Sustainable Development Goals are a “roadmap for peace, dignity and prosperity”

UNDP

UNDP Administrator Helen Clark with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Photo: UNDP/Freya Morales.

New York – The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a vision and a roadmap for a future of peace, dignity and prosperity for all on a healthy planet, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today at the High Level Side Event ‘SDGs Coming to Life: Envisioning a Common and Resilient Future,’ organized in conjunction with the 71st UN General Assembly.

“We live in times of unprecedented opportunities as well as unprecedented global challenges. These challenges threaten to reverse development gains. We must address swiftly and decisively focusing on helping the poorest, marginalized and hardest to reach,” the Secretary-General stated.

“This year we had the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul and this week the Member States committed to address the issue of large movements of refugees and migrants. What is now needed is action and implementation.”

UNDP Administrator and Chair of the UN Development Group Helen Clark said: “Some of the most innovative examples of early action on the SDGs have come from countries where development challenges have been exacerbated by crises and shocks. A number of these countries are making concerted efforts to advance the SDGs by aligning their national development plans with them, and taking into account the risks which stand in the way of progress.”

Referring to the global crisis on migration and refugees, the delegates on the panel underscored the need to garner serious commitment on the implementation of the SDGs.

Speakers expressed an urgent need to kick start the economy and infrastructure, as well as provide jobs, employment and decent education. Urging the strong need to strengthen the governing institutions at national levels, panelists referred to Goal 16 – peace, justice and strong institutions - as one of the most important goals to provide justice and equal opportunity for all.

The panelists emphasized the need to build an inclusive society by addressing the root causes of conflict and aligning national budgets with the SDGs to ensure they would be achieved by 2030.

The speakers also agreed on the importance of working with civil society, the private sector and all stakeholders to build a resilient future for all.

The High Level Panel comprised of H.E. Mr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Germany, H.E. Dr. Abdusalam. H. Omer, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Investment Promotion, Somalia, H.E. Mr. Alpha Barry, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Burkina Faso, H.E. Ms. Tone Skogen, State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway, Ms. Leymah Gbowee, Founder and President of Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa and Mr. Mats Granryd, Director General of Groupe Speciale Mobile Association.