States must ensure coherence between human rights and sustainable development

Following resolution 37/24, the Human Rights Council met on 16 January for an intersessional meeting for dialogue and cooperation on human rights and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – a plan of action that includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with 169 associated targets.

Respect and promotion of human rights and the SDGs are inextricably linked. However, three years after coming into force, insufficient financing by States to realize the 2030 Agenda has led to a tendency to turn to the private sector to fill these gaps, creating the risk that the economic, social and cultural rights of vulnerable groups are neglected.

Providing social services cannot be left to the vagaries of the market or to charity alone. Together with its partners, Franciscans International called on States who rely on private actors to establish a framework that regulates, monitors, and holds them accountable to ensure compliance with human rights.

The statement also highlighted our concern that the lack of action to address the causes and effects of climate change has already undermined decades of human rights and development gains. We urged states to prioritize rights-respecting climate action and rapid transition to rights-respecting, decarbonized sustainable development pathways.

The full statements is available here.