69th session of the United Nations General Assembly
“Our goal is simple but daunting -- prosperity and dignity for all”
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urges member states to collaborate on a development agenda for all world citizens.
NEW YORK (ILO News) – Climate change and poverty emerged as standout issues hours before the official opening of the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“We must build a framework that will sustain and finish what we have accomplished with the Millenium Development Goals in our fight against poverty, hunger, ignorance and disease,” said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in a final push to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by the end of next year. “We must rise to challenges old and new, not least climate change.”
Addressing attendees of the High-level Stocktaking Event in New York, he added: “Our goal is simple but daunting -- prosperity and dignity for all in a world where humankind lives in harmony with nature.”
The meeting allowed the chance for Member States and other stakeholders to add their feedback to the Secretary-General’s Synthesis Report, to the work of the 69th session of the General Assembly, and to the progression of the post-2015 development agenda itself.
Pressing priorities
Ban stressed the importance of three priorities: to make the final push to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by the end of next year; to agree on and launch a new development agenda that builds on their legacy; and for Member States to fulfill their pledge to deliver a meaningful universal climate change agreement by the end of next year.
He warned delegates of the intense upcoming year and the need to integrate the post-2015 UN development agenda in such a way that met the expectation of all world citizens.
The Secretary-General reiterated his promise to reflect the key elements and aspirations of Member States and all other stakeholders in his Synthesis Report, expected by the end of 2014. The Report will be presented to Member States to set the stage for negotiations leading up to the September 2015 summit.
The meeting set the stage for participants to discuss outcomes of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 2012 including the Open Working Group (OWG) on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The outcome document of the Rio+20 Conference “The Future We Want” recognized the need for the significant mobilization of resources, a financing strategy, and facilitation mechanisms to achieve the sustainable development objectives.
‘Bold and pragmatic’
UNGA President John Ashe invited members to be “bold and pragmatic in about what could constitute a truly participatory, inclusive, people-centered, post-2015 Development Agenda that has the eradication of extreme poverty as its overarching objective.”
Ashe noted that the agenda must focus on goals that are specific, measurable and time-bound. He repeated the need for a green and holistic approach, the involvement of people and society in implementation, the importance of institutions and governance at the national and international level, an enhanced global partnership and a more robust accountability framework.
Lastly, he said two areas needing improvement include financing strategic guidelines for sustainable development and clean and environmental technologies for development.
The General Assembly agreed that the core of the SDGs focused on urgent issues that go beyond the MDGs, making their integration essential to the post-2015 development agenda. During this process, Member States recognized the importance of accountability, scientific evidence and the need to address the data revolution. A few proposed to further enhance the basis of the SDGs by lessening some of the goals and giving greater recognition to issues such as the rule of law and Responsibility to Protect (R2P).
All Member States recognized the value of a transformative, aspiring and attainable agenda which could also be monitored. Overall, members agreed that country reviews could allow information-sharing and best practices as well as lead to financial assistance and capacity development for developing countries.
Ashe recognized that implementation and accountability mechanisms would not be possible without cooperation and the strengthening of partnerships, recognizing that the result of the SDGs had benefited from contributions from academia, business, civil society and other stakeholders.
He also stressed that “the new partnership for development should make use of all forms of cooperation, including North-South, South-South and triangular” and that the post-2015 Development Agenda be one “that addresses access to information, participation and representation of the most vulnerable and marginalized - women, the young, Indigenous People, older persons and persons with disabilities.”
Member states agreed that youth had to be involved in the setting and implementing the SDGs, as their alienation could risk the entire process.
“We must build a framework that will sustain and finish what we have accomplished with the Millenium Development Goals in our fight against poverty, hunger, ignorance and disease,” said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in a final push to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by the end of next year. “We must rise to challenges old and new, not least climate change.”
Addressing attendees of the High-level Stocktaking Event in New York, he added: “Our goal is simple but daunting -- prosperity and dignity for all in a world where humankind lives in harmony with nature.”
The meeting allowed the chance for Member States and other stakeholders to add their feedback to the Secretary-General’s Synthesis Report, to the work of the 69th session of the General Assembly, and to the progression of the post-2015 development agenda itself.
Pressing priorities
Ban stressed the importance of three priorities: to make the final push to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by the end of next year; to agree on and launch a new development agenda that builds on their legacy; and for Member States to fulfill their pledge to deliver a meaningful universal climate change agreement by the end of next year.
He warned delegates of the intense upcoming year and the need to integrate the post-2015 UN development agenda in such a way that met the expectation of all world citizens.
The Secretary-General reiterated his promise to reflect the key elements and aspirations of Member States and all other stakeholders in his Synthesis Report, expected by the end of 2014. The Report will be presented to Member States to set the stage for negotiations leading up to the September 2015 summit.
The meeting set the stage for participants to discuss outcomes of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 2012 including the Open Working Group (OWG) on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The outcome document of the Rio+20 Conference “The Future We Want” recognized the need for the significant mobilization of resources, a financing strategy, and facilitation mechanisms to achieve the sustainable development objectives.
‘Bold and pragmatic’
UNGA President John Ashe invited members to be “bold and pragmatic in about what could constitute a truly participatory, inclusive, people-centered, post-2015 Development Agenda that has the eradication of extreme poverty as its overarching objective.”
Ashe noted that the agenda must focus on goals that are specific, measurable and time-bound. He repeated the need for a green and holistic approach, the involvement of people and society in implementation, the importance of institutions and governance at the national and international level, an enhanced global partnership and a more robust accountability framework.
Lastly, he said two areas needing improvement include financing strategic guidelines for sustainable development and clean and environmental technologies for development.
The General Assembly agreed that the core of the SDGs focused on urgent issues that go beyond the MDGs, making their integration essential to the post-2015 development agenda. During this process, Member States recognized the importance of accountability, scientific evidence and the need to address the data revolution. A few proposed to further enhance the basis of the SDGs by lessening some of the goals and giving greater recognition to issues such as the rule of law and Responsibility to Protect (R2P).
All Member States recognized the value of a transformative, aspiring and attainable agenda which could also be monitored. Overall, members agreed that country reviews could allow information-sharing and best practices as well as lead to financial assistance and capacity development for developing countries.
Ashe recognized that implementation and accountability mechanisms would not be possible without cooperation and the strengthening of partnerships, recognizing that the result of the SDGs had benefited from contributions from academia, business, civil society and other stakeholders.
He also stressed that “the new partnership for development should make use of all forms of cooperation, including North-South, South-South and triangular” and that the post-2015 Development Agenda be one “that addresses access to information, participation and representation of the most vulnerable and marginalized - women, the young, Indigenous People, older persons and persons with disabilities.”
Member states agreed that youth had to be involved in the setting and implementing the SDGs, as their alienation could risk the entire process.