A Ministerial Declaration was agreed at the end of the 2014 high-level segment (Annual Ministerial Review) of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the High-level Political Forum (HLPF), which was convened under the auspices of the Council.
The theme for the Annual Ministerial Review was “Addressing ongoing and emerging challenges for meeting the Millennium Development Goals in 2015 and for sustaining development gains in the future” and for the HLPF “Achieving the Millennium Development Goals and charting the way for an ambitious post-2015 development agenda, including the sustainable development goals.”
Indeed the Declaration stressed that the Ministers:
“Are committed to establishing a strong, ambitious, inclusive and people-centred post-2015 development agenda that will build on the foundations laid and experienced gained by the MDGs, complete the unfinished business and respond to new challenges.” (para 13)
It emphasizes, moreover, the post-2015 agenda as using a “coherent approach … working towards a single framework and set of goals…” and promoting “peace and security, democratic governance, the rule of law, gender equality and human rights for all.” (para 16) It also reaffirms
“…the need to achieve sustainable development by promoting sustained, inclusive and equitable economic growth, creating greater opportunities for all, reducing inequalities, raising basic standards of living, fostering equitable social development and inclusion, and promoting the integrated and sustainable management of natural resources and ecosystems that supports, inter alia, economic, social and human development while facilitating ecosystem conservation, regeneration and restoration and resilience in the face of new and emerging challenges.” (para 18)
Furthermore, the Declaration looks forward to the Secretary-General’s synthesis report before the end of 2014 as an input to the intergovernmental negotiations, which will be launched at the beginning of the 69th session of the UN General Assembly. (para 23)
Insofar as its focus is much more on the sustainable development and environmental pillars than on the social pillar of the post-2014 development agenda, it will be important for civil society to continue to work to ensure that all three pillars are fully addressed in the negotiations going forward and that the social pillar is not left behind.
The full text of the Ministerial Declaration is now available: [Arabic] [Chinese] [English] [French] [Russian] [Spanish]