This meeting “Civil Society Stakeholder Preparatory Forum for the Post-2015 Development Agenda Negotiations” was an interactive dialogue between the President of the 69th session of the General Assembly and civil society organized by the Office of the President of the General Assembly, in collaboration with the United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service (UN-NGLS), the NGO Branch, Office of ECOSOC Support and Coordination (OESC), Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), and NGO Relations, Department of Public Information (DPI). This preparatory forum brought together Major Groups and stakeholders to share their positions and priorities for the intergovernmental negotiations on the post-2015 development agenda, which tentatively are expected to begin immediately after the Forum. Participants also learned how they can effectively engage in the negotiation process going forward.

The Forum hosted approximately 400 participants, including UN Member States and the UN System and stakeholders from civil society and the private sector. Among the panelists, moderators and discussants the Forum featured civil society representatives from all different continents; as well as high level delegates from the UN Member States, including the two co-facilitators of the post-2015 intergovernmental negotiations from the Republic of Kenya and Ireland, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Germany, India, Kingdom of Morocco, Peru, Romania, the Russian Federation, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the European Union. High level officials of UN DESA and UN-NGLS as well as the president of ECOSOC participated.

CORE DEBATE HIGHLIGHTS (excerpt from Summary)

General Overview

•  The need to shift to a development paradigm respectful of natural, human and cultural diversities: (…)  We must ensure that the development paradigm that informs the post-2015 development agenda is cognizant of the world´s plurality and diversity, valuing and respecting cultures and people´s fundamental rights, as well as the rights of the Mother Earth and all living beings. It must be at the service and committed to Living Well (Buen Vivir) and to Development Justice, considering redistributive, economic, social, gender, environmental and intergenerational justice, as well as accountability to all people.
• Equality and overcoming all forms of discrimination: The post-2015 development agenda must thoroughly address the prevailing invisibility and inadequate representation and influence in decision-making processes of discriminated groups, including persons with disabilities, LGBT, women, older people, migrants, refugees and displaced people, indigenous peoples, afro descendants, workers, small-scale farmers, children and youth and other minority groups.

Focus on Secretary General’s (UNSG) Synthesis Report 

• Private Sector: The UNSG´s Synthesis Report proposes to tap into private resources and facilitate foreign direct investments (FDI) in developing countries as well as Public Private Partnerships (PPPs). Evidence shows that FDI liberalization has sapped the resources and weakened the economies of many nations, while favoring transnational companies and banks. The negative impact transnational corporations have in threatening food and energy sovereignty, damaging ecosystems and livelihoods, must be made explicated, halted and reflected in the post-2015 development agenda. The latter should ensure compliance with the UN’s Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

Focus Session on “Follow up and Review”

TDN President & Founder Ariel Rojas (center left) posing with H.E. Martin Sajdik (far left), President of ECOSOC; H.E. Ambassador Ib Petersen (center right), Permanent Representative of Denmark to the UN; and Jens Ole Bach Hansen (far right), Counselor of Economic/Social Affairs

TDN President & Founder Ariel Rojas attending focus session on the UN Secretary-General’s Synthesis Report

TDN President & Founder Ariel Rojas (right) posing with Norine Kennedy (center), Vice President of United States Council for International Business, and Bárbara del Castillo Niño (left), representative of Transparencia Mexicana