SDGs CONFERENCE 2023
In the Margins of the UNGA 78
20 September 2023, Wednesday (10:00am – 4:00pm EST) New York | HYBRID
John Jay College of Criminal Justice 524 West 59 Street New York, NY 10019
In the margins of the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the Journalists and Writers Foundation (JWF) and its 52 Global Partners from 27 countries are organizing the hybrid SDGs Conference 2023 to convene world leaders, diplomats, civil society members, journalists, and academics to discuss contemporary impediments for the timely and effective implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The SDGs Conference 2023, formerly known as the UNGA Conference, is the flagship event of the Journalists and Writers Foundation, creating a platform for diverse stakeholders to discuss the Global Agenda 2030, offer innovative solutions, strategies, and policy recommendations to advance the culture of peace, human rights, and sustainable development. As 2023 marks the 8th annual SDGs Conference, this global event gathered over 150 high-level speakers across the globe forming an interdisciplinary group of distinguished panelists to discuss a particular set of agenda over three panel sessions and propose a framework for action for the full and effective implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.
As a result of the diligent review of the 2022-2023 agenda items and priority working areas of diverse UN agencies and offices, as well as world-renowned international summits, the SDGs Conference 2023 will address (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 Erosion of Democracy and Rise of Autocracy in the margins of the UNGA 78th Session on Wednesday 20 September 2023 from 10am to 4:00pm.
PANEL 1: Building a New Momentum towards the 2030 Deadline for the SDGs
PANEL 2: Press Freedom as an Instrument to Defend Human Rights for All
PANEL 3: Widening Gap between Erosion of Democracy and Rise of Autocracy
- The progress of the SDGs halfway through the 2030 Deadline
- Strengthening institutions and political commitment in timely achievement of the SDGs
- Sounding an alarm for urgent action on increasing internationally comparable, gender-disaggregated, available data collection
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals as a pivotal actor to break through a sustainable and peaceful future.
- The New Agenda for Peace: A Pack for a transitioning era of geopolitical complexities
- A decade of decline for the global press freedom
- Digital transformation and technological advancements creating new media outlets: Freedom on the Internet and social media
- Rising threats for journalists: politicized judiciaries and online harassment
- Disinformation campaigns and state`s use of media as a venue of propaganda
- Gender-based violence and violations against women journalists
- Elections under electoral autocracies: Recent analysis from country cases
- Civil society resilience and solidarity against the authoritarianism
- Keeping a spotlight on human rights defenders in distress and advocating for the release of political prisoners
- The proliferation of transnational crimes for global peace and security
- Rising trends of populism
UNGA CONFERENCE SINCE 2014
8
52
27
150
Years
Global Partners
Countries
High-Level Speakers
PAST DISTINGUISHED SPEAKERS
Hon. Helen Clark
Former Prime Minister of New Zealand
Hon. Sofia Voultepsi
Deputy Minister of Migration and Asylum in Charge of Integration, Member of the Greek Parliament, New Democracy
H.E. Charlotta Schlyter
Ambassador, Head of Section for Sustainable Development, Permanent Mission of Sweden to the UN
H.E. Saša Jurečko
Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Slovenia to the UN
H.E. Sophia T. Yohannes
Ambassador, Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Eritrea to the UN
Dr. Brian Kerr
Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Mark Dalton
Senior Director, Digital Program Management Office, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
The Hon. Verity Firth
Executive Director
Social Justice at University of Technology Sydney
New South Wales, Australia
Célia Parnes
Head of the Secretary of Social Development of the State of São Paulo
Brazil
H.E. Ms. Markova Concepción
Ambassador
Permanent Representative of Panama to the UN
Panama
Hon. Prof. Bob Carr
Former Foreign Minister of Australia
Industry Professor of Business and Climate Change at the University of Technology Sydney
Houry Geudelekian
Chair of the NGO CSW
Dr. Wayne Henry, JP
Chairman and Director General of the Planning Institute of Jamaica
Adama Dieng
Former UN Secretary-General’s
Special Adviser for the Prevention of Genocide
Donna Orender
Founder and CEO of Orender Unlimited and Generation W, Former President of The Women’s National Basketball Association
Tushar A. Gandhi
President Mahatma Gandhi Foundation,
Craig Foster
Former Athlete, Human Rights Activist
Seda Pumpyanskaya
Director for Strategic Communications Division
UN Department of Global Communications
Michelle Breslauer
Senior Manager, Peace and Humanitarian Affairs, UN Global Compact
Robert Mahoney
Deputy Executive Director, Committee to Protect Journalists
WHY join the SDGs Conference?
Keynote Speakers
Get inspired by high-level
Speakers and Influencers
Thematic Debates
Participate in interactive discussion and panels
UNGA Debates
Join High-Level Events during the UN General Assembly Debate in NY
Global Partnership
Meet 36 Global Partners
from 24 countries
Capacity Building
Learn new skills and knowledge through intensive workshops
Networking
Meet global leaders and changemakers for partnerships
Pioneers in SDGs Awards
Submit your projects as exemplary model for recognition
JWF High-Level Reception
Connect with high-level delegates from around the world
Tours and Visits
Make your visit more productive and enjoyable
Global Partners
PIONEERS IN SDGs AWARDS 2023
The Pioneers in SDGs Awards commend remarkable organizations and individuals who steadfastly advance sustainable peace, development, and the preservation of a culture rooted in peace, human rights, and sustainable development. The Journalists and Writers Foundation, alongside our esteemed 52 Global Partners spanning 27 countries, recognizes Pioneers in SDGs whose innovative and imaginative projects contribute to the attainment of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The unwavering altruism, philanthropy, dedication, and commitment exhibited by these Pioneers in SDGs are instrumental in cultivating a better world for all.