Sevilla, Spain
Y. E. Ms. Yolanda D¨ªaz, Vice President and Minister of Labour and Social Economy, of Spain,
Y.E. Ms. Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al-Misnad, Minister of State for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, of Qatar,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
Dear colleagues.
I extend my gratitude to Spain and Qatar and the ILO for co-organizing this important event with DESA.
Much have been said by podium speakers about SDG 8 ¨C decent work. I would like to add a few thoughts from DESA for the preparation of Second World Summit on Social Development.
Our conversation today is grounded in a clear reality: social development and social justice cannot be achieved if our financial decisions continue to ignore their impacts on poverty, inequality and human well-being.
Social spending is not a luxury; it is a powerful investment.
When we fund education, health, housing, decent work and social protection, we are building more productive, resilient, and secure economies and societies. These are the engines of productivity, resilience and economic security.
Yet, social investments remain underprioritized.
Countries with similar income levels spend very differently on social policies, proving that this is a matter of policy choice, not merely a reflection of fiscal space alone.
Domestic resource mobilization is central to financing social development. Improving the quality and delivery of public services can increase fiscal space for social policy.
Excellencies,
Distinguished participants,
Social policies are crucial, but that alone cannot achieve the social development envisioned in the 1995 Copenhagen Declaration.
The central challenge lies in aligning our macroeconomic and social policies, which too often work at cross-purposes.
An overemphasis on budget balance can shrink spending on public services, infrastructure and technologies ¡ª that are critical for reducing inequality and strengthening resilience. Furthermore, poorly designed tax and transfer systems can paradoxically increase poverty ¡ª when people pay more in taxes than they receive in services and benefits.
This misalignment erodes our most critical asset: public trust.
Trust in governments and institutions is highest where tax and social transfer systems are effective and equitable. This trust is the bedrock of the social contract and essential for strong fiscal performance.
The need for action is urgent. The World Social Report 2025 shows rising economic insecurity, entrenched inequality and declining trust in institutions, particularly among young people.
In many developing countries, the cost of debt servicing is crowding out social spending. The reforms meant to ensure sustainability of social investments often negatively affect the income security of the most vulnerable.
As we move from FFD4 to the World Social Summit in Doha in November. we must take the momentum forward. UN DESA as the focal point of secretariat is fully committed to providing all support to the WSSD2 process.
Let us champion the principle of the Compromiso de Sevilla ¡ªthat economic and social policies must be complementary and mutually reinforcing¡ªto firmly secure the investments needed for inclusive social development.
Thank you.