Intervention by Mr. Md. Mustafizur Rahman, Deputy Permanent Representative of Bangladesh at the Informal meetings of the plenary on stocktaking in the process of intergovernmental negotiations on the post-2015 development agenda,
UNHQs, 19 January 2015
Let me join my previous colleagues in congratulating both of you for taking over this onerous responsibility.
Today, we have embarked on the final stage of our arduous exercise in charting the development path for the post 2015 era. No doubt, it is a challenging task, but we are confident that under your joint leadership, we will accomplish this task in the most desired way.
In this connection, we express our full alignment with the statement made by South Africa on behalf of G-77 and China. We hope that in conducting the deliberation of this group, we would follow the longstanding practice of an intergovernmental negotiation in the UN.
On the structure of post 2015 development agenda, I think we have general convergence that there will be a part on narratives, a part on SDGs, a part on global partnership and reinforced MOIs. Of course, there will be a need for reviewing and monitoring of the progress implementing the development framework. And we are confident that HLPF will be able to undertake this job.
On the substance, we underscore that the post 2015 development agenda should be development centered, with poverty eradication at its core. We hope that development will resolve many of the challenges that the people across the world are facing and fulfill aspirations of the people. We view development as the means to advance our objective of ensuring a peaceful and stable society and lead to greater enjoyment of human rights.
Good thing is, we are not starting from the scratch. We have come to this stage through a long process. The roots of the process, as we know, lie with the outcome of the Rio Summit and the HLD on MDGs. Expectation of the global community from the new agenda was further clarified during the 18 month long deliberations within the OWG on SDGs. All will agree that the consultations within the OWG were broad, transparent and inclusive, which resulted in developing on a set of goals and targets. The framework developed therein represent in fair manner the diverse expectation of global community from the future development agenda. So, in our view the declaratory part may be drafted based on the report on OWG on SDGs, informed by the Rio Declaration, inspired by the synthesis report of the Secretary General and reflecting in a balanced manner three pillars of sustainable development.
As for the actionable part, likewise, we believe that the proposed SDGs framework is carefully balanced and politically nuanced. It has the potential to take us a long way in achieving the transformative development as we envisage to achieve through this development agenda. It is, therefore, advisable to leave it as is at this juncture, with the possibility of coming back for some fine tuning at a letter stage if time permits. We may have to look into the indicators though and agree in this setting, regardless of who makes the initial draft. We have read with interest the synthesis report of the Secretary General and his proposal to consider reorganizing SDGs under six essential elements. Our position remains, the form should not compromise the substance. As such, reorganization of goals, if at all undertaken, should not lead to reopening of the framework, which, as I said earlier, has been carefully designed.
Strengthened global partnership, mainly in the form of financing and technology transfer would be key to the success of the future sustainable development agenda. Complementarity and synergy between the national actions and international cooperation are also essential, and it should be based on the principle of national ownership and leadership. We have high expectations from the third FFD conference, preparation of which is running in parallel to this process. As Secretary General has said this morning, we need bold action on finance to achieve a transformation agenda. Business as usual is not an option here.
Ending poverty, sharing prosperity and achieving the noble aspiration, ‘leaving no one behind’ would entails higher development assistance, technology facilitation and capacity building support to developing countries, particularly to LDCs who are countries of lesser endowment and where the proportion of extreme poor is extremely high.
We cannot overlook the developmental challenges posed by climate change. I would conclude by reiterating what the President of General Assembly said, it is a historic opportunity to agree on a transformation development agenda which is be people centered and climate sensitive.
We look forward to further elaboration of our position as we go along the sessions.
I thank you.
