4 November 2014
States Propose Features of HLPF Review Mechanism
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In a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the Permanent Representatives of Egypt, Liechtenstein, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, the Republic of Korea and Switzerland to the UN outline key characteristics for a review mechanism of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF).

unga6927 October 2014: In a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the Permanent Representatives of Egypt, Liechtenstein, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, the Republic of Korea and Switzerland to the UN outline key characteristics for a review mechanism of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF).

Following on a letter from 9 September 2014, the group of seven countries stress that the review mechanism should aim to integrate the three dimensions of sustainable development, and foster coherence and progress in the implementation of the post-2015 development agenda.

The latest letter, dated 16 October, calls for a review mechanism that is voluntary and state-led, involving ministerial and high-level participants while being owned by developed and developing countries. Assessment should focus on progress, achievements and challenges faced by countries, it says, while also including the contributions of related regional and UN entities.

The review should be conducted in a constructive spirit, it states, with a long-term orientation, incentives for participation, a follow-up mechanism at the national level, and a platform for partnerships. Its approach should: be differentiated, taking into account varying national circumstances and priorities; ensure coherence among the national, regional and global levels; take into account lessons learned from existing review mechanisms; and be inclusive and participatory, with broad participation of the Major Groups. The letter also proposes that the basis of the review should be “robust data” drawn from national progress reports.

Finally, the seven Permanent Representatives highlight the hybrid nature of the HLPF, saying that the lessons learned through the Forum’s review mechanism when held under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) should feed into its meetings under the auspices of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) every four years.

The authors of the letter express their hope that these features will be reflected in the UN Secretary-General’s forthcoming synthesis report on the post-2015 development agenda.

The letter was issued as A/69/552 under UN General Assembly Agenda items 13, 19 and 115 (Integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences an summits in the economic, social and related fields; Sustainable development; Follow-up to the outcome of the Millennium Summit). [Document A/69/552] [IISD RS Story on September Letter]

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