Barbara Adams (GPF) spoke as a panelist at the 62nd Commission on Social Development (CSocD62) Civil Society Forum.
“We have to get beyond the idea that [GDP] is the measure of progress and supports development. Frankly, I think it undermines it…. Not only is GDP inadequate for what we’re concerned about, it actually rewards the problems… GDP is not just a technical issue… To change [from having GDP] as the premier measure of how economies talk to each other is political… [Earlier,] Brazilian minister Diaz said that ‘the belief that economic growth alone would reduce disparities has been proven false’.
Now, this particular issue is hanging on by a thread in the 2030 Agenda and by another thread in the preparations for the Summit of the Future. This is an important opportunity to deal with this critical and on-going issue, hopefully not too much further into the future. As a transformative issue, we don’t have in the multilateral system any process or forum where [income, non-income and wealth] inequalities [within and between countries] are the focus of policies, programmes and accountability.
As we edge towards a World Summit for Social Development in 2025, let’s be extremely ambitious and work to ensure that the Summit gives us a UN Council mandated to tackle and hold accountable Member States and ourselves to reducing all forms of inequalities.”
Summary
The Forum is hosted jointly by UNDESA DISD, the NGO Committee on Social Development and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Foundation. The Forum is a time for NGOs worldwide to learn about each other’s work, to prepare for the Commission, including by work on position papers and interventions.
Description
A space for members of civil society, in collaboration with the UN, Member States, and other stakeholders to gather, learn, discuss, and strategize on the themes and deliberations of the 62nd session of the UN Commission for Social Development.
Watch the full meeting on UN Web TV.