UN Experts Call for Central Role of Civil Society in Post-2015 Development Goals

On May 18, 2015, UN human rights experts, including the Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment, called on UN member States to ensure that "new global goals are firmly grounded in international human rights norms" as the post-2015 development agenda launch date nears. The experts stressed that civil society plays a central role in the implementation of the development agenda. They expressed concern about increasing attacks on civil society actors, in particular the physical assaults of environmental rights defenders, social workers, and women's rights activists. The experts urged States to focus on a "people-centered sustainable development agenda" when they convene in May 2015 to discuss a monitoring and review framework for the post-2015 development agenda. Finally, the experts stated that there will be little public participation in development and accountability without an active civil society. Read the press release here.