Commission for Social Development
Fifty-third session, New York, 4-13 February 2015
Item 3 (a) Priority theme: Rethinking and strengthening social development in the contemporary world
Statement by the Triglav Circle
The Triglav Circle is an organization created by the participants in a seminar convened by the United Nations during the preparation of the World Summit for Social Development. The subject of this seminar, which took place in Bled, Slovenia, was Ethical and Spiritual Dimensions of Social Progress.
Madame Chair, as clearly indicated in the excellent report of the Secretary-General on this priority theme, not only the objectives agreed upon twenty years ago in Copenhagen have not been attained, but there has been a marked regression in the overall health of our world. A “society for all,” a “new social contract at the global level,” a “new era of cooperation between Governments and peoples” – all ambitions of the World Summit – sound today as the dreams of idealists. And yet, these dreams are the only realistic response to the problems humankind is today confronted with. Social development is the construction of a world society for all, is the building of a peaceful world community where every nation and every person will have a place and a role.
Allow me, Madame Chair, to mention three related aspects of this imperative and urgent task on which the contribution of this Commission would be particularly necessary.
First, social development requires a world economy working for the benefit of all. Steps in this direction include a tax on financial transactions –proposed in the 1970s by James Tobin -, the generalization of progressive and fair tax-systems and the suppression of tax heavens, an effective fight against corruption, regulations favoring small and medium-size enterprises, a priority given to employments over dividends, all measures mentioned in the text adopted in Copenhagen. A well- functioning market economy is the most democratic form of social organization. But, for many reasons, that include technological change as well as greed, economic democracy has to be protected, restored and promoted by public authorities acting at the national, regional and global levels. One should not forget that markets are social constructs, that money and finances are means to facilitate human activities, and that global capitalism ought also to be serving the needs and aspirations of humankind.
Second, social development requires the sharing of a global political culture. Respect for human dignity, the protection and promotion of human rights, provide both the foundation and the objective of this global political culture. And we should recall that Article 28 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted more than sixty years ago, says that, I quote, “Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.” The contribution of this Commission to the creation of such order could include a reflection on Article 29 of the same Declaration, which refers to the “duties” that everyone has to the community.
In addition, this contribution of the Commission could also include a reflection on the links between the various forms and manifestations of violence – from violence to Nature to violence among and between peoples – that beset our world. Violence is contagious and cumulative. But so are benevolence, goodwill, generosity and altruism.
Third, global social development requires that all actors on the world scene inform their thoughts and actions with the search for the common good. Such focus is imperative for the removal of the various threats to the future of humankind and for the patient building of a world society. The search for the common good is not the sole responsibility of public intellectuals, religious leaders and organizations of the civil society. Private, corporate, national interests have to be harmonized with, sometimes subordinated to the general interest, or common good. Power is legitimized by service. Clearly, the notion of sustainability, and the “glue” that ought to keep together its three “pillars” (economic, social, environmental), will remain ineffective if not informed by a relentless search for the common good. And, again, the United Nations, and notably this Commission, is a privileged forum for this difficult and urgent task.
Madam Chair, the above remarks are in the spirit that animated the World Summit. Social development is a continuum, from the integration of specific social groups into society (I think in particular of the remarkable work done by this Commission on the question of persons with disabilities) to the distribution of wealth and opportunities at the global level. The latter, the “macro-social,” has been badly neglected in recent years. Current trends, be it global warming or the scandalous increase of various types of inequality, impose a change of course. We trust that this Commission will make a significant contribution to the elaboration of–I quote the report of the Secretary-General – “a compelling and inclusive narrative” for the post -2015 development agenda. Quoting again this report, “correcting asymmetries in power, voice and influence is not only the right thing to do, but is necessary to strengthen the social contract at both the national and global levels.”
I thank you for your kind attention.