Malta
REPUBLIC OF MALTA
Statement by
Mr. David Mansfield
First Secretary
Permanent Mission of the Republic of Malta to the United Nations
Intergovernmental Negotiations on the Post-2015 Agenda
Statement by the Permanent Mission of Malta the Declaration
20 - 31 July 2015
United Nations, New York
(Please check against delivery)
Thank you Co-Facilitators.
Malta aligns itself with the statement delivered by the representative of the European
Commission on behalf of the EU and its Member States and would like to provide some
additional remarks in our national capacity.
Before starting, I wish to join other delegations in commending you for your sterling work,
guidance and leadership which has led to a balanced draft text that reflects the discussions
that have taken place so far in this process and hope that we will meet our deadline for 31
July.
At the outset, we wish to welcome the Preamble, as a means of communicating the key
messages of the agenda in a clear and concise manner. In order to further improve these
messages we believe that emphasis should also be made on the links between each of the 5P’s
together with their universal, integrated and transformative nature and that of the agenda
while also avoiding a siloed approach.
We also welcome the references throughout the text to gender, human rights, peace, leaving
no one behind, non-discrimination, and ecosystems which are all key that should reinforced
where appropriate.
Human rights are the basis for sustainable development and our overarching objective to
eradicate poverty can only be achieved if all human beings have their fundamental human
rights respected. To cite two examples, what is the use of our efforts to alleviate the poorest
of the poor, if their right to education is stifled? What is the use of our efforts to assist those
in need to be able to break the cycle of poverty, if their rights for equality before the law and
other fundamental rights are not protected?
We also attach great importance to the empowerment of women and girls and it is troubling
that in 2015 we are still witnessing gender based discrimination, young girls being deprived
of their right to an education solely on the basis of their gender, or women being
disenfranchised from inheritance, sending a message that their gender is somehow less equal.
To this end we would request that the reference to gender discrimination be re-inserted in
paragraph 19.
Co-facilitators,
Turning finally to the matter of sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR) we wish to
reiterate that any understandings or proposals in this respect should fully reflect the
sensitivities of countries. This particular issue has been discussed at great length in numerous
fora within the UN, including during the discussions in the OWG last year on the SDGs, and
any unqualified references to SRHR remains a contentious issue, which does not enjoy
consensus.
For Malta, abortion remains illegal at law, and therefore we wish to reiterate our position that
the question of SRHR should be reflected in accordance with the ICPD, as was also agreed
by all in goal 5.6 of the Sustainable Development Goals and Targets.
Thank You.
Statement by
Mr. David Mansfield
First Secretary
Permanent Mission of the Republic of Malta to the United Nations
Intergovernmental Negotiations on the Post-2015 Agenda
Statement by the Permanent Mission of Malta the Declaration
20 - 31 July 2015
United Nations, New York
(Please check against delivery)
Thank you Co-Facilitators.
Malta aligns itself with the statement delivered by the representative of the European
Commission on behalf of the EU and its Member States and would like to provide some
additional remarks in our national capacity.
Before starting, I wish to join other delegations in commending you for your sterling work,
guidance and leadership which has led to a balanced draft text that reflects the discussions
that have taken place so far in this process and hope that we will meet our deadline for 31
July.
At the outset, we wish to welcome the Preamble, as a means of communicating the key
messages of the agenda in a clear and concise manner. In order to further improve these
messages we believe that emphasis should also be made on the links between each of the 5P’s
together with their universal, integrated and transformative nature and that of the agenda
while also avoiding a siloed approach.
We also welcome the references throughout the text to gender, human rights, peace, leaving
no one behind, non-discrimination, and ecosystems which are all key that should reinforced
where appropriate.
Human rights are the basis for sustainable development and our overarching objective to
eradicate poverty can only be achieved if all human beings have their fundamental human
rights respected. To cite two examples, what is the use of our efforts to alleviate the poorest
of the poor, if their right to education is stifled? What is the use of our efforts to assist those
in need to be able to break the cycle of poverty, if their rights for equality before the law and
other fundamental rights are not protected?
We also attach great importance to the empowerment of women and girls and it is troubling
that in 2015 we are still witnessing gender based discrimination, young girls being deprived
of their right to an education solely on the basis of their gender, or women being
disenfranchised from inheritance, sending a message that their gender is somehow less equal.
To this end we would request that the reference to gender discrimination be re-inserted in
paragraph 19.
Co-facilitators,
Turning finally to the matter of sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR) we wish to
reiterate that any understandings or proposals in this respect should fully reflect the
sensitivities of countries. This particular issue has been discussed at great length in numerous
fora within the UN, including during the discussions in the OWG last year on the SDGs, and
any unqualified references to SRHR remains a contentious issue, which does not enjoy
consensus.
For Malta, abortion remains illegal at law, and therefore we wish to reiterate our position that
the question of SRHR should be reflected in accordance with the ICPD, as was also agreed
by all in goal 5.6 of the Sustainable Development Goals and Targets.
Thank You.
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