MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: “Istanbul Declaration” Proposes Discussion of Income Inequality, Women’s Empowerment, Environmental Sustainability at United Nations (UN) “Rio + 20” Conference in Brazil in June

Participants in last week’s United Nations (UN) Global Human Development Forum in Istanbul, Turkey, have adopted an “Istanbul Declaration” that calls for unified action against global social inequities and environmental degradation at the UN “Rio + 20” Conference on Sustainable Development to be held in Brazil in June 2012. The declaration stresses the importance of viewing sustainable development within the context of social, economic and environmental dimensions. It identifies the following four issues for discussion at the Rio conference: (1) adoption of a global vision that combines equitable growth with environmental sustainability, (2) mobilization of global capital and local resources to fund solutions for environmental and social problems, (3) empowerment of women and (4) establishment and maintenance of “good” governance for sustainable development at global, regional, national and local levels.

The declaration also recommends structural transformations in order to adapt to current patterns of production and consumption and approves the recommendations of the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Global Sustainability, a group that explores approaches for building a “green” economy that can eradicate poverty. The declaration concludes with the recommendation to maintain progress towards the Millennium Development Goals, a list of eight international development goals intended to be achieved by 2015, and to develop new post-2015 goals.

The UN “Rio + 20” Conference on Sustainable Development will take place from June 20 to June 22, 2012, and has the aim of securing political commitment for sustainable development, assessing progress to date and addressing new and emerging challenges in the arena. The two themes of the conference will be: (a) a green economy in the contexts of sustainable development and poverty eradication; and (b) the institutional framework for sustainable development. The conference is known as Rio + 20 because it marks the twentieth anniversary of the UN Conference on Environment and Development (Rio-92).

By Charlotte Newman, Research Associate

About the United Nations Development Programme
The mission of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) is to provide developing countries with knowledge, experience and resources in line with the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a set of eight goals intended to be achieved by 2015. UNDP operates in partnership with national governments in 166 countries as of 2011. Each country office of UNDP contributes to the organization’s annual Human Development Report, which is intended to provide a benchmark for development.

About the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
Established at the Millennium Summit in 2000, the deadline for completion of these goals is 2015. They are as follows: (1) end poverty and hunger, (2) achieve universal primary education, (3) promote gender equality and empower women, (4) reduce child mortality rate, (5) improve maternal health, (6) combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, (7) ensure environmental sustainability and (8) encourage global partnership.

Sources and Additional Resources:

Information sent to MicroCapital from the United Nations Development Programme: Human Development Reports: “Global Human Development Forum Adopts ‘Istanbul Declaraion’ Urging Bold Action at UN ‘Rio+20’ Conference This June.”

United Nations Development Programme: Human Development Reports: “Istanbul Declaration: Towards an Equitable and Sustainable Future for All,” http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/Istanbul%20Declaration%2023%20March%202012.pdf

MicroCapital.org story, March 23, 2012, “MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Global Human Development Forum to Issue ‘Istanbul Declaration’ on Social Justice Issues to be Raised at United Nations ‘Rio + 20’ Conference on Sustainable Development,” https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-global-human-development-forum-to-issue-istanbul-declaration-on-social-justice-issues-to-be-raised-at-united-nations-rio-20-conference-on-sust/

MicroCapital.org story, September 24, 2011, “MICROFINANCE EVENT: United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative 13th Global Roundtable, ‘The Tipping Point: Sustained stability in the next economy,’ Washington, DC, October 19-20, 2011,” https://www.microcapital.org/microfinance-event-united-nations-environment-programme-finance-initiative-13th-global-roundtable-%E2%80%9Cthe-tipping-point-sustained-stability-in-the-next-economy%E2%80%9D-washington-dc-octobe/

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