Eradicating rural poverty to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY MR. ABDULLAH ABUSHAWESH, COUNSELLOR, MISSION OF THE STATE OF PALESTINE TO THE UN, FOLLOWING THE ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION A/C.2/74/L.22/REV.1 ENTITLED "ERADICATING RURAL POVERTY TO IMPLEMENT THE 2030 AGENDA FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT", AT THE SECOND COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE UNITED NATIONS (New York, 27 November 2019)

Thank you, Mr. Chair

1. I have the honor to deliver this general statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

2. Eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, for all people everywhere, remains the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development.

3. As reflected in the report of Secretary-General on Rural Poverty Eradication, poverty eradication, especially in rural areas, remains a serious problem. Nearly 80 percent of the extreme poor live in rural areas and work in agriculture, and the extreme poverty rate in rural areas is three times higher than in urban areas. In contrast to those living in other areas, the rural population faces many special difficulties in infrastructure, education, health care, financial services, ICT, and social security. The increasing frequency of natural disasters and extreme climate change has doubled down on the gravity of rural poverty reduction. Those rural population left behind are becoming increasingly harder to reach.

4. In this regard, we believe it is of vital importance for the international community and the United Nations development system to continue to treat rural poverty eradication as the highest priority and to take targeted measures to eradicate rural poverty. Thus, The Group renewed this resolution in order to address above-mentioned serious situations, calling on collective efforts and providing efficient solutions and means to addressing this problem.

5. In this year's resolution, the Food and Agriculture Organization and other relevant international organizations are invited to draft the report together with the Secretary-General, which we believe will identify the progress achieved, gaps and challenges faced in rural poverty eradication, especially in developing countries, as well as the means to address this issue more clearly and comprehensively,

6. Regrettably, this important resolution cannot be adopted by consensus.

7. Going forward, the Group stands ready to continue our engagement and dialogue with all delegations on rural poverty eradication and work together to respond to common challenges facing humanity, to ensure that no one is left behind.

I thank you.