensional approach for inequalities, one that also especially addresses the countries and the people that are most vulnerable.

And, of course, broadening the political and economic participation of women is urgent.

Is up to us that children like Alex, of who I spoke of this morning, have an adequate diet; ensuring their access to education and health to break the cycle of inequalities that condemns millions of children to live in misery is in our hands.

If we achieve more egalitarian societies, then we will also have ensured a fairer, more peaceful and more prosperous world.

Thank you.