“There is one word above all that must guide us on this roadmap to ending poverty, transforming lives and protecting the planet,” he told the Commission, and added: “That word is: dignity.”

Ban said that policymakers in the past had focused too much on economic growth, without taking into account social concerns or environmental factors.

“The

World Summit on Social Development helped reorient thinking,” he said. “It emphasized that economic growth must be judged in terms of its impact on human well-being – rather than an end in itself. It stressed not just the quantity, but the quality of growth.”

He described how the 1995 World Summit – which has become informally known as the 'Social Summit' – has emphasized the integrated nature of social, economic and environmental pursuits and had emphasized the need to put people “at the centre” of development.

Joining Ban at the event was Denis G. Antoine, Acting President of the General Assembly, on behalf of Assembly President Sam Kutesa, who also noted the “particular relevance” of the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action to efforts to formulate the world's new development agenda.

“The three main focal points of the Copenhagen Declaration; poverty eradication, full and productive employment and decent work for all, and social integration should still remain key priorities in the new development framework,” said Antoine. “Indeed, these priorities have been recognized as such in the outcome of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals.”

He said the need to build just societies was as relevant now as it was 20 years ago and he noted that despite significant progress on poverty eradication, nearly 1.2 billion people remained in extreme poverty and inequality was on the rise in many countries. The commemoration, therefore, should serve as a reaffirmation and reminder of the need to strengthen the role of social development for sustainability.

“The new development agenda should deepen our collective commitment to social development, while recognizing that to secure social progress we must also give due attention to economic development and environmental protection,” he said.

Photo: World Bank/Dominic Sansoni