Alternate Salt Lake City Declaration
UN Civil Society Conference 2019
We, the participants of the 68th United Nations Civil Society Conference, adopt this document to advance the following objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In addition, as we prepare for the celebration of the 75th year of the United Nations in 2020, we also reaffirm the following important goals of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
At this year’s civil society conference, we concentrate specifically on Sustainable Development Goal 11: “to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable by 2030.” To accomplish these goals, we reaffirm longstanding principles stated in UN consensus documents and international human rights instruments, and urge others to partner with us, and to commit to action in order to uplift the human spirit, create humane cities for people to flourish, and to enhance the quality of life for all.
A. Therefore, we reaffirm:
(1) Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. (Article 2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and paragraph 19 of the 2030 Agenda.)
(2) Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law, and all are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. (Article 6 and 7 of the Universal Declaration)
(3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State. (Article 16-3 of the Universal Declaration)
(4) Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance. (Article 18 of the Universal Declaration)
(5) Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country. (Article 21-2 of the Universal Declaration)
(6) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection. (Article 25-2 of the Universal Declaration)
(7) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children. (Article 26-3 of the Universal Declaration)
(8) Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights can be fully realized. (Article 28 of the Universal Declaration)
“We the peoples” are the celebrated opening words of the Charter of the United Nations. It is “we the peoples” who are embarking today on the road to 2030. Our journey will involve all stakeholders actively working toward solutions. Stakeholders can be individuals, families, NGOs, governments at all levels, corporations, educational institutions, faith communities, philanthropic units, or other organizations. Accordingly, we encourage all stakeholders to formulate integrated goal-oriented action plans that are tailored to the unique circumstances of their cities and communities. (See paragraph 52 of 2030 Agenda for first sentence. Second sentence is from the CSC Pre-conference Outcome Document, 2019)
B. Therefore, we urge all stakeholders to work toward:
(1) Establishing agenda-setting participatory mechanisms enabling individuals, families, communities, indigenous people and civil society to play a proactive role in identifying local needs and priorities and formulating new policies, plans and projects; (See 182 (h) in United Nations Conference on Human Settlements, 1996)
(2) Bearing in mind that, as indicated in the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, “the child, by reason of his physical and mental immaturity, needs special safeguards and care, including appropriate legal protection, before as well as after birth, then establish a legal identity for all children. (Preamble of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and SDG 16.9 in 2030 Agenda)
(3) Recognition of the constructive role of the family in the design, development and management of such settlements. Society should facilitate, as appropriate, all necessary conditions for its integration, reunification, preservation, improvement, and protection within adequate shelter and with access to basic services and a sustainable livelihood. (See paragraph 31 of United Nations Conference on Human Settlements, 1996)
(4) Respect for the right of women and men to the freedom of thought, conscience and religion, recognizing the central role that religion, spirituality and belief play in the lives of millions of women and men; (See paragraph 98-c in Twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, 10 June 2000 — Beijing +5)
(5) Access to safe drinking water for all and to facilitate the provision of basic infrastructure and urban services, including adequate sanitation, waste management and sustainable transport which is integrated and accessible to all, including people with disabilities. (See paragraph 59 in the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium, 2001 – Habitat +5)
(6) Access to quality health care and needed programs and services to reduce newborn, child and maternal mortality (See paragraph 26 in 2030 Agenda)
(7) Supporting the family, in its essential educating and nurturing roles, recognizing its important contribution to social integration, and encouraging social and economic policies that are designed to meet the housing needs of families and their individual members, especially the most disadvantaged and vulnerable members, with particular attention to the care and education of children, including the disabled, while respecting the prior rights of parents to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children; (See paragraph 40-k in the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements, 1996, and Article 26-3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)
(8) Ending poverty and hunger everywhere; building peaceful, just and inclusive societies; protecting human rights and promote gender equality between women and men and the empowerment of women and girls; and to ensure the lasting protection of the planet and its natural resources. We resolve also to create conditions for sustainable, inclusive and sustained economic growth, shared prosperity and decent work for all, taking into account different levels of national development and capacities and respecting the sovereign rights of nations. (See paragraph 3 of the 2030 Agenda)
(9) Safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons. (See SDG 11.2 in the 2030 Agenda)
(10) Building peaceful, just and inclusive societies based on respect for universally recognized human rights, on effective rule of law and good governance at all levels and on transparent, effective and accountable institutions, with full respect for the various religious and ethical values and cultural backgrounds. (See paragraph 35 of the 2030 Agenda and paragraph 1.15 in the International Conference on Population and Development, 1996)
As stakeholders, our affirmations and commitments need to be embodied in concrete actions and accountability mechanisms working toward economically, socially, environmentally sustainable and prosperous cities and communities.
C. Therefore, be it resolved:
We, the participants of the 68th United Nations Civil Society Conference, will continue to actively contribute to our respective communities individually and work in multi-stakeholder approaches to further the aforementioned goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as we move toward the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations in 2020.
We thank the people and the Government of the United States of America, the State of Utah, and the City of Salt Lake City for the kind welcome and gracious hosting that they have given to the 68th United Nations Civil Society Conference.
Family Watch Resources
Training/Briefing for the 68th United Nations Civil Society Conference (recorded webinar)
An Analysis of the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda: The Hidden Threats to Life, Family and Children (FWI Policy Brief)
The Family and Sustainable Development: Strong Families – Prosperous Nations (4-minute video)
Background
The pro-family and pro-life NGO voice at the United Nations Civil Society Conference Salt Lake City will not be silenced. By signing this Alternative Salt Lake City Declaration, you will be making your voice heard and will help show the UN and the world that the Salt Lake City Declaration does NOT represent the views of all of civil society, nor the voices of the majority of Utah residents.
By signing this Alternate Salt Lake City Declaration, you will be adding your voice to other pro-family and pro-life voices.
Millions, if not billions, of people across the world and many citizens in Salt Lake City affirm:
- That the family is the fundamental group unit of society
- The sanctity of human life
- The right of parents to direct their children’s education.
Just as the Salt Lake City Declaration will be presented to the president of the UN General Assembly as the outcome document of the Utah conference, this Alternative Salt Lake City Declaration will also be presented to the UNGA president and then sent to the UN ambassadors of 193 UN Member States.
Why This is Needed
The UN Department of Global Communication’s annual civil society conference organized this year in Salt Lake City, Utah on August 25-27, 2019 purports to coalesce the voices and views of all of civil society in their Salt Lake City Declaration.
Ironically, although the Utah UN conference organizers claim they are committed to being “inclusive” and “inclusivity” is a main theme throughout their Declaration, the conference organizers are not being inclusive. They deliberately excluded a number of workshop applications that represented pro-life and pro-family views which are not popular at the UN.
Then, of the few pro-family workshop that were approved and even paid for by pro-family groups, conference organizers cancelled several of them at the last minute only two days before the conference, after nonrefundable airfare for speakers had been expended by these groups.
And the stated reason for cancelling the events? For at least one of the pro-life workshops that had been paid for and that had even been assigned a room, the civil society conference organizers sent a cancellation notice claiming the workshop was “not well rounded enough and there is too much controversy around this issue today.” The event the UN was referring to is the first event listed in this flyer titled, “Protection of Life, Women and Girls in Sustainable Communities.
Yet, at the same time, other highly controversial issues with which the UN conference organizers agree are being openly promoted in conference workshops.
Therefore, we need to speak up and let our voices be heard through this Alternate Salt Lake City Declaration.
Please sign the Alternate Salt Lake City Declaration and send the link to sign it to as many people as you can.
Together we will make our voices heard for life and family at the United Nations!