Malta

 
REPUBLIC OF MALTA
Statement by H.E. Christopher Grima Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Malta to the United Nations Permanent Mission of the Republic of Malta to the United Nations
Ninth Session of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals United Nations ␣ New York
Tuesday, 4th March 2014 United Nations, New York
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Co-­‐Chairs,     At   the   outset   we   would   like   to   thank   you   for   your   hard   work   and   able   leadership   in   this   Open   Working   Group,   as   well   as   for   your   document   dated   21   February   2014   listing   a   number   of   focus   areas  for  continued  consideration  by  United  Nations  Member  States  following  eight  sessions   of  this   Group  over  the  past  months.  We  welcome  this  document  as  an  important  and  focused  basis  for  our   future   work,   particularly   since   it   takes   into   consideration   all   three   dimensions   of   sustainable   development.   We   would   thus,   at   this   important   stage   at   the   beginning   of   the   next   phase   of   work,   like  to  provide  the  following  input.     Co-­‐Chairs,       As  we  all  know,  future  SDG␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣s  development  agenda.  In  the   years  after  2015,  all  United  Nations  Member  States  will  need  to  strengthen,  and  where  appropriate,   adjust  their  own  national  institutions,  as  well  as  their  international  actions,  relating  to  development   issues.  To  this  end,  we  consider  Peace  and  Security,  the  Rule  of  Law,  as  well  as  Good  Governance  as   essential   elements   of   any   future   development   activity.   We   believe   that   it   is   pointless   to   formulate   the   best   possible   goals   and   targets   through   the   post-­‐2015   process,   but   then   fail   to   create   national   structures   in   order   to   implement   what   we   agree.   Good   governance   not   only   strengthens   national   governmental   institutions;   it   creates   the   necessary   environment   and   confidence,   for   all   national   actors,  both  governmental  and  non-­‐governmental,  as  well  as  civil  society.  All  actors,  whether  at  the   national  or  local  level,  need  to  feel  part  of  their  domestic  process,  and  need  to  have  confidence  in   their   national   structures.   Another   result   of   such   a   system   would   be   to   enhance   international   development   effectiveness,   as   good   governance   ensures   that   development   mechanisms   are   well   managed.       Co-­‐Chairs,       Like  others,  we  consider  migration  as  an  important  element  of  sustainable  development.  However,   migration   should   not   be   considered   as   part   of   the   SDGs   for   its   own   sake   or   in   a   vacuum.   We   therefore  would  like  to  propose  that  any  migration  related  goals  and  targets  include  the  following:  
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␣ Strengthen  the  fight  against  human  trafficking  and  smuggling  of  persons;   ␣ Underline   and   include   the   already   agreed   principles   of   international   law   in   combating  
irregular  migration;   ␣ Ensure   that   with   well-­‐managed   migration,   readmission   policies   become   an   integral   part   of  
migration  management.    
  We  believe  that  trafficking  and  smuggling  of  persons  has  a  direct  effect  on  developing  countries  as   much   as   on   developed   countries,   and   ultimately,   effectively   combating   irregular   migration   will   first   and  foremost  aid  the  migrants  themselves,  who  are  often  victims  of  international  organized  crime.   We   see   no   reason   to   remind   all   Member   States   about   the   horrific   consequences   of   ill-­‐managed   migration,  as  we  all  remember  the  tragic  events  in  the  Mediterranean  last  October.       Co-­‐Chairs,       We  would  like  to  underline  the  vital  importance  of  listing  universal  access  to  education  for  men  and   women,   boys   and   girls.   If   development   policies   are   to   succeed,   access   to   education   is   essential.   A   well-­‐trained   workforce   is   a   key   to   success   in   achieving   higher   standards   of   development.   My   own   country,   Malta,   is   a   visible   ␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣ ␣␣␣ ␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣ ␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣ ␣␣␣ ␣␣␣ ␣␣␣␣ ␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣ ␣␣␣␣ ␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣ resources;  we  have  a  limited  territory,  and  a  small  population.  Yet,  we  have  achieved  high  levels  of   economic  and  social  success  through  our  successful  education  policies,  allowing  Maltese  nationals,   both  men  and  women,  to  become  successful  entrepreneurs  and  business  owners  not  only  in  Malta,   but  around  the  world.  We  therefore  urge  the  inclusion  of  universal  access  to  primary  and  secondary   education,   for   women,   men,   boys   and   girls   as   a   primary   target.   Naturally   we   also   support   all   the   other  elements  in  your  paper  in  focus  area  4.       Co-­‐Chairs,       One   other   important   element   is   population   dynamics.   We   understand   that   this   is   a   complex   issue,   however  it  is  also  an  important  one,  especially  considering  that  in  a  number  of  developed  countries,   population   is   declining.   As   we   have   stated   in   this   working   Group   during   previous   sessions,   we   underline  the  important  need  for  the  Open  Working  Group  to  keep  in  mind  that  national  positions  of   Member   States   vary   on   these   specific   issues,   particularly   on   the   highly   controversial   matter   of   abortion,   which   as   we   would   like   to   remind   the   Working   Group,   remains   prohibited   under   Maltese   law.   We   remain   of   the   view   that   any   recommendation   or   commitment   related   to   the   Overarching   Post  2015  Agenda  should  not  in  any  way  create  an  obligation  on  any  party  to  consider  abortion  as  a  
We   would   thus   like   to   welcome  focus  areas  3  and  5.  We  understand  that  these  focus  areas  may  not  be  seen  as  a  perfect   formulation  by  a  number  of  Member  States.  That  said  it  is  important  at  this  juncture  not  to  make  the   best  the  enemy  of  the  good.  To  this  end,  we  would  like  to  suggest  the  following  concrete  proposals  
specifically  relating  to  sexual  and  reproductive  health:   ␣ Ensure   universal   access   to   modern   and   effective   methods   of   contraception   to   women   and  
men;   ␣ Ensure   comprehensive   sexuality   education   as   part   of   national   curricula,   including   for  
adolescent  girls  and  boys;   ␣ Ensure   unrestricted   access   for   women   and   girls   to   health   care   facilities,   including   for   their  
reproductive  health  needs,  as  well  as  to  eliminate  all  forms  of  discrimination  against  women   and  girls  for  their  health  needs.    
  Naturally,   we   would   like   to   be   clear   that   these   proposals   only   relate   to   sexual   and   reproductive   health  matters.  We  fully  endorse  the  other  important  areas  indicated  in  focus  areas  3  and  5,  such  as   universal  health  coverage,  addressing  non-­‐communicable  diseases,  ending  violence  against  girls  and  
legitimate   form   of   reproductive   health   or   rights   or   services   or   commodities.  
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women  in  all  its  forms  as  well  as  equal  pay  for  equal  work,  which  we  fully  support  and  look  forward   to  see  included  in  the  formulation  of  SDGs.       Co-­‐Chairs,    
  As  we  move  ahead  in  this  process,  we  place  our  full  faith  in  your  abilities  in  guiding  this  process,  and   we   appreciate   your   willingness   to   listen   to   all   Member   States.   We   believe   that   this   is   an   essential   element  in  achieving  a  consensus  outcome.  We  should  in  our  view,  clearly  avoid  pursuing  language   for   political   reasons,   but   instead   pursue   the   common   interest   to   achieve   clear,   achievable   and   universal  SDGs.     I  thank  you.    
 
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