22 November 2013: The UN General Assembly’s (UNGA) Open Working Group (OWG) on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) held an intersessional meeting with stakeholders to hear their views on the SDGs and the post-2015 development agenda. Participants in the dialogue addressed human rights, inequalities, good governance and planetary boundaries.
Held on 22 November 2013, at UN Headquarters in New York, US, the meeting took place prior to the Open Working Group’s fifth session (OWG 5). Representatives of Major Groups, civil society, the private sector, the UN System and Member States discussed the work of the OWG and topics it should prioritize going forward.
In opening remarks, OWG Co-Chair Csaba Kőrösi emphasized the need for well-informed discussion within the OWG, and encouraged civil society to provide accounts of practical, grassroots approaches to development and the evidence base for topics to be considered by the OWG. Saying that sustainable development must “connect the dots” between previously separate issues, Kőrösi stressed the value of shared knowledge between all actors and stakeholders on potential SDG issues.
On the topic of a rights-based approach to the SDGs, stakeholders highlighted the importance of: protecting the rights of future generations; upholding common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR); focusing on the lives of the disadvantaged and marginalized; and creating a legal environment in which human rights can flourish. On inequalities and poverty, participants stressed that: poverty and economic inequality should be reflected together in the goals; climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing young people; there is a need for more equitable distribution of resources and access to collective bargaining; and there is structural discrimination against the poor.
In the discussion on good governance and multi-stakeholder partnerships, participants highlighted the following conditions for effective governance: participation, consent and autonomy of indigenous peoples; evolution from consultation of stakeholders to their participation in decision-making; creating voluntary reviews of commitments and an effective platform for partnerships; and creating coherence and consistency across groups and systems. On planetary boundaries, comments addressed: the need for better valuation of natural capital; the dependence of growth and livelihoods on the environment; the importance of building societal resilience and smart policies for resource management; and the diverse situations of different countries.
An additional intersessional dialogue between the OWG and Major Groups and stakeholders is expected to take place in February 2013. [Intersessional Meeting Webpage] [OWG Website] [IISD RS Sources]