The need for a global approach to fighting against extreme poverty and ensuring sustainable development

Speakers and attendees at the seminar said that the post-2015 Development Programme ought to include many areas neglected in the MDGs. Roberto Bissio, Social Watch, finds that the poverty threshold of $1.25 is too low and artificially reduces the the number of people who are recorded as living in poverty. It makes poverty invisible in rich countries and pays no attention to the shame and suffering it causes throughout the world. 

A new growth model

Amina J. Mohammed, Special advisor of the UN Secretary General for the planning of post-2015 development stated that consensuses have been reached on certain universal goals such as the elimination of extreme poverty, whilst retaining a broad degree of adaptability according to the context of every country, taking into account the three economic, social and environmental.pillars of sustainable development.

“We don’t have the choice, if we’re going to guarantee a decent life and the same opportunities for all people by 2030, other than to strongly commit to a transition to sustainable growth, production and consumption models that are fairer, more stable and more reasonable”. (Gerard Araud, French Ambassador)

Adopt a multidimensional approach to poverty

Roberto Bissio, Social Watch, finds that the poverty threshold of $1.25 is too low and artificially reduces the the number of people who are recorded as living in poverty. It makes poverty invisible in rich countries and pays no attention to the shame and suffering it causes throughout the world. Olav Kjorven, the Deputy Secretary General of the UNDP, insists that there has to be a multidimensional approach to poverty,, and the most vulnerable populations must be included in defining, implementing and evaluating development programmes.  

Other speakers called for the MDGs to be improved by taking inequalities into account and by focusing on quality of services (education and health, for example), in this way avoiding narrow sectoral approaches while taking good governance, security and environmental protection into account. Alison Tate of the International Trade Union Confederation argued that full employment and decent work for all, and a universal platform of social protection, should be two goals in their own right for the post-2015 Programme.

Respect human rights

For Ivan Šimonović, The Deputy Secretary General for Human Rights, the new development agenda must include economic and social rights. It should be universally applicable and ensure equality with accountability measures. 
The private sector must be sufficiently regulated. Several speakers highlighted the need for less superficial awareness of poverty and for moving towards a new, more developed understanding..

The Guiding Principles on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights, adopted in 2012 by the Human Rights Council, are an important tool and should be a key point of reference in the fight against extreme poverty on the basis of human rights.

Source: ATD Fourth World.