1 October 2014
Commonwealth Heads of Government Issue Statement on Post-2015 Development
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Commonwealth Heads of Government adopted a Statement on the UN post-2015 development agenda, for submission to the UN Secretary-General.

The Heads of Government met on 26 September 2014, in New York, US, during the 69th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA).

commonwealthlogo26 September 2014: Commonwealth Heads of Government adopted a Statement on the UN post-2015 development agenda, for submission to the UN Secretary-General. The Heads of Government met on 26 September 2014, in New York, US, during the 69th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA).

Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma said the statement “reflects the shared values, breadth and diversity of Commonwealth’s 53 member countries. It will be a key advocacy tool for governments as they seek to advance national positions in the intergovernmental negotiations and in so doing, overcome their unique vulnerabilities and build resilience for the future.”

The statement welcomes the contributions made by the UN Secretary-General’s High-level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda (HLP), the Open Working Group (OWG) on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts on Sustainable Development Financing (ICESDF), and the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20).

The text addresses the importance of peaceful and stable societies, and effective and accountable institutions at all levels. It calls for a strong and inclusive global partnership to support the means of implementation of the agenda, and optimal mobilization of all forms of development finance and their effective use. It also recognizes the importance of the private sector in creating jobs and making the investments necessary for balanced, sustainable, inclusive and equitable growth with full and productive employment.

The statement draws attention to the importance of international structures and collaboration to support the post-2015 development agenda by promoting, inter alia: a rules-based, transparent, free and fair multilateral trading system that enhances the Commonwealth’s trade liberalization and developmental objectives, while taking into account the vulnerabilities and special requirements of small island developing States (SIDS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and fragile states; a stable and effective global financial system that encourages long-term investment; and access to science, technology, innovation, and development data.

The Commonwealth is comprised of over 2 billion people and represents over one quarter of the UN membership in its 53 member states. [Commonwealth Press Release] [Statement of Commonwealth Heads of Government on the United Nations Post-2015 Development Agenda]

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