Germany has concluded a national consultation process to develop a global vision of the future based on sustainability and fairness.
Receiving the consultation's outcome, a 'Charter for the Future,' German Chancellor Angela Merkel noted the government's presidency of the Group of Seven (G7) in 2015, which she said is an opportunity to work toward the UN's post-2015 development agenda.
She emphasized the value of safeguarding civil liberties and human rights as an essential feature of development, and the need for functioning democratic institutions based on the rule of law.
24 November 2014: Germany has concluded a national consultation process to develop a global vision of the future based on sustainability and fairness. Receiving the consultation’s outcome, a ‘Charter for the Future,’ German Chancellor Angela Merkel noted the government’s presidency of the Group of Seven (G7) in 2015, which she said is an opportunity to work toward the UN’s post-2015 development agenda. She emphasized the value of safeguarding civil liberties and human rights as an essential feature of development, and the need for functioning democratic institutions based on the rule of law.
The Charter sets goals for future development cooperation, defining eight key areas requiring urgent action, ranging from protecting human dignity to using new technologies to bring about change. The consultation process to develop the Charter allowed for online contributions and included thematic fora around the country.
Numerous Federal Ministers of Germany attended the One World Forum for the Future on 24 November 2014 in Berlin, which served to wrap up the consultation, including the ministers for labor and social affairs, environment, food and agriculture, the Chancellery, and federal development. The One World Forum featured parallel discussions on development issues including children’s health, decent employment, climate protection as a basis for sustainable development, and prospects for a world without hunger. The Forum took place on the invitation of Gerd Müller, Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development.
According to Germany’s development agency GIZ, the Charter for the Future will be used as a reference framework for international cooperation in the coming years. Citizen involvement in development cooperation is a key aim of the European International Year of Development in 2015.
The G7 countries’ heads of state and government will meet at Schloss Elmau in Upper Bavaria, Germany, from 7-8 June 2015, to address issues relating to the global economy, foreign policy, security and the post-2015 development agenda, it was announced in November. [Press Release from Federal Chancellor’s Website] [GIZ Press Release] [Charter for the Future Website (in German)] [G7 Summit Press Release] [European Commission Press Release on Year of Development 2015]