Group of 15
GROUP OF FIFTEEN
The Summit Level Group of Developing Countries
Distribution: General
Mr. President,
G-15 Joint Statement
To the ECOSOC High-level Segment
17 -20 July 2017, New York
"Eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions through
promoting sustainable development, expanding
opportunities and addressing related challenges"
Delivered by Hon. Gamini Jayawickrama Perera,
Minister of Sustainable Development and Wildlife, Sri Lanka
1. I make this statement on behalf of the Group of Fifteen (G-15), a Group of Developing
Countries representing Asia, Africa and Latin America. Our Group is focused on SouthSouth
cooperation and capacity building for the mutual benefit of our members,
especially in achieving our collective socio-economic goals while fostering the
environment.
2. The G-15 welcomes this year's focus on eradicating extreme poverty and our Group
welcomes the report of the Secretary General that focuses on the challenges of eradicating
poverty in all its forms. We note that the prevalence of extreme poverty has continuously
reduced in recent decades, especially due to the economic progress made by developing
nations. Between 2000 and 2015, over 1 billion people have been lifted out of extreme
poverty which represents one of the fastest rates of worldwide poverty reduction m
human history.
3. Our Group welcomes the call for the eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions,
including extreme poverty. We note that this objective can be achieved by the year 2030
with the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which,
together with the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on
Financing for Development, the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change, and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction
2015-2030, provide a comprehensive global framework for eradicating poverty and
advancing sustainable development.
4. The Foreign Ministers of the G-15, the apex decision making body of our Group have
identified the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as a plan of action for the
'people, planet and prosperity' built on the three pillars of social, economic and
1
environment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We note that poverty
eradication is a primary, overarching goal of the 2030 Agenda. The first Sustainable
Development Goal is to "End poverty in all its forms. Our countries have identified the
2030 Agenda as a key global process for the G-15 to be involved and contribute to its
implementation as a niche Group of the Global South.
5. The Group further affirms that eradication of poverty must remain at the centre of our
endeavours. While acknowledging that the primary responsibility of implementation of
the ambitious 2030 Agenda lies with the respective governments, it is a fact that most
developing and least developed countries will face a greater challenge in
operationalizing the agreed commitments, given the national resource constraints. In this
context, the global partnerships should be intensified from the MDG era, and our Group
hopes that the commitments made in the new Development Agenda in mobilizing
financial resources and capacity building to developing countries and the reaffirmed
commitments by developed countries to achieve Official Development Assistance
targets (ODAs) would be operationalized sustainably, in order for developing countries
to keep on par with the required progress.
6. The G-15 further recognises the significant role that the ECOSOC has to play in the
implementation phase of the Development Agenda. Our Group welcomes the role played
by the High L~vel Political -Forum that shall carry out regular voluntary reviews of the
2030 Agenda which will include developed and developing countries as well as relevant
UN entities and other stakeholders. The HLPF which is themed this year 'Eradicating
poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world' will provide an opportunity to lay
a solid foundation on the necessary mechanisms to assess the progress of the
implementation phase of the Agenda. The G-15 reiterates that such a follow-up and
review mechanism should reaffirm national sovereignty.
7. The G-15 calls for meaningful technology transfers and opportunities for capacity
building in order to achieve the stated goals under the Development Agenda, particularly
with regard to technologies that would result in higher rates of economic growth. As
witnessed in recent decades rapid economic growth and greater opportunities for socioeconomic
mobility provides the best chance for uplifting the poorer segments of society.
In this regard we call on in particular for knowledge and technology transfer in renewable
energy that would also address the growing concerns of climate change while at the same
time providing greater possibilities for faster economic growth in developing countries.
The Group therefore strongly supports a technology facilitation mechanism that promotes
the development, transfer and dissemination of clean and environmentally sound
technologies.
Thank you.
*****
2
The Summit Level Group of Developing Countries
Distribution: General
Mr. President,
G-15 Joint Statement
To the ECOSOC High-level Segment
17 -20 July 2017, New York
"Eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions through
promoting sustainable development, expanding
opportunities and addressing related challenges"
Delivered by Hon. Gamini Jayawickrama Perera,
Minister of Sustainable Development and Wildlife, Sri Lanka
1. I make this statement on behalf of the Group of Fifteen (G-15), a Group of Developing
Countries representing Asia, Africa and Latin America. Our Group is focused on SouthSouth
cooperation and capacity building for the mutual benefit of our members,
especially in achieving our collective socio-economic goals while fostering the
environment.
2. The G-15 welcomes this year's focus on eradicating extreme poverty and our Group
welcomes the report of the Secretary General that focuses on the challenges of eradicating
poverty in all its forms. We note that the prevalence of extreme poverty has continuously
reduced in recent decades, especially due to the economic progress made by developing
nations. Between 2000 and 2015, over 1 billion people have been lifted out of extreme
poverty which represents one of the fastest rates of worldwide poverty reduction m
human history.
3. Our Group welcomes the call for the eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions,
including extreme poverty. We note that this objective can be achieved by the year 2030
with the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which,
together with the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on
Financing for Development, the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change, and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction
2015-2030, provide a comprehensive global framework for eradicating poverty and
advancing sustainable development.
4. The Foreign Ministers of the G-15, the apex decision making body of our Group have
identified the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as a plan of action for the
'people, planet and prosperity' built on the three pillars of social, economic and
1
environment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We note that poverty
eradication is a primary, overarching goal of the 2030 Agenda. The first Sustainable
Development Goal is to "End poverty in all its forms. Our countries have identified the
2030 Agenda as a key global process for the G-15 to be involved and contribute to its
implementation as a niche Group of the Global South.
5. The Group further affirms that eradication of poverty must remain at the centre of our
endeavours. While acknowledging that the primary responsibility of implementation of
the ambitious 2030 Agenda lies with the respective governments, it is a fact that most
developing and least developed countries will face a greater challenge in
operationalizing the agreed commitments, given the national resource constraints. In this
context, the global partnerships should be intensified from the MDG era, and our Group
hopes that the commitments made in the new Development Agenda in mobilizing
financial resources and capacity building to developing countries and the reaffirmed
commitments by developed countries to achieve Official Development Assistance
targets (ODAs) would be operationalized sustainably, in order for developing countries
to keep on par with the required progress.
6. The G-15 further recognises the significant role that the ECOSOC has to play in the
implementation phase of the Development Agenda. Our Group welcomes the role played
by the High L~vel Political -Forum that shall carry out regular voluntary reviews of the
2030 Agenda which will include developed and developing countries as well as relevant
UN entities and other stakeholders. The HLPF which is themed this year 'Eradicating
poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world' will provide an opportunity to lay
a solid foundation on the necessary mechanisms to assess the progress of the
implementation phase of the Agenda. The G-15 reiterates that such a follow-up and
review mechanism should reaffirm national sovereignty.
7. The G-15 calls for meaningful technology transfers and opportunities for capacity
building in order to achieve the stated goals under the Development Agenda, particularly
with regard to technologies that would result in higher rates of economic growth. As
witnessed in recent decades rapid economic growth and greater opportunities for socioeconomic
mobility provides the best chance for uplifting the poorer segments of society.
In this regard we call on in particular for knowledge and technology transfer in renewable
energy that would also address the growing concerns of climate change while at the same
time providing greater possibilities for faster economic growth in developing countries.
The Group therefore strongly supports a technology facilitation mechanism that promotes
the development, transfer and dissemination of clean and environmentally sound
technologies.
Thank you.
*****
2
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