Multilateralism as an Essential Tool to Reduce Inequality

Side Event to the 57th Session of the Commission for Social Development
Thursday, February 14 2019 | Conference Room A, United Nations Headquarters, NY

Moderator:

• Volker Lehmann, Senior Policy Analyst, FES New York

Speakers:

• H.E. Mr. Modest Mero, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the United Republic of Tanzania to the United Nations
• Ms. Hayet Zeggar, Counsellor on Social Affairs, Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations
• Ms. Chantal Line Carpentier, Chief, UNCTAD NY Office
• Mr. Manuel Montes, Permanent Observer and Senior Advisor on Finance and Development, The South Centre
• Mr. Jeffrey Huffines, UN Representative, CIVICUS

Although SDG10 of the 2030 Agenda asks for action to counter the dramatic increase of inequality, its prescriptions to change the underlying structural dynamics that continue to exacerbate inequalities are limited. Moreover, with multilateral institutions under increasing threat, many Member States recognize that the UN must be significantly strengthened and further revitalized if the SDGs are to be achieved by 2030.

This session will consider how international rules and global economic governance arrangements should be changed to counteract the increasing inequalities within countries and to reduce inequalities between countries. Panelists will also be asked to consider how the opportunity of an event commemorating the UN’s 75th anniversary may be used to develop synergies among the major UN reviews occurring in 2020 that would include a process of robust stocktaking and review to advance ambitious and achievable reforms of the Organization, particularly as it relates to SDG10 and macroeconomic policy.