OPENING REMARKS BY
H.E. DATO’ SRI MUHAMMAD SHAHRUL IKRAM YAAKOB
PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF MALAYSIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS
ON BEHALF OF
THE HONOURABLE DATO’ SRI ROHANI ABDUL KARIM
MINISTER OF WOMEN, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OF MALAYSIA
at the Side Event of the 56th Commission for Social Development (56th CSocD)
“Meeting the Specific Needs of Older Persons Facing Poverty – Challenges and Opportunities for Social Policymaking”
1.15 – 2.30 PM, 2 February 2018
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Distinguished Moderator, Ms Bas, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
1. At the outset, allow me to extend our utmost appreciation for your presence and support for this event. It is my great honour to represent Her Excellency Dato’ Sri Rohani Abdul Karim, Minister of Women, Family and Community Development of Malaysia to this side-event that is also co-organised with the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), UN Department of Economics and Social Affair (UNDESA) and UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). Unfortunately, our Minister is unable to attend today’s event due to commitments back home.
2. Malaysia was re-elected as the President of the Intergovernmental Council of the Management of Transoformations Programme (IGC MOST) last November at UNESCO Headquarters, Paris under the Presidency of Minister Dato’ Sri Rohani Abdul Karim.
3. Under her Presidency, a comprehensive strategy for the MOST Programme was adopted. The purpose is to affirm the role of MOST as an intergovernmental social science programme on social transformations, in supporting the articulation of policies for the 2030 Agenda and to enhance the capacity of MOST to respond to various challenges through three pillars; research, intergovernmental forums and knowledge brokering. This is implemented through an Action Plan in which Member States have strong ownership through initiating and implementing activities.
Excellencies,
4. The MOST’s excellent cooperation with DESA and ESCAP, which had contributed to the themes of the 56th session of the Commission for Social Development (56th CSocD) here in New York. In addition, the Government of Malaysia, hosted the First Asia Pacific Ministerial Forum of MOST in Kuala Lumpur, dated 22 to 23 March 2017. The theme of the Forum was “Building Inclusive Societies” with the subthemes on ageing, women and social innovation.
5. The theme reflects the spirit of Agenda 2030 centred on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Understanding and measuring inclusion for all in various policy contexts, is a new analytical and practical frontier for national governments, international organizations and academic communities, and of high importance for UNESCO’s MOST Programme.
Ladies and gentlemen,
6. The 2030 Agenda and its 17 SDGs are built on one cornerstone principle – “Leaving no one behind.” Social inclusion is a transversal pillar of the SDGs, meaning that the progress towards each of the goals should benefit everyone on an equal footing, whether it is the SDG 1 :the eradication of poverty or SDG 16: building inclusive and just societies.
7. Malaysia has been a real trailblazer in the global quest for the sustainable solutions against social exclusion. Under the Malaysia-UNESCO Partnership Programme, the Government of Malaysia has funded projects designed by UNESCO’s MOST programme to assist Member States in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its inclusive social development goals. These projects have been implemented in Malaysia, Cambodia, Timor-Leste, the Philippines, and will soon be launched in Indonesia. Achievements to date include:
7.1 The research and analysis conducted on the National Policy on Science, Technology and Innovation (NPSTI) led to the recommendations on enhancing its inclusiveness on multiple dimensions;
7.2 The Malaysian experience served as the blueprint for replicating the methodology and the process in Timor-Leste and Cambodia; and
7.3 The MOST Programme’s Inclusive Policy Lab (IPL) was launched with significant share of content coming from the Malaysian experiences and accumulated knowledge. The IPL has successfully serves as a popular platform for communities of practice around the world. The Lab will support multi-stakeholder collaboration globally and help disseminate the results of the project. The Lab is a free, interactive, collaborative, and educational platform that helps people from around the world cocreate knowledge and apply it towards inclusive and equitable policies.
Ladies and gentlemen,
8. Building on these achievements, Malaysia has supported the second phase of the initiative on Valorisation of Research and Evidence for SDGs Implementation, working closely with the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM), and sharing knowledge with other beneficiary countries of Phase II – namely the Philippines and Indonesia. The Institute is partnering with the Institute Social Malaysia of KPWKM to hold the first ever MOST School on Inclusive Social Development in April 2018.
9. In each country, the project is led by a National Working Group (NWG) and coordinated by the lead policy think tank, with technical support provided by UNESCO Jakarta Office.
10. In conclusion, I wish to assure you that the outcome of the discussions of today’s event will be reported to the next meeting of the Bureau of the IGC MOST, later this month at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, and to be chaired by Her Excellency Dato Sri’ Rohani Abdul Karim.
Thank you.
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