July 2015
www.beyond2015.org 1
Key comments from Beyond 2015 on the draft for adoption: ‘Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’
July 28 2015
Beyond 2015 strongly welcomes the final draft of the Post-2015 outcome document as it brings a robust level of ambition and a clear commitment towards universality and integration, as well as positive steps towards inclusion and participation. The document balances different perspectives shared by Member States and stakeholders during the intergovernmental negotiations, and we call upon Member States to finalize the outcome document this week in order to allow for appropriate time for Heads of State and Government to prepare to commit to this Agenda and its implementation in September and beyond.
The draft outcome document tries to ensure the integrated, indivisible and interlinked nature of the Sustainable Development Goals (Preamble, Para 14). We also applaud the commitment to a people-centred agenda (Preamble, Paras 2, 28, 70). We commend the revised document for seeking to respect, protect and fulfil the human rights of all (Para 20) and the recognition of gender equality as a cross-cutting issue. We also welcome explicit mention of participation and the call for all people, including the most marginalized, to be engaged in implementation, follow-up and review. We are pleased to see the increased focus on sustainable energy and resilience in the declaration and strongly welcome recognition of climate change as one of our greatest challenges as it undermines our ability to achieve sustainable development (Para 15). We strongly support inclusion of reference to global average temperature increase of 2 or 1.5°C in Para 31.
The commitment to address income inequality should be strengthened by re-insertion of the specific call to [use] ‘progressive policies aimed at redistribution’ (Para 28). Reference to non-discrimination should be included in Paras 8 and 20, and we call for Para 44 to recognize diverse forms of families.
Leave no one behind
The commitment to leave no one behind has been significantly weakened in this version. We recommend strengthening it through the following amendment:
Para. 4 – As we embark on this great collective journey, we pledge that no one will be left behind. Recognizing that the dignity of the human person is fundamental, we will strive wish to see the goals and targets met for all nations and for all social and economic groups people. […]And we will endeavor to reach the furthest behind first.
Follow up and review
We strongly welcome the principles set for follow up and review, especially 70d and 70e, and the call for participation of all peoples. To strengthen this approach, we suggest:
Para.47 – […] Governments and public institutions will also work closely on implementation with regional and local authorities, sub-regional institutions, international institutions, academia, philanthropic organizations, volunteer groups, civil society and others stakeholders in accordance with national laws and regulations and in conformity with international obligations.
July 2015
www.beyond2015.org 2
Para.49 – Our Governments have the primary responsibility for follow-up and review, at the national, regional and global levels, in relation to the progress made in implementing the Goals and targets over the coming fifteen years. We will provide for systematic, participatory and inclusive follow-up and review at the various levels of accountability, with meaningful participation of civil society and other stakeholders, including as set out in this Agenda and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda. The High Level Political Forum will be responsible for the global follow-up and review processes.
Para.50 – Indicators are being developed to assist this work. Quality, accessible, timely and reliable disaggregated data across all dimensions of sustainable development will be needed to help with the measurement of progress for all social and economic groups and to ensure that no one is left behind. Such data is key to decision-making. Data and information from existing reporting mechanisms should be used where possible as should data from non-official sources such as civil society to help fill gaps in official reporting. […]
Para.69 – Operating at the national, regional and global levels, it will promote accountability to our citizens people, support effective international cooperation in achieving this Agenda and foster exchanges of best practices and mutual learning. […]
Para.70e – They will be age and gender-sensitive, respect human rights and have a particular focus on the poorest, most vulnerable and marginalized groups and those furthest behind.
Para.70g – They will be rigorous and based on evidence, informed by country-led evaluations and data which is accessible, timely, reliable and disaggregated by income, sex, age, race, ethnicity, migration status, disability and geographic location and other characteristics relevant in national contexts. They will also draw upon third party and citizen-generated data in a complementary manner.
Para.73 – We commit to fully engage in conducting participatory reviews of progress at subnational, national, regional and global levels.
Para.74 – We encourage call upon all member states to develop as soon as practicable ambitious national responses to the overall implementation of this Agenda no later than 2018, including through setting quantified baselines and benchmarks for each target. These can support the transition to the SDGs and build on existing planning instruments, such as national development and sustainable development strategies, as appropriate.
Para.75 – We call upon also encourage member states to conduct regular reviews of progress at least every four years at the national and sub-national levels which are country-owned and country-driven. Such reviews should draw on contributions from civil society, the private sector and other actors all other stakeholders, in line with national circumstances, policies and priorities. National parliaments as well as other institutions can also support these processes.
Para.78 – The HLPF will have the central role in overseeing follow-up and review at the global level […] It should ensure that the Agenda remains relevant and ambitious and should focus on the assessment of progress, achievements and challenges faced by developed and developing countries as well as new and emerging issues. It should also focus on progress for the social and economic groups that are the furthest behind. […]
This paper was drafted based on inputs from Beyond 2015 Rapid Response Task Force. Consolidation and review was done by the Campaign’s Secretariat with support of a member of the Executive Committee and finalized by the Co-Chairs of the Campaign.
