TWS || Nick Waigwa
Amnesty
International has written to permanent missions in New York advocating for
explicit inclusion of Human Rights among the key principles mentioned in the
post-2015 Declaration.
In a letter
dated 13th February 2015, Amnesty International says that the
progressive realization of Human Rights & Gender equality for everyone
should be recognized in the post-2015 development agenda as a crucial outcome that
the world is aspiring to reach.
The Amnesty
International further notes that human rights should be acknowledged as the
foundation of the post-2015 agenda if the new global development blueprint is
to be truly transformative and all inclusive.
Taking note
of the importance the United Nations Member States in the Open Working Group
outcome document and the UN Secretary General have accorded to human rights in
his synthesis report to the General Assembly, Amnesty International notes that
the post-2015 Declaration will not only set the tone & level of ambition
but also act as an enabler of human rights from being aspirational to
operational.
“We
appreciate that co-facilitators, Ambassador Kamau and Ambassador Donoghue,
mention human rights in their elements-paper issued on 5th February
2015. However, these crucial aspects must be explicitly included as part of the
vision of the agenda itself.” Amnesty International
Below are
some formulations by Amnesty International on how to give expression to the
vision of a bold and ambitious post-2015 Declaration, as contained in the
letter signed by Renzo Pomi, the Amnesty International Representative at the
United Nations.
1. Human Rights as an essential foundation for
sustainable development
We recommit ourselves to the purposes and
principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the
Universal
Declaration of Human
Rights, and rededicate
ourselves to strive
for a world
in which every person
lives free from
fear and free
from want, in
dignity, equality and
respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
2. Universality and indivisibility of human
rights
We
will ensure the
full respect, protection
and promotion in all our
countries and territories
of all human rights, including
the right to development, for all. This includes the right to live in freedom, peace
and security, and
the right to
an adequate standard
of living, including
the rights to
food, housing, water and sanitation, the rights to the highest
attainable standard of physical and mental health and education, the rule of
law and the overall commitment to just and inclusive societies for sustainable
development.
3. Importance of equality, in particular gender
equality
We
commit to leaving
no person behind,
and to achieving
equality in law
and practice to
ensure that all persons
can live in
dignity. We recognize that the
participation and empowerment
of women, is an
effective way to
overcome poverty and
to stimulate development
that is truly sustainable, and therefore commit to
strive for gender equality and full respect of women and girls’ equal rights. We
also commit to
pay particular attention
to the development
needs and rights
of the most marginalized individuals and groups in
our societies as a matter of highest priority.
4. Importance of accountability and good
governance
We will promote participation and democracy,
and strengthen the rule of law at all levels. We will respect and implement all
internationally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms. As Governments,
we will hold
ourselves and others
to account to
deliver on the
aspirations of our people,
and recognize that
success in full
achievement of the sustainable development
goals depends on good governance at the national, regional and
international levels and on transparency in the financial, monetary and trading
systems.
No comments:
Post a Comment