The President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, ratified before the SDG Moment of the United Nations Organization, the programmatic commitment to fulfill the 2030 Agenda and the integral protection of the Venezuelan people in all aspects of its sustainable development, despite the difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the systematic aggression of the United States Government with the imposition of coercive and unilateral measures that affect the lives of citizens.
During his speech, the Head of State and Government highlighted the Missions and Great Social Missions as determining factors to eradicate poverty and move towards the achievement of sustainable development, just as the country carefully met in due time the Millennium Goals in a careful, programmatic manner, through inclusion, the strength of conscience, the dignity of a people and a robust system of social protection and social security that has been consolidated in the last 20 years.
He added that amidst the circumstances caused by COVID-19 and the most diverse aggressions by the North American empire, the Venezuelan people this year are experiencing a second feat of independence, which is why they are on the offensive “in defense of our sovereignty, of our natural resources and our right to development”, he warned.
The Venezuelan dignitary reiterated that in the face of the cruelty and persecution of the White House against the people, its economy and its institutions, “Venezuela today is part of a dignified, rebellious and humble voice that reminds the world that the peoples can, that People of Venezuela can because in Venezuela there is a historical process and there is a revolution”.
As part of the achievements of the social security and protection system strengthened for more than two decades, he detailed:
– Mission Alimentation: In which, through the Local Supply and Production Committees (CLAP), six million families are covered for permanent food protection in a country of 30 million inhabitants.
– Mission Housing Venezuela: which has built in recent years and delivered more than three million decent and comfortable homes respecting the concept of habitat and community
– Missions Homes of the Homeland: which protects the Venezuelan family, the working mother
– Mission in a Greater Love: which has reached almost five million protected pensioners.
– Educational Missions: They guarantee school care programs that reach more than six million children, the delivery of school textbooks and the permanent financing of public education.
– Health Missions: In the case of the COVID-19 pandemic, thanks to the investments made in the last 20 years, 99% of the COVID-19 infected population has been cared for, and medical care and the entire body are guaranteed of free medicines for the people in the Venezuelan Public Health System.
“There will be no imperial aggression, blockade, sanctions that stop the course of Venezuela towards social justice towards sustainable development and towards the happiness of all as our Commander Hugo Chávez dreamed and as our Liberator Simón Bolívar outlined,” emphasized the President.
Following, the full speech of the Head of State to the United Nations System:
“Greetings to all the Heads of State, Head of Government and the authorities of the United Nations System who participate in this outstanding event that serves as a platform to assess the status of progress of the commitments we assume for the 2030 Agenda, taking as a route the work in an inclusive way and with enough force to eradicate poverty and move towards the achievement of sustainable development, especially in the current circumstances that we are going through as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Excellencies, I am here in Caracas, Venezuela, standing as Constitutional President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela along with our people, a heroic people who resists and overcomes the most diverse aggressions by the most powerful empire that humanity has ever known. We are in this 2020, without a doubt, in the development of what is a second feat of independence, in defense of our sovereignty, our natural resources and our right to development.
A heroic deed, which, moreover, today is not fought with conventional weapons, but with the force of conscience, the dignity of a people, of a Government, of an entire country that despite difficulties and aggressions is today on the offensive to meet the 2030 Agenda.
Surely, some of you wonder how we are still here today, after the cruelty and persecution of the North American empire against our people, our economy and our institutions. The answer is that the Bolivarian Revolution is indeed a social, democratic and deeply popular revolution that has a robust social and political system created from the social protection and social security that has been built in the last 20 years.
The United States and its government have tried without success to erode, through criminal unilateral coercive measures, our base of social security and to try to collapse the model of inclusion and justice that we have built. That is why Venezuela today is part of a dignified, rebellious and humble voice that reminds the world that the peoples can indeed, that the people of Venezuela can because in Venezuela there is a historical process and there is a revolution.
The Bolivarian Revolution has advanced over the course of two decades in the consolidation of a system of protection and social security through the so-called Missions and Great Social Missions, an essential part of the structure of family income for life and protection, which despite of the challenges currently imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic and of the economic and financial blockades, is maintained and consolidated
Missions that as a social program accompany the people in their feeding, such as the Mission of the Local Supply and Production Committees (CLAP), the Homeland Mission that protects the Venezuelan family, the working mother; the Venezuela Housing Mission, the educational missions, the health missions; All of them mean important economic and social transfers and investments for the quality of life of the people and as a form of direct care.
For example, the CLAP bodies cover more than six million families for permanent food protection in a country of 30 million inhabitants; the Mission Housing Venezuela that has built in recent years and delivered more than three million decent and comfortable homes respecting the concept of habitat and community. The missions that have to do with the protection of pensioners and pensioners that have reached almost five million pensioners.
Likewise, the educational missions and everything that has to do with the fulfillment of the old Millennium Goals in the educational field, the school attendance programs that reach more than six million children, the delivery of school texts and the financing permanent public education.
Notwithstanding the disturbances and permanent threats against Venezuela, we have continued to carry out a true social revolution in Venezuela. The only way that will ensure us compliance with the 2030 agenda.
In the case of the COVID-19 pandemic, thanks to the investments made in the last 20 years, we have managed to pay attention to 99% of the population infected with COVID-19, of the asymptomatic population, of the mild symptomatic, of the moderate symptomatic , of the serious symptoms, guaranteeing medical attention and the entire body of free medicines for the people of Venezuela in the Venezuelan Public Health System.
Your Excellencies, Heads of Government, Heads of State, United Nations authorities, Venezuela ratifies that, just as we met the Millennium Goals in a careful, programmatic way, incorporating in awareness and mobilization all organizations of the civil society, of the social sectors, popular sectors, we ratify before the United Nations System, our programmatic commitment to fulfill the 2030 Agenda and the comprehensive protection of our people in all aspects of their sustainable development. There will be no imperial aggression, blockade, sanctions that stop Venezuela’s course towards social justice, sustainable development and happiness for all as our Commander Hugo Chávez dreamed and as our Liberator Simón Bolívar outlined.
Thank you very much!”
