Goals 3, 4 and 5 discussed by IAEG-SDGs

The third meeting of the Inter-Agency and Expert Group on SDGs (IAEG-SDGs) was opened by the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Mexico City, on Wednesday 30 March 2016. Opening remarks were also made by the President of the National Institute of Statistics and Geography; Lenni Montiel, Assistant Secretary General for Economic Development (UN-DESA); and Alicia Bárcena, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

Francesca Perucci, UN Statistics Division (UNSD), gave an overview of the outcome of the 47^th session of the UN Statistical Commission, (See: Statistical Commission adopts decision on indicators for 2030 Agenda) after which an update was given on the work of the High-Level group (HLG) for partnership, coordination and capacity-building for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

During the afternoon session presentations were made on the Tier III indicators for Goals 1, 2 and 10 and for Goals 3, 4 and 5. The presentations during the discussions on Goals 3, 4 and 5 included those on indicator 3.5.1 on substance abuse, and by WHO on indicators 3.8.1 and 3.8.2 on universal health coverage. In describing target 3.8 as an “uber target”, WHO said that they were happy with the categorization of the indicators as Tier III, insofar in the case of 3.8.2 that there is no internationally agreed terminology and the indicator captures the promise and not the experience. They also pointed out that a proportion of the population experiences a large proportion of their income being used for health costs and that 3.8.1 and 3.8.2 should be analysed together.

Under Goal 5, UNFPA gave a presentation on the indicators for target 5.6 on sexual and reproductive and reproductive rights, during which they referred to their collaboration with civil society organizations and said that they will have a final proposal for the 2017 session of the Statistical Commission for indicators 5.6.1 and 5.6.2.

Stakeholders presentation on Goals 3, 4 and 5

Three civil society organizations were given three minutes each at the end of the afternoon to speak on behalf of stakeholders. Antonia Wulff of Education International made the following presentation on goals 3 on health, 4 on education and 5 on gender equality and women’s empowerment:

“Following on from the presentations by the WHO, we wish to point out that over 300 organizations are seriously concerned about indicator 3.8.2, which does not reflect the true intent of the target insofar as financial risk protection, is not captured in its current iteration. In addition, it is not policy-neutral and risks promoting one potential route to universal health coverage, above others. This can be rectified by refining the indicator to a “lack of coverage by a form of financial protection”, defined as household health expenditure as a proportion of total household expenditure, with a threshold, for example, greater than 25 percent. This will ensure that indicator 3.8.2 is relevant to the target and methodologically sound, with data available and in accordance with internationally agreed standards.

“In Goal 4 on education, while target 4.1 is on completion of free quality primary and secondary education, indicator 4.1.1 on testing does not accurately reflect the target. It captures neither completion nor provision of free education. This means that no indicator addresses the 60 million children currently out of school.

“4.1.1 is tier III due to the lack of a global metric of learning. The target, however, does not call for a global metric but for all children to complete secondary education. We would therefore suggest that the indicator be adjusted to “Percentage of children completing free (i) primary, (ii) lower-secondary and (iii) upper-secondary education.

“For Goal 5, regarding legal framework indicators (5.1.1, 5.6.2, 5.c.1) it is important to strengthen and periodically update UN Women's Global Database on Violence against Women, with all relevant laws addressing gender equality, and violence against women, including sexual violence. This data must be collected at the national level through the active involvement of governments, UN agencies, and civil society.

“On elimination of all forms of violence against women and young people, indicators 5.2.1, 5.2.2, 5.3.1, 5.3.2, 5.6.1, 5.6.2 Demographic and Health Surveys provide relevant data but it is only collected for ages 15- 49. These surveys must cover the lower age limit of 10 years and extend the upper age limit, to capture the full extent of violence against women and young people.

“Under target 5.6, as methodologies to fully measure both indicators exist, including DHS and MICS, we call for moving both these indicators to Tier 2.

Lastly, we call for standardised cross-comparable methodologies in the measurement of Goal 5 indicators, to enable cross-country learning and the fullest measurement of the Goal's targets.”