Civil Society Organizations
A Stand-Alone Goal on Equality is Essential
We, the undersigned Civil Society Organizations representing constituencies from all corners of the globe, are deeply alarmed by the proposal to combine the Goal 10 on Equality with other listed goals. We urge your careful consideration of the following compelling reasons. As the Post 2015 agenda is meant to guide development efforts over the next 15 years, it must recognize inequalities as one of the most vital issues of our time by having a clear goal to tackle inequality and by including equality-related targets into other goals. These two approaches are mutually supportive. However, without a stand-alone goal on equality to deliver this clear message, the agenda risks losing the support of individuals, organizations and communities around the world.
1. A stand-alone goal on equality communicates a fundamental value underlying the Post-2015 development agenda. While we recognize that all goals under discussion are interdependent and mutually reinforcing, the decision to have a stand-alone goal on equality reflects the degree of importance that has been accorded to the problem of inequalities by the peoples of the world. Global consultations, civil society networks, Member States and the United Nations have firmly and repeatedly asserted that inequality is at the heart of many social, economic and environmental ills, including barriers to development, economic instability, mismanagement of natural resources, discrimination, lack of social unity, crime and conflict.
2. The Post-2015 agenda will be about the headlines. The visibility, potency, and support for implementation of the goals will be rooted, in part, in the manner in which they are articulated. By only mainstreaming equality throughout the goals, it will lose its visibility and recognition as an independent driver of many of the ills facing society.
3. The support of civil society highly depends on the articulation of equality as a stand-alone goal. Global Consultations consistently asserted the need for the eradication of inequality as a crucial element in any development agenda. Our trust in the legitimacy and success of the new Sustainable Development Goals will be undermined if this goal is removed.
4. Equality is an overarching value, far broader than economics. It addresses dimensions of social, educational, health, political, and many other forms of inequality. Unequal treatment of, and opportunities for, women and vulnerable groups of all kinds is an independent issue that cannot be subsumed within other goals. Equality, if combined with the goal on ‘poverty eradication,’ risks losing its multidimensionality - including challenges related to access, discrimination, voice, and many other non-fiscal concerns. Moreover, the SDGs must consider inequalities between nations.
5. A goal on equality exemplifies the universality of the goals. Equality as a global goal implies a responsibility on the part of every nation, including the richest, as it is a social ill from which no nation is immune. As a universal concept, it has the potential to encourage unified action across borders. A goal on equality can be a powerful force for global solidarity, but not if it is buried in other goals.
With a Stand-alone Goal on Equality, we can honor our commitment to leaving no one behind. We thank you for your understanding.
Signed on 19th – 24th of June 2014 by:
1
Academics Stand Against Poverty
International
2
ACPDH
Burundi
3
Action On Women Foundation
Uganda
4
Action on Youth Empowerment
Uganda
5
Africa CSO Working Group on Post-2015
African
6
African Monitor
African
7
Alliance contre la Pauvreté au Mali
Mali
8
Amnesty International
International
9
Association Congolaise pour le Développement Agricole ACDA
Congo Brazzaville
10
Association Nigérienne des Scouts de l'Environnement (ANSEN)
Niger
11
Association pour le Developpement et de la Promotion des Droits Humains
Mauritanie
12
Association Pour Le Développement Rural Intégré De Nganda-Tsundi"ADERIGAS"
Congo, DR
13
ATD Fourth World
global network
14
Awake Rural Women
Nepal
15
Baha'i International Community
Global
16
Bangladesh Disaster Preparedness Centre (BDPC)
Bangladesh
17
Beyond 2015
global network
18
Bioresources Development and Conservation Programme Cameroon
Cameroon
19
Bum Association of Health Personnel (BAHEP)
Cameroon
20
Center for Bangladesh Studies ( CBS)
Bangladesh
21
Center for Woman and Child Development
Bangladesh
22
Center for Women's Global Leadership
International
23
Centre for Human Rights and Development
Mongolia
24
Centro de Estudios para la Gobernabilidad y Democracia
Nicaragua
25
CEPA
Laos
26
Climate Emergency Institute
Canada
27
Coastal Area Intervention Network (CAIN)
Bangladesh
28
Collectif Sénégalais des Africaines pour la Promotion de l'Education Relative à l'Environnement-COSAPERE.
Senegal
29
Community and Family Foundation
Ghana
30
Community Emergency Response Initiative (CERI)
Nigeria
31
Community Environmental Resource Centre (CERC) (Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE)
India
32 Community Initiative for Social Enhancement (CISE)
South Africa
33
Comunidad Raíz Zubia A.C.
México
34
Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd
International
35
Conservation of Flora and Fauna COFF
Pakistan
36
Consortium for Land Research and Policy Dialogue (COLARP)
Nepal
37
Coordinación de ONG y Cooperativas -CONGCOOP
Guatemala
38
CRESUNA - Africa
Uganda
39
Dalit Alliance for Natural Resources (DANAR)
Nepal
40
Dalit Alliance for Natural Resources(DANAR)-Nepal
Nepal
41
Dalit Alliance for Natural Resources(DANAR)-Nepal
Nepal
42
Dharamitra (Eco-Technology Resource Centre for Sustainable Development)
India
43
Disability and Development Cooperation (bezev)
Germany
44
EcoEquity
United States
45
Environment and Population Research Centre (EPRC)
Bangladesh
46
Environmental Quality Protection Foundation (EQPF)
Taiwan
47
European Environmental Bureau
International - Europe
48
Europia
UK
49
Federation of Democratic NGO's of Nepal
Nepal
50
Feminist Task Force
global network
51
FOKUS-Forum for Women and Development
Norway
52
Forest Environment Workers Union Nepal (FEWUN)
Nepal
53
Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood
International
54
Fundación Justicia y Genero
Costa Rica
55
GEADIRR
Cameroon
56
Global Action
Ireland
57
Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP)
global network
58
Global Fund for Women
Global
59
Global Network of Civil Society Organisations for Disaster Reduction
global network
60
Global Partnership and Development
New Zealand
61
Gomal Damaan Area Water Partnership
Pakistan
62
Green Creation
UK
63
Green liberty
Latvia
64
Green Team Kenya
kenya
65
Greenspring Development Initiative
Nigeria
66
Health Development Initiative
Nigeria
67
Huairou Commission: Women, Homes and Community
Global
68
Indigenous Nationalities Women Youth Network
Nepal
69
Initiative for Equality (IfE) - Field Hearings network
global network
70
Initiatives pour le Développement Durable Et Prospective (ISDP)
Togo
71
Institute for Economic Research on Innovation
South Africa and International
72
International Association of Schools of Social Work
International
73
International Presentation Association of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
International
74
International Social Science Council
International
75
International Women's Anthropology Conference, IWAC
International
76
IntHum - Intercultural Laboratory
Italy
77
Italy Equality Group
Italy
78
IWRAW Asia Pacific
Malaysia
79
Journalists and Writers Foundation
International
80
Karama
Middle East and North Africa
81
Kenya Community Development Group
Kenya
82
Kirat Chamling Youth Society
Nepal
83
Kirat Youth Society (KYS)
Nepal
84
Medsin-UK
UK
85
MESA de Articulación de Asociaciones Nacionales y Redes Regionales de ONG de America Latina
International
86
Mukono Mulitipurpose Youth Organisation (MUMYO)
Uganda
87
Naqaa Sustainability Solutions
Saudi Arabia
88
National Council of Women, USA
USA+
89
National Forum for Advocacy, Nepal (NAFAN)
Nepal
90
NAWO - National Alliance of Women's Organisations (UK)
UK
91
New Integrated Collective Initiative for Poverty Alleviation
Cameroon
92
New Restoration Plan - Malawi
Malawi
93
NGO Committee on Human Rights
International
94
NGO committee on social development
International
95
Niger Delta Women's movement for Peace and Development
Nigeria
96
Open Streets Cape Town
South Africa
97
OSEC (Organization for Social and Economic Change)
Pakistan
98
Oxfam International
International
99
Pan African Vision for the Environment (PAVE)
Nigeria
100
Participatory Development Initiatives (PDI)
Pakistan
101
PATHIKRIT
Bangladesh
102
Peace and Life Enhancement Initiative International (PLEII)
Nigeria
103
Peace Islands Institute
United States
104
People Unity Yong Society (PUYS)
Nepal
105
Plan International
International
106
Planning and the Black Community Division of the American Planning Association
United States
107
Population Matters
UK
108
Presentation Justice Network
Ireland
109
Pro-biodiversity Conservationists in Uganda (PROBICOU)
Uganda
110
Project 90 by 2030
South Africa
111
Psychology Coalition at the UN
UN Headquarters, NY
112
Recycle 4 Africa
Malawi
113
Red de Acción por el Agua - México (Freshwater Action Network - Mexico (FANMex)
Mexico
114
Réseau des Jeunes pour l'Eau, l'assainissement et le Développement Durable au Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso
115
Réseau des Organisations Féminines d'Afrique Francophone (ROFAF)
International
116
Restless Development
International
117
Rogers Foundation for Person-Centred Education
Hungary
118
Roless Institute
Kenya
119
SAMADANA/M - Centre for Nonviolence
Sri Lanka
120
SANAYEE DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION SDO
AFGHANISTAN
121
Save the Earth Cambodia
Cambodia
122
Seeds for a Future
Guatemala
123
SERVITAS Cameroon
Cameroon
124
SHELTER
Bangladesh
125
Sindhica Reforms Society
Pakistan
126
Singing Across Borders/CA:s Sångskola
International
127
Sisters of Mercy, Mercy International Association at the UN
International
128
Society For Agriculture and Sustainable Development SASDev
Cameroon
129
SOS Children's Villages
International
130
Stichting Bakens Verzet (NGO Another Way)
Netherlands
131
Stichting Ultimate Purpose-Suriname
Suriname
132
Sub-Committee for the Elimination of Racism and other forms of Intolerance of the NGO Committee on Human Rights
UN Headquarters, NY
133
Sufuri Group
Kenya
134
Sustainability Institute
South Africa
135
Sustainable agriculture and environment
International
136
Sustainable Innovation initiatives
USA+ Trinidad and Tobago
137
Sustainable Rural Community Development
Malawi
138
Systems Innovations and Communication for Progress and Philanthropy (SICP)
India
139
Terra-1530
Moldova
140
The Future We Need
Ireland
141
The Second Chance Foundation
United States
142
Trades Union Congress (TUC) Ghana
Ghana
143
Transformation and Development Centre
Nigeria
144
Uganda Coalition for Sustainable Development
Uganda
145
Union de l'action feministe UAF
Morocco
146
Unitarian Universalist UN Office
United States
147
United Methodist Women, Global Justice office
USA+
148
Unity Society Nepal
Nepal
149
Utthan
India
150
VIMA'S WASH Enterprise
Ghana
151 Vision Africa Regional Network
Zambia
152
VIVAT International
International
153
WASH United
International
154
Women Acting Together for Change (WATCH)
Nepal
155
Women Environmental Programme
Nigeria
156
Women Peacemakers Program
Netherlands
157
Women's Awareness Support Group
Nepal
158
Women's UN Report Network
Global
159
WOPA Green Project
Kenya
160
YouLead-Collective (YLC)
South Africa
161
Youth NGO-Federation Nepal (YNF)
Nepal
We, the undersigned Civil Society Organizations representing constituencies from all corners of the globe, are deeply alarmed by the proposal to combine the Goal 10 on Equality with other listed goals. We urge your careful consideration of the following compelling reasons. As the Post 2015 agenda is meant to guide development efforts over the next 15 years, it must recognize inequalities as one of the most vital issues of our time by having a clear goal to tackle inequality and by including equality-related targets into other goals. These two approaches are mutually supportive. However, without a stand-alone goal on equality to deliver this clear message, the agenda risks losing the support of individuals, organizations and communities around the world.
1. A stand-alone goal on equality communicates a fundamental value underlying the Post-2015 development agenda. While we recognize that all goals under discussion are interdependent and mutually reinforcing, the decision to have a stand-alone goal on equality reflects the degree of importance that has been accorded to the problem of inequalities by the peoples of the world. Global consultations, civil society networks, Member States and the United Nations have firmly and repeatedly asserted that inequality is at the heart of many social, economic and environmental ills, including barriers to development, economic instability, mismanagement of natural resources, discrimination, lack of social unity, crime and conflict.
2. The Post-2015 agenda will be about the headlines. The visibility, potency, and support for implementation of the goals will be rooted, in part, in the manner in which they are articulated. By only mainstreaming equality throughout the goals, it will lose its visibility and recognition as an independent driver of many of the ills facing society.
3. The support of civil society highly depends on the articulation of equality as a stand-alone goal. Global Consultations consistently asserted the need for the eradication of inequality as a crucial element in any development agenda. Our trust in the legitimacy and success of the new Sustainable Development Goals will be undermined if this goal is removed.
4. Equality is an overarching value, far broader than economics. It addresses dimensions of social, educational, health, political, and many other forms of inequality. Unequal treatment of, and opportunities for, women and vulnerable groups of all kinds is an independent issue that cannot be subsumed within other goals. Equality, if combined with the goal on ‘poverty eradication,’ risks losing its multidimensionality - including challenges related to access, discrimination, voice, and many other non-fiscal concerns. Moreover, the SDGs must consider inequalities between nations.
5. A goal on equality exemplifies the universality of the goals. Equality as a global goal implies a responsibility on the part of every nation, including the richest, as it is a social ill from which no nation is immune. As a universal concept, it has the potential to encourage unified action across borders. A goal on equality can be a powerful force for global solidarity, but not if it is buried in other goals.
With a Stand-alone Goal on Equality, we can honor our commitment to leaving no one behind. We thank you for your understanding.
Signed on 19th – 24th of June 2014 by:
1
Academics Stand Against Poverty
International
2
ACPDH
Burundi
3
Action On Women Foundation
Uganda
4
Action on Youth Empowerment
Uganda
5
Africa CSO Working Group on Post-2015
African
6
African Monitor
African
7
Alliance contre la Pauvreté au Mali
Mali
8
Amnesty International
International
9
Association Congolaise pour le Développement Agricole ACDA
Congo Brazzaville
10
Association Nigérienne des Scouts de l'Environnement (ANSEN)
Niger
11
Association pour le Developpement et de la Promotion des Droits Humains
Mauritanie
12
Association Pour Le Développement Rural Intégré De Nganda-Tsundi"ADERIGAS"
Congo, DR
13
ATD Fourth World
global network
14
Awake Rural Women
Nepal
15
Baha'i International Community
Global
16
Bangladesh Disaster Preparedness Centre (BDPC)
Bangladesh
17
Beyond 2015
global network
18
Bioresources Development and Conservation Programme Cameroon
Cameroon
19
Bum Association of Health Personnel (BAHEP)
Cameroon
20
Center for Bangladesh Studies ( CBS)
Bangladesh
21
Center for Woman and Child Development
Bangladesh
22
Center for Women's Global Leadership
International
23
Centre for Human Rights and Development
Mongolia
24
Centro de Estudios para la Gobernabilidad y Democracia
Nicaragua
25
CEPA
Laos
26
Climate Emergency Institute
Canada
27
Coastal Area Intervention Network (CAIN)
Bangladesh
28
Collectif Sénégalais des Africaines pour la Promotion de l'Education Relative à l'Environnement-COSAPERE.
Senegal
29
Community and Family Foundation
Ghana
30
Community Emergency Response Initiative (CERI)
Nigeria
31
Community Environmental Resource Centre (CERC) (Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE)
India
32 Community Initiative for Social Enhancement (CISE)
South Africa
33
Comunidad Raíz Zubia A.C.
México
34
Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd
International
35
Conservation of Flora and Fauna COFF
Pakistan
36
Consortium for Land Research and Policy Dialogue (COLARP)
Nepal
37
Coordinación de ONG y Cooperativas -CONGCOOP
Guatemala
38
CRESUNA - Africa
Uganda
39
Dalit Alliance for Natural Resources (DANAR)
Nepal
40
Dalit Alliance for Natural Resources(DANAR)-Nepal
Nepal
41
Dalit Alliance for Natural Resources(DANAR)-Nepal
Nepal
42
Dharamitra (Eco-Technology Resource Centre for Sustainable Development)
India
43
Disability and Development Cooperation (bezev)
Germany
44
EcoEquity
United States
45
Environment and Population Research Centre (EPRC)
Bangladesh
46
Environmental Quality Protection Foundation (EQPF)
Taiwan
47
European Environmental Bureau
International - Europe
48
Europia
UK
49
Federation of Democratic NGO's of Nepal
Nepal
50
Feminist Task Force
global network
51
FOKUS-Forum for Women and Development
Norway
52
Forest Environment Workers Union Nepal (FEWUN)
Nepal
53
Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood
International
54
Fundación Justicia y Genero
Costa Rica
55
GEADIRR
Cameroon
56
Global Action
Ireland
57
Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP)
global network
58
Global Fund for Women
Global
59
Global Network of Civil Society Organisations for Disaster Reduction
global network
60
Global Partnership and Development
New Zealand
61
Gomal Damaan Area Water Partnership
Pakistan
62
Green Creation
UK
63
Green liberty
Latvia
64
Green Team Kenya
kenya
65
Greenspring Development Initiative
Nigeria
66
Health Development Initiative
Nigeria
67
Huairou Commission: Women, Homes and Community
Global
68
Indigenous Nationalities Women Youth Network
Nepal
69
Initiative for Equality (IfE) - Field Hearings network
global network
70
Initiatives pour le Développement Durable Et Prospective (ISDP)
Togo
71
Institute for Economic Research on Innovation
South Africa and International
72
International Association of Schools of Social Work
International
73
International Presentation Association of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
International
74
International Social Science Council
International
75
International Women's Anthropology Conference, IWAC
International
76
IntHum - Intercultural Laboratory
Italy
77
Italy Equality Group
Italy
78
IWRAW Asia Pacific
Malaysia
79
Journalists and Writers Foundation
International
80
Karama
Middle East and North Africa
81
Kenya Community Development Group
Kenya
82
Kirat Chamling Youth Society
Nepal
83
Kirat Youth Society (KYS)
Nepal
84
Medsin-UK
UK
85
MESA de Articulación de Asociaciones Nacionales y Redes Regionales de ONG de America Latina
International
86
Mukono Mulitipurpose Youth Organisation (MUMYO)
Uganda
87
Naqaa Sustainability Solutions
Saudi Arabia
88
National Council of Women, USA
USA+
89
National Forum for Advocacy, Nepal (NAFAN)
Nepal
90
NAWO - National Alliance of Women's Organisations (UK)
UK
91
New Integrated Collective Initiative for Poverty Alleviation
Cameroon
92
New Restoration Plan - Malawi
Malawi
93
NGO Committee on Human Rights
International
94
NGO committee on social development
International
95
Niger Delta Women's movement for Peace and Development
Nigeria
96
Open Streets Cape Town
South Africa
97
OSEC (Organization for Social and Economic Change)
Pakistan
98
Oxfam International
International
99
Pan African Vision for the Environment (PAVE)
Nigeria
100
Participatory Development Initiatives (PDI)
Pakistan
101
PATHIKRIT
Bangladesh
102
Peace and Life Enhancement Initiative International (PLEII)
Nigeria
103
Peace Islands Institute
United States
104
People Unity Yong Society (PUYS)
Nepal
105
Plan International
International
106
Planning and the Black Community Division of the American Planning Association
United States
107
Population Matters
UK
108
Presentation Justice Network
Ireland
109
Pro-biodiversity Conservationists in Uganda (PROBICOU)
Uganda
110
Project 90 by 2030
South Africa
111
Psychology Coalition at the UN
UN Headquarters, NY
112
Recycle 4 Africa
Malawi
113
Red de Acción por el Agua - México (Freshwater Action Network - Mexico (FANMex)
Mexico
114
Réseau des Jeunes pour l'Eau, l'assainissement et le Développement Durable au Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso
115
Réseau des Organisations Féminines d'Afrique Francophone (ROFAF)
International
116
Restless Development
International
117
Rogers Foundation for Person-Centred Education
Hungary
118
Roless Institute
Kenya
119
SAMADANA/M - Centre for Nonviolence
Sri Lanka
120
SANAYEE DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION SDO
AFGHANISTAN
121
Save the Earth Cambodia
Cambodia
122
Seeds for a Future
Guatemala
123
SERVITAS Cameroon
Cameroon
124
SHELTER
Bangladesh
125
Sindhica Reforms Society
Pakistan
126
Singing Across Borders/CA:s Sångskola
International
127
Sisters of Mercy, Mercy International Association at the UN
International
128
Society For Agriculture and Sustainable Development SASDev
Cameroon
129
SOS Children's Villages
International
130
Stichting Bakens Verzet (NGO Another Way)
Netherlands
131
Stichting Ultimate Purpose-Suriname
Suriname
132
Sub-Committee for the Elimination of Racism and other forms of Intolerance of the NGO Committee on Human Rights
UN Headquarters, NY
133
Sufuri Group
Kenya
134
Sustainability Institute
South Africa
135
Sustainable agriculture and environment
International
136
Sustainable Innovation initiatives
USA+ Trinidad and Tobago
137
Sustainable Rural Community Development
Malawi
138
Systems Innovations and Communication for Progress and Philanthropy (SICP)
India
139
Terra-1530
Moldova
140
The Future We Need
Ireland
141
The Second Chance Foundation
United States
142
Trades Union Congress (TUC) Ghana
Ghana
143
Transformation and Development Centre
Nigeria
144
Uganda Coalition for Sustainable Development
Uganda
145
Union de l'action feministe UAF
Morocco
146
Unitarian Universalist UN Office
United States
147
United Methodist Women, Global Justice office
USA+
148
Unity Society Nepal
Nepal
149
Utthan
India
150
VIMA'S WASH Enterprise
Ghana
151 Vision Africa Regional Network
Zambia
152
VIVAT International
International
153
WASH United
International
154
Women Acting Together for Change (WATCH)
Nepal
155
Women Environmental Programme
Nigeria
156
Women Peacemakers Program
Netherlands
157
Women's Awareness Support Group
Nepal
158
Women's UN Report Network
Global
159
WOPA Green Project
Kenya
160
YouLead-Collective (YLC)
South Africa
161
Youth NGO-Federation Nepal (YNF)
Nepal