Major Group on Children and Youth and Women, Islamic Relief Worldwide, Christian Aid, WECF International, the Disaster and Risk Reduction cluster, African Monitor, and the Africa CSO Working Group on Post 2015
Thank you, co-chairs.
My name is Melany Grout.
I am speaking on behalf of: the Major Group on Children and Youth, Women’s Major Group, Islamic Relief Worldwide, Christian Aid, WECF International, the Disaster and Risk Reduction cluster, African Monitor, and the Africa CSO Working Group on Post 2015.
I will briefly review select recommended changes to the proposed targets under goal one. We are also submitting additional and more in-depth comments and explanations in written form following this presentation.
While we are noting suggested changes to the proposed language from the June 2nd Zero Draft, we also have some responses to the more recent revisions that have circulated in the past couple days, and will mention a couple of those as well.
With respect to: 1.1 By 2020, eradicate extreme poverty by bringing the number of people living below poverty lines on less than $1.25 a day to zero, with a focus on structural barriers faced by women and the most marginalized groups We changed the target date to 2020. In light of the enormous wealth that has accumulated, and in recognition of the well-researched causes of poverty, waiting until 2030 does not reflect the intent for this document to be ambitious. We highlight that the $1.25 mark does not represent a line above which people can live in dignity. It also cannot adequately reflect the different realities between
Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere
Joint major group statement for OWG 12
Read to Open Working Group Co-Chairs June 19, 2014
and within countries. We instead recommend replacing it with a reference to “poverty lines” more generally.
1.2 Reduce by at least x% the proportion of people living below national poverty lines by 2030
We have left this target intact. 1.3 By 2020, fully implement nationally appropriate universal social protection measures including setting floors for public care services, work, housing, education, water and sanitation and health care, with a focus on coverage of the poor, including the most marginalized groups and people in vulnerable situations
We urge that this target use language to emphasize a right to social protection and not simply a minimum safety net for the most unfortunate. 1.4 By 2030 achieve equal access to safe, non-discriminatory, productive employment, livelihoods and decent work for all, including with a particular focus on the poor, persons with disabilities, and other people in vulnerable situations as well as including women and young people
We highlight our addition of “non-discriminatory,” and emphasize that ending inequality and discrimination is central to ending poverty.
1.5 By 2030 ensure equal economic and development opportunities for all men and women, including secure rights to own land, property and other productive resources, and access to financial services, with particular focus on the poor, the most marginalized and people in vulnerable situations
We note our strong concern over the removal of “land” and “secure rights” in the revised proposal circulated in the past couple days. I will review our recommended changes to the earlier target, which helps explain our reason for concern now.
We commend the OWG for including the “land” in the previous target. It is a resource that the majority of the world’s poorest people rely upon for survival but do not have security over. Among types of assets and resources, it has a fundamental linkage to multiple dimensions of poverty –including social, nutritional, political, economic – and it warrants explicit mention.
We deleted the qualifier of “own,” allowing instead for simple reference to “secure rights to land,” which better captures the reality that there is a broad range of important and valuable tenure arrangements whose nature and prevalence can vary across the globe.
We also strongly support the explicit mention of women. While the revised version of this target mentions women, it has lost two critical terms: land and secure rights. We recommend these be included again as a powerful means for combatting poverty.
1.6 By 2030 reduce losses for and build the resilience of poor and vulnerable people to disasters and shocks
You can see we have suggested substantial changes here, replacing it in whole but shortening and simplifying. It is similar to the revised target circulated this week, which we support. Critically, the revised target focuses on outputs, by measuring the losses and building resilience, rather than process. Delivering disaster and risk reduction plans is not transformative enough. A target must address the relentless erosion of the wealth of poor people by both intensive and extensive disasters and their systemic impacts on poverty.
1.7 Pursue sustained sustainable, equitable and inclusive economic growth development as a key enabler for achieving poverty eradication
Here, we remove “growth” and add “development,” noting that the idea that growth equals development and that wealth will trickle down has been shown to be a myth. We believe the original language goes against sustainable production and consumption and equity.
1.8 Integrate biodiversity conservation measures into national and local development strategies, planning processes and poverty reduction strategies
We have not suggested changes to this target, but applaud the co-chairs for adding it to integrate goals 1 and 15.
My name is Melany Grout.
I am speaking on behalf of: the Major Group on Children and Youth, Women’s Major Group, Islamic Relief Worldwide, Christian Aid, WECF International, the Disaster and Risk Reduction cluster, African Monitor, and the Africa CSO Working Group on Post 2015.
I will briefly review select recommended changes to the proposed targets under goal one. We are also submitting additional and more in-depth comments and explanations in written form following this presentation.
While we are noting suggested changes to the proposed language from the June 2nd Zero Draft, we also have some responses to the more recent revisions that have circulated in the past couple days, and will mention a couple of those as well.
With respect to: 1.1 By 2020, eradicate extreme poverty by bringing the number of people living below poverty lines on less than $1.25 a day to zero, with a focus on structural barriers faced by women and the most marginalized groups We changed the target date to 2020. In light of the enormous wealth that has accumulated, and in recognition of the well-researched causes of poverty, waiting until 2030 does not reflect the intent for this document to be ambitious. We highlight that the $1.25 mark does not represent a line above which people can live in dignity. It also cannot adequately reflect the different realities between
Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere
Joint major group statement for OWG 12
Read to Open Working Group Co-Chairs June 19, 2014
and within countries. We instead recommend replacing it with a reference to “poverty lines” more generally.
1.2 Reduce by at least x% the proportion of people living below national poverty lines by 2030
We have left this target intact. 1.3 By 2020, fully implement nationally appropriate universal social protection measures including setting floors for public care services, work, housing, education, water and sanitation and health care, with a focus on coverage of the poor, including the most marginalized groups and people in vulnerable situations
We urge that this target use language to emphasize a right to social protection and not simply a minimum safety net for the most unfortunate. 1.4 By 2030 achieve equal access to safe, non-discriminatory, productive employment, livelihoods and decent work for all, including with a particular focus on the poor, persons with disabilities, and other people in vulnerable situations as well as including women and young people
We highlight our addition of “non-discriminatory,” and emphasize that ending inequality and discrimination is central to ending poverty.
1.5 By 2030 ensure equal economic and development opportunities for all men and women, including secure rights to own land, property and other productive resources, and access to financial services, with particular focus on the poor, the most marginalized and people in vulnerable situations
We note our strong concern over the removal of “land” and “secure rights” in the revised proposal circulated in the past couple days. I will review our recommended changes to the earlier target, which helps explain our reason for concern now.
We commend the OWG for including the “land” in the previous target. It is a resource that the majority of the world’s poorest people rely upon for survival but do not have security over. Among types of assets and resources, it has a fundamental linkage to multiple dimensions of poverty –including social, nutritional, political, economic – and it warrants explicit mention.
We deleted the qualifier of “own,” allowing instead for simple reference to “secure rights to land,” which better captures the reality that there is a broad range of important and valuable tenure arrangements whose nature and prevalence can vary across the globe.
We also strongly support the explicit mention of women. While the revised version of this target mentions women, it has lost two critical terms: land and secure rights. We recommend these be included again as a powerful means for combatting poverty.
1.6 By 2030 reduce losses for and build the resilience of poor and vulnerable people to disasters and shocks
You can see we have suggested substantial changes here, replacing it in whole but shortening and simplifying. It is similar to the revised target circulated this week, which we support. Critically, the revised target focuses on outputs, by measuring the losses and building resilience, rather than process. Delivering disaster and risk reduction plans is not transformative enough. A target must address the relentless erosion of the wealth of poor people by both intensive and extensive disasters and their systemic impacts on poverty.
1.7 Pursue sustained sustainable, equitable and inclusive economic growth development as a key enabler for achieving poverty eradication
Here, we remove “growth” and add “development,” noting that the idea that growth equals development and that wealth will trickle down has been shown to be a myth. We believe the original language goes against sustainable production and consumption and equity.
1.8 Integrate biodiversity conservation measures into national and local development strategies, planning processes and poverty reduction strategies
We have not suggested changes to this target, but applaud the co-chairs for adding it to integrate goals 1 and 15.