and Human Settlements at the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). Mr. de Miguel's presentation (in Spanish) focused on social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development using the lens of Rio+20 and the post-2015 development agenda.
He began by contextualizing the new sustainable development agenda and comparing it to the agenda of the eight Millennium Development Goals that will soon expire. While the latter was focused on poverty-eradication, the new agenda is more ambitious (with 17 new goals being considered) and prioritizes the reduction of inequalities with an integrated human rights approach. This examination of inequalities, he stated, is crucial for Latin America and the Caribbean, as it remains the most unequal region in the world.
Mr. de Miguel noted, "The region is still experiencing the problems of developing countries, but it is already starting to experience the problems of developed countries." For instance, the region suffers from undernutrition and malnutrition, but also from problems associated with obesity which have prompted the regulation of food labelling in a number of countries.
"The declaration would be to commit ourselves to driving the institutionalization of civil society’s right to inclusion in state policies for development that is sustainable and symmetrical among the countries of the hemisphere."
"Some key words have emerged: participation, human beings, dialogue, alliances, teamwork. For ParlAmericas it is also extremely important to establish in these assemblies that we have partners in the region to address these issues … to build together the world we want for the future."