The Government has acknowledged that phenomena such as climate change and demographic transition have made it difficult to meet the social development goals set out in the Copenhagen Declaration, an international document establishing ten pillars to promote well-being, social inclusion, and poverty eradication. The statement was made by Prime Minister Benvinda Levi during a review of her participation in the 2nd World Summit for Social Development, held in Doha, Qatar.
According to Benvinda Levi, Mozambique has made significant progress over the past 30 years, despite facing challenges similar to those of many other nations.
“We have faced phenomena such as climate change and demographic transition, which have limited the achievement of targets and prevented some from being fully met,” she said.
The Copenhagen Declaration, endorsed by over 180 countries at the 1st World Summit for Social Development, defined ten pillars of social development, including education, health, public safety, housing, employment and income, basic sanitation, culture, leisure, and social security. These pillars aim to promote citizenship, well-being, and social inclusion.
The Prime Minister emphasized that even after 30 years, the challenges remain relevant and must be adapted to the new phase of national development.
“We can also highlight the progress achieved by Mozambique, particularly in education, health, and access to water and energy,” she stated.
In the education sector, Levi noted that the illiteracy rate has dropped significantly and that the number of girls attending school now approaches 50%, especially at the primary level. The Government has built more schools in remote areas.
“The quality and quantity can be questioned, but that also depends on development; if before we built schools for ten students, today we build them for many more,” she added, acknowledging that development does not always keep pace with population growth.
In health, Levi recalled that 30 years ago, HIV/AIDS was a severe crisis, particularly in Mozambique. Today, although the number of infected individuals remains high, they now have access to treatment.
“We no longer record the significant number of deaths among people living with HIV/AIDS as we did 30 years ago,” she stated.
The 2nd World Summit for Social Development, organized by the United Nations and concluding on Thursday, November 6, sought to address gaps and renew commitments to the Copenhagen Declaration and the 1995 Programme of Action. Its goal is also to advance the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, promoting greater social inclusion and well-being for all.
Source: AIM
