24 July 2013: The co-facilitators for the Special Event in the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to follow-up efforts made towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have circulated a fourth draft of the outcome document for the event, which will be held on 25 September 2013, in New York, US. Consultations with Member States on the outcome text will resume in September.

In a letter to Member States, Anne Anderson, Permanent Representative of Ireland, and Kingsley Mamabolo, Permanent Representative of South Africa, note that the text is their attempt to work through differing opinions expressed in negotiations, including on invoking the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR) and other Rio Principles.

The draft text expresses “urgency and determination” to achieve the MDGs and to address the gaps and challenges that remain in the remaining 850 days. It highlights the needs of countries in special situations, including small island developing States (SIDS) and land-locked developing countries (LLDCs), and the lack of progress in the Sub-Saharan region of Africa. In encouraging acceleration of efforts, the text stresses: targeting progress on the MDGs in areas that are most off-track; emphasizing accessibility for the most vulnerable; sustaining momentum of progress; and creating approaches that have cross-cutting effects, particularly the promotion of women’s and girls’ empowerment.

Outlining a need for a “strengthened global partnership for development,” the text calls for fulfilling past commitments, including developed countries’ pledges of official development assistance (ODA). It highlights the importance of human rights, governance, rule of law, and accountability at all levels for achieving the MDGs.

Lastly, the text calls for poverty eradication and sustainable development to be the overriding objective of the post-2015 development agenda, and acknowledges the work of the UNGA’s Open Working Group (OWG) on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the process to create a technology facilitation mechanism.

The draft outcome highlights the following steps going forward: the launching of an intergovernmental negotiations in the 69th Session of the UNGA, to lead to the adoption of a new agenda; events in the UNGA over the next year in preparation for the post-2015 agenda; a UN Secretary-General’s synthesis report of all inputs to the post-2015 process, to be presented by the end of 2014; and a Summit of Heads of State and Governments in September 2015 for the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda. [Letter from the Co-Facilitators] [IISD Story on Special Event Logisitics] [IISD RS Sources]