27 September 2013: Leaders at the 68th UN General Assembly (UNGA) High-level Debate discussed progress and lessons learned on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Speakers also considered the architecture for the post-2015 development agenda and highlighted key issues for inclusion, including women’s rights, energy and climate change.

Leaders praised the MDGs for addressing poverty and development, described their progress, highlighted off-track MDGs and uneven progress across continents, countries and goals, and called for accelerated progress and renewed commitments. Denzil Douglas, Prime Minister, Saint Kitts and Nevis, recommended attention to the most off-track MDGs, notably those related to access to sanitation, access to primary education, hunger, child mortality and maternal health. While praising the MDGs’ focus on poverty and hunger, Nguyen Tan Dung, Prime Minister, Viet Nam, cautioned the rich-poor gap continues to widen.

Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of Tanzania, said difficulties achieving the MDGs resulted from failure to implement MDG 8 on global partnerships. They stressed adequate financing to achieve the post-2015 development agenda. Yun Byung-se, Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Republic of Korea, and Nikola Gruevski, Prime Minister, Macedonia, also emphasized the importance of building partnerships. Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, Prime Minister, Samoa, indicated that the Third International small island developing States (SIDS) Conference will focus on the theme ‘the sustainable development of SIDS through genuine and durable partnerships,’ including potential SIDS partnerships. Julie Bishop, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Australia, recognized aid as an important part of delivering sustainable economic growth while noting that only the private sector has the capacity to mobilize necessary financing for massive infrastructure investments.

Jiří Rusnok, Prime Minister, the Czech Republic, and Milo Dukanović, Prime Minister, Montenegro, recommended basing the future agenda on lessons learned from the MDGs while Danny Faure, Vice President of Seychelles, said the approach should be more broad and inclusive than the MDGs. Pasquale Valentini, Prime Minister, San Marino, recommended addressing issues that have become more urgent since the MDGs’ adoption, such as environmental sustainability, inequalities and peace and security.

Many supported a universal post-2015 development agenda, with some emphasizing the importance of considering national characteristics, capacities and development priorities. Wang Yi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, China, said the agenda should respect national development paths and prioritized common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR) and equity. Khudheir Mussa Al-khuzaie, Vice President of Iraq, said the framework should be underpinned by cooperation, integration, responsibility and solidarity.

Several countries supported gender quality and ending violence against women. Bishop supported women’s economic participation and empowerment. Valentini prioritized eliminating barriers to women’s participation in economic, political and social life. Nicholas Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister, Great Britain, said investing in girls’ education is critical in breaking the cycle of poverty. Franciscus Cornelis Gerardus Maria Timmermans, Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Netherlands, supported promoting women’s health and sexual and reproductive rights.

King Tupou VI of Tonga urged a goal on sustainable energy, highlighting the relationship between energy and meeting other development goals, including ones on poverty, education, food production, health and access to water. Rusnok, Douglas and Faure also prioritized sustainable energy. Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Russian Federation, prioritized the eradication of poverty and support to economic growth through job creation and investment opportunities. Bishop prioritized sustainable economic growth and opportunities for all people to lead healthy, productive lives in which no one is left behind. Rusnok supported inclusive growth, including attention to innovation and technology. Timmermans called for better aid, more trade and stronger policy coherence.

Lavrov prioritized the eradication of poverty and support to economic growth through job creation and investment opportunities. Bishop prioritized sustainable economic growth and opportunities for all people to lead healthy, productive lives in which no one is left behind. Rusnok supported inclusive growth, including attention to innovation and technology. Timmermans called for better aid, more trade and stronger policy coherence.

Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister, Bangladesh, proposed culture as a theme in the post-2015 agenda. Hasina also recalled the Dhaka Declaration on population dynamics, saying it places humans at the center of the development agenda and incorporates population growth, aging, urbanization and migration among its priorities.

Many countries urged action on climate change, with several stressing the urgency of action for SIDS and other vulnerable countries. Leaders also prioritized, inter alia: oceans and the blue economy; peace and security; addressing non-communicable diseases (NCDs); using information and communications technology (ICT); and ensuring road safety. [Debate Statements]