From Antigua Observer

Sir Ronald Sanders

The Organization of American States (OAS) officially approved a resolution to establish a Joint Working Group to address poverty, inequality, and social exclusion across the Americas.

The Resolution was drafted, negotiated and introduced by Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador Sir Ronald Sanders to the Organization’s Permanent Council and the Inter American Council for Integral development, after which it was adopted by acclamation by all member states.

The initiative aims to develop a comprehensive strategic plan for poverty eradication in the hemisphere within 90 days.

According to the approved resolution, the working group will be mandated to develop both immediate poverty relief measures and long-term strategies to address inequality, access to resources, social protection, and inclusive economic growth and will be open to all OAS Member States with a representative from the OAS Secretary General’s office.

“When the poor are excluded from the opportunities for decision making in a society, they become disenchanted, they feel disinherited,” said Antigua and Barbuda representative to the OAS, Ambassador Sir Ronald Sanders during the meeting.

“It is up to society as a whole to ensure that social exclusion, inequality and poverty is eradicated from our societies,” he added.

The resolution argued that the Americas was the world’s most unequal region and recognizes that poverty continues to drive various challenges, including irregular migration, crime, insecurity, and environmental degradation.

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