UNITED NATIONS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for reform of the UN system to make it more effective saying the world body has not yet fulfilled its objective of eradicating poverty globally.
“Eradication of poverty remains the greatest unfinished business of the 20th century. It is also the most important unfulfilled objective of the United Nations,” Modi said in a keynote address via video to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the UN.
Modi said that developing countries face the challenge of ending poverty in a manner that is friendly to the environment and the planet.
Referring to the recently-concluded Paris agreement on climate change, the Prime Minister said the ‘2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’ presents a valuable opportunity for the UN system to rethink its role and purpose and make itself more effective.
ECOSOC, a key pillar of the UN architecture, is commemorating its 70th anniversary.
“Its creation as a distinct part of United Nations is a testimony to the centrality of development in the vision of the founders of the UN,” Modi said.
“To achieve a peaceful and prosperous world, we need to put in place first and foremost the conditions for rapid socio-economic development; improvement in the human condition and an end to hunger and deprivation,” Modi asserted.
As such it is now the responsibility of ECOSOC to rise up to this challenge and contribute to making this agenda a success, he said adding that the 2030 agenda is a reflection of the challenges faced by the poor countries.
“We in the developing world not only have to end poverty and hunger and satisfy the legitimate aspirations of our people for a better life, we have to do so in a manner that is friendly to the planet and the environment,” Modi said.
The developed countries on the other hand face enormous responsibilities to rapidly move their economies onto a sustainable path follow sustainable lifestyles and assist developing countries with finance and technologies, he added.
“At the same time, we have enormous resources at our command and technology today presents us with solutions that were unthinkable earlier. The challenge is to channel the available resources and use technology to tackle the most urgent problems facing us,” Modi said.
In his address, Modi urged members of the ECOSOC to rejuvenate the council, to make it more action oriented, policy relevant and more responsive to the needs and aspirations of people.
India has been pushing for reform of the UN Security Council saying it is the “most urgent and pressing need” and called for inclusion of more developing nations in the decision-making structures of the powerful world body. -PTI
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