Excellencies, distinguished delegates, participants,
Since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in 2015, the Asia-Pacific region has witnessed uneven progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Despite initial advancements in reducing poverty, the prevalence of undernourishment and providing quality education, our midpoint assessment in 2023 revealed a concerning lack in progress, with the region achieving only 17 per cent of measurable targets of the 2030 Agenda.
Of particular concern is the lack of progress on social development goals, especially Goal 1 (No Poverty) and Goal 2 (Zero Hunger), as evidenced by widening inequality within and across countries, and an increasing number of people living in extreme poverty and with severe food insecurity.
The region also has seen setbacks in gender equality and women's empowerment, magnified by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Asia and the Pacific faces additional challenges in the form of climate change, environmental degradation and public health crises, all of which pose a direct threat to the social fabric of our communities, and which require comprehensive approaches and interconnected solutions that integrate economic policies, social investments as well as environmental sustainability.
Unfortunately, prevailing inequalities and gaps in access to basic opportunities such as energy, food and digital connectivity are often overlooked.
Our Leave No One Behind analysis supports understanding of how various circumstances intersect and create inequalities in access to basic opportunities that are covered by the SDGs, to ultimately strengthen evidence-based policy making for inclusive development strategies.
Distinguished delegates
Governments in the region must prioritize inclusive development strategies, directing their focus towards social protection programs, accessible healthcare and gender equality.
Social protection plays a pivotal role in fostering resilience, reducing inequality and promoting inclusive development. But large gaps remain.
Nevertheless, some positive trends in Asia and the Pacific can be observed as a result of the recent pandemic. Examples include the establishment of contributory schemes related to unemployment benefits in Indonesia and the Maldives.
Governments are also working to expand the coverage of contributory schemes to previously ineligible populations, including informal workers.
The digitalization of social protection information systems and payment systems has seen some progress, enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of payments. For example, in Bangladesh, digital payments linked to early flood warning systems improved food security and reduced the likelihood of households falling into debt.
However, significant gaps persist in coverage. Over half of the region's population remains unprotected against various contingencies throughout life. Systematic exclusion disproportionately affects vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, older persons and migrant workers, leading to increased poverty and limited access to social protection of these population groups.
Closing these coverage gaps requires addressing the needs of the working-age population, particularly the 1.3 billion people who are engaged in informal employment and who currently lack social protection.
As covariate shocks related to the climate crisis and high food and fuel prices escalate, efforts should be intensified to build comprehensive, resilient and climate-responsive social protection systems.
Governments should establish a nationally defined social protection floor, combining non-contributory and contributory mechanisms to ensure basic social security for all.
Adopting a life-cycle approach to social protection, which addresses different risks and vulnerabilities at various life stages, is essential. Such an approach would also support climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts.
Distinguished delegates
Strong regional collaboration is key, and the region has seen some important achievements:
The ESCAP Action Plan to Strengthen Regional Cooperation on Social Protection in Asia and the Pacific (2020) serves as a shared vision and platform for promoting partnership and peer learning to advance more comprehensive and inclusive social protection systems.
The Jakarta Declaration on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities (2023-2032) calls on governments to “extend both mainstream and disability-specific social protection schemes to cover young children, adolescents, women and older persons with disabilities.”
The “Fourth Regional Review and appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing” (2022) underlines the importance to develop an inclusive, adaptive and rights-based approach to social protection systems as well as access to health services that will provide universal old age income security and promote the dignity of older persons.
ESCAP member States in the “Regional Review of Implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration” (2021) highlighted the need to provide adequate support to migrants through public health services, health insurance and social protection, and apply the principle of equality of treatment between nationals and migrants.
We are also actively engaged with member States and stakeholders to accelerate action on gender equality and the empowerment of women, a key aspect of the 2030 Agenda.
While progress has been made in education and health, concerns persist about stagnation and regression in women’s participation in the labor force and decent work.
We support women’s economic empowerment through a twin-track approach, uplifting women entrepreneurs while breaking down barriers posed by disproportionate unpaid care and domestic work.
The Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on the Beijing+30 Review, scheduled for November in Bangkok, offers an opportunity to strengthen the knowledge base on progress and gaps and engage member States in policy development to realize the rights of women and girls.
Distinguished delegates,
Frameworks such as Addis Ababa and more recently the Sharm El Sheikh agreements acknowledge the need for interconnected solutions and the role of social development issues in their areas. Our regional social development frameworks emphasize the need to operate outside of silos.
Such integrated approaches to policymaking are also needed at the country level. We need more frequent and structured policy dialogue across sectors and cross fertilization of analytical solutions, to build a more inclusive future that upholds social justice, equality and sustainability.
Thank you very much.
