In last week’s blog, Anusha Santhirasthipam, Soroptimist International Assistant Programme Director looked at how individual decisions on food waste can make a difference. This week, she writes about how we can promote sustainable development on a global level, by contributing to the debate on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Post-2015 Development Agenda. 

A year ago, the Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development looked at how to move towards a global ‘green economy’, poverty eradication and sustainable development. Although Soroptimist International and other civil society organisations were deeply disappointed at the  Rio+20 outcomes, one welcome development was the establishment of an intergovernmental process on SDGs. 

Soroptimist International delegates were involved in various levels of engagement at the Rio+20 summit with Governments, civil society organizations, the private sector and businesses, academia and scientists. Governments signed agreements to take various actions including to devise sustainable development goals (SDGs) for adoption by all countries post-2012.

Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals

 A 30-member Open Working Group of the General Assembly was established on 22 January 2013 to prepare a proposal on SDGs for consideration by the Assembly at its 68th session (Sept. 2013 – Sept. 2014). The Member States have decided to use an innovative, constituency-based system of representation that is new to limited membership bodies of the General Assembly. This means that each seat in the Group is shared by 1-4 Member States. These country teams will decide themselves how they will be represented in the OWG meetings. Find out which Open Working Group team your country belongs to and what theme topic the Group is working on. Try to influence positive changes.

The Rio+20 outcome document states that, at the outset, the OWG will decide on its methods of work, including ways to ensure the full involvement of relevant stakeholders and expertise from civil society, the scientific community and the United Nations system in its work. Soroptimist International, in general consultative status with ECOSOC will be able to directly input issues and proposals to the OWG.

Post-2015 Development Agenda

Soon after Rio+20 , in July 2012, the UN Secretary-General launched his High-level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda. The Panel is Co-chaired by the Presidents of Indonesia and Liberia and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and includes representatives from civil society, private sector, academia and local and national governments. On 30 May 2013, it published a report with its vision and recommendations on a global development agenda beyond 2015. You can view the full report at http://www.post2015hlp.org/

How Clubs, Regions and Unions can participate in national, global online and thematic consultations

In order to facilitate an inclusive global conversation, the United Nations Development Group has initiated consultations at the national and global level as well as a set of eleven thematic consultations.

National consultations are taking place in more than 60 developing and developed countries. They include online and offline outreach tailored to national circumstances and needs, and they are closely linked to national development priorities. This is how Soroptimists in each country can participate and engage with your Government on local issues.

In order to facilitate a global conversation where each citizen can get their voice to be heard, the initiative My World was established. Without having to sign up, users can select their six priorities out of a list of 16 different themes. Results of the survey will be submitted to the Secretary-General’s High-level Panel.

A set of eleven multi-stakeholder thematic consultations are convened on the following themes: education, inequalities; health; governance; conflict and fragility; growth and employment; environmental sustainability; hunger, nutrition and food security; population dynamics; energy; and water.

Each thematic consultation is led by two or more UN agencies who work closely together with representatives from civil society, the private sector and academia as well as with co-hosting governments. The consultations aim to explore the role such themes could play in a new framework, different ways in which they can be best addressed, and the inter-linkages between them.

Regional consultations

The Regional Economic Commissions are engaged in regional consultations which will culminate in a report on regional perspective on the post-2015 development agenda e.g. for Africa, Latin America & Caribbean, Asia & Pacific, etc.

UN Global Compact

The UN Global Compact has been actively involved in ensuring that the views and contributions of businesses and the private sector feed into the post-2015 process.

The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UNSDSN) has recently published a draft report entitled An Action Agenda for Sustainable Development, which puts forward 10 proposals for future Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• Goal 1: End Extreme Poverty including Hunger

• Goal 2: Achieve Development within Planetary Boundaries

• Goal 3: Ensure Effective Learning for All Children and Youth for Life and Livelihood

• Goal 4: Achieve Gender Equality, Social Inclusion, and Human Rights

• Goal 5: Achieve Health and Wellbeing at all Ages

• Goal 6: Improve Agriculture Systems and Raise Rural Prosperity

• Goal 7: Empower Inclusive, Productive and Resilient Cities

• Goal 8: Curb Human-Induced Climate Change and Ensure Clean Energy for All

• Goal 9: Secure Ecosystem Services, Biodiversity and Good Management of Natural Resources 
• Goal 10: Transform Governance for Sustainable Development

The draft was open to comments and consultation until 22 May 2013.

The document will feed in to the UN Secretary General’s (UNSG) report on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) later this year, alongside the UN High Level Panel Report ; the Global Compact process with the business community; and the UNDG report drawing together the thematic global and regional consultations.

When the UN General Assembly convenes from 24 Sept-4 Oct 2013 in New York, Ban Ki-moon is expected to present his vision for post-2015 development based on the work of the HLP. The Open Working Group on the SDGs is also expected to give a progress report. Member states will also discuss progress so far on the Millennium Developmen Goals.

If you have not participated at a local community or national level or taken part in any of these global online forums, then it’s time to do so. SI Website carries many blogs, statements and resource materials on issues pivotal to women and girls within the context of sustainable development. Get online and take charge of how you want to shape “the world you want”.