IDA and IDDC
IDA and IDDC Response to “Final draft of the outcome document for the UN Summit to adopt the Post-2015 Development Agenda”
IDA and IDDC welcome the final draft of the outcome document for the UN Summit to adopt the Post-2015 Development Agenda as released by the co-facilitators. We consider it significant that persons with disabilities have been included throughout the framework. We explicitly welcome the inclusion of phrase “must be empowered” in paragraph 22, recognizing the empowerment of persons with disabilities.
We are pleased that the tone of the document has shifted and has put people at the centre of sustainable development, participation is recognized, human rights are strengthened, and that universality is further underscored.
Despite the positive improvements, we are requesting Member States to contribute to the empowerment of persons with disabilities in the following critically important paragraphs.
1. Preamble, People
We want to ensure that all human beings can fulfil their potential. We want to end poverty in all its forms; end hunger and malnutrition; promote human dignity; combat inequalities in and between countries; achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls; ensure access to quality education, water and sanitation and a healthy life for all; and secure the participation of all people and groups, including children and persons with disabilities in the realization of the new Goals and targets.
2. Paragraph 13
Almost fifteen years ago, the Millennium Development Goals were agreed. These provided an important framework for development and significant progress has been made in a number of areas. But the progress has been uneven, particularly in Africa and least developed countries, and some of the MDGs remain off- track, in particular those related to maternal, newborn and child health. In addition, persons with disabilities are still largely invisible in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the MDGs. We recommit ourselves to the full realization of the off-track MDGs. The new Agenda builds on the Millennium Development Goals and seeks to complete what these did not achieve.
3. Paragraph 24
To extend healthy life expectancy for all, we must achieve universal health coverage. No one must be left behind. We commit to accelerating the progress made to date in reducing infant, child and maternal mortality by ending all preventable deaths of infants, children and pregnant women by 2030. We are committed to ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health care services, including for family planning, information and education. Further, we will ensure accessibility for persons with disabilities to healthcare services. We will equally accelerate the pace of progress made in fighting malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, hepatitis and other communicable diseases and epidemics. At the same time we are committed to devoting greater effort to tackling non-communicable diseases.
4. Paragraph 57 (d)
Follow-up and review processes shall be guided by the following principles:
(d) They will be open, inclusive, transparent and accessible for all, and support the participation of all people and all stakeholders.
Additional Language Recommendations
Planet
We must respect and safeguard our common home. We want to protect the planet so that it can support the needs of present and future generations. We will conserve and sustainably use our oceans and seas; fight climate change; protect and restore ecosystems; combat desertification, land degradation and biodiversity loss; promote safe, and inclusive and accessible cities and human settlements; and promote disaster risk reduction.
Prosperity
We want all human beings to enjoy the fruits of economic, social and technological progress and live productive and fulfilling lives. We want to ensure sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth; promote decent work and employment for all, including persons with disabilities; foster shared prosperity and sustainable lifestyles worldwide; promote sustainable industrialization, agriculture and infrastructure; and ensure access to affordable modern energy services.
Para 8
We envisage a world of universal respect for human rights and human dignity, the rule of law, justice and equality; of respect for race, ethnicity and cultural values; and of equal opportunity permitting the full realization of human potential while promoting shared prosperity. A world in which every woman, person with a disability and child enjoys full gender equality and all barriers to their participation and empowerment in our societies have been removed. A just, equitable, tolerant and socially inclusive world.
Para 11
We are meeting at a time of immense challenges to sustainable development. There are rising inequalities within and between states. There are enormous disparities of opportunity, wealth and power. Unemployment, particularly youth unemployment, is a major concern. We are concerned that persons with disabilities are disproportionately affected in disasters, emergencies and conflict situations as well as poverty (A/C.3/69/L.10/Rev.1). Spiralling conflict, violent extremism and humanitarian crises threaten to reverse much of the development progress made in recent decades. Natural resource depletion and adverse impacts of environmental degradation, including desertification, drought and land degradation and the prospect of irreversible climate change, add to the list of challenges which humanity faces. The survival of many societies, and of the planet itself, is at risk.
Para 35
We recognize the central role that science, accessible technology and innovation play in enabling the international community to respond to sustainable development challenges. We recognize the power of accessible communications technologies, technical cooperation and capacity-building for sustainable development. We commit to strengthen the role of the science-policy interface in environmental governance.
Para 41
We emphasize more generally the critical importance of engaging all relevant stakeholders in implementation of the new Agenda. In particular, we acknowledge the essential role of national parliaments in sustainable development through their enactment of legislation and adoption of budgets and their role in ensuring accountability for the effective implementation of our commitments. Governments and public institutions will also work closely on implementation with regional and sub-regional institutions, local authorities, international institutions, business and the private sector, civil society, academia, philanthropic organizations, persons with disabilities, volunteer groups and others.
Para 47
“We the Peoples” are the celebrated opening words of the UN Charter. It is “We the Peoples” who are embarking today on the road to 2030. Our journey will involve Governments, Parliaments, the UN system and other international institutions, local authorities, business and the private sector, persons with disabilities, the scientific and academic community, civil society – and ordinary citizens. Millions have already engaged with, and will own, this agenda. It is an agenda of the people, by the people and for the people – and this, we believe, will ensure its success.
Para 66
We reaffirm that the HLPF, under the auspices of ECOSOC, shall carry out regular reviews of progress in line with Resolution 67/290. Reviews will be voluntary, while encouraging reporting, and include developed and developing countries as well as relevant UN entities. They shall be State-led, involving ministerial and other relevant high-level participants. They shall focus on assessment of progress, achievements and challenges faced by developed and developing countries, and provide a platform for partnerships, including through the participation of major groups and other relevant stakeholders in line with Resolution 67/290.
For further information please contact Dr. Orsolya Bartha obartha@ida-secretariat.org or Dr. Elizabeth Lockwood elizabeth.lockwood@cbm.org