International Association of Economic and Social Councils
and Similar Institutions
(AICESIS)
INTERVENTION OF MR. VELIKHOV
President of the Russian Civic Chamber and
President of AICESIS
TO THE 2014 PLENARY ASSEMBLY
OF THE UN ECOSOC
(UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL)
ON THE THEME
ADDRESSING ONGOING AND EMERGING CHALLENGES
FOR MEETING THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT
GOALS IN 2015 AND FOR SUSTAINING DEVELOPMENT
GAINS IN THE FUTURE
New York – July 2014
EN
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Dear Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Less than two years from the expiration of the deadline set for the MDGs achievement, their
evaluation at the global level, shows that despite real progress, the most vulnerable
populations have not known a significant worsening in their respective socio-economic
conditions, compromising the vision for a better future praised by UN Member States in 2000.
As we approach the expiration of the deadline, the record of MDGs achievements remains in
deficit, especially in the poorest developing countries, with big gaps between and within
countries.
Several reasons show that the estimated progress rates could not be achieved, mainly due to:
• The financial crisis turning into a real economic crisis challenging the current
development model;
• Wide fluctuations in raw materials prices, with a sharp increase during the pre-crisis
period, followed by a fall affecting the earnings of developing countries in addition to
keeping oil prices at high levels;
• Social movements around the world denouncing the increase of inequalities and lack
of opportunities for social development as well as for job creation, causing sometimes
significant migration movements;
• A weak governance and a lack of coherent public policies.
This context has produced a strong weakening in the ability of countries to allocate the needed
resources funds for ensuring the MDGs achievement. Similarly, the overall amount of
development aid has been reduced because of the austerity policies imposed by the economic
and financial crisis, which has undermined their achievement.
Certainly, the commitment of the international community as well as the efforts made by
various active actors in the development would be able to support some countries in the
achievement of several targets by 2015. Nevertheless concrete, sustainable and viable
commitments and actions to be undertaken in the aftermath of 2015 should be defined by
adopting a global approach based on fundamental human rights and involving civil society
organizations.
Today, a new global development program for 2030 is in the agenda. It has incorporated other
goals to take over the MDGs in order to protect the planet and promote equity, justice and
prosperity. Besides the current eight MDGs, sustainable development, inclusive economy,
sustainable industrialization, climate change issues, human rights, peace and security
international have been included.
AICESIS believes that the new program is in line with the expectations as long as the content
is concerned with three fundamental principles, namely: (i) inclusion, (ii) sustainability, and
(iii) resilience to the crisis. The defined objectives are more global and can positively affect
the level of development in different countries. In this respect, the inclusive industrialization
proposed by the program is expected to create new jobs throughout the emergence of a new
international division of labor focusing on a better integration of developing countries into
new value chains. This would affect on the mean income per person and allow the
development of a dynamic and entrepreneurial middle class.
Furthermore, the new program consists of a new approach based on the third generation of
human rights. This new approach, in addition to social, economic and cultural rights, has
included collective rights of societies or peoples, such as the right to sustainable development,
peace and a healthy environment. In this regard, the repository of the social charter developed
by the ESEC of Morocco and adopted by other ESCs - advocating the rights and standards
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associated with operational objectives and supported about 250 indicators for monitoring and
progress - could represent the basis for the enrichment of the proposed new program.
Navertheless, AICESIS has been warming the international community about the risk of
dispersion efforts due to the increased number of selected targets, thus limiting the potential
for achieving the expected human development. Therefore, it calls for a more global and
integrated approach aimed at strengthening synergies between the multiple dimensions
addressed by the new MDGs agenda.
AISESIS considers that it should also build on successful experiences in the context of the
MDGs and share these experiences in the context of South-South cooperation to build a more
inclusive and balanced society.
Reducing inequalities, strengthening justice and equity, human rights and participatory
democracy and the various aspects of good governance are all challenges under the new
program development. The international community should, in turn, honor its commitments
by developing aid and adopting innovative financing mechanisms.
Therefore, the development agenda beyond 2015 should emphasis more on the need to ensure
structural changes at the global level and be based on a new economic model promoting
inclusive, sustainable and equitable economic growth, agricultural guaranteeing food security,
taking into account both climate and demographic changes, and resulting in a social and
equitable economy as well as secondary and tertiary sectors able to create sufficient added
value to meet current changes.
The development agenda should be based on a strong organized civil society, committed to all
segments of society as a whole and offer a greater role for youth, women, children, elderly,
vulnerable groups and migrants, ensuring a greater coherence and adaptation of public
policies to the national, regional and local contexts. Each country should be indeed able to
adapt and implement the most appropriate solutions according to its own characteristics,
situation, needs and realities.
This model should also refer to the decisions taken at the Rio +20 Summit in particular
concerning inclusive economic development, environment protection, natural resource
sustainability, peace and security. Pan-African initiatives, national and regional consultations,
as well as UN forums, such as the International Conference on Population and Development
+20 are also references to be considered.
The new model will be able to have a positive impact on the agenda beyond 2015 only with
the promotion of responsible governance and participatory democracy. This requires the
development of appropriate mechanisms and tools for participation to promote the
involvement of all stakeholders including civil society, right from the design phase of the new
program, passing throughout their execution and monitoring, till their content evaluation,
while ensuring greater transparency and establishing obligations for accountability.
A system of monitoring and evaluation for the objectives of the development agenda beyond
2015 must be set with the introduction of performance and impact indicators ensuring the
monitoring of the progress made by different countries. In this regard, development of new
composite indices is essential for tracking and monitoring the program and better
understanding the progress made by countries in sustainable human development.
Finally, AICESIS as organized civil society, bringing together economic and social councils
in several countries will continue to mobilize itself for further reflection on the MDGs by
2030, ensuring effective exchange of experiences and best practices between its members.
This analysis should address major development challenges over the next fifteen years and
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consider how the international community could help address this by taking into account
previous experiences in implementing the MDGs.
Thank you for your attention.
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