Opening Remarks by H.E. Mr. Vitavas Srivihok,

Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Thailand to the UN

at the virtual Side Event on the Social Impact of COVID-19 through the Life Course

during the 59^th Session of the Commission for Social Development

Wednesday, 10 February 2021, 10.00-11.15 hrs.

Mr. President, Excellencies,

Thailand is delighted to be co-hosting this event with Chile and the World Health Organization on a topic which is very relevant at this juncture.

We all know how hard COVID-19 has hit us in every aspect of life. And aside from the health impacts, we must also look to resolve the social consequences of the pandemic, which will be the focus of our discussions today.

Excellencies,

The virus does not discriminate, but each country and each person are affected differently, with the most vulnerable being disproportionately impacted. The disruptions brought about by COVID has disrupted every age group across the life course, from children and youth, to older persons, in different ways. This includes the mental health impact arising from social isolation, disruption in school and work life, and increased violence in households.

For Thailand, we believe in the importance of life-long and holistic human resource development, including by creating policies and planning on health in accordance with the life course approach. We need to foster the collaborative efforts of different sectors such as health, education, and labour, and engage relevant stakeholders including localities and communities, like our model of Village Health Volunteers.

To ensure the effectiveness of such policies, we once again highlight the key role that Universal Health Coverage can play in supporting social protection, building a strong foundation of a healthy society, where the health needs of all age groups are met, and also promoting long-term resilience that contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Excellencies,

As a joint effort to tackle this challenge, we hope to hear creative exchanges of ideas from experts across different regions today on their unique experiences and possible solutions that can be shared and scaled-up in our efforts/ to build back better. In ending, I would like to wish you all a fruitful discussion.

Thank you.