SDGs ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION 2025

As a part of the SDGs Conference 2025, the Journalists and Writers Foundation, in partnership with its 56 NGOs from 30 countries, is organizing the SDGs Roundtable Discussion 2025 to discuss critical issues to promote and protect sustainable peace and development. This side-event aims to create a platform for multiple stakeholders, including experts, practitioners, and civil society leaders to raise awareness on social problems and exchange ideas on possible solutions to social, economic, and environmental issues.

10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Round 1: The Role of Interfaith Dialogue for Sustainable Peace and Development

In an increasingly interconnected world, fostering mutual understanding and collaboration among diverse faith communities is crucial for advancing sustainable peace and development. Interfaith dialogue provides a vital platform for building bridges, promoting social cohesion, and addressing shared challenges faced by societies worldwide. Recognizing the significant role faith-based initiatives can play in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this roundtable aims to explore how interfaith collaboration can contribute to creating more inclusive, peaceful, and resilient communities. Through dialogue, mutual understanding, and collective action, interfaith communities can make meaningful contributions toward building a more cohesive, equitable, and sustainable world. This event serves as an important step in harnessing the transformative potential of faith-based collaboration to achieve the SDGs and foster lasting peace for future generations.

The discussion will focus on five key areas:

• Sharing Experiences and Best Practices: Cases and success stories from interfaith leaders and practitioners; Lessons learned from various interfaith initiatives and projects
• The Significance of Interfaith Collaboration: Role of faith-based efforts in fostering social cohesion and community resilience; Interfaith approaches to conflict resolution and peacebuilding
• Challenges and Obstacles in Interfaith Initiatives: Common barriers such as distrust, miscommunication, and cultural differences; Political, social, and structural challenges impacting interfaith efforts
• Strategic Approaches and Collective Actions: Strategies to overcome resistance and build mutual understanding; Designing inclusive and participatory interfaith programs; Innovative methods to mobilize collective action aligned with SDGs
• Building Partnerships and Networks: Creating sustainable collaborations among faith communities, civil society, and government; Engaging youth and marginalized groups in interfaith dialogue; Developing platforms for ongoing engagement and knowledge sharing

12:00 PM – 1:30 PM

Round 2: Global Youth Voices for Peace and Justice

In today’s global world, young people stand at the forefront of advocating for peace, justice, and social cohesion. Their unique perspectives, innovative initiatives, and active participation are vital to fostering sustainable peace and preventing conflicts. This panel aims to showcase the vital role of youth in shaping peaceful societies and to explore strategies for amplifying their voices in decision-making processes at local, national, and global levels.

This roundtable also aims to create a platform for dialogue among youth leaders worldwide in communication with policymakers and practitioners on how youth are promoting peace and justice, leading initiatives that build social cohesion, participating as decision-makers, and cooperating in crisis response efforts.

Empowering youth as active agents of social change is essential for sustainable peace and justice. This panel aims to elevate youth voices, showcase impactful initiatives, and inspire collective action towards a more peaceful and just world. The panel will offer policy recommendations for integrating youth perspectives into peacebuilding and conflict prevention strategies.

The discussion will focus on five key areas:

• Youth Promoting Peace and Justice while Preventing Conflicts: Exploring how young people are actively advocating for human rights, social equity, and conflict prevention and highlighting successful youth-led campaigns and movements that have contributed to peacebuilding.

• • Youth-led Initiatives that Build Peace and Social Cohesion: Showcasing innovative projects and grassroots initiatives led by youth that foster dialogue, understanding, and reconciliation within diverse communities. 
  • Youth and Digital Tools for Peacebuilding: Discussing the role of digital platforms and social media in mobilizing youth for peacebuilding efforts; Exploring how digital platforms and strategies amplify youth voices, facilitate social cohesion, and enhance their active participation in conflict prevention and reconciliation processes.

• Youth Participation as Decisionmakers: Examining the importance of including youth voices in policymaking, peace negotiations, and community leadership; Sharing best practices and challenges in institutionalizing youth participation at different governance levels.

• Youth Cooperation in Crisis Response: Analyzing how young people contribute to emergency response, conflict mitigation, and recovery efforts during crises; Identifying ways to strengthen youth engagement in humanitarian and peacekeeping operations.