NEW YORK
The United Nations
General Assembly on Friday adopted a new set of development goals which
seek to bind the developed world to work alongside the developing
nations in eradicating poverty and other basic challenges facing
humanity.
Even as the assembly adopted the vote on the
17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which Kenya played a key role
in their drafting, questions over the developed world’s commitment to
finance major projects in infrastructure in the less developed countries
dominated speeches by various heads of State.
The
adoption of the SDG’s was special moment for Kenya’s Permanent
Representative to the UN Mr Macharia Kamau who co-chaired the open
working group which drafted the goals which are expected to end extreme
poverty by the year 2030.
“This is the first global
agenda which has been negotiated and agreed upon by 193 countries who
have adopted it. The SDGs are divided into economic, social and
environmental goals so that none of the three is left behind,” he said
at the UN Headquarters in New York, United States.
He
went on: “We had the privilege of playing leadership to the development
of the global agenda which will not only guide the emancipation of the
developing nations but also the development of the Western powers.”
Ireland
Prime Minister Enda Kenny said his government and Kenya should be
honoured for leading the development of the goals which must be
implemented.
“I am proud of my country and Mr Macharia
Kamau for the work they did in developing solutions to challenges facing
the world. We have to ensure that they are implemented by thinking of
others, not just ourselves,” he said.
The SDGs are a
successor to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) whose period of
implementation ended this year and were touted to envision ambitious
goals which will eliminate the imbalance that has been created by
developed countries at the same time as the address the effects on the
environment as the word fights to end poverty, illiteracy, diseases and
economic backwardness.
Explained Mr Kamau: “The SDGs do
not leave the MDGs behind but they simply increase their level of
ambition, widen areas of focus such that development shouldn't be at the
expense of the less privileged and the environment.
POPE FRANCIS
Pope
Francis set the tempo for the adoption of the SDG’s when in a historic
speech by the Head of the Vatican to the UN General Assembly urged world
leaders to focus on the moral issues which were facing the world, to
right the wrongs which had been created by deliberate economic and
political discrimination.
The Pontiff also reminded the
Heads of Government and States at the meeting to find ways of reversing
the effects of climate change born out of human efforts to make life
better.
Unless such efforts were undertaken, he warned, the world was staring at a crisis in the near future.
President
Uhuru Kenyatta who arrived in New York on Friday morning was expected
to co-chair at least six sessions of the three-day UN General Assembly
meeting focus on peace, women empowerment, HIV, and security.
President
Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Denmark’s Prime Minister Lars Rasmussen
co-chaired the session on the adoption of the SDGs.
Mr
Museveni while applauding the SDGs as transformative, urged the
developed countries to keep their pledge to help finance the
implementation of the targets.
“The successful
implementation of the SDGs requires finances, technology and capacity
building. Developing countries face challenges in accessing finances for
infrastructure goals which require long term financing at concessional
rates,” he said.
But Mr Kamau said an agreement was
reached at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia two months ago during which commitments
were pledged to finance multi-billion projects in infrastructure. Other
key areas included water and sanitation, health, education, human
dignity and human rights.
“Global commitments were
obtained during the Addis Ababa meeting to help finance these mega
projects. Developing countries have been cut out of international trade.
How will they accumulate money to finance these projects unless through
commitments for financing?” he posed.
DEFINING MOMENT
UN
Secretary General Mr Ban Ki-moon described the adoption as “the
defining moment in human life” but warned that the real test lay in
implementation.
“The true test of the agenda will be
in implementation of this blue print for success. There is need for
renewed political commitment and the observance of the solid financing
arrangement agreed in Addis Ababa,” he said.
Speakers
at the meeting called for renewed political commitment, an end to
discrimination and a fresh aspiration for the attainment of the goals.
President
Kenyatta was expected late afternoon to co-chair a session on women and
children which was expected to come up with ways of ending the
marginalisation of women and committing the world to ensuring the plight
of children was addressed.
Award winning musician
Shakira and UNICEF ambassador Angelique Kidjo performed before the UN
General Assembly emphasising on the need to end extreme poverty and
marginalisation.
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