Montenegro and Slovenia
Division for the Support to the National Council for Sustainable Development
Date: 9 – 13 December 2013
Human rights including the right to development
MNE–SI speaking points for 6th meeting of OWG SDGs
· Promotion and protection of human rights are at the top of the foreign policy agendas of
both Montenegro and Slovenia. In formulating the post-2015 development agenda and the
SDGs we need to, first and foremost, ensure that human rights based approach
encompassing economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights, and right to
development is included.
· Learning from an oversight of the Millennium Development Goals to reflect the full
ambition of the Millennium Declaration and its commitment to the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights, the new sustainable development goals must integrate and be
underpinned by the full range of human rights linked with sustainable development, and in
accordance with the corresponding human rights standards.
· Future development framework should be based on universal values of justice, equality
and equity, good governance, democracy and the rule of law, including democratic
participation and access to justice for all, including indigenous people and vulnerable
groups.
· Despite evident progress in the implementation of the MDGs and the strong support from
governments, civil society and various stakeholders, much more remains to be done.
Inability to proactively address the issues of inequalities not only between countries but
also within countries has been recognized as one of the main shortcomings of the MDGs
implementation. The vulnerable groups are lagging behind, thus, the post-2015 goals
should focus in particular on improving the lives of these groups, including persons with
disabilities. For further progress we should establish a transformational agenda that
tackles structural barriers (inequality and discrimination practices), and creates conditions
for equal rights and opportunities for all - globally as well as nationally. Inclusive
economic growth that is economically, socially and environmentally sustainable is of the
utmost importance for eradication of poverty and reducing inequalities.
· Strong focus throughout all goals should be given to the empowerment and the rights of
women and girls, their reproductive health and rights, gender equality as well as
preventing and combating violence against them as essential preconditions for equitable
and inclusive sustainable development. Gender equality and the empowerment of women,
as well as promotion and protection of children’s rights are essential for the health and
development of families and societies, as well as a driving force of the overall economic
growth. Consequently, stand-alone goal on gender equality and women’s empowerment
should be defined, while gender-specific targets and indicators should be included in other
goals.
· Women present half of the population, therefore equal participation of women and men in
public life and economic activities and women's full access to services are key for
sustainable development. Education, including human rights education, presents an
indispensable precondition. By integration of gender perspective (gender mainstreaming)
into the SDGs the advantages brought by different skills and competences of both men
and women will contribute to the achievement of sustainable development.
· Children and youth are the generation of tomorrow, which has been recognized on
countless occasions in the past years and reaffirmed by the Rio+20 outcome document.
Next year the 25th anniversary of Convention on the Rights of the Child will be marked. It
presents a good opportunity to highlight that the future of humanity depends on how these
generations are treated today. Our efforts to develop effective SDGs should inevitably
take this into account. Rights of the child related to health, education, protection and
participation are just some that should not be left out.
· Human rights must be a benchmark for inclusive, equitable and sustainable development.
We welcome the growing importance of the international community to include the
human rights perspective in business activities and thus supporting and developing
socially responsible and inclusive entrepreneurial projects. In addition, the growing
awareness that a safe, healthy and secure environment is a precondition for the
implementation of a wide range of human rights is also coming to the forefront. Both
aspects should be adequately reflected in future discussions. In principle, protection,
promotion and efficient implementation of human rights are aimed at advancing the
means to a productive life by empowering the vulnerable groups, promoting equality and
generally promoting sound policy coherence and a monitoring and accountability system
founded on human rights.
· Transparency and accountability, as key principles of the international human rights
system, should figure very prominently in our future development agenda. Robust
monitoring and accountability, mutual and domestic, at all levels, are vital tools to help
ensure effective and sustainable use, management and protection of resources.
Accountability of all stakeholders should be comprehensive and strengthened. The
responsibilities for achieving goals need to be well distributed among the societies
implementing them and donors and partners assisting in their implementation.
· Interrelated and mutually reinforced human rights and sustainable development goals
request that human rights gaps should be addressed for achieving truly sustainable
development.
· Allow me, to also briefly point out the importance of global governance in sustainable
development. Last year in Rio we agreed on several changes to existing institutional
framework for sustainable development. We welcome first steps taken in the
implementation of agreed changes. We remain committed to the effective multilateral
system, also for sustainable development, with UN at its center.
Date: 9 – 13 December 2013
Human rights including the right to development
MNE–SI speaking points for 6th meeting of OWG SDGs
· Promotion and protection of human rights are at the top of the foreign policy agendas of
both Montenegro and Slovenia. In formulating the post-2015 development agenda and the
SDGs we need to, first and foremost, ensure that human rights based approach
encompassing economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights, and right to
development is included.
· Learning from an oversight of the Millennium Development Goals to reflect the full
ambition of the Millennium Declaration and its commitment to the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights, the new sustainable development goals must integrate and be
underpinned by the full range of human rights linked with sustainable development, and in
accordance with the corresponding human rights standards.
· Future development framework should be based on universal values of justice, equality
and equity, good governance, democracy and the rule of law, including democratic
participation and access to justice for all, including indigenous people and vulnerable
groups.
· Despite evident progress in the implementation of the MDGs and the strong support from
governments, civil society and various stakeholders, much more remains to be done.
Inability to proactively address the issues of inequalities not only between countries but
also within countries has been recognized as one of the main shortcomings of the MDGs
implementation. The vulnerable groups are lagging behind, thus, the post-2015 goals
should focus in particular on improving the lives of these groups, including persons with
disabilities. For further progress we should establish a transformational agenda that
tackles structural barriers (inequality and discrimination practices), and creates conditions
for equal rights and opportunities for all - globally as well as nationally. Inclusive
economic growth that is economically, socially and environmentally sustainable is of the
utmost importance for eradication of poverty and reducing inequalities.
· Strong focus throughout all goals should be given to the empowerment and the rights of
women and girls, their reproductive health and rights, gender equality as well as
preventing and combating violence against them as essential preconditions for equitable
and inclusive sustainable development. Gender equality and the empowerment of women,
as well as promotion and protection of children’s rights are essential for the health and
development of families and societies, as well as a driving force of the overall economic
growth. Consequently, stand-alone goal on gender equality and women’s empowerment
should be defined, while gender-specific targets and indicators should be included in other
goals.
· Women present half of the population, therefore equal participation of women and men in
public life and economic activities and women's full access to services are key for
sustainable development. Education, including human rights education, presents an
indispensable precondition. By integration of gender perspective (gender mainstreaming)
into the SDGs the advantages brought by different skills and competences of both men
and women will contribute to the achievement of sustainable development.
· Children and youth are the generation of tomorrow, which has been recognized on
countless occasions in the past years and reaffirmed by the Rio+20 outcome document.
Next year the 25th anniversary of Convention on the Rights of the Child will be marked. It
presents a good opportunity to highlight that the future of humanity depends on how these
generations are treated today. Our efforts to develop effective SDGs should inevitably
take this into account. Rights of the child related to health, education, protection and
participation are just some that should not be left out.
· Human rights must be a benchmark for inclusive, equitable and sustainable development.
We welcome the growing importance of the international community to include the
human rights perspective in business activities and thus supporting and developing
socially responsible and inclusive entrepreneurial projects. In addition, the growing
awareness that a safe, healthy and secure environment is a precondition for the
implementation of a wide range of human rights is also coming to the forefront. Both
aspects should be adequately reflected in future discussions. In principle, protection,
promotion and efficient implementation of human rights are aimed at advancing the
means to a productive life by empowering the vulnerable groups, promoting equality and
generally promoting sound policy coherence and a monitoring and accountability system
founded on human rights.
· Transparency and accountability, as key principles of the international human rights
system, should figure very prominently in our future development agenda. Robust
monitoring and accountability, mutual and domestic, at all levels, are vital tools to help
ensure effective and sustainable use, management and protection of resources.
Accountability of all stakeholders should be comprehensive and strengthened. The
responsibilities for achieving goals need to be well distributed among the societies
implementing them and donors and partners assisting in their implementation.
· Interrelated and mutually reinforced human rights and sustainable development goals
request that human rights gaps should be addressed for achieving truly sustainable
development.
· Allow me, to also briefly point out the importance of global governance in sustainable
development. Last year in Rio we agreed on several changes to existing institutional
framework for sustainable development. We welcome first steps taken in the
implementation of agreed changes. We remain committed to the effective multilateral
system, also for sustainable development, with UN at its center.