Vatican welcomes UN framework for post-2015 SDGs
(Vatican Radio) The Vatican has welcomed the United Nations’ proposed framework for the upcoming negotiations on the post-2015 agenda.
Referring to the “Food for Thought Paper” which outlines modalities to be adopted for the upcoming intergovernmental talks in view of reaching an agreement on the outcome for the Post-2015 Development Agenda, the Vatican’s Permanent Observer to the UN in New York, Archbishop Bernadito Auza says his delegation is in agreement with the main points of the document.
Looking towards the global development trajectory for the coming decades, Archbishop Auza also praises the principles of inclusiveness and transparency which have guided the Open Working Group so far to reach a consensus on the Sustainable Development Goals.
Please find below the full text of Archbishop Auza’s speech:
Apostolic Nuncio, Permanent Observer of the Holy See
69th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
Informal Consultations on Modalities for the
Intergovernmental Negotiations on the post-2015 Development Agenda
New York, 3 December 2014
Mr. Co-Facilitator:
My delegation welcomes the proposed framework you have outlined in your “Food for Thought Paper” concerning the modalities to be adopted for the upcoming intergovernmental negotiations in view of reaching an agreement on the outcome for the Post-2015 Development Agenda.
The principles of inclusiveness and transparency, which have guided the Open Working Group (OWG) so far to reach a consensus on the SDGs, must be continued. The United Nations system offers a unique forum to hear the voices of all: from the most developed to the least developed countries, from representatives of civil society and the private sector, especially those organizations that represent the interests of the most vulnerable and marginalized in our global community. This working framework has already served the OWG well and has helped build ownership of the specific development goals that we are now targeting.
At the same time, my delegation shares the view of others that this process, notwithstanding the inputs from different groups, should and must remain an intergovernmental process. My delegation believes that for the post-2015 agenda to be really transformative, it has to achieve as much as possible the full consensus of all delegations and without any imposition whatsoever.
My delegation is also in agreement with the main points outlined under the scope of the consultations. Each of the sustainable development goals must have agreed targets and indicators, as well as a well-defined framework in order to monitor progress toward the achievement of these targets. In this regard, my delegation also shares the expectation, expressed in the “Food for Thought Paper”, of the likely need for technical proofing of these indicators to ensure their precision and reliability.
Given also the diversity of development needs within and across States, the chosen indicators should differentiate between vulnerable groups in specific countries and give special priority to monitoring the poverty, hunger, and nutrition needs of least developed countries and, within countries, of the most vulnerable groups or categories. In its recent interventions at the Second Committee, my delegation repeatedly emphasized the moral obligation to redress the unacceptable conditions of too many of our fellow human beings. Pope Francis reiterated this in his Address to the FAO last month in Rome.
Mr. Co-Facilitator,
Regarding the Means of Implementation, my delegation encourages you to take full advantage of the work already done or in progress, and avoid duplication of efforts. Along this line, my delegation also agrees that the Means of Implementation are better addressed through separate consultations under Financing for Development , while sustainable goals linked to climate change effects should take advantage of the upcoming UNFCCC negotiations.
Finally, my delegation finds the schedule of meetings you have outlined for the first half of 2015 to be both realistic and necessary in order to reach an agreement on outcome for the post-2015 development agenda, in view of the Summit of Heads of States and of Governments scheduled in September 2015. The Holy See looks forward to participating actively in this process.