NEW YORK--James Finies participated in an official side event of the United Nations High-Level Political Forum, titled “From Doha to Action: Accelerating the 2030 Agenda through Collaborative Approaches to Spillovers, Multidimensional Poverty and Integrated SDG Implementation,” at United Nations Headquarters in New York.
The event brought together representatives from governments, the United Nations system, academia and civil society to examine practical ways to advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Discussions focused particularly on multidimensional poverty, greater policy coherence, integrated implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and the international commitment to ensure that no one is left behind.
Addressing the gathering on behalf of the people of Bonaire, Finies welcomed the focus of the discussions but stressed that sustainable development cannot be achieved when the communities most directly affected are excluded from decisions determining their future.
During his intervention, Finies introduced himself by stating:
“I am James Finies from Bonaire, a Caribbean island under Dutch administration since 2010.”
Drawing attention to the forum’s emphasis on coherent policymaking and the removal of structural barriers to development, he questioned how Bonaire could be expected to meet the Sustainable Development Goals while major decisions affecting the island continue to be made outside the territory.
“In line with the UN commitment to ‘leave no one behind’ and to reach those furthest behind, how can the international community expect Bonaire to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals while fundamental development decisions are made by a European Dutch government thousands of kilometers away rather than by the people of Bonaire themselves?”
Finies emphasized that sustainable development cannot be limited to economic measures and policy frameworks. He said it must also include meaningful public participation, inclusive governance and accountability to the people whose daily lives are directly affected by government decisions.
He concluded his contribution by placing a broader question before the international community:
“Shouldn’t meaningful inclusion, democratic participation, the right self-determination and accountability be recognized as prerequisites for sustainable development in territories such as Bonaire that have no representation, no United Nations oversight, no accountability to the international community, and are governed externally below the United Nations threshold of democratic self-governance?”
The intervention follows concerns previously presented to United Nations human rights mechanisms, including the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, regarding poverty, inequality, public participation in decision-making, cultural identity, education and sustainable development in Bonaire.
Finies maintained that the 2030 Agenda’s promise to leave no one behind must also extend to the people of Bonaire. He said sustainable development requires people living in externally administered territories to be fully involved in decisions affecting their future and to have access to meaningful participation, transparency and accountability throughout the development process.
Finies and the Bonaire Human Rights Organization reaffirmed their commitment to working constructively with the United Nations, Member States, regional organizations and civil society to promote human rights, inclusive development and equal opportunities for the people of Bonaire.
James Finies is the founder of the Bonaire Human Rights Organization and leader of Partido Pueblo Progresivo.
