New Zealand

UN General Assembly
Inter-Governmental Negotiations on the Post-2015 Development Agenda
Declaration



New Zealand statement

Delivered by Angela Hassan-Sharp,
Counsellor


20 February 2015




Check against delivery







Thank you for this Discussion Paper. Together with the Elements Paper, it has generated a healthy exchange of views across a complex range of issues. New Zealand’s view is that, in essence, you’ve got it right with the Discussion Paper and that it serves a useful basis for a zero draft. There is still room for avoiding duplication, for instance elements in para 14 could repeat elements in para 4.

On the issue of the length of the Declaration, we agree that it should not exceed three pages. In fact we would prefer that it not exceed two pages.

On paragraph one, we agree with the substance of this para and would suggest that in addition to building on the Rio+20 Outcome Document, we also describe how we intend to achieve “The future we want”.

We agree with paragraph three but are not convinced that unemployment is as significant a-global challenge as climate change, conflict or humanitarian crises. In fact underemployment is possibly more pervasive. We could turn this around to focus more on achieving shared prosperity.

On paragraph seven, we agree strongly with the need to prioritise the most vulnerable. But also believe that we should mention the need to ensure that all groups are included. We suggest specifying persons living with disability and indigenous peoples.

On paragraph eight, we obviously believe that it is essential that the needs of countries in special situations be articulated.

On paragraph nine, the current language formulation on a universal agenda suggests that that the global agenda will be applied from on high to all countries. We suggest amending the language to read “Universal agenda, which will be applied in all countries”. This implies rather that a universal agenda will be applied by countries themselves according to their own circumstances. It’s a question of nuance.

On paragraph ten, we agree with the urgency of a universal climate agreement but note that this is time-bound and will hopefully be completed by the end of the year. We suggest adding reference to implementing the agreement, each according to their capacities.

And finally on paragraph fourteen, there is a risk that the reference to the UN Charter repeats what is in paragraph four. We also believe that we should not list documents and agree with your proposal to use footnotes or, better yet, an endnote, if there is a desire to list important documents.

Thank you.