The meeting was chaired by Ms. Shamshad Akhtar. It was attended by representatives of 18 agencies (incl. ESCAP).

Transcription

1 UNITED NATIONS ASIA-PACIFIC REGIONAL COORDINATION MECHANISM (RCM) Record of the Special RCM Meeting on the alignment of SDG and TWGs 17 March 2016, 15:15-16:00 hours Meeting Room G, United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC), Bangkok I. Organization A special meeting of the Asia-Pacific Regional Coordination Mechanism (RCM) was held on 17 March 2016 at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok to discuss main messages to be conveyed by the RCM at the ASEAN-UN Secretariat to Secretariat (S2S) meeting and meeting with the Committee on Permanent Representative to ASEAN (CPR) taking place on 30 March 2016 and 31 March 3016 respectively. The meeting was chaired by Ms. Shamshad Akhtar. It was attended by representatives of 18 agencies (incl. ESCAP). II. Key Discussions Points The Chair informed the RCM as to the scope of the meeting and objective to identify key messaging areas to be covered by the statements and interventions at the S2S meeting and CPR meetings, which could be conveyed in advance as requested by DPA and the Laos PDR. She further reported that Mr. Kaveh Zahedi, who by the time of the S2S meetings would be an ESCAP Deputy Executive Secretary, would represent the ESCAP Executive Secretary at the meetings. RCM members were also requested to provide information on their representation to the S2S and CPR meetings to the RCM Secretariat. UNDP reported that ASG Haoliang Xu would be present and would attend all three Pillar discussions. UNDP focus will also be on a universal holistic 2030 Agenda, inequality, sustainable development, vulnerability and resilience UNEP emphasized the need to ensure better, direct consultation between the RCM and ASEAN S2S and CPR entities. In addition invitations to sectoral ASEAN Ministerial meetings would be particularly useful to improve collaboration. The regional implementation of the 2030 Agenda and cross sectoral nature of environmental issues were highlighted as important to integrate into the PoA, for example the environmental aspects of regional integration and trade. UN-Habitat referred to the political nature of the dialogues in Jakarta and wished to see the technical work of TWGs with their linkages and synergies to PoA priorities discussed and endorsed at the meetings. UNHCR reported that its representative in Indonesia would attend the meetings and focus on elements related to irregular migration. UNICEF highlighted (1) link SDGs with normative agenda especially Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) which all ASEAN Member States ratified (2) stronger interface across 3 pillars and cited as examples trafficking and nutrition issues (3) assist all ASEAN Member States with evidence based SDG indicators that address equity issues. 1

2 UN Women also highlighted the cross cutting nature of women economic empowerment across the political, economic and social pillars. UNISDR reported that it will inform on its representation at the meetings and echoed the need to highlight cross cutting issues across ASEAN pillars citing as an example a recent meeting with ASEAN DSG where it was decided that the socio-economic DRR issues also needed to be covered in Economic pillar and a way found to integrate into the PoA. MOU issues were raised by WHO and other agencies with a call for greater clarity on the issues from ASEAN, especially as such legal instruments were necessary for some agencies in order to undertake work with ASEAN. UNCCD- reported that it would not be attending the Jakarta meetings. UNESCO will be represented by its Jakarta based representative to discuss cultural and natural heritage issues which may not be covered in the ASEAN- UN framework. FAO has begun consultations with ASEAN at technical level on fisheries, forestry, crops and food security. A recent conference with ASEAN provided agreements on issues which are expected to find their way into PoA. UNAIDS messaging will revolve around affordable medicine and diagnostics in trade agreements and reinforcing the importance of the ASEAN Cities responses initiative. OCHA will be represented by ASG Kang (along with colleagues from BKK and Jakarta) who will raise matters related to the World Humanitarian Summit and the centrality of disaster management, highlighting work that came out of PoA on Disaster Risk Management. UNFPA and WFP agreed on the importance to emphasize the regional implementation of SDGs, with a focus on inequality, to provide greater cohesiveness across three pillars at the strategic and technical levels. IOM focus will be on mobility and migration, the protection of migrant rights, occupational wellbeing, and building on key milestones, like the ASEAN Convention Against Trafficking in Persons and the SDG (10.7 and related targets) The Chair summarized the key messages raised and proposed that the RCM Secretariat develop a note (the Note) that could be shared with RCM members for review before submission to DPA/Laos PDR by Tuesday morning (22 March 2016). These summary messages have been reflected in the attached final version of the Note. Mr. Rosellini (UNDP) and Mr. Zahedi (UNEP) were asked to coordinate in exploring the mechanisms of individual country MOUs and to consult with the ASG Xu on how best to harmonize and articulate UNDG and RCM messages to ASEAN at the ASG level in Jakarta. They were also tasked with seeking a UN wide response on the MOU issue. They were also asked to share the RCM messaging (the Note) with the ASG s engaged with Pillars 2&3 issues for any initial reactions. It was recognized that country level work reinforces regional work and that this linkage should be referenced in discussions with S2S and CPR on the PoA. The APFSD and the regional roadmap were raised as a reinforcing mechanism for RCM work in supporting implementation of the SDGs. It was also suggested that messaging to ASEAN reference the currently budgetary situation and the role ASEAN Member States could play in advocating in New York for UN system (sub) regional engagement and associated resources for implementation. 2

3 UNITED NATIONS ASIA-PACIFIC REGIONAL COORDINATION MECHANISM (RCM) Special Meeting to discuss RCM priorities for the ASEAN-UN Plan of Action and preparations for the Secretariat to Secretariat meeting 17 March :15 16:30 hours Meeting Room G, UNCC LIST OF PARTICIPANTS RCM MEMBERS Organization Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) International Organization for Migration (IOM) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) UNAIDS Regional Support Team for Asia and Pacific (UNAIDS) United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Name of representative(s) Mr. Aziz Arya South-South Cooperation Officer Dr. Maria Nenette Motus Regional Director, a.i. Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific International Organization for Migration (IOM) 3 Rajanakarn Building, 18th Floor South Sathorn Road, Bangkok Thailand Tel: (02) Fax: (02) nmotus@iom.int Mr. Markus Werne Head Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Executive Suite, 2nd Floor United Nations Conference Centre Building Tel: (02) Fax: (02) werne@un.org Mr. Tony Lisle Regional Programme Adviser UNAIDS Regional Support Team Asia and the Pacific 9th Floor Block A, United Nations Building Tel: lislet@unaids.org Mr. Yang Youlin Regional Coordinator 3

4 Organization Name of representative(s) United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Regional Coordinating Unit for Asia United Nations Building, 6th floor Rajdamnern Avenue Bangkok Tel: (02) Fax: (02) United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) UN-HABITAT United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Mr. Nicholas Rosellini Deputy Regional Director & Director, Bangkok Regional Hub 3rd Floor United Nations Service Building Rajdamnern Nok Avenue Bangkok 10200, Thailand Tel.: +66 (0) ext Mobile: Mr. Kaveh Zahedi Regional Director and Representative for Asia and the Pacific United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific United Nations Building, 2nd floor Tel: (02) , Fax: (02) Mr. Jayakumar Ramasamy Programme Specialist and Chief of Natural Sciences Unit Ms. Salli Davidson Officer-in-Charge/Programme Adviser davidson@unfpa.org Ms. Mariko Sato Chief UN-HABITAT U.N. Service Building, 2nd floor Rajdamnern Avenue, Bangkok Tel: (02) mariko.sato@unhabitat.org Mr. Alistair Boulton Assistant Regional Representative (Protection) boulton@unhcr.org 4

5 Organization Name of representative(s) United Nations Children s Fund (UNICEF) United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN WOMEN) United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) World Health Organization (WHO) Department of Political Affairs (DPA) Ms. Grace C. Agcaoili Regional Child Protection Specialist United Nations Children s Fund East Asia and the Pacific Regional Office 19 Phra Atit Road Bangkok Thailand Tel: +66(0) Fax: +66(0) gagcaoili@unicef.org Mr. Sujit Mohanty Programme Officer The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction for Asia and the Pacific (UNISDR- AP) Tel: +66 (0) Mobile: +66 (0) mohanty@un.org Ms. Janneke van der Graaff Kukler Strategic Planning and Coordination Specialist Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific and Representative in Thailand United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN WOMEN) Tel: (02) janneke.kukler@unwomen.org Mr. David Kaatrud Regional Director United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Regional Bureau for Asia Bangkok Tel: (02) Fax: (02) , David.kaatrud@wfp.org Dr. Khalil Rahman Coordinator ESCAP & Inter-Agency Coordination WHO Thailand, Nonthaburi Tel: (02) , (D) Fax: (02) rahmank@searo.who.int Ms. Alma Saliu Political Affairs Officer saliua@un.org 5

6 ESCAP Dr. Shamshad Akhtar Executive Secretary (chairing via Jabber) Mr. Jan Smit Senior Programme Officer, SPMD Ms. Maria Misovicova Programme Officer, SPMD Ms. Michele Von Rautenkranz Ms. Katinka Weinberger Ms. Shamika Sirimanne Mr. Aynul Hasan Mr. Larry Maramis Programme Officer, Asia-Pacific Regional Coordination Mechanism Secretariat, SPMD Chief of Section, Environment and Development Division (EDD) Director, Information and Communications Technology and Disaster Risk Reduction Division (IDD) Director, Macroeconomic Policy and Financing for Development Division (MPFD) Special Advisor on ASEAN, MPFD Ms. Margarita Guerrero Director, Statistics Division (SD) Ms. Laura Lopez Director, Social Development Division (SDD) Ms. Vanessa Steinmayer Social Affairs Officer, SDD Mr. Pierre Chartier Officer-in-Charge, a.i., Transport Division (TD) Ms. Susan Stone Director, Trade, Investment and Innovation Division (TIID). 6