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17 October 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n Distinguished Delegates,<\/p>\n Ladies and Gentlemen,<\/p>\n Dear Friends,<\/p>\n \n Robert McNamara the then president of the World Bank said in 1968: \u201cWithin ten years, we can eliminate poverty from the world.\u201d He was deeply convinced about it. I was 10 years old at that time. As you see, I am more than 20 years now. I deeply regret that his plan has not materialized the way he wanted.<\/p>\n In our age, poverty is\u00a0not\u00a0<\/b>a natural phenomenon.<\/p>\n It is now a matter of a\u00a0policy<\/b>\u00a0choice.<\/p>\n It is a matter of\u00a0choosing<\/b>\u00a0to end poverty. Nationally and internationally.<\/p>\n And committing to its complete eradication.<\/p>\n \n We have, in fact,\u00a0made<\/b>\u00a0this choice: we pledged to prioritize ending poverty by 2030.<\/p>\n And for 25 years, we were on track.<\/p>\n The number of people living on less than 2-dollars and 15-cents a day was steadily declining.<\/p>\n But\u00a0the 3 C\u2019s<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 climate change, Covid, and conflicts \u2013 interrupted this positive trend and global poverty rates rose once again.<\/p>\n Today, all the 3 C\u2019s are still be with us, together with some other manifestations of crises. Reducing absolute poverty seems to be beyond reach again\u2026unless<\/b>\u00a0we make swift decisions and take substantial science-based policy action.<\/p>\n \n George Orwell wrote that \u201cpoverty annihilates the future<\/b>\u201d to capture the utter hopelessness\u00a0experienced\u00a0by the poor.<\/p>\n So,\u00a0how<\/b>\u00a0can we respond to the calls of those\u00a0most in need<\/b>\u00a0among the 8 billion we are supposed to serve?<\/p>\n \n Firstly,\u00a0peace<\/b>.<\/p>\n The war in Ukraine is only\u00a0one\u00a0<\/b>of many armed conflicts globally \u2013 none of which should have been ignited in the first place.<\/p>\n But, compounded with the pandemic,\u00a0this war<\/b>\u00a0has had a devastating impact on the poorest of our world.<\/p>\n It has been hindering food production; disrupting food, fertilizer, and energy supply chains; and triggering inflation.\u00a0<\/p>\n If we want to see our \u201cNo Poverty\u201d goal achieved soon, we must\u00a0end<\/b>\u00a0the fighting everywhere, including in Ukraine.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n Second,\u00a0science<\/b>.<\/p>\n Rooting our decisions in science will produce evidence-based solutions.<\/p>\n Let us harness our scientific and technical knowledge to\u00a0wipe poverty off the face of the earth. With a focus on women and children, who\u00a0disproportionally<\/b>\u00a0carry the burden.<\/p>\n Poverty is\u00a0multifaceted<\/b>.<\/p>\n We therefore need to go\u00a0beyond GDP<\/b>. To see clearly the trends of growing inequalities and accumulating social, financial and environmental debts. These bubbles will explode and the consequences will have to be shouldered by someone. We cannot expect future generations to carry this burden.<\/p>\n Let us develop methodologies that measure sustainability transformation and account\u00a0<\/b>for inequalities and vulnerabilities.<\/b><\/p>\n \n Lastly,\u00a0solidarity<\/b>.<\/p>\n The pandemic highlighted the importance of solidarity both for social cohesion within countries, and for collective security among states.<\/p>\n The pandemic truly shed light on our\u00a0capacity to care<\/b>\u00a0for each other.<\/p>\n This momentum must be kept alive.\u00a0<\/p>\n In addition to Official Development Assistance, we must mobilize financial institutions, philanthropy, and the private sector.<\/p>\n We must create incentives for funding our mission to leave no one behind.<\/p>\n \n As President of the General Assembly, I reaffirm my commitment to upholding the honor of all those living in poverty.<\/p>\n This session wants to pursue an integrated agenda of peace, prosperity, and sustainability.<\/p>\n We seek to create a world where, in the words of\u00a0Nelson Mandela<\/b>, I quote \u201covercoming poverty is\u00a0not<\/b>\u00a0a gesture of charity. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life.\u201d End quote.<\/p>\n \n And I thank you very much.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 17 October 2022 Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends, Robert McNamara the then president of the World Bank said in 1968: \u201cWithin ten years, we can eliminate poverty […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":361,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[111],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-247722","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-statements","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\n