27 June 2016
Co-Facilitators Revise Draft Ministerial Declaration for HLPF, ECOSOC HLS
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The co-facilitators of the informal consultations on the outcome of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) and of the High-level Segment of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) have issued a revised draft Ministerial Declaration for these events.

The text was revised following informal consultations on the zero draft, which took place on 23 June 2016, and is expected to be discussed in further informal consultations on 28 June 2016.

hlpf24 June 2016: The co-facilitators of the informal consultations on the outcome of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) and of the High-level Segment of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) have issued a revised draft Ministerial Declaration for these events. The text was revised following informal consultations on the zero draft, which took place on 23 June 2016, and is expected to be discussed in further informal consultations on 28 June 2016.

Compared to the zero draft, the revised draft provides more substantive text on ensuring that no one is left behind. It pledges to empower people who are vulnerable, and also notes the need to include all children, youth, persons with disabilities, people living with HIV/AIDS, older persons, indigenous peoples, refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) and migrants “regardless of their migratory status,” as well as people living in areas affected by complex humanitarian emergencies and in areas affected by terrorism.

The revised draft stresses the importance to “rapidly move from commitments to results,” and emphasizes a commitment to make a world in which: every country enjoys sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth and decent work for all; consumption and production patterns and use of all natural resources are sustainable; democracy, good governance, the rule of law and an enabling environment at national and international levels are essential; and development and the application of technology are climate-sensitive, respect biodiversity and are resilient.

On gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, the draft states that investments will be “significantly increased” to close the gender gap, and that all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls will be eliminated, including through the engagement of men and boys.

On climate change, it welcomes the Paris Agreement as a means to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts, and looks forward to its prompt entry into force and properly financed implementation.

The revised draft reaffirms the central role of the HLPF in overseeing a network of follow-up and review processes of the 2030 Agenda at the global level, and outlines the need to take into account “different national realities, capacities and levels of development and respecting national policies and priorities.” The text underlines ECOSOC’s role as “a principal body to guide implementation of the 2030 Agenda.”

On participation, it welcomes the ECOSOC’s commitment to inclusiveness “as a platform for multi-stakeholder participation,” and the contributions of all stakeholders in implementing the 2030 Agenda. It also highlights the importance of participatory and inclusive implementation, follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda at all levels, “in order to, inter alia, promote accountability.”

On the 22 countries that plan to present voluntary national reviews (VNRs) at the 2016 HLPF, the draft notes the importance of assistance for building the required national capacities and of guidance for preparing for the VNRs at the HLPF, including in addressing interlinkages among the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). On regional and sub-regional fora and organizations, it “recognizes” their role in promoting peer learning and cooperation, and in being “building blocks” between the national and global levels of implementation.

On technology, the revised draft notes the progress made in operationalizing the three components of the Technology Facilitation Mechanism (TFM), and welcomes progress towards operationalizing the Technology Bank for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). On data, it reaffirms that the availability of “accessible, timely and reliable disaggregated data” underpins the efforts to leave no one behind, and urges Governments, international organizations, and other relevant stakeholders to assist developing countries in building and strengthening their official national capacities for data collection, dissemination and analysis.

The revised draft calls for “enhanced integration and coherence” across the UN Development System, and stresses the importance of avoiding silos in implementing the 2030 Agenda. It also looks forward to the 2016 Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR) to take action on the longer-term positioning of the UNDS.

In their letter accompanying the revised draft, co-facilitators Gillian Bird, Permanent Representative of Australia, and Gustavo Meza-Cuadra, Permanent Representative of Peru note their intention to discuss a final draft outcome document on 7-8 July 2016, and to provide a final agreed text to ECOSOC President Oh Joon on 8 July 2016. The HLPF will take place from 11-20 July 2016, in New York, US. [IISD RS Story on Zero Draft] [HLPF 2016 Website]


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