Mr. Chairman, Madam President of ECOSOC,Madam Deputy Secretary-General,Excellencies,Distinguished Delegates,Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to start my remarks by warmly congratulating you on the opening of the 56th session of the Commission for Social Development.
The priority theme of the 2017-2018 policy cycle of the Commission for Social Development is “Strategies for eradicating poverty to achieve sustainable development for all”. This theme has high relevance to supporting Member States in their implementation of the outcomes of the 1995 World Summit on Social Development, as well as the social dimension of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The 2030 Agenda has poverty eradication at its core. The eradication of poverty is both a stand-alone goal and the overarching theme mainstreamed throughout the 2030 Agenda.
As our collective blue print for sustainable development in the years ahead, the 2030 Agenda recognizes poverty as a multi-dimensional phenomenon. It highlights that people living in poverty and vulnerable situations face barriers that hinder their ability to escape poverty, such as lack of access to education, healthcare, clean water and sanitation, affordable food, and decent jobs. It guides us to eradicate poverty in all its forms and everywhere.
Excellencies,
The Commission is now meeting at a time when the global economy continues to show signs of improvement. The global economy is experiencing the highest rate of growth since 2011 and is expected to retain its 3 per cent growth rate through 2019.
These improving economic conditions benefit many countries, with about two- thirds of all countries seeing stronger growth this year compared to last year. But as we well know, economic growth is not enough.
While nearly 1.1 billion people have risen from extreme poverty since 1990, many are living barely above the absolute poverty line. They are at risk of sliding back into poverty if impacted by disaster, illness, loss of a job, or lack of social protection.
The global unemployment level also remains high at 5.8 percent, with no prospect of decline in the near term, impacting more than 201 million people. Among these, an estimated 71 million youth are also unemployed and another 160 million youth are working, but still living in poverty.
This Commission has long advocated for people-centered and integrated approaches to social development that are needed to overcome these challenges.
Since the 1995 World Summit for Social Development, this Commission has been a vital global platform for sharing good policies and practices, and exchange of information and knowledge on social policies and development aimed at eradicating poverty, combating inequality, fostering job creation, investing in education and health, and scaling up the provision of social protection.
We now have an urgent task of implementing these policies and strategies in the context of the 2030 Agenda.
Distinguished Delegates,
In the past decade, we have learned important lessons.
First, it is crucial to develop a comprehensive and integrated socio-economic policy framework to eradicate poverty, supported by strong institutions, broad-based participation, and evidence-based policy making.
As the Report on the World Social Situation, which is published by DESA, has shown over the years, where growth has created sufficient productive employment and decent work, its benefits have been more equitably distributed. At the same time, where inequalities have declined or remained at low levels, economic growth has been faster and more sustained.
Second, we need to create productive employment and decent work for all.
We must address informality, irregular employment, low-skills, low-productivity and low-wage traps by facilitating the transition from the informal to formal employment, and creating decent employment opportunities, including in rural and remote areas.
Third, we must invest in people to enhance their well-being and productive capacities, so that they become healthier and equipped with necessary skills to access decent work opportunities. This will require investments in social infrastructure and human resources.
Fourth, we must build the resilience of people living in poverty, people in vulnerable situations and the countries most vulnerable to climate change.
Fifth and finally, social protection systems are essential in mitigating risks and preventing people from falling into poverty. Social transfer programs, such as cash transfers, can help poor families to escape inter-generational poverty, but maintaining their sustainability remains a problem. Well-established social protection systems in all countries need to be further enhanced.
Distinguished delegates,
Since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, about 113 countries have presented their Voluntary National Reviews till 2018. The preliminary findings reveal that there is good progress as well as serious gaps and challenges in the implementation of the SDGs in many countries. In the forthcoming 13 years, we should bear in mind that eradicating poverty will remain a top priority in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
I am convinced that this Commission can make valuable contributions to support Member States in their implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
We must work together and intensify our efforts to eradicate poverty everywhere, so that all people can live a life with dignity.
I look forward to your forthcoming deliberations.
I wish you all a successful session.
Thank you for your attention.
I would like to start my remarks by warmly congratulating you on the opening of the 56th session of the Commission for Social Development.
The priority theme of the 2017-2018 policy cycle of the Commission for Social Development is “Strategies for eradicating poverty to achieve sustainable development for all”. This theme has high relevance to supporting Member States in their implementation of the outcomes of the 1995 World Summit on Social Development, as well as the social dimension of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The 2030 Agenda has poverty eradication at its core. The eradication of poverty is both a stand-alone goal and the overarching theme mainstreamed throughout the 2030 Agenda.
As our collective blue print for sustainable development in the years ahead, the 2030 Agenda recognizes poverty as a multi-dimensional phenomenon. It highlights that people living in poverty and vulnerable situations face barriers that hinder their ability to escape poverty, such as lack of access to education, healthcare, clean water and sanitation, affordable food, and decent jobs. It guides us to eradicate poverty in all its forms and everywhere.
Excellencies,
The Commission is now meeting at a time when the global economy continues to show signs of improvement. The global economy is experiencing the highest rate of growth since 2011 and is expected to retain its 3 per cent growth rate through 2019.
These improving economic conditions benefit many countries, with about two- thirds of all countries seeing stronger growth this year compared to last year. But as we well know, economic growth is not enough.
While nearly 1.1 billion people have risen from extreme poverty since 1990, many are living barely above the absolute poverty line. They are at risk of sliding back into poverty if impacted by disaster, illness, loss of a job, or lack of social protection.
The global unemployment level also remains high at 5.8 percent, with no prospect of decline in the near term, impacting more than 201 million people. Among these, an estimated 71 million youth are also unemployed and another 160 million youth are working, but still living in poverty.
This Commission has long advocated for people-centered and integrated approaches to social development that are needed to overcome these challenges.
Since the 1995 World Summit for Social Development, this Commission has been a vital global platform for sharing good policies and practices, and exchange of information and knowledge on social policies and development aimed at eradicating poverty, combating inequality, fostering job creation, investing in education and health, and scaling up the provision of social protection.
We now have an urgent task of implementing these policies and strategies in the context of the 2030 Agenda.
Distinguished Delegates,
In the past decade, we have learned important lessons.
First, it is crucial to develop a comprehensive and integrated socio-economic policy framework to eradicate poverty, supported by strong institutions, broad-based participation, and evidence-based policy making.
As the Report on the World Social Situation, which is published by DESA, has shown over the years, where growth has created sufficient productive employment and decent work, its benefits have been more equitably distributed. At the same time, where inequalities have declined or remained at low levels, economic growth has been faster and more sustained.
Second, we need to create productive employment and decent work for all.
We must address informality, irregular employment, low-skills, low-productivity and low-wage traps by facilitating the transition from the informal to formal employment, and creating decent employment opportunities, including in rural and remote areas.
Third, we must invest in people to enhance their well-being and productive capacities, so that they become healthier and equipped with necessary skills to access decent work opportunities. This will require investments in social infrastructure and human resources.
Fourth, we must build the resilience of people living in poverty, people in vulnerable situations and the countries most vulnerable to climate change.
Fifth and finally, social protection systems are essential in mitigating risks and preventing people from falling into poverty. Social transfer programs, such as cash transfers, can help poor families to escape inter-generational poverty, but maintaining their sustainability remains a problem. Well-established social protection systems in all countries need to be further enhanced.
Distinguished delegates,
Since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, about 113 countries have presented their Voluntary National Reviews till 2018. The preliminary findings reveal that there is good progress as well as serious gaps and challenges in the implementation of the SDGs in many countries. In the forthcoming 13 years, we should bear in mind that eradicating poverty will remain a top priority in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
I am convinced that this Commission can make valuable contributions to support Member States in their implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
We must work together and intensify our efforts to eradicate poverty everywhere, so that all people can live a life with dignity.
I look forward to your forthcoming deliberations.
I wish you all a successful session.
Thank you for your attention.
File date:
Monday, January 29, 2018