A/HRC/40/34 36. In the interventions from the floor,7 many delegations affirmed the importance of the rights-based approach to realizing the Sustainable Development Goals, with some emphasizing the importance of ensuring a more coherent approach to the Goals and human rights and the need for and value of human rights input into the high-level political forum on sustainable development. Others affirmed the role of development and the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals in the protection of human rights. Examples were offered of national initiatives integrating human rights with the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals. 37. The meeting was described as a contribution to overcoming the divide between New York and Geneva. The potential for the political declaration of the high-level political forum on sustainable development to address complementarity between the Sustainable Development Goals and human rights was mentioned. The importance of participation by civil society, business, women and girls and other stakeholders in the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals was raised. A few speakers addressed finance and resource mobilization for the 2030 Agenda, while others emphasized the importance of strengthening governance institutions. 38. In her concluding remarks, Ms. Devandas Aguilar stressed that the Sustainable Development Goals were a global agenda. While there was an important focus on the poorer countries, the 2030 Agenda applied to all countries, even the richest ones, which also needed to tackle the mandate of the Sustainable Development Goals. 39. Mr. Sachs noted that four years into the 2030 Agenda, there had been no breakthrough on financing. In his view, if there was no breakthrough on financing the Sustainable Development Goals at the high-level political forum on sustainable development to be held in September 2019, the 2030 Agenda would not succeed. 40. Ms. Okai agreed with Mr. Sachs that financing was an issue that must be tackled differently. Official development assistance (ODA) could provide only a fraction of the money needed, and unless things were done differently and private sector money was unleashed or innovative financing initiatives were developed, the Sustainable Development Goals would not be achieved. 41. In response to a question about how the work of human rights mechanisms could be better reflected in the high-level political forum on sustainable development, Ms. Robinson suggested that it would be possible to match the Sustainable Development Goals that were being considered by the high-level political forum with the relevant reports of the human rights mechanisms and the treaty bodies. The reports should be made available to those reporting or commenting on voluntary national reviews. To better link the Human Rights Council and the Economic and Social Council, Ms. Robinson suggested holding in New York a joint meeting of the Human Rights Council and the Economic and Social Council about reporting under the universal periodic review and under the high-level political forum. On the issue of capacity-building and resources, she agreed with much of what Mr. Sachs had said, and she highlighted the importance of responsible, accountable government and tackling corruption to stop the flow of money out of poor countries. C. Building synergies between human rights and Sustainable Development Goal implementation at the national level 42. Mr. Bambara delivered a presentation8 about the linkages between human rights and Sustainable Development Goal implementation in Burkina Faso. He described two links between the Sustainable Development Goals and human rights. First, recommendations of human rights mechanisms helped to analyse key areas and identify groups in society that were being left behind. They contributed to policy measures, budget lines, monitoring 7 8 European Union, Cuba, Japan, Bahamas, Georgia, Uruguay, China, Belgium, Egypt, World Bank, Franciscans International (joint statement), Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights (joint statement) and Luxembourg. Some of the statements are available at www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/SDGS/Pages/HRCIntersessionalMeeting.aspx. See www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/SDGS/Pages/HRCIntersessionalMeeting.aspx. 7