Disability set to rise in development priorities after 2015

The final outcome document for Sustainable Development Goals by the Open Working Group (OWG) was published on Sat 19 July 2014.

Based on the first reading, in terms of disability inclusion, the proposal by the OWG is positive and Disability set to rise in development priorities after 2015.

The outcome document details seventeen goals and related targets and here are the reasons to

cheer:

In total there are nine references to disability.

• Two reference to disability are in the preamble and
• In five goalsrelated to Goal 4 - education, Goal 8 - economic growth, Goal 10 - inequalities, Goal 7 - sustainable cities and Goal 17 - means of implementation explicitly mentions disability
• Eight goals - Goal 1 - poverty, Goal 3 – health, Goal 4 – education, Goal 5 – gender, Goal 6 – water and sanitation, Goal 7 – energy, Goal 8 – economic growth and Goal 16 – justice – mentions all – thereby implicitly includes persons with disabilities.

I have listed these references below.

Reference 1:

Preamble – para 4: People are at the centre of sustainable development and, in this regard, Rio+20 promised to strive for a world that is just, equitable and inclusive, and committed to work together to promote sustained and inclusive economic growth, social development and environmental protection and thereby to benefit all, in particular the children of the world, youth and future generations of the world without distinction of any kind such as age, sex, disability, culture, race, ethnicity, origin, migratory status, religion, economic or other status

Reference 2:

Preamble – para 17: In order to monitor the implementation of the SDGs, it will be important to improve the availability of and access to data and statistics disaggregated by income, gender, age, race, ethnicity, migratory status, disability, geographic location and other characteristics relevant in national contexts to support the support the monitoring of the implementation of the SDGs. There is a need to take urgent steps to improve the quality, coverage and availability of disaggregated data to ensure that no one is left behind.

Reference 3:

Proposed goal 4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote life-long learning opportunities for all

Target 4.5by 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational trainingfor the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, and children in

vulnerable situations

Reference 4: (under proposed goal 4 on Education)

4.a build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive and provide safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all

Reference 5:

Proposed goal 8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

8.5: by 2030 achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value

Reference 6:

Proposed goal 10. Reduce inequality within and among countries

10.2: by 2030 empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status

Reference 7:

Proposed goal 11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

11.2 by 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons

Reference 8: (under proposed goal 11 on Cities)

11.7 by 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, particularly for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities

Reference 9:

Proposed goal 17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

Data, monitoring and accountability

17.18 by 2020, enhance capacity building support to developing countries, including for LDCs and SIDS, to increase significantly the availability of high-quality, timely and reliable data disaggregated by income, gender, age, race, ethnicity, migratory status, disability, geographic location and other characteristics relevant in national contexts

In addition eight goals - Goal 1 - poverty, Goal 3 – health, Goal 4 – education, Goal 5 – gender, Goal 6 – water and sanitation, Goal 7 – energy, Goal 8 – economic growth and Goal 16 – justice – mentions all – and thereby implicitly includes persons with disabilities.

Here is the listing of all the seventeen goals:

Proposed goal 1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere

Proposed goal 2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture

Proposed goal 3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

Proposed goal 4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote life-long learning opportunities for all

Proposed goal 5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

Proposed goal 6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

Proposed goal 7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all

Proposed goal 8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

Proposed goal 9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

Proposed goal 10. Reduce inequality within and among countries

Proposed goal 11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

Proposed goal 12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

Proposed goal 13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

Proposed goal 14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

Proposed goal 15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

Proposed Goal 16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

Proposed goal 17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

Key upcoming dates leading to the launch of the post 2015/ sustainable development goals in September 2015 are:

2014

• July – Final Outcome document of OWG (Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals)
• August – OWG report and financing report due
• September – UNGA (United Nations General Assembly) high-level stocktaking event on SDGs
• After September – intergovernmental negotiations kick off
• October - December – UNSG synthesis report (Synthesis of the following outcome documents: High-Level Panel +  SDG Open Working Group (OWG) + Intergovernmental Committee of Experts on Sustainable Development Financing + High-Level Political Forum + +)
• Climate Change Negotiations – agreement by end 2015

2015

• TBC – major review of future of development finance, international summit
• July – annual meeting of HLPF (High Level Political Forum
• September - SDGs agreed? – Launch of SDGs

Beyond

• Monitoring plans: HLPF meetings every 1-4 years under auspices of UNGA & ECOSOC

Mahesh Chandrasekar
International Policy & Campaigns Manager
Leonard Cheshire Disability
Telephone: 020 3242 0273
E-mail: mahesh.chandrasekar@leonardcheshire.org