Intervention by the Republic of Latvia
at the plenary on stocktaking in the process of intergovernmental
negotiations on the post-2015 development agenda
20 January 2015
Latvia fully aligns itself with the intervention by the European Union and would like to make the following remarks in its national capacity.
As it was acknowledged by the UN Secretary-General, we face a “historical responsibility to elaborate on a truly universal and transformative agenda that places people and planet at the center, is underpinned by human rights, and is supported by a global partnership.”
We believe that the Political Declaration should reflect the quintessence of this ambitious and transformative approach. It should send a strong and inspiring political impulse that encompasses all challenges and opportunities set out in the Open Working Group proposal.
At the same time, the Declaration should be concise, easy to communicate and easy to understand. Only clear and compelling message can ensure public support for the agenda which is a precondition of its successful implementation.
It is crucial to communicate the new development agenda in an integrated and balanced manner, reflecting the critical interdependencies between the sustainable development goals. In this context we welcome the approach in the UN Secretary-General’s synthesis report to bring together these overarching objectives in a coherent and mutually supportive way, and we look forward to further discussions on this.
To spread a truly transformative message, the Declaration should reflect a paradigm shift that integrates the three core dimensions of sustainable development, addresses new global challenges, particularly climate change, and leaves no one behind. This can only be achieved through an action-oriented, equality-focused and rights-based approach across national, regional and global contexts.
The rights-based approach should encompass all human rights and be based on the principles of justice, equality, equity, democratic governance and the rule of law.
We also wish to see a strong focus on gender equality and women’s empowerment as essential preconditions for equitable and inclusive sustainable development.
Furthermore, the Declaration should highlight the new spirit of multilateralism — the concept of a new global partnership and its key principles of universality and shared responsibility. Every country and every stakeholder has a role to play in this transformative process. This is what will make the post-2015 agenda truly universal.
The Declaration should also reflect the importance of a strong monitoring, accountability and review framework which is key to the implementation of the new agenda. This framework should be evidence-based and anchored in a data revolution, particularly at the national and local level. It should be based on meaningful participation, openness and mutual accountability.
Finally, the Declaration should address the need for a better coordinated United Nations system to help all countries respond effectively to increasingly interlinked and complex development challenges. The enhanced coherence and effectiveness within the United Nations should be a reflection of the broader coherence we should seek in all our cooperative efforts and initiatives.
