UN rights experts call for a central role for civil
society to guarantee inclusive post-2015 development goals
GENEVA (18 May 2015) – A group of experts* from the
largest body of independent experts in the United Nations Human Rights system
today urged UN member States to recognize and support the role of a free and
active civil society in the implementation of the post-2015 development agenda.
“A central role for civil society is the only way to guarantee inclusive
post-2015 development goals,” they said.
In a joint statement* issued today, as government
representatives meet in New York from 18 to 22 May to discuss a monitoring and
review framework for the post-2015 development agenda, the experts called for
the new global goals to be firmly grounded in international human rights norms
and standards, stressing the principle of participation.
“Civic space is shrinking worldwide, and there is
therefore, a need to explicitly recognize the importance of a free and vibrant
civil society,” they noted. “Civil society is integral in helping Governments
find innovative solutions to complex developmental problems while often
providing necessary public services.”
“A vibrant civil society also ensures that the voices of
the vulnerable and marginalised are meaningfully included in the development
initiatives that will affect their aspirations and well-being,” the experts highlighted.
“But in order to undertake this role, civil society must be free to operate.”
The human rights experts warned of a disturbing rise in
attacks on civil society actors, a proliferation of laws that limit freedoms of
expression, association and peaceful assembly, growing restrictions on
associations’ ability to access resources, an increase in bureaucratic
harassment of civil society, politically motivated prosecutions of human rights
defenders, violent dispersal of peaceful demonstrations, and a surge in illicit
surveillance of activists.
They also expressed grave concerns at a spike in the
number of reports documenting physical assaults and killings of in particular
environmental right defenders, social workers, women's rights activists and other
members of civil society promoting the realization of the Sustainable
Development Goals.
“It is essential that the principle of partnership with
civil society, as well as the space for civil society to freely operate are at
the heart of the post-2015 framework,” the experts said. “The shared post-2015
goals also entail and presuppose civil society’s ability to freely associate
and cooperate worldwide, without any obstacles that hinder financial and
material cooperation by and support for civil society across borders.”
The human rights experts stressed that all civil society
organizations, regardless of their status at the national and international
level, should be regarded as equal partners and entitled to participate and
influence the post-2015 process on an equal basis.
“The promise that no one be left behind cannot be met
without full and free civil society participation throughout the post-2015
process, from negotiation of the goals, targets and indicators to the
monitoring and review of measures to achieve them,” they said.
“Public participation in development and accountability
will remain elusive without an active civil society of empowered women and men,
young and old, who can exercise their rights in an enabling, supportive
environment,” the experts concluded.
(*) Check the full statement and the list of
experts:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=15970&LangID=E
ENDS
The UN human rights experts are part of what is known as
the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the
largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights, is the general name
of the independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms of the Human Rights
Council that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in
all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis;
they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are
independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual
capacity.
For more information and media requests, please contact
Ms. Federica Donati (+41 22 917 94 96 / fdonati@ohchr.org)
For media inquiries related to other UN independent
experts:
Xabier Celaya, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917
9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)
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