Red lines in the Declaration for vulnerable and marginalized groups
Statement delivered by Arelys Bellorini from World Vision on behalf of a group of Civil Society organizations during the 7th intergovernmental negotiations meeting on the Post-2015 development agenda.
July 21, 2015. United Nations. New York
Red lines in the Declaration for vulnerable and marginalized groups
Co-Facilitator, Excellencies, colleagues,
We believe that the future framework will only be transformative if people are put at the center of the Agenda. This means that People must be respected and their human rights must be guaranteed, including the principles of equality and non-discrimination. These principles are game-changers and preconditions for the goals and targets to ensure that no one is left behind. Let me briefly outline them:
• Participation and inclusion including those who are the most marginalized requires the recognition of human rights. States must ensure genuine participation through ensuring that there are no physical, legal, or institutional barriers to participation, including access to information in all languages and access to ICT. Children, young people, indigenous peoples and persons with disabilities will have no voice without protected spaces.
• Freedom from violence and the fear of violence. Violence in all its forms prevents the filament of the SDGs. Age and Gender-based violence effectively marginalizes half the population, and must be measured. Reducing violence based on any characteristic, including but not limited to age, ethnicity, HIV status, and ability, will be critical to the success of the new development agenda.
In this regard we have some language recommendations:
• On Para 46 and 47: children need to be included as agents of change. Many Member States referred to both children and young people as agents of change at the June meeting. In 47 we should add “successful implementation will depend on the increasing public awareness of the SDGs starting with children and young people.”
• In Para 31: on culture, we should recognize that the cultural heritage, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions of indigenous peoples and acceptance of new cultures and forms of express from children and young people all of which can add to sustainable development.
• On Para 38: It must be recognized that diverse forms of families exist, and to this end the inclusion of "all families" is a welcome addition. If it is to remain is should say “all forms of families” and the role of families in sustainable development should not be interpreted to subsume or mitigate the rights of individual family members.
• In Para 30: Peace needs to recognize children and we propose: “We commit to prevent and end all forms of violence against girls and boys to create a basis for long term human progress and stability.”
Thank you
July 21, 2015. United Nations. New York
Red lines in the Declaration for vulnerable and marginalized groups
Co-Facilitator, Excellencies, colleagues,
We believe that the future framework will only be transformative if people are put at the center of the Agenda. This means that People must be respected and their human rights must be guaranteed, including the principles of equality and non-discrimination. These principles are game-changers and preconditions for the goals and targets to ensure that no one is left behind. Let me briefly outline them:
• Participation and inclusion including those who are the most marginalized requires the recognition of human rights. States must ensure genuine participation through ensuring that there are no physical, legal, or institutional barriers to participation, including access to information in all languages and access to ICT. Children, young people, indigenous peoples and persons with disabilities will have no voice without protected spaces.
• Freedom from violence and the fear of violence. Violence in all its forms prevents the filament of the SDGs. Age and Gender-based violence effectively marginalizes half the population, and must be measured. Reducing violence based on any characteristic, including but not limited to age, ethnicity, HIV status, and ability, will be critical to the success of the new development agenda.
In this regard we have some language recommendations:
• On Para 46 and 47: children need to be included as agents of change. Many Member States referred to both children and young people as agents of change at the June meeting. In 47 we should add “successful implementation will depend on the increasing public awareness of the SDGs starting with children and young people.”
• In Para 31: on culture, we should recognize that the cultural heritage, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions of indigenous peoples and acceptance of new cultures and forms of express from children and young people all of which can add to sustainable development.
• On Para 38: It must be recognized that diverse forms of families exist, and to this end the inclusion of "all families" is a welcome addition. If it is to remain is should say “all forms of families” and the role of families in sustainable development should not be interpreted to subsume or mitigate the rights of individual family members.
• In Para 30: Peace needs to recognize children and we propose: “We commit to prevent and end all forms of violence against girls and boys to create a basis for long term human progress and stability.”
Thank you