26-28 Apr 2017 México, Mexico | Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, multilateralism, integration and regional cooperation are indispensable instruments for confronting the economic, social and environmental tensions provoked by the uncertain international scenario, Alicia Bárcena, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), asserted today.
The senior United Nations official, along with Mexican Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights Miguel Ruiz Cabañas, initiated the work of the Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development, which is being held through Friday in the Mexican capital, under ECLAC’s sponsorship.
Bárcena presented the Annual report on regional progress and challenges in relation to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Latin America and the Caribbean, a contribution by ECLAC to the efforts of governments and multiple actors in the region for the implementation, follow-up and evaluation of their policies and strategies furthering the 2030 Agenda and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
During her speech, ECLAC’s most senior representative contended that the 2030 Agenda is indispensable for correcting the recessionary bias produced by persistent trade imbalances and the high levels of instability and uncertainty created by financial globalization, in order to reduce social gaps and inequality and regain a state of well-being and protection of the world of work.
She added that the agenda is necessary for preventing migratory conflicts and achieving sustainable peace, as well as for protecting the planet and future generations’ right to development.
Another session was led by the Ambassador and Special Adviser to the President of the General Assembly for Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, Dessima Williams. She stated that the 2030 Agenda along with the Paris Agreement and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda represent humanity’s greatest hope for building a more prosperous future, with social inclusion and environmental protection, and where no one is left behind.
As the Forum’s work got underway, the presidents of ECLAC’s subsidiary bodies informed participants of the relevant contributions for implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development on a regional level.
Subsequently, the United Nations Development Group for Latin America and the Caribbean (UNDG-LAC) presented a document highlighting challenges and good practices from a comprehensive perspective, with the aim of sharing the themes and interests of the different organizations from the United Nations system that make up the UNDG-LAC and referring to their concrete practices.
On Thursday, Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela will present their experiences, achievements and challenges in preparing the voluntary national reviews that they submitted in 2016 to the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.
Created as the regional follow-up mechanism on implementation of the 2030 Agenda, the Forum seeks to provide peer learning opportunities through voluntary reviews, the exchange of good practices and the discussion of shared goals.
