Draft first regional report on the implementation of the Montevideo Consensus on Population and Development

Summary
Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)
A. Full integration of population dynamics into sustainable
development with equality and respect for human rights
The priority measures agreed in chapter A of the Montevideo Consensus on Population and Development
relate to the three pillars (social, economic and environmental) of sustainable development and the integration
of population issues into public policies and planning in pursuit of such development. In addition to outlining
the <strong>regional</strong> vision for sustainable development, this section highlights the contribution that can be made by a
knowledge of demographic dynamics and their integration, within a human rights framework, into programmes
and actions aimed at the eradication of poverty and inequality, bearing in mind the imperative that the needs
of current generations are not to be met in a way that compromises the capacity of future generations to
meet theirs.
In the light of the information available while this <strong>report</strong> was being prepared, the follow-up of the priority
measures contained in this chapter of the Montevideo Consensus will seek to take in all their dimensions, although
two specific areas will be particularly stressed. The <strong>first</strong> concerns priority measures 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6, dealing with
public policies and actions to eradicate poverty, exclusion and inequality and the centrality of human rights and
sustainability. The second concerns priority measures 3, 99 and 107 (the latter two belonging to chapter J of the
Montevideo Consensus), dealing with public institutions responsible for population and development issues and
the participation of civil society in implementing and following up the Montevideo Consensus. The other areas
covered by this chapter are also taken into account, on the basis of available information.
In the aggregate, the region experienced a considerable reduction in poverty and extreme poverty from
the 2000s until recent years. The figures for 2015 and 2016, however, reveal an increase in general poverty
levels, mainly because of the influence of countries with large populations or large rises in poverty.
Income inequality, while still higher than almost anywhere else in the world, continued to trend downward,
albeit less rapidly than in the previous period, and has risen in only a few countries.
Conditional transfer programmes are among the most widely used social protection mechanisms in the
region and have played a leading role in the decline in poverty discussed. Although they do not all have the same
scope, coverage and impact, they are important for the most vulnerable population groups and indispensable
at times of economic crisis for preventing large sections of the population from falling into extreme poverty.
As the figures show, however, they are not always enough to stop poverty rising at times of economic crisis.
As regards the dimensions of health care, education, work, services and infrastructure associated with
different priority measures of the Montevideo Consensus, the region has evinced continuous progress, the
challenges entailed by which are indicated in the sections dealing with specific population groups (B, C, E, F,
H and I). 6 Economic circumstances in countries with large populations have meant a slower rate of progress
in recent years, chiefly where labour market participation in South America is concerned. Furthermore, new
challenges have arisen with health care and the problem of persistent violence in many countries. Follow-up
of the environment and human settlements, dealt with in section G, remains a challenge for future <strong>report</strong>s.
The countries where poverty has declined have made reforms to their health-care systems, pension
systems (including use of non-contributory transfers) and education systems, which reveals the importance
of social protection programmes in the areas of health, education, housing and basic infrastructure, among
others, and multisectoral actions to reduce poverty and endow people with capabilities.
The countries’ <strong>report</strong>s also mention <strong>first</strong> job programmes and training and skills programmes for young people
in situations of vulnerability (as specified in chapter B of the Montevideo Consensus) and for specific population
groups. Considering inequality levels and the age structure of the countries of the region, which include a large
proportion of young people, these programmes are essential for breaking the generational cycle of poverty.
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These include, among others, priority measures 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 17, 25, 26, 30, 32, 33, 35, 37, 40, 41, 42, 43, 46, 54, 59, 65, 69, 72, 78, 79, 87 and
95 of the Montevideo Consensus.
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