Asia-Pacific countries have adopted a roadmap for regional cooperation on implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

This is the outcome of the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD 2017) that concluded on Friday in Bangkok.

PRIORITY AREAS

The roadmap lays out priority areas, implementation arrangements and a process for tracking progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by building on the agreements reached at the last two APFSD meetings.

With support from the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), it will facilitate regional level cooperation with a focus on the means of implementation of the SDGs.

These are spread out across the thematic areas of social development, disaster risk reduction, climate change, management of natural resources, connectivity and energy.

‘CEMENTS FOUNDATION’

Shamshad Akhtar, UN Under-Secretary General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP, said that the APFSD deliberations and agreements have cemented the foundation for a concerted and effective regional response to address cross-cutting issues under the 2030 Agenda.

While countries of the Asia -Pacific are forging ahead in this common endeavour, much work remains to bring about the transformations needed.

In the years to come, ESCAP will continue to support crucial dialogue among member States through the APFSD to share experiences and to strengthen implementation.

GENDER EQUALITY

The roadmap places particular emphasis on supporting implementation of the 2030 Agenda by developing countries, least developed countries, landlocked developing countries, small-island developing states and other countries with special needs. It also outlines a process for tracking progress on the SDGs.

Gender equality and women’s empowerment are placed at the centre of the regional policy agenda in order to enhance women’s leadership and decision-making in all aspects of society.

The roadmap also recognises that sustainable development must be underpinned by peaceful and inclusive societies, addressing inequality, and by good governance.

The road map will be brought before the ESCAP 73rd Commission in May 2017 and to global dialogues on sustainable development, including the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, to be held in New York in July.

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