An agenda for, by and with the people - Reinforcing participation at the post-2015 outcome document
STATEMENT for post-2015 intergovernmental negotiations
An agenda for, by and with the people - Reinforcing participation at the post-2015 outcome document
Collaborators: Beyond 2015, Save the Children, Plan International, International Disability Alliance, Muslims for Progressive Values, Save Matabeleland Coalition (Beyond 2015 Zimbabwe). International Disability and Development Consortium, Centre for Human Rights and Development Studies (CHRDS), Diverse Voices and Action for Equality, The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, Youth For A Child In Christ (YOCIC) Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights, Bond; VSO, World Vision, Indigenous Peoples Major Group, International Forum for Volunteering in Development, ChildFund Alliance, Women Environmental Programme
Delivered by: Busani Sibindi, Beyond 2015 Zimbabwe, Save Matabeleland Coalition
Co-facilitators, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen,
We welcome references to people’s participation (especially in the preamble) and the commitment that the post-2015 is an “agenda for, by and with the people” (para 47). We consider that even stronger commitments towards people’s and other stakeholders participation are needed in all sections of the draft outcome document:
Meaningful and inclusive participation of all should still be further strengthened in paragraphs 17, 18 23, 40, 41 and 70. Additionally, meaningful participation will only be ensured if there are no physical, legal, financial or institutional barriers, including access to information and ICTs as well as mechanisms and instruments for participation to allow for all, including women, children, adolescents, youth, persons with disabilities, people with diverse sexual orientation and gender identity, indigenous peoples, migrants and refugees and all marginalised groups, to influence decisions that affect their lives. The effective engagement of people, civil society, major groups and other stakeholders in the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development must be reflected in the text (Preamble, para 40). The text must also include commitments to address challenges faced by peoples in various national contexts and the specific need to protect them from state and non state persecution. Stronger and more specific language on inclusive and participatory approaches to follow up and review are needed, as well as an encouragement for governments to actively seek input from, and support the participation of all groups (para 60 and 61). The text should go further and agree that national, regional and global multilateral reviews will be inclusive, responsive, and participatory, consistent with sustainable development principles, including of ‘free, prior and informed consent’ of indigenous peoples to ensure that no one is left behind. In this sense, accountability to citizens as referred to in paragraph 56 is key. Furthermore, the document should include a commitment to providing public access to and preservation of data and information to future generations. Collection and storage of data should be ethical and protect individual’s safety and privacy. Participation in review mechanisms should be inclusive and national policies should not bar participation in monitoring and review mechanisms of this agenda. Rather the outcome document must be be clear that follow up and review at all levels will be universal and transparent in nature and driven by principles of common but differentiated responsibilities, non-discrimination, equality, accountability, and by all human rights commitments. Additionally, democratic and effective communication on the post-2015 development is a pre-condition for the meaningful engagement of people everywhere, and we recommend the
inclusion of an additional paragraph in which Member States commit to communicate this agenda at national and regional levels, including tailoring approaches to ensure that all people, including the most vulnerable and marginalized, are properly informed about this new commitment. Finally, co-facilitators, as we move towards the final week of negotiations - and we are still optimistic about that - we hope that we will continue to be able to provide our inputs to Member States at this critical juncture. We will be prepared to offer concrete, focused and constructive proposals until the end of the negotiations.
An agenda for, by and with the people - Reinforcing participation at the post-2015 outcome document
Collaborators: Beyond 2015, Save the Children, Plan International, International Disability Alliance, Muslims for Progressive Values, Save Matabeleland Coalition (Beyond 2015 Zimbabwe). International Disability and Development Consortium, Centre for Human Rights and Development Studies (CHRDS), Diverse Voices and Action for Equality, The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, Youth For A Child In Christ (YOCIC) Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights, Bond; VSO, World Vision, Indigenous Peoples Major Group, International Forum for Volunteering in Development, ChildFund Alliance, Women Environmental Programme
Delivered by: Busani Sibindi, Beyond 2015 Zimbabwe, Save Matabeleland Coalition
Co-facilitators, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen,
We welcome references to people’s participation (especially in the preamble) and the commitment that the post-2015 is an “agenda for, by and with the people” (para 47). We consider that even stronger commitments towards people’s and other stakeholders participation are needed in all sections of the draft outcome document:
Meaningful and inclusive participation of all should still be further strengthened in paragraphs 17, 18 23, 40, 41 and 70. Additionally, meaningful participation will only be ensured if there are no physical, legal, financial or institutional barriers, including access to information and ICTs as well as mechanisms and instruments for participation to allow for all, including women, children, adolescents, youth, persons with disabilities, people with diverse sexual orientation and gender identity, indigenous peoples, migrants and refugees and all marginalised groups, to influence decisions that affect their lives. The effective engagement of people, civil society, major groups and other stakeholders in the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development must be reflected in the text (Preamble, para 40). The text must also include commitments to address challenges faced by peoples in various national contexts and the specific need to protect them from state and non state persecution. Stronger and more specific language on inclusive and participatory approaches to follow up and review are needed, as well as an encouragement for governments to actively seek input from, and support the participation of all groups (para 60 and 61). The text should go further and agree that national, regional and global multilateral reviews will be inclusive, responsive, and participatory, consistent with sustainable development principles, including of ‘free, prior and informed consent’ of indigenous peoples to ensure that no one is left behind. In this sense, accountability to citizens as referred to in paragraph 56 is key. Furthermore, the document should include a commitment to providing public access to and preservation of data and information to future generations. Collection and storage of data should be ethical and protect individual’s safety and privacy. Participation in review mechanisms should be inclusive and national policies should not bar participation in monitoring and review mechanisms of this agenda. Rather the outcome document must be be clear that follow up and review at all levels will be universal and transparent in nature and driven by principles of common but differentiated responsibilities, non-discrimination, equality, accountability, and by all human rights commitments. Additionally, democratic and effective communication on the post-2015 development is a pre-condition for the meaningful engagement of people everywhere, and we recommend the
inclusion of an additional paragraph in which Member States commit to communicate this agenda at national and regional levels, including tailoring approaches to ensure that all people, including the most vulnerable and marginalized, are properly informed about this new commitment. Finally, co-facilitators, as we move towards the final week of negotiations - and we are still optimistic about that - we hope that we will continue to be able to provide our inputs to Member States at this critical juncture. We will be prepared to offer concrete, focused and constructive proposals until the end of the negotiations.