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STATEMENT BY H.E. MR.ERDENE SODNOMZUNDUI, MINISTER FOR POPULATION DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL PROTECTION OF MONGOLIA ON AGENDA ITEM 28 - SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, THIRD COMMITTEE, UNGA

Wednesday, 07 October 2015
Presenter: 
H.E. MR.ERDENE SODNOMZUNDUI, MINISTER FOR POPULATION DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL PROTECTION OF MONGOLIA
Location: 
Conference Room 3

/On Agenda Item 28 - Social Development/ 

Mr. Chairman,  

As we are taking the floor for the first time, let me begin by extending my delegation’s earnest congratulations to you and other colleagues in the Bureau on your unanimous election. We are confident that Committee will have fruitful deliberations under your skillful leadership.

My delegation associates itself with the statement made by the distinguished representative of South Africa on behalf of the Group 77 and China.

Mr. Chairman,

About ten days ago, the world leaders gathered at the United Nations Summit on Sustainable Development approved a comprehensive 15-year global plan of action replacing the Millennium Development Goals set in 2000. As was mentioned by the Committee Chair yesterday at the beginning of the session, 9 out of 17 goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development are related to social issues. Therefore, we are in the beginning of historic époque to end poverty, reduce inequalities and protect the environment which will be realized through our common zeal and commitment

Mr. Chairman,

The Government of Mongolia has always been supporting the United Nations initiatives and policies on population and development and been committed to implementing them at national level.

We have been aligning ourselves to fulfil goals and objectives of the Political Declaration and Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing adopted at the Second World Assembly on Ageing in 2002 through the National Strategy on Population Ageing. The Strategy has been a major policy reform towards harmonizing the policies of a healthy ageing of population with consideration of human rights, social and economic dimensions.

At present, my nation has been already experiencing the ageing process and the elderly share over 10 per cent of total population. This necessitates us to ensure a flexible implementation of global initiatives and decisions in line with national specific conditions.

Last July, the Parliament of Mongolia approved the Pension Reform Policy for 2015-2030 with a view to create a system that would create a joint financial responsibility of state, individual and employer over the pension expenditure that is likely to increase due to the change of population structure and increase of life expectancy and provide decent amount of pension for all.   

Mongolia is fully supporting the UN initiative to draft International Convention on the Rights of Older Persons and is willing to be engaged into this process.

Mr. Chairman,

The Government of Mongolia has been pursuing policies to increase youth participation in policy-making and implementation and support youth-led initiatives at all levels.

 

The establishment of the National Youth Committee consisting of representatives of Ministries, youth NGOs and international organizations has been crucial in designing, implementing and assessing comprehensive youth oriented plans, policies and programs. The Committee is conducting nationwide activities through its sub-committees.

Moreover, the Government is in the process of drafting the Youth Development Policy and the National Program "Young Mongolian" based on recommendations of the series of national consultations organized among young people. In order to promote participation of rural youth in the local governance and activities of the local assemblies, we have started to launch Youth Development Centers in provinces with support of United Nations Population Fund. 

Mr. Chairman,

Following the UN General Assembly resolution 44/82, the International Day of Family has been observed in Mongolia on 15 May of every year. Moreover, proclaimation of the year of 2014 as the Year of Family by the Government of Mongolia has brought positive changes to the public understanding and attitude towards their families and the overall family issue.

The traditional Mongolian family has been undergoing newer patterns followed by acute challenges such as one third of total families living in poverty and increasing number of divorces and female headed households and many young people of reproductive age leave for overseas countries for better living. Though early marriage slows down, and as of 2010, average marriage age for men is 26.2 and 24.2 for women, the domestic violence  remains to be a worrisome social issue.

Hence, the Government of Mongolia proposed amendments to the Family Law in order to enhance the legal environment for family development, combat domestic violence, improve the child wellbeing, and better responsibilities of parents, caregivers and guardians.

Mr.Chairman,

Mongolia is committed to implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities ratified together with its Optional Protocol in 2009 through the National Action Plan adopted in 2013. The country report of the CRPWD was discussed at the UN Committee last April.

Also, in conformity with the principles of the Convention, the Government of Mongolia developed the draft Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and submitted it for the Parliament discussion.  

Mr.Chairman,

As a main sponsor of the bi-annual General Assembly resolution on "Cooperatives in Social Development", my delegation underlines the potential of cooperatives to contribute to achieving the sustainable development goals and their role to employment generation, poverty eradication, equality, social inclusion and people’s empowerment.       

We welcome the recommendations by the Secretary-General to review existing legislation concerning cooperatives, harmonize data on cooperatives and promote and disseminate evidence based research on cooperative enterprises and raise awareness of the links between cooperatives and sustainable development, especially social inclusion employment creation, poverty eradication and peacebuilding. 

Lastly, I would like to re-affirm the Government of Mongolia’s commitment to pursue sustainable development goals with visionary policies promoting innovative means of implementation and financing for development principles.  

Thank you for attention.