The ‘informal informals’ concluded consideration of the revised text of the draft resolution on review and follow-up of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development on 25 May. A final version will be circulated by the Co-facilitators, Ambassadors Lois Young and Ib Petersen, today 26 May. It will be considered tomorrow 27 May, at which time it is hoped that agreement will be reached.
Major Groups and other Stakeholders (MGos) were given the opportunity to comment on the draft document at the end of the session, despite objections from the Russian Federation that it is not the tradition to give the floor to MGoS. In response the Co-facilitators said that it was up to them to conduct the meeting insofar as it was an ‘informal informal’ and, according to established practice for such meetings the floor was given to the MGoS after all Member States had taken the floor. Once there was final agreement, they would shift to the protocols for an informal meeting. They were supported by Australia, Belgium, USA, Switzerland, New Zealand and Canada.
During the afternoon (New York time), the co-facilitators held a webex with members of civil society. Comments were made by a number of organizations, including the Commonwealth Medical Trust, referring to the importance of coherence with review and appraisal in the World Health Assembly, particularly in years when Goal 3 on health was not being considered by the high-level political forum (HLPF).