Child Focused Agencies
Thank you Co-Facilitators,
I am delivering this statement on behalf of the Child Focused Agencies (Plan International, ChildFund Alliance, World Vision, Save the Children and SOS Children’s Villages) and based on inputs from the wider UN Major Group of Children and Youth and results of consultations with children worldwide on the zero draft .
We welcome the affirmation of the post-2015 development agenda being a “plan of action for people, planet and prosperity that also seeks to strengthen universal peace in larger freedom” and its strong commitment to partnerships to “leave no one behind”.
This transformation can only succeed however if: (1) investments start with today’s children so that change can be realized by 2030, and future generations can benefit and build on this progress; (2) all people, especially children and youth, have the opportunity to learn about the SDGs and how these global goals relate to their daily lives; (3) affirmative action is taken to collect quality, timely, reliable, and disaggregated data, including the use of non-governmental, citizen driven sources of data and innovative methodologies so that no group of people is left behind, especially children; (4) participation of people, including children and youth is a crucial element in design of effective follow-up and review; and (5) the social and economic groups that have been left behind by the MDGs and are in most vulnerable situations are identified and prioritized in the agenda for action.
In the section on follow-up and review, we strongly welcome the remarks made by the many member states , calling for children and youth to be included as “active agents of change and not only beneficiaries” We recommend some additional language that can ensure child-sensitive accountability mechanisms.
Under the follow-up and review chapter, there should be more references to the need for it to be participatory. Additionally, it must call for action to develop methods and outreach for the participation of all people, with specific references to children –and especially the most vulnerable and marginalized- must be included to ensure they are not forgotten.
A specific paragraph could also be added recognizing the potential to make follow-up and review more accurate and inclusive at all levels. A sentence submitted by a 13-year old during the UNICEF-led consultations with children on the zero draft could be used and would be a first step in the right direction: The children and youth of today must be mobilized and engaged as positive agents of change if the Agenda is to succeed; and the SDGs must be a platform for young people to channel their infinite activism into helping others all over the globe.
We have additional ideas and language suggestions from children and young people from around the world; please count on us, and them, to help you navigate these last two months of negotiation, and the even harder work of putting words into practice.
Thank you very much.
I am delivering this statement on behalf of the Child Focused Agencies (Plan International, ChildFund Alliance, World Vision, Save the Children and SOS Children’s Villages) and based on inputs from the wider UN Major Group of Children and Youth and results of consultations with children worldwide on the zero draft .
We welcome the affirmation of the post-2015 development agenda being a “plan of action for people, planet and prosperity that also seeks to strengthen universal peace in larger freedom” and its strong commitment to partnerships to “leave no one behind”.
This transformation can only succeed however if: (1) investments start with today’s children so that change can be realized by 2030, and future generations can benefit and build on this progress; (2) all people, especially children and youth, have the opportunity to learn about the SDGs and how these global goals relate to their daily lives; (3) affirmative action is taken to collect quality, timely, reliable, and disaggregated data, including the use of non-governmental, citizen driven sources of data and innovative methodologies so that no group of people is left behind, especially children; (4) participation of people, including children and youth is a crucial element in design of effective follow-up and review; and (5) the social and economic groups that have been left behind by the MDGs and are in most vulnerable situations are identified and prioritized in the agenda for action.
In the section on follow-up and review, we strongly welcome the remarks made by the many member states , calling for children and youth to be included as “active agents of change and not only beneficiaries” We recommend some additional language that can ensure child-sensitive accountability mechanisms.
Under the follow-up and review chapter, there should be more references to the need for it to be participatory. Additionally, it must call for action to develop methods and outreach for the participation of all people, with specific references to children –and especially the most vulnerable and marginalized- must be included to ensure they are not forgotten.
A specific paragraph could also be added recognizing the potential to make follow-up and review more accurate and inclusive at all levels. A sentence submitted by a 13-year old during the UNICEF-led consultations with children on the zero draft could be used and would be a first step in the right direction: The children and youth of today must be mobilized and engaged as positive agents of change if the Agenda is to succeed; and the SDGs must be a platform for young people to channel their infinite activism into helping others all over the globe.
We have additional ideas and language suggestions from children and young people from around the world; please count on us, and them, to help you navigate these last two months of negotiation, and the even harder work of putting words into practice.
Thank you very much.