Post 2015-development agenda: IWRAW AP position paper on sustainable development goals and the post-2015 development agenda

IWRAW Asia Pacific has developed a position paper on the sustainable development goals, human rights and the post-2015 development agenda, following a meeting held early his year. Among other things it has a section on a framework for developing indicators from a human rights and gender equality perspective. This section draws heavily from the work of the  OHCHR on Human Rights Indicators. (See page 13 of the Position Paper).

Global Movement for Children of Latin America and Caribbean: Child-friendly version of sustainable development goals and targets

The Global Movement for Children of Latin America and Caribbean (MMI-LAC) has produced a child-friendly version of the 17 sustainable development goals and targets. The publication was referred to in his presentation by Peter van der Vliet of the Mission of the Netherlands to the United Nations during his statement during the recent General Assembly second negotiating session, when he said his 13-year old daughter had used it at school. 

Editor’s note: If the 17 goals and 169 targets can be made comprehensible to a 13-year old , is the argument really valid that there are too many goals and targets?

Addendum to Report of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals

An Addendum has been issued to the Report of the Open Working Group (OWG) on Sustainable Development Goals (See: Open Working Group adopts Outcome Document on Sustainable Development Goals)  (A/68/970/Add 1) giving explanations of position and reservation on the report.

Apart from many reservations that were issued on Goal 16, a number of countries made reservations on Goal 3, target 3.7 and on Goal 5, target 5.6.

1 Summary of types of reservations on sexual and reproductive health and rights and related issues

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Accountability and the post-2015 development agenda – No 3

Discussions in General Assembly Second Committee

As reported by the IISD, on 31 October 2014 the UN General Assembly Second Committee (which discussed economic and financial issues) held a panel discussion on 'Promoting accountability at all levels: monitoring the post-2015 development agenda,' during which participants identifed principles for an accountability mechanism for the post-2015 development agenda, and opportunities for its design. 

It was chaired by Borg Tsien Tham (Singapore), Rapporteur of the Second Committee, who opened the discussion, saying that the UNGA has a "critical role" to play in providing policy guidance for strengthening a development accountability mechanism.

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Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform — adds post-2015 portal

The Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) has added a portal on the post-2015 process: 2015: Time for global action for people and planet.

There are two pages – a ‘description’ page and a page on ‘work streams’.

The ‘description’ page refers to the establishment of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals, and its resulting proposal for 17 goals and 169 targets. It also notes the appointment of the Permanent Representatives of Kenya and Ireland as co-facilitators to lead consultations on the post-2015 development agenda up to the Summit in September. It states that the “post-2015 development agenda will address the need for a monitoring and accountability framework, as well as fleshing out a revitalized global partnership for sustainable development.”

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Accountability and the post-2015 development agenda – No 2

As reported by the Non-Governmental Liaison Service (NGLS) in their update, the Regional Economic Commissions held consultations in August and September on a post-2015 accountability framework. These consultations will provide input into the Secretary-General’s Synthesis Report, which is expected later this year. 

Synthesis Report of the Regional Commission Consultations

The Synthesis Report of the Regional Commission Consultations “Towards an effective monitoring and accountability framework for the post-2015 development agenda: perspectives from the regions” builds on the regional consultations held in August and September: 

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OWG Co-Chairs reflect on sustainable development

As reported in the IISD Sustainable Development Policy and Practice, the Co-Chairs of the Open Working Group (OWG) on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) reflected on the OWG's work and its proposed goals and targets at an event hosted by the Women's International Forum, which was sponsored by the Executive Office of the UN Secretary-General.

Csaba Kőrösi, Permanent Representative of Hungary, and Macharia Kamau, Permanent Representative of Kenya, spoke of the possibility of a more sustainable future under the theme 'Humanity at a Crossroad: How to Shape a New Sustainable Development Trajectory.' 

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Preparations for Post-2015 Indicator Framework

As reported on the iisd website: The UN Statistics Division (UNSD) has issued a note on ‘Work on the indicator framework for the post-2015 development agenda,' in the context of the 24th Session of the Committee for the Coordination of Statistical Activities, held in Rome, Italy, on 11-12 September 2014. 

According to the note, the goals and targets as included in the Report of the Open Working Group (OWG) and the General Assembly outcome on the post-2015 development agenda will serve as the basis for the framework, which will provide indicators to monitor and report progress on the agenda.

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Accountability and the post-2015 development agenda – No 1

As called for by the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons, the post-2015 development agenda, in forming a new global partnership, should be underpinned by “a new spirit of solidarity, cooperation, and mutual accountability.” Data, monitoring and accountability, moreover, has been included under proposed Goal 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development, as included in the report of the UN General Assembly Open Working Group (OWG) on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It has also been the topic of one of the World We Want 2015 Thematic Consultations.

Most recently a series of Regional Consultations are taking place.  These will feed into the Secretary-General’s Synthesis Report that will guide the deliberations in the General Assembly. During the coming days we will posting reports and information on the se consultations on the website.  

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General Assembly agrees that the Report of the Open Working Group will be the “main basis” for the Sustainable Development Goals in the Post-2015 Development

The UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution in plenary on 10 September 2014 that makes the Report of the Open Working Group (OWG) on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) “the main basis for integrating sustainable development goals into the post-2015 development agenda.” (A/68/L.61, as orally revised, and issued officially as A/RES/68/309).

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