The “Reduction of Inequalities” is particularly important for Mexico and many countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

— Interview with Ambassador Francisca Méndez, permanent representative of Mexico to the UN Mission in Geneva. Luis Vélez Serrano interviews Ambassador Méndez Escobar in the framework of the VII Podium.

 

— Thank you very much, Mr. Vélez, for the kind invitation to address your reading public.

— What is the importance of the Sustainable Development Goals for the Latin American and Caribbean region?

— The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), agreed upon by the United Nations in 2015, aim to eradicate poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all people. The SDGs include “Zero Hunger”, “End Poverty”, “Decent Work and Economic Growth”; “Industry and Infrastructure Innovation”; “Responsible Production and Consumption” and, most notably, “Reducing Inequalities”.

This last point is particularly important for Mexico and many countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, since, despite periods of economic growth, high levels of inequality still prevail.

According to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), nearly 201 million people in our region (32.1% of the population) live in poverty, and 13.1% of them are in extreme poverty. Unfortunately, these figures represent a quarter-century setback for Latin America and the Caribbean. Our region has suffered the impacts of the recent COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine, which have generated a global economic slowdown and inflation.

Despite economic reforms and the achievement of numerous regional and extra-regional trade agreements, enormous historical challenges remain in our region, which multilateralism must also address.

The SDGs provide us with a methodological framework and an approach structure so that Latin American and Caribbean countries can address our development, environmental and economic growth challenges from a holistic perspective.

 

— What is the role of  International Geneva  in these challenges?

— First of all, specialized international organizations serve as meeting and discussion points. Geneva is home to, among other international organizations, the World Trade Organization (WTO), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and renowned institutions such as the International Trade Center (ITC) and the World Economic Forum (WEF).

Each entity has its own mandate and identity to address issues of economic growth and inequality. For example, the WTO is tasked with ensuring the smooth, predictable and free flow of trade through agreements that provide legal certainty.

For its part, UNCTAD provides assistance to developing countries to take advantage of international trade and investment through technical assistance and analysis. In the case of the World Economic Forum, in addition to holding the well-known annual forum in Davos, the WEF promotes high-level discussions with specialists addressing current topics where issues related to the SDGs are present.

Within each international organization or forum, responses are sought to the goals set out in the SDGs. The most important challenge is that the work, resolutions and agreements agreed upon have a direct impact on the benefit of the population.

The VII Punto Latino Podium, entitled “Multilateral Approach to Latin American Integration. Sustainable Development” will be a good opportunity to discuss the different approaches to sustainable development and trade with the presence of representatives of international organizations and academics.

 

— Any final words, Ambassador?

— I would like to express my sincere congratulations for the initiative of this VII Podium in the International Geneva and for promoting the presence of Latin America and the Caribbean. I am grateful for the honour of having been selected as President of the Organizing Committee and I cordially invite the entire Spanish-speaking community in Switzerland to join us at this event.