Co-sponsored by the governments of Ecuador and Denmark, the Argentina National Human Rights Institution, the Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR), and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

Concept Note

The 2030 Agenda is explicitly grounded in the Universal Declaration for Human Rights (UDHR), the international human rights treaties as well as the Declaration on the Right to
Development. The Sustainable Development Goals “seek to realize the human rights of all” and to “leave no one behind”.
The Agenda further emphasizes the need for a “revitalized Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, based on a spirit of strengthened global solidarity, focused particularly on the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable and with the participation of all countries, all stakeholders and all people”, and puts partnerships at the heart of Goal 17. Thus, the 2030 Agenda constitutes an important interface between human rights and the global development agenda, and a framework for partnerships that pay attention to inequality and discrimination to ensure that no one is left behind.
States and other stakeholders must work together to leverage the inter-dependent and mutually reinforcing nature of human rights and the 2030 Agenda, to help promote this vision of peoplecentred and human rights-based development. Innovative multi-stakeholder Partnerships are vital to promote the 2030 Agenda and to uphold human rights.

Some positive examples of partnerships and participation in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda have emerged, involving multiple stakeholders at national and international levels. For example, in 2017, some States established the Group of Friends initiative on ‘Human Rights and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, established during the 34th session of the Human Rights Council in 2017. This Group aims to facilitate a practical, action-oriented and inclusive conversation, to be followed by concerted and inclusive action, about the role of human rights in making the best possible contribution to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, and the positive effect its fulfilment will have on human rights. Partnerships have also been established with national human rights institutions, civil society organizations, indigenous peoples and other groups to build engagement at national, regional and global levels on the implementation of human rights and the SDGs.

In order to bring this conversation on SDGs and human rights to the regional level, and foster exchange of ideas and lessons learned among multiple partners, the governments of Ecuador and Denmark, the Argentina NHRI, the DIHR and OHCHR are organising this side-event.

Objective
The objective of the event is to provide a space for multiple stakeholders, including representatives from States, civil society, right holders, national human rights institutions and international organizations to share their views on a) how to strengthen partnerships for integrating human rights in the implementation of the SDGs, and b) how to strengthen meaningful participation, particularly of those left behind, in the policies and processes to implement the SDGs.

Format
The discussion will be held as a side-event during the Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development in Santiago on 18 or 19 April. The event will last 1 hour and 30 minutes. The Welcome will be delivered by the Ambassador of Denmark, followed by Opening Remarks by the Ambassador of Ecuador. The event will be moderated
by OHCHR with distinguished speakers. The panellists’ remarks will be followed by an interactive discussion with the audience.

Proposed Programe

Welcome: Ambassador of Denmark, H.E. Jesper Fersløv Andersen 
Sharing good examples on partnerships and participation, including the Group of Friends on human rights and the 2030 Agenda under the Human Rights Council
Opening Remarks: National Secretary for Planning and Development of Ecuador, H.E. Minister Etzon Romo 
Sharing examples on how human rights can strengthen participation to ensure that no one is left behind

Panel discussion:

• Veronica Wilipan, Coordinación Región Sur del Enlace Continental de Mujeres Indígenas de las Américas, Argentina
  What are the key challenges and opportunities in strengthening indigenous peoples participation in the implementation of the SDGs?
• Mariano García Blanco, National Human Rights Institution Argentina
  How are NHRIs in the region building partnerships to further the integration of human rights in SDGs implementation?
• Alice Shackelford, Resident Coordinator Costa Rica
  What are the key challenges and the key opportunities to broader stakeholder participation? How can the UN help ensure meaningful participation, including by representatives of marginalized groups, in SDG and human rights standards' implementation and monitoring?

Interactive Dialogue: Question and Answer session
Birgitte Feiring, Danish Institute
Brief presentation of OHCHR and DIHR tools for supporting integrated approaches to human rights and SDG implementation and follow up
Final remarks: Guillermo Maldonado, OHCHR Regional Representative for South-America