STATEMENT BY
H.E. AMBASSADOR SYED MOHAMAD HASRIN TENGKU HUSSIN @ SYED HUSSIN AIDID
PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF MALAYSIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS
ON BEHALF OF
THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS (ASEAN)
AT
THE THIRD COMMITTEE OF THE 74TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Mr. Chairman,
1. On behalf of the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), allow me to convey our congratulations to You, Excellency Christian Braun, for assuming responsibility as Chairman of the Third Committee for the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. It is my great pleasure to deliver this statement on the first agenda item today on behalf of the Member States of ASEAN, namely Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam and my country, Malaysia.
Mr. Chairman,
2. The world is now facing multiple crises – climate change, environmental, political, economic and social. These crises are having unparalleled adverse consequences on social development. During this challenging time, ASEAN believes that greater focus should be given to providing basic needs and improving the livelihood of the poorest and most vulnerable.
3. ASEAN has been and will continue to attach utmost importance to its social development agenda. This, we believe, is central to peace and contributory to achieving prosperity for the current and future generations. Elements of this agenda has long been embedded in numerous ASEAN’s documents namely, ASEAN Vision 2020, Declaration of ASEAN Concord 1 (1976), Declaration of ASEAN Concord II (2003) and the Hanoi Plan of Action with a view to building an ASEAN community that comprises cohesive, equitable and harmonious societies. In addition, the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community 2025 has identified strategic measures to reduce barriers faced by youth, the aged, persons with disabilities and the family, promote and protect their rights, and ensure inclusivity for all.
4. ASEAN’s cooperation on social welfare and development is also guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Incheon Strategy to “Make the Right Real” for Persons with Disabilities and the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing. ASEAN also believes that the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals serves as an excellent framework to work towards a more prosperous and inclusive global community.
Mr. Chairman,
5. We believe that people are the core and the key to development. Hence, investment into the well-being of people is essential for inclusive progress and peace. In this regard, ASEAN, on 9 September 2019 has taken a proactive step in recognizing the potential contributions of the ageing population to the economic and social development. We have recently established the ASEAN Centre for Active Ageing and Innovation and ASEAN Training Centre for Social Work and Social Welfare.
6. ASEAN also attaches great importance to gender equality and youth empowerment as it will unlock human potential on a transformational scale. At the same time, we will continue our efforts in addressing the social tension faced by children and persons with disabilities.
7. Finally, on behalf of ASEAN Member States, I wish to assure you of our commitment and readiness to take part proactively in deliberations pertaining to Social Development within the platform of the Third Committee of the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. Our end-goal is to establish communities within our region that support the needs of groups and for people to thrive and unleash their full potentials.
8. We will continue to play an active role in socio-highlight economic development at the national, regional, and international levels. To this end, ASEAN looks forward to exploring all possible means of collaboration with the UN and other partners to address support social development issues in the region towards achieving the 2030 Agenda.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.