A/HRC/38/28
array of policies across different sectors and dimensions of sustainable development will be
needed in order to deliver the Goals, and given the integrated nature of the Goals and the
interdependencies among the targets, it will be necessary to analyse interactions among
different policies, promote mutually reinforcing policy actions, exploit synergies whenever
possible, and ensure alignment of the multitude of policy documents and action plans that
this will engender. Policy coherence for sustainable development is therefore about
processes — from policy design to the monitoring and reviewing of progress made towards
achieving the agreed objectives. The United Nations system is providing support and
technical cooperation to Member States in these processes.
12.
Human rights are placed at the core of the 2030 Agenda by the emphasis in the
Agenda on the responsibilities of all States “to respect, protect and promote human rights
and fundamental freedoms for all” and the stipulation that the Agenda is to be implemented
in a manner that is consistent with the “obligations of States under international law”.
Meeting these imperatives means that implementation of the Sustainable Development
Goals should be consistent with human rights. The ratification of core human rights treaties
carries an obligation to report periodically to the treaty bodies, which make
recommendations. Together with the recommendations made in the universal periodic
review process and by special procedures, data generated through engagement with all
those human rights mechanisms can help to guide implementation of the Goals and
constitute important evidence for implementation and follow-up processes. Moreover, the
recommendations made by the human rights mechanisms can give substance to the analysis
of national progress under each target within the Goals, including with regard to ensuring
that no one is being left behind. Underpinned by legally binding human rights treaties,
human rights norms can ensure accountability in the implementation of the Goals. A human
rights-based approach can lead to a deepened understanding of policy coherence for
development, by addressing the obstacles to the realization of rights which impede progress
towards sustainable development and the eradication of poverty.
13.
In the 2030 Agenda, Member States are encouraged to conduct regular and inclusive
reviews of progress at the national and subnational levels, which are country-led and
country-driven, and to build as far as possible on existing national and local mechanisms
and processes, ensuring broad multi-stakeholder participation. Reviews should be based on
high-quality data that is accessible, timely, reliable and disaggregated. Many States are
adopting national strategies and national review mechanisms or processes for
implementation and follow-up in respect of the Sustainable Development Goals, including
as regards how to consult with other stakeholders in these processes. At the same time,
many States have already established some form of national mechanism for monitoring and
reporting and follow up on human rights treaties. The United Nations system, including
OHCHR, is providing Member States, at their request, with technical cooperation and
capacity-building in order to build synergies and linkages between these different follow-up
and reporting mechanisms, procedures and processes for the Sustainable Development
Goals and human rights. Drawing on existing human rights mechanisms will ease the
reporting burden of States, ensure meaningful participation by rights holders, and enhance
coherence, efficiency and accountability. Examples of national mechanisms for monitoring,
reporting and follow-up show that clustering hundreds of recommendations emanating from
the human rights mechanisms by theme often narrows the scope of those recommendations
down to 10–20 core priorities, and allows States to frame their national action plans
accordingly. Expanding or enhancing this clustering around the Sustainable Development
Goals could help to support reporting on the Goals by building on complementarities, and
also streamline the process of domestic implementation. Recent experiences (such as those
of Ecuador and Paraguay) illustrate these synergies.
14.
The guidance provided by the United Nations Development Group has led to the
development of a new generation of United Nations Development Assistance Frameworks,
which reflects evolving responsiveness to the 2030 Agenda and support for Member States
on implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. According to an internal review,
all United Nations Development Assistance Frameworks signed as at September 2017
responded directly to the call for United Nations support for the 2030 Agenda, and to
integrate human rights into planning. Through OHCHR-led efforts to mainstream human
rights into United Nations work at the global and country levels, United Nations country
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