Mogens Lykketoft of Denmark is elected President of the upcoming 70th session of the UN General Assembly

The United Nations General Assembly has elected Mogens Lykketoft of Denmark, as President of its upcoming 70th session by acclamation. 

Mr. Lykketoft, who has served both as Denmark’s Foreign and Finance Ministers, declared in addressing the Assembly that his Presidency would be marked by a “commitment to action” towards building “a more fair and stable world” in line with the objectives set out by the UN Millennium Development Goals. The three priorities that, he said, would define his mandate, including a commitment to action, a surge in UN efforts to cement international peace and security, and a clear effort to support further progress for human rights...

Click to read more ...

Post-2015 development agenda intergovernmental negotiations, 22-25 June No 3: more information on possibilities for civil society inputs

As can be seen in the draft programme for the intergovernmental negotiations on the post-2015 development agenda, there will be a meeting with Major Groups and other Stakeholders on the morning of Wednesday 24 June. Civil society is being invited to comment on two parts of the zero draft, namely the Declaration and the follow-up and review. 

In order to have your views be included in the process please note the following information that has been circulated by DESA-DSD and UN-NGLS on 16 June:...

Click to read more ...

Major Groups and Other Stakeholders Workshop on Governance, Transparency and Accountability, 18-19 June

A two day workshop is being coordinated by the HLPF Working Group in collaboration with UN DESA-DSD to discuss ways in which the mechanism of Major Groups and other Stakeholders (MGoS) could be adapted to best function in the context of the review architecture to be put in place for the sustainable development agenda at the national, regional and global levels, including the HLPF as well as the other platforms where the review of post-2015 is expected to occur. (The WMG, like all the Major Groups and interested other stakeholders, is part of the HLPF Working Group.)...

Click to read more ...

Third drafting session for the preparatory process for the Third International Conference on Financing for Development FfD 3) begins in New York

In accordance with General Assembly resolution 68/279, informal meetings of the plenary as part of the preparatory process for the Third International Conference on Financing for Development (third drafting session) are taking place at the UN in New Your, from today, Monday, 15 June, to Friday, 19 June 2015. The session is being chaired by Co-Facilitators George Talbot, Permanent Representative of Guyana, and Geir Pedersen, Permanent Representative of Norway.

This session follows the Third Additional Session, which was held from 1-5 June 2015. Throughout this five-day session, which was an informal meeting of the plenary, delegates completed the second reading of the revised FfD3 draft outcome document, which they had begun during the second additional session...

Click to read more ...

UN Statistics Division issues IAEG-SDGs draft main conclusions for meeting, 1-2 June 2015

Following the first meeting of the Inter-agency and Expert Group on the Sustainable Development Goal Indicators (IAEG-SDGs), the UN Statistics Division (UNSD), as its Secretariat, has issued the draft version of the main conclusions of the meeting, which took place on 1-2 June 2015 (See: Meeting of the UN Statistical Commission Inter-Agency and Expert Group on Sustainable Development Goals, 1-2 June 2015. They were circulated to members of the group for their review on 5 June 2015.

In the draft conclusions, the IAEG-SDGs agreed that global indicators should be limited in number, while including multi-purpose indicators that address several targets at the same time. Some targets might require multiple indicators, and the need to address the issue of disaggregation systematically and “to leave no one behind” is recognized...

Click to read more ...

Post-2015 development agenda intergovernmental negotiations, 22-25 June No 2: Further information

The intergovernmental negotiations (IGN) in June will consider the Zero draft of the outcome document for the UN Summit to adopt the Post-2015 Development Agenda, dated June 8. The eight sessions will open with one on general statements and the declaration, followed by a session devoted to the declaration; two sessions on the goals and targets; a meeting with Major Groups and other stakeholders; two sessions on follow-up and review; one on means of implementation; and a closing session.

With this draft programme before the IGN, it is most likely that there will be more general comments on the various parts of the zero draft, rather than more detailed or line-by-line negotiations. This could then take place in July.

Click to read more ...

Post-2015 development agenda intergovernmental negotiations, 22-25 June No 1: civil society participation and draft programme released

We have received the following email from Susan Alzner, NGLS

Dear Colleagues, 

The programme for the sixth session of the intergovernmental negotiations on the post-2015 development agenda, to be held from 22-25 June, has been posted online. This session will focus on the zero draft of the outcome document, which is available at this same link.  

Please note that all representatives of Major Groups and other Stakeholders must register to attend the June negotiating session by completing the form.

Click to read more ...

Incheon Declaration on Education for All by 2030 adopted at World Education Forum 2015

As reported by IISD, the Incheon Declaration was adopted at the 2015 World Education Forum (WEF), which took place in Incheon, Republic of Korea, from 18-22 May 2015. The Forum addressed five themes: the right to education; equity in education; inclusive education; quality education; and lifelong learning. 

In the Incheon Declaration countries commit to undertake steps toward promoting education opportunities for all by 2030, within a framework to be finalized by November 2015. It expresses agreement on “essential elements” of the Education 2030 Framework for Action, and builds on the UN-led Education For All (EfA) framework and goals. A final version of the 2030 Framework will be adopted and launched at a high-level meeting in November 2015, to take place alongside the 38th session of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) General Conference.

Click to read more ...

UN General Assembly informal interactive hearings on post-2015 agenda

The informal interactive hearings on the post-2015 development agenda took place on 26-27 May 2015, involving major groups and other stakeholders as well as the private sector.

Speakers included Mrinalini Rai and Emilia Reyes of the Women’s Major Group, as well as Javier Pineda of the Latin American and Caribbean Youth Alliance and Youth Leadership Working Group, whose statement is set out below.

Click to read more ...

Meeting of the UN Statistical Commission Inter-Agency and Expert Group on Sustainable Development Goals, 1-2 June 2015

The first meeting of the UN Statistical Commission Inter-Agency and Expert Group on Sustainable Development Goals (IAEG-SDGs) was held from 1-2 June 2015. It comprises 28 Member States from all regions, with a number of countries represented by their missions rather than statistical experts. The agenda before the IAEG was to develop the framework, establish working methods of the group and agree the way forward. Its elected Co-chairs were Mrs Lisa Grace Bersales and Fabiola Riccardini...

Click to read more ...