Caucus of Development NGO Networks (Philippines)

In general, we welcome the July 8, 2015 Draft of the Outcome Document, which will be the basis of the final inter-governmental negotiations in New York on July 20-31, 2015.

We believe that the primary goal of development is the empowerment of the people and the satisfaction of their basic needs; that development should be integrated and holistic, taking into account both material and non-material needs; that it requires recognition of religious and cultural diversity; and that development involves cooperation among peoples of different nations.  We also believe that a peaceful and safe environment for our people, especially for the poor and the marginalized, is necessary for the development of our communities and our nations.  We further believe that development should ensure a harmonious relationship between people and their natural environment.

We view the draft document from the perspective of the key sustainable development principles in Philippine Agenda 21, which may be summarized as social justice and human rights, inclusion and sustainability.

 

 

1) Social Justice and Human Rights

We recognize social justice and human rights as crucial for effective and lasting development. Social justice and human rights must, therefore, underline any and all development programs and projects. This means addressing the social injustice that is the core cause of poverty, inequality, hunger and many of the world’s conflicts.

 

2) Inclusion

Inclusion denotes the full and empowered participation of an active citizenry in a participatory and enabling democracy as a principle of sustainable development. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) must be able to fully promote the empowerment of all people and realize their participation and inclusion in governance.

We believe that the achievement of the targets agreed upon in the SDGs shall be achieved with the participation of the people not only as objects of the targets but as active participants in its implementation and monitoring. We therefore believe in the participation of civil society organizations (CSOs), which have served as voices of different sectors in the community, in all processes related to the SDGs, including its implementation and review/ monitoring after the UN Summit in September 2015.

We stand by our development principles – believing that the people are both the primary force of development and that they, too, should be the primary beneficiaries. Development should lead to the participation of women, youth, and all other vulnerable sectors in all facets of national life. Government policies and programs should be geared toward the enhancement of their potentials and well-being and ensure the equitable distribution of wealth, power and access to resources. In the pursuit of the desired goal of development, the cooperative spirit should prevail.

 

3) Sustainability

The principle of sustainability of human and natural resources respects the rights of humans to live in a clean environment in as much as it aims to conserve, protect, and rehabilitate environmental and natural resources. In a broader sense, it includes not only physical and biological relationships, but social and economic relationships as well.

We need to promote the sustainable development of human and natural resources, which is necessary for the survival of humanity and all other species affected by environmental degradation, climate change, and other human-made disasters, including wars and conflicts.  Development should be an exercise of responsible utilization and stewardship of natural wealth and resources benefiting present and future generations.

It is important to ensure that climate justice will be achieved. Developed countries and industries which are mostly responsible for carbon emissions, and which has led to climate change, should give reparations for the damages caused by climate change impacts to developing countries like the Philippines.

The SDGs must also reaffirm all the principles of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development including the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.

In the light of these principles,

a) We welcome the Draft document as it:

a1) Recognizes that human dignity is fundamental, and aims to end extreme poverty and hunger everywhere; combat inequalities; build peaceful, just and inclusive societies; ensure the lasting protection of the planet and its resources; and create conditions for sustainable, inclusive and sustained economic growth and shared prosperity (Paragraph 3);

a2) Pledges to leave no one behind and to ensure that the goals and targets are met for all nations and peoples and for all economic and social groupings (Para. 4), and to reduce inequality within and among countries (Goal 10);

a3) Affirms the universality of the goals and targets which involve the entire world, rich and poor countries alike, and as an inter-related and indivisible whole, covering the three crucial dimensions of sustainable development: the economic, social and environmental (Para. 5);

a4) Vows to ensure that human rights and fundamental freedoms are enjoyed by all without discrimination on grounds of race, color, sex, age, language, religion, culture, migratory status, political or other opinion, national or social origin, economic situation, birth, disability or other status, and to work for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls (Para. 18 and 19 and Goal 5);

a5) Acknowledges that sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth is essential for prosperity and that will only be possible if wealth is shared through progressive policies aimed at redistribution and if there are dynamic, sustainable and people-centered economies, which promote full and productive employment, especially youth employment, and decent work for all (Para. 25 and Goal 8);

a6) Commits to making fundamental changes in the way that our societies produce and consume goods and services, and call on governments, international organizations, the business sector, other non-state actors and individuals to contribute to changing unsustainable consumption and production patterns (Para. 26 and Goal 12);

a7) Cites the need to effectively address the threat posed by climate change and environmental degradation through the widest possible international cooperation aimed at accelerating the reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions (Para. 27);and to protect, restore and sustainably use oceans, seas and marine resources and terrestrial ecosystems and forests (Goals 14 and 15); and

a8) Affirms that sustainable development cannot be realized without peace; and peace will be at risk without sustainable development, and recognizes the need to build peaceful, just and inclusive societies based on respect for human rights, effective rule of law and on effective and accountable institutions and to ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels (Para. 30 and Goal 16 – 16.7).

 

b) We are concerned, however, that the draft document does not clearly emphasize people’s participation in the implementation and review of the Post 2015 Agenda.

The draft Outcome Document provides that the follow-up and review process “will be open, inclusive and transparent, and support the participation of all people and all stakeholders” (Para. 57 d.)  However, this is not supported in the specific recommendations, and instead the document goes on to merely say that “member states (are encouraged) to conduct regular reviews of progress at the national and sub-national levels. Such reviews can benefit from contributions by civil society, the private sector and other actors in line with national circumstances, policies and priorities”  (Para. 61).

We believe that the Outcome Document must make clear that the post-2015 agenda must be translated, through an open, participatory and inclusive process, into national and sub-national sustainable development plans, programs and projects.  Also, the mechanisms for the regular review and follow-up must be transparent, participatory and broadly representative of the many types of civil society organizations and other stakeholders, and must be clearly evidence based, using indicators, information/data and reports from both government and non-government sources at the local, sub-national, national and international levels.

At the regional and global levels, there should be also transparent and participatory mechanisms for peer review of the performance of countries.  Regional and global coalitions/networks of CSOs should have a clear role in these mechanisms.

 

c)Related to people’s participation, we urge for the inclusion in the document of a clear commitment to the promotion of a safe enabling environment for civil society.

The Civicus State of Civil Society Report for 2014 finds that the rights of civil society were violated in around one half of the world’s 193 countries.  The Post-2015 agenda needs to also address this alarming situation.  The ability of civil society to operate freely and effectively is vital for the attainment of sustainable development.  CSOs have a vital contribution to the goal of “leaving no one behind”.

Aside from guaranteeing the basic freedoms, it must also be recognized that many CSOs, especially organizations of the poor, vulnerable and marginalized, would need to be strengthened through capacity building and financial support from government and other sectors so that they can effectively participate in the implementation, review and follow-up of the Post-2015 Agenda.  This support must be delivered without compromising the CSOs’ independence.  Support for CSOs by governments and UN agencies also means working with legitimate CSOs and promoting self-regulation and accountability mechanisms within the sector. The formation and strengthening of sub-national, national and international networks of CSOs for mutual support, common advocacy actions and knowledge sharing also needs to be supported.

 

d) Finally, we stress the need for clearer commitments by all countries, especially developed countries, as part of the means of implementation.

The Sustainable Development Goals will only be attained if there are determined, sustained and innovative efforts by governments and other sectors all over the world.  Such efforts should include, among others –

• Global cooperation to develop a wide range of national and international funding sources for the SDGs, including innovative funding mechanisms such as a financial transaction tax, and halting illicit financial flows such as tax evasion and proceeds from corruption;

• Committing to climate finance that is new and in addition to ODA and accounted for separately. Such climate finance should synchronize mitigation and adaptation efforts and assist grassroots communities in accessing climate finance for adaption;

• Developing regulatory mechanisms for institutions and corporations as they conduct business inside and outside their home countries to ensure that they take into full account the social, environmental, human rights and governance impacts of their activities and transactions; and

• Promoting a cooperative system of public-peoples enterprises and public-private ventures, which practice democracy, equality, equity and solidarity, and embrace the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for people and planet.

-0-