At the end of the UNCSD Informal Informal Consultations in New York, 23 April – 4 May 2011, delegations had agreed only 21 paragraphs of the draft outcome document ad referendum (pending agreement on the final text) with a further 400 remaining in brackets. With so little time remaining before the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) takes place in Rio de Janeiro on 20-22 June, a further negotiating session has been added, which will be held at UN Headquarters in New York from 29 May to 2 June.

Under its Co-Chairs, John Ashe (Antigua and Barbuda) and Kim Sook (Republic of Korea), negotiations during the April-May Consultations were held in two working groups: Working Group I addressed Sections III Green Economy and V Framework for Action and Follow-Up of the draft Outcome document; and Working Group 2 discussed Sections I (Preamble); II (Renewing Political Commitment) and IV (Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development). (Note: Paragraphs related to sexual and reproductive health, gender equality and youth are mainly included in Sections II and V of the document.)

In section II Renewing Political Commitment, (B) Assessing progress to date and remaining gaps, and addressing new and emerging challenges, among the contentious issues remaining in brackets are those related to poverty and population, with the Holy See maintaining its reservation on mentioning population dynamics and the G-77/China not supporting a US reference to access to sexual and reproductive health.

Two paragraphs were agreed on women’s leadership role, gender equality and women’s empowerment in section II Renewing Political Commitment, (C) Engaging major groups, although others remained in brackets. While developed countries put forward language on ‘women’s leadership’ the G-77/China (the group that comprises the developing countries) and Russian Federation supported ‘women’s empowerment’.

Health, gender equality and empowerment of women are included in Section V Framework for Action and Follow-Up (A) Priority / key / thematic / cross-sectoral issues and areas.

“While there was general consensus on the need for a strong subsection on this topic, opinions differed on phrasing and which initiatives and aspects to highlight. Among the proposals were references to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (Norway, the G-77/China, EU, US and Liechtenstein); putting women on equal footing with men on sustainable development decision-making roles (Norway, Liechtenstein, New Zealand and the EU); increasing the number of women in leadership positions to at least 40% (Iceland); giving women the right to inherit property (Norway); and committing wording for use of gender-sensitive indicators (Norway and EU).

In addition “various proposals highlight women’s vital role in sustainable development, barriers to full participation in the economy and decision-making, rural women and girls, and family planning and other sexual and reproductive rights.”

For a full report on the Consultations see Earth Negotiations Bulletin.