Hand in Hand: Global Efforts to Reduce Inequality Within and Between Countries, Building a Fair Future for SDGs

UN Pictures / Paulo Filgueiras Diversity helps tocreate a better world. Let us all have zero tolerance for racism anddiscrimination!

You know what?

Inequality threatens long-term social and economic development, hinders poverty reductionefforts, and undermines people's sense of achievement and self-worth.

Inmost countries, the income growth rate of the poorest 40% of the population ishigher than the national average. But the emerging and inconclusive evidencesuggests that the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019 may have hindered the positivetrend of domestic inequality decline.

The pandemic has caused the most severe inequality between countries in thirtyyears. To reduce inequality within and between countries, it is necessary toallocate resources fairly, invest in education and skills development,implement social security measures, oppose discrimination, support marginalizedgroups, and promote international cooperation in fair trade and financialsystems.

Inmost countries, the income growth rate of the poorest 40% of the population ishigher than the national average. But recent but inconclusive evidence suggeststhat COVID-19 may have affected the positive trend of reducing inequalitywithin the country. The COVID-19 pandemic has also caused the greatest increasein inequality among countries in the past three decades.

Onein every six people worldwide has experienced some form of discrimination, withwomen and people with disabilities being particularly affected.

2022witnessed the highest number of refugees on record (34.6 million people). Thisyear has also had a fatal impact on immigrants, with a recorded death toll ofnearly 7000 worldwide.

How much do you know about the goal of reducing inequality?

By2030, gradually achieve and maintain income growth for the bottom 40% of thepopulation, and ensure that its growth rate is higher than the nationalaverage.

By2030, empower everyone and promote their integration into social, economic, andpolitical life, regardless of age, gender, disability, race, ethnicity, origin,religious beliefs, economic status, or any other distinction.

Ensureequal opportunities and reduce unequal outcomes, including the elimination ofdiscriminatory laws, policies, and practices, and promote appropriatelegislation, policies, and actions related to the aforementioned efforts.

Adoptpolicies, especially fiscal, salary, and social security policies, to graduallyachieve greater equality.

Improvethe regulation and monitoring of global financial markets and institutions, andstrengthen the implementation of the aforementioned regulatory measures.

Ensurethat developing countries have greater representation and voice in the decision-makingprocess of international economic and financial institutions, in order toestablish more effective, credible, responsible, and legitimate institutions.

Promoteorderly, safe, normal, and responsible immigration and population movements,including the implementation of well planned and well managed immigrationpolicies.

Toreduce inequality, they do it this way:

1.The United Nations launches a global plan to reduce gender inequality

UNSecretary General Guterres leads global action to comprehensively promote a newchapter of gender equality

Onthe occasion of International Women's Day in 2024, UN Secretary GeneralGuterres announced an ambitious global plan aimed at fundamentally changing thestatus of women and girls in global society and promoting gender equality. Thisplan not only focuses on policy level changes, but also delves into everycorner of communities, businesses, and education systems, striving to eliminateall forms of gender discrimination and unequal treatment.

Guterrespointed out that despite some progress in gender equality globally, genderinequality remains one of the biggest obstacles to sustainable development. Heemphasized that women and girls face particularly severe challenges in poverty,hunger, education, employment, and healthcare, which are often closely linkedto gender discrimination.

Toaddress these challenges, the United Nations Global Plan proposes three corestrategies: firstly, urgently increase long-term and sustainable financing forgender equality projects, ensuring sufficient resources to support theimplementation of relevant policies and projects; Secondly, through legislativeand policy measures, ensure equal rights for women and girls in various fields,including political participation, economic autonomy, and personal safety;Finally, promote the enhancement of female leadership, increase the proportionof women in leadership positions in government, enterprises, and internationalorganizations, and break the gender ceiling.

2.TheHuman Development Report calls for collective action to reduce unevendevelopment

TheUnited Nations Human Development Report was shocked to release: the world willwork together to overcome the dilemma of unbalanced development

Thelatest Human Development Report released by the United Nations DevelopmentProgramme has sounded the alarm for the global community and revealed the harshreality of uneven development. The report points out that although the HumanDevelopment Index has rebounded globally, this rebound is uneven and mainlyconcentrated in a few wealthy countries. In contrast, many developing countriesand regions are still mired in poverty, hunger, and disease.

Thereport emphasizes that uneven development not only exacerbates global povertyand inequality, but also triggers social unrest and conflicts. To break thisdeadlock, the report calls on countries around the world to take collectiveaction and strengthen cooperation and coordination. The report put forwardmultiple suggestions, including increasing aid to developing countries,promoting trade and investment liberalization, strengthening scientific andtechnological innovation, and talent cultivation.

UNSecretary General Guterres stated at the report launch that only throughsolidarity and joint efforts among countries around the world can we eliminateuneven development and achieve global prosperity and development. He called ongovernments, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, andthe private sector to actively participate and jointly promote the progress ofglobal development.

3.The United Nations General Assembly adopts a global resolution on artificialintelligence to promote technological equality

HistoricDecision of the United Nations General Assembly: Promoting the Safe Developmentof Artificial Intelligence and Building a Technological Equal Future Together

Intoday's rapidly advancing technology, artificial intelligence (AI), as arepresentative of emerging technologies, is profoundly changing every aspect ofhuman society. However, with the widespread application of AI technology, thepotential issues of inequality and discrimination it may bring are becomingincreasingly prominent. In response to this challenge, the United NationsGeneral Assembly recently passed a global resolution on artificial intelligenceaimed at promoting the safe, reliable, and trustworthy development of AItechnology.

Theresolution emphasizes that countries should develop and implement AI regulatoryframeworks that comply with international standards, ensuring transparency,interpretability, and accountability of AI systems. At the same time, theresolution also calls on all countries to strengthen international cooperationand information sharing, and jointly address the challenges and risks broughtby AI technology. In addition, the resolution also pays special attention tothe needs and challenges of developing countries in AI technology, and calls onthe international community to provide necessary support and assistance todeveloping countries.

UNSecretary General Guterres stated after the resolution was passed that thisdecision marks an important step forward for the international community inregulating and governing AI technology. He emphasized that only by ensuring thefair, just, and sustainable development of AI technology can its potential bemaximized and contribute to the prosperity and progress of human society.

4.World Water Day Report: Water scarcity exacerbates inequality, requiringinternational cooperation

Authoritativereport on World Water Day: Water crisis deepens inequality gap, globalcooperation urgently needed

Withthe continuous growth of the global population and the intensification of theimpact of climate change, the problem of water scarcity is becomingincreasingly severe. On the occasion of World Water Day every year, the"2024 United Nations World Water Development Report" released byUNESCO once again warns the global community that water scarcity isexacerbating global inequality and requires immediate action from the internationalcommunity to address it.

Thereport points out that water scarcity not only threatens human survival anddevelopment, but also exacerbates problems such as poverty, hunger, andconflict. Especially in arid and semi-arid regions such as Africa, waterscarcity has become one of the important reasons for local social unrest andconflicts. In addition, cross-border water resource management also faces manychallenges and difficulties, requiring countries to strengthen cooperation andcoordination.

Inorder to address the issue of water scarcity, the report proposes multiplerecommendations. Firstly, countries should strengthen water resource managementand protection efforts, improve water resource utilization efficiency and waterquality safety level; Secondly, strengthen international cooperation andinformation sharing mechanisms to jointly address the challenges ofcross-border water resource management; Finally, increase assistance andsupport to developing countries to help them improve their water resourcemanagement and protection capabilities.

5.The Human Rights Council of the United Nations adopted resolutions focusing oneconomic, social and cultural rights in the context of eliminating inequality

TheUN Human Rights Council adopted resolutions to focus on global inequalitychallenges and strengthen the protection of economic, social and culturalrights

Atits 54th session, the United Nations Human Rights Council made a landmarkachievement by adopting a resolution jointly submitted by China, Bolivia, Egyptand other countries, which focused on the protection of economic, social andcultural rights against the background of eliminating inequality. The adoptionof this resolution not only reflects the high importance that the internationalcommunity attaches to the cause of human rights, but also demonstrates the firmdetermination of all countries to jointly address global challenges and promotehuman rights equality.

Theresolution points out that economic, social, and cultural rights are essentialbasic rights for everyone, and the full realization of these rights is crucialfor eradicating poverty, promoting social inclusion, and enhancing people'swell-being. However, inequality still exists globally, seriously hindering therealization of these rights. Especially social issues such as poverty, racialdiscrimination, gender discrimination, and age discrimination make it difficultfor some groups to enjoy economic, social, and cultural rights.

Toaddress this challenge, the resolution emphasizes the importance ofinternational cooperation and solidarity. It calls on governments,international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and the privatesector to strengthen cooperation and jointly develop and implement effectivepolicies and measures to eliminate inequality and promote equal enjoyment ofeconomic, social, and cultural rights.

Specifically,the resolution proposes the following suggestions: firstly, to strengthen theconstruction of the rule of law and ensure that economic, social, and culturalrights are fully reflected and effectively protected in the domestic legalsystem; Secondly, we will increase support for vulnerable groups and help themovercome poverty and inequality through support measures in areas such as education,employment, and healthcare; Thirdly, promote international cooperation andassistance, provide necessary financial, technological, and experientialsupport to developing countries, and help them enhance their ability tosafeguard economic, social, and cultural rights; The fourth is to strengthenhuman rights education and publicity, increase public awareness and attentionto human rights issues, and create a good social atmosphere that respects andupholds human rights.

The adoption of this resolution by the United Nations Human Rights Council has senta clear signal to the world that in the face of the challenge of inequality, wecannot stand idly by or act independently. Only through unity and joint actioncan we promote equal enjoyment of economic, social, and cultural rights, andcontribute to building a more just, inclusive, and sustainable world.