Prior to the upcoming 13th and last session of the Open Working Group which will take place on July 14-18, the OWG Co-Chairs circulated the the revised zero draft on the Introduction and proposed goals and targets on sustainable development for the post2015 development agenda. These will form the basis for the eight days negotiations that remain for the 13th session of the Open Working Group (OWG).

In their accompanying letter the Co-Chairs said: “We have adjusted the document to more closely reflect areas of agreement and expressed priorities. We have also sought to simplify and harmonize the phrasing of some of the goals. And, as promised, we have tightened the draft by substantially consolidating the number of targets.”

Sexual and reproductive health and rights

A first glance at the revised zero draft shows a number of changes that have been made since the previous version was discussed in OWG-12. “Universal access to sexual and reproductive health for all” is no longer included under Goal 3 “Attain healthy lives for all at all ages”. Instead it only appears in Goal 5 “Attain gender equality and empower women and girls everywhere” with the following wording: “5.6 ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights in accordance with the Programme of Action of the ICPD and the Beijing Platform for Action”. There is, moreover, no reference to comprehensive sexuality education even though 4.6 refers to other subjects that should be integrated into education programmes as knowledge and skills necessary for sustainable development.

While the Co-Chairs have listened to the calls for the inclusion of references to the ICPD Programme of Action and the Beijing Platform for Action in the introduction, they have omitted to include “the key actions for the further implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and their subsequent reviews.” It should also be noted that while there are references to certain human rights such as the right to food, the “right to health” has not been included.

Advocates for sexual and reproductive health and rights should urgently draw the attention of their Governments to ensure that sexual and reproductive health and rights is included in both goals 3 and 5 and that the other omissions are addressed in the forthcoming negotiations.

Source: NGOs Beyond 2014