“There is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic will result in a serious setback for the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030,” said Saad Alfaraji, an independent UN human rights expert, during the second working day of the forum.
He called on the participants of the High-Level meeting to take agreed steps and measures to fulfill the promise that no one should be ignored. He noted that policies and programs often fail to assess people’s needs and address them.
“If the efforts to achieve the goals are not based on people’s real needs, they cannot succeed,” mentioned Alfaraji.
The UN legal expert claims that even today many women, as well as members of racial, ethnic, and religious minorities, displaced and poor, are “marginalized, powerless, excluded.”
“Unless we address the existing inequalities, exceptions, and extreme discrimination these communities face, long-term inclusive development will remain unrealistic for all,” he said.
The right to development gives every creature the right to participate, to contribute, as well as to enjoy economic, social, cultural and political developments.
It is noted that achieving sustainable development requires a comprehensive process with the participation of all stakeholders, from states, international organizations, civil society to marginalized groups in society.
He noted that the priorities should be set by the people who should benefit, that is, “communities should set development agendas, budgets and processes.”
“It is therefore essential to remove visible and invisible barriers that hinder community participation, such as lack of legal identity, high financial cost or social restrictions, to ensure that the whole of society benefits from development.,” concluded Saad Alfarargi
Source Sustainable Development Goals Knowledge Platform
https://www.ohchr.org/RU/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25383&LangID=E
