The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) opened its seventy‑seventh session today, with the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, a resurgence of conflicts and the climate emergency driving its general discussion, as delegates emphasized that colliding crises have reversed progress, exacerbated inequalities and impacted social development.
Navid Hanif, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, voicing concern over multiple crises facing the world — COVID-19, the climate emergency, the resurgence of conflicts and rising inflation — said extreme poverty has increased for the first time since 1998, with an additional 75 to 95 million people living in extreme poverty this year. Further, persons with disabilities have suffered disproportionately due to school closures, job losses and discriminatory health care, while indigenous peoples — affected by increasing food insecurity and limited access to services — continue to face violations of their collective and individual rights.
Claudia Mahler, Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, emphasized: “Even though increasingly viewed as a commodity, housing is most importantly a human right.” If the right to housing is violated, other human rights may also be compromised, including the rights to health, independent living and even the right to life. Emergency crises related to climate change, natural disasters and armed conflict also pose a threat to the right to adequate housing of older persons. Detailing new age-friendly and inclusive housing solutions, she urged States to transform institutional forms of care into settings that allow for older persons to retain their right to decide for themselves, with the objective of ending care institutionalization.
Meanwhile, Eliot Minchenberg, Director of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Liaison Office, underscored the potential of literacy ‑ a vital component of the fundamental human right to education and public good — to “transform our world”. Pointing to a crisis in education of 244 million children and adolescents out of school, while 771 million adults still lack literacy skills, he recalled the Transforming Education Summit that stirred a global movement to put education and literacy at the centre of the global development agenda. In his vision statement for the Summit, the Secretary‑General warned against the rise of attacks on truth, facts and democratic institutions in online and physical spaces, he said, calling on States to combat disinformation, racism, xenophobia, hate speech and violence.
Also briefing the Committee today was Daniela Bas, Director of Division for Inclusive Social Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
As the general discussion began, delegations tackled the issue of social development, focusing on the multifaceted impacts of COVID-19, conflicts, climate change and the increase in food and fuel prices on the most vulnerable, including women, young people, older persons and persons with disability and refugees.
The representative of Pakistan, speaking for the “Group of 77” developing countries and China, voiced concern over the devastating impact of the increase in food and fuel prices and the decline in economic growth on the large segment of the world’s population. To enable developing countries to eradicate poverty and hunger, resources must be mobilized from all possible sources, he asserted, reaffirming that international development cooperation — especially North–South cooperation — remains a fundamental catalyst to sustainable development.
Along similar lines, the representative of South Africa, speaking for the African Group, said the pandemic reversed hard-won development gains in Africa. Nutrition remains a priority while universal policies must be formulated to ensure access to basic services and infrastructure, ranging from quality education to potable drinking water and sanitation, affordable housing and technology. Developed countries must deliver on their commitment of $100 billion per year, she stressed.
Echoing her concerns, the representative of Viet Nam, speaking for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), said it is high time to place social development at the heart of recovery strategies that address inequality, poverty, hunger and enhance the resilience, sustainable livelihoods and well-being of all people.
The representative of the Dominican Republic, speaking for the Central American Integration System, underlined the organization’s commitment to meeting the needs of vulnerable people, particularly Afro-descendant persons, indigenous persons, people with disabilities, seniors, women and young people.
The representative of the Bahamas, speaking for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), drew attention to small island developing States, which are already vulnerable to natural disasters and external shocks. The Caribbean region is experiencing an active hurricane season, the effects of which are still unknown, he cautioned, stressing that growing concerns over the effects of climate change also warrant concerns about food security. Addressing food insecurity and poverty eradication go hand in hand, he said, adding that CARICOM has embarked on reducing the food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025.
Meanwhile, the youth delegate of Finland, noting that his parents were Vietnamese boat people, warned that, due to long processing times, young refugees and asylum seekers fall victim to human trafficking and exploitation.
In a similar vein, the youth delegate of Switzerland highlighted the unprecedented set of challenges that young people are facing around the world. Impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, they are experiencing academic setbacks and growing unemployment, with many dropping out of the labour market. She also pointed out that climate change and environmental degradation constitute additional challenges for young people.
In other business, José A. Blanco Conde (Dominican Republic), Chair of the Third Committee, underscored the need for punctuality, correct procedure and early submission of statements for this session.
The Committee then approved its organization of work.
Also speaking today were representatives of Argentina, Russian Federation, , Saudi Arabia, China, Philippines, Kenya, Colombia, Namibia, India, Cameroon, Panama, Zambia, Honduras, Cuba, Iran, Malaysia, Thailand, Qatar, Dominican Republic, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, South Africa, Guatemala, Portugal, Belgium, Syria, Togo, Algeria, Peru, Maldives, Burkina Faso and United Arab Emirates. Observers for the European Union and the Holy See, as well as youth delegates of Austria, Netherlands, Mexico, Israel, Ireland, Slovenia, Georgia and Italy also spoke.
The Third Committee will reconvene at 10 a.m. on Friday, 30 September, to continue its debate on social development.
Social Development
NAVID HANIF, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, voiced concern over multiple crises facing the world, including the lingering impact of COVID-19, the climate emergency, resurgence of conflicts and rising inflation. Extreme poverty has increased for the first time since 1998, with an additional 75 to 95 million people living in extreme poverty this year. Compared to pre-pandemic levels, 60 per cent of workers today have lower incomes. Marginalized groups have been among the most affected, he stressed, cautioning against worsened equality within and among countries. He emphasized that persons with disabilities have suffered disproportionately due to lack of access to remote education and school closures, job losses and discriminatory health care. Indigenous peoples continue to face violations of their collective and individual rights while being affected by increasing food insecurity and limited access to services.
The above-mentioned issues need urgent attention as they have the potential to cause social disruptions and upheavals, he warned, underscoring the importance of investment in social protection, economic security and basic infrastructure. He further called for better access to quality education, lifelong learning opportunities, affordable health care services, clean drinking water as well as improved sanitation, adequate housing and affordable Internet for all. Stressing the need to invest in green economic sectors to create jobs for all, he pointed to the Sustainable Development Goals Summit in 2033. Global challenges require global solutions with active participation of all countries in all segments of society, he noted, describing the United Nations as platform for promoting action.
DANIELA BAS, Director, Division for Inclusive Social Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, said that the report “Implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly” emphasizes the critical moment of the Decade of Action. Such action is needed urgently to accelerate an inclusive recovery and States need to invest in people’s capacity, by providing access to quality education, affordable health care and services, universal social protection systems and Internet connectivity for all. Bridging the gap in accessing the Internet is a priority. The safeguard and increase of social spending in fully implementing the 2030 Agenda is also encouraged in the report, which further advocates for a recommitment to multilateralism to tackle global crises and support social development.
She went on to say that the report “Implementation of the International Year of the Family and its follow-up processes” recommends better support for working parents, including through paid family and sick leave, improving the flexibility of working arrangements and providing literature on the use of the Internet. Other megatrends, ranging from the impact of technology, urbanisation and climate change related to families, are also explored. The report on “International Year of Older Persons: Second World Assembly on Ageing” analyses the impact of digital technologies on older persons, identifying policy implications for older persons that ensure there are opportunities to overcome challenges in digital spaces that empower them. Further, it stresses the discrimination that this group is already experiencing, while noting that in 2030 there will be more older persons than younger persons in the world.
She also noted that the report “Inclusive development for and with persons with disabilities” reviews the situation of persons with disabilities in the context of recent humanitarian emergencies and the ongoing effort towards advancing disability inclusion after the pandemic. It also refers to how they have been impacted by global crises and the barriers they face. Further, it offers actions to mainstream disability and recommendations on how to build a better world in recovering from the pandemic, aiming at ensuring that workplaces, health, education, internet are accessible to all. She underlined the call to protect refugees, victims of conflicts, natural disaster and other crises situations.
MARÍA DEL CARMEN SQUEFF (Argentina), citing the report of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on food security and nutrition, noted that more than 670 million people, 8 per cent of the global population, will continue to suffer hunger in 2030, a number unchanged since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda in 2015. Argentina is a producer and an exporter of nutritious and quality food and it will continue to contribute to global food security. The international community must prioritize tackling problems and finding solutions in the framework of the United Nations fora, as it is a fundamental prerequisite for all human beings to enjoy decent life. She then raised asked Ms. Bas on her expectations for the upcoming Summit on Social Development, expected to be held in 2025.
Ms. BAS, responding, said that she hoped that the 2025 Summit would be a reality and added her support for it. She also acknowledged the important role the delegate of Argentina played in emphasizing the importance of access to food and water. She added that, as the world population grew, the international community would have to work to make sure the world’s resources were not entirely depleted.
ELIOT MINCHENBERG, Director of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Liaison Office, presented the report of the Secretary-General entitled “Literacy for life: Shaping future agendas” and “Education for Democracy”, prepared by his office. He noted that the Transforming Education Summit held during the high-level week had stirred a global movement to put education and literacy at the centre of the global development agenda — dealing with a crisis in education of 244 million children and adolescents out of school, while 771 million adults still lack literacy skills. “The importance of literacy as a vital component of the fundamental human right to education and public good cannot be overemphasized,” he said. However, the full potential of literacy to “transform our world” can only be unleashed if it is approached from a lifelong learning perspective.
He noted the report sheds light on the lessons learned from the COVID-19 response, as Governments focused on developing resilient education and literacy programs to ensure the learning continues, including by harnessing the transformative potential of digital technologies. The report also underscores UNESCO’s support to Member States in ensuring that youth and adult literacy is integrated into national policies, strategies and education sector plans. In total, 68 countries benefited, including 15 that addressed the learning needs of out-of-school children and youth. With the funding gap for achieving literacy targets standing at $17 billion, he called on Member States and development partners to enhance investment in quality youth and adult literacy and basic education, and step up coordinated action for greater impact, in times of crisis and beyond.
The Transforming Education summit was a reminder “that we stand at a turning point”, he stressed. In his vision statement for the Summit, the Secretary-General warned against the rise of attacks on truth, facts and democratic institutions in online and physical spaces, highlighting the role of education in preparing learners to be active and responsible citizens in their own communities, in their countries and the world. Against such global challenges, the notion of education for democracy has taken a new dimension in today’s fast-paced, interconnected digital environment, and the report recommends that Member States and development partners accelerate efforts to combat disinformation, misinformation, stigmatization, racism, xenophobia, hate speech, discrimination, exclusion and violence.
In the ensuing interactive dialogue, the representative of Argentina, in response to the Vision Statement delivered by the Secretary-General on transforming education, expressed regret that the reference to integral sexual education was deleted. This deletion sends a disheartening message to girls and boys throughout the worlds, she warned.
The representative of Mongolia, underscoring the central role of literacy, asked Mr. Minchenberg how the Transforming Education Summit highlighted the issue of literacy and what actions will be taken by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to ensure follow-up on this issue.
Mr. MINCHENBERG, responding to delegates’ questions, said that UNESCO supported the process and provided expertise for the Transforming Education Summit. He added his agreement that gender equality and a pursuit of rights of women and girls remain a crucial element of education and should be incorporated in all projects and programmes in a follow-up of the Summit. For this purpose, the Sustainable Development Goal 4-Education 2030 Steering Committee, under the leadership of UNESCO, was created. He added that the United Nations specialized agencies, World Bank and other stakeholders conducted a meeting after the Summit to discuss the way forward. The Summit was a “political moment” to mobilize Member States at the highest political level and allow for active engagement with those countries regarding national initiatives, he added.
CLAUDIA MAHLER, Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, Human Rights Council, then addressed the Committee, highlighting the crucial importance of the right to adequate housing for older persons. If the right to housing is violated, other human rights may also be compromised, including the rights to health, independent living, family life, and even the right to life. More so, emergency crises, particularly those related to climate change, natural disasters and armed conflict, also pose a threat to the right to adequate housing of older persons and, instead, displaces millions around the globe every year. The intersection of age and other types of discrimination, such as sex, gender, ethnicity or disability, remains a compounding factor and barrier to the full enjoyment of the right to adequate housing of older persons.
Worldwide, older persons are overrepresented among those whose right to adequate housing was violated, she reported. Also, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the higher mortality rate among residents of long-term care homes is partly explained by the failure of such homes to adequately protect their residents. The right to adequate housing does not only entail having a roof over one’s head but comprises a significant number of additional elements, she stressed, noting that at times, a pension is not enough to cover the rent. As well, programmes providing affordable social housing or loan programmes for low-income groups often have an age limit for eligibility.
The right to housing entails the freedom of older persons to choose where, with whom and how they want to live and what they want to do with their property and should guarantee their physical safety, she continued. However, older persons living in informal settlements are not adequately protected from the weather and natural hazards, which can have a negative impact on their health. Furthermore, a lack of accessibility hinders older persons from living independently and reinforces the social exclusion and marginalization of older persons with disabilities or reduced mobility. “Even though increasingly viewed as a commodity, housing is most importantly a human right,” she emphasized.
Detailing new age-friendly and inclusive housing solutions, she called upon States to provide a range of support services that promote older persons’ dignity, autonomy and independence and enable them to remain in their home. Older persons with disabilities must not be forcibly institutionalized, she asserted, urging States to transform institutional forms of care into settings that allow for older persons to retain their right to decide for themselves, as well as their autonomy and independence, with the objective of ending care institutionalization.
In the ensuing interactive dialogue on the topic, the representative of Israel said that his country is implementing recommendations of the Inter-Ministerial Committee and focusing on housing solutions for the aging population. He asked Ms. Mahler about her view on the benefits of using smart home technology to ensure adequate living in comparison to the advantages of the assisted living conditions.
The representative of Portugal asked what measures Ms. Mahler would recommend in addressing the energy poverty.
The representative of the Russian Federation shared that in his country, federal statistic monitoring exercises are conducted to develop and assess the effectiveness of the socio-demographic policies and improve living standards of the older generation.
The observer for the European Union asked how the United Nations Organization plans to collect and use data for housing, living arrangements and social protection schemes for older people. He also asked about practical steps the Organization is undertaking to integrate ageing and old-age concerns in the housing policies, in particular in the framework of implementation of the New Urban Agenda.
The representative of Chile, speaking for the Group of Friends of Older Persons, spotlighted the importance of stronger normative protections for adapting national regulatory frameworks and asked how an international legally binding instrument on the human rights of older persons would close the identified protection gaps for older persons in complement to the provisions of national legislations.
The representative of India raised a question about a need to increase the role of family to ensure well-being of all persons and to counter neglect and homelessness experienced by the elderly.
Also, speaking were representatives of Argentina, Canada, Malta, Mexico, Slovenia and Slovakia, as well as an observer for the Sovereign Order of Malta.
Ms. MAHLER, in regards to the importance of intersectionality of women and older persons with disabilities, said that, though they may want to stay in their homes and may not be in a condition to do so, they must be allowed to decide where they want to live and under what circumstances. Another challenge to access to housing for older persons is “old-age poverty”, which not only limits their access to adequate housing, but also forces them to decide between paying for housing, such as rent, or for medication, food and other necessities. On the issue of conflict, she said that displaced persons often leave as a last resort and should be allowed to decide for themselves where they want to live. She added her agreement that a dedicated global human rights instrument on the rights of older persons is necessary; it would change the narrative and help them to be seen as “rights holders”. Such an instrument would give guidance to States regarding norms. “Meaningful participation is the tool which we need to enhance more”, she said, adding that older persons are often excluded from discussions of housing issues, design, and how digital solutions can help them. Regarding violence against older persons, she said that adequate housing would provide the support and security to hinder attempts to violate their rights both in institutions but also at home.
Source: UN General Assembly
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