Address by the Minister of Social Development, Ms Bathabile Dlamini, MP, on the occasion of the 70th Session of the General Assembly UN Summit for the Adoption of the Post-2015 Development Agenda Interactive Dialogue 1: Ending Poverty and Hunger, UN Headquarters-New York
Africa’s economic and developmental prospects in 2015 are significantly more positive from what they were at the dawn of the millennium in 2000. Such was the power and inspiration of the Millennium Development Goals, which was the stimulus for poverty eradication and global development. The MDGs remain a glowing benchmark in the United Nations’ history.
However, poverty remains a major challenge, as hundreds of millions of people, particularly in Africa, continue to be affected by it. Despite being a region rich in natural resources, development efforts on the Continent are hindered by a multitude of challenges, ranging from economic, political and social to environmental threats.
It should be our collective endeavour to work together to combat hunger, unemployment and inequality. These glaring features of poverty manifest in the form of inadequate access to universal health care, social protection, education, water and sanitation. The effects have included armed conflicts, which persistently undermine Africa's efforts to achieve sustainable development.
By committing to the outcome document of the Post-2015 Development Agenda Summit, titled “Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, we are renewing our pledge to our people to work towards implementing this institutional framework for sustainable development on a global scale. In this regard, we cannot over-emphasise the urgency with which the issue of poverty eradication is to be treated.
South Africa is pleased that the outcome document recognises that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and that the eradication of poverty is an indispensable requirement for sustainable development.
It is our experience that sustainable development cannot be achieved without mutual support between and among countries. As we combine efforts to eradicate poverty in pursuit of sustainable development, we must be cognisant of the differentiation among countries, based on our individual national circumstances.
In this context, the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and recognition of national policy space should continuously guide our engagements as we respond to the needs of all in the world. Therefore, the sustainable development agenda should allow individual regions and states the policy space to address the developmental needs unique to their circumstances and priorities.
Within the context of ensuring that all countries have the resources and capacities to eliminate poverty and hunger, it is necessary that all countries are able to exercise the right of full sovereignty over all their natural wealth and resources as agreed to in the Declaration on the Right to Development.
It is important to underscore the fact that the neglect of economic and social rights serves to undermine the full protection of civil and political rights that empower people to claim their rights to food, housing, education, work, social security and health services. The Declaration on the Right to Development which incorporates all human rights and recognises that all rights and freedoms are indivisible and interdependent, is therefore critical international instrument to support the attainment of the Post 2015 Development agenda and its goals on ending poverty and hunger.
South Africa is focusing in this regard on the implementation of our National Development Plan: Vision 2030 to address the triple challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment, which continue to inhibit our own development. Through my Government’s concerted efforts, more people than ever have access to basic services. Additionally, our social protection system plays a crucial role in alleviating poverty and reducing inequality in South Africa.
In order to implement and realise our aspirations, developing countries need the requisite resources, particularly financial resources. Only through a firm political commitment to implement the sustainable development agenda as well as respect for the global partnership for development and mutual accountability, will we finally transform our world, eradicate poverty, and eliminate inequality.
I thank you!
