Social Development

Statement by Pakistan on behalf of the Group of 77 and China On agenda item Social Development at the 62nd session of the Third Committee October 8, 2007

Chairperson,

Under Secretary General for Economic and Social Affairs,

Excellencies and Distinguished Delegates,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. Allow me to extend, on behalf of the Group, our warmest felicitations to you and the Bureau on your election to the 62nd session of the Third Committee.

  1. The G77 and China wish to assure you our support and cooperation during the proceedings of this important session.
  2. We thank the Under Secretary General for presenting the report A/62/122 which includes an overview of the discussion of the forty-fifth session of the Commission for Social Development dedicated to the theme of "Promoting full employment and decent work for all with their impact on poverty eradication and social integration".

Chairperson

  1. Employment has a central role in promoting prosperity, poverty eradication, social inclusion and enhanced stability, peace and social harmony. One of the central pillars of the 1995 Copenhagen World Summit of Social Development was to promote the goal of full employment as a basic priority of economic and social policies both at the national and international levels and to enable all men and women to attain secure and sustainable livelihoods.
  2. The 2005 World Summit reiterated this commitment by making the goal of "full and productive employment and decent work for all", a central objective of national and international policies and development strategies. The Economic and Social Council has also been consistently engaged in stressing the creation of strategies both at the national and international level that aim to promote full, freely chosen and productive employment.

Distinguished Delegates

  1. All human beings, regardless of age, sex, race ethnicity or disability, have the right to employment and decent work in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity. There has been no greater challenge to humanity, nor greater threat to world peace, than the failure to realize the United Nations Charter's vision of promoting better standards of life and larger freedoms.
  2. The close nexus between security and development, as also pointed out by the Secretary General, clearly demonstrates that stability and prosperity cannot be sustained while poverty afflicts so many. The report rightly emphasizes that economic growth alone is not sufficient for generating greater employment opportunities. It requires a comprehensive and urgent response of tackling poverty and addressing development by focusing on employment generation strategies on priority basis.
  3. The G77 and China welcome the continued focus on the various social groups namely family, youth, ageing and persons with disability in the context of social development. It is important that employment and poverty reduction strategies should target the marginalized and vulnerable groups in labour market. Investing in the future such as youth employment is particularly vital for social development. Measures should be taken to prepare the youth to be more responsible, dynamic and highly self-reliant. Similarly, as we move forward in the cycle of the first review and appraisal of the Madrid Plan of Action, efforts should be made to exploit the skill and experience of older persons with a view to making them a driving force in the economic advancement.

Chairperson

  1. It is often argued that globalization and interdependence are opening new opportunities through trade, investment and capital flows and advances in technology for the world economic growth, development and improved living standards around the world. However, at the same time, there remain major challenges, including serious financial crises, poverty, exclusion and inequality within and among societies and considerable obstacles to further integration and full participation in the global economy for developing countries. Unless the benefits of social and economic development are extended to all countries in an equitable manner, a growing number of people in many countries and entire regions will remain marginalized from benefits of globalization.
  2. The report of the Secretary General rightly points out that the development of human resources is a key in capacity building effort. Investing in human capital such as provision, without any discrimination, of quality education, access to technical and vocational training, particularly for youth, should be the major components of an enabling environment for employment creation.
  3. The G77 and China, however, believe that the struggle to promote full employment and decent work for all transcends national frontiers. The achievement of full employment rests upon the promotion of an overall macroeconomic environment based on the implementation of an integrated and coherent set of policies both at the national and international levels.
  4. There are several negative trends in world economic relations that impede development cooperation and employment generation in the developing countries. These include the decline in ODA, widening divide between the rich and the poor countries, rising poverty levels in many countries, the worrying impasse in Doha Trade Negotiations, and the continued marginalization of developing countries in international economic decision making.
  5. It is imperative to create a level playing field for all the countries to exploit their full potential in the international global economic system. It is also essential to eliminate asymmetries of globalization and its uneven costs and benefits. This requires the implementation of specific measures, many of them also mentioned in the Secretary General's report, to incorporate the informal sector in social protection programmes, and establish incentive-structures that promote employment creation by directing investment to sectors that are productive and labour-intensive, especially small and medium size enterprises.
  6. The G77 and China wish to highlight the following principles to promote full employment and decent work for all:-

One: The global partnership for development as set out in Millennium Declaration, the Monterrey Consensus and the Johannesburg Conference, is essential for greater social and economic stability within and among countries.

Two: Development cooperation should assist developing countries in strengthening linkages with global value chains, creating domestic capabilities, diversification and successful labour intensive export policies.

Three: Global partnerships between governments and the private sector should also explore the means to promote corporate social responsibility as an instrument for the achievement of decent work for all and to promote social integration and poverty eradication.

Four: The labour mobility should be seen in a comprehensive manner in order to benefit from its positive aspects for both the countries of origin and countries of destination.

Excellencies, distinguished delegates

  1. The implementation of reforms in international economic and social policy to realize the goal 'of full employment and decent work for all' will require worldwide political support, the commitment of key global actors and strengthening of global institutions.
  2. This is also inextricably linked to the realization of MDGs and monitoring of development commitments agreed at international conferences and summits by the international community. The UN, we believe, has a pivotal role to play in advancing this global development agenda. It is, therefore, incumbent upon us to ensure that the authority and capacity of the United Nations, especially its universality, neutrality and convening power, are put to effective use in ushering the development agenda.

I thank you.