Statement at the Committee of the Whole, Ins/17, (Second World Summit for Social Development), of the 353rd Session of the Governing Body 2025
Statement by Norway delivered by Deputy Permanent Representative Ms. Jannicke Graatrud,
Geneva, 12 March 2025
Chair,
Thank you for the opportunity to participate in this important discussion on the upcoming Second World Social Summit for Social Development.
The World Social Summit represents an opportunity to accelerate collective efforts to combat poverty and inequality. Decent work is key to reducing poverty. We need to ensure full and productive employment, social protection, social dialogue, and rights at work.
For Norway social dialogue has been crucial to create a regulated and well-organized society where rights are secured. Collaboration builds trust between workers’ organizations, employers’ organizations and the government. It contributes to information sharing, fosters ownership, and commits the parties involved. We believe social dialogue is a powerful and efficient mechanism to ensure sustainable development and prevent and solve conflicts. This is needed.
Norway believes that the political declaration of the Summit should be based on human rights and labour rights, with a strong and consistent focus on gender equality and women’s rights.
It should underline the importance of social inclusion, to fight inequality and ensure that no one is left behind. In particular, vulnerable groups such as LGBT+ persons, persons with disabilities and other minority groups. Without equitable social and economic development for all, the Sustainable Development Goals will not be reached.
Norway highly appreciates and fully supports the key messages of the tripartite ILO-input to the summit. We appreciate our close collaboration with the ILO and we value ILO’s important normative role in promoting decent work and social justice. A regulated and well-organized world of work where rights are secured is key in the fight against inequality. This must be at the core of the Second World Summit for Social Development.
Thank you.