Meena Bilgi, WOCAN Core Associate and Nisha Onta, Knowledge Management Coordinator attend the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development 2015: ‘Strengthening integration, implementation and review for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific’ held on 21-22 May in Bangkok, Thailand. The Forum was convened by UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) with the objective to strengthen the institutional framework for sustainable development at the regional level. It was attended by more than 400 participants, including representatives of Governments, major groups and other stakeholders, United Nations bodies and programmes, and other international organizations and entities.
During the two day meeting, participants discussed: sustainable development challenges and opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region; regional monitoring and review mechanisms; perspectives on the post-2015 development agenda and the sustainable development goals; the form and function of the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development beyond 2015; and the transition from the Millennium Development Goals to the sustainable development goals. The Forum also showcased national examples and experiences in sustainable development, with a focus on integration of its three dimensions. Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, UN Under-Secretary-General and ESCAP Executive remarked that ‘We agreed on the need to focus on a more inclusive, balanced and sustained growth path, while respecting planetary boundaries and social needs, and called for region-wide acceptance of social justice and ecological sustainability, as fundamental policy objectives’ Dr. Akhtar also called on a stronger political commitment.
Many participants also highlighted gender equality and the empowerment of women as major factors in ensuring sustainable development. In relation to the centrality of gender equality to sustainable development, the increased participation of women in the labour market and their access to decent work, their equal participation in policymaking processes and addressing their rights to basic services were highlighted. Meena and Nisha provided inputs for women’s constituencies’ statement, to re-emphasize the centrality of gender equality in sustainable development and also the need for a robust accountability mechanism for an effective post 2015 agenda. WOCAN also displayed its publications in the partners pavilion during the forum.
Participants also stressed the need for development to be promoted within the framework of, and entirely consistent with, universal human rights and development justice principles. Equitable access and control over land, productive resources and appropriate and environmentally sound technology were identified as key enabling factors for sustainable agriculture and improved livelihoods for marginalized communities. The private sector representatives also highlighted that they recognize the need to take into account the social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development, including by addressing supply chains.