By Holy See Mission
Statement by H.E. Archbishop Celestino
Migliore
Apostolic Nuncio, Permanent Observer of the Holy See
62nd session of the
United Nations General Assembly
Thematic Debate entitled
“Recognizing the achievements, addressing the challenges and
getting back on track to achieve
the MDGs by 2015”
New York, 4 April 2008 Mr. President,
In the year 2000, in this very Hall, Heads of State
and of Government agreed on an ambitious, yet needed, set of global development
goals to be achieved by 2015. At halfway point, while much has been done towards
achieving the goals, abject poverty, hunger, illiteracy and lack of even the
most basic healthcare are still rampant, indeed worsening in some regions.
Tackling these challenges that continue to afflict hundreds of millions remains,
therefore, at the very centre of our concerns.
Authoritative studies tell us that in spite of the
remarkable economic growth in many developing countries, the overall goal of
reducing hunger and poverty has remained elusive.
My delegation believes that greater international
solidarity is necessary if we are to succeed in narrowing the ever-increasing
gap between rich and poor countries and between individuals within countries.
While international aid is important, a fairer international trade environment -
including addressing market-distorting practices which disadvantage weaker
economies - is even more decisive. In this regard, the importance of the
upcoming Doha Review Conference cannot be stressed enough. The combined efforts
to meet the 0.7% of ODA and to review trade and financing mechanisms on the one
hand, and to end bad governance and internecine conflicts in recipient States on
the other, will go a long way in lifting millions out of extreme poverty and
hunger.
My delegation wishes to assure that the Holy See
remains actively engaged in alleviating poverty and hunger, which are an offense
against human dignity. It will not cease to highlight these basic needs, so that
they remain at the centre of international attention and are addressed as a
matter of social justice.
The Holy See is very pleased of the good progress
towards achieving universal access to primary education, with some of the
poorest regions seeing a dramatic increase in enrollment. However, without
redoubled efforts, 58 countries may not achieve the goal of universal primary
schooling by 2015.
Education underpins all the MDGs. It is the most
effective tool to empower men and women to achieve greater social, economic and
political freedom. Governments and civil society, public and private sectors,
parents and teachers must invest in the education of future generations to
prepare them to face the challenges of an increasingly globalised society. In
particular, utmost efforts must be made to give equal educational opportunities
to boys and girls, and to ensure that no child is left behind for purely
economic and social reasons. Precisely with this end in view, thousands of
educational institutions of the Catholic Church are located in degraded inner
cities and in far-flung villages, in the peripheries of huge cities and in
places where children are constrained to work to survive.
The health-related MDGs also require our collective
action. While progress has been made in reducing child mortality, there has been
slower progress in addressing maternal health, HIV/AIDS, malaria and
tuberculosis. The overriding cause of the slow progress has been the lack of
resources at the most basic levels of healthcare and the continued lack of
access to even basic health services. It has been long demonstrated that
investing in primary healthcare, rather than in selective, culturally divisive
and ideologically driven forms of health services, which camouflage the
destruction of life among medical and social services,
is one of the most cost effective and successful ways to improve the overall
quality of life and the stability of families and communities.
Moreover, the lack of progress on the health-related
goals demonstrates the interconnected and mutually reinforcing nature of the
MDGs. The significant correlation between poverty and the persistent high levels
of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and maternal mortality is evident. My
delegation wishes to assure that the Holy See, through its institutions, will
continue to provide basic healthcare, with a preferential option for the most
underserved and marginalized sectors of society.
This thematic debate halfway towards 2015 comes at
this rather poignant time of the 60th Anniversary of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights. At the heart of both the UDHR and the MDGs is the
goal of a better future for all. More than talks and summits, the achievement of
this goal requires commitment and concrete action. Our common fight against
extreme poverty, hunger, illiteracy and illnesses is not merely an act of
generosity and altruism: it is a conditio sine qua non for a better
future and a better world fit for all.
Thank you, Mr. President.
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