Iceland
Co-facilitators, I´ll make it short, on the preamble and declaration.
The Icelandic delegation would like to thank you for the new draft, which we feel has incorporated many of the good ideas that were put forward last week.
Reconizing that you are trying, and need to, reach a balance, we still have a few specific proposals for revision (these should altogether reduce the text!). Before I address these revisions, I would like to point out that a correction will have to be made in the last line of paragraph 19 as International law is clearly not subject to national circumstances, capacities and priorities. Hence this phrase will need to be deleted or moved.
Regarding gender equality and women‘s empowerment, we appreciate the amendments of the text. However, we have a few specific proposals in this subject area:
Firstly, the second paragraph of the preamble would benefit from more action oriented language, and our emphasis would be to reflect the important role that gender equality and women‘s empowerment will play in achieving our agenda as well as the strong commitment of our leaders to this issue.
We further commit to realizinge the human rights of all and to achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, as this is essential to the success of our Agenda.
Secondly, in paragraph 9, we propose to separate women and children into two sentences. As the UK, we see women and children as two important, but incomparable groups.
9. […]A world which cherishes its children and where every child grows up free from violence and exploitation. A world in which every woman and girl enjoys in which full gender equality is realized for the benefit of all and all legal, social and economic barriers to their empowerment of women and girls have been removed. A world in which every child grows up free from violence and exploitation. A just, equitable, tolerant, open and socially inclusive world in which the needs of the most vulnerable are met.
Thirdly, in paragraph 21, we propose to change „children“ in the second to last line to „girls“.
Fourthly, we are very concerned about how family issues are reflected in the text. We therefore propose reverting to the original language of the last part of paragraph 26 and to delete paragraph 44 or alternatively change the language to include the various and diverse forms of families, as well as a reference to rights of individuals within families.
We have already, as well as many others, proposed language on sexual and reproductive health and rights into para 21 and we reiterate that proposal. In particular, reproductive rights are important to us.
(Women and girls must enjoy equal rights and access to education, health, including sexual and reproductive health and rights, economic resources and political participation and leadership.)
Co-facilitator, in para 47 we propose to shorten a bit at the end, by simply deleting the phrase “and others, in accordance with national laws and regulations and in conformity with international obligations.”
Lastly, we reiterate our proposal to include neurological disorders along with other disorders in the text on non-communicable deceases in paragraph 27. Thank you.
The Icelandic delegation would like to thank you for the new draft, which we feel has incorporated many of the good ideas that were put forward last week.
Reconizing that you are trying, and need to, reach a balance, we still have a few specific proposals for revision (these should altogether reduce the text!). Before I address these revisions, I would like to point out that a correction will have to be made in the last line of paragraph 19 as International law is clearly not subject to national circumstances, capacities and priorities. Hence this phrase will need to be deleted or moved.
Regarding gender equality and women‘s empowerment, we appreciate the amendments of the text. However, we have a few specific proposals in this subject area:
Firstly, the second paragraph of the preamble would benefit from more action oriented language, and our emphasis would be to reflect the important role that gender equality and women‘s empowerment will play in achieving our agenda as well as the strong commitment of our leaders to this issue.
We further commit to realizinge the human rights of all and to achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, as this is essential to the success of our Agenda.
Secondly, in paragraph 9, we propose to separate women and children into two sentences. As the UK, we see women and children as two important, but incomparable groups.
9. […]A world which cherishes its children and where every child grows up free from violence and exploitation. A world in which every woman and girl enjoys in which full gender equality is realized for the benefit of all and all legal, social and economic barriers to their empowerment of women and girls have been removed. A world in which every child grows up free from violence and exploitation. A just, equitable, tolerant, open and socially inclusive world in which the needs of the most vulnerable are met.
Thirdly, in paragraph 21, we propose to change „children“ in the second to last line to „girls“.
Fourthly, we are very concerned about how family issues are reflected in the text. We therefore propose reverting to the original language of the last part of paragraph 26 and to delete paragraph 44 or alternatively change the language to include the various and diverse forms of families, as well as a reference to rights of individuals within families.
We have already, as well as many others, proposed language on sexual and reproductive health and rights into para 21 and we reiterate that proposal. In particular, reproductive rights are important to us.
(Women and girls must enjoy equal rights and access to education, health, including sexual and reproductive health and rights, economic resources and political participation and leadership.)
Co-facilitator, in para 47 we propose to shorten a bit at the end, by simply deleting the phrase “and others, in accordance with national laws and regulations and in conformity with international obligations.”
Lastly, we reiterate our proposal to include neurological disorders along with other disorders in the text on non-communicable deceases in paragraph 27. Thank you.
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