Belarus

Belarus
Intergovernmental negotiations on the post-2015 development agenda
Second session
New York, February 17-20, 2015
“Elements Paper” of the co-facilitators
x It presents a logical sequence of the declaration’s components that can serve as a structural basis
of the declaration; the substance of the document can be shaped around these building blocks.
The form of the future declaration
x It should be concise yet comprehensive
x It should set a political framework for the new development programme.
The substance and content of the declaration
x The declaration should underline the unifying nature of the new development agenda with an
overarching theme of getting rid of poverty and aspiring to prosperity.
x The SDGs being a more technical part of the outcome document, the declaration can serve as an
introduction to them, but should not duplicate them. Issues of universal importance that are not
explicit part of the current set of SDGs could be picked up in the declaration.
x In setting out the commitment by the heads of states or governments the declaration could rely on
the language already used in the comparable documents. We attach high importance to the
values and principles set forth in the UN Millennium Declaration and propose to utilize its relevant
provisions.
 proposal for the declaration’s language:
“We are determined to establish a just and lasting peace all over the world in
accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter. We rededicate
ourselves to support all efforts to uphold the sovereign equality of all States,
respect for their territorial integrity and political independence, resolution of
disputes by peaceful means and in conformity with the principles of justice and
international law, the right to self-determination of peoples which remain under
colonial domination and foreign occupation, non-interference in the internal affairs
of States, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for the equal
rights of all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion and
international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social,
cultural or humanitarian character” (para 4 of the UN Millennium Declaration).
x The declaration should highlight the important linkage of the family to sustainable development
both at the national level and globally.
 proposal for the declaration’s language:
“We are convinced that the sustainability of communities and societies largely rests
on the strength of the family as a basic unit of society and the natural environment
for the growth and well-being of all its members, particularly children. We recognize
the vital role of the family in attaining the internationally agreed development goals
and confirm our commitment to enhance the contribution of the families in the
efforts to achieve sustainable development goals by promoting family-oriented
policies and prioritising the needs and priorities of the family at the national and
international levels”.
x The declaration should reflect the unifying potential of middle-income countries for the
overarching objective of eradication of poverty.
 proposal for the declaration’s language:
“We recognise the need to address the various challenges faced by middle-income
countries and to fully utilize their potential in helping eradicating poverty
worldwide”. 2
x The part of the declaration dealing with means of implementation should contain a call for a more
strategic, robust and comprehensive UN energy agenda with energy issues under the ownership
of Member States. Of equal importance should be the reference to the setup and implementation
of a transparent and fair mechanism of access to and transfer of, technologies.
 proposals for the declaration’s language:
“We stress the need for shaping a comprehensive United Nations energy agenda
with a focus on eradicating poverty and achieving the sustainable development
goals”.
“Recognising the importance of development, transfer and application of advanced
technologies, including energy technologies, we call for effective international
measures to develop, disseminate and deploy such technologies in the interested
countries”.
x The “challenges we face” part of the declaration should include the link between sustainable
development and issues of climate change.
 proposal for the declaration’s language:
“Underlining the intrinsic link between sustainable development and climate change
issues we stress the importance of incentive mechanisms stimulating countries to
diminish negative impact on climate”.
x The declaration should address the issue of organised crime, including trafficking in persons, that
undermine development and violates human rights; it should also stimulate joint efforts to fight
organised crime.
 proposal for the declaration’s language:
“We underscore that effective criminal justice systems with well-planned crime
prevention strategies could essentially promote community safety and contribute to
sustainable development at national and global levels. We reaffirm our commitment
to intensify joint efforts to fight transnational crime in all its dimensions, including
trafficking in persons, to protect its victims and secure their well-being, dignity and
rights through, inter alia, enhanced international cooperation and global
partnership”.
x The human rights aspects of sustainable development could be addressed in the following way.
 proposal for the declaration’s language:
“We reaffirm our commitments to the promotion and protection of human rights
based on dialogue, cooperation and consensus-building amongst States and
oppose confrontational approaches, exploitation of human rights for political
purposes, selectiveness, unilateralism and unilaterally imposed coercive measures
and double standards, which could lead to the erosion and violation of the UN
Charter, international law and human rights”.
x The declaration should take up the issue the respect of rule of law in accordance with the
Declaration of the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the rule of law at the national
and international levels.
 proposal for the declaration’s language:
“We resolve to continue our efforts in promoting the rule of law at the national and
international levels, while taking into account legal, political, socioeconomic,
cultural, religious and other specificities, and while also recognizing that there are
common features founded on international law”.