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WHAT'S ON TAP
Weekly Newsletter from the Transparency, Accountability & Participation (TAP) 
Post-2015 Network 

VOL. 5, ISSUE 4
24 July 2015
Message from the TAP Coordinators: 

Dear TAP Friends, 

We've finally arrived at the final week of negotiations on the Post-2015 Outcome Document here in New York. The "revised" final draft of the Post-2015 Outcome Document has been released by the co-facilitators last night, and we've mobilized to put together our TAP Network "Redlines" Document, which will be the main advocacy piece for this critical week coming up. As we've come to a stage where wholesale changes to all parts of the Outcome Document might not be possible, we must take a stand on these principles we put together, as the very least that we'll accept from Member States from this Outcome Document. 

You can contribute to the TAP "Redlines" Document today (Monday, 27 July) until 10 PM (NY Time), on the google doc here: http://bit.ly/1I3btCv 

You can find more information about the drafting of this Redlines document in the Newsletter below. 

We're coming off a successful week at the IGN last week, where we hosted a great side-event on "Third-Party Data" with the Permanent Missions of Mexico and the Netherlands and UN-NGLS, which received a lot of positive feedback thus far. IFLA President Donna Scheeder also had the opportunity to present a joint civil society statement on Friday on Follow-up and Review.

We've had our positions and language owned during negotiations by negotiating blocs like the EU and AOSIS, and have had this language reflected in the Revised Final Draft of the Post-2015 Outcome Document this week. So a huge thanks again to everyone who has engaged in the drafting of these Responses and for those that have engaged in our advocacy over the past couple of weeks and months on this front! 

Best Regards,
TAP Coordinators
John & Liam
www.tapnetwork2015.org
TAP NETWORK UPDATES
Revised "Final" Draft of Post-2015 Outcome Document and TAP Network Response to Draft - Deadline for inputs: Monday, 27 July, 10 PM (NY Time):

After consulting with many of you, and a number of other networks/constituencies last week about our TAP response, we’ve decided that it would be best to put together a 1 or 2 page document on the TAP Network’s Redline points for the next week (or so) of negotiations, as a complementary advocacy tool in addition to our previous TAP “Final” Draft Response. 
 
If you would like to contribute points for our TAP Redlines document, you can contribute on the google doc here: http://bit.ly/1I3btCv . An important point: These Redlines MUST be in line with previous TAP positions that we’ve outlined in our previous responses or position papers – and whenever possible, please take from previous responses or position papers.For reference, we have pasted the TAP Response to the Zero Draft and the “Final Draft” in the google doc, to make it easier for you to take points from. 
 
Given the incredibly quick turnaround time required, and considering that we will need to use this in our advocacy immediately, please input your Redline points into the google doc by no later than 10 PM (NY time) on Monday, 27 July. Liam and I will finalize the list overnight so we can use it for our collective advocacy beginning on Tuesday.
 
Given that we will not have time to circulate for endorsements this time around, it is absolutely imperative that anyone who wishes to input into this advocacy piece contributes in this very tight timeframe. This document will serve as a complementary advocacy piece for us to use next week, in addition to our TAP “Final” Draft response which we put together last week – which we will ensure that our suggested language is in line with the new co-facilitator’s language of the “Revised” Draft. 
 
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions at all, and looking forward to putting this together with all of you.
UPDATES/INTEL
Revised Outcome Document for the UN Summit to adopt the Post-2015 Development Agenda:

Please find attached a revised draft outcome document and an accompanying cover letter at http://bit.ly/1DIo6Rx
7th Sessions of the Post-2015 Intergovernmental Negotiations 
(Intergovernmental Negotiations on the Outcome Document):

Background programme/documents/statements can be found at:
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/post2015/negotiationsoutcome2

Summary of key highlights:
  • Member States welcomed the recognition of migrants’ contribution to sustainable development in the text, with some calling for stronger references to the situation of refugees, internally displaced persons, and human trafficking and smuggling.
  • The European Union (EU) and others welcomed the references to human rights and gender equality; however they underscored that the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR) continues to be problematic. 
  • The G-77/China argued that CBDR as the overarching principle applying to the entire post-2015 agenda is non-negotiable, adding that the reference to “shared responsibility” contradicts its essence.
  • Member States aired opposing views regarding the proper place of the CBDR principle. Several countries, including the US, Canada and Australia, argued that the principle was formulated in a specific environmental and historical context, and preferred the notion of shared responsibility. 
  • The Group of 77 and China (G-77/China) and many of its members preferred to maintain CBDR, and some expressed disappointment over the outcome of the recently concluded third International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD3). 
  • Brazil said the principle of CBDR should not be taken as supporting inaction on the part of developing countries, and India noted that while developing countries may under-promise, they also tend to over-deliver.
  • Other points of divergence included paragraph 38 on family, which some wished to delete or qualify with a reference to all forms of family. While some Member States opposed taking on commitments that contradict religious or traditional values, others stated that the agenda must still respect the rights of women.
  • Many delegates supported inclusion of text on strengthening the UN Development System (UNDS) to ensure it is “fit for purpose.”
  • The G 77 and China called for the entire OWG report to be preserved in the outcome document, including its chapeau. 
  • The European Union, as well as a number of its Member States, and other developed countries, said the technical adjustments to the targets should be adopted in full, while the chapeau and reservations in the OWG’s report should not be included in the post-2015 outcome.
  • The G77 and China said that while the AAAA complements the post-2015 development agenda, it cannot replace its MOI.
  • The EU favored including the AAAA as an annex, saying it is an integral part of the post-2015 development agenda. Member States also differed as to whether to “fully endorse” the AAAA, or merely “welcome” it. 
  • Co-Facilitator Kamau noted the lack of precedent in attaching the complete outcome of one conference to another conference outcome, and Mexico observed that the UN General Assembly will adopt the AAAA as a stand-alone outcome document. Kamau said the Co-Facilitators will seek legal advice on this matter.
  • Delegates also considered the placement of the MOI targets and whether to duplicate them within the draft outcome document in both chapters 2 and 3. Some noted that, while it made sense to reflect the relevant MOI targets under specific goals in chapter 2, grouping them in chapter 3 on MOI would give them greater prominence.
Please find available resources on TAP Network activities and outputs on our official website at http://www.tapnetwork2015.org
                                                              TAP Network Position Papers:
Follow us on twitter @TAPNetwork2015: 
Please follow TAP Network Twitter account at @TAPNetwork2015. We will update this twitter feed regularly and we will use it to share relevant information or resources, and possibly even live-tweet from negotiation sessions, with statements on TAP issues from Member States.
TAP Network Calender of Post-2015 Events
Upcoming United Nations Meetings/Events:
 
July 2015
 
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