SEVENTY SECOND SESSION OF THE UNGA
                                                         THIRD COMMITTEE

2 OCTOBER 2017

NEW YORK

 

STATEMENT BY H.E. MR. SUKHBOLD SUKHEE, 

AMBASSADOR PLENIPOTENTIARY AND EXTRAORDINARY, 

PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF MONGOLIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS

/ON AGENDA ITEM 27 - SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT/

 

Madame Chair, 

At the very outset, let me express my warm congratulations to you and other colleagues in the Bureau on their election. My delegation is confident that this committee will have productive deliberations under your able stewardship.

My delegation also associates itself with the statement made by the delegation of the Ecuador on behalf of the Group 77 and China.

Madame Chair,

Within the recent years, the global community has adopted the 2030 Agenda, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, the Paris Agreement, the Sendai Framework and the New Urban Agenda, which are guiding our actions in many fields, especially in social development, in the years to come.

The timely implementation of the 2030 Agenda is vital for ensuring social development and human well-being for all, as its all goals are directly related to, or have social dimensions of, eradicating poverty, promoting full and productive employment, and fostering social integration.

Madame Chair, 

Upon becoming one of the early adopters of the SDGs, Mongolia has been properly translating these goals into the broader development framework by carefully tailoring to overcome its specific constraints and enhance positive synergies in the country.

Since February 2016, we have been implementing the Mongolia Sustainable Development Vision 2030, which envisages the country becoming an upper middle income one, with improved social development indicators. We have incorporated the goals, set out in the Vision, into the Government’s Program of Action for 2016-2020 and other relevant programs addressing to poverty, education, health, employment, social protection, gender equality, youth, ageing, disabilities and inter-sectoral coordination and partnership.

With the objectives of eradicating poverty in all forms and leaving no one behind, the Government of Mongolia underscores the importance of social protection for all. In this regard, the Social Welfare Law amended in 2016, introducing additional needs-based eligibility criteria for allowance for caregivers.

Madame Chair, 

The Government of Mongolia pledges to honor its commitment to a time-bound set of goals for children and ensure that every child is given a fair chance in life. During the past year, the Government of Mongolia aimed to enhance the effectiveness of the Child Money Program by targeting all children in the country.

As we are a young nation, where nearly 65% of the population is under age 40, we are confident that investing in youth will be a shortcut to achieve the SDGs. In May 2017, the Parliament adopted the Law on Youth Development to regulate the social role and responsibilities of young people and legalize the establishment of a ‘Fund for Youth Development’.

Also the Law on the Elderly was amended by the Parliament to ensure the economic security and well-being of older persons, which is one of the key social issues underpinning the SDGs.

Madame Chair,

The Government of Mongolia attaches high priority to the development of cooperatives. To create favorable economic conditions and legal environment for cooperatives, enhance their competitiveness, develop SMEs, and create new jobs, the National Program on Cooperative Development (2009-2017) is at its final stage of implementation.

The Parliament of Mongolia adopted a new Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in February 2016 in compliance with the respective UN Convention. Being the first ever comprehensive law targeting the Persons with Disabilities, it aims at ensuring their participation in the society, to enhancing their rights to education, increasing employment opportunities and providing handicapped-friendly infrastructure and facilities.

Madame Chair, 

As the main sponsor of the bi-annual UNGA resolution on “Cooperatives in Social Development”, my delegation will submit its draft in the coming days and is looking forward the valuable support of all member States. We firmly believe that cooperatives, in their various forms, can continue to promote the fullest possible participation in the economic and social development of all people and contribute to the eradication of poverty and hunger.

At the closing, it is my pleasure to reaffirm that Mongolia remains fully committed to ensuring social development and human well-being for all.

I thank you.