Statement by Ambassador Hahn Choong-hee
Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations
Sixth Session of Intergovernmental Negotiations on the Post-2015 Development Agenda (Follow-up and Review)
24 June 2015, New York
Thank you, Mr. Co-Facilitator, for giving me the floor.
1. The Republic of Korea agrees with the basic principles and central elements of the follow-up and review framework, as well as the relationship with the work of the UN system as reflected in the zero draft.
2. We especially welcome references to key aspects of follow-up and review processes such as the multi-tiered structure, multi-stakeholder participation, the importance of utilizing existing mechanisms including peer review at the regional level, as well as the role of HLPF as the central platform and the need for sufficient time for review.
3. However, the Republic of Korea is of the view that as the basic principles of follow-up and review, clear reference should be made to “shared responsibility” of all countries and actors as well as “universality” that is applicable to all actors at the national and global level, as proposed in the Secretary-General's Synthesis Report. Additionally, the vertical dimension of the follow-up and review framework should be more clearly emphasized, taking into account coherence and linkage in the multi-tiered review between the national, regional, and global levels.
4. In paragraph 11, we would like to see further clarification on the relationship between the follow-up and review of FfD and Post-2015, following the outcome of the Addis Ababa Conference on Financing for Development. Ultimately, follow-up and review should be a coherent mechanism with HLPF at its apex. We support the call for sufficient time for the HLPF to review progress on implementing the MOIs. The review of effectiveness of development cooperation should also constitute an integral part of the overall review. In this regard, the principles of effective development cooperation – national ownership, focus on results, inclusive partnership, transparency and accountability – should be highlighted in the document.
5. (National level) National reports will be crucial as the basis for review, and comparability will be needed for regional and global reviews. The participation of non-state actors such as civil society, academia, the private sector, local governments, and the UN system in the preparation of report should be more clearly facilitated. We support the request in paragraph 16 that the Secretary-General prepare guidelines for national reports and review processes.
6. (Regional level) We support the section on the regional level review, and especially welcome the reference to the need for peer reviews.
7. (Global level) While national and regional reviews are important, all countries should be given the opportunity for a global review to discuss the national implementation of the agenda at the global level. We will need to explore the appropriate architecture and incentives for all countries to participate in the global review. We have to also explore an appropriate modus operandi for thematic reviews, including how ECOSOC functional commission and other relevant subsidiary bodies and mechanisms play their roles in this process. And the result of the global review should be referred back to the national level, together with accountability, as a continuing feedback process.
8. ECOSOC, as the main body for coordination, policy review, and policy dialogue, also plays the key role in ensuring the integration of the three dimensions of sustainable development. How ECOSOC will contribute to the successful implementation of the post-2015 development agenda will be a critical issue. In this regard, we welcome the reference to the importance of the "ECOSOC Dialogues on the Longer Term Positioning of the UN Development System" in paragraph 15.
Thank you very much. /END/
