WUNRN

http://www.wunrn.com

 

Zero Draft of Post-2015 Summit Outcome Document: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/7261Post-2015%20Summit%20-%202%20June%202015.pdf

 

TO JOIN ENDORSEMENT, please send the name of your organisation and country (if national) or region (if regional) by 17 June 2015, to malyn@arrow.org.my

 

Response to the Zero Draft of the Post-2015 Summit Outcome

Document, “Transforming Our World by 2030: A New Agenda

for Global Action” by the Asian-Pacific Resource and

Research Centre for Women (ARROW),1 Partners and Allies

 

We welcome the opportunity to be able to comment on the “Zero Draft of the

Outcome Document for the UN Summit to Adopt the Post-2015 Development

Agenda—Transforming Our World by 2030: A New Agenda for Global Action.”

Overall, we find that the document is a good starting point for the first intergovernmental

negotiations on the outcome document happening on 22-25 June

2015. However, it still needs a lot of work to reflect a truly ambitious and

transformative sustainable development agenda towards a world we want that leaves

no one behind. We, women’s groups from the Asia-Pacific and the Global South and

allied civil society and social movements, are committed to work with governments

and UN institutions in order to fill in the gaps and make this happen.

 

GENERAL COMMENTS

 

Our overarching comments are as follows:

 

1. The outcome document must recognize and address power imbalances and

structural barriers, which are the root causes of inequalities within and between

countries, and of economic and social inequalities and injustices, including

gender inequality, amongst others. The call to change fundamental systems

such as neoliberal globalization and patriarchy is currently absent from the

document. It also should not shy away from tackling challenges around social

marginalisation, such as gender and sexuality, which were hard worn at Beijing

and Cairo.

 

2. We also wish to raise that while the overall concern is with inequalities within

and between countries—the focus is very much on least-developed countries,

landlocked countries, small island countries, countries in situations of conflict,

and Africa. While this is needed, it should also not be forgotten that inequality

exists in developed countries, and that it is in middle-income countries (MICs)

where inequality is the greatest and where a large number of poor people live.2If

the SDGs aspire to eradicate poverty, the fact that majority, more about three

quarters of world's poor by income measures live in countries classified by World

Bank as Middle Income Countries should be acknowledged.3 Continued support

to MICs, including receipt of Official Development Assistance, and greater

considerations towards the distribution of aid are needed.

 

1 ARROW is a regional, non-profit women’s organization based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with

consultative status with UN ECOSOC. We work to promote and defend women’s rights and needs,

particularly in the areas of health and sexuality, and to reaffirm women’s agency to claim these rights.

We are also doing inter-movement work on issues such as migration, poverty, food sovereignty, food

security, and climate change. We work in partnership with national organisations and regional and

global networks.

2 Sumner, A. 2011. Poverty in Middle-Income Countries. The Bellagio Initiative. The Future of

Philanthropy and Development in the Pursuit of Human Wellbeing Commissioned Paper.

http://www.ids.ac.uk/files/dmfile/Bellagio_Sumner1.pdf Accessed June 10.

3 Sumner, A. 2012. Where do the world’s poor live? A new update. Working Paper, Vol 12. No. 393.

Retrieved from http://www.ids.ac.uk/files/dmfile/Wp393.pdf

 

3. We would like to also bring up that the lessons of the past show that coverage

does not equate access, with regards universal health coverage. In order to

make a difference to the poor and marginalised, this needs to be thought

through by governments and all stakeholders.

 

4. We wish to reiterate that the targets under means of implementation should

always be tied back to the achievement of targets under the goals and not seen

as separate targets to achieve these goals.

 

5. The role of business and the private sector, as well as of public-private

partnerships in implementing the SDGs, has been prominently highlighted in the

zero draft. We are concerned that this is not matched with appropriate

accountability measures to ensure that any such actions should adhere to

human rights standards, and be age, disability and gender-responsive. This

should also be matched with grievance mechanisms in cases of violations of

human rights, including women’s human rights.

 

6. Achieving gender equality in all realms has to be considered integral to

achieving sustainable development and it cannot be separated from it, and as

such it has to be integrated in all goals. Gender equality cannot be achieved

without ensuring sexual and reproductive health and rights of all women.

 

7. Member states should adhere to the spirit of participation and accountability, and

report regularly (at least 5 times in 15 years) on the implementation of the post-

2015 development framework. The process should ensure that critical feedback

is given by civil society at all levels—national, regional and global—and taken

into consideration by governments to accelerate progress for all as global

citizens under this new agenda.

 

SPECIFIC COMMENTS

 

Our specific comments follow

:

Preamble

 

We find it problematic that the Preamble does not refer to inequality or the

structural causes and power dynamics that are its root causes. Mentioning

catchphrases like “freeing the human race from the tyranny of poverty” and

“no one will be left behind” in the Preamble would be empty unless it

promises to address the root causes of inequalities within and between

countries, and of economic and social inequalities and injustices, including

gender inequality, amongst others.

 

The Preamble should also put human rights, including women’s human rights,

fundamental freedoms, equality, shared responsibility, and good governance

at the center, and tackle issues that have been excluded from the agenda,

such as sexuality, which were hard worn at Beijing and Cairo. Achievement of

the SDGs has to ensure that human rights as promised in the Universal

Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All forms

of Discrimination of Women (CEDAW), the Convention on Rights of the Child

(CRC) etc., all of which came before the MDGs and related processes, have

to be upheld by all stakeholders at all levels.

 

Introduction

 

The zero draft should call for changing structural and systemic barriers that

have resulted in getting us to where we are and in not being able to achieve

the MDGs.

 

Para 3: The ending of discrimination of any kind and the achievement of

human rights, including women’s human rights, sexual and reproductive

rights, right to food and nutrition, and right to development, amongst others,

should be included here.

 

Our Commitment and Shared Principles

 

Para 10: Include outcomes of conferences, such as the International

Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action (ICPD

POA) and the Beijing Platform of Action (BPFA), and their follow-up

intergovernmental processes at global and regional levels.

 

Para 11: The zero document should also reference human rights agreements,

such as conventions like the International Covenant on Civil and Political

Rights (ICCPR); International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural

Rights (ICESCR); Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of

Discrimination against Women (CEDAW); Convention on the Rights of the

Child (CRC); the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities

(CRPD); the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All

Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families; the International

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination; their

Optional Protocols; Human Rights Council (HRC) Resolutions 11/8, 15/7, and

18/2 on preventable maternal mortality and morbidity and human rights; HRC

resolution 17/19 and 27.32 expressing concern on violence and

discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity; and

others.

 

The New Agenda

 

Para 17: We would like to revise the sentence to this: “It will work to ensure

that fundamental rights and freedoms are enjoyed by all without

discrimination on grounds of race, colour, gender, age, sex, sexual orientation

and gender identity and expression, language, religion, culture, migratory and

citizenship status, political or other opinion, national or social origin,

geographic location, economic situation, HIV and health status, marital status,

pregnancy status, occupation, birth or disability.

 

Para 18: Sexual and reproductive health and rights must be added as a

critical part of right to and access to health, and comprehensive sexuality

education added as critical part of right to and access to education.

 

Para 18: While both boys and girls experience inequality, discrimination and

violence, they experience these in different ways and at different levels, with

girls experiencing it more heavily. The sentence should reflect this.

 

Para 21: Instead of vulnerable sections of the population, which implies that

they do not have agency, we would like to use the term “marginalised.” As

well the list need to be broadened to include people living with and affected

by HIV, persons of diverse sexualities, and all that are socially excluded in its

full diversity.

 

Para 22: Comprehensive sexuality education should be added as critical part

of right to and access to education.

 

Para 23: The term universal health coverage does not equate to access; it is

more limited in its meaning and refers only to “attempts to remove financial

barriers to access through suitable health financing mechanisms adopted by

the health system.”4 Instead of “universal health coverage,” we would like to

use “universal access to health.” Additionally, after “...universal access to

sexual and reproductive health care services, including for family planning,

information and education” we would like to add “and the right to have control

over and make decisions on matters related to their sexuality and

reproduction.”

 

Para 27: “…accelerating the reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions”

needs to be time-bound.

 

Implementation

 

Para 30: The role of business and the private sector in implementing the

SDGs has been prominently highlighted in the zero draft. We are concerned

that this is not matched with appropriate accountability measures to ensure

that any such actions should adhere to human rights, environmental and

labour standards, and be age, disability, migrant, and gender-responsive.

This should also be matched with grievance mechanisms in cases of

violations of human rights, including women’s human rights.

 

Para 32: The greatest inequalities exist in Middle Income Countries, and it

has the highest number of poor people. Move up from low income to middle

income classifications does not mean reduction in the number of poor people;

nor does it mean that social inequalities have been addressed, nor that

human rights of all, including sexual and reproductive rights, have been

recognized, protected and fulfilled. As such, ODA remains critical for Middle

Income Countries.

 

Para 37: Add women’s, youth and community-based groups amongst the list

of stakeholders to engage in. Governments must also pledge to promote an

enabling environment for civil society, with their right to organise, and

freedoms of expressions, speech, the media and the internet are guaranteed.

 

Follow-up and Review

 

Para 38: Beyond follow-up and review, the Outcome Document must include

accountability and at all levels, including the local level.

 

Para 39: Disaggregated data needs to be specified by gender, income, age,

race, ethnicity, migratory and citizenship status, disability, sexual orientation

and gender identity and expression, geographic location, occupation, HIV and

health status, marital status, pregnancy status, and other characteristics

relevant in national contexts.

 

Para 39: Mentioning the role of business and the private sector in

implementing the SDGs needs to be matched with appropriate accountability

measures to ensure that any such actions should adhere to human rights

standards, and be age, disability and gender-responsive. This should also be

matched with grievance mechanisms in cases of violations of human rights,

including women’s human rights.

 

I.                   Sustainable Development Goals and Targets

 

We would like to reiterate our call on the non-reduction of targets.

 

Para 4: This should also reference conventions like the Universal Declaration

of Human Rights, CEDAW, CRC, ICESR, and ICCPR, as well as agreements

like ICPD POA and BPfA and their follow-up processes both at regional and

global levels; processes like the International Political Declaration on

HIV/AIDS, COP, and 2nd International Conference on Nutrition; and various

related regional inter-governmental processes.

 

4 Ravindran, TKS. (2012). “Universal Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health in the Asia-Pacific

Region: How Far Are We from the Goal Post?” In Action for Sexual and Reproductive Health and

Rights: Strategies for the Asia-Pacific beyond ICPD and the MDGs; Thematic Papers presented at the

Beyond ICPD and the MDGs: NGOs Strategising for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in

Asia-Pacific, 2-4 May 2012, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur: ARROW.

 

Indicators should comprehensively address the targets, and should be robust,

time bound, relevant, and specific markers of progress. They should be

measurable and include a mix of quantitative and qualitative data points – to

show extent and provide in-depth information.

 

Disaggregation of data should be done for all indicators across all goals and

targets by gender, income, age, race, ethnicity, migratory and citizenship

status, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity and expression,

geographic location, occupation, HIV and health status, marital status,

pregnancy status, and other characteristics. This should reflect diversities at

the country level, as well as allow for cross-country and cross-regional

comparisons.

 

Inclusion of strategic gender and health indicators, including sexual and

reproductive health indicators, are critical in order to help realise a

transformative sustainable development agenda.

 

Civil society engagement in the development of indicators has to be ensured.

 

II.                Means of Implementation and the Global Partnership

 

It is very concerning that the targets related to MOIs have been presented

without the matching SDG targets, opening to the possibility that

implementing the SDGs would only mean focusing on achieving these

targets. It has already been indicated that these MOI targets will be discussed

at length at the Third International Conference on Financing for Development.

This would be very detrimental to achieving the goals and targets. For

example, for goal 3, the target for implementation 3.a on implementing the

WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control would not enable

implementation of any of the 9 targets identified in the SDG 3, which address

issues as diverse as maternal mortality, communicable diseases, universal

access to sexual and reproductive health care services, road traffic accidents

and, substance abuse, and hazardous chemicals and pollution. We thus wish

to reiterate that the targets under means of implementation should always be

tied back to the achievement of targets under the goals and not seen as

separate targets to achieve these goals.

 

We applaud the inclusion of MOI target 3.b to “provide access to affordable

essential medicines and vaccines, in accordance with the Doha Declaration

on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health, which affirms the right of

developing countries to use to the full the provisions in the Agreement on

Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights regarding flexibilities to

protect public health, and, in particular, provide access to medicines for all.”

Certain goals such as Goal 1 include MOI targets that focus on resource

mobilization; as such Goals 3 and 5 should also have similar targets to

guarantee allocation of resources, including financial resources.

 

8.a: We are concerned with the promotion of Aid for Trade for developing

countries as this will come attached with conditionalities, and that women’s

rights, including sexual and reproductive rights, would be traded away.

 

8.b: The greatest inequalities exist in Middle Income Countries, and it has the

highest number of poor people. Move up from low income to middle income

classifications does not mean reduction in the number of poor people; nor

does it mean that social inequalities have been addressed, nor that human

rights of all, including sexual and reproductive rights, have been recognized,

protected and fulfilled. As such, ODA remains critical for Middle Income

Countries.

 

Para 6: Aside from disaggregation by gender, we should also add

disaggregation by income, age, race, ethnicity, migratory and citizenship

status, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity and expression,

geographic location, HIV and health status, pregnancy status, occupation,

and other characteristics relevant in national contexts.

 

III. Follow-up and Review

 

Follow-up and review processes should be inclusive and transparent at all

levels (including local) and to all themes for civil society. This should be

matched by funding and capacity strengthening support for diverse civil

society, particularly those who serve and represent women, youth, and

marginalised groups, and those coming from developing and middle-income

countries.

 

Para 3a: Add that human rights principles and standards, including women’s

human rights, should be the basis for implementation of the SDGs.

 

Para 3.e: Add disaggregation by citizenship status, HIV and health status,

marital status, pregnancy status, occupation, and sexual orientation and

gender identity and expression. Both qualitative and quantitative data must be

used to show extent and provide in-depth information.

 

Para 5: At the national level, include national human rights institutions, as well

as women’s youth and community-based groups, and social movements

amongst those playing a role in the reviews.

 

Para 8: To ensure coherence, the HLPF should take into account and link

with other processes, including those for major UN conferences like CEDAW,

CRC, CRPD, ICPD and BPFA.

 

Ensure that accountability mechanisms are in place for States, as well as for

the private sector, and public-private partnerships, adhering to the highest

standards of human rights and social justice. These should be linked to other

existing processes, such as the Human Rights frameworks.

 

SIGNATORIES

 

1. Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW), Regional (Asia-

Pacific)