May 18-22, 2015
Informal meeting of the plenary on the process of
intergovernmental negotiations on the post-2015 development
agenda, pursuant to resolution 69/244 and decisions 69/550
and 69/555, focusing on the follow-up and review framework
Remarks by Sofya Simonyan, Permanent Mission of Armenia to United
Nations
We thank the distinguished co-facilitators for continuing to guide
the process and for providing us with a Discussion Document to
facilitate our debates on the universal follow-up and review
framework. We also thank the speakers for the very insightful
comments and suggestions they have been providing this week, and
we share the view of those who spoke earlier about the importance
of building a well-functioning, effective review framework that
would be evidence and data-based, inclusive and transparent.
Mr. co-facilitator,
In designing a follow-up and review mechanism, we think we should
be guided by what’s most practical and effective, both in terms of
the existing institutional set ups as well as additional reporting
commitments the framework would entail. In this regard, our
delegation would like to emphasize the importance of building
synergies and maximizing effectiveness between existing monitoring
mechanisms and frameworks, both within the UN as well as under
other existing institutions and review processes, including those
at the regional levels. It is important to avoid the risk of
exposing member states to a “reporting fatigue” caused by
proliferation of reporting mechanisms and duplication of efforts.
It is, therefore, Armenia’s view, that effectiveness should be the
key principle in this exercise, and we believe that the HLPF is
well positioned to ensure effective coordination of the
accountability frameworks, to bring them in line with the overall
context of the post-2015 development agenda.
To this aim, we look forward to the outcomes of the HLPF meeting
this July to further define the follow-up and review architecture
for the implementation of the post-2015 agenda and an effective
and efficient international accountability framework it requires.
Armenia
Mr. co-facilitator,
A successful review and follow-up mechanism is of particular
importance to properly address the developmental needs of
countries facing specific structural challenges, such as
landlocked developing countries. The Vienna Programme of Action
for Landlocked Developing Countries for the decade 2014-2024 has
been endorsed by the member states as a blueprint for the
development of the LLDCs, and it will be important to take this
document, in its six priority areas, into account in the process
of formulation of the effective follow-up and review-mechanism for
the post-2015 development agenda, as well as for the purposes of
elaboration of the indicators at the global and regional level.
As outlined in Section 6 (paragraph 73) of the Vienna Programme of
Action, follow-up and review should be a continuous process aimed
at reinforcing partnerships and mutual accountability at all
levels and by all actors. It is, therefore, important to give
proper consideration to the implementation of the VPOA within a
comprehensive reporting framework for the post-2015, involving
multiple stakeholders responsible for the implementation of the
Programme(including the transit countries).
For any follow-up and review mechanism to be successful, reliable,
relevant and valid data for measuring progress is of utmost
importance – at the global, regional and national levels. In this
regard, we highlight the role of national statistical agencies in
providing disaggregated quality data to track progress through a
set of harmonized indicators. We, therefore, emphasize the
importance of a renewed sense of commitment for partnerships and
cooperation at multiple levels, to enhance national statistical
capacities. We call on the member states to intensify efforts to
strengthen international cooperation to build and improve
statistical capacity and to ensure that a wide range of
stakeholders are involved in the production and analysis of data.
We share the view that global indicators should be supported and
supplemented by national and regional indicators. In this regard,
we would like to highlight the added value of participation in
various regional cooperation formats to facilitate informationsharing
and capacity building, and we stand ready to provide
support to this process, at all stages.
In conclusion, Mr. co-facilitator, our delegation would like to
join others in suggesting that a Zero draft for the post-2015
development agenda should be made available as soon as possible,
given the short time that remains in run-up to the Post-2015
Summit in September.
I thank you, Mr. co-facilitator.
