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OAS SECRETARY GENERAL LAUNCHED THE INTER-AMERICAN SOCIAL PROTECTION NETWORK

New York City. The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, today remarked on the challenges facing the continent in the fight against poverty and inequality during the launch of a new hemispheric partnership that he said “will help us build the capacity we need to find new ways to break the cycle of poverty and inequality that affects too many of our citizens.”

The IASPN is a new partnership between countries of the hemisphere that will facilitate the exchange of information on best practices, policies, experiences and programs for fighting poverty and inequality in the Americas. It originated in the V Summit of the Americas this year, when heads of state pledged to facilitate the exchange of information to address issues of poverty and inequality in the region.

Secretary General Insulza addressed an audience of ministers and high authorities of social development, representatives of civil society organizations and foundations, and members of the academic world during the event “Launching the Inter-American Social Protection Network: A Hemispheric Partnership to Promote Opportunities, Inclusion and Prosperity,” at the Westin Hotel in Times Square. He was joined by, among others, the US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, and the President of Chile, Michele Bachelet, who have been vocal supporters of the Inter-American Social Protection Network or IASPN.

“This is one of the most important initiatives of our Fifth Summit of the Americas,” Insulza said, “when heads of government underscored the urgent need to reduce social disparities and inequalities and they recognized the value of networking to share information on effective policies and problems. It was originally an initiative of the OAS and the Ministry of Social Affairs of Chile, but it was important that it received the blessing of all the leaders of the Americas.”

“We hope that this Inter-American social network will help bring the capacity we need to find new ways to break the cycle of poverty and inequality that affects too many of our citizens. And I want to stress these words ‘too many.’ Because Latin America and the Caribbean are not the poorest regions of the world but they are the most unequal, and therefore we must strive to improve the conditions of most of our people,” he added.

“In general we think it’s time to face this task not only trough economic growth but through specific programs to tackle the condition of the poor. I’m very happy to be able to inaugurate this in this scenario, the General Assembly of the UN, and with the participation of two very determined, charismatic and very popular women,” referring to Clinton and Bachelet.

For her part, Secretary Clinton said that “the United States is proud to be a member of the Inter-American community, and we are committed to the long-term success of this social protection network. We believe that this network will help fulfill the promise embodied in the Democratic Charter that our country signed eight years ago. And together, we will lift more young people and old alike out of poverty, give more children a chance at a better future, strengthen democracy, and deliver results for people who need us to do so. ”

Reference: E-304/09