Sustainable development depends, in part, on the understanding of local leaders, as well as international stakeholders, of sustainable solutions. Within the health and social service sector, it is increasingly recognized that sustainable approaches require staffing and leadership by national and local citizens who have technical, linguistic, cultural, and contextual expertise. This sustainable model is a stark contrast to voluntourism and poorly trained outside short-term visitors being relied upon for sustainable solutions. Child Family Health International, a US-based non-profit civil society organization, is leading with mechanisms by which students, trainees, volunteers, and other stakeholders can appreciate and support sustainable interventions. It is increasingly recognized that there are legal and ethical challenges to short-term visitors trying to assume roles that require long-term commitment, continuity, and locally contextualized expertise. CFHI has collaborated with the World Medical Association, Forum on Education Abroad, Consortium of Universities for Global Health, and other organizations to develop guidelines and standards for appropriate scope of practice of visiting students and professionals, as well as approaches that honour the primacy of local workforce and expertise. This often requires re-thinking of power/privilege/expertise dynamics of outsiders from other countries (often individuals coming from HIC into LMIC with good intentions to help). There is also growing evidence that visitors' practice outside their scope of training in clinical settings when volunteering in LMIC based on training in HIC. These dynamics highlight opportunities to optimize oversight, preparation, and role of visiting students/faculty/professionals.
CFHI is working with health systems in twelve countries to assist in managing visitors to optimize the emphasis on sustainable health and social system solutions. This involves steps from marketing/messaging of opportunities, pre-departure training, establishment of appropriate competencies and activities for visitors, as well as quality monitoring. Fair Trade Learning is a multi-institutional initiative to ensure host and partner communities are appropriately leading regarding visitors, as well as being compensated for efforts involved in hosting and co-development of agendas/programming. CFHI respectfully submits this written statement to bring attention to the role in how visitors are oriented to sustainable solutions and involved in supporting those solutions rather than undermining them.
A New Vision for the Future in Our Society
The last year fell on our 30th Anniversary, and we looked back on our historic movements over the last decades. Of significant importance to democratic and socioeconomic transformation with sustainable development in Korean society, have been three key factors: (a) Housing Price Reform: the alleviation of housing bubbles between stated value and real price; (b) Chaebol Reform: the breakup of the corporatocratic structure; and (c) Manifesto Movement by monitoring the governmental activities and evaluating their performance. These are really something many Koreans thought we’re supposed to do.
However, nothing has changed. In retrospect, the last 10 years, we saw political tensions and upheavals successively in our society. Such a radical change in all the state affairs of security, diplomacy, economy, society and industry, etc. has been bringing about a new order and related problems—such as the “False” industrial revolution—that cannot be resolved by traditional theories any longer and that cannot help being a real challenge for us to achieve sustainable development and economic justice. Such a road-to-Damascus conversion— “Digital” conversion—was dashed by big business and governments that maintained the status quo in the population aging and decline, in low growth and polarization, more and more. And such a socioeconomic inequality becomes fixed now, and forever. For unless we break it through this status quo, we won’t survive any longer.
Now then, we suggest you set a new vision for the future in our society on the ground of our empiricism, a new mission statement that is fixed to achieve the following six goals including twenty-two detailed targets (with over ninety methods):
A. Fair Economy
A-1. Establish a fair market with economic orders (six methods).
A-2. Promote innovation for inclusive growth (nine methods).
A-3. Earn economic esteem on decent work (four methods).
A-4. Re-establish the governmental role to realize a fair economy (four methods).
B. Social Justice
B-1. Eradicate windfall profits out of the housing speculation (three methods).
B-2. Establish justice and taxation (three methods).
B-3. Reform structural corruption (three methods).
C. Community Well-being
C-1. Secure social welfare based on the full-scale budget and fiscal soundness (three methods).
C-2. Reinforce housing welfare (three methods).
D. Social Inclusion
D-1. Do technological innovation for the human being (seven methods).
D-2. Close the socioeconomic achievement gap in education (four methods).
D-3. Realize the society without hate and discrimination (three methods).
D-4. Narrow the development gap between local areas (three methods).
E. Democratic Communitarianism
E-1. Reform politics and the judiciary (five methods).
E-2. Reform the government (two methods).
E-3. Strengthen local autonomy with decentralization (five methods).
E-4. Strengthen CSO partnership with citizen participation (Drafts).
F. Community Peacebuilding
F-1. Develop sustainable inter-Korean relations, denuclearize the Korean Peninsula and build peace regimes (six methods).
F-2. Building a new system of peaceful cooperation in Northeast Asia (six methods).
F-3. Toughen safeguards system (seven methods).
F-4. Cope with disasters, climate change and environmental destruction (two methods).
F-5. Protect food security and sustainable agriculture (three methods).
32. Congregation of the Mission, Company of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, DePaul University, International Association of
Charities, International Confederation of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, Sisters of Charity Federation End Homelessness, Achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
By exacerbating existing inequalities, coronavirus provides clarity about vulnerable populations globally. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development can be accelerated through protection of persons most vulnerable now and post-virus. As members of the coalition Working Group to End Homelessness, we call upon the United Nations to address and end homelessness. Policies and programs focused upon homelessness contribute directly towards the achievement of many sustainable development goals (SDGs) in an integrated way.
For some, coronavirus is a death sentence. The New York Times reported on April 24 that the virus had spread to more than a third of the city’s 450 shelters and that 51 people had died of coronavirus complications.
Persons without homes are among those most impacted by the coronavirus because of weakened immune systems due to multiple factors. The unhomed face other significant risks because they cannot gain access to basic amenities and resources, protective equipment, testing, affordable housing, or uncrowded shelter.
Women who are without homes can experience violence, abuse, trauma, and other health issues. Further, family-oriented shelter/housing is not always readily available.
Policies sensitive to the unique needs and experiences of women and families are warranted.
Addressing homelessness starts with disaggregated data related to homelessness, as well as ensuring inclusion of persons without homes in official statistics.
We call for:
Implementation of recommendations in Resolution E/CN.5/2020/L.5, entitled, “Affordable Housing and Social Protection Systems for All to Address Homelessness.”
Assurance that persons without homes have access to basic needs, such as food and hygiene items, supportive services, and healthcare services, at all times.
Investment in construction of permanent, affordable housing units commensurate with local demand; rental assistance; and homeless services.
Policies preventing eviction in times of crises.
Housing, health, and social services geared towards vulnerable populations, including women, children, families, elderly persons, and persons with disabilities.
Collection of disaggregated data related to homelessness.
Stronger social protection systems, such as unemployment and health care benefits.
Immediate opportunities for affordable, safe, and supported family separation for domestic violence victims.
Thorough review of corona virus response and improved plans for future crises which impact homelessness.