Brussels, 21 June 2012 – Two decades ago in 1992, a historic meeting of governments, business organizations and civil society organizations laid down a commitment to achieve sustainable development, named the Rio Declaration.

It heralded a whole new paradigm that embraced integrating economic growth, social equality and environmental sustainability (UNGA 1992).

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) proposed by Colombia, Guatemala, and Peru during the Rio+20 processes, aims to remind policymakers and other stakeholders of the importance of reaching a solid outcome at Rio+20, as well as for the future.

Caritas considers that a more holistic post-2015 global approach must be aimed (including MICs and CSOs) at both developed and developing countries, in contrast to the MDGs which were largely focused on developing countries. The process for its formulation must therefore be (from down to top) open, inclusive, participatory and responsive to the people most affected by poverty and injustice

In terms of content, Caritas believes in a framework that supports the poorest and most vulnerable by integrating the human rights approach. The framework must set out global goals, as well as contextualized national targets for developed and developing countries aiming at a sustainable and equitable global development, as well as the eradication of extreme poverty.

Caritas supports a new framework that ensures policy coherence for development. Moreover the framework must clearly lay out enforceable accountability mechanisms, as well as the process for accountability at a national, regional and global level including national oversight and independent review mechanisms at the international level.

Caritas advocates for a holistic approach to development, ‘a shift to sustainable consumption and production – living simply, in community –, giving priority to equity, sustainability, and responsibility.’ Caritas believes that the sustainable use of natural resources should be made accessible to people and communities in an equitable way, recognizing the dignity of every human being, with particular attention to the poorest and most vulnerable.

Although the details of the roadmap Rio+20 are still uncertain, Caritas believes that many of the issues addressed in the Zero Draft document are of significance for the EU’s sustainable development policies. The EU could play a leading role and put an example by tackling important issues addressed in the document at once, regardless of the outcomes of the Rio+20 conference.

Furthermore, the EU could take a leading role in proactive initiatives insisting for a roadmap on ‘Beyond 2015’, including time-specific milestones to develop the new framework. It is crucial for Caritas that the EU seeks for a closer cooperation with developing and least developed countries. In terms of Coherence, Caritas believes that the EU should take a leading role on Policy Coherence for Development setting a mechanism that monitors the consistency of a set of policies (agriculture, security…) with poverty eradication.

http://www.caritas-europa.org/code/EN/abou.asp?Page=1404

For more information contact:

Thorfinnur Ómarsson

Communication Officer

Tel: +32 2 235 03 94

Mob: +32 473 341393

tomarsson@caritas-europa.org