Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York

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DEVELOPMENT ISSUES

Development issues are traditionally at the heart of the United Nations agenda. The greatest efforts today are focused on the achievement of the eight Millennium Development Goals, with a priority, in line with the Millennium Declaration, on halving poverty by 2015.

The eight development goals are: 1) the fight against poverty and hunger; 2) universal primary education; 3) the elimination of gender disparity; 4) the reduction of infant mortality; 5) the improvement of maternal health; 6) the fight against AIDS and other infectious diseases; 7) the protection of the environment; and 8) the creation of a global partnership for development.

The United Nations development activity involves an analysis and monitoring dimension, in which the main role is played by the Secretariat, an intergovernmental dimension of guidance and general policy, which pertains to the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and an operative dimension on the ground, which is expressed through the action of the UN Funds, Programs and specialized agencies.

The Permanent Mission of Italy in New York and, on certain occasions, delegates from Italy, represent the Country in the debates and intergovernmental negotiations on development issues, both in the General Assembly and in the ECOSOC framework (in which Italy is a member for the 2010-2012 triennium).

The Italian Government actively supports the United Nations Funds and Programs (UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA, UN Women) through its development cooperation funding that is channeled towards core resources as well as geographic or sectoral projects.

Italy’s development policies are inspired by the pursuit of the Millennium Development Goals, especially the fight against poverty, improvement of health care, and protection of the environment and sustainable development.

In this perspective, Italy advocates a holistic approach to development, based on the harmonization, coordination, and effectiveness of aid, but also good governance, taxation, openness to private investments, access to markets, equitable distribution of wealth, gender equality and responsiveness to climate change. Essential points of reference are the principles and criteria sanctioned in the Declarations on financing for development of Monterrey (2002) and Doha (2008).

Italy is also directly and actively committed to innovative mechanisms for development financing, by playing a leading role in the Advance Market Commitments and International Finance Facility for Immunization initiatives, pertaining to the health sector.

Italy is also deeply committed to the international action to reduce the costs of transferring migrants remittances, which is being promoted in the framework of the G8, the G20, the World Bank Global Remittances Working Group and the Leading Group on Innovative Financing for Development.

HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS

Humanitarian affairs is an important area of activity of the United Nations. The coordination of humanitarian emergency assistance of the UN has been strengthened through General Assembly Resolution 46/182 which led to the establishment of the Department of Humanitarian Affairs in 1991, that subsequently became the Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The UN are fully involved in providing assistance to populations in need following natural disasters (also focusing on disaster risk reduction) and complex emergencies.

The reform of the humanitarian system that has been launched in 2005 met several goals, among which the launch of an upgraded Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). CERF is a stand-by fund established to enable more timely and reliable humanitarian assistance to those affected by natural disasters and armed conflicts. CERF is a fundamental life saving instrument to which Italy provides a substantial contribution.

Several humanitarian policy issues are discussed in different UN bodies (General Assembly, Security Council, Ecosoc). Italy is fully involved in these discussions and, as a non-Permanent Member of the SC, paid particular attention to the Protection of Civilians in armed.

Italy has an important place within the donor community and is also fully involved in the operational provision of humanitarian assistance. Aid is channeled both bilaterally and through the multilateral system (see the web site Relief Web link for updated data).
In its action Italy, as a founding member of the European Union, also inspires itself to the document “EU Consensus on Humanitarian Aid”.

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Development – Humanitarian Affairs