African Group
THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA
STATEMENT
BY
SONGELAEL SHILLA,
MINISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY
AT THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL NEGOTIATIONS ON THE POST-2015 AGENDA
-REACTIONS TO THE DRAFT OUTCOME DOCUMENT
NEW YORK, JULY 23RD 2015
Co-facilitators,
1. I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the African Group. Which takes the floor for the first time. I bag your endurance as we have to comment on the declaration, SDGs and MoI in one statement.
2. I would like to express our gratitude to the co-facilitators for the commendable work you continue to do in this intergovernmental process on the Post 2015 agenda, as we come together in a collective effort to elaborate a new development agenda for international cooperation to end poverty, achieve sustainable development and ensure a life of dignity for all.
Co-Facilitators,
3. The African Group welcomes the revised draft text on the Post 2015 agenda as a useful basis to guide our negotiations in these two weeks. The text generally communicates a strong level of ambition, addresses the integrated character of global challenges we face today and reinforces the commitment to freeing humanity from poverty as a matter of urgency. Although we agree with some elements contained therein, the African Group is ready to engage in order to ensure that we have a document that leaves no one behind.
Co-facilitators,
4. On the specific sections, I would like to reaffirm the following:
5. On the Title, The word “DEVELOPMENT” should be mentioned in the title, as this is a development Agenda.
6. On the Declaration, the African Group welcomes the recognition that poverty eradication is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development. The Declaration, rightly so, put emphasis on the need to recommit to the full realization of the off-track MDGs and to build on the lessons learnt from the MDGs experience and works to fulfill unmet commitments. Equally commendable is the reaffirmation of the principles contained in the UN Charter, as well as the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR) and the right to development.
7. The African Group underlines that peace and security as critical enablers for sustainable development and we believe that there is the inextricable link between development, peace and security and thus the need to reflect it within the declaration. While we welcome the reference to “Peace” as one of the 5 Ps contained in the preamble, we nonetheless feel that it should be completed with the inclusion of the “security”. In this regard, we would like to suggest amending the first sentence of paragraph 30 with the addition of the word “security”.
8. Moreover, we welcome the recognition and inclusion of the African Union Agenda 2063 in paragraph 34, and in this context wish to add “as well as its 10 year Plan of Action”, as a strategic framework for ensuring a positive socioeconomic transformation in Africa for the next 50 years as embedded in the resolutions of the UN General Assembly on the NEPAD.
9. On CBDR, the Group is of the view that this principle cannot be overlooked and, consequently, should constitute the overarching principle of the Post-2015 Development Agenda. In this context, we propose to delete the mention of "shared responsibility" in paragraph 31 which dilutes the differences between the developing and the developed countries and contradicts the essence of the principle of CBDR.
10. The African Group would like to emphasize the importance of the economic dimension of sustainable development, the realization of the economic diversification, industrialization and the improvement of infrastructure as key drivers for developing countries to own their development process and to achieve inclusive and sustained growth that create jobs and revenue, especially for the poor youth and women.
11. On paragraph 4, we call for deletion of the words “social groupings” as we do no not know what reality is covered by that notion. All nations and peoples will suffice. We should avoid any unnecessary confusing and potentially contentious language.
12. With regard to paragraph 20, the African Group proposes to add, after “different national realities”, “including culture and religion”. Culture and religion have an incredible impact on the daily life of billion of people around the world.
13. On paragraph 21 we call for the addition of, “and post conflict” to comprehensively reflect countries in this situation.
14. Furthermore, we call for the amendment of the first part of paragraph 22 which would read as follows: “sections of the population that are made vulnerable because of their age, physical condition, or the situations in which they live,] who must be empowered, and whose needs are reflected in the goals and targets, include children, youth, persons with disabilities and older persons”. Once again, we should avoid any unnecessary confusing and potentially contentious language. This amendment is intended to clarify the understanding of the groups targeted in this para.
15. The African Group welcomes the inclusion of the family in paragraph 38 and submits the follow amendment: “We recognize the role of the family as a contributor to sustainable development; one measure of success of the new Agenda will be the ability of society and the state to strengthen and protect the family, which is the natural and fundamental group unit of society. This wording comes from article 16.3 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights which is the most authoritative international instrument in the field of Human Rights.
16. On paragraph 43, African countries shall be included in the list. There is a need to ensure consistency in the way countries in special situations are reflected throughout the document.
17. The Group emphasizes the need to include reference in the declaration to condemn and end the unilateral coercive measures against countries as they are a violation of the international law and the principles of the Charter of the United Nations Organization.
18. In this regard, we proposes to include paragraph 26 of the document Rio +20 "the future we want," which is as follows “States are strongly urged to refrain from promulgating and applying any unilateral economic, financial or trade measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations that impede the full achievement of economic and social development, particularly in developing countries.”
19. On the SDGs, the African Group welcomes the inclusion of the entire SDGs and targets in the zero draft. However, the Group remains averse to the re-opening of the agreed Report of the Open Working Group on SDGs in its entirety, including by way of “technical proofing”. In this regard, the Group would like to reaffirm that the Report must be entirely integrated into the post-2015 development agenda including the chapeau, that is now contained in the annex as well reservations made by the Member States.
20. There is no doubt that documents A/68/970 and A/68/970/Add.1 cannot be considered separately. Therefore, the African Group strongly calls for the inclusion of the entirety of both documents in chapter 2. This a sine qua non for the universal acceptance of the outcome document.
21. On the Means of Implementation, the Group underlines the need for developed countries to fulfil unmet commitments and the necessity to a strengthened and scaled-up global partnership for development, which should be the anchor for implementing the Post-2015 Development Agenda, taking into account the lessons learnt from the gaps in the implementation of MDG8. The Group welcomes the inclusion of goals specific means of implementation.
22. We welcome the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, the outcome of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Addis Ababa from 13 - 16 July, 2015 but reiterates its position that the outcome document of Addis Ababa will only support and complement the section on the means of implementation in the agenda and does not replace it.
23. In addition, we recognize the important role that this section pays to the role of technology, innovation, and knowledge transfer as important levers of sustainable development. This recognition should be strengthened, in this section as well as in the technological facilitation mechanism, in order to take into account the capacity deficits on the continent and enhancing the development, transfer and diffusion of technology and innovation in line with each country’s development need.
I thank you.
STATEMENT
BY
SONGELAEL SHILLA,
MINISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY
AT THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL NEGOTIATIONS ON THE POST-2015 AGENDA
-REACTIONS TO THE DRAFT OUTCOME DOCUMENT
NEW YORK, JULY 23RD 2015
Co-facilitators,
1. I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the African Group. Which takes the floor for the first time. I bag your endurance as we have to comment on the declaration, SDGs and MoI in one statement.
2. I would like to express our gratitude to the co-facilitators for the commendable work you continue to do in this intergovernmental process on the Post 2015 agenda, as we come together in a collective effort to elaborate a new development agenda for international cooperation to end poverty, achieve sustainable development and ensure a life of dignity for all.
Co-Facilitators,
3. The African Group welcomes the revised draft text on the Post 2015 agenda as a useful basis to guide our negotiations in these two weeks. The text generally communicates a strong level of ambition, addresses the integrated character of global challenges we face today and reinforces the commitment to freeing humanity from poverty as a matter of urgency. Although we agree with some elements contained therein, the African Group is ready to engage in order to ensure that we have a document that leaves no one behind.
Co-facilitators,
4. On the specific sections, I would like to reaffirm the following:
5. On the Title, The word “DEVELOPMENT” should be mentioned in the title, as this is a development Agenda.
6. On the Declaration, the African Group welcomes the recognition that poverty eradication is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development. The Declaration, rightly so, put emphasis on the need to recommit to the full realization of the off-track MDGs and to build on the lessons learnt from the MDGs experience and works to fulfill unmet commitments. Equally commendable is the reaffirmation of the principles contained in the UN Charter, as well as the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR) and the right to development.
7. The African Group underlines that peace and security as critical enablers for sustainable development and we believe that there is the inextricable link between development, peace and security and thus the need to reflect it within the declaration. While we welcome the reference to “Peace” as one of the 5 Ps contained in the preamble, we nonetheless feel that it should be completed with the inclusion of the “security”. In this regard, we would like to suggest amending the first sentence of paragraph 30 with the addition of the word “security”.
8. Moreover, we welcome the recognition and inclusion of the African Union Agenda 2063 in paragraph 34, and in this context wish to add “as well as its 10 year Plan of Action”, as a strategic framework for ensuring a positive socioeconomic transformation in Africa for the next 50 years as embedded in the resolutions of the UN General Assembly on the NEPAD.
9. On CBDR, the Group is of the view that this principle cannot be overlooked and, consequently, should constitute the overarching principle of the Post-2015 Development Agenda. In this context, we propose to delete the mention of "shared responsibility" in paragraph 31 which dilutes the differences between the developing and the developed countries and contradicts the essence of the principle of CBDR.
10. The African Group would like to emphasize the importance of the economic dimension of sustainable development, the realization of the economic diversification, industrialization and the improvement of infrastructure as key drivers for developing countries to own their development process and to achieve inclusive and sustained growth that create jobs and revenue, especially for the poor youth and women.
11. On paragraph 4, we call for deletion of the words “social groupings” as we do no not know what reality is covered by that notion. All nations and peoples will suffice. We should avoid any unnecessary confusing and potentially contentious language.
12. With regard to paragraph 20, the African Group proposes to add, after “different national realities”, “including culture and religion”. Culture and religion have an incredible impact on the daily life of billion of people around the world.
13. On paragraph 21 we call for the addition of, “and post conflict” to comprehensively reflect countries in this situation.
14. Furthermore, we call for the amendment of the first part of paragraph 22 which would read as follows: “sections of the population that are made vulnerable because of their age, physical condition, or the situations in which they live,] who must be empowered, and whose needs are reflected in the goals and targets, include children, youth, persons with disabilities and older persons”. Once again, we should avoid any unnecessary confusing and potentially contentious language. This amendment is intended to clarify the understanding of the groups targeted in this para.
15. The African Group welcomes the inclusion of the family in paragraph 38 and submits the follow amendment: “We recognize the role of the family as a contributor to sustainable development; one measure of success of the new Agenda will be the ability of society and the state to strengthen and protect the family, which is the natural and fundamental group unit of society. This wording comes from article 16.3 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights which is the most authoritative international instrument in the field of Human Rights.
16. On paragraph 43, African countries shall be included in the list. There is a need to ensure consistency in the way countries in special situations are reflected throughout the document.
17. The Group emphasizes the need to include reference in the declaration to condemn and end the unilateral coercive measures against countries as they are a violation of the international law and the principles of the Charter of the United Nations Organization.
18. In this regard, we proposes to include paragraph 26 of the document Rio +20 "the future we want," which is as follows “States are strongly urged to refrain from promulgating and applying any unilateral economic, financial or trade measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations that impede the full achievement of economic and social development, particularly in developing countries.”
19. On the SDGs, the African Group welcomes the inclusion of the entire SDGs and targets in the zero draft. However, the Group remains averse to the re-opening of the agreed Report of the Open Working Group on SDGs in its entirety, including by way of “technical proofing”. In this regard, the Group would like to reaffirm that the Report must be entirely integrated into the post-2015 development agenda including the chapeau, that is now contained in the annex as well reservations made by the Member States.
20. There is no doubt that documents A/68/970 and A/68/970/Add.1 cannot be considered separately. Therefore, the African Group strongly calls for the inclusion of the entirety of both documents in chapter 2. This a sine qua non for the universal acceptance of the outcome document.
21. On the Means of Implementation, the Group underlines the need for developed countries to fulfil unmet commitments and the necessity to a strengthened and scaled-up global partnership for development, which should be the anchor for implementing the Post-2015 Development Agenda, taking into account the lessons learnt from the gaps in the implementation of MDG8. The Group welcomes the inclusion of goals specific means of implementation.
22. We welcome the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, the outcome of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Addis Ababa from 13 - 16 July, 2015 but reiterates its position that the outcome document of Addis Ababa will only support and complement the section on the means of implementation in the agenda and does not replace it.
23. In addition, we recognize the important role that this section pays to the role of technology, innovation, and knowledge transfer as important levers of sustainable development. This recognition should be strengthened, in this section as well as in the technological facilitation mechanism, in order to take into account the capacity deficits on the continent and enhancing the development, transfer and diffusion of technology and innovation in line with each country’s development need.
I thank you.