26-27 May UN General Assembly interactive hearings on post-2015 agenda (will be web cast)

10:00am-1:00pm and 3:00-6:00pm each day UN General Assembly Hall, UN Headquarters with live web cast

In accordance with UN General Assembly resolution 69/244, informal interactive hearings on the post-2015 development agenda will take place on 26-27 May 2015, in the lead up to the UN Summit for the adoption of the post-2015 agenda (25-27 September 2015 in New York). The 26-27 May hearings are organized by the Office of the President of the General Assembly, supported by UN DESA, UN-NGLS, the Executive Office of the Secretary-General's Post-2015 Team, and the UN Global Compact, and are aimed at fostering active multi-stakeholder participation in the formulation of the agenda, while ensuring regional and gender balance as well as diversity of expertise, sectors, and age among speakers. 

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Food for thought paper on a possible Technology Facilitation Mechanism

The Co-facilitators of the April joint session on FfD and Post 2015 have issued a ‘food for thought’ paper on a possible Technology Facilitation Mechanism. It builds on existing proposals included in the FFD Revised Draft Addis Ababa Accord (6 May 2015) as well as on discussions during the Joint FFD/Post 2015 negotiations on 22 April and those in the FFD inter-sessional on 15 May.

The content also reflects some of the work being undertaken by the Informal inter-agency working group (IAWG) on a technology facilitation mechanism. It is envisaged that there will be further discussion of this topic during the next FFD inter-sessional in the week of 25 May 2015.

The full paper is available here.

Post-2015 development agenda session on follow-up and review, 18-22 May — No 10: Themes for the interactive dialogues for the September Summit, Rev 3

Building on the positive response to the interactive dialogues themes proposal circulated yesterday, a slightly revised proposal has been posted.

The co-facilitators are confident that this will be the basis for agreement and can be transmitted to the PGA for appropriate action following approval during the intergovernmental negotiations this afternoon. 

Post-2015 development agenda session on follow-up and review, 18-22 May – No 9: Statement by Group of 7

As reported on 7 May, the cross-regional Group of 7 countries, Egypt, Liechtenstein, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, the Republic of Korea and Switzerland, convened a workshop on building an effective mechanism for post-2015 development agenda. During the opening session the following statement was delivered by Norway on behalf of the Group:

Post-2015 IGN 5 – Follow-up and Review

Group of 7 Statement...

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Post-2015 development agenda session on follow-up and review, 18 -22 May – No 8: Statements by Group of 77 and China and Regional Groups

Following the opening remarks by the Co-facilitators, the Group of 77 and China and the Regional Groups made their opening statements: 

South Africa, speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, referred to the General Assembly Resolution 67/290, which led to the creation of the High-level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development. The G77 and China emphasized the need for an efficient, robust, inclusive and transparent follow up and review instrument as a cornerstone for a successful post-2015 development agenda. They reaffirmed the role and authority of the General Assembly as the chief deliberative, policymaking and representative UN organ and stressed the need sustainable development to be integrated further as a key element of the overarching framework for UN activities...

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Member States reach agreement on Further Modalities for FfD3

Following our posting on Member States Conclude Consultations on Further Modalities for FfD3, we now make available the resolution as adopted by the UN General Assembly. Please note that NGO participation is addressed in paragraph 8.

Post-2015 development agenda session on follow-up and review, 18-22 May -- No 7: revised proposal for the themes of the interactive dialogues to be held during the post-2015 Summit

The latest revisions for the themes of the interactive dialogues to be held during the post-2015 Summit are now available. They will probably be discussed on Thursday afternoon. 

Please note that there are some changes, including to the second theme which now reads:

Tackling inequalities, empowering women and girls and leaving no one behind...

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Post-2015 development agenda session on follow-up and review, 18 -22 May – No 6: Co-facilitators opening remarks

Opening the fifth session of the intergovernmental negotiations (IGN), Ambassador Macharia Kamau, Co-facilitator reminded delegates that this was the last of the ‘scripted’ sessions and hoped that it will be possible to adopt the post-2015 development agenda by the end of July.  

In referring to this conversation on follow-up and review, he said that it might be ‘tricky’ insofar as some elements of the agenda have yet to be tied down, while more clarity is needed in other areas. It is necessary to think beyond the negotiations to see where things will be in 2016 and beyond up to 2030. Everything that is being discussed now would require consideration as to how the process will be unfolding from 2016 to 2030.

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PRESS RELEASE: UN rights experts call for a central role for civil society to guarantee inclusive post-2015 development goals

GENEVA (18 May 2015) – A group of experts* from the largest body of independent experts in the United Nations Human Rights system today urged UN member States to recognize and support the role of a free and active civil society in the implementation of the post-2015 development agenda. “A central role for civil society is the only way to guarantee inclusive post-2015 development goals,” they said.

In a joint statement* issued today, as government representatives meet in New York from 18 to 22 May to discuss a monitoring and review framework for the post-2015 development agenda, the experts called for the new global goals to be firmly grounded in international human rights norms and standards, stressing the principle of participation.  

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UN President of the General Assembly holds meeting on strengthening cooperation between UN, Regional and Sub-Regional Organizations

As reported by IISD, on 4 May 2015, the President of the UN General Assembly, Sam Kutesa, convened a high-level thematic debate on strengthening cooperation between the UN, regional and sub-regional organizations. During the deliberations, delegates discussed strengthening strategic partnerships, as well as how engaging and mobilizing regional and sub-regional organizations to enable them to play an effective role in the implementation of the post-2015 development agenda. The event resulted in a negotiated declaration on strengthening cooperation between the UN, regional and sub-regional organizations, which was negotiated ahead of the debate and was expected to be adopted by the Assembly on 5 May 2015.

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