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Informal consultation with Member States and stakeholders on the Follow-up and Review of the 2030 Agenda at the Global Level
April 28 2016, UN HQ, NY
Intervention by Naiara Costa on behalf of Together 2030
Thanks for the opportunity of engaging in this informal consultation today. I will share some specific comments from Together 2030 on the “essential elements” paper. Our detailed position paper has been already disseminated and is at the disposal of Member States and of the co-facilitators.
Let me start with two general considerations follows by specific comments on three areas. The resolution should not just be “based” upon the principles as identified in para 74 of the 2030 Agenda, but actively reaffirm them and seek to realise them. These include the universality and indivisibility of the SDGs, the commitment to leave no one behind, the commitment to participatory, transparent and human rights-based processes, and the commitment to support reporting by all relevant stakeholders, amongst others.
In particular, the resolution should reaffirm that reviews at all levels should “have a particular focus on the poorest, most vulnerable and those furthest behind” (para 74e) and be evidence-based, using data that is fully disaggregated (74g).
Our specific comments focus on Themes, National Reviews and Participation:
1) On Themes
We agree that the themes for the HLPF should be established in advance, to allow appropriate time for Member States and Stakeholders to prepare. The resolution should decide on the Themes for 2017, 2018 and 2019 and also agree that the themes for 2020, 2021 and 2022 will be defined during the HLPF Session of 2018, creating a more predictable mechanism. Civil society and stakeholders should be invited to provide inputs on the themes for the HLPF.
If MS decide to carry out thematic reviews on a limited or sub-set of goals, the resolution should be clear that this will be identified based on crosscutting issues for implementation and protecting the interlinkages and indivisibility of the goals.
2) National Reviews
We consider that States should be encouraged to volunteer for at least three national reviews at the HLPF and not only two. The President of ECOSOC should be asked to consult Member States on their intention to report in the next 3-4 years, which will facilitate planning at the national and global levels.
Member States should be further encouraged to conduct “more regular and inclusive reviews of progress at the national and sub-national levels” in line with para 79 of the 2030 Agenda and not only connected to volunteer reviews at the HLPF.
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States should agree to include in their reports information on the process followed for generating the report, including on the engagement of civil society and other stakeholders, as per paras 74 and 79 of the 2030 Agenda.
3) Participation
On participation, we are concerned that the language outlined in the “elements paper” does not properly reflect the commitments on the 2030 Agenda or with the Resolution 67/290. The full language of para 14 of 67/290 should be retained, with Member States stressing the need for the HLPF to “promote transparency and implementation by further enhancing the consultative role and participation of the major groups and other relevant stakeholders at the international level in order to make better use of their expertise, while retaining the intergovernmental nature of discussions”. The partial language, which only mentions having the HLPF “open” to stakeholders does not reflect the full commitment of Member States. The resolution should also, as a minimum, reaffirm that the HLPF will support participation of major groups and other stakeholders (para 89) and that those will be allowed to attend all meetings of the HLPF; have access to all official information and documents, intervene in official meetings, submit documents and present written and oral contributions, and make recommendations as per res 67/290 para 15. Member States should recognize and commit to undertake efforts to enable the participation of the most vulnerable and marginalized – those considered to be left behind – at the HLPF. The resolution should encourage consideration of innovative ways of facilitating participation of stakeholders from developing AND developed countries, especially of those furthest behind, to respect the universality of the Agenda. Finally, the use of web-based interfaces should be promoted but Member States should also recognize that this should not be the only participatory tool for civil society and stakeholders to engage with the HLPF deliberations.
Thank you.
