A/HRC/34/25
169 targets cover a wide range of issues that effectively mirror the human rights
framework. Many of the Goals relate closely to economic, social and cultural rights. Goal
16, on peaceful and inclusive societies, covers many dimensions of civil and political
rights, including personal security, access to justice and fundamental freedoms. Goal 17,
and many of the international targets under each Goal, addresses issues that are related to
the duties of international cooperation and the right to development.
7.
This new, transformative agenda thus reflects the indivisibility of all human rights –
civil, political, economic, social and cultural, as well as the right to development – offering
a comprehensive and integrated vision of sustainable development. It is people-centred and
strongly grounded in the principles of equality and non-discrimination, with its overriding
focus on “leaving no one behind and reaching the furthest behind first”. Furthermore, it
calls for greater global policy coherence and integrated responses by Member States and the
United Nations system, and more robust accountability and dynamic partnerships with all
stakeholders.
8.
While the Sustainable Development Goals themselves are not framed explicitly in
the language of human rights, virtually all of the Goals correspond to the contents of key
economic, social and cultural rights. Several Goals are specifically focused on
corresponding economic, social and cultural rights, such as the right to adequate food (Goal
2, on zero hunger); the right to health (Goal 3, on good health and well-being); the right to
education (Goal 4, on quality education); the right to safe drinking water and sanitation
(Goal 6, on clean water and sanitation); the right to work (Goal 8, on decent work and
economic growth); and the right to an adequate standard of living, including the right to
adequate housing, and equal ownership to land and properties (Goal 11, on making cities
and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable).
9.
Equally important are the cross-cutting goals on ending poverty (Goal 1), gender
equality (Goal 5), reducing inequality (Goal 10) and sustainable natural resources (Goals
12, 13, 14 and 15), which are closely linked to the enjoyment of economic, social and
cultural rights. Goals 16 (on peaceful and inclusive societies), 17 (on global partnership)
and 8 (on sustainable industrialization) create the necessary conditions and a conducive
environment for the effective, progressive realization of economic, social and cultural
rights.
10.
Many of the targets under the Goals explicitly reflect the content of relevant
international human rights standards. Many address availability, accessibility, affordability
and quality of education, health, water and other services related to those rights. The goals
include targets on access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food for all, universal health
coverage, free equitable and quality primary and secondary education, access to safe and
affordable water, sanitation, hygiene and housing, and access to safe, effective, quality and
affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.
11.
For example, under Goal 6, Member States committed to ensure the availability and
sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. The Goal is accompanied by, inter
alia, targets 6.1 (to achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking
water for all by 2030), 6.4 (to substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors
and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity, and
substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity by 2030) and target
6.b (to support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water
and sanitation management). These targets address the key normative content of the right to
water, which includes the right to maintain access to existing water supplies necessary for
the right to water; the right to be free from interference, such as the right to be free from
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