Panama

Statement of the Permanent Mission of Panama to the United Nations

Post-2015 Development Agenda Intergovernmental Negotiations:
Intergovernmental negotiations on the outcome document

Follow-up and Review
New York, 20-24 July 2015





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Distinguished Co-facilitator,
First, let me thank you for your tireless efforts in leading this process in an organized and timely manner. I also thank you for the opportunity to speak on the important topic of follow-up and review.
Panama aligns itself with the statement delivered by the G77 and China and would like to add some points in our national capacity.
The success of the Post-2015 Development Agenda depends on the success of its implementation. It is therefore crucial that the adopted draft sets clear mechanisms and platforms for monitoring progress and promoting transparency.
An efficient, robust, inclusive and transparent 'follow up and review' instrument will be a fundamental cornerstone for a successful post-2015 development agenda.

Panama recalls that in the year 2013 the General Assembly adopted Resolution 67/290 in accordance with the Rio plus 20 outcomes. In line with this resolution, the improved and more effective institutional framework for sustainable development we will adopt must address the shortcomings of the current system.

In this regard, my country supports a scaled up and significantly strengthened role for the United Nations Development System and its capacity to assist developing countries in achieving their developmental goals. The United Nations Development System must effect meaningful improvements to the livelihoods of populations in order for the system to make a tangible reality to its ethos of being "fit for purpose."
Furthermore, Panama re-affirms the pivotal role of the General Assembly and re-affirms its commitment to strengthening the Economic and Social Council, of which we are currently members. In this regard, Panama also reaffirms the key role of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in advancing the integration of the three dimensions of sustainable development.

Yet, we must remember that the world has fundamentally changed in the last fifteen years. It is reasonable to predict that our Planet will undergo further transformation in the coming years. In this regard, it is our belief that the agenda should permit flexibility, leaving room for national ownership and for adaptation in line with the data collected.

The follow up and review process should be universal in its scope and owned by each country in accordance with its national circumstances, needs and priorities. It must be government-led and voluntary, involving ministerial and other high level participants, with special attention given to the peoples living in the most vulnerable circumstances. The implemented process should also reaffirm the importance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as other international instruments relating to human rights.
Furthermore, Panama is aware of the importance of regional mechanisms and is willing to offer its capacity to act as a hub to facilitate the implementation of the Agenda in the region.
Mr. Co-facilitator,
We must not forget what it means to leave no-one behind. The great challenges we are facing will require cooperation on the global, regional and national levels. But most importantly, overcoming these challenges will require the engagement of sub-national communities, including those living in situations of great vulnerability.
My country acknowledges that eradicating poverty goes beyond improving traditional means of cooperation. We must establish new channels of communication that allow the populations with the most modest means to have the loudest voices. We now have the technology to communicate instantly across the Planet, yet often the global conversation remains the same. It is now time to empower the poorest and neediest of our planet so that they can join the global conversation to achieve the future we want. Another crucial element of the Follow up and Review process is the availability of quality, timely, reliable, and disaggregated data.
In addition, we must not forget that sometimes, development means preservation. It is crucial that the agenda leaves room for the respect of nature, tradition and of the culture of peoples and nations. It is important that we keep in mind that preserving biodiversity, in all its natural and cultural forms is a foundation that will support the better world that we want to build.
This is why Panama believes that the Agenda should incentivize governments to engage communities. This can be achieved not only through financial incentives, but also through public-private partnerships and technology transfers that permit greater communication among the communities of our world.
The incentives proposed must be consistent with the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities, with a view of recognizing national realities, taking into account levels of development and emphasizing the importance of national policy space.
In this regard, Panama would like to propose a textual proposal for paragraph 61bis:
Community Engagement in all aspects of development – planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation -- can change the dynamics and direction of accountability and bring in new voices and ideas. The use of information and communications technology should be promoted in participatory mechanisms, in particular to engage the most marginalized groups in monitoring and accountability. Real-time monitoring initiatives, including participatory and people-led feedback mechanisms, can also be employed on a more regular basis to give more timely feedback on SDG progress, especially from the local/community level.
In conclusion, we reiterate that follow-up and review of the Agenda should be a core of the implementation process. We call that all major United Nations conferences and summits addressing one of the three dimensions of Sustainable Development, namely the economic, social and environmental fields include a review of the progress made in the implementation of the Post-2015 Agenda.
I thank you Mr. Co-facilitator.