From: Julia Brungs <julia.bru...@ifla.org>


Over the last eight months, IFLA has been updating members on its
participation in meetings of the UN Open Working Group (OWG
<http://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/owg.html>) on the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs
<http://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/index.php?menu=1565>). This process
will lead to the creation of a new post-2015 development framework which
will replace the Millennium Development Goals. IFLA has advocated for the
inclusion of access to information in the new framework, which in the
context of this process aligned with advocacy by a number of groups on
transparency and governance. This process has reached a preliminary
conclusion, with positive results for libraries and access to information.



After the last session of the OWG earlier in July, a final Outcome Document
<http://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/focussdgs.html> was issued. IFLA
welcomes Goal 16 ‘Achieve peaceful and inclusive societies, access to
justice for all, and effective and capable institutions’, which not only
remained firmly within the draft despite some Member State opposition, but
also includes a target on access to information:



*16.10 Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental
freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international
agreements*



Furthermore, IFLA, as a signatory to Declaration for the Inclusion of
Culture in the Post-2015 UN Sustainable Development Goals
<http://culture2015goal.net/>, also welcomes the inclusion of culture in
several of the document’s targets, including under Goal 4:



*4.7 by 2030 ensure all learners acquire knowledge and skills needed to
promote sustainable development, including among others through education
for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights,
gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global
citizenship, and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s
contribution to sustainable development*



IFLA is less encouraged by the nature of language in the document relating
to ICT, which does not appear ambitious enough in extending the benefits of
ICT for everyone. As access to ICT is increasingly critical for all people,
whether for education or for eParticipation, it should be seen as a
development target for all countries and communities.



*What next?*



In September 2014 IFLA will provide a detailed analysis of the Outcome
Document. IFLA will look closely at points within the document relevant to
libraries and develop strategies and tools for members to leverage the
opportunities the UN’s development framework will offer.

Furthermore, to underpin all of its development advocacy work over the next
year, IFLA has prepared a major international call to action, The Lyon
Declaration on Access to Information and Development, which will be
launched at this year’s WLIC <http://conference.ifla.org/ifla80> in Lyon on
18 August 2014. The Lyon Declaration is an advocacy document that will be
used to positively influence the content of the United Nations post-2015
development agenda. It calls upon United Nations Member States to make an
international commitment through the post-2015 development agenda to ensure
that everyone has access to, and is able to understand, use and share the
information that is necessary to promote sustainable development and
democratic societies.



Further information on the Lyon Declaration will be released during the
WLIC, August 16-22.



You can follow the discussion on Twitter via #post2015
<https://twitter.com/hashtag/Post2015?src=hash>, @post2015
<https://twitter.com/post2015>, @ifla  <https://twitter.com/IFLA>



Please also see the webversion <http://www.ifla.org/node/8873>.



Julia Brungs

Policy and Projects Officer

International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)

P.O. Box 95312
2509 CH The Hague
Netherlands

Phone: 0031703140884

Email: julia.bru...@ifla.org
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