9th Session of the UN General Assembly Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals, 3-5 March 2014 No 3

Meeting with Major Groups and Other Stakeholders

(The following is based on the report of Earth Negotiations Bulletin) and only refers to those interventions that pertain to sexual and reproductive health and rights,health, population dynamics, gender equality and youth)

Major Groups presented their reactions on the focus areas document on the afternoon of Wednesday 5 March. The session was introduced by Sascha Gabizon, Women’s Major Group who expressed appreciation
for the opportunity to interact with delegates. Among comments made by the Major Groups were the following:

• Women expressed disappointment that women’s rights were not more prominent in the document. The sustainable development goals (SDGs) should be firmly rooted in human rights.
• Children and Youth called for youth-sensitive targets and indicators, and youth inclusion in the design, development, and implementation of the agenda. They called inter alia for the inclusion of sexual and reproductive health and rights.
• Indigenous Peoples said there are insufficient opportunities for meaningful engagement with Member States. Respect for human rights is a cornerstone of sustainable development and must not be positioned only as an enabler of economic growth. 
• NGOs stressed the need for sustainable development, rather than economic growth, to be at the heart of all policies. The agenda should be built on existing agreements and there should be a stronger mandate for monitoring bodies.
• Local Authorities proposed a sustainable urbanization goal to universally address the cities of today and tomorrow. Such a goal could help formulate ideas on how interlinkages can strengthen partnerships and reflect the context of culture within the SDGs.
• Workers and Trade Unions said that employment and decent work for all should have a stand-alone goal; free education is missing from the focus areas document on education; and wage inequality is important for promoting equality.
• Business and Industry referred to the private sector as encompassing formal and informal, as well as micro, small, medium and large enterprises; local and global organizations; and private financial institutions and business associations. 
• The Stakeholder Forum presented a new report comparing Major Groups’ collective priorities with those of the focus areas document. Their analysis identifies 11 top priorities of Major Groups, including poverty eradication; gender equality and women’s empowerment; and sustainable cities and human settlements; SCP.

On health and population dynamics, a representative from Children and Youth, NGOs and Women expressed concern that healthy people were referred to as “assets,” and said any health goal must rest on the achievement of the highest standard of health, and services should be free of stigma and discrimination.

On gender equality and women’s empowerment, a representative from Women, NGOs and Children and Youth called for comprehensive sexuality education and the elimination of early and forced marriages and female genital mutilation.

On employment and decent work for all, a representative from Children and Youth, Workers and Trade Unions and Women expressed concern that this section contains the only mention of young people.

On equality, a representative from Children and Youth, NGOs, and Women stressed that the concept must be an overarching goal. Ending violence against the most marginalized must be pursued by including the most vulnerable in decision- making processes and the monitoring of the SDG framework.

See also Earth Negotiations Bulletin