Jason Mack
Counselor
U.S. Mission to the United Nations
New York, New York
November 19, 2019
AS DELIVERED
Thank you Mr. Chair.
The United States thanks the G-77 for its resolution on “Follow-Up to the Second World Assembly on Ageing.” And would in particular like to express our appreciation to its facilitator, Argentina. The United States is pleased to join consensus on the resolution.
With regard to this resolution’s references to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; the world financial and economic crisis; the New Urban Agenda; health care; and economic, social, and cultural rights, we have addressed our concerns in previous statements including in our general statement delivered on November 7. The resolution calls upon member states to act to protect and assist older persons in emergency situations, in accordance with the Madrid Plan of Action and the Sendai Framework. We note that these two documents are voluntary, and that there are other documents which also figure in protecting and assisting persons, including older persons, in humanitarian crisis situations. The Guidelines to Protect Migrants Experiencing Conflict or Natural Disaster and the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement are two prominent examples.
The United States would like to underscore the importance of promoting the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work for all workers, including care workers.
Regarding the term “migrants,” which is used in paragraph 18 of the resolution: We note this and the term “migration” are not well-defined in international law. The United States maintains the sovereign right to facilitate or restrict access to its territory, in accordance with its national laws, policies, and interests, subject to its existing international obligations. We refer to the National Statement of the United States of America on the Adoption of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, issued December 7, 2018. Further, the United States is not a party to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families.
Thank you, Mr. Chair
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