Türk to Social Forum: We need human rights economies that prioritise people and planet

Excellencies, colleagues, distinguished participants,

We live in a world scarred by inequality and drowning in global public debt.

Since 2020, around 5 billion people have become poorer. And more than 40% of the global population live in countries that spend more on servicing their debt than on either education or health.

Today, the world’s poorest economies are facing the toughest conditions in two decades – deeper in debt and increasingly vulnerable to shocks, while international aid dwindles.

This is a huge human rights failure and a crisis of solidarity.

And it is pushing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development further out of reach.

A global pandemic, the climate emergency, and increasing conflict all play a role. But the bottom line is clear: The widening finance gap between developed and developing countries is becoming an ever-widening chasm. 

If we continue down this path, we will deepen and cement the gross inequality and injustice that characterize our times.

And that inequality and injustice are fuelling grievances and polarization that affect all countries and make the world a more dangerous place for everyone.   

So this Social Forum comes at a pivotal moment.

In the run up to the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville next year, human rights, international solidarity, cooperation and partnership must steer our path from the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of 2015 to a new Agenda in 2025.

We have an opportunity to develop a clear blueprint for action – but that plan must be guided by core principles.

First, we need to overhaul our international financial system to redress longstanding structural and systemic injustices – as envisaged by the Pact for the Future.

International financial institutions must support peace, human rights and sustainable development.

And we urgently need to tackle the high cost of debt, with a more effective process for restructuring unsustainable sovereign debt.

Second, we must strengthen international development cooperation.

Increasing access to development finance is a crucial starting point – and the world needs a massive injection of resources to finance the SDGs.

We have to prioritize concessional financing, including climate finance, for countries that have contributed least to the triple planetary crisis, but are affected the most.

We must remember – always – that the right to development recognizes a special role for women and empowers all people to participate in decision-making.

And we need to tackle global tax abuse, redesign the global tax architecture to make it fairer and more inclusive, and reform global tax rules to increase government resources.

That means implementing progressive tax policies; and ensuring that human rights are front and centre during the drafting of the UN Convention on Tax Cooperation.

Colleagues,

We need to build inclusive human rights economies that prioritise people and planet instead of profit at all costs -- and only for a few. Economies that promote a just and equitable distribution of resources.

Our world cannot be based on a model that offers health for some, wealth for some, jobs for some, rights for some.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Declaration on the Right to Development, along with the recognized right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, envisage a social and international order in which the dignity, rights and freedoms of all people can be realized. 

I look forward to working with you on building a more just, equitable and inclusive future for all.