Joint statement of child-focused agencies on the post-2015 High-Level Panel report

- ChildFund Alliance

- Plan

- Save the Children

- UNICEF

- World Vision

NEW YORK, May 31, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is being released by World Vision:

We welcome the release of the report (PDF: http://www.post2015hlp.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/UN-Report.pdf) from the UN Secretary-General's High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons (HLP) on the Post-2015 Development Agenda, and commend the efforts of its Members and its Secretariat to outline an ambitious yet achievable development framework for the years to come after 2015.

We fully support the report's vision of eradicating poverty in all its forms as an imperative for the next generation of sustainable development goals, while leaving no one behind, putting sustainable development at the core, transforming economies, building peace and forging a new global partnership.

The HLP's recognition of the impact of inequalities and its major commitment to the most marginalized and excluded people will be pivotal to ensuring that children all over the world realize their rights. In particular the inclusion of zero-based and universal coverage targets, such as ending preventable child deaths, advances the agenda for children.

The HLP's recognition that children are particularly vulnerable to violence, exploitation and abuse, and their proposal of a target to eliminate all forms of violence against them is a major breakthrough for children.

It is vital that the new set of goals and targets builds upon the success of the MDGs and their unfinished and continuing business for children and we are therefore very pleased that this was central to the HLP's vision.

The High-Level Panel's suggested targets include disaster risk reduction, nutrition, education, ending preventable child deaths, birth registration, violence against girls and child marriage, all of which, if enacted, will improve the lives of billions of children throughout the world.

The Report's innovative ideas on monitoring and accountability, including the call for a data revolution, have the potential to strengthen the future delivery of programmes to realise the rights of children everywhere.

While there is a long road ahead, the HLP's suggestions, if adopted and fully implemented, and duty bearers held to account for their delivery, will make a significant advancement for the rights of children. Our hope is that the report will be a central consideration in the Post-2015 process,  leading to a new sustainable development agenda.

SOURCE World Vision