World Conference on Youth adopts Colombo Declaration on Youth: Mainstreaming Youth in the Post-2015 Development Agenda

At the end of the World Conference on Youth, participants adopted the Colombo Declaration on Youth: Mainstreaming Youth in the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

The Colombo Declaration includes paragraphs in its recommendations for action on encouraging universal access to sexual and reproductive health services and information for young people, regardless of marital status and encouraging the provision of sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights in accordance with the ICPD Programme of Action, the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences.

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Sexual and reproductive health and rights as included in Focal area 3 Health and Population Dynamics and Focal area 4 Education and Life Long Learning

Sexual and reproductive health and rights were discussed in the 11^th session of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals (OWG-11) under focus areas (FA) 3 on Health and Population Dynamics, particularly target F and FA 4 on Education and Life Long Learning and also under FA 5 on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment.

Under FA3 several delegates suggested that FA3 target A be separated into two targets one on maternal mortality and one on newborn and child

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Major Groups’ Statement on Gender Equality to OWG-11

Doris Mpoumou, of the International Planned Parenthood Federation/ Western hemisphere region presented the Women’s Major Group (WMG) statement to the 11^th session of the UN General Assembly’s Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals (OWG-11)

In the statement the WMG welcomed the retention of gender equality as a focus area but said that it was not bold and ambitious enough “to have a transformative impact on the lives of women and girls worldwide”.  

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Population Dynamics and the Open Working Group

As you may recall, population dynamics was included in the thematic consultations in preparation for the post-2015 development agenda in 2013, with the discussions focusing particularly on migration, urbanization, young people and the elderly. The Open Working Group (OWG) on Sustainable Development Goals, moreover, has included population dynamics in its deliberations under Focus Area 3: Health and Population Dynamics. Although there was a call by some members of the OWG to move the topic to other focus areas, such as economic growth, employment and infrastructure or sustainable cities and human settlements, it remains in Focus Area 3. In this session of the OWG-11, however, not a lot of attention has been paid to issues related to population dynamics, with the exception of migration.

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OWG- 11: Women’s Major Group calls for rewording of health goal and inclusion of sexual and reproductive health and rights in the Co-Chairs discussion with Major Groups and other Stakeholders

Shannon Kowalski, of the International Women’s Health Coalition, spoke on Focus Area 3: Health and Population Dynamics on behalf of the Women’s Major Group, and other stakeholders including the NCD Alliance, the FIA Foundation, the Partnership for Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport, the Stakeholder Group on Ageing, the Civil Society Working Group on HIV, and the World Society for the Protection of Animals.

In her intervention Shannon said:

“We strongly support a goal on health and suggest rewording it as follows: Ensure physically and mentally healthy lives for all across the lifecourse. This goal must:

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Post-2015: Say Yes to Youth Goal Event at the World Conference on Youth

As part of the campaign for “a standalone Youth Goal in the post-2015 development framework #Yes2YouthGoal”, Katherine Ellis, Youth Director of The Commonwealth, will debate the issue with Alain Sibenaler, UNFPA Representative and a host of other panelists at the World Conference on Youth on 8 May 2014. For further information visit their event website where you will also be able to watch it live. 

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International Campaign calls for inclusion of right to safe abortion in the post-2015 development agenda

Some 133 groups from 54 countries have signed the International Campaign for Women’s Right to Safe Abortion statement calling for the right to safe abortion to be included in the post-2015 development agenda. The statement is currently available in English and Spanish. Other organizations wishing to sign onto the statement should do so via the following link https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VXTNP93

The statement and signatures will be sent to a wide range of leaders and advocates in the post-2015 consultations and meetings, and will be available for posting on listserves and websites, and wider dissemination. 

OWG Revised Focus Areas document for May 5-9 OWG meeting

Beyond 2015 has produced a collective Beyond 2015 reaction and recommendations in response to the Open Working Group's revised Focus Areas contained in their Working Document for the 11th session of the OWG on May 5-9. It raises key points on issues including inequality and human rights and includes specific recommendations and suggested wording of targets under the different Focus Areas. See also Beyond2015.org

ECOSOC Youth Forum, New York, 2-3 June 2015

The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) will be holding a Youth Forum in New York from 2-3 June.  As of now, the programme is still being finalized, but the Forum will consist of Panel discussions on various themes related to Post-2015 with the participation of young people and various stakeholders, including Ministers of Youth and Sports. 

The primary participants will be Ministers of Youth and Sports, youth delegates, representatives from the Children and Youth Major Group, youth representatives from Member States, including from National Youth Councils, representatives of regional youth organizations and  youth-led and youth focused organizations and networks, including those in consultative status with ECOSOC. Virtual participation will also be possible through video-link.  The meeting will be available through webcast and participants will be able to pose questions via social media including Facebook and Twitter.

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Major Groups and other Stakeholders Morning Hearings for Open Working Group 11th Session

The timetable has been announced for Major Groups and other Stakeholders Morning Hearings for the 11th session of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals (OWG-11).

The first morning,  Monday 5 May, will be devoted to constituency-based statements, with focus area statements beginning on Tuesday 6 May, including those on health and population dynamics, education and lifelong learning and gender equality and women’s empowerment.