Distinguished Co-facilitators,
I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Arab group.
The Arab group aligns itself with the statement made by South Africa on behalf of the group of 77 and China.
Regarding the follow up and review, the group welcomes the current drafting of the chapter on follow up and review and would like to make the following remarks:
The Group supports the view that a robust, effective, voluntary, inclusive and transparent follow up and review framework is fundamental to address the progress in the implementation of the agenda.
The Group welcomes the drafting of the principles that will guide follow up and review, mainly, on Para (70 a) mentioning that follow up and review will be voluntary and country-owned, will take into account different national realities, capacities and levels of development and will respect national policy space and priorities.
The group proposes the following amendments:
1. On Para 68 second sentence: to add "voluntary" and would suggest it reads "A robust, effective, voluntary, participatory, transparent and integrated follow-up and review framework will make a vital contribution to implementation and will help countries to maximize and track progress in implementing this Agenda."
2. On Para 70 a: the Group suggests to add "state-led after country opened in the first sentence and "official" in the last sentence just before "national data sources
And On Para 70 e: the Group would suggest to delete "marginalized groups" and end the sentence at "the most vulnerable"
it would therefore read "They will be gender-sensitive, respect human rights and have a particular focus on the poorest, most vulnerable"
On the Regional level section
The group would suggest On Para 76: to replace "can" by "will" in the last sentence on the regional process, we believe they should draw on national-level reviews :
"Follow-up and review at the regional and sub-regional levels should, as appropriate, provide useful opportunities for peer review and learning, sharing of best practices and discussion on shared targets. We welcome in this respect the cooperation of regional and sub-regional commissions and organizations. Regional processes can will draw on national-level reviews and contribute to follow-up and review at the global level, including at the High Level Political Forum on sustainable development (HLPF)."
Lastly on On the Global level section:
In Para 86: the Group proposes the following changes
to delete in the last part "guidance on annual themes and on a sequence of thematic reviews for the HLPF and
to add: options for periodic reviews for the HLPF"
"We request the Secretary General to prepare a report, for consideration by the 2016 meeting of the HLPF, which outlines critical milestones towards coherent and efficient follow-up and review at the global level. This report should include a proposal on the organizational arrangements for state-led reviews at the HLPF under the auspices of ECOSOC, including recommendations on a voluntary common reporting format guidlines. It should clarify institutional responsibilities and provide (delete: guidance on annual themes and on a sequence of thematic reviews for the HLPF) add: options for periodic reviews for the HLPF
I thank you.
