STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY MINISTER CLAUDIO ROSSELL, DEPUTY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PLURINATIONAL STATE OF BOLIVIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS, AT THE FIFTY-SECOND SESSION OF THE COMMISSION FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT (New York, 11 February 2014)

Madam Chair,

Excellencies and Distinguished Delegates,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, please allow me to extend our Group's deep congratulations to you as Chair of the 52nd session of the Commission for Social Development and to the members of your Bureau. The Group of 77 assures you of its full support and cooperation in this session.

I would also like to thank the Secretary-General for the report on Promoting empowerment of people in achieving poverty eradication, social integration and full employment and decent work for all, submitted under agenda item 3a, which will certainly contribute to enrich our discussions on the matter.

Nineteen years after the World Summit for Social Development held in Copenhagen, poverty is still a major challenge for all Governments and the United Nations system. Poverty eradication is one of the three interrelated pillars of the Copenhagen Declaration, and the Group of 77 and China remains fully committed to the implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the Summit, as well as to the further initiatives for social development adopted by the General Assembly, including the Millennium Development Goals.

Despite the progress made since the World Summit for Social Development, much more needs to be done to achieve our mutual goals in the field of social development. In the view of the Group of 77 and China, poverty is a complex problem involving a set of economic as well as social development issues that cannot be solved automatically through economic growth only. We must place people at the centre of development, as recognized by the principles and goals of the Copenhagen Declaration and promote actions aimed at fostering pro-poor growth and social protection.

In this context, the Group of 77 and China is deeply concerned about the constraints on our fight against poverty arisen from current global crises, in particular the world financial and economic crisis, the world food crisis and continuing food insecurity, the energy crisis and the challenges posed by climate change.

Madam Chair

The Group recognizes that over the last years, the Commission has made important contributions and progress in guiding social policy to open opportunities for those who would otherwise be marginalized. The participation of the otherwise marginalized, through the formulation of inclusive social policies has allowed the creation, achievement and maintenance of social and political stability, as well as contributing to a favorable environment for economic growth. However, despite this progress, we are still faced with continuing and emerging challenges that require the Commission's attention in order to support national efforts.

Madam Chair,

The priority theme in this session: "Promoting empowerment of people in achieving poverty eradication, social integration and full employment and decent work for all" is correctly chosen. The Group believes that focusing on this area will guarantee that social policies will be maintained at the central part of international development with an enhanced action-oriented policy outcome on the three key pillars of sustainable development. An enabling environment that expands choices and enables empowered participation in decision-making is crucial. The Group of 77 calls for synergy between empowerment policies on the one hand and the ongoing work on the social pillar of the Rio+20 Outcomes and developing the post - 2015 goals on the other.

As stated in the Secretary-Generals report, the Group of 77 and China considers that an empowering approach calls for comprehensive strategies that go beyond group-specific approaches. It is important that we all develop comprehensive policy frameworks that adopt universal approaches, in order to empower and meet the needs and aspirations of all members of society.

Also, supportive national institutional structures and participatory mechanisms are required for empowering people. There is too much work to be done in order to improve or develop participatory mechanisms that promotes the engagement and active participation of all members of society in public life, and the United Nations System should be prepared to assist member States in this regard.

Madam Chair,

The Group of 77 and China stresses that strengthening of the social capital that exists in poor communities have to be adequately addressed. These formal and informal networks and strategies upon which the poor and most vulnerable group base their livelihoods include indigenous knowledge and practices that most communities have used as survival strategies for many generations. The Group emphasizes the urgency for an inclusive and participatory social research method to ensure that commercialization of indigenous knowledge and practices is fairly and equitably compensated.

The Group of 77 stresses the need to further mainstream sustainable development at all levels, integrating economic, social, and environmental aspects and recognizing their inter-linkages, so as to achieve sustainable development in all its dimensions. Madam Chair,

Since 1994, the international community has undertaken a range of activities and commitments in support of its objectives. Further efforts and initiatives of Governments, the United Nations system and civil society are necessary to ensure the further promotion and continuous implementation of the mandated objectives of the International Year of the Family. The twentieth anniversary of the International Year of the Family in 2014 is on the horizon. In this context, the Group of 77 and China will present a draft resolution on the Observance of the twentieth anniversary of the International Year of the Family and beyond, give due consideration to the role of family policy development in the elaboration of the post-2015 development agenda

As population ageing continues, with its positive effects and its challenges, we must prepare to better respond to this new reality, including it in the context of our efforts to eradicate poverty. The implementation of the Madrid Plan of Action is determinate, we should looking the most appropriate ways and means of achieving the development, well-being and full enjoyment of all human rights of older persons as well as the second review and appraisal of the implementation. The Group of 77 reiterates the commitments made for meeting the special needs of Africa at the 2005 World Summit. The Group requests the Commission for Social Development to continue to give due prominence in its work to the social dimensions of the New Partnerships for Africa's Development.

Madam Chair,

The Group underscores the need for a strengthened and scaled-up global partnership for eradication of poverty, based on the recognition of national leadership and ownership of development strategies. International cooperation must be enhanced; including fulfillment of commitments of internationally agreed official development assistance, debt relief, market access, financial stability, capacity building and technical support, including technology transfer.

The Group of 77 firmly believes that alleviation of poverty requires a development-oriented strategy focused on building rural infrastructure, bolstering income and basic services such as medical care and insurance and investment in education. It is essential to increase efforts to ensure that all segments of society, including youth, elderly and persons with disability have access to resources and opportunities.

The Group of 77 would like to stress, once again, the importance of removing obstacles to the realization of the right of peoples to self-determination, in particular of peoples living under colonial or other forms of alien domination or foreign occupation, which adversely affect their social and economic development.

Madam Chair,

The Group of 77 share the opinion of the Secretary-General when referred that to ensure policies aimed at reducing poverty and promoting employment and social integration and those intended to foster the empowerment of people are mutually reinforcing to Governments should allocate adequate funding to ensure universal access to social services, including quality education and health services, and implement social protection floors or extend the scope and effectiveness of social protection programmes

In conclusion, the Group of 77 and China hopes that this session will provide a constructive effect that contributes to the empowerment of people in achieving poverty eradication, social integration and full employment and decent work for all.

I thank you.