14 January 2014: The Office of the President of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) has released a concept note on ‘The Contributions of Women, the Young and Civil Society to the Post-2015 Development Agenda,’ ahead of a high-level event on this topic.

The event, which will convene from 6-7 March 2014, in New York, US, is one of three high-level events and three thematic debates that UNGA President John Ashe will host to encourage consensus building and concrete action on implementation of the post-2015 development agenda.

The concept note calls for strengthening capabilities and the exercise of voice to ensure the continued, full contribution and participation of women, young people and civil society in the design, implementation and evolution of the post-2015 agenda.

The high-level event will aim to build on deliberations in the UNGA’s Open Working Group (OWG) on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by discussing key issues, including: addressing inequalities, such as age, disabilities, gender, income and race/ethnicity, that challenge inclusive sustainable development; and establishing mechanisms to ensure women, young people and civil society have the space to actively and meaningfully participate in shaping, implementing and monitoring the post-2015 agenda at all levels.

The event will also consider how the UN system can support national, regional and global efforts to reduce discrimination and inequality; and how to devise meaningful metrics to ensure women’s and young people’s inclusion in implementing the post-2015 agenda. The event will further consider: the role of civil society; cross-cutting, rights-based issues, such as access to quality education, skills and training and women’s access to and control over productive resources; and inclusiveness and transparency.

The concept note includes a background section, event objectives, and information on the format, expected outcome and participants in the event. The President will issue a summary at the event’s conclusion that will be shared with the OWG and the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts on Sustainable Development Financing (ICSDF).

President Ashe chose ‘The Post-215 Development Agenda: Setting the Stage!’ as the theme for the 68th Session of the UNGA. [UNGA President’s Website on Post-2015 Agenda and Related Events] [Publication: High Level Event of the General Assembly: The Contributions of Women, the Young and Civil Society to the Post-2015 Development Agenda]