All together, against the growth of inequalities

Miguel Angel Velasco cmf

From the Claretian Team at the UN

The theme that has focused the morning’s reflection and dialogue at the UN – New York has been the following: How can we move towards the construction of more peaceful, egalitarian, and inclusive societies? The SDGs discussed were: 3, 10, 16, 17, the interactions between these goals and with the other goals of the 2030 Agenda. Let’s remember what these SDGs are; I invite you to read the goals of each one of them at this address: https://www.globalcmf.com/documentos-2030-agenda-esenfr

Goal 3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. 

Goal 10. Reduce inequality within and between countries.

Goal 16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development,

facilitate access to justice for all, and build effective and inclusive accountable institutions at all levels. Effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.

The day’s approach paper opened with this clarifying paragraph: “Globally, as of 25 June 2021, 179,686,071 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 3,899,172 deaths, have been reported to WHO. As of June 24, 2021, a total of 2,624,733,776 doses of vaccine have been administered. At the same time, past progress in many areas of health and well-being, including maternal mortality and childhood immunization, is about to be reversed. The continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic also risks increasing inequality, both within and between countries, in many dimensions. Income inequalities within countries have widened, with lower-income households bearing a disproportionate burden of the pandemic in terms of lost jobs or increased exposure to the virus. Between countries, differences in recovery trajectories – due to unequal fiscal resources and also unequal access to COVID-19 vaccines – threaten to further widen per capita income gaps between developed and most developing economies.”

The dialogue was moderated by Ms. Jan Beagle, Director-General of the International Development Law Organization (IDLO). Panelists were: Ms. Armida Alisjahbana, Executive Secretary of ESCAP; Ms. Gabriela Bucher, Executive Director of Oxfam International; Ms. Sarah Cliffe, Director, NYU Center on International Cooperation; Ms. Quarraisha Abdool Karim, Associate Scientific Director, Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research (CAPRISA), and Professor of Clinical Epidemiology, Columbia University, Mr. James K Boyce, Senior Fellow at the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

The relationship between the three SDGs (3, 10, and 16) is in evidence worldwide; the panelists were in complete agreement on this. For those who want to see it, the pandemic has made the enormous gaps in our world more visible, evident, and painful. The relationship between the SDGs calls for the creation, extension, or strengthening of Public Health Systems in all countries; developing tax systems in each country and solidarity between countries; developing rights to decent work; strengthening government systems and bodies to safeguard Justice and Peace; eradicating national and international corruption (CFR. SDG 16) and enhancing clarity and transparency in financial and political systems. All this can only be achieved through collaboration between countries, the UN and Civil Society, with the 2030 Agenda as a roadmap. 

A proof that the different countries of the world have understood the need to work together to solve the consequences of COVID-19, will be that countries and companies will facilitate vaccines and vaccination for all inhabitants, “Leaving no one behind”; it cannot be tolerated that the level of vaccination in Africa is, as of today at 2% of the population; the members of UN COVAX (Covid-19 Vaccines Global Access) organization has extensive experience in the distribution of many types of vaccines in all parts of the world, so it will be an indispensable piece for the goal of total vaccination.

The other two topics this third day, developed in the afternoon, were: 

– How can we support local authorities in implementing the SDGs and how can we make better use of local voluntary reviews?

– Restoring the conditions for progress on the SDGs in African countries, least developed countries and landlocked developing countries.

Miguel Angel Velasco cmf

From the Claretian Team at the UN