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Resolution 2272 (2019)
Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals: synergy needed on the part of all stakeholders, from parliaments to local authorities
1. On 25 September 2015, 193 countries
adopted the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 2030 Agenda
sets out a vision for a future which is fairer, more equitable and
more ecological, thus reconciling the three pillars – economic,
social and environmental – of sustainable development. It seeks
to achieve human rights for all, leaving no one behind.
2. The implementation of the SDGs is first and foremost the responsibility
of governments. However, to be successful, it requires the mobilisation,
involvement and support of all relevant stakeholders, including parliaments,
local and regional authorities, citizens, civil society and, in
particular, young people.
3. National parliaments, as holders of legislative power, representatives
of the people and the bodies that scrutinise what governments do,
have a key part to play in meeting the SDGs. While some countries
have already put in place mechanisms to involve parliaments in the
process of implementing and monitoring these goals, they are often
limited to a passive consultation role. It is equally unfortunate
that, in general, members of parliament are not familiar with the
2030 Agenda. In this context, the Assembly welcomes the major awareness-raising
and capacity-building work for parliamentarians done by the Inter-Parliamentary
Union.
4. Local and regional authorities play a decisive role in the
success of the economic, social and environmental transformations
needed to achieve the SDGs. Their closeness to the situation on
the ground and to citizens, and their responsibility in terms of
management of public investment, mean that they are in an ideal
position to identify and address shortcomings in the area of sustainable
development.
5. The Parliamentary Assembly notes with interest the High-level
Political Forum on Sustainable Development, which is held every
year to monitor progress in meeting the SDGs. It nevertheless regrets
the fact that the voluntary national reviews submitted on that occasion
are not subject to any scrutiny and that the other key stakeholders
(parliaments, local and regional authorities and civil society)
are not systematically involved, which risks weakening the exercise
as a whole.
6. The Parliamentary Assembly refers to Resolution 2271 (2019) on strengthening
co-operation with the United Nations in implementing the 2030 Agenda
for Sustainable Development, and in particular to paragraphs 11.2,
11.5 and 12 of that resolution.
7. In view of the above, the Assembly believes that there is
an urgent need to strengthen the role of national parliaments in
the implementation and monitoring of the SDGs and calls on parliaments
to become actively involved in this field. In particular, it invites
them to:
7.1. ask their governments
to frame sustainable development strategies and, where appropriate,
to align them with the SDGs, send them to parliament for examination
and debate, and report regularly on the progress made in implementing
them;
7.2. gear legislative work towards the SDGs by:
7.2.1. proposing
the introduction of new legislation, or changes to existing legislation,
so as to enact laws suited to the requirements of the SDGs;
7.2.2. ensuring the coherence of the legislation proposed by
governments and by opposing bills that would run counter to the
SDGs; requiring that all bills be systematically accompanied by assessments
of their impact on the implementation of the SDGs and subject to
public debate;
7.2.3. identifying the international agreements essential to
implementation of the SDGs and putting pressure on governments to
ratify such agreements quickly;
7.3. set up a specific body or committee to monitor SDG implementation;
7.4. call for government budgetary proposals to be systematically
justified with regard to the SDGs;
7.5. make use of all parliamentary oversight mechanisms, such
as question time, written questions to government, hearings of parliamentary
committees and consultations, so as to hold governments to account
on SDG implementation, while involving civil society, the private
sector and the media wherever possible;
7.6. raise public awareness of the SDGs through campaigns and
educational activities and incorporate the issue of sustainable
development in school curricula.
8. With a view to strengthening the implementation of SDGs, the
Assembly calls on Council of Europe member States to:
8.1. involve members of parliament
and local and regional authority representatives in the SDG implementation
steering/co-ordinating bodies, so as to put forward the views of
voters and offer institutional support;
8.2. involve members of parliament, local and regional authority
representatives and civil society in the preparation of the voluntary
national reviews and in the annual High-level Political Forum on Sustainable
Development.
9. The Assembly invites the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
of the Council of Europe and the European Centre for Global Interdependence
and Solidarity of the Council of Europe (North-South Centre) to incorporate
the SDGs into their work programme.
10. In conclusion, the Assembly welcomes the work done by its
various committees with a view to achieving the SDGs, in particular
in the areas of combating poverty (Goal 1), good health and well-being
(Goal 3), quality education (Goal 4), gender equality (Goal 5),
reducing inequalities (Goal 10), combating climate change (Goal 13)
and peace, justice and strong institutions (Goal 16). It calls on
members of the Assembly to refer to the Sustainable Development
Goals in their reports and put forward specific recommendations
concerning them whenever relevant.