India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka
Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka
8th Session of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs)
3 - 7 February 2014
Statement by Ambassador Masood Khan, Permanent Representative
of Pakistan
On
Conflict prevention, post-conflict peace-building and the promotion
of durable peace, rule of law and governance
Co-Chair,
I am pleased to share these views on behalf of India, Sri Lanka and my own
delegation, Pakistan.
We associate ourselves with the statement delivered by the distinguished
representative of Bolivia on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.
Co-Chair,
We express our sincere thanks to the panelists and others who have made
contribution to this conversation and our work.
Co Chair,
Paragraph 8 of the Rio+20 outcome document states “We also reaffirm the
importance of freedom, peace and security, respect for all human rights,
including the right to development and the right to an adequate standard of
living, including the right to food, the rule of law, gender equality, women's
empowerment and the overall commitment to just and democratic societies for
development.”
At the high-level meeting at the United Nations last September on the MDGs and
post-2o15 Development Agenda, world leaders agreed to have a “single
framework and set of goals – universal in nature and applicable to all countries,
while taking account of differing national circumstances and respective national
policies." Leaders affirmed the principle of common but differentiated
responsibilities and underlined the central imperative of poverty eradication in
the Post-2015 Development Agenda. They also said that this framework "should
promote peace and security, democratic governance, the rule of law, gender
equality, and human rights for all.”
Co-Chair
The two paragraphs that I have cited above set the boundaries for our work.
In search of Sustainable Development Goals in this setting, we have to keep in
mind the differentiation between enablers and goals.
Conditions of peace and security are directly linked to economic and social
development. Where there is no peace there will be no development. There
cannot be durable peace without growth and development. Peace will not flourish
in the absence of economic development and social stability.
Conflicts cast a shadow on growth prospects. Several countries have been obliged
to divert their limited resources form development to conflict management.
But the Open Working Group is not the place to discuss hard-core issues of
conflict prevention and post-conflict peace-building because of the following
reasons.
One, the Security Council works round the clock to prevent conflicts, as well as to
make, keep and build peace. It is also supported by an elaborate apparatus,
supported by regional organizations and commissions, to accomplish these tasks.
Two, the UN budget for UN peacekeeping operations for 2013-2014 is US$7.8
billion, the bulk of which is being spent in the DRC, Darfur, South Sudan, Haiti
and Cote d’Ivoire.
Three, a Peace Building Commission has been created to build resilience in
conflict and post-conflict situation and to prevent relapse. It must be streamlined
and strengthened.
Co-Chairs,
Here in this setting what we can say is that more resources should be made
available to the UN for economic and social development and environmental
protection because the main drivers of conflict are poverty, social exclusion,
inequalities and ethnic or religious rivalries.
Barring aside the complexity of these matters, jurisdiction of different
international bodies and organs must be respected.
Co-Chairs,
The grievances that often lead to conflict, either within or amongst countries, are
driven largely by a sense of deprivation linked to the absence of development.
Economic growth and development, especially availability of opportunities to
individuals and communities, are crucial buffers to conflicts.
Sustainable Development Goals agenda should first and foremost be about
development. Only development can promote peace and erect strong barriers
against strife and conflict. Prosperity and social stability are the guarantor of
peace. It is, therefore, essential to retain our primary focus on the objective and
mandate of this Group: to eradicate poverty and promote sustainable
development.
Co- Chair,
Let me now turn to governance and rule of law and governance, which is more
relevant to our work.
One of the main lessons drawn from the implementation of the UN Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) has been the absence of synergy between the
governance, rule of law and development.
The growing body of research considers good governance and the rule of law to
be both an enabler and outcome of development. It is axiomatic that the rule of
law, sustained growth and sustainable development are inextricably linked.
The rule of law is a multidimensional concept that encompasses protection of
individual rights, good governance, checks and balances in government,
transparency and accountability of institutions, security of property, enforcement
of contracts, and measures against corruption.
We also believe that all individuals must have the right to education, health care,
and a basic standard of living. Youth and gender empowerment must be an
essential part of this process.
Also, the rule of law and governance are as much relevant to the international
context as they are to the national context. Our attempts at advocating rule of law
would remain insufficient without effectively addressing institutional deficits in
global governance, which also ought to be part of our focus on the rule of law and
governance discussions.
In this entire process, promotion of economic growth, equality of opportunity,
equitable distribution of national resources, a secure ecosystem, gender equality,
inclusion, and political participation must be kept in mind.
There is a compelling case for the rule of law in the context of the SDGs. This
should, however, be pursued in a manner that it does not scuttle our goal of
robust economic growth. To this end, we believe that our work should take into
account the following aspects:
i. The rule of law has to be conceived in the broader context
of good governance and the right to development.
ii. Institution building should be accorded priority. Without
strong and resilient institutions, we will be merely building
sand castles even if we are passing the most robust laws.
iii. Instead of a top-down approach, we should bolster a
peoples-driven paradigm supported by the grass roots
communities.
iv. The very purpose of the rule of law within the context of
the SDGs will be defeated if it is used and invoked by the
donor countries or IFIs to impose conditions on economic
and financial assistance to developing countries for
sustainable development.
v. There should be a marked emphasis on national
ownership and indigenous development of laws. A model,
however perfect it may be in one setting, will not work in
another setting. To this end, SDGs should seek to evolve a
basket of indicators allowing countries to choose relevant
indicators in the context of their national conditions.
vi. A set of principles which could be relevant in the context of
the rule of law and governance are:
a. Accountability of public institutions;
b. Transparency in public decision making;
c. Access to justice and information;
d. Effective enforcement of property rights;
e. Equality of opportunity;
f. Reform of global governance at international level
g. Inclusion and representation in public decision making and
responsiveness to public needs.
h. Legally enforceable access to education and healthcare
I thank you Co-Chair.
8th Session of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs)
3 - 7 February 2014
Statement by Ambassador Masood Khan, Permanent Representative
of Pakistan
On
Conflict prevention, post-conflict peace-building and the promotion
of durable peace, rule of law and governance
Co-Chair,
I am pleased to share these views on behalf of India, Sri Lanka and my own
delegation, Pakistan.
We associate ourselves with the statement delivered by the distinguished
representative of Bolivia on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.
Co-Chair,
We express our sincere thanks to the panelists and others who have made
contribution to this conversation and our work.
Co Chair,
Paragraph 8 of the Rio+20 outcome document states “We also reaffirm the
importance of freedom, peace and security, respect for all human rights,
including the right to development and the right to an adequate standard of
living, including the right to food, the rule of law, gender equality, women's
empowerment and the overall commitment to just and democratic societies for
development.”
At the high-level meeting at the United Nations last September on the MDGs and
post-2o15 Development Agenda, world leaders agreed to have a “single
framework and set of goals – universal in nature and applicable to all countries,
while taking account of differing national circumstances and respective national
policies." Leaders affirmed the principle of common but differentiated
responsibilities and underlined the central imperative of poverty eradication in
the Post-2015 Development Agenda. They also said that this framework "should
promote peace and security, democratic governance, the rule of law, gender
equality, and human rights for all.”
Co-Chair
The two paragraphs that I have cited above set the boundaries for our work.
In search of Sustainable Development Goals in this setting, we have to keep in
mind the differentiation between enablers and goals.
Conditions of peace and security are directly linked to economic and social
development. Where there is no peace there will be no development. There
cannot be durable peace without growth and development. Peace will not flourish
in the absence of economic development and social stability.
Conflicts cast a shadow on growth prospects. Several countries have been obliged
to divert their limited resources form development to conflict management.
But the Open Working Group is not the place to discuss hard-core issues of
conflict prevention and post-conflict peace-building because of the following
reasons.
One, the Security Council works round the clock to prevent conflicts, as well as to
make, keep and build peace. It is also supported by an elaborate apparatus,
supported by regional organizations and commissions, to accomplish these tasks.
Two, the UN budget for UN peacekeeping operations for 2013-2014 is US$7.8
billion, the bulk of which is being spent in the DRC, Darfur, South Sudan, Haiti
and Cote d’Ivoire.
Three, a Peace Building Commission has been created to build resilience in
conflict and post-conflict situation and to prevent relapse. It must be streamlined
and strengthened.
Co-Chairs,
Here in this setting what we can say is that more resources should be made
available to the UN for economic and social development and environmental
protection because the main drivers of conflict are poverty, social exclusion,
inequalities and ethnic or religious rivalries.
Barring aside the complexity of these matters, jurisdiction of different
international bodies and organs must be respected.
Co-Chairs,
The grievances that often lead to conflict, either within or amongst countries, are
driven largely by a sense of deprivation linked to the absence of development.
Economic growth and development, especially availability of opportunities to
individuals and communities, are crucial buffers to conflicts.
Sustainable Development Goals agenda should first and foremost be about
development. Only development can promote peace and erect strong barriers
against strife and conflict. Prosperity and social stability are the guarantor of
peace. It is, therefore, essential to retain our primary focus on the objective and
mandate of this Group: to eradicate poverty and promote sustainable
development.
Co- Chair,
Let me now turn to governance and rule of law and governance, which is more
relevant to our work.
One of the main lessons drawn from the implementation of the UN Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) has been the absence of synergy between the
governance, rule of law and development.
The growing body of research considers good governance and the rule of law to
be both an enabler and outcome of development. It is axiomatic that the rule of
law, sustained growth and sustainable development are inextricably linked.
The rule of law is a multidimensional concept that encompasses protection of
individual rights, good governance, checks and balances in government,
transparency and accountability of institutions, security of property, enforcement
of contracts, and measures against corruption.
We also believe that all individuals must have the right to education, health care,
and a basic standard of living. Youth and gender empowerment must be an
essential part of this process.
Also, the rule of law and governance are as much relevant to the international
context as they are to the national context. Our attempts at advocating rule of law
would remain insufficient without effectively addressing institutional deficits in
global governance, which also ought to be part of our focus on the rule of law and
governance discussions.
In this entire process, promotion of economic growth, equality of opportunity,
equitable distribution of national resources, a secure ecosystem, gender equality,
inclusion, and political participation must be kept in mind.
There is a compelling case for the rule of law in the context of the SDGs. This
should, however, be pursued in a manner that it does not scuttle our goal of
robust economic growth. To this end, we believe that our work should take into
account the following aspects:
i. The rule of law has to be conceived in the broader context
of good governance and the right to development.
ii. Institution building should be accorded priority. Without
strong and resilient institutions, we will be merely building
sand castles even if we are passing the most robust laws.
iii. Instead of a top-down approach, we should bolster a
peoples-driven paradigm supported by the grass roots
communities.
iv. The very purpose of the rule of law within the context of
the SDGs will be defeated if it is used and invoked by the
donor countries or IFIs to impose conditions on economic
and financial assistance to developing countries for
sustainable development.
v. There should be a marked emphasis on national
ownership and indigenous development of laws. A model,
however perfect it may be in one setting, will not work in
another setting. To this end, SDGs should seek to evolve a
basket of indicators allowing countries to choose relevant
indicators in the context of their national conditions.
vi. A set of principles which could be relevant in the context of
the rule of law and governance are:
a. Accountability of public institutions;
b. Transparency in public decision making;
c. Access to justice and information;
d. Effective enforcement of property rights;
e. Equality of opportunity;
f. Reform of global governance at international level
g. Inclusion and representation in public decision making and
responsiveness to public needs.
h. Legally enforceable access to education and healthcare
I thank you Co-Chair.