Side event for UNCSD Rio+20 Date: 13 June, 19.30-21.00, room P3-6 (capacity 300), Rio Centro.

Organising partners
Beyond 2015 (International Movement ATD Fourth World lead organizer for this event on behalf of the Beyond 2015 coalition), Government of Ireland, United Nations Millennium Campaign, United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service (NGLS), CIVICUS

Context and focus
A coherent approach that integrates the three dimensions of sustainable development is needed in the quest to rejuvenate the global consensus on the Rio Principles, Agenda 21 and the Millennium Declaration. This approach must also address new challenges such as climate change, resource constraint, and economic crises which hinder progress on tackling inequality and extreme poverty. Within this context, this side event will consider the twin processes of devising Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the urgent priority for the international community to formulate a new framework post-2015 that builds upon and learns the lessons of the MDGs. It will emphasize the fact that the discussions on both the SDGs and the post-2015 framework should not undermine, but rather continue to create momentum for, the MDGs by galvanizing on-going efforts at accelerating the achievement of the MDGs. It will consider the need to unify these processes in order to develop a post-2015 framework that is holistic, inclusive, equitable and universal. It should be based on recognised human rights principles, be built on accepted human rights standards and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights.

The side event will address a range of issues, including:

• How the environmental, economic and social dimensions can be integrated into a holistic sustainable development framework to meet global challenges
• How the process of developing SDGs can reinforce and complement MDG acceleration efforts and the development of a post-MDG framework beyond 2015
• How a human rights-based approach can be integral to the new development framework
• Mechanisms for a UN-led inclusive, transparent and participatory process to create SDGs involving civil society, including those most vulnerable to global development challenges, to ensure their voices are incorporated into outcomes of intergovernmental processes
• The role of stakeholders, national governments, the UN and civil society in ensuring compliance and monitoring outcomes

Speakers will include UN member state representatives from Nigeria and Ireland (TBC), from the UN Millennium Campaign, the UN Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights, the ITUC and civil society representatives from both the global south and north.