19 MAY 2015, NEW YORK
POST-2015 IGN SESSION ON FOLLOW UP AND REVIEW
STATEMENT BY FINLAND
DELIVERED BY AMBASSADOR RIITTA RESCH
Thank you, Co-facilitators.
Finland aligns herself with the EU statements made yesterday and today but would like to make some national comments on this important issue. I would like to thank you for your discussion paper which helps us in orienting our discussions.
Implementation is the most important part of the Post-2015 sustainable development agenda and it is important to monitor and review the progress as well as enhance the accountability related to its implementation. That is why we need a robust system of monitoring, accountability and review as an integral part of the agenda. The implementation is most important at the national level, and so is monitoring, accountability and review. However, the regional and global levels are equally important. They will be multi-layered systems involving effective multistakeholder participation at all levels and enhancing coherence and complementarity between the levels and to tell us if we are on track or off track in the implementation of our ambitious agenda.
We have implemented multistakeholder participation in Finland since the Rio Conference, including in the National Commission on Sustainable Development and Society's Commitment on Sustainable Development. We are also promoting and supporting effective multistakeholder participation in the HLPF.
Co-facilitators,
The HLPF, as an existing forum, will have a key role in the monitoring, accountability and review at the global level. It is important that the HLPF will discuss its ways to implement its functions in its next session in June – July this year and relevant elements will then be included in the Post-2015 agenda taking also into account other existing mechanisms that can contribute to the follow-up and review.
We hope that some flexibility will be maintained in the functions of the HLPF, so that it can be adapted to the future needs of monitoring, accountability and review, when we gain more experience of what will be needed. It is, however, important that the HLPF very quickly, already in its 2016 session, claims its place in the follow-up system, e.g. in the first phase allowing member states to describe how they are integrating the SDGs into their national policies and then at a later phase involving reporting on the implementation of all SDGs, including the means of implementation.
Thematic reviews are also welcomed, since it is important to focus on and reflect the three dimensions of sustainable development and other cross-cutting issues of the Post-2015 agenda.
Co-facilitators,
Once more I would like to reiterate our view on one single comprehensive monitoring, accountability and review framework covering all aspects of SDGs and targets, as well as the means of implementation, which pillar would be agreed in the Addis Conference.
I thank you.
