(Check against delivery)
Statement by Minister Counsellor LEE Yongsoo,
For the 8th Session of the SDGs OWG
Friday, 7 February 2014, New York
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Thank you Mr. Co-Chair,
I have the honor to make statement in my national capacity.
The ROK would like to make brief comments on peace, rule of law, and governance.
First, we welcome the emerging consensus among the Member States that peace, rule of law, and good governance are not only inter-related but also mutually-reinforcing foundations of sustainable development.
They are indeed critical enablers of sustainable development. And as elaborated in the TST issues brief and many previous statements, ample evidence testifies that sustained peace, strengthened rule of law, and good governance can bring about development gains, while violence and weak institutions result in development reversal.
Second, my delegation also welcomes the various proposals for including peace, rule of law, and good governance in the post-2015 development agenda. We are open to including them as stand-alone goals, as recommended by the High-level Panel of Eminent Persons, or mainstreaming them into other goals. We are firm, however, in our belief that peace, rule of law, and good governance must be highlighted as core elements of the post-2015 agenda.
Third, targets and indicators should be effective, concrete, and measurable. In particular, we propose the following three specific targets on governance: (1) Guarantee public access to government data to ensure accountability and transparency; (2) Increase the level of participation by various stakeholders in the political process and public decision-making; and (3) Reduce corruption.
Mr. Co-Chair
On this final day of the last stock-taking session, my delegation congratulates Co-Chairs on the successful conclusion of this phase of our work and commends your able leadership. We also appreciate the constructive participation by all Memver States, Major Groups, and other stakeholders and their valuable contributions.
Starting next month, we will begin consensus-building for specific goals and targets. We trust that an inclusive compendium by Co-Chairs will provide an excellent basis for the next phase of the OWG.
To conclude, we will continue to engage constructively in this important task, and we reassure you of our full support for your continued leadership. I thank you. //End//
