World Population Day 2020: Closing Remarks by Sara Sekkenes, UN Resident Coordinator

Dr. Kikeo Chanthaboury, Vice Minister of Planning and Investment,

Mariam Khan, UNFPA Representative in Lao PDR,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

• I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the United Nations Population Fund for jointly hosting this event. 
• I would also like to thank all the distinguished participants for your meaningful inputs and engagement.
• Backed by Member States, at the outset of 2020 UN Secretary-General António Guterres kicked off the Decade of Action, a reaffirmation of our global commitment towards achieving the 2030 agenda. With only 10 years left to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it is more important than ever for the global community to mobilize for accelerated action.
• World Population Day is an important occasion for us to refocus our attention on the urgency and importance of this Agenda for the world’s population writ large.
• As the UN Secretary-General pointed out: "the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is the world’s blueprint for a better future for all on a healthy planet. On World Population Day, we recognize that this mission is closely interrelated with demographic trends including population growth, ageing, migration and urbanization."
• Our observation of the World Population Day today is of particular significance as the COVID-19 pandemic is taking a staggering toll on people, communities and economies globally.
• As countries are in lockdown and health systems struggle to cope, together with other essential health services, sexual and reproductive health is being sidelined and gender-based violence is on the rise.
• The pandemic is hitting marginalized communities particularly hard, deepening inequalities and threatening to set us back in our efforts to leave no one behind.
• Women, who account for the largest share of front-line health workers, for example, are disproportionately exposed to the virus. Women’s unpaid care work has also increased as a result of school closures. 
• Moreover, those engaged primarily in the informal economy, are harder hit by the economic impacts of COVID-19, thus facing greater risk of falling into, or falling back into poverty.
• Already before the onslaught of COVID-19, the SGs report on the progress towards achieving the SDGs was bleak, in particular in Asia, with inequality, both within and between states increasing and stating that current trends of development will not get us where we want and need to be in 2030.
• Thus, our response to COVID-19 is critical. It will determine how fast the world recovers and whether we can recover into a better shape, stronger, more resilient and better equipped to deal with future crisis.

Ladies and gentlemen,

• In Lao PDR, the Decade of Action coincides with the opportunity of the “demographic bonus”, a dividend gained by a population in transformation. As the country’s working-age group increase with 5% by 2030, an expansion of 1.4 Million since 2015, the dependency rate will decrease from 57 to 48 for every 100 people in working age. That is, more people will be in productive age with fewer dependents to care for which, in turn can help consolidate prosperity and well-being.
• Herein also lies the great opportunity to set up evidence-informed policies and goals, as the government rolls out the 9th National Social Economic Development Planning for 2021-2025 in the context of the COVID-19 crisis.
• Above all, the UN Country Team is dedicated to supporting the Government’s commitments under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
• We recognize the disproportionate impact COVID-19 will have on the most vulnerable, the individuals and groups already marginalized by structural barriers and gender inequalities before the pandemic and see the efforts of the Government to recalibrate the new NSEDP to the realities unfolding as both necessary and wise.  
• We wholeheartedly support these efforts, with a people-centred and evidence-informed planning process to reduce all forms of inequality with the aim to safeguard the health and rights of women and girls, among others.
• The Population Policy and analysis of the Lao Generation 2030 are important guiding documents that can support an equitable and inclusive approach. Together, they visualize the Lao Population, highlighting who they are, what they are and what they need.
• The wide and disproportionate impact of COVID-19 calls for a reflection on how to utilize the limited fiscal resources and invest in priority areas: where the return is greatest and the impact on lives changed is highest -- so that these policy choices can generate long-term sustainable development momentum for the country.  
• Drawing from the presentations today, I take special note of the need to increase the number of physician, nurses and midwives to meet the needs of a growing population; to raise the number of skilled teachers to meet the growth in students of all ages and to create over 80,000 new jobs for the young population entering the job market annually.
• In response, the UN Country Team in Lao PDR is implementing a new set of collaborative joint programmes where we are tasking ourselves to deliver faster and build on horizontal and vertical connections and deliver in an integrated manner.
• For example, the Joint Programme on Social Protection is delving into priority areas of social security, health insurance and social welfare, with special focus on vulnerable groups.
• In addition to that, together with national counterparts, the UNCT is rolling out targeted joint projects in support of essential health services during the COVID-19 pandemic and the safe migration and return across borders.
• Other UNCT joint programmes on health, HIV/AIDS and agriculture productivity are ongoing.

Ladies and gentlemen,

• This year the United Nations is marking its 75th anniversary. The COVID-19 as the worst global health crisis in its history has served as a stark reminder of the need for enhanced global cooperation across borders, sectors and generations.
• The year 2020 also marks the 65th anniversary since the Lao PDR joined the United Nations. This brings a chance to review the history of our interaction and a somber reflection on how solidarity among various partners can help societies overcome the crisis and get back on track towards the Future We Want. 
• I would like to reiterate the support of the UN system to the Government of Lao in addressing the multi-faceted challenges faced in achieving the 2030 Agenda.
• We look forward to continued close collaboration in advancing our collective efforts, and to achieve equitable, inclusive and sustainable development in Lao PDR.