A/70/PV.12 General Assembly

At the dawn of the new millennium, we convened here with the ambition of eradicating poverty and gave birth to the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Now we stand here again to review what we have achieved and what we still have to do to make our common ambition a reality. Despite the undeniable progress achieved, asymmetries persist across regions and countries. As we speak, some 800 million people are still living in extreme poverty. They have been left behind. We salute the Assembly’s adoption of the revolutionary, comprehensive and inclusive 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1), aimed at ensuring a prosperous and decent life for all. Slovakia would like to thank the Secretary- *1529259* 15-29259 (E) General, the President of the General Assembly and the co-facilitators for their hard work to reach a balanced outcome document. Slovakia was actively involved in the preparatory process, both as a contributor to the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals and as a member of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts on Sustainable Development Financing, which paved the way for the adoption of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda. We commend and support all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They build on the millennium priorities of poverty eradication, prosperity and gender equality, but they also include new and relevant key factors of sustainable development, on which I would like to elaborate. First, one of the crucial lessons we learned from the Millennium Development Goals was that they focused mostly on statistical targets of poverty reduction while insisting less on creating socioeconomic conditions, infrastructure, addressing global threats to development and forging an enabling environment to support these objectives. Slovakia considers all those aspects — including the rule of law, good governance and inclusive institutions — to be equally important and fundamental. We consider security-sector reform a parameter relevant to the achievement of Goal 16, on peaceful and inclusive societies. The absence of an enabling environment can have a negative impact on many Sustainable Development Goals, such as those concerning gender equality, women’s empowerment and inclusive economic growth. Secondly, the new Agenda lays out more specific targets on the preservation of the environment and the sustainable management of natural resources. A clear set of environmental goals should create critical momentum and pave the way for a successful Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, in Paris. We are on the right path. Thirdly, Slovakia supports a revitalized global partnership, as proposed in Goal 17. We are eager to build on the positive results from MDG 8, such as the principles of the Busan Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation and its voluntary initiatives. As we discussed in Addis Ababa, official development assistance remains vital to the development of many countries. At the same time, the mobilization of all domestic resources is one of the crucial elements in addressing national contexts. That is where Slovakia sees its biggest contribution to development, through sharing its know-how on fiscal reform and tax collection. A new global partnership also means inclusive cooperation with all stakeholders, including those in civil society and the private sector. The SDGs must be implemented at two levels: globally, through coordinated and inclusive cooperation, and individually, through domestically implemented strategies. Every Member State must be involved and must participate and contribute to the extent that its own regional and national capacities permit. Joint action and individual responsibility are keys to success. Finally, we need a systematic follow-up and review mechanism at the national, regional and global levels, based on balanced and smart indicators. The High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development could be well positioned to oversee the implementation of the Agenda at the global level in order to preserve its universal character. In the face of one of the biggest challenges for humankind, all our efforts will be void if we are not determined to go well beyond our political discourse. We have to be courageous in putting the Agenda above our collective and individual interests. Mahatma Gandhi’s wisdom tells us that strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will. Let us therefore not waste this unique momentum and opportunity to bring real and sustainable change between now and 2030 and beyond. Let us board this train to prosperity and peace on time. But most important, let us make sure that on the common journey of humankind, no one is left behind. Co-Chair Museveni: I now call on the Minister for Socioeconomic Planning of the Republic of the Philippines.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that we have adopted (resolution 70/1) embodies our peoples’ aspirations for the next 15 years. Its 17 Goals and 169 targets build on the unfinished business of the Millennium Development Goals and on recognition of the interlinkages of the environmental, social and economic challenges facing us today. The inclusive consultation process was both an opportunity to build a shared global vision for the future we want and a venue for amplifying the voices of the poor and of the marginalized sectors. We are especially encouraged by the inclusion in the 2030 Agenda of the issues of migration, vulnerabilities, collective action for conservation and inequalities of opportunity. The Philippines advocated that the Agenda recognize the positive contributions of migrants to sustainable development in countries of origin, transit and destination. We call on Member States to mainstream migration in the development process, reduce remittance costs and fully respect the human rights of migrants. If we are to achieve our development goals, we need to take urgent action to combat climate change. We have seen extreme weather disturbances occurring with greater frequency and intensity. Those calamities can negate our gains in reducing poverty, and they can even roll back development. We therefore need to put in place climate-change adaptation and mitigation measures, particularly at the local levels, and increase investments in a climate-resilient economy. In line with that, we aim to ensure financial inclusion for all, particularly through access to insurance and capital and through mobile financing. As President of the Climate Vulnerable Forum and as one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world, we will also work at the upcoming Paris Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to ensure that we adopt a new, legally binding climate agreement that is universal and equitable and that will limit the increase in the global average temperature to below 2°C or 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. In that regard, the Philippines appreciates the emphasis placed in Goal 14 on the need to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources. Enshrining that as a global agenda obliges the community of nations to seriously acknowledge challenges to conservation, such as destruction due to massive reclamation, as a common concern. Those challenges need to be collectively addressed using a rules-based approach in international law, as reflected in the United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea. The call for solidarity puts into words the pervasive consciousness on how local incidents impact worldwide events. There is no true development if inequalities arising from the lack of access to opportunities for the most vulnerable remain. We aspire to achieve education for all, universal health coverage, food security and social and economic inclusion, supported by quality infrastructure. We are mindful of the pressing need to address maternal and reproductive health, including access to sexual and reproductive health services, and to further accelerate the fulfilment of women’s rights. Undoubtedly, realizing the global Sustainable Development Goals will require financial and technical resources. We therefore seek partnerships for capacity- building, developing technology and expertise, expanding our access to resources for domestic resource mobilization, leveraging private-sector participation and achieving resiliency. As the 2030 Agenda pledges that no one will be left behind, there is also a demand for official statistics to be more disaggregated, frequent, timely and accessible. We therefore emphasize the need for capacity-building to strengthen statistical agencies. We call on the international community for increased technical and financial support in that regard. This Summit is merely the beginning. To move forward to achieve the Agenda’s overarching goal of eradicating poverty, we must now develop our national plans and budgets for its implementation and monitoring. In doing so, we will collaborate with civil society and all stakeholders, in line with the principle of inclusiveness and accountability. The Philippines pledges to make the 2030 Agenda a reality and to leave no one behind. It is our sacred responsibility to our children and to future generations, and our solemn duty as Members of the United Nations. Co-Chair Museveni: I now call on the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Portugal.

This historic moment, coinciding with the celebration of the United Nations seventieth anniversary, represents a major turning point in the way we perceive development. Fifteen years ago, world leaders came together in this city to create an unprecedented multilateral agreement in response to global challenges, embodied in the Millennium Development Goals. It is important to recognize that much has been accomplished since then, but much still remains to be done. That requires a renewed determination from us all, while considering the lessons learned from the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals and from the world’s development landscape. Portugal views the adoption of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals as an unparalleled agreement in promoting sustainable development and the eradication of poverty and envisioning a world where all human rights are fully respected. For that reason, I would like to commend the United Nations and to express my deep appreciation to all those who participated in this major negotiating process. Today’s world challenges — such as climate change, epidemics and the dramatic situation that migrants and refugees are facing daily, putting their lives at risk — are proof positive that it is not possible to think of our own welfare and security individually or according to geographic divides. The universality of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1) is therefore paramount. It embodies true shared responsibilities in the search for a better future, beyond the traditional and outdated North-South approach, the division between public and private actors, and the understanding that official development assistance is the one and only response to our common challenges. Today there exists a multiplicity of different actors whose capacity to contribute can and should be enhanced. Among them, emerging economies and countries with a growing weight as donors should be taking on accrued responsibilities according to their political, economic and financial capacities. The Agenda also requires from all of us a qualitative and results-based approach, geared towards greater policy efficiency and coherence at all levels. This is definitively a time of celebration, but also of great responsibility. It is now time to shape the new international cooperation paradigm and to implement the commitments contained therein. The United Nations must continue to play an essential role in addressing these global challenges. Nevertheless, it is up to us — Member States, multilateral agencies, Parliaments, local authorities, civil society and the private sector — to take ownership and to implement and follow up on these 17 Goals. Within this framework, it is essential to consider the challenges faced by fragile States — least developed countries, the African continent and small island developing States — in implementing the Goals. They require our special attention. For those reasons, Portugal has subscribed to the European Union commitments made at the third International Conference on Financing for Development, at Addis Ababa, including that to collectively mobilize 0.15 per cent to 0.20 per cent of our gross national income for official development assistance to the least developed countries and to prioritize aid to the African continent. Portugal’s development cooperation focuses on strengthening the links among peace, security and sustainable development. That approach will continue to be an absolute priority for us. To achieve that goal, we have accorded special focus on sectors with structuring and multiplying effects on sustainable development, such as governance, the rule of law, human rights, education, health and institutional capacity-building, as well as the adoption of measures aimed at empowering women and girls and eradicating all forms of gender-based violence. Portugal has also pursued significant investments in renewable energies and “blue growth”, with a special focus on protecting our environment, biodiversity, and seas and oceans, while simultaneously aiming at integrating the three dimensions of sustainable development. Portugal believes that the implementation of the 2030 Agenda will have to be pursued in true partnership. We will therefore continue to work with and involve civil society and local authorities in implementing the commitments that we have undertaken at this Summit. We are ready to work in partnership with our fellow members of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries to integrate the 2030 Agenda in its work, and we stand ready to do so as well in other multilateral forums in which we participate. We have come a long way since negotiations on this Agenda began. We are now at the starting point of a new chapter. I would like to conclude by reiterating Portugal’s full support for this new Agenda and for the purposes and principles of the United Nations. We remain convinced that only by joining efforts, promoting economic and social progress and practicing tolerance will we live in peace. Co-Chair Museveni: I now give the floor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Principality of Andorra.

I would like, first of all, to welcome the co-Chairs of this Summit and to thank the co-facilitators for the ambitious final document we adopted earlier (resolution 70/1). “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” includes 17 Goals and 169 targets agreed on the basis of outstanding participatory work of inclusive and thoughtful dialogue. None of us can today remain on the sidelines of this great step forward. Like today, 15 years ago we committed, through the Millennium Development Goals, to promoting greater dignity and equality of all human beings. That commitment led us to an unprecedented advance. But while we recognize that unprecedented progress, we cannot allow ourselves to fall today into complacency. It must be acknowledged that progress has been uneven, and in some aspects it has even been insufficient. That is why we must recommit ourselves today with greater intensity and with more demanding goals. To enjoy a dignified life, hunger and extreme poverty in the world must be brought to an end. A dignified life for us and future generations cannot come about without equality or without security, nor can it be without democracy or respect for human rights. These are key aspects of a healthy and sustainable environment for future generations. The tragedies that we are witnessing every day around the world — especially on the African continent, but also at the borders of Europe, with a refugee crisis that deserves not only our complete attention but also our complete solidarity and participation in the welcoming effort — are still too serious and too numerous. They are inadmissible. (spoke in Spanish) We are convinced that the education of our young people, particularly civics education favouring the promotion of human rights and democracy, is our best weapon to combat intolerance and to promote equal opportunity and social cohesion. Therefore, education is a national priority in Andorra, with free and open access to three public education systems — Andorran, French and Spanish, one of the peculiarities of our small country. But education is also a priority in our foreign policy. Andorra spends more than 20 per cent of its development cooperation budget on education projects. Andorra has also been invited by Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon — to whom I wish to express our gratitude again here today — to join the Global Education First Initiative. Furthermore, during the Andorran chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, the theme “Education for Democratic Citizenship” was our priority. Andorra is thus making special efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals relating to education and childhood. Similarly, and for their cross-cutting aspect, we pay particular attention to gender equality and the protection of the human rights of the most vulnerable groups. Finally, as a country nestled in a natural environment of great value and which receives 8 million visitors each year, we are particularly sensitive to this asset, which entails the protection of our environment. Therefore, the new Government has a Ministry of Environment, Agriculture and Sustainable Development, which is putting forward, in cooperation with the various ministries, institutions and social agents, a cross- cutting and inclusive vision for our participation at the twenty-first session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. That summit, to be held in Paris at the end of this year, will be essential for the proper development of the Goals that we have just adopted. Andorra has already submitted its contribution. (spoke in English) All the Goals that we have discussed and agreed together are a real global commitment, but they may not be achievable if they are not backed by strong political will and a strategy for following up on and reviewing their implementation. The adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, together with the celebration of the seventieth anniversary of the United Nations, must today be the starting point for a common effort with the ambition to transform our world into a place where all human beings can live in dignity. We cannot leave anyone behind. This must be our commitment today. It has to be our ambition. It is our responsibility for the future. As Mr. Juncker said a few weeks ago about the European Union, there must be more national commitments in United Nations initiatives and more United Nations commitments in our national initiatives. Co-Chair Museveni: I now call on the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

As we mark the seventieth anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1), which reflects the will and desire of the broad-based membership of the United Nations, is a meaningful event in United Nations history. The post-2015 development agenda we have adopted is the product of strenuous efforts by the international community to eradicate poverty and to achieve sustainable development worldwide. The Millennium Development Goals, adopted 15 years ago, made a positive contribution to promoting cooperation among countries and regions in all fields of socioeconomic development. However, we still have a long way to go to completely liberate humankind from poverty and build a free, peaceful and prosperous world. With that in mind, we have adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which contains more specific goals to reshape and transform the world. In order to achieve the Goals for the complete eradication of poverty and for sustainable socioeconomic development, a peaceful and durable environment for development should have priority. As is generally known, some specific countries are creating artificial obstacles in the peaceful resolution of international problems and the sound and sustainable development of countries and regions — including sanctions in an attempt to achieve their military and political objectives. If the economic sanctions imposed in medieval fashion against the independent aspirations of developing countries are left intact, the excellent development goals that we set will not be achieved. A typical example is the United States of America, which constantly tries to suppress every sector of our people’s lives by resorting to all means. This proceeds from its inveterate animosity and hostile policy to eradicate the socialist system of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. However, what the United States of America does not know is that the more remorseless the sanctions manoeuvres against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea become, the stronger the will and spirit of our people will be, growing a thousandfold to defend more resolutely the prosperous and powerful socialist State, centred on the popular masses. Under the wise leadership of the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, our people are now making unprecedented great achievements in their endeavours for sustainable socioeconomic development, while recently overcoming the unscrupulous sanctions and all other challenges on the way forward. We are striving to provide our people with more abundant and civilized life by giving high priority to science and technology and by making maximum use of the potential of our self-reliant economy. That effort of ours will make a due contribution to achieving the Agenda for Sustainable Development for the reform and transformation of the world. We will vigorously promote equal and beneficial economic cooperation, in collaboration with many countries around the world, and actively join in the international trend to translate the post-2015 development Agenda into practice. Co-Chair Museveni: I now call on the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Commonwealth of Australia.

When Australia signed the Charter of the United Nations 70 years ago, we committed to promoting peace, social progress and better standards of living for the peoples of the world. Australia has taken that commitment seriously, and today we are agreeing on a new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1) that seeks to end extreme poverty within a generation. It is an ambitious, bold and necessary objective. Indeed, it is a global objective, the product of unprecedented consultation and negotiation. In the 15 years since the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were agreed, we have made great advances and have lifted hundreds of millions people out of extreme poverty. That achievement should be celebrated. But in an ever-changing world, new challenges continue to arise. The 2030 Agenda recognizes a more modern, contemporary understanding of the drivers of development and the changing distribution of global wealth. The last 15 years have shown us the benefits of building economic resilience — and so the 2030 Agenda rightly has a sharp focus on economic growth. Every single resource should be harnessed — so the rights and opportunities of women and girls are recognized in a stand-alone goal, and also across the 2030 Agenda. Many countries that have struggled in their efforts to achieve the MDGs have experienced instability and conflict, as we have seen in our region with the experience of Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste. The World Bank estimates that more than 40 per cent of the world’s extreme poor live in conflict-affected and fragile environments. Furthermore, World Bank research predicts that this percentage will at least double by 2030. Therefore the goal on peace and governance, for which Australia strongly advocated, will be critical for the eradication of extreme poverty and for the success of the entire 2030 Agenda. The Sustainable Development Goals can only ever be a statement of ambition unless we plan for how we will achieve them. In that regard, we look to the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, agreed in July. Countries’ domestic resources are now the largest source of development finance. Australia is pleased to be part of the Addis Ababa tax initiative to strengthen tax systems, and we will double our investment in domestic resource mobilization by 2020. That builds on the work of the Group of 20 (G-20) in strengthening national tax systems and reducing illicit flows, as articulated in the G-20 Summit meeting held in Brisbane last November. The private sector, a critical driver of economic growth, job creation and an important source of development finance, has a key role to play. Australia is increasingly partnering with our private sector, including on projects to provide access to finance for remote communities in the Pacific. We have a sharp focus on innovation, investing in new ways to solve enduring problems and finding creative means to overcome seemingly intractable development challenges. While the 2030 Agenda is a major achievement, it cannot be the end of our work. Australia is committed to taking strong and responsible action on climate change, and I hope the ambition and momentum here in New York carries through to Paris. In particular, Australia was integral to the establishment of the Green Climate Fund, and it remains central to our efforts on climate change, especially in the Pacific. Australia is represented on the Board of the Green Climate Fund and we have committed $200 million. Our initial $70 million contribution has been paid. Australia is a land of opportunity, prosperity and inclusiveness. However, like all nations, we face challenges. We are taking action to sustainably manage our land, forests, waterways and precious marine resources, including the Great Barrier Reef, a World Heritage Site that we have committed to preserve and conserve. We are investing in the skills of our people, diversifying our economy and increasing productivity. We are taking steps to promote gender equality, close the gap on indigenous disadvantage and support those with disability, including through a national disability insurance scheme. In giving effect to the new Agenda, we can share lessons from our own experience. Through our development programme, engaging with the private sector and working with partners, we are promoting prosperity and reducing poverty on a sustainable basis in the Indo-Pacific region. As Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said, the true measure of success is not how much we promise, but how much we deliver. It will be by working together that we will deliver on the ambition of the 2030 Agenda. Co-Chair Museveni: I now call on the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Algeria.

This Summit is being held at a sensitive time. There are three very important events taking place: the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals, the recent launch of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda for financing for development and the prospect of a global agreement on climate change. This Summit offers us an opportunity to lay the foundations for a renewed global partnership based on human well-being, progress and improving the welfare the population in the framework of inclusive development. Fifteen years ago, with the adoption of the Millennium Declaration, we launched a new and ambitious era for humankind through our common and joint action to help the poorest and to give hope to millions of people for a better, fairer and more just and equitable world. We note with satisfaction that, 15 years after their adoption and despite some limitations, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have provided for unprecedented mobilization by the international community in addressing the challenges related to development issues in their manifold facets. Under the leadership of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and in implementing his programme, Algeria, which uses the MDGs as a framework for its national development, was able to achieve the majority of the Goals ahead of time, including those concerning the eradication of poverty, access to education, the reduction of infant and maternal mortality and the promotion of a sustainable environment. Algeria has achieved the Goal on the eradication of poverty, a scourge directly affecting human dignity. In 2013 and 2015, Algeria was recognized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations for its achievements in that area. Similarly, Algeria has met, and even exceeded in 2011, the minimum target in terms of universal primary education, with a net enrolment rate of 98.16 per cent of children 6 years of age. Algeria has modernized its legislation with regard to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A law was adopted to ensure greater representation of women in elected bodies. A new configuration of the Algerian Parliament now brings the proportion of women members of Parliament to 31 per cent. This progress, and others, reflects the efforts carried out by the Algerian State aimed at human, economic and social development. These are historic times. The challenges are very complex. Genuine will is needed to overcome the many obstacles to development. We must assume our common responsibilities in order to achieve a better future. I hope we will work on the basis of our common awareness and in the interest of our common future. We must overcome our selfishness in order to help future generations. We must achieve a better future — one that is safe and guarantees dignity and prosperity for all. Co-Chair Museveni: I now call on the Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship of Argentina.

Argentina is pleased about the recent adoption of the development Agenda for the next 15 years (resolution 70/1). We are sure it will provide new a new focal point for Government action, including with regard to eradicating poverty, improving health and promoting education and sustainable development with social inclusion for all our peoples. Argentina is proud to be among the few countries to have achieved most of the Millennium Development Goals. Last month, Argentina was recognized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations for its success in combating hunger, and by UNESCO in April as one of the countries with the highest rates of primary school enrolment and investment in education. Among other achievements, I should point out that, over the past decade, Argentina managed to substantially reduce poverty, which now stands at 5 per cent below the hunger threshold. The infant mortality rate was reduced by 27 per cent between 1990 and 2013. The maternal mortality rate was reduced by 38.5 per cent, as the result of multiple initiatives carried out by the national Government. Argentina now has one of the most comprehensive immunization schedules in the region and the world. At the end of this year, we will provide 19 free and mandatory vaccines. As a national policy in response to the HIV epidemic, we also provide universal access to preventive diagnostics and treatment. Those achievements demonstrate Argentina’s firm commitment to meeting the Millennium Development Goals, a commitment that we assume today with regard to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1). The new Agenda embodies the ideals of our time to bring about a more just, inclusive, equal and peaceful world. To achieve that aim, the Agenda must be designed and implemented with a human rights-based approach through a specific and consistent action plan with reliable and transparent monitoring mechanisms. Argentina actively participated in the negotiation of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 169 associated targets, which largely reflect the social development policies that we have implemented over the past decade. The Argentine Government underscores the importance of this Agenda and will establish the appropriate national policies to fully implement it by 2030. We hope that, in the next 15 years, the Agenda is able to mobilize a common effort without ignoring historical responsibilities, which are the result of centuries of colonialism and which are reflected in the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. We also hope it is able to achieve what we committed to at the World Summit on Sustainable Development and reaffirmed at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, the third International Conference on Financing for Development and in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This agenda includes the protection of the human rights of women in its affirmation that the achievement of full human potential and of sustainable development is not possible if one half of humankind continues to be denied its full human rights and opportunities. It is therefore exceedingly positive that there is a cross- cutting approach to gender through the Sustainable Development Goals, including Goal 5, specifically on gender. The implementation of public policies aimed at women will contribute even more towards ensuring that they are socially, economically and politically involved. The Government of Argentina recognizes and is confronting the challenges ahead of us, and believes in the necessity of a comprehensive approach to addressing problems stemming from gender inequality in order to achieve a more just society by 2030. Argentina is working towards a model for a democratic and inclusive society, with full respect for human rights for everyone. The the right to development is so interlinked that we cannot achieve sustainable development unless we fully respect all human rights and include the most vulnerable members of the population with dignity. That effort — which means that we must reaffirm that all human rights are universal, indivisible and interdependent — allowed Argentina to achieve notable and decisive progress in reducing poverty and unemployment rates, in such a way that economic growth was accompanied by a real process of social inclusion. Such examples include our policies on expanding rights, as reflected in meaningful progress in the context of gender identity, ensuring death with dignity, equal marriage rights and mental health rights. The same spirit of inclusivity is also present in the implementation of our national anti-discrimination programme, assistance to children and pregnant women, universal health-care coverage in our provisional system and the inclusion of migrants in our national development while ensuring their human rights without regard to their migratory status. Those are some of the measures that have been incorporated in national policy since 2003. That expansion of rights is today anchored in a solid foundation that provides a crucial role for State policy as a key tool to provide access to more equitable living conditions for all segments of the population. Argentina reaffirms the importance of integrating the three pillars of sustainable development: inclusive economic development, social development and environmental and balanced sustainability. With regard to the environment, we need to work in a comprehensive manner, as stated throughout the Agenda, in order to protect, restore and sustainably use our ecosystems, which are central in our development. The Agenda envisions an eventual human right to water. Argentina supports the commitment to improve access to drinking water and sanitation to all persons, in a fair manner and without discrimination, as a human right that all States should ensure to all people under their respective jurisdictions. Argentina is concerned about the process of implementing the Agenda because — based on what we agreed upon at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development — that is an indivisible package in terms of measures of implementation. However, when it comes to the means of implementation and financial resources, we see an imbalance between the Agenda’s commitments in terms of those taken on by developing countries and those taken on by developed countries. Developed countries are all the more responsible to contribute more financially to meet their commitments. It is therefore important that we recall the historic commitment undertaken — and recalled on various occasions — that developed countries devote 0.7 per cent of their gross domestic product to official development assistance — a commitment that, with only a few exceptions, has not been honoured. That has served to delay and even make impossible the implementation of many initiatives that could have contributed to achieving sustainable development and eradicating poverty throughout the world. In contrast, over the last few years, Argentina, along with other countries of the South, has been increasing its South-South cooperation as a response of solidarity by the countries and the peoples of the South. That has come about as a result of our shared characteristics and experiences, guided by the principles that underpin our cooperation. Argentina’s efforts at cooperation have been bound up with the United Nations from its inception, as illustrated by the Buenos Aires Plan of Action on technical cooperation among developing countries and the decision to set up an Argentine fund for South-South and triangular cooperation. These are Argentina’s tools to carry out on the ground agreements concluded at the international level. The 2030 Agenda must be the fulcrum for public investment in developing countries so as to help transform the system for the accumulation of capital, without any decrease, and generate investment for capacity-building and opportunities and promote investment in sectors that add value. Argentina hopes that the agreements reached on guiding principles and defined goals will build a genuine change for women and children throughout the world, insofar as we are able to come up with the means of implementation, cooperation and monitoring that can deliver on the commitments that we have made. Lastly, I would like to conclude by quoting from the speech made by His Holiness Pope Francis here in this Hall just two days ago: “The international financial institutions should work to help countries achieve sustainable development and ensure that they are not subjected to oppressive lending systems that, far from promoting progress, subject people to mechanisms that result in greater poverty, exclusion and dependence”. (A/70/PV.3, p. 3) Co-Chair Museveni: The Assembly will now hear an address by the President of the Republic of Poland. President Duda (spoke in Polish; English text provided by the delegation): I am speaking here in New York today as a representative of a nation that just 30 years ago lagged far behind the developed world with regard to economic and social indices. The sad reality experienced today by thousands of countries throughout the world was, in the not-so-distant past, also my own experience and that of my compatriots. We finally threw off the yoke of communism 26 years ago. After 45 years without sovereignty and having been cut off by the Iron Curtain, our country found itself in a position of such isolation. Today we are rebuilding our national freedom, rooted in our national traditions. The democracy and entrepreneurship of Poles are the foundation of our development today. At the same time, we must do our best to ensure that our social cohesion, family bonds and traditional system of values are kept in place. The credit for the model of Polish development goes to Solidarity, a unique social movement of which we are so proud today. The credit goes to millions of Poles, who craved freedom and were ready to fight for it. At last, they managed to achieve it. But the credit also goes to the other kind of solidarity — the one we received from more affluent countries. We benefited from their financial support, their advice and experiences. We know how much time and effort it cost us to travel down that road. There is still much left to be done. However, as the President of the Republic of Poland, I remain convinced that the energy of my fellow citizens, their diligence and their sense of innovation will let us jointly attain the level of development to which we have aspired for a number of years. When I look at the history of contemporary Poland, I am reminded of a concise slogan coined by a well- known American politician, a slogan filled with vigour and hope: “Yes, we can!” Yes, we are doing it. And the question arises: can others do it too? I have no doubt that they can also achieve the same success and one day say, “We have also made it. We can be better off, have a better education, and our children will be able to feel safe. We will not have to leave our countries — as we have to do today — struggling against war and poverty, looking for safety, security and better lives, far away from our homeland.” Let us do everything that we can to ensure that those people can return to their homes and peace is restored and to help those countries come back to the path of economic development. Fifteen years have passed since the Millennium Summit, at which the States Members of the United Nations adopted an ambitious plan for improving the existence of the nations of Africa, Asia and Latin America that suffer most from hunger, epidemics, illiteracy and high infant mortality. The bar was placed very high, and not all of the Millennium Development Goals have been achieved. Nevertheless, huge steps forward were taken in many areas. The number of people living on $1.25 or less a day fell by more than 50 per cent, from 1.9 billion to 836 million. That can be considered a success. However, we must not forget that those 836 million people still live in extreme poverty. That is almost as many as the populations of the United States and the European Union combined. The number of new HIV cases has decreased by 40 per cent, and that can also be considered a success. But the epidemic is still not under control. Drinking water has been made accessible to almost 2.6 million people, another genuine achievement, but more than 660 million are still without it. The areas covered by the eight Millennium Development Goals resemble a set of connecting tubes. A lack of clean water leads to dangerous epidemics. Diseases weaken the human organism. Children weakened by illnesses miss out on an education, and a lack of education, in turn, means that in future the country and its resources, both natural and human, will be mismanaged. Therefore, when we discuss which of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals we would like to achieve by 2030, we cannot be satisfied only with successes in individual categories. We should do our best to ensure equal progress in each of the priority areas. Meeting the Sustainable Development Goals will demand enormous levels of financing. With that in mind, we should take even more care to ensure that the funds allocated are spent in a thoughtful way that brings about concrete results. Donors cannot pat themselves on the back for funding this or that project, because this is not just about spending money; it is about making smart investments. We should also avoid tying development aid to actions that others see as imposing a system of values or an ideology on them. That applies particularly to such issues as family models, education, bringing up children and safeguarding life. We should focus on standards that can help ensure freedom and a better life to everyone equally, such as those related to the rule of law, freedom and inclusive societies. Wherever there is respect for the law, justice is guaranteed, and public institutions are efficient and work for the benefit of the people, that is where we lay the true foundations for genuine development and welfare. Sustainable development should also aim at establishing good governance, an important element in enabling humankind and the State to develop. Action for development should focus on promoting effectiveness, and that can be achieved with small, concrete projects. I would like to point out that we can often do a lot with little money. To cite just one example, a joint report of the World Health Organization and UNICEF states that over the past 15 years the number of new cases of malaria has been reduced by 37 per cent. The mortality index for that disease has dropped by as much as 60 per cent, which means that 6 million lives have been saved. While malaria is still killing people, the fight against it is becoming ever more effective. Why? Among other things, thanks to the large-scale use of a thing as simple as a cheap mosquito net, costing about $10 to produce and distribute. There are more such examples. Pope Francis spoke recently about our unacceptable waste of food. How much could be achieved if we only heeded his call? How much could we mitigate the effects of climate change if we not only limited carbon dioxide emissions but also pursued a reasonable forestation policy? Numerous regions all over the world are afflicted by the problem of desertification. Hundreds of hectares of forests are disappearing from the Earth and our arable land area is shrinking. Yet afforestation and soil rehabilitation improve air and water quality. They mean fewer illnesses and less poverty. We should therefore address environmental issues in a comprehensive way, protecting our water, land and air. Let us help the countries that are in need today. But let us do it in a smart way, helping them stand on their own two feet, so that one day they will be able to join the global economic system on an equal footing, without unnecessary limitations and barriers, able to take full advantage of the benefits of free trade, to produce and sell and use that income for further development, constructing hospitals, schools, roads and water supply systems. Two years ago Poland became a member of the Development Assistance Committee of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, affirming our position as a country that does not shirk its responsibility to help less affluent or less developed countries. In my capacity as President of the Republic of Poland, I declare that we are fully open and ready to cooperate with our partners in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, based on our capabilities and our ability to tap into Poland’s experience in building a free-market democracy. We want to ensure that the countries to which we offer our support today can soon say, “We too have succeeded. We have done it.” Co-Chair Museveni: I thank the President of the Republic of Poland for his statement. Co-Chair Museveni: We are approaching the end of this very important Summit. I would like to say that it is a miracle that we have been able to agree after such a long time. The Bible says that there are two great laws — the first is that we should love God with all our hearts, and the second is that we should love our neighbours as we love ourselves. It has been very difficult, however, for the people of the world to love one another as they love themselves. I am therefore amazed that at long last we have got an agreement that is sensible and global. We are not just talking about human rights, because people often talk about human rights, but they do it without talking about production. They talk about consumption without talking about production. These Sustainable Development Goals, however, talk about industrialization, trade and infrastructure development. They do not talk about philanthropy; they talk about development and growth and investment. After 50 years of watching the selfishness there is in the world, I am therefore happy that I am now beginning to see some common sense in these international forums. We have come to the end of this historic Summit. Before concluding this plenary meeting, I would like to invite participants to remain in their seats in order to view a short video on the Sustainable Development Goals. The video, entitled “The Story You Are Shaping”, will be shown immediately following the adjournment of this meeting.