Indonesia
INDONESIA STATEMENT ON
PROMOTING EQUALITY INCLUDING SOCIAL EQUITY, GENDER EQUALITY AND WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT
8TH OWG SDGs, 3-7 FEBRUARY, NEW YORK
Mr. Co-chairs,
Indonesia believes that ensuring equality and social equity is a key part of fighting poverty and securing a sustainable future for all. Inequality mostly represents as income inequality as well as inequality in access to basic needs and services. In any form, inequality deprives individuals of the opportunity to raise their productivity and advance their wellbeing. In order for sustainable development to thrive, inequality and social inequity have to be abated.
As we look to the next decade, extreme poverty will remain a concern. However, there is also the new “bottom billion” or 72% of the world’s poor that live in middle-income countries. Irrespective of economic growth, the trend of middle-income poverty is expected to continue until 2030.
There are some leading considerations, from a sustainable development perspective, when tackling inequality and social inequity:
First, it is pertinent to address inequality and social inequity, as reflected in some of the MDG indicators. There is an unbreakable connection between human welfare and human access with securing sustainable development. Therefore equality on access to, among others, education, health, clean water and sanitation, productive factors and employment opportunities, as well as access to the fruit of development, should continue to be reflected in the future development agenda. Keeping them in the future agenda will give a chance for countries, whether they have yet to achieve or have surpassed the set targets, to continue focusing on ensuring the decline of inequality.
Second, going forward, recognizing the unequal achievement of addressing inequality and social equity, solid international cooperation both bilaterally or through international organizations, must feature prominently in the future agenda to bolster countries’ capacity to reduce inequality. In the current approach of implementing the global development agenda, indicators are solely focused on monitoring progress, where in fact it is more crucial to understand a country’s capacity and provide it with support, in order that all countries can actively be part of global development.
Third, in addressing equality, it is important that equality of access should not be gender biased. It should be guaranteed for women and men, for all income groups, for all ethnic and religious groups. Even with impressive growth, inequality can still persist, if these aspects are not honored and upheld.
With regard to gender equality, we are of the view that international community needs a renewed commitment to promote gender equality and empower women to achieve sustainable people-centered development. We are of the view that there is an urgent need for genuine partnerships and strengthened international cooperation aimed at expanding opportunities for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment and advancement of women.
Fourth, at this juncture, we are shifting from a global development agenda that is more balanced agenda that integrates the sustainable development pillars.
Sustainable economic development should be our focus and should be formulated in an open, fair and just manner. Sustainable economic cooperation should give thorough consideration on how to establish a balanced and equal playing ground between the strong and the vulnerable. For inclusive growth to be realized, fair access for developing countries without bias, should be provided. We could only achieve inclusive global growth through equal access to economic opportunities and cooperation. Our review of inequality should also be linked to access on trade, addressing the climate change and global environmental degradation, as well as the development of financial inclusion within and between countries.
Likewise, it is important to preserve the quality of the environment for our present and future generations. There should be clear guidance on global access to global ecosystems. As an integral part of common goods, long-term functions of the environment and livelihood should not be the sole burden of the local communities that hold the ecosystem asset. In the case that the local population does not possess sufficient capacity to properly and responsibly manage the ecosystem, capacity building to support homegrown efforts should be devised.
Fifth, sustainable development is the concern of all countries, but the fact remains that there is tremendous inequality in terms of taking on the responsibility and implementation of the global development agenda. Determining the means of implementation (MOI) towards sustainable development should be a collective effort to avoid any inequality to arise. The principle of common but differentiated responsibility should also apply in the practice of global cooperation to advance the targets and indicators we will be defining together. By tackling inequality and social inequity through the various modes of cooperation, inclusive growth and development can work, and should be maintained, to ensure the eradication of poverty and achieve a sustainable and equitable development.
Lastly, Indonesia calls on the leadership of the Co-chairs’ and cooperation from the member states to formulate the OWGs recommendations on goals, targets, and indicators in combating inequality and social inequity collectively.
I thank you.
PROMOTING EQUALITY INCLUDING SOCIAL EQUITY, GENDER EQUALITY AND WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT
8TH OWG SDGs, 3-7 FEBRUARY, NEW YORK
Mr. Co-chairs,
Indonesia believes that ensuring equality and social equity is a key part of fighting poverty and securing a sustainable future for all. Inequality mostly represents as income inequality as well as inequality in access to basic needs and services. In any form, inequality deprives individuals of the opportunity to raise their productivity and advance their wellbeing. In order for sustainable development to thrive, inequality and social inequity have to be abated.
As we look to the next decade, extreme poverty will remain a concern. However, there is also the new “bottom billion” or 72% of the world’s poor that live in middle-income countries. Irrespective of economic growth, the trend of middle-income poverty is expected to continue until 2030.
There are some leading considerations, from a sustainable development perspective, when tackling inequality and social inequity:
First, it is pertinent to address inequality and social inequity, as reflected in some of the MDG indicators. There is an unbreakable connection between human welfare and human access with securing sustainable development. Therefore equality on access to, among others, education, health, clean water and sanitation, productive factors and employment opportunities, as well as access to the fruit of development, should continue to be reflected in the future development agenda. Keeping them in the future agenda will give a chance for countries, whether they have yet to achieve or have surpassed the set targets, to continue focusing on ensuring the decline of inequality.
Second, going forward, recognizing the unequal achievement of addressing inequality and social equity, solid international cooperation both bilaterally or through international organizations, must feature prominently in the future agenda to bolster countries’ capacity to reduce inequality. In the current approach of implementing the global development agenda, indicators are solely focused on monitoring progress, where in fact it is more crucial to understand a country’s capacity and provide it with support, in order that all countries can actively be part of global development.
Third, in addressing equality, it is important that equality of access should not be gender biased. It should be guaranteed for women and men, for all income groups, for all ethnic and religious groups. Even with impressive growth, inequality can still persist, if these aspects are not honored and upheld.
With regard to gender equality, we are of the view that international community needs a renewed commitment to promote gender equality and empower women to achieve sustainable people-centered development. We are of the view that there is an urgent need for genuine partnerships and strengthened international cooperation aimed at expanding opportunities for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment and advancement of women.
Fourth, at this juncture, we are shifting from a global development agenda that is more balanced agenda that integrates the sustainable development pillars.
Sustainable economic development should be our focus and should be formulated in an open, fair and just manner. Sustainable economic cooperation should give thorough consideration on how to establish a balanced and equal playing ground between the strong and the vulnerable. For inclusive growth to be realized, fair access for developing countries without bias, should be provided. We could only achieve inclusive global growth through equal access to economic opportunities and cooperation. Our review of inequality should also be linked to access on trade, addressing the climate change and global environmental degradation, as well as the development of financial inclusion within and between countries.
Likewise, it is important to preserve the quality of the environment for our present and future generations. There should be clear guidance on global access to global ecosystems. As an integral part of common goods, long-term functions of the environment and livelihood should not be the sole burden of the local communities that hold the ecosystem asset. In the case that the local population does not possess sufficient capacity to properly and responsibly manage the ecosystem, capacity building to support homegrown efforts should be devised.
Fifth, sustainable development is the concern of all countries, but the fact remains that there is tremendous inequality in terms of taking on the responsibility and implementation of the global development agenda. Determining the means of implementation (MOI) towards sustainable development should be a collective effort to avoid any inequality to arise. The principle of common but differentiated responsibility should also apply in the practice of global cooperation to advance the targets and indicators we will be defining together. By tackling inequality and social inequity through the various modes of cooperation, inclusive growth and development can work, and should be maintained, to ensure the eradication of poverty and achieve a sustainable and equitable development.
Lastly, Indonesia calls on the leadership of the Co-chairs’ and cooperation from the member states to formulate the OWGs recommendations on goals, targets, and indicators in combating inequality and social inequity collectively.
I thank you.
Stakeholders