Troika (Italy, Spain and Turkey)
1
SECOND SESSION OF THE OPEN WORKING GROUP ON
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
New York, 17-19 April 2013
Statement of Mr Paolo Soprano
Director for Sustainable Development
Ministry for the Environment Land and Sea of Italy
Interactive exchange of views on poverty eradication
Excellencies,
Distinguished co-Chairs,
Ladies and gentlemen,
We have the honour to make this intervention also on behalf of Spain and Turkey, with which we
share the membership in this Open Working Group.
In moving towards the Sustainable Development Goals, we would like to reaffirm that poverty
eradication is the overarching priority, our true objective, the very reason why we are here. It is our
core and unfinished business.
Sustainable development represents the instrument by which the international community can
eventually achieve poverty eradication. As reaffirmed by our Heads of State and Government at the
Rio+20 Conference, sustainable development is the only way forward, both for the people and the
planet.
As a global issue, poverty eradication should be an overarching goal to which SDGs can contribute.
It is vital to adopt a development model which ensures that everyone in the world have their basic
needs covered and prevent next generations from facing unequal circumstances caused by
inadequate income and access to basic needs and services in line with equity and sustainability
principles. SDGs therefore should be directed to prevent next generations from facing similar
unequal circumstances caused by inadequate income, coverage of basic needs and access to
services.
2
When it was launched, the MDG agenda reflected a world where poverty was concentrated in the
poorest countries (in 1990, 93% of the poor lived in low-income countries). Since then, the global
economic profile of poverty has significantly changed: despite considerable progress in certain
areas and following the rapid growth of middle-income economies, today the majority of the
world's poor (according to 2010 data) do not live in poor countries, but in middle-income countries.
We also need to take into account that poverty goes far beyond income measurement. Poverty
eradication requires a multidimensional approach capable to address not only the symptoms, but
also its underlying causes, including systemic and institutional issues. We have to consider poverty
as a product of structural imbalances in development processes. For part of the population, such
imbalances result in limiting the right "to live in dignity and take an active part in society".
A life worth living, including the opportunity to achieve what an individual considers relevant and
to widen her or his set of options, embraces labour skills, environment, health, education, housing,
security, income, working conditions, self-respect and a role in decision-making. Income is a
relevant component of these dimensions, but does not reflect them all.
Several dimensions of well-being strongly depend on public institutions performing essential tasks
and providing public goods and services. To address inequalities the new framework for poverty
eradication must take into account the specific barriers faced by minorities, persons with
disabilities, women, children, indigenous peoples and other vulnerable groups. Poverty reduction
strategies must include redistributive policies to address such barriers.
The future sustainable development framework should be universal and reflect current realities. The
goals should be limited in number and apply to all countries, with targets reflecting different
national contexts. It is also important to overcome the inadequacy of measurement instruments
adopted so far by introducing development indicators capable of better measuring well-being and
the quality of life. In order to develop effective policies for the eradication of poverty, it is crucial to
distinguish and compare the contribution of each indicator, capturing the different aspects of the
phenomenon (e.g. “risk at poverty” indicator, indicator of material deprivation, indicator of very
low work intensity, etc).
Within the perspective of addressing social exclusion and discrimination, the new framework
should also reaffirm the strategic importance of gender equality. In a context of generalized
insecurity, it is important to underline that gender disparities also leave poor women and girls
disproportionately vulnerable to shocks - such as rising food or fuel prices and environmental
disasters - as they often have fewer assets, resources and social networks to cope with these
challenges.
A greater focus on gender equality requires that women be incorporated into the development
process. They should not be considered passive or marginal, but active subjects of societal
processes. At the same time, an enhanced poverty eradication framework should put more emphasis
on addressing the root-causes of women’s vulnerable conditions. There is also a strong case for
institutionalizing social protection as the backbone of wider social policy measures for protecting,
promoting and transforming the livelihoods of women.
Poverty eradication should fully take into account the issues of employment and decent jobs.
Despite the rapid economic growth occurred in countries, poverty is either a stark reality or a real
threat for the majority of workers in most countries in the world.
3
It is therefore important to emphasize the importance of an inclusive and sustainable growth, as the
basis for the eradication of poverty. In such a context, it is also essential to pay attention to
distribution dynamics, and consequently to the issues related to inequalities in the access to the
benefits produced by growth. Empirical evidence shows that poverty reduction is more effective in
countries with lower degrees of economic inequality. Sustained economic growth is often
accompanied by growing inequality within countries and a growing vulnerability. The notion of
“decent work” can thus be regarded as a fundamental cross-cutting issue that should become, along
with the concepts of inclusive economic growth, social protection and environmental protection,
one of the pillars in the fight against multidimensional poverty.
To progress on our work we need to identify goals that are universally acceptable to all and may
subsume measureable actions implementing sustainable development.
Distinguished Co-Chairs,
finally, we should indeed look at poverty eradication as the overarching objective in the context of
each of the priority areas that the working group will be able to identify.
Each thematic area should contribute to achieve equitable, inclusive social development; ensure
respect for human-rights; live within planetary boundaries; contribute to peace and security; and
drive the transition to an equitable, sustainable and inclusive economic development.
I thank you.
SECOND SESSION OF THE OPEN WORKING GROUP ON
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
New York, 17-19 April 2013
Statement of Mr Paolo Soprano
Director for Sustainable Development
Ministry for the Environment Land and Sea of Italy
Interactive exchange of views on poverty eradication
Excellencies,
Distinguished co-Chairs,
Ladies and gentlemen,
We have the honour to make this intervention also on behalf of Spain and Turkey, with which we
share the membership in this Open Working Group.
In moving towards the Sustainable Development Goals, we would like to reaffirm that poverty
eradication is the overarching priority, our true objective, the very reason why we are here. It is our
core and unfinished business.
Sustainable development represents the instrument by which the international community can
eventually achieve poverty eradication. As reaffirmed by our Heads of State and Government at the
Rio+20 Conference, sustainable development is the only way forward, both for the people and the
planet.
As a global issue, poverty eradication should be an overarching goal to which SDGs can contribute.
It is vital to adopt a development model which ensures that everyone in the world have their basic
needs covered and prevent next generations from facing unequal circumstances caused by
inadequate income and access to basic needs and services in line with equity and sustainability
principles. SDGs therefore should be directed to prevent next generations from facing similar
unequal circumstances caused by inadequate income, coverage of basic needs and access to
services.
2
When it was launched, the MDG agenda reflected a world where poverty was concentrated in the
poorest countries (in 1990, 93% of the poor lived in low-income countries). Since then, the global
economic profile of poverty has significantly changed: despite considerable progress in certain
areas and following the rapid growth of middle-income economies, today the majority of the
world's poor (according to 2010 data) do not live in poor countries, but in middle-income countries.
We also need to take into account that poverty goes far beyond income measurement. Poverty
eradication requires a multidimensional approach capable to address not only the symptoms, but
also its underlying causes, including systemic and institutional issues. We have to consider poverty
as a product of structural imbalances in development processes. For part of the population, such
imbalances result in limiting the right "to live in dignity and take an active part in society".
A life worth living, including the opportunity to achieve what an individual considers relevant and
to widen her or his set of options, embraces labour skills, environment, health, education, housing,
security, income, working conditions, self-respect and a role in decision-making. Income is a
relevant component of these dimensions, but does not reflect them all.
Several dimensions of well-being strongly depend on public institutions performing essential tasks
and providing public goods and services. To address inequalities the new framework for poverty
eradication must take into account the specific barriers faced by minorities, persons with
disabilities, women, children, indigenous peoples and other vulnerable groups. Poverty reduction
strategies must include redistributive policies to address such barriers.
The future sustainable development framework should be universal and reflect current realities. The
goals should be limited in number and apply to all countries, with targets reflecting different
national contexts. It is also important to overcome the inadequacy of measurement instruments
adopted so far by introducing development indicators capable of better measuring well-being and
the quality of life. In order to develop effective policies for the eradication of poverty, it is crucial to
distinguish and compare the contribution of each indicator, capturing the different aspects of the
phenomenon (e.g. “risk at poverty” indicator, indicator of material deprivation, indicator of very
low work intensity, etc).
Within the perspective of addressing social exclusion and discrimination, the new framework
should also reaffirm the strategic importance of gender equality. In a context of generalized
insecurity, it is important to underline that gender disparities also leave poor women and girls
disproportionately vulnerable to shocks - such as rising food or fuel prices and environmental
disasters - as they often have fewer assets, resources and social networks to cope with these
challenges.
A greater focus on gender equality requires that women be incorporated into the development
process. They should not be considered passive or marginal, but active subjects of societal
processes. At the same time, an enhanced poverty eradication framework should put more emphasis
on addressing the root-causes of women’s vulnerable conditions. There is also a strong case for
institutionalizing social protection as the backbone of wider social policy measures for protecting,
promoting and transforming the livelihoods of women.
Poverty eradication should fully take into account the issues of employment and decent jobs.
Despite the rapid economic growth occurred in countries, poverty is either a stark reality or a real
threat for the majority of workers in most countries in the world.
3
It is therefore important to emphasize the importance of an inclusive and sustainable growth, as the
basis for the eradication of poverty. In such a context, it is also essential to pay attention to
distribution dynamics, and consequently to the issues related to inequalities in the access to the
benefits produced by growth. Empirical evidence shows that poverty reduction is more effective in
countries with lower degrees of economic inequality. Sustained economic growth is often
accompanied by growing inequality within countries and a growing vulnerability. The notion of
“decent work” can thus be regarded as a fundamental cross-cutting issue that should become, along
with the concepts of inclusive economic growth, social protection and environmental protection,
one of the pillars in the fight against multidimensional poverty.
To progress on our work we need to identify goals that are universally acceptable to all and may
subsume measureable actions implementing sustainable development.
Distinguished Co-Chairs,
finally, we should indeed look at poverty eradication as the overarching objective in the context of
each of the priority areas that the working group will be able to identify.
Each thematic area should contribute to achieve equitable, inclusive social development; ensure
respect for human-rights; live within planetary boundaries; contribute to peace and security; and
drive the transition to an equitable, sustainable and inclusive economic development.
I thank you.