Major Group: NGOs
Beyond 2015 Statement for OWG SDG 12
Statement delivered by: George Ndung’u, Co-Chair of Beyond 2015 Campaign, Secretary for International Affairs and Kenya Representative, Organisation of African Youth
Co-Chairs,
I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of Beyond 2015, an international campaign with over 1000 CSOs in over 130 countries that has been engaging with the post-2015 discussions since late 2010.
First of all, let me express our recognition to your efforts in driving this process in an open and inclusive way. It is really appreciated.
Beyond 2015 understands that the on-going negotiations evidence the political will to tackle inequalities within and amongst nations, a commitment to deliver human rights and fight poverty, the recognition that women’s rights must be realised, including sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as the importance of delivering environmentally sustainable development. Beyond 2015 urges Member States to uphold this commitment in the ensuing negotiations.
We would like to highlight some key points on behalf of the campaign:
• Point 1: We strongly welcome the re-introduction of inequality as a goal. This will strengthen the post-2015 agenda and show that the ‘leave no one behind’ principle proposed by the UN High Level Panel can be a reality. We therefore call upon Member States to support this Goal, and to ensure that data is disaggregated by, at a minimum, gender, geography, income, disability and age, to ensure monitoring of progress for marginalized groups.
• Point 2: We acknowledge the progress on Human Rights, and have suggestions on how to ensure that proposals meet existing human rights standards - We also welcome progress on the Human Rights Based Approach: many targets now display the required level of aspiration in relation to human rights. It is important that the document goes further in formally recognizing that development is rights-based, understood in terms of enforceable rights of people. Consequently, development about should be consistent with people's rights, as well as with the carrying capacity of the planet. It is also important that social, economic and cultural rights are adequately reflected moving forward, and we have made numerous suggested amendments to the targets to this effect. It is also incumbent on the OWG to underline the human rights obligations of all actors, including the private sector, and for states to protect and progressively realize the rights of all peoples.
• Point 3: We are optimistic about getting closer to a coherent understanding of sustainable development - We are encouraged to see that the Zero Draft now talks predominantly of ‘sustainable economic growth’ rather than ‘sustained economic growth’, and we welcome the clear focus on sustainable consumption and production. The targets relating to broader systems of capital accounting, looking beyond GDP and incorporating social, human, and environmental capital and ensuring that statistical capacity-building support is available for this purpose hold the promise of exploring new economic models that will further the well-being of people and the environment, rather than relying on the prevailing economic paradigm has entrenched poverty and inequality, depleted and degraded natural resources, and pushed us into dangerous levels of climate change. Instead of aiming at sustaining per capita economic growth, the OWG should look to promote inclusive, pro-poor and sustainable economic development (rather than growth), focusing on positive impacts for the poorest and most marginalised groups within each national context.
• Point 4 - Inclusion and participation - If we are to deliver truly inclusive sustainable development, we have to explicitly include the poorest and the most vulnerable in all the targets. People living in poverty have taught us that they do not want charity; they want capability to function. For these people, sustainable development must be "people-centered"; based on the respect of everyone's equal claim, entitlement and freedom to thrive and flourish. We reiterate that the post-2015 framework must reflect and support the active participation of ALL people in their individual and collective development process, and that the development, monitoring, re-planning and implementation of the post-2015 framework must be based on meaningful participation involving all stakeholders especially people living in extreme poverty and marginalization.
• Point 5: Peaceful and inclusive societies – crucial to be retained as a goal - Beyond 2015 is pleased to see the continued presence of Goal 16 on ‘Peaceful and inclusive societies, rule of law, effective and capable institutions’. We understand that further discussions are needed and we are hopeful that a consensus will be achieved and that this crucial area will be adequately reflected in the post-2015 agenda. There is convincing evidence pointing to the correlation between peace and security and poverty eradication and sustainable development. Citizens around the world ask that peace and safety are included as key priorities in the post-2015 agenda – and Beyond 2015 echoes this sentiment.
• Point 6: Keep the level of ambition high at this point of the negotiations - The Zero Draft of the OWG is certainly more ambitious than the early versions of the Focus Areas Document. We remind the co-chairs and all members states that we have ahead of us a full year in which to resolve outstanding issues. We would suggest for the OWG to prioritise a report that encompasses the breadth and diversity of issues on the table, rather than seeking to streamline too early, at the expense of a transformative post-2015 sustainable development agenda.
Co-Chairs, A Beyond 2015 OWG Reaction Task Force consisting of over 50 CSO representatives from all over the world has been working on our collective detailed reaction to the Zero Draft document. We are pleased to be able to share the results of our analysis with you today.
Thank you.
Statement delivered by: George Ndung’u, Co-Chair of Beyond 2015 Campaign, Secretary for International Affairs and Kenya Representative, Organisation of African Youth
Co-Chairs,
I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of Beyond 2015, an international campaign with over 1000 CSOs in over 130 countries that has been engaging with the post-2015 discussions since late 2010.
First of all, let me express our recognition to your efforts in driving this process in an open and inclusive way. It is really appreciated.
Beyond 2015 understands that the on-going negotiations evidence the political will to tackle inequalities within and amongst nations, a commitment to deliver human rights and fight poverty, the recognition that women’s rights must be realised, including sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as the importance of delivering environmentally sustainable development. Beyond 2015 urges Member States to uphold this commitment in the ensuing negotiations.
We would like to highlight some key points on behalf of the campaign:
• Point 1: We strongly welcome the re-introduction of inequality as a goal. This will strengthen the post-2015 agenda and show that the ‘leave no one behind’ principle proposed by the UN High Level Panel can be a reality. We therefore call upon Member States to support this Goal, and to ensure that data is disaggregated by, at a minimum, gender, geography, income, disability and age, to ensure monitoring of progress for marginalized groups.
• Point 2: We acknowledge the progress on Human Rights, and have suggestions on how to ensure that proposals meet existing human rights standards - We also welcome progress on the Human Rights Based Approach: many targets now display the required level of aspiration in relation to human rights. It is important that the document goes further in formally recognizing that development is rights-based, understood in terms of enforceable rights of people. Consequently, development about should be consistent with people's rights, as well as with the carrying capacity of the planet. It is also important that social, economic and cultural rights are adequately reflected moving forward, and we have made numerous suggested amendments to the targets to this effect. It is also incumbent on the OWG to underline the human rights obligations of all actors, including the private sector, and for states to protect and progressively realize the rights of all peoples.
• Point 3: We are optimistic about getting closer to a coherent understanding of sustainable development - We are encouraged to see that the Zero Draft now talks predominantly of ‘sustainable economic growth’ rather than ‘sustained economic growth’, and we welcome the clear focus on sustainable consumption and production. The targets relating to broader systems of capital accounting, looking beyond GDP and incorporating social, human, and environmental capital and ensuring that statistical capacity-building support is available for this purpose hold the promise of exploring new economic models that will further the well-being of people and the environment, rather than relying on the prevailing economic paradigm has entrenched poverty and inequality, depleted and degraded natural resources, and pushed us into dangerous levels of climate change. Instead of aiming at sustaining per capita economic growth, the OWG should look to promote inclusive, pro-poor and sustainable economic development (rather than growth), focusing on positive impacts for the poorest and most marginalised groups within each national context.
• Point 4 - Inclusion and participation - If we are to deliver truly inclusive sustainable development, we have to explicitly include the poorest and the most vulnerable in all the targets. People living in poverty have taught us that they do not want charity; they want capability to function. For these people, sustainable development must be "people-centered"; based on the respect of everyone's equal claim, entitlement and freedom to thrive and flourish. We reiterate that the post-2015 framework must reflect and support the active participation of ALL people in their individual and collective development process, and that the development, monitoring, re-planning and implementation of the post-2015 framework must be based on meaningful participation involving all stakeholders especially people living in extreme poverty and marginalization.
• Point 5: Peaceful and inclusive societies – crucial to be retained as a goal - Beyond 2015 is pleased to see the continued presence of Goal 16 on ‘Peaceful and inclusive societies, rule of law, effective and capable institutions’. We understand that further discussions are needed and we are hopeful that a consensus will be achieved and that this crucial area will be adequately reflected in the post-2015 agenda. There is convincing evidence pointing to the correlation between peace and security and poverty eradication and sustainable development. Citizens around the world ask that peace and safety are included as key priorities in the post-2015 agenda – and Beyond 2015 echoes this sentiment.
• Point 6: Keep the level of ambition high at this point of the negotiations - The Zero Draft of the OWG is certainly more ambitious than the early versions of the Focus Areas Document. We remind the co-chairs and all members states that we have ahead of us a full year in which to resolve outstanding issues. We would suggest for the OWG to prioritise a report that encompasses the breadth and diversity of issues on the table, rather than seeking to streamline too early, at the expense of a transformative post-2015 sustainable development agenda.
Co-Chairs, A Beyond 2015 OWG Reaction Task Force consisting of over 50 CSO representatives from all over the world has been working on our collective detailed reaction to the Zero Draft document. We are pleased to be able to share the results of our analysis with you today.
Thank you.