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First informal consultation with Stakeholders - on the Follow-up and Review of the 2030 Agenda at the global level
April 1st 2016, UN HQ, NY
Intervention by Naiara Costa on behalf of Together 2030
Your Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
Dear stakeholder colleagues,
I want to join my colleagues in thanking the Co-facilitators for creating this important opportunity of dialogue with stakeholders as Member States prepare for this very important negotiation.
I’m honored to speak today on behalf of Together 2030, a new global civil society initiative that promotes the implementation and accountability of the 2030 Agenda. Established in December 2015, Together 2030 already counts with more than 320 organizations in all regions of the world, around 73% of those based in developing countries.
My focus today is on sharing some reflections on the “inclusivity of the follow up and review process, including at the HLPF”. Let me detail some points:
In line with the principles agreed on the 2030 Agenda, we believe that review processes at national, regional and global levels should be inclusive, transparent and participatory, and provide spaces and capacity for civil society and stakeholders to hold governments accountable for their commitments. Therefore, civil society and stakeholders should have access to information, reports, meetings and be directly engaged in review efforts at all levels.
We consider that all countries should volunteer for at least three national reviews between 2016-2030 at the HLPF. On the other hand, national review processes should not be limited by the presentation at the HLPF and member states should be encouraged to undertake more reviews in alignment with their national sustainable development plans.
We expect presentations of national reviews at the HLPF to be spaces for meaningful and participatory discussions, focusing on recommendations to strengthen implementation at the national level.
National review reports should explicitly detail how civil society and stakeholders were consulted for their elaboration and how countries plan to follow up on the recommendations emanated from the HLPF.
Let me say, here, that for the HLPF to be really capable of “leaving no one behind” or “reaching the furthest behind first” a huge effort will need to be undertaken from Member States, the UN and from those that claim to represent those voices. We count on Member States to provide a strong message calling for openness and diversity in stakeholder participation at the HLPF. Member States should challenge the major groups and other stakeholders system to
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further develop mechanisms that include and create capacity for participation instead of coming back to approaches of the past, where power and access have been limited to the hands of a few.
For this reason, let me also take this opportunity to kindly ask for the forthcoming consultations to be organized in ways that allow for those that are not in New York or that cannot access the UN to be able to properly prepare and engage.
● Online platforms are one potential tool for collection of inputs although all efforts should be made to promote accessibility (especially for persons with disabilities) and to facilitate internet access. However, it is very important that the inputs collected via online platforms have a clear path towards deliberations of the HLPF, otherwise they may be easily ignored and participation will be far from meaningful.
● Finally, let me call your attention to the need for appropriate funding and technical support for the participation of civil society and other stakeholders at the HLPF and on follow up and review at all levels – this cannot be underestimated and Member States should commit to make the necessary contributions for participation to happen.
Thank you.
