The Holy See on the Post-2015 Development Agenda
(Vatican Radio) The Holy See delegation to the United Nations says it believes the draft outcome document for the UN Summit to adopt the Post-2015 Development Agenda “moves the international community further in the right direction, toward achieving a universal, ambitious and transformative agenda that sets out to end poverty and to achieve sustainable development for humanity and the planet.”
The full text of the Intervention of the Holy See can be found below:
Intervention of the Holy See
Intergovernmental Negotiations on the Post-2015 Development Agenda
General Statement on the Final Draft, Post-2015 Development Agenda
New York, 20 July 2015
Distinguished Co-facilitators,
My delegation would like to thank you for your efforts in producing the most recent version of the draft outcome document for the UN Summit to adopt the Post-2015 Development Agenda.
We believe that this draft moves the international community further in the right direction, toward achieving a universal, ambitious, and transformative agenda that sets out to end poverty and to achieve sustainable development for humanity and the planet.
On the preamble and declaration, my delegation welcomes the recognition that poverty eradication is the greatest global challenge and that it is resolved to free humanity from the tyranny of poverty in all of its forms. We are also pleased that both the preamble and the declaration make clear that one of the critical measures of success will be that nobody will be left behind, for indeed, this agenda will not be achieved unless it addresses the needs of all nations and people s, and in particular the poor and most vulnerable.
However, my delegation is of the view that both the preamble and declaration could speak more directly on the importance of the integration and the indivisibility of the three dimensions of sustainable development: economic, social, and environmental. One pillar certainly cannot be addressed in isolation from another.
For example, preference for the protection of the environment or economic growth, without first considering the dignity of the human person and the common good of society as a whole, would be contrary to the very nature of the agenda.
As Pope Francis pointed out in his recent encyclical Laudato si’, “strategies for a solution demand an integrated approach to combating poverty, restoring dignity to the excluded, and at the same time protecting nature.” The holistic approach taken by the agenda is an important step forward from an eventual siloed approach.
Distinguished Co-facilitators,
Regarding the SDGs and targets, my delegation is of the view that it should include the Chapeau to the Report and reservations. It is also important to clarify the question of reservations, in order to understand properly how they will be reflected in the text.
On means of implementation, my delegation is supportive of strong and focused MOI section, recognizing that it is foundational for the fulfilment of the agenda. We encourage the mobilization of both financial and non-financial resources through all channels, including capacity building and science, technology, and innovation assistance, especially for Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), Small Island Development States (SIDS), countries in conflict and post-conflict situations and all countries in special situations.
Finally, on follow-up and review, my delegation supports the draft’s establishment of a robust, effective, inclusive, and transparent framework, as well as its acknowledgment that it will be based on mutual trust with a goal of mutual learning. Nonetheless, similar to other delegations, we have specific concerns regarding the indicator framework, which we will share in greater detail later on this week.