拉丁美洲经济委员会-拉丁美洲和加勒比社会发展问题区域会议主持人第六次会议的报告（英）_16页_378kb

Summary of the Sixth Meeting of the Presiding Officers of the Regional Conference on Social Development in Latin America and the Caribbean

Core Content

The sixth meeting of the Presiding Officers of the Regional Conference on Social Development in Latin America and the Caribbean took place in Bridgetown on 31 October 2024. The meeting focused on preparing for the Second World Summit for Social Development, scheduled for November 2025 in Qatar, by reviewing key documents, discussing regional messages, and adopting agreements that would guide the region's approach to inclusive social development.

Main Points and Agreements

A. Attendance and Organization of Work

• Location and Date: Bridgetown, 31 October 2024.
• Participants:
  • Presiding Officers: Barbados, Venezuela, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Honduras, Panama.
  • ECLAC Member Countries: Belize, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, United States.
  • ECLAC Associate Members: Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands.
  • UNDP Representative: Present at the meeting.

B. Agenda

The agenda included the following key items:

1. Adoption of the agenda.
2. Report of the Chair on progress in implementing resolution 5(V) from the fifth session.
3. Review of the document Reducing Inequality and Pursuing Inclusive Social Development in Latin America and the Caribbean: Challenges, Priorities and Key Messages.
4. Consideration of regional messages for the Second World Summit for Social Development.
5. Consideration and adoption of agreements.

C. Summary of Proceedings

Opening Session

• Statements:
  • José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs (ECLAC Executive Secretary) emphasized the importance of the upcoming Summit and the need to convey the region's priorities and recommendations.
  • Javiera Toro (Chile, Chair) highlighted the necessity of regional cooperation and the role of social protection as an investment.
  • Kirk Humphrey (Barbados) stressed the need for addressing gender and capacity-building gaps and strengthening institutions.
  • Michelle Muschett (UNDP) called for immediate, coordinated efforts to ensure fair opportunities and build a resilient future.

Review of the Document

• The document was introduced by the Chief of the Social Development Division of ECLAC.

• Key themes included:

  • Eradicating hunger and poverty.
  • Strengthening social protection and care systems.
  • Enhancing institutional capacity and governance.
  • Financing and financial sustainability of social policies.
  • International cooperation.

• Contributions from Delegates:

  • Chile: Urged the adoption of a spending standard and highlighted the care crisis.
  • Barbados: Called for labor inclusion and emphasized the importance of the Copenhagen Declaration.
  • Brazil: Advocated for the inclusion of eradicating hunger and poverty as a priority.
  • Costa Rica: Highlighted the need for comprehensive care policies and intersectoral approaches.

Regional Messages for the Summit

• The ECLAC Executive Secretary proposed five themes for the regional messages:
  1. Eradicating hunger and poverty.
  2. Strengthening protection and care systems.
  3. Institutional capacity and governance.
  4. Financing and sustainability.
  5. International cooperation.
• The United States representative supported the Global Digital Compact as a tool for fostering equity.
• The Peruvian delegate emphasized the need for more ambitious and disruptive messages.

Consideration and Adoption of Agreements

• The Presiding Officers adopted agreements in Annex 1, which included:
  1. Prioritizing people and their rights in inclusive social development.
  2. Reiterating the importance of multilateralism and cooperation.
  3. Advancing the Regional Agenda for Inclusive Social Development.
  4. Committing to the eradication of hunger and poverty.
  5. Strengthening labor inclusion, non-contributory pension systems, and care policies.
  6. Highlighting the Second World Summit as an opportunity to secure commitments.
  7. Welcoming the document on reducing inequality.
  8. Recognizing the contributions of member countries.
  9. Requesting the secretariat to prepare a document for the Summit.
  10. Holding a special meeting of the Presiding Officers in March 2025.
  11. Expanding analysis and experience-sharing for social policy and protection systems.
  12. Commending the host country, Barbados, and the Chair, Chile.
  13. Thanking ECLAC for its support in implementing the Regional Agenda.
  14. Acknowledging the joint organization with UNDP.
  15. Requesting ECLAC to convene the sixth session of the Regional Conference in Brazil in 2025.

Key Information

• The meeting aimed to align the region's priorities and messages for the upcoming World Summit.
• Social protection and care systems were identified as critical for addressing inequality and building resilience.
• Institutional strengthening and multilateral cooperation were emphasized as essential for achieving inclusive development.
• The document Reducing Inequality and Pursuing Inclusive Social Development served as a foundation for the Summit preparation.
• A special meeting of the Presiding Officers was scheduled for March 2025 to finalize the document for the Summit.
• The meeting was jointly organized by ECLAC and UNDP, with the support of the Government of Brazil for hosting the next Regional Conference.

Conclusion

The meeting underscored the region's commitment to inclusive and sustainable social development, highlighting the need for coordinated action, institutional capacity, and international cooperation. It laid the groundwork for the Second World Summit for Social Development, aiming to present a unified and impactful regional voice.