Peru, 2014

My

Government warmly welcomes the theme proposed for

this debate regarding the post-2015 development agenda,

since it directly addresses the most pressing problems

facing humanity, namely, inequality, hunger, poverty,

injustice and underdevelopment, factors that create

situations that our community of the United Nations

cannot and should not tolerate. We must address our

task decisively, and in doing so we must be guided by

the principles set forth in our Charter, but above all, we

must have the firm commitment of all members of the

international community. Our peoples, who are calling

for the implementation of a truly transformational

global development agenda, expect nothing else from

us.

In that regard, I wish to point out that, by virtue of

the universal, comprehensive and ambitious nature of

our goals, the consensus achieved so far in the effort to

define the sustainable development goals of the post-

2015 development agenda constitutes an essential point

of departure for that purpose. In that regard, I think that

the process in question deserves our strong support and

must be allocated the requisite resources in a timely

manner to ensure full implementation. Consistent with

that principle, Peru fully supports this process and is

confident that the adoption next year of the post-2015

development agenda will lead to the establishment of a

genuine global partnership for sustainable development.

The process will have participatory monitoring

mechanisms so as to ensure appropriate follow-up and

monitoring.

I wish to highlight that a clear-cut convergence

exists between the guidelines promoted by Peru

through its public policies on social inclusion and the

goals agreed upon by the Open Working Group on

Sustainable Development Goals. In both cases, priority

is placed on initiatives to reduce poverty and inequality

in all its forms, and to eradicate extreme poverty and

hunger, once and for all. Similarly, emphasis is placed

on the struggle for equality, the empowerment of

women, access to quality education and the elimination

of all forms of gender-based violence and violence

against children. It is also worth highlighting the

importance of continuing sustainable economic growth

and promoting formal and decent employment. Those

issues, among others, are of vital importance to Peru.

To that end, we must reflect on what type of State

we have today and move forward to meet the challenge.

In the case of Peru, we are pleased to highlight that we

have implemented a set of State reforms geared towards

attaining those objectives. Peru has been working hard

to consolidate and build upon the foundations for

sustainable development. Our nation is a clear example

of how it is possible to achieve substantial progress in

just a few years, without straying from the fundamental

principles of the Charter, such as peace and security,

human rights and development. In fact, Peru is one of

the countries that has made the most sustained progress

in achieving the Millennium Development Goals,

some of which will have been attained even before the

2015 deadline. Thus, thanks to economic growth and a

coordinated and comprehensive social policy, we have

achieved significant progress in fighting poverty, given

that we had set ourselves the goal for 2016 — the end of

my term in office — to reduce that figure to under one

fifth of the population.

In just one generation, Peruvians have implemented

a deep transformation based on the pacification of the

country, the consolidation of democracy, stability,

the opening of its economy, as well as the creation

and development of a social inclusion policy. That is

precisely why our aspirations, objectives and goals are

increasingly ambitious.

With that perspective, we see ourselves as an

emerging country with strong institutions that is proud

of its cultural diversity and of the skills of its people.

We have made significant progress in the reduction of

poverty and child malnutrition. Our country is built

on an inclusive social platform that promotes equal

opportunities, gender equality, justice and security.

My Administration is undertaking extraordinary

efforts in that direction and has prioritized its action to

focus on the fields of health care, education, security

and social welfare. On previous occasions, I have

talked about the body of first- and second-generation

social programmes that we have been implementing,

among which Qali Warma, which provides free meals

in public schools, Juntos, a conditional cash-transfer

programme, Pension 65, a non-contributory pension

plan, and the Beca 18 scholarship programme are worth

highlighting. All of those programmes are coordinated

under a multisectoral strategy that prioritizes the

human being and the family throughout their life cycle.

That strategy, which we call “include to grow”, is

intended not only to alleviate the immediate needs of

the poor and extremely poor people but also to build

the capacities of individuals and to create opportunities

for all.

The Government of Peru has been increasing

its budget for investment in social policies annually,

reaching unprecedented figures. By way of example, I

can point out that the budget for 2015 has increased by

12 per cent over that of last year, and that approximately

half of that increase has been allocated to education

and health care. The remainder is primarily for the

expansion of social programmes, the development of

infrastructure and the improvement of public safety,

since public safety is another major priority of my

Administration. Given that challenge, we constantly

monitor citizens’ demands and organize State action

to effectively address those requests robustly and

effectively in order to generate the climate of peace and

trust much needed by our families.

Historically, Peru has faced another impediment

to development: corruption. That is why we are

taking drastic measures against those people who, in

shameful exercise of their duties and public functions,

betray citizens’ trust. In that regard, in Peru, we are

implementing a concept of education and public and

political ethics to be followed not only by those who

govern Peru but by all citizens, with a major emphasis

on those who implement and enforce the law. We are

also considering barring from public office for life

those who commit acts of corruption while carrying out

their public duty.

I would now like to talk about another major

challenge that we must overcome, namely, the world

drug problem. I would appeal to the international

community to continue to strengthen dialogue and

cooperation so as to counter that scourge. We therefore

believe that the special session of the General Assembly

will be an opportunity for the international community

to jointly address that issue in a cooperative way. The

scope of the threat is clearly global, and our response

must incorporate that dimension. We have given

priority to a comprehensive strategy to implement

alternative development and to support social inclusion

programmes. In that way, we are regaining not only the

territory but also, most importantly, the people.

However, in order to ultimately overcome that

challenge successfully, all relevant actors must

participate actively. The joint and shared responsibility

of producers and users, as well as the transit and

financing countries, must facilitate the establishment

of a comprehensive strategy, in which all those involved

assume their responsibilities and adopt binding

solutions.

On the economic front, the recent adoption of

a national production diversification programme to

expand our production base, bring about a historical

change in the country’s economic structure and create

formal employment seeks to leverage our capabilities and

resources by promoting sustainable industrialization,

entrepreneurship and access to science and technology.

We are thereby adding value to our production and

making our growth and development sustainable.

We seek to continue expanding and deepening

our trade relations, improve the existing 17 trade

agreements that cover approximately 95 per cent of

our foreign trade, while also moving towards the

completion of the Doha Round of the World Trade

Organization. Peru’s aspiration to a more integrated

world is widely recognized. We therefore give particular

priority to any participatory forum, such as the Pacific

Alliance, which is an initiative that promotes the free

movement of persons, goods, services and capital and

cooperation among its members, as well as the Asia-

Pacific Economic Cooperation. That aspiration also

includes the right of all countries to achieve the highest

level of social, economic and trade development.

We therefore reiterate once again the call to end the

economic blockade against Cuba, which affects that

country’s economic growth and delays its social and

human development and has an impact on the welfare

of its citizens.

Peru’s relationships with its neighbours are

excellent. I wish to highlight the recent settlement of

the maritime dispute with Chile, achieved on the basis

of international law and the principle of the peaceful

settlement of disputes, as well as the fact that the

handing down of the ruling of the International Court

of Justice was the fastest in its history. In general, the

way in which the entire case was conducted makes Peru

and Chile an example for the world.

Peru affirms its active participation in the

international community. In that context, we will be the

host country for the twentieth United Nations Climate

Change Conference in December. On that occasion, the

discussions will be important but national commitments

will be essential. Today, I say that we need to organize

the largest alliance in history to address that critical

challenge, in which the agreements reached will define

the future of our civilization. As the host country, I urge

the heads of State and Government to maintain their

political will, so as to move forward constructively with

representatives that have the capacity to take decisions.

It is not only a matter of capitalizing on the Green

Climate Fund but also one of clearly setting out national

commitments and achieving a binding agreement.

We must be conscious that, for the first time,

humankind has achieved the capacity for mass

destruction without resorting to nuclear energy. In

that regard, it is vital that the international community

become aware that world problems, such as climate

change, require global, rather than national, responses.

According to a 2011 study by the Economic Commission

for Latin America and the Caribbean, the cost of global

warming to Peru is revealed in floods, droughts, thaws

and warming waters and amounts to approximately 4 per

cent of Peru’s annual gross domestic product (GDP). If

we do not take immediate action, the economic impact

of climate change could be over 5 per cent of GDP by

2030 and 20 per cent by 2050. Peru also recently ratified

the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources

and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising

from Their Utilization to the Convention on Biological

Diversity, which will soon be in force to promote such

genetic resources.

Today’s general debate finds us in a complex

scenario with various severe political, humanitarian

and economic crises. We are faced with major global

economic challenges regarding international security

and global governance. The Security Council’s ability

to respond to the various crises around the world

has revealed the need to reform its work methods,

including those related to the use of the veto. The

Security Council needs to respond in an effective way

to those situations, which requires comprehensive

reform, including increasing the number of permanent

and non-permanent members, making that body more

efficient, democratic, transparent and representative.

Specifically on the Palestine issue, my Government

confirms the need to address the root causes of that

conflict through negotiations to achieve a viable and

lasting solution, overcoming the status quo and enabling

Palestinians and Israelis to live in peace and to prosper

in the two States with secure and recognized borders.

The international community faces various ever-

growing phenomena that transcend borders. I am

referring to terrorism, transnational organized crime,

the global drug problem, corruption, trafficking in

persons, sexual exploitation, trafficking in young boys

and girls and in adolescents, and arms smuggling,

among others. With regard to acts committed by

terrorist groups all over the world in recent months, my

country knows the consequences of such acts very well,

and they have been most energetically rejected by my

Government.

Combating terrorism is a responsibility that

the international community must assume within

the framework of the law, with full respect for the

fundamental rights of all peoples and the sovereignty

of States. Regarding the condemnable events that

have occurred in several regions of the world, the

Government of Peru has expressed its strong rejection

of such barbaric and terrorist attacks by extremist

groups against the lives of innocent civilian hostages

and religious and ethnic minorities. Those intolerable

events deserve the firmest condemnation by the

international community.

Peru is not just a country with its own history; it

is also a civilization. Its culture is part of the world

heritage of humankind, as recognized by UNESCO.

That recognition signifies a universal recognition of

the extraordinary work of our ancestors, who knew

how to harmonize development and the environment in

a sensible and creative way.

I would like to conclude by reiterating Peru’s

commitment to the development and implementation

of the post-2015 agenda, focusing on sustainable

development goals, and by reiterating my call to

allocate the means required to make them a reality. In

the context of the upcoming Conference of the Parties

to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP-20) in

Lima, I wish to reiterate my commitment and that of the

Peruvian Government to the Conference objectives, and

we call upon the international community to participate

actively with a constructive spirit for sustainable

development in the interest of our peoples. Peru, the

cradle of the Inca civilization and the international

capital of excellent gastronomy, is ready to welcome

everyone.