The 8 th SDGs Conference: In the Margins of the UNGA marks the highlight event of the JWF`s UNGA78 side-events and diplomatic engagements. 3-days of JWF events commenced with the JWF High-Level Reception on Monday, September 18, 2023, by hosting international delegations of journalists, human rights advocates, civil society members and academics from Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Greece, India, Iraq/Kurdistan, New Zealand, Philippines, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Tanzania, and the United States. Experts from 15 different countries later participated in a 2-session Roundtable Discussion on the role of human rights defenders for sustainable peace and development and civil society best practices at John Jay College of Criminal Justice on Tuesday, September 19, 2023.

The SDGs Conference 2023, with its motto of “Transforming Our World”, offers a platform for diverse stakeholders to converge and deliberate upon the Global Agenda 2030. It serves as a nexus where innovative solutions, strategies, and policy recommendations are shared to propel the ideals of sustainable development, human rights, and the culture of peace. On the sidelines of UNGA, this global conference brings together an illustrious group of interdisciplinary panelists and high-level speakers to engage in thematic discussions. Interventions of expert speakers revolve around specific agendas aligned with the priorities of the current UNGA78, culminating in the proposal of comprehensive frameworks for action to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

At the heart of the UNGA Conference 2023 lies an unwavering commitment to successful achievement of SDG #17: Partnerships for the Goals. Recognizing that the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) hinges on robust global partnerships and cooperation, SDG 17 underscores the imperative for the UN to rally these partnerships in achieving all 17 Global Goals. The JWF plays a pivotal role in this endeavor, mobilizing its Global Partners to exchange best practices and initiate people-centric policy suggestions aligned with the UN Development Agenda 2030.

The action-oriented 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has invigorated all stakeholders, including the UN Agencies, the UN Member States, the private sector, civil society actors, and experts, to bridge the gap between policy and knowledge. It emphasizes the creation of vital interlinkages between the goals, accelerating progress in the implementation of the SDGs.

Hosting 21 notable speakers from 16 countries including the UN Ambassadors and diplomats, the SDGs Conference 2023 delved into three pivotal themes: (1) Building a New Momentum towards the 2030 Deadline for the SDGs; (2) Press Freedom as an Instrument to defend Human Rights for All; and (3) Widening Gap between the Erosion of Democracy and the Rise of Autocracy.