The Vatican (Tuesday, 06-23-2015, Gaudium Press) The Holy See’s Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations has called on discussions about the post-2015 development agenda to focus on the human person.
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“Through this new agenda, the global community must boldly address the biggest challenges before it, such as extreme poverty, the growing exclusion of the weak and vulnerable, and the progressive degradation of ‘our common home,’ the environment,” said Archbishop Bernadito Auza.
The Archbishop was speaking at the United Nations on Monday.
“My delegation is of the opinion that this new agenda should place the human person at its center, not only as the primary beneficiary of sustainable development, but also as its agent and its steward, working in solidarity with those in the greatest need for the common good of society and the environment,” he said.
The full statement by Archbishop Auza is below
Statement by H.E. Archbishop Bernardito Auza
Apostolic Nuncio, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations
Intergovernmental Negotiations on the Post-2015 Development Agenda
General Statement on the Zero Draft, Post-2015 Development Agenda
New York, 22 June 2015
Distinguished Co-facilitators,
My delegation would like to thank you for your hard work and tireless efforts in convening open and inclusive thematic discussions on the post-2015 development agenda, which have led us to this zero draft on the post-2015 development agenda.
While my delegation acknowledges, as others do, that we still have a momentous task ahead of us, it is confident that we shall come up with a new development agenda that will ambitiously seek to achieve sustainable development and a dignified life for all. Through this new agenda, the global community must boldly address the biggest challenges before it, such as extreme poverty, the growing exclusion of the weak and vulnerable, and the progressive degradation of “our common home,” the environment.
My delegation is of the opinion that this new agenda should place the human person at its center, not only as the primary beneficiary of sustainable development, but also as its agent and its steward, working in solidarity with those in the greatest need for the common good of society and the environment.
My delegation notes that the zero draft is based on previous declarations and outcome documents of its nature, and it appears to be well arranged and inclusive of the viewpoints from all perspectives and stakeholders. Regarding the political declaration, my delegation sees it as a good basis for further discussions. We believe that the declaration must be idealistic and compelling, designed to inspire and not to frustrate, to unite and not to divide by avoiding ambiguous terms and concepts.
Having said that, my delegation thinks that the declaration, as it appears in the zero draft, is somewhat long, and it would benefit from a crisper pace focused on its inspirational intent. By using brief inspirational or lead sentences, akin to the methods of social media, the political declaration should prepare us for reflection and usher in our interest in the three chapters. My delegation is of the opinion that there is no substantial additional value to the Outcome document in repeating in detail in the political declaration those elements that are already stated in their rightful places in the three chapters of the zero draft.
We support the verbatim inclusion of the sustainable development goals and targets as in the Report of the OWG. We would oppose the imposition of targets and indicators on countries and peoples whose laws and values are contrary to them. With this in mind, we would need to address how reservations of delegations contained within the Report of the OWG will be reflected in the Outcome document.
We would support a strong and focused means of implementation section, recognizing that this section is foundational for the fulfillment of the new agenda. We would strongly encourage the use and coordination of all sources of financing to achieve the SDGs and development in general.
Distinguished co-facilitators,
It is my delegation’s intention to continue to contribute constructively throughout the upcoming sessions to help further strengthen the document, and we share your desire for an Outcome document that is agreeable to all.
Thank you.
Source Vatican Radio
