A/HRC/43/34
but extended to all the other Sustainable Development Goals. The 11 principles came under
three categories:
(a)
Effectiveness: competence, sound policymaking and collaboration;
(b)
Accountability: integrity, transparency and independent oversight;
(c)
Inclusiveness: leaving no one behind, non-discrimination, participation,
subsidiarity and intergenerational equity.
14.
The principles must be integrated into commonly used strategies for operationalizing
responsive and effective governance, and many of them had been recognized and validated
by United Nations forums, resolutions and treaties. In addition, the principles could be
applied to different governance structures, national realities, capacities and levels of
development, respecting national policies and priorities. Furthermore, the principles could
be used as guidance for building effective governance, but also to analyse existing
governance frameworks. In terms of challenges, the third cluster of principles, on
inclusiveness, was often the weakest, and was clearly related to or reflected human rights
principles. However, all of the principles of effective governance were relevant for ensuring
human rights and should be used as a reference for the design and evaluation of governance
for human rights.
15.
Ms. Silva asserted that efforts to implement the Sustainable Development Goals had
to begin with work on good governance. With good governance, it was clear that peoples’
lives were better when peace, freedom and human rights were guaranteed. Good
governance was an enabler for all the Sustainable Development Goals and was crucial for
human security. Capacity development was also crucial to advancing Goal 16, in addition
to the need to create and strengthen inclusive political processes, anti-corruption agencies,
the rule of law and solid core government structures.
16.
She shared three examples of areas of practice for advancing good governance,
namely: (a) strong democratic institutions and venues for citizen participation, crucial for
consolidating democratic gains; (b) improvement of the quality of governance by enhancing
and aiding Governments’ anti-corruption policies, crucial for preventing conflict; and (c)
support for the restoration of inclusive and accountable core public institutions, crucial for
enabling inclusiveness and accountability and providing equal opportunities.
17.
In all of those action areas, UNDP strove to ensure that no one was left behind.
Furthermore, it worked to ensure gender equality, which was both a human right and a
prerequisite for achieving inclusive and prosperous societies and economies. Gender
equality was also an accelerator for all the other Sustainable Development Goals. UNDP
had observed Governments introducing gender equality strategies and policies to narrow
remaining gender gaps. However, despite those policies, government efforts might fall
short if not supported by effective governance, implementation, and accountability and
monitoring. As such, structural and systematic approaches were needed to mainstream the
2030 Agenda perspective into polices, regulations, budgets and other structural reforms.
18.
Ms. Lindberg highlighted the enormous governance challenges encountered by
Governments in their efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. In particular,
Goal 16 required Governments:
(a)
To coordinate, consult and work across policy areas in a whole-ofgovernment approach, so that policy coherence could be ensured in order to address the
multidimensional challenges that characterized the Sustainable Development Goals;
(b)
To build their capacity to integrate the Sustainable Development Goals into
their day-to-day management systems, in which more collaborative leadership styles were
needed when working with citizens and collaborating with networks of stakeholders;
(c)
To adapt budget systems and processes to promote policy integration and
ensure continuity of policy objectives that occurred in multiple policy areas, levels of
government and electoral cycles;
(d)
To build innovative measurements and databases to assess the merit and
achievements of policy initiatives in support of the Sustainable Development Goals.
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