Major Group: Children & Youth
Interactive Dialogue with Major Groups and Other Stakeholders
March Negotiations Session for the Post 2015 Development Agenda
25th March 2015
MGCY Statement
Thank you Co-Chairs
I am taking the floor on behalf of the Major Group for Children and Youth and we will be very quick.
The goals and targets from the OWG are the most fixed element of the agenda, and open to
minimal changes.
Keeping the delicate political balance in mind, the endeavor of technical proofing is indeed brave.
We can only support this undertaking if it raises the ambition of the agenda. It is also important to
preserve the gains made on some of the gender related targets.
Any attempt to use this proofing to move away from the universality & comprehensiveness of the
agenda, or reducing the level of commitment or number of goals & targets is unacceptable.
The proofing on the education goal has indeed increased the ambition level and we are happy
about this. But the change of timeline from 2020 to 2030 for some targets along with the revisions
in the biodiversity targets is setting us back.
A challenge moving forward will be to effectively operationalise the term ‘sustainable’ as mentioned
in the targets and goals. Specially, in the context of goal 8, 9, and 11 while talking about growth,
industrialisation and urbanisation respectively, this needs to take into account ecological footprints
as compared to planetary boundaries.
In the context of inequality the targets will only be impactful if we talk about caps on maximum
incomes and specific ratios between the top and bottom quintiles.
In addition, we want to raise concern about not having a target in the health goal on antimicrobial
resistance. This has been recognised in a World Health Organization report in 2014 that reviewed
data from 114 countries. In addition the 68th World Health Assembly in May 2015 is scheduled to
discuss a draft global action plan to combat antimicrobial resistance.
Finally, why was the term ‘human right to water and sanitation’ not included as an amendment for
technical proofing, in spite of it being agreed in a General Assembly resolution 64/292? We notice
inconsistencies in the type of reasoning for altering the targets. This is a dangerous precedent and
any regression is not acceptable.
We are here to ensure that the voices of young people are reflected in our perceptions and
implementation of the goals and targets and have an ambitious agenda. We hope our opinions are
listened to and implemented.
March Negotiations Session for the Post 2015 Development Agenda
25th March 2015
MGCY Statement
Thank you Co-Chairs
I am taking the floor on behalf of the Major Group for Children and Youth and we will be very quick.
The goals and targets from the OWG are the most fixed element of the agenda, and open to
minimal changes.
Keeping the delicate political balance in mind, the endeavor of technical proofing is indeed brave.
We can only support this undertaking if it raises the ambition of the agenda. It is also important to
preserve the gains made on some of the gender related targets.
Any attempt to use this proofing to move away from the universality & comprehensiveness of the
agenda, or reducing the level of commitment or number of goals & targets is unacceptable.
The proofing on the education goal has indeed increased the ambition level and we are happy
about this. But the change of timeline from 2020 to 2030 for some targets along with the revisions
in the biodiversity targets is setting us back.
A challenge moving forward will be to effectively operationalise the term ‘sustainable’ as mentioned
in the targets and goals. Specially, in the context of goal 8, 9, and 11 while talking about growth,
industrialisation and urbanisation respectively, this needs to take into account ecological footprints
as compared to planetary boundaries.
In the context of inequality the targets will only be impactful if we talk about caps on maximum
incomes and specific ratios between the top and bottom quintiles.
In addition, we want to raise concern about not having a target in the health goal on antimicrobial
resistance. This has been recognised in a World Health Organization report in 2014 that reviewed
data from 114 countries. In addition the 68th World Health Assembly in May 2015 is scheduled to
discuss a draft global action plan to combat antimicrobial resistance.
Finally, why was the term ‘human right to water and sanitation’ not included as an amendment for
technical proofing, in spite of it being agreed in a General Assembly resolution 64/292? We notice
inconsistencies in the type of reasoning for altering the targets. This is a dangerous precedent and
any regression is not acceptable.
We are here to ensure that the voices of young people are reflected in our perceptions and
implementation of the goals and targets and have an ambitious agenda. We hope our opinions are
listened to and implemented.