9 Jul, 2013

Social, Economic Inequalities Will Trigger Future Crises – UN Secretary-General

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United Nations, Jul  8 2013 (UN News Centre) – Senior United Nations officials today emphasized that the international community must tackle social and economic inequalities between regions and within countries, adding that this is crucial to achieve sustainability and avert future crises.

“If inequalities continue to widen, development may not be sustainable,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said at the General Assembly’s thematic debate on inequality. “That is why equity is emerging as a central plank in discussions on the post-2015 development agenda.”

Mr. Ban stressed the importance of reducing inequalities at a time when the world is being affected by a series of significant changes, including economic instability, the impact of climate change, and political unrest in many regions.

“Societies where hope and opportunities are scarce are vulnerable to upheaval and conflict,” he said. “Social and economic inequalities can tear the social fabric, undermine social cohesion and prevent nations from thriving. Inequality can breed crime, disease and environmental degradation and hamper economic growth.”

Mr. Ban noted that the anti-poverty targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have been “remarkably” successful, but added that progress has been uneven, and underlined the importance of the post-development 2015 agenda addressing these inequalities and promoting shared prosperity.

Agreed upon by world leaders at a UN summit in 2000, the MDGs set specific targets on poverty alleviation, education, gender equality, child and maternal health, environmental stability, HIV/AIDS and malaria reduction, and a global partnership for development. The post-2015 development agenda is expected to build on the progress achieved by the MDGs.

“We need solutions to the economic and financial crises that will benefit all,” he said. “An inclusive approach to sustainable development; greater efforts to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; more investment in health, education, social protection and decent jobs – especially for young people.”

General Assembly President Vuk Jeremi noted that the achievement of the universal transition to sustainability requires a greater commitment from countries to bridge the divide between the ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’, and urged Member States to work together to tend to the needs “of the increasing many that have been left behind.”

Mr. Jeremi also warned that refraining from addressing this issue would bring about an era of global discontent that would have profound consequences across the world.

Fully incorporating the fight against inequality in the sustainable development agenda, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which countries agreed on last year at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), will be critical, he added.

Full Text of Ban Ki-moon’s Remarks at informal General Assembly Thematic Debate on Inequality, 08 July 2013

The Charter of the United Nations is clear.

We the peoples of the United Nations are determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom.

Not for some, but for all.

That is why I welcome today’s timely debate on inequality.

We live in a time of profound change and considerable uncertainty.

Successive global crises have shocked economies and brought severe distress to the poor and vulnerable in all regions.

We have yet to see a full global economic recovery.

The impacts of climate change are growing.

Environmental degradation caused by unsustainable consumption and production threatens future development objectives.

This is the context in which we are considering the post-2015 development agenda.

The Millennium Development Goals have been remarkably successful in generating global action across a range of issues.

Six hundred million people have risen from extreme poverty.

Targeted investments in fighting malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis have saved millions of lives.

More children than ever are in school – especially girls.

More people have access to improved sources of water. Conditions are better for 200 million people living in slums.

Child and maternal mortality is declining.

But progress has been uneven within and among countries.

And in many countries, rich and poor, we are seeing social and economic inequalities widening.

Large disparities remain in access to health and education services between the richest and poorest households.

Vulnerable populations have lower levels of education, lack skills and abilities that can allow them to compete in today’s labour market.

They have lower employment rates, earn less, and are less healthy.

Poor women are at greater risk of dying during childbirth.

Poor children are less likely to get the quality education that will enable them, in turn, to escape poverty.

Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and older persons are particularly vulnerable to being trapped in poverty.

Social and economic inequalities between rural and urban areas are also worsening.

Of the more than 2.6 billion people that still lack access to safe sanitation, the vast majority live in rural areas.

These inequalities are a reproach to the promise of the United Nations Charter.

Social justice is a key ingredient of a peaceful sustainable world for all humankind.

Societies where hope and opportunities are scarce are vulnerable to upheaval and conflict.

Social and economic inequalities can tear the social fabric, undermine social cohesion and prevent nations from thriving.

Inequality can breed crime, disease and environmental degradation and hamper economic growth.

If inequalities continue to widen, development may not be sustainable.

That is why equity is emerging as a central plank in discussions on the post-2015 development agenda.

Reducing inequality will need transformative change.

We need solutions to the economic and financial crises that will benefit all.

An inclusive approach to sustainable development.

Greater efforts to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.

More investment in health, education, social protection and decent jobs – especially for young people.

We will need to create some 470 million new jobs between 2015 and 2030.

We must also give a greater attention to empowering women in the home, the marketplace and the corridors of power.

Gender inequality is a major driver of poverty.

Tackling inequality, eradicating poverty and promoting shared prosperity must be at the heart of the UN sustainable development agenda.

Let us work to ensure equality of opportunity for all.

In that spirit, I wish you a productive debate.

Thank you.