In moving forward with the Post -2015 Development Agenda, the issue of inclusivity has been raised. Vulnerable groups such as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex individuals (LGBTI), women, the elderly and migrants should no be left behind in implementing the Post-2015 Development Agenda. These were some of the sentiments shared among those that attended the Development Dialogue Series hosted by the Southern African Liaisons Office (SALO) on September 30, 2015.
What does inclusive development mean for Africa? This was an important question posed to attendees, in that given the diversity, competition of resources, and different forms of governance on the continent, vulnerable groups should not be overlooked in processes that impact their lives. As Ms. Ndileka Buwa, a disabled rights activist of Sinakho Arts expressed, “Nothing for us without us”.
Similarly, Deputy Minister John Jeffery of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development shared with the audience that moving on from the Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) have built upon the goals achieved previously but there is still no mention of LGBTI rights mentioned in its agenda. This brought attention to the importance of striving toward the inclusion of such rights and the need to focus on human security and common humanity in order to positively transform the agenda.