25 September 2013: The President of the 68th UN General Assembly (UNGA), John Ashe, convened a one-day Special Event Towards Achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In plenary and roundtable sessions, participants reflected on key questions regarding the achievement of the MDGs by 2015 and shaping the post-2015 development agenda. A background note posed key questions for consideration and discussion.

The meeting endorsed a negotiated outcome document, which will be forwarded as a President’s text to the UNGA for adoption. The outcome calls for, inter alia: a single framework and set of goals that are universal in nature and applicable to all countries, which promote peace and security, democratic governance, the rule of law, gender equality and human rights for all; intergovernmental negotiations on the post-2015 agenda, to start during UNGA 69; the Secretary-General to release by the end of 2014 a synthesis report of all post-2015 development agenda inputs; and adopting the new agenda at a summit in September 2015.

The UNGA President is asked to convene consultations on organizational modalities for the Summit, which will be held at the Heads of State and Government level. [IISD RS Meeting Coverage] [IISD RS Story on Consultations on Outcome Document]