Uttalanden i internationella organisationer

EU-anförande av socialförsäkringsministern i FN om social utveckling (på engelska)

Socialförsäkringsminister Cristina Husmark Pehrsson talade å EU:s vägnar i FN:s tredje utskott om social utveckling.

Mr/Madam Chair, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and the following countries align themselves with this statement: The candidate Countries Croatia , the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Montenegro, Serbia as well as Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Armenia and Georgia.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you Mr/Madam Chair, and the other members of the Bureau on your election and assure you of the full support of the European Union. We are confident that this session will be successful under your competent leadership.

When the General Assembly met last year, the severe financial crisis had just begun. Now the turmoil has become a global economic recession that is affecting all countries. Yet low-income countries, and poor women, men and children are those who are most exposed to its consequences. It is essential to address and build awareness of the ways in which the economic downturn may affect social development.

Social integration, which is the main theme of the current biennium of the Commission for Social Development, draws on many sources, such as the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and the Millennium Declaration. Development, peace, security and human rights are all interlinked and mutually reinforcing. The objective of social integration, as defined by the World Summit, is to create “a society for all”, in which all individuals can safely and fully exercise their rights and responsibilities, and contribute to the society on equal terms. The report from the Commission for Social Development this year makes clear that an inclusive, stable society requires strong political leadership, transpa¬rent decision-making and timely action. The EU is committed to these requirements and welcomes the efforts of the United Nations to combat social exclusion and promote social integration as issues of global concern, for which we bear a shared responsibility. The democratic participation of all vulnerable groups is the best way of ensuring that their voices are heard.

We are now beyond the halfway point in the most ambitious attempt in history to reduce poverty. The Millennium Development Goals have placed development and poverty eradication high on government agendas. But the financial crisis and economic recession have put our ambitions and commitments at risk, particularly in regions such as Africa. The EU shares the concerns expressed by member states and UN organisations during the course of this year. The UN conference, in the month of June, on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and its Impact on Development reviewed the challenges and proposed actions to promote a job-intensive recovery from the crisis, and shape a pattern for sustainable growth, in order to reduce the impact of the crisis on developing countries.

Mr/Madam Chair,

When addressing social integration, we cannot underestimate the importance of having decent work. The economic crisis has led to a job crisis and indeed a social crisis. This is severely affecting one of the core areas of the Copenhagen Declaration – full employment. Last year, world unemployment increased by 11 percent to 190 million people. While recent ILO figures suggest that action taken by G20 countries has created or saved between 7 and 11 million jobs, according to ILO estimates a further 40 million may lose their jobs by the end of this year. These are alarming figures. Labour markets, which have already been hit hard, will have to face long-lasting negative consequences and it is vital that our policies support an increase in employment growth as economies recover. There is no doubt that the current situation has led to a significant rise in job losses, weakened informal social protection mechanisms and a return to poverty for the near poor, reversing recent progress. Among those particularly affected are women, young people and groups that are already marginalised and in vulnerable situations.

The vast majority of people around the world who live in poverty often depend on small earnings in the informal sector for their livelihood. The informal sector currently accounts for over half of total employment in developing countries, and as much as 90 per cent in some African and South Asian countries. This sector is often characterised by low wages and uncertain working conditions. Moreover, it does not provide formal and reliable social protection, which plays a key role in the promotion of labour market participation, social integration, economic growth and opportunities for coming generations. In times of crisis, social protection, with active measures that promote labour market participation, is paramount as it provides economic security for those in need and promotes investments by the poor, which prevent greater marginalisation and exclusion. Bearing in mind the crucial role of social protection, the International Labour Conference and the UN Chief Executives Board have supported the proposal to assist countries in their efforts to build a basic social protection floor for all. It is time for further concrete steps.

Solid social protection and sound labour markets are closely linked. In times of crisis we have to strengthen both. I would therefore like to draw your attention to the resolution on the Global Jobs Pact that was adopted by the International Labour Conference in Geneva in June and endorsed by the UN Economic and Social Council in July. The Global Jobs Pact focuses on the linkages between employment, social protection and economic development. It sets out a framework of policy options, calls for coordinated and coherent global action in response to the crisis and in line with the Decent Work Agenda, and calls on governments, workers and employers to collectively tackle the global jobs crisis. In this context the EU recalls the commitments made by the ILO and its constituents in the 2008 Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalisation. If adapted to country-specific situations and priorities, the EU believes that the Pact can prove to be a powerful tool to speed up and facilitate an exit from the crisis, in which employment growth can accompany economic growth.

Ensuring long-term economic and social sustainability is a high priority for the EU. We are currently working on reducing the negative consequences of the crisis, an ambition that is manifested in the ongoing discussions on an EU strategy for growth and employment for the next decade to be adopted next year. One of the main challenges for the EU is preventing that people who become unemployed drift into long-term exclusion through passive benefit systems and lack of adequate social protection. In order to avoid permanent exclusion from the labour market, it is essential to retain and increase access to employment and to create new jobs. There is international consensus that employment is the best route out of social exclusion and poverty. We must provide people with real opportunities even in times when work is hard to find.

Mr/Madam Chair,

We know that children, young people, many women and people with disabilities – who are already often in vulnerable situations – often are the first to be affected by economic crises. They are often the last to get back on track when times improve, due to unequal access to power, influence, resources, livelihood, security and choices. The full empower¬ment and inclusion of women in the labour market and in society as a whole – including in public decision-making at all levels – is unfortunately still a long way off. 

Persons with disabilities make up about ten percent of the global population. A majority of them live in poverty in developing countries. For the realisation of a society with genuine access to equal rights, it is crucial with accessible environments, transport and Information and Communication Technologies both in urban and rural areas, in order to offer the citizens real autonomy and the means to pursue independent and active economic and social lives. This was highlighted in the discussions that resulted in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The EU is pleased by the progress achieved so far. Almost 70 member states have now ratified the Convention.

We believe it is crucial to promote equality between women and men and to improve living conditions for individuals and groups in vulnerable situations, including in emergency situations, as a means to build stable and just societies around the world. This is a matter not only of social integration, but also of the protection of human rights and economic and environmental sustainability.

In almost all countries of the world, the populations are ageing. This is a tremendous welfare achievement in which the UN and WHO have played – and still play – a very important role, as pointed out in the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing. Ageing populations create opportunities for the society, but can also pose challenges when people of working age have to provide for a growing number of elderly people. It is vital to ensure that the elderly are treated with dignity and receive adequate social protection, also when resources are scarce. Increased hardship, resulting from the crisis, may also be causing older people to continue working, beyond an age when they could have expected to be supported by younger generations.

The ECOSOC high-level segment in July addressed global health. The Ministerial Declaration highlights the key importance of health-related Millennium Development Goals for poverty eradication, social development and social justice. Health is a cornerstone both in social and economic development and a central feature of the MDGs. A healthy person has greater potential to contribute to, and actively take part in, the society. The relationship between health and economic resources is apparent: a strong economy depends on healthy citizens. But the world is still facing dramatic and growing disparities in health and nutrition, particularly of mothers and infants, and life expectancy within and between countries. These differences are closely linked to the underlying and immense differences in people’s daily living conditions and made worse by multiple crises. Growing inequalities in health are to a large extent due to social determinants such as differences in living conditions, in opportunities over the life cycle and distribution of resources, as well as in access to social and health care systems.

Mr/Madam Chair,

I would like to put an extra spotlight on young people. We are now experiencing the largest numbers of young people in modern history. We need to recognise young people as an asset to society and ensure their active participation in development processes. It is essential to ensure health, active citizenship, social inclusion and equal opportunities for all young women and men to obtain high quality education and decent work. At the UN, we have adopted and reaffirmed our commitment to working with the World Programme of Action for Youth. In these trying times it is even more important to strengthen its implementation. We cannot afford to lose the young generations to unemployment and exclusion. Promoting access to labour markets and good living conditions for our young women and men is therefore of vital importance, not only for their personal development and possibilities to fulfil their potential, but also for a sustainable development of our societies.

Let me here underline the importance of partnerships, with civil society, social partners and other partners. Partnerships are imperative for human development and social well-being and for empowering those most in need, particularly in times of economic and social crisis.

As we decide on measures to ease the negative effects of the current economic crisis, let us avoid the temptation of short-sighted measures that may trap people in long-term inactivity or deepen inequalities. Our policies and actions must be responsible, sound and forward-looking and build on peoples’ own capacity and aspirations for a better future, with a particular view to assisting and supporting those who are affected by the crisis.

To conclude, Mr/Madam Chair, I would like to reaffirm our strong European commitment to global social development and social inclusion. We are here today to highlight their importance worldwide. 

Thank you.
 
* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

Publicerad

05 oktober

18:26

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