7 May 2015: The second session of the Arab High-Level Forum on Sustainable Development concluded with adoption of the Bahrain Document, which highlights the importance of common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR) and the need to promote an enabling environment for achieving sustainable development in the post-2015 era.

The forum took place in Manama, Bahrain, from 5-7 May 2015, organized by the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), in cooperation with the League of Arab States.

AFSD participants discussed: the transition from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Arab region; global processes leading to the post-2015 development agenda; means of implementation (MOI) including financing for sustainable development, capacity building and technology transfer; the institutional framework for sustainable development in the region; and monitoring of sustainable development progress.

Delegates highlighted the right to development and the need to promote principles of good governance in the region, noting the increase in poverty in some countries of the region. They called for an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestine and other occupied Arab territories, and emphasized the importance of stability for achieving sustainable development. In particular, they noted “the growing phenomenon” of extremism, terrorism, conflict and deterioration of the humanitarian situation, including the forced displacement and increase in the number of refugees in the Arab region. They highlighted the challenges faced by Arab countries with respect to issues of water scarcity and land degradation, and the need for the transfer of green technology that will build on Arab capabilities to achieve security of water, energy and food sources.

Outcomes of the discussions are reflected in the Bahrain Document adopted at the close of the meeting, which will feed into the next session of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), the Arab Summit, and the UN summit to adopt the post-2015 development agenda.

The Bahrain Document emphasizes the role of financial institutions and donors in integrating the principles of sustainable development in their financing operations, and recommends increasing efficiency of administration, combating tax evasion, reforming the tax base and addressing the movement of illicit capital. The Document calls for reforming the global trading system, and strengthening the role and capacity of national statistical organizations in data collection and reporting on indicators of sustainable development. It also notes the increasing frequency of natural disasters and, in particular, the worsening scale and impacts of desertification, saying that early warning systems and risk management approaches are needed. [Bahrain Document (Arabic)] [Meeting Webpage] [Agenda] [ESWCA Website]