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Minister Costello attends High Level UN Meeting on the future of International Development
Minister for Trade and Development, Joe Costello TD has attended a United Nations meeting in New York to discuss the contributions of women, young people and civil society to the Post 2015 Development Agenda. Minister Costello highlighted the importance of ensuring that the development agenda over the coming years will contribute to the realisation of all human rights –civil and political, as well as economic, social and cultural.
Minister Costello said:
“Achieving gender equality is not only a fundamental human right – it is necessary if we are to eradicate hunger and poverty. Ireland is working to ensure that the framework which will guide the global community’s development efforts in the years after 2015 clearly addresses the rights of women and girls.
“We are also committed to ‘finishing the job’ of the MDGs, which expire at the end of 2015. Far too many mothers are dying in childbirth in many parts of the world, in particular in Sub-Saharan Africa. The new post-2015 framework must address this and ensure access to sexual and reproductive healthcare for all women.”
Minister Costello also called for a strong role for civil society in the negotiation process and for the resulting goals and targets to contribute to greater civil society space.
“Empowerment, or participation, is about more than having a seat at the table. It is about having the capacity, information and space to advocate effectively for your rights. It is about putting in place structures and institutions that make real participation possible, and that respect, protect and fulfil basic rights.”
During his visit, Minister Costello met the Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Dr Babatunde Osotimehin and with the Deputy Executive Director of UN Women, Mr John Hendra. At these meetings the Minister emphasised Ireland’s ongoing support to the two organisations. He announced that, in 2014, Ireland will provide €1.5 million in core funding to UN Women and €3.1 million to the UN Population Fund, UNFPA.
Minister Costello said:
“I am delighted to be able to announce a total of €4.6 million in funding to UN Women and UNFPA. The work of these UN agencies is critical to Ireland’s development priorities – achieving gender equality, empowering women empowerment, and reducing maternal mortality.”