On 17 October 2020, Renmin Ribao, TASS News Agency, Islamabad Post and Centreline published an interview with SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Norov on the subject of International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
The SCO Secretary-General noted the importance of the day for all those who come across poverty every day.
Speaking about the historical reasons behind the day, Vladimir Norov recalled what happened in Paris on 17 October 1987 and pointed out the importance of the UN Millennium Development Goals approved in 2000, where the number one goal is to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.
The Sustainable Development Goals adopted at the UN General Assembly in 2015 are aimed at stimulating development in the areas of priority significance for humankind and the Earth, first of all the eradication of hunger and poverty, access to water and sanitation for all, as well as quality education.
The SCO Secretary-General pointed out several reasons for poverty, first of all economic ones, such as unemployment, low wages and the growing impact of environmental factors on life and food security, as well as medical and social factors, primarily age, illnesses, inadequate social protection and limited capability for work.
This year the theme of International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is acting together to achieve social and environmental justice for all.
Poverty is not simply having a low income and a shortage of resources for a decent life. Its other aspects are hunger and malnutrition, limited access to education and other basic services, social discrimination and isolation, as well as inability to take part in decision-making processes.
According to the UN, 783 million people live below the international poverty line of $1.90 a day, most of them in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. The number of those in sub-Saharan Africa who live in conditions of extreme poverty increased from 278 million in 1990 to 413 million in 2015, which is more than half of the world's poor.
The current global crisis provoked by the novel coronavirus pandemic has had a serious impact on the economy of all countries. Rising unemployment is a problem even for highly developed countries. According to the World Bank, the pandemic will push as many as 150 million people into extreme poverty in 2020-2021.
The SCO Secretary-General noted that the global economic contraction provoked by the COVID-19 pandemic had affected the SCO region as well, and that the SCO member states were working to overcome the political and socioeconomic consequences of the pandemic, first of all unemployment and poverty. Furthermore, over 800 million young people live in the SCO countries, which is why the absence of economic opportunities can become a dangerous trend, pushing socially exposed young people towards criminal activities, including terrorism and drug trafficking. In this context, the eradication of poverty in the SCO region is acquiring special importance for attaining general prosperity, security and stability.
Vladimir Norov recalled that the SCO's priority goal stipulated in its Charter is to promote a comprehensive and balanced economic growth and sustainable development of the region based on equal partnership aimed at improving the standards of life in the SCO member states.
During the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, the heads of all SCO states identified the eradication of poverty and its causes as a priority goal.
The SCO Secretary-General went on to say that the SCO member states exchange their experiences in eradicating poverty. For example, Russia has developed a concept for developing remote and rural territories in the digital era and proposed adopting it at the next SCO summit, while Pakistan proposed establishing a special working group on poverty and a centre of advanced anti-poverty experience. In addition to this, the Chinese experience in eradicating poverty has demonstrated the importance of identifying the root causes of poverty and creating conditions for people to individually deal with this problem.
Vladimir Norov pointed out that the SCO member states were coordinating an Action Plan for the Implementation of the SCO Development Strategy Until 2025, which will be submitted for adoption to the SCO Heads of State Council meeting in November 2020. This document also provides for promoting the member states' collaboration in eradicating poverty.
He added, in conclusion, that the pandemic has increased uncertainty when it comes to the attainment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030. This is exactly why the SCO member states have redoubled their efforts to boost their socioeconomic development and are actively contributing to all international cooperation events. The SCO is ready to contribute to the global movement against poverty. On International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, the SCO sends its greetings to all those who are involved in the efforts to eradicate poverty around the world.