Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC)
Statement of the Permanent Mission of Ecuador to the United Nations on behalf of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States
DRAFT
2nd Session of the Post-2015 Development AgendaIntergovernmental Negotiations: Declaration
New York, 17 February 2015
Check against delivery
Mr. Co-Chair,
I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) on the occasion of this debate at the Second Session of the Post-2015 Development Agenda Intergovernmental Negotiations. As this is the first time that I take the floor, please allow me to congratulate you and your Co-Chair for your designation. We are sure that under your leadership we will complete our work successfully.
Mr. Co-Chair,
The Declaration of the Post-2015 Development Agendamust inspire us to build opportunities for all people, throughtransformative and universal development objectives and targets, while respecting the different national realities, capacities, and levels of development.
The Declaration must communicate a political message from global leaders to the people. Therefore, it should be strong, inspirational, and short. It should reaffirm our commitment to reach the full exercise of the MDGs, especially with regard to poverty reduction of inequalities and challenges of persons living in vulnerable situations.
We consider that the construction of the draft Declaration should encompass the concepts, values, and objectives of commonly agreed, and avoid repetition or re-negotiation of those elements.
Beyond recognition of poverty from an income perspective, the Declaration must also recognize the multidimensional nature of poverty,and reaffirm that poverty eradication and the reduction of inequality, within and among countries, are crucial regional and global challenges an indispensable requirements to achieve sustainable development. In that regard, CELAC considers that poverty eradication is not only an economic equation or technical issue, also enclose political decisions.
The Declaration should recognize the need to draw attention to the United Nations, international financial institutions, the scientific community and public institutions,and to broaden and strengthen the participation of developing countries in institutions of global governance and in international financial institutions.Poverty eradication will only be achieved with real commitments, taking into account its causes and historical responsibilities. Poverty eradication will not be achieved if we do not tackle inequality at the national and international levels. Therefore, reducing inequality should be a priority in the Post-2015 development agenda and should be clearly reflected in the declaration.
As we take ambitious commitments to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality by expanding the middle class, at the national and global levels, we also need to take ambitious measures to protect the planet. Expanding the middle class globally without transforming the energy matrix and the technologies associated with it will threaten all life on earth, including human life. Thus, the declaration needs to reinvigorate the political will and commitment to achieve sustainable development for the sake of present and future generations.
Mr. Co-Chair,
We consider that the declaration should draw from the agreed outcomes of previous Summits and processes, such as the World Summit for Social Development, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action,the Millennium Declaration,the 2005 World Summit outcome, the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, Monterrey Consensus and the Doha Declaration on financing for development, the Future We Want, and endorse the Report of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals. CELAC countries hold the common position that the report of the OWG on SDGGs should not be reopened or renegotiated.
CELAC believes that the Declaration should recognize the need to change unsustainable patterns of consumption and production with developed countries taking the lead, and all principles of the Rio Declaration, especially Principle 7, related to common but differentiated responsibilities.
Mr. Co-Chair,
The universality of the agenda does not entail uniformity in implementation; in that regard, the Declaration should set the tone for the delivery of an agenda that is universally applicable. In the same context, the Declaration needs to promote harmony with nature and note that some countries recognize the rights of nature and “Mother Earth” as our home.
The Declaration should stress the importance to address the needs, the multiple or aggravated discriminations and to advance in meeting the sustainable development challenges of all persons in vulnerable situations, particularly those not mentioned or poorly highlighted in the OWG outcome, such as indigenous peoples, migrants and afro-descendants, persons with disabilities and older persons.The Declaration should emphasize the implication on attending their necessities and promoting the compliance of their challenges from the perspective of social and economic inclusion. It should support the link between migration and development through the support to the High Level Dialogues on International Migration and Development, and their periodicity.
It should also reaffirm the importance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as other international instruments relating to human rights and international law and emphasize the responsibilities of all States, in conformity with the Charter of the United nations, to respect, protect and promote human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction of any kind to race, colour, gender, language or religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, poverty, birth, disability or other status.
Moreover, the Declaration should recognize that priority should be given to gender equality and women's empowerment as a prerequisite for the advancement of the development agenda. The Post-2015 Development Agenda must build on the lessons learnt, by directly tackling both the unequal power relations between men and women and the gender stereotypes that impede sustainable development and discriminate against women and girls. The Agenda and its Declaration should integrate a gender perspective in order to address the broader context for the realization of gender equality and empowerment of women. The Declaration must also reflect the decision to strength public institution’s capacity building, a more participatory and effective governance, and greater accountability to deliver evident change for women and girls.
The Declaration should acknowledge the natural and cultural diversity of the world, emphasize its important contribution to the three dimensions of sustainable development, and recognize the role of culture as an enabler and its potential as a driver of sustainable development.
Mr. Co-Chair,
The Post-2015 Agenda should be an aspirational global agenda; so that, the United Nations should support the process of participation of each country and region. Taking into account the capabilities and levels of development, while respecting their national policies and priorities.
Likewise, CELAC countries would like to express that the Declaration should emphasize the importance to continue supporting developing countries trough the strengthening and promotionof North-South, South - South and triangular Cooperation. South South cooperation and its principles have to be differentiated, from other formsof cooperation and as a manifestation of solidarity among peoples and countries, a complement to North - South Cooperation, as well we have to work to put in to the table the discussion like the concept of “fiscal transfers”, since is a mechanism that will contribute to reduce global inequalities and therefore to consolidate the sustainable development.
The Declaration should strengthen the commitments made to developing countries, particularly the Monterrey Consensus commitments and recognizes that each country faces specific challenges to achieve sustainable development, in particular, Least Developed Countries, Landlocked DevelopingansCountries and Small IslandDeveloping States.
From our regional perspective, and being Latin America and the Caribbean mainly a middle-income region, the Declaration has to stress the need to advance in our fight against inequality and structural gaps and in that regard, reiterate the desire to continue promoting the establishment of Comprehensive Action Plan of cooperation with middle-income countries within the framework of the United Nations and to link its objectives with the agreements to be reached in the Post-2015 Development Agenda.
United Nations and the International Community should support the implementation of the Post-2015 Development Agenda through technology transfer, capacity building, and other relevant means of implementation.
Finally, CELAC believes the Declaration should incorporate the outcomes of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development that will take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and the outcomes of the Third International Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction to be held in Sendai, Japan, and needs to be consistent with the on-going process in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change among other current processes.
Mr. Co-Chair,
CELAC Member States stand ready to contribute to the discussions on this process.
I thank you Mr. Co-Chair.
DRAFT
2nd Session of the Post-2015 Development AgendaIntergovernmental Negotiations: Declaration
New York, 17 February 2015
Check against delivery
Mr. Co-Chair,
I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) on the occasion of this debate at the Second Session of the Post-2015 Development Agenda Intergovernmental Negotiations. As this is the first time that I take the floor, please allow me to congratulate you and your Co-Chair for your designation. We are sure that under your leadership we will complete our work successfully.
Mr. Co-Chair,
The Declaration of the Post-2015 Development Agendamust inspire us to build opportunities for all people, throughtransformative and universal development objectives and targets, while respecting the different national realities, capacities, and levels of development.
The Declaration must communicate a political message from global leaders to the people. Therefore, it should be strong, inspirational, and short. It should reaffirm our commitment to reach the full exercise of the MDGs, especially with regard to poverty reduction of inequalities and challenges of persons living in vulnerable situations.
We consider that the construction of the draft Declaration should encompass the concepts, values, and objectives of commonly agreed, and avoid repetition or re-negotiation of those elements.
Beyond recognition of poverty from an income perspective, the Declaration must also recognize the multidimensional nature of poverty,and reaffirm that poverty eradication and the reduction of inequality, within and among countries, are crucial regional and global challenges an indispensable requirements to achieve sustainable development. In that regard, CELAC considers that poverty eradication is not only an economic equation or technical issue, also enclose political decisions.
The Declaration should recognize the need to draw attention to the United Nations, international financial institutions, the scientific community and public institutions,and to broaden and strengthen the participation of developing countries in institutions of global governance and in international financial institutions.Poverty eradication will only be achieved with real commitments, taking into account its causes and historical responsibilities. Poverty eradication will not be achieved if we do not tackle inequality at the national and international levels. Therefore, reducing inequality should be a priority in the Post-2015 development agenda and should be clearly reflected in the declaration.
As we take ambitious commitments to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality by expanding the middle class, at the national and global levels, we also need to take ambitious measures to protect the planet. Expanding the middle class globally without transforming the energy matrix and the technologies associated with it will threaten all life on earth, including human life. Thus, the declaration needs to reinvigorate the political will and commitment to achieve sustainable development for the sake of present and future generations.
Mr. Co-Chair,
We consider that the declaration should draw from the agreed outcomes of previous Summits and processes, such as the World Summit for Social Development, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action,the Millennium Declaration,the 2005 World Summit outcome, the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, Monterrey Consensus and the Doha Declaration on financing for development, the Future We Want, and endorse the Report of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals. CELAC countries hold the common position that the report of the OWG on SDGGs should not be reopened or renegotiated.
CELAC believes that the Declaration should recognize the need to change unsustainable patterns of consumption and production with developed countries taking the lead, and all principles of the Rio Declaration, especially Principle 7, related to common but differentiated responsibilities.
Mr. Co-Chair,
The universality of the agenda does not entail uniformity in implementation; in that regard, the Declaration should set the tone for the delivery of an agenda that is universally applicable. In the same context, the Declaration needs to promote harmony with nature and note that some countries recognize the rights of nature and “Mother Earth” as our home.
The Declaration should stress the importance to address the needs, the multiple or aggravated discriminations and to advance in meeting the sustainable development challenges of all persons in vulnerable situations, particularly those not mentioned or poorly highlighted in the OWG outcome, such as indigenous peoples, migrants and afro-descendants, persons with disabilities and older persons.The Declaration should emphasize the implication on attending their necessities and promoting the compliance of their challenges from the perspective of social and economic inclusion. It should support the link between migration and development through the support to the High Level Dialogues on International Migration and Development, and their periodicity.
It should also reaffirm the importance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as other international instruments relating to human rights and international law and emphasize the responsibilities of all States, in conformity with the Charter of the United nations, to respect, protect and promote human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction of any kind to race, colour, gender, language or religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, poverty, birth, disability or other status.
Moreover, the Declaration should recognize that priority should be given to gender equality and women's empowerment as a prerequisite for the advancement of the development agenda. The Post-2015 Development Agenda must build on the lessons learnt, by directly tackling both the unequal power relations between men and women and the gender stereotypes that impede sustainable development and discriminate against women and girls. The Agenda and its Declaration should integrate a gender perspective in order to address the broader context for the realization of gender equality and empowerment of women. The Declaration must also reflect the decision to strength public institution’s capacity building, a more participatory and effective governance, and greater accountability to deliver evident change for women and girls.
The Declaration should acknowledge the natural and cultural diversity of the world, emphasize its important contribution to the three dimensions of sustainable development, and recognize the role of culture as an enabler and its potential as a driver of sustainable development.
Mr. Co-Chair,
The Post-2015 Agenda should be an aspirational global agenda; so that, the United Nations should support the process of participation of each country and region. Taking into account the capabilities and levels of development, while respecting their national policies and priorities.
Likewise, CELAC countries would like to express that the Declaration should emphasize the importance to continue supporting developing countries trough the strengthening and promotionof North-South, South - South and triangular Cooperation. South South cooperation and its principles have to be differentiated, from other formsof cooperation and as a manifestation of solidarity among peoples and countries, a complement to North - South Cooperation, as well we have to work to put in to the table the discussion like the concept of “fiscal transfers”, since is a mechanism that will contribute to reduce global inequalities and therefore to consolidate the sustainable development.
The Declaration should strengthen the commitments made to developing countries, particularly the Monterrey Consensus commitments and recognizes that each country faces specific challenges to achieve sustainable development, in particular, Least Developed Countries, Landlocked DevelopingansCountries and Small IslandDeveloping States.
From our regional perspective, and being Latin America and the Caribbean mainly a middle-income region, the Declaration has to stress the need to advance in our fight against inequality and structural gaps and in that regard, reiterate the desire to continue promoting the establishment of Comprehensive Action Plan of cooperation with middle-income countries within the framework of the United Nations and to link its objectives with the agreements to be reached in the Post-2015 Development Agenda.
United Nations and the International Community should support the implementation of the Post-2015 Development Agenda through technology transfer, capacity building, and other relevant means of implementation.
Finally, CELAC believes the Declaration should incorporate the outcomes of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development that will take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and the outcomes of the Third International Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction to be held in Sendai, Japan, and needs to be consistent with the on-going process in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change among other current processes.
Mr. Co-Chair,
CELAC Member States stand ready to contribute to the discussions on this process.
I thank you Mr. Co-Chair.