Denmark, Ireland and Norway
OWG 11- Remarks by Denmark, Ireland and Norway on Focus area 15:
Means of implementation/Global partnership for sustainable development
To achieve the SDGs, we will need a comprehensive global partnership and a broad range of appropriate and adequate Means of Implementation (MoI). Many of these are mentioned in the current text under FA 15.
• But first: When we discuss our approach to MoI in this OWG, we need to keep in mind the work of the Intergovernmental Expert Committee on Sustainable Development Financing and the upcoming conference on Financing for Development, aiming at facilitating a successful outcome. We should neither duplicate nor prejudge their outcome.
• Secondly, several delegations have proposed that this OWG attempt to design specific MOI for each Goal. We appreciate that different goals and targets will require different partnerships and strategies and involve different actors. We are not however convinced of the feasibility of this group designing such MoIs for each goal and target. Let me explain why through an example: Among the most effective follow-up mechanisms for the MDGs are those that involve partnerships between governments and other stakeholders. The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) has played a key role in improving access to essential vaccines and scaling up immunization, and we hope to see more partnerships like this in order to implement the SDGs. But GAVI could never have been designed based on a decision in a UN forum. A broader set of stakeholders has to be involved in such discussions.
Achieving the SDGs will require a comprehensive global partnership, consisting of a mix of partnerships, stakeholders and means. We need to engage civil society, media, the private sector, international financial institutions, philantropy, the research community and other potential stakeholders in the implementation of the SDGs.
Let us briefly highlight some key elements in this regard, many of them included as action areas under the current FA 15:
Finance will have to be mobilized from a broad range of sources. These can broadly be divided in four – private and public, domestic and international.
• A recommitment by developed countries to meet ODA targets is essential.
• Application of principles for effective development cooperation.
• It is equally important to think beyond ODA. Domestic resource mobilization is the most predictable source over which countries have full national control. A solid tax base and a capable and accountable tax systems are hence essential.
• We need to address illicit financial flows, tax evasion and corruption which result in the loss of vast resources.
• An open, rules-based multilateral trade system benefits all countries and should be promoted.
• Effective and targeted capacity building should support the national implementation of the SDGs. UN funds and programmes will have an important role to this end.
• The diffusion of technological solutions in developing countries is also essential. The business sector will be essential in this regard.
Focus area 16 – with present wording: “Peaceful and inclusive societies, rule of law and capable institutions” (statement by Norway, Denmark, Ireland)
• As stated at previous meetings, we believe that the issues covered by this focus area merit two separate and ambitious goals.
• While there are strong linkages between these two areas, we believe that the present text proposed by the co-chairs clearly acknowledges the underlying logic of two goals. On this basis:
• We suggest one goal on building peaceful and inclusive societies, and
• another goal on good governance, the rule of law, and capable institutions
Peaceful and inclusive societies
• With regard to the first goal we support the wording proposed - “Creating peaceful and inclusive societies”. ‘Inclusivity” is very important for political processes and peace-building efforts.
• We find that the present text captures many of the important issues relevant for promoting peace and inclusion and is a good basis to build on. We would like to make a few comments regarding the targets:
• The present target a) includes many different elements and would benefit from being separated in 3 separate targets.
• First, we propose a target on reducing the number of violent deaths and the number of people affected by all forms of violence.
• Second, we propose a target addressing gender based violence, abuse and exploitation and violence against girls and boys.
• And third, a target on reducing illicit arms trade and trafficking; human trafficking and organized crime.
• We welcome target b) on eliminating discrimination.
• With regard to target c) we believe this target should focus on the building of constructive state-society relationships, of which inclusive participatory decision-making is a key part.
• Finally, we would like to suggest three targets of specific relevance to the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies:
• Reduce the number of internally displaced persons and refugees, including by ensuring durable solutions.
• Enhance the capacity, professionalism and accountability of the security sector, police and judiciary.
• Ensure a gender perspective through women’s full and effective participation and leadership in conflict prevention, resolution and mediation efforts, peace processes and peace-building and post- conflict reconstruction at all levels.
Ensure Good Governance, the Rule of Law and capable institutions.
Let me now turn to the goal on good governance, Rule of Law and capable institutions.
• First, we prefer to revert to the initial heading “Good governance, rule of law and capable institutions”. While capable institutions are critical to ensure good governance, capable institutions do not necessarily translate into good governance, therefore, we would argue for including both ‘capable institutions’ and ‘good governance’.
• Second, the present text captures many of the important issues relevant for ensuring good governance, the Rule of Law and capable institutions and we would like to make the following suggestions to further clarify and strengthen the goal:
• We strongly support target a) which is an integral element of this goal.
• We also support target b) but as we stated during the last OWG session, we believe it would be strengthened through the inclusion of a reference to ‘access to legal aid’.
• Regarding target c), we strongly advocate for providing free and universal legal identity.
• We believe target d) could be greatly strengthened by guaranteeing access to information and not limiting it to certain categories of information.
• We strongly support target e) on eliminating corruption and curbing illicit financial flows, and propose to include reference to addressing their international drivers.
• Regarding target f), we support a target on protecting civil society space and ensuring the enjoyment of freedom of speech, association, peaceful assembly, and an independent media. We believe that the reference to ‘unnecessary restrictions’ must be removed.
• Finally, a target on inclusive, participatory decision-making at all levels, including for women and vulnerable groups was included in this cluster under the previous draft Working Document and is now in the cluster on Peaceful and Inclusive Societies. We propose that it is also included in a Goal on Good Governance, Rule of Law and Capable Institutions.
• Lastly, our troika feels that in addition to a specific governance goal, governance should also be mainstreamed throughout the document. In this regard, I draw your attention to the additional governance related targets we have proposed for other Focus Areas including, on women’s participation in all fields in Focus Area 5, on economic governance, rule of law and on accountable business under Focus Area 8, and on local governance in Focus Area 10.
Means of implementation/Global partnership for sustainable development
To achieve the SDGs, we will need a comprehensive global partnership and a broad range of appropriate and adequate Means of Implementation (MoI). Many of these are mentioned in the current text under FA 15.
• But first: When we discuss our approach to MoI in this OWG, we need to keep in mind the work of the Intergovernmental Expert Committee on Sustainable Development Financing and the upcoming conference on Financing for Development, aiming at facilitating a successful outcome. We should neither duplicate nor prejudge their outcome.
• Secondly, several delegations have proposed that this OWG attempt to design specific MOI for each Goal. We appreciate that different goals and targets will require different partnerships and strategies and involve different actors. We are not however convinced of the feasibility of this group designing such MoIs for each goal and target. Let me explain why through an example: Among the most effective follow-up mechanisms for the MDGs are those that involve partnerships between governments and other stakeholders. The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) has played a key role in improving access to essential vaccines and scaling up immunization, and we hope to see more partnerships like this in order to implement the SDGs. But GAVI could never have been designed based on a decision in a UN forum. A broader set of stakeholders has to be involved in such discussions.
Achieving the SDGs will require a comprehensive global partnership, consisting of a mix of partnerships, stakeholders and means. We need to engage civil society, media, the private sector, international financial institutions, philantropy, the research community and other potential stakeholders in the implementation of the SDGs.
Let us briefly highlight some key elements in this regard, many of them included as action areas under the current FA 15:
Finance will have to be mobilized from a broad range of sources. These can broadly be divided in four – private and public, domestic and international.
• A recommitment by developed countries to meet ODA targets is essential.
• Application of principles for effective development cooperation.
• It is equally important to think beyond ODA. Domestic resource mobilization is the most predictable source over which countries have full national control. A solid tax base and a capable and accountable tax systems are hence essential.
• We need to address illicit financial flows, tax evasion and corruption which result in the loss of vast resources.
• An open, rules-based multilateral trade system benefits all countries and should be promoted.
• Effective and targeted capacity building should support the national implementation of the SDGs. UN funds and programmes will have an important role to this end.
• The diffusion of technological solutions in developing countries is also essential. The business sector will be essential in this regard.
Focus area 16 – with present wording: “Peaceful and inclusive societies, rule of law and capable institutions” (statement by Norway, Denmark, Ireland)
• As stated at previous meetings, we believe that the issues covered by this focus area merit two separate and ambitious goals.
• While there are strong linkages between these two areas, we believe that the present text proposed by the co-chairs clearly acknowledges the underlying logic of two goals. On this basis:
• We suggest one goal on building peaceful and inclusive societies, and
• another goal on good governance, the rule of law, and capable institutions
Peaceful and inclusive societies
• With regard to the first goal we support the wording proposed - “Creating peaceful and inclusive societies”. ‘Inclusivity” is very important for political processes and peace-building efforts.
• We find that the present text captures many of the important issues relevant for promoting peace and inclusion and is a good basis to build on. We would like to make a few comments regarding the targets:
• The present target a) includes many different elements and would benefit from being separated in 3 separate targets.
• First, we propose a target on reducing the number of violent deaths and the number of people affected by all forms of violence.
• Second, we propose a target addressing gender based violence, abuse and exploitation and violence against girls and boys.
• And third, a target on reducing illicit arms trade and trafficking; human trafficking and organized crime.
• We welcome target b) on eliminating discrimination.
• With regard to target c) we believe this target should focus on the building of constructive state-society relationships, of which inclusive participatory decision-making is a key part.
• Finally, we would like to suggest three targets of specific relevance to the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies:
• Reduce the number of internally displaced persons and refugees, including by ensuring durable solutions.
• Enhance the capacity, professionalism and accountability of the security sector, police and judiciary.
• Ensure a gender perspective through women’s full and effective participation and leadership in conflict prevention, resolution and mediation efforts, peace processes and peace-building and post- conflict reconstruction at all levels.
Ensure Good Governance, the Rule of Law and capable institutions.
Let me now turn to the goal on good governance, Rule of Law and capable institutions.
• First, we prefer to revert to the initial heading “Good governance, rule of law and capable institutions”. While capable institutions are critical to ensure good governance, capable institutions do not necessarily translate into good governance, therefore, we would argue for including both ‘capable institutions’ and ‘good governance’.
• Second, the present text captures many of the important issues relevant for ensuring good governance, the Rule of Law and capable institutions and we would like to make the following suggestions to further clarify and strengthen the goal:
• We strongly support target a) which is an integral element of this goal.
• We also support target b) but as we stated during the last OWG session, we believe it would be strengthened through the inclusion of a reference to ‘access to legal aid’.
• Regarding target c), we strongly advocate for providing free and universal legal identity.
• We believe target d) could be greatly strengthened by guaranteeing access to information and not limiting it to certain categories of information.
• We strongly support target e) on eliminating corruption and curbing illicit financial flows, and propose to include reference to addressing their international drivers.
• Regarding target f), we support a target on protecting civil society space and ensuring the enjoyment of freedom of speech, association, peaceful assembly, and an independent media. We believe that the reference to ‘unnecessary restrictions’ must be removed.
• Finally, a target on inclusive, participatory decision-making at all levels, including for women and vulnerable groups was included in this cluster under the previous draft Working Document and is now in the cluster on Peaceful and Inclusive Societies. We propose that it is also included in a Goal on Good Governance, Rule of Law and Capable Institutions.
• Lastly, our troika feels that in addition to a specific governance goal, governance should also be mainstreamed throughout the document. In this regard, I draw your attention to the additional governance related targets we have proposed for other Focus Areas including, on women’s participation in all fields in Focus Area 5, on economic governance, rule of law and on accountable business under Focus Area 8, and on local governance in Focus Area 10.