Thank you Mr. Co-chair:
We recognize that the ‘Focus Area Document’ forms a strong basis for this next stage of the work of the
OWG and we congratulate you, the Co-chairs and the members of the Open Working Group (OWG) for
this positive step.
However, it is a crucial time for the OWG and the post-2015 agenda. The OWG negotiations must lead
to a strong set of truly transformative Sustainable Development Goals, which reflect the voices of
those most affected by poverty and injustice. Anything less is simply unacceptable. The opportunity to
rethink and redefine our global development pathway comes once in a generation. This is an historic
opportunity, and we must seize it.
When looking at the focus area document – we welcome the emphasis on multi-dimensional poverty
eradication, but see an over-emphasis on economic growth at all costs
The prevailing economic paradigm has entrenched poverty and inequality, depleted and degraded
natural resources, and pushed us into dangerous levels of climate change. Unfortunately, this
document does not challenge this paradigm. The separation of economic growth, industrialization and
infrastructure into three different areas indicates an overemphasis on economic growth at all costs.
The argument that economic growth is the single and most important driver of poverty eradication and
development is simply proven not to be true, on the contrary
Redistribution of wealth, using several policy tools, to achieve a fairer distribution of use of natural
resources. FA8 on economic growth refers to “sustained” and not “sustainable” growth. Sustained
growth that is not sustainable is incompatible with the objectives of sustainable consumption and
production and development within environmental limits. The proposed document relies too much
on ‘business as usual’ in this regard, rather than reform of economic structures, financial systems, trade,
tax systems, the global governance system and increasing accountability of the private sector.
Thank you!
