ESCAP Associated Event on “Towards the World Summit for Social Development: Contributions from Asia and the Pacific”, Bangkok, Thailand

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) convened an Associated Event on “Towards the World Summit for Social Development: Contributions from Asia and the Pacific” on 24 February 2025 in Bangkok.

In alignment with General Assembly resolutions 78/261 and 78/318, the Second World Summit for Social Development will convene from 4 to 6 November 2025 in Qatar. This Summit will build upon the original principles set forth in the Copenhagen Declaration (1995), facilitating a renewed dialogue among Member States on achieving social development for all. General Assembly resolution on 78/318 calls upon Regional Commissions to support the Summit and its preparatory process and thus builds on the Copenhagen Declaration which had recognized the role of Regional Commissions to review and assess progress made towards implementing the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development.

In this context, ESCAP, in partnership with regional UN agencies coordinated a process to prepare regional inputs for the Second World Summit for Social Development. This one-day associated event was organized in partnership with ILO, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF and UN Women, with the objective of: fostering dialogue and knowledge exchange among policy makers, development practitioners, experts and stakeholders in the Asia Pacific region, on new and emerging policies and priorities in light of the socio-economic context; and identifying areas of action for the upcoming World Social Summit, focusing on themes relevant to the regions socio-economic development contexts.

Fiji was represented at the Event by Fiji’s Permanent Representative to UNESCAP and Fiji’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Ambassador Amenatave Yauvoli; Senior Foreign Service Officer, Ms Anasilini Turaga; and Ms Vasiti Cirikiyasawa, Second Secretary at the Fiji Embassy in Indonesia with backstopping policy guidance of the Permanent Secretary of Women, Children and Social Protection, Ms. Eseta Nadakuitavuki.

In delivering remarks during the Opening Panel, Ambassador Yauvoli provided Fiji’s perspectives as a SIDS, on how governments can implement comprehensive policies, taking into account cultural aspects that protect marginalized communities and enhance their resilience in the face of climate induced challenges and the associated socioeconomic inequalities. He also shared key lessons from Fiji’s experience in ensuring equitable growth and inclusive development, particularly in the context of climate-related vulnerabilities.

Some key takeaways gathered from the Fiji Delegation in this Summit are to enhance social protection systems aiming to protect marginalized groups. This includes tax breaks, subsidies and incentives to target such groups – the elderly, children, women and persons with disabilities during megatrend outbreaks of pandemics and climate crises. Fiji also shared the importance of developing robust shock response systems during climate, health and economic emergencies to minimize dependence on debt financing. These shock responses should be incorporated into national budgeting processes to mobilize funds domestically for affected groups during national emergencies. As such, pension funds should not utilized for national emergencies considering that the objective of the pension funds are for retirement purposes. Finally, national legislations should be reviewed and updated to keep up with megatrends and should reflect Fiji’s commitment to the protection of marginalized and worker groups such as trade unions to enable the mobilization of assistance and funding for recovery purposes.

The regional inputs formulated in the associated event will be progressed and embedded in the draft outcome document to be negotiated in the United Nations General Assembly in New York in the next couple of weeks.

The event was held prior to ESCAP’s Twelfth Asia Pacific Forum for Sustainable Development, which also convenes this week in Bangkok from 25 -28 February, and where Fiji will also be represented.