UN experts highlight role of civil society in post-2015 agenda

A group of UN human rights experts on Monday urged all the countries to recognize and support the role of a free and active civil society in the implementation of the post-2015 development agenda.

"A central role for civil society is the only way to guarantee inclusive post-2015 development goals," they said in a joint statement issued on Monday, as government representatives meet in New York from May 18 -22 to discuss a monitoring and review framework for the post-2015 development agenda.

The experts called for the new global goals to be firmly grounded in international human rights norms and standards, stressing the principle of participation.

"Civic space is shrinking worldwide, and there is therefore, a need to explicitly recognize the importance of a free and vibrant civil society," they noted, adding that "civil society is integral in helping governments find innovative solutions to complex developmental problems while often providing necessary public services."

"A vibrant civil society also ensures that the voices of the vulnerable and marginalised are meaningfully included in the development initiatives that will affect their aspirations and well-being," the experts highlighted in the statement.

The human rights experts warned of a disturbing rise in attacks on civil society actors, and expressed grave concerns at a spike in the number of reports documenting physical assaults and killings of in particular environmental right defenders, social workers and other members of civil society promoting the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The UN human rights experts are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Endit