A/72/171 III. Draft declaration on the right to international solidarity and achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 17 A. International solidarity and the Sustainable Development Goals 33. In her report of 2014 to the General Assembly ( A/69/366), the Independent Expert explored the potential contributions of international solidarity to the formation of the then-nascent Sustainable Development Goals, seeking to ensure that the Goals would be consistent with universal human rights standards. Now that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Goals have been adopted, it remains essential, as acknowledged in the 2030 Agenda, that the Goals be accomplished in a manner that reflects the responsibilities of all States to live up to their human rights commitments. 34. The Goals, just as human rights themselves, are interconnected and indivisible. The draft declaration highlights this interconnectedness of human rights, just as it highlights human interconnectedness, calling attention to the fact that none of the Goals can be addressed in isolation. 35. In the report, the Independent Expert highlighted the relevance of her proposed draft declaration, which had recently been submitted to the Human Rights Council, to three areas of concern for the then-future Goals: overcoming inequality and ending poverty and discrimination; building effective and accountable institutions and peaceful societies; and international cooperation, including strengthening implementation and revitalizing global partnerships. 36. With regard to the first area of concern, reflected throughout the first 12 Goals, the Independent Expert explained that overcoming inequality and ending poverty was a human rights imperative that was protected in international human rights instruments and noted that the right to international solidarity requi red States to comply with their obligations in adhering to the international human rights treaties that they had ratified (ibid., paras. 21 -22). 1 She also noted that the right to international solidarity called particular attention to marginalized and vuln erable groups that were frequently neglected or not taken into account within the international system. 37. The second area of concern was particularly brought to light through Goal 16, to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable developmen t, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. In relation to that area of concern, the Independent Expert highlighted the manner in which her proposed draft declaration informed the principl es of good governance, accountability and participation. She emphasized the responsibility for good governance and accountability that was placed on the duty bearers of the right to international solidarity and the call expressed in her proposed draft decl aration that States protect the rights of peoples and individuals to participate fully and freely in decision-making, from the local to the international levels (ibid., paras. 31 and 33). 2 These principles are similarly reflected in the final version of th e draft declaration. 38. With regard to the third area of concern, the Independent Expert highlighted the crucial interplay between global action, international cooperation and the realization of the right to international solidarity. Now that both the dra ft declaration and the Sustainable Development Goals and its targets have been finalized, she will devote the remainder of the present report to exploring that interplay more fully. __________________ 1 2 17-12217 See also A/HRC/26/34, annex, art. 8 (2). See also A/HRC/26/34, annex, art. 9 (3). 7/13