Land Rights Indicators in the Post-2015 SDGs: Recommendations for Inter-Agency Expert Group & Other Policymakers

The success of the Post-2015 sustainable development goals (SDGs) will depend on the adoption of indicators that allow measuring progress towards targets and provide helpful information to policymakers. In preparation for the March 3-6, 2015 discussions at the UN in New York, the UN Statistical Commission compiled recommendations from the UN system. We applaud the inclusion of land rights indicators to track progress toward targets 1.4 and 5.a. We support the growing consensus on this subject, and we reaffirm the fundamental importance of secure and equitable land rights for the achievement of the SDGs. As member states move towards the next inter-governmental negotiations, we propose two indicators that we believe are fundamental to achieving ‘the future we want’. We confirm that these indicators are meaningful, universal, and feasible, and that they capture fundamental realities affecting key stakeholders at the heart of the SDGs.