An open letter signed by over 100 international and national civil society organizations ranging from women’s, environmentalist, development, faith-based and youth movements and trade unions has been sent to the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in response to his report “Keeping the Promise - a forward-looking review to promote an agreed action agenda to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.”

The letter includes reactions to the report as well as number of recommendations for an MDG Breakthrough Plan as a key outcome of the High Level Plenary (HLP) in September when over 100 leaders are expected to come together to review progress, identify gaps, and commit to a concrete action agenda to achieve the MDGs.

Divided in nine thematic sections, the letter includes the following key demands and recommendations:

— There must be broad space for civil society participation in all levels of the MDG review and implantation process – this includes during the HLP itself but also space at the national level in the form of a democratic environment and legislative framework where opinions can be expressed without fear of harassment.

— The Review Process must address the issues of inequality and discrimination and in particular address the appalling lack of progress on gender equality.

— A gender and social exclusion audit must be carried out to measure to what extent achievements under the MDG Process have reached marginalized and excluded communities – in particular women and girls, migrant workers, people with disabilities and ethnic minorities.

— A robust, credible, transparent, effective and inclusive monitoring and accountability framework at global and national level must be a key part of the MDG Breakthrough Plan to be agreed at the HLP. Key components of such a framework are outlined in the letter.

— Concrete measures to address corruption must be included in the MDG Breakthrough Plan.

— Binding timetables towards the attainment of ODA targets, including the 0.7 percent committed by many OECD countries must be put in place.

— New forms for financing development – such as a Financial Transaction Tax – are also required given the emergency proportions of the interlinked global crises and the need to accelerate achievement of the MDGs.

— The MDG Breakthrough Plan must focus on an integrated approach – increased investment in the most off track targets alongside a focus on the interdependence of human rights, gender equality, environmental sustainability and peace and security.

— Urgent steps to achieve MDG8 must be included in the MDG Breakthrough Plan, in particular through a focus on the rights of countries to only enter trade details which support the needs and interests of their own people as well as well as for Fair and Transparent Debt workout mechanisms.

— Fully funded national plans to achieve universal health, education throughout life, water and sanitation amongst others must be a core part of the MDG breakthrough plan.

— Achieving productive employment must be at the heart of the MDG Breakthrough Plan.

— Funds for climate change mitigation and adaptation must be additional to development funds/ODA and must go beyond the US$100 billion agreed by leaders in Copenhagen.

— The MDG Breakthrough Plan must recognize the centrality of emissions reduction to combat climate change and its affect on vulnerable populations, and acknowledge that the most appropriate goal for this is a commitment by world leaders to limit global average temperature rise to 1.5 degrees.

The Open Letter is available in English, French and Spanish.

Source: http://www.un-ngls.org/spip.php?page=amdg10&id_article=2445