General Assembly High Level event on the role of Women, Young People and Civil Society

DAY 2

The second morning of the President of the General Assembly’s Setting the Stage initiative, on the role of Women, Young People and Civil Society began with a panel discussion on “Closing the inequality gap: efforts for addressing inequalities and meeting new and emerging global challenges for the eradication of poverty through meaningful contributions of women, the young and civil society in the post-2015 development agenda.”

The chair, Tarja Halonen, former President of Finland in her opening address stated that women and young people are in fact the largest groups worldwide facing systematic discrimination and inequalities and that many of them face multiple forms of discrimination and exclusion due to their national, racial or ethnic background, the class they belong to, because they live with disabilities, because of their sexual identity, and for many other reasons.

She referred to the work of the High Level Task Force for the International Conference on Population and Development, of which she is the co-chair, as it relates to the three critical pillars for achieving inclusive and sustainable development: gender equality and the human rights of women and girls; the rights and empowerment of adolescents and youth; and sexual and reproductive health and rights for all.

There is a choice between the easy option: a Post 2015 Agenda that is not much more ambitious from its predecessor, the Millennium Development Goals, or a new development agenda, with the priority on gender equality and on young people. For societies to be successful, we need: women’s empowerment, gender equality, and protection of sexual and reproductive health and rights. In addition education is a human right that still far too many women do not enjoy, and it is vital for the eradication of poverty and for breaking down cycles of gender-based violence, which is pervasive throughout the world. As she said “A stand-alone goal, and gender mainstreamed across all other goals, can address all priority areas for fulfilling the human rights of women and girls in a holistic way”

Less has been heard about adolescents and youth and more must be done to bring them to the forefront of our discussions. This includes addressing youth unemployment, but also their sexual and reproductive health and rights as well as education. She referred particularly to recent calls for a stand-alone goal on adolescents and youth. Civil society, moreover, must be supported to participate meaningfully including in access to decision-making from local to global levels, to information, to freedom of expression and of organization, and it means adequate funding to support their role.

Following Ms Halonen’s presentation there were panel presentations and comments by discussants.

The afternoon session focused on “Strategies for the effective, inclusive and participatory roles for women, the young and civil society in the post-2015 development agenda: identifying best practices, tools and mechanisms, and exploring opportunities for new, transparent and sustainable development.

For programme, statements and videos of sessions see: http://www.un.org/en/ga/president/68/settingthestage/2wycs.shtml

For UN Secretary-General's closing statement and further information also see http://post2015.iisd.org/news/unga-holds-high-level-event-on-women-youth-and-civil-society/