Switzerland
Seul le texte prononcé fait foi
Check against delivery
1
Second meeting of intergovernmental negotiations on the
Post-2015 Agenda
Declaration
STATEMENT BY SWITZERLAND
New York, Tuesday, 18 February 2015
Co-Facilitators,
First of all we would like to thank you for the good elements paper on the
declaration as well as your guiding questions, which are a sound basis
to structure our discussions.
Switzerland supports your general call for an inspiring, short and ambitious
declaration that spells out a compelling vision for a sustainable future
without poverty.
The declaration should reaffirm the principles enshrined in the UN charter
as well as reinforce and make strong reference to human rights,
including civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights which
give the agenda the necessary legitimacy. The declaration should also
recall all Rio principles, the Millennium Declaration and the Rio+20 Outcome
Document and reiterate the importance of rule of law and good
governance for achieving sustainable development and poverty eradication.
Co-Facilitators
You asked us what we mean by transformative?Seul le texte prononcé fait foi
Check against delivery
2
We all know that business as usual is not an option if we want to achieve
sustainable development and a world without poverty. The following elements
are critical for a transformative shift to set our planet on a sustainable
development path. They should be firmly anchored in the declaration.
 A first element is a strong integration of the environmental dimension.
The Declaration should recall the concept of Planetary Boundaries
as they provide the safe operating space for humanity and recognize
the importance of decoupling economic growth from environmental
degradation. We depend on a healthy, reliable and resilient
environment. The Elements paper is too weak in this respect.
 A second element is to ensure that no one is left behind. Equality,
social inclusion and justice should be fundamental principles underpinning
the entire goal framework and appear explicitly in the Declaration.
Particular attention needs to be paid to inequalities faced by
women, children, elderly people and other vulnerable groups. Gender
inequality is the most widespread form of inequality and a major
obstacle to sustainable development.
In this context, moving away from national averages and towards a
much greater disaggregation of data will play a crucial role to ensure
that our efforts to tackle inequalities are successful.
 A third element of the mentioned transformative shift is the universality
of the Post-2015 Agenda. Increasing interdependence among
countries and the important global challenges that faces our generation
demands a universal framework for Sustainable Development.
This means that every country contributes to the achievement ofSeul le texte prononcé fait foi
Check against delivery
3
global goals according to national circumstances.
In order to spur action, we need a renewed global partnership based
on solidarity and shared responsibility. While every country is responsible
for its own sustainable development, international cooperation
will be needed to help those countries that do not have the capacities
to achieve the goals on their own. This renewed global
partnership has to ensure that all relevant stakeholders, including
private sector, civil society and academia can and will assume their
respective roles and responsibilities in a meaningful way, in order to
contribute to the implementation of the agenda at all levels. We
therefore call for strong language on the universality of the agenda
and the spirit of a renewed inclusive Global Partnership in the Declaration.
 A fourth and final transformative element of the Post-2015 Agenda is
its focus to tackle root causes of poverty, insecurity and unsustainable
development. In this context, improved policy coherence for sustainable
development is needed at national, regional and international
levels.
To emphasize the transformative nature of the shift we strive for, we
should start to speak of the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda
in the Declaration.
Co-Facilitators
The Declaration should highlight the importance of a universal monitoring,
follow-up and review framework at all levels and thereby promotingSeul le texte prononcé fait foi
Check against delivery
4
accountability. A robust, innovative and efficient mechanism for monitoring
and reviewing progress is essential for the effective implementation
of the SDGs. A respective mechanism should be inclusive and
participatory, transparent, manageable and promote peer learning as
well as the exchange of best practices. New scientific evidence should
also feed into the review process.
The Declaration should also specify a commitment by countries to
monitor, report, evaluate and review progress at regular intervals towards
the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The mandate of the High-level Political Forum (HLPF) should be reaffirmed
in the Declaration: Under the auspices of the ECOSOC, the HLPF
shall review on a regular basis progress made by countries and globally
in implementing the provisions of the Post-2015 Agenda. These reviews
should feed into the high-level review and stocktaking at the meeting of
the HLPF under the auspices of the GA every four years. The global review
should build on the work of national, regional and thematic monitoring
and review mechanisms.
Co-Facilitators
Regarding the UN’s role in the implementation of the Post-2015 Agenda,
Switzerland believes that our collective efforts in making the UN “fit for
purpose†require a deep analysis. Some fundamental issues, such as
the alignment of functions, funding practices, governance structures, capacity
and impact of the UN development system, partnership ap-Seul le texte prononcé fait foi
Check against delivery
5
proaches and organizational arrangements will have to be analyzed and
discussed. Given the complexity of the topic, Switzerland believes that
Heads of States should use the Post-2015 Agenda to send a strong
call to the UN System, requesting an in-depth review of how the different
entities can contribute to the realization of the SDGs. Such a review
should identify gaps, as well as make recommendations on how the
existing mandates might have to be adjusted in order to ensure that the
entities can collectively deliver on the new agenda. The ongoing dialogue
within ECOSOC (mandated by Member States) is useful in providing
a first structured exchange on these important questions.
Check against delivery
1
Second meeting of intergovernmental negotiations on the
Post-2015 Agenda
Declaration
STATEMENT BY SWITZERLAND
New York, Tuesday, 18 February 2015
Co-Facilitators,
First of all we would like to thank you for the good elements paper on the
declaration as well as your guiding questions, which are a sound basis
to structure our discussions.
Switzerland supports your general call for an inspiring, short and ambitious
declaration that spells out a compelling vision for a sustainable future
without poverty.
The declaration should reaffirm the principles enshrined in the UN charter
as well as reinforce and make strong reference to human rights,
including civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights which
give the agenda the necessary legitimacy. The declaration should also
recall all Rio principles, the Millennium Declaration and the Rio+20 Outcome
Document and reiterate the importance of rule of law and good
governance for achieving sustainable development and poverty eradication.
Co-Facilitators
You asked us what we mean by transformative?Seul le texte prononcé fait foi
Check against delivery
2
We all know that business as usual is not an option if we want to achieve
sustainable development and a world without poverty. The following elements
are critical for a transformative shift to set our planet on a sustainable
development path. They should be firmly anchored in the declaration.
 A first element is a strong integration of the environmental dimension.
The Declaration should recall the concept of Planetary Boundaries
as they provide the safe operating space for humanity and recognize
the importance of decoupling economic growth from environmental
degradation. We depend on a healthy, reliable and resilient
environment. The Elements paper is too weak in this respect.
 A second element is to ensure that no one is left behind. Equality,
social inclusion and justice should be fundamental principles underpinning
the entire goal framework and appear explicitly in the Declaration.
Particular attention needs to be paid to inequalities faced by
women, children, elderly people and other vulnerable groups. Gender
inequality is the most widespread form of inequality and a major
obstacle to sustainable development.
In this context, moving away from national averages and towards a
much greater disaggregation of data will play a crucial role to ensure
that our efforts to tackle inequalities are successful.
 A third element of the mentioned transformative shift is the universality
of the Post-2015 Agenda. Increasing interdependence among
countries and the important global challenges that faces our generation
demands a universal framework for Sustainable Development.
This means that every country contributes to the achievement ofSeul le texte prononcé fait foi
Check against delivery
3
global goals according to national circumstances.
In order to spur action, we need a renewed global partnership based
on solidarity and shared responsibility. While every country is responsible
for its own sustainable development, international cooperation
will be needed to help those countries that do not have the capacities
to achieve the goals on their own. This renewed global
partnership has to ensure that all relevant stakeholders, including
private sector, civil society and academia can and will assume their
respective roles and responsibilities in a meaningful way, in order to
contribute to the implementation of the agenda at all levels. We
therefore call for strong language on the universality of the agenda
and the spirit of a renewed inclusive Global Partnership in the Declaration.
 A fourth and final transformative element of the Post-2015 Agenda is
its focus to tackle root causes of poverty, insecurity and unsustainable
development. In this context, improved policy coherence for sustainable
development is needed at national, regional and international
levels.
To emphasize the transformative nature of the shift we strive for, we
should start to speak of the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda
in the Declaration.
Co-Facilitators
The Declaration should highlight the importance of a universal monitoring,
follow-up and review framework at all levels and thereby promotingSeul le texte prononcé fait foi
Check against delivery
4
accountability. A robust, innovative and efficient mechanism for monitoring
and reviewing progress is essential for the effective implementation
of the SDGs. A respective mechanism should be inclusive and
participatory, transparent, manageable and promote peer learning as
well as the exchange of best practices. New scientific evidence should
also feed into the review process.
The Declaration should also specify a commitment by countries to
monitor, report, evaluate and review progress at regular intervals towards
the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The mandate of the High-level Political Forum (HLPF) should be reaffirmed
in the Declaration: Under the auspices of the ECOSOC, the HLPF
shall review on a regular basis progress made by countries and globally
in implementing the provisions of the Post-2015 Agenda. These reviews
should feed into the high-level review and stocktaking at the meeting of
the HLPF under the auspices of the GA every four years. The global review
should build on the work of national, regional and thematic monitoring
and review mechanisms.
Co-Facilitators
Regarding the UN’s role in the implementation of the Post-2015 Agenda,
Switzerland believes that our collective efforts in making the UN “fit for
purpose†require a deep analysis. Some fundamental issues, such as
the alignment of functions, funding practices, governance structures, capacity
and impact of the UN development system, partnership ap-Seul le texte prononcé fait foi
Check against delivery
5
proaches and organizational arrangements will have to be analyzed and
discussed. Given the complexity of the topic, Switzerland believes that
Heads of States should use the Post-2015 Agenda to send a strong
call to the UN System, requesting an in-depth review of how the different
entities can contribute to the realization of the SDGs. Such a review
should identify gaps, as well as make recommendations on how the
existing mandates might have to be adjusted in order to ensure that the
entities can collectively deliver on the new agenda. The ongoing dialogue
within ECOSOC (mandated by Member States) is useful in providing
a first structured exchange on these important questions.
Stakeholders