In the Margins of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80), the Journalists and Writers Foundation hosted the 10th Annual SDGs Conference 2025 in collaboration with 56 civil society organizations from 30 countries on Wednesday, 24 September 2025 in New York. Throughout the day, the SDGs Conference 2025 convened 18 globally recognized panelists from 14 countries to elaborate on working themes of “Digitalization of Sustainable Development and Human Rights Advocacy”, “Women and Youth as Leaders for Civic Engagement and Social Change” and “Cross-cutting Threats to the Principles of Democracy”. This international policy-making platform served as the reflection of the UNGA80 Theme #BetterTogether and +200 participants attended the sessions from 32 different countries across the world. 

Opening Session of the SDGs Conference 2025 started with the reflections of Cemre Ulker, Representative of the JWF to the UN Department of Global Communications as she emphasized on the conference’s ongoing commitment to championing the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the face of growing global instability. This year’s gathering holds special significance, she noted, as it not only marks a decade since the SDGs Conference was first launched, but also coincides with several historic milestones: the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the 25th year of the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda, and the critical 10-year benchmark in the global SDG journey. In addition, the UN 2.0 reform initiative is underway—an effort to modernize multilateralism and improve the efficiency of international cooperation in an era marked by declining peacefulness. Despite escalating global conflicts, Ms. Ulker affirmed her belief that civil society remains resilient and unified in advancing the shared goals of the UN Charter. 

In his Welcoming Remarks, Mehmet Kilic, President of the Journalists and Writers Foundation, extended his heartfelt tribute to the global spirit of collaboration. Highlighting the diverse assembly of civil society leaders, academics, youth advocates, diplomats, journalists, and human rights defenders from over 24 countries, he emphasized the collective mission to ensure a future where no one is left behind. He expressed deep appreciation to the JWF’s 56 global partners, whose extraordinary work—spanning from grassroots initiatives to international platforms—continues to promote peace, inclusive societies, democracy, and the rule of law. Their contributions, he noted, are the heartbeat of sustainable progress.

Turning to the day ahead, Mr. Kilic introduced the three thematic panels focused on digitalization and human rights, women and youth leadership, and the global threats to democracy. He also announced the upcoming Pioneers in SDGs Awards Ceremony, recognizing 77 innovative projects from 43 countries that exemplify impact-driven solutions. Concluding his remarks, Mehmet Kilic warmly welcomed both in-person and virtual participants, representing 20 countries so that the messages, insights, and calls to action from the day would resonate globally. 

First Keynote of the SDGs Conference 2025 was delivered by H.E. Epsy Campbell Barr, former Vice President of Costa Rica. In a compelling keynote on strategic pathways forward, H.E. Ms. Campbell Barr issued a clarion call for a renewed global commitment to justice, sustainability, and dignity. Speaking against the backdrop of rising conflict, systemic exclusion, and environmental degradation, she reminded participants that we are no longer facing distant threats, the convergence of racism, sexism, poverty, and the climate crisis is today’s lived reality for billions. “Leadership today is marked by individualism, endless confrontation, and the accumulation of wealth and power without concern for the common good,” she warned.

H.E. Ms. Campbell Barr underscored that the Sustainable Development Goals are not merely a checklist of ambitions, but a moral compass—a shared promise to uphold the dignity of every person. She emphasized that delivering on this promise requires far more than words on paper. It demands tangible actions, reimagined leadership, and political courage to dismantle systemic inequalities, redistribute resources fairly, and empower marginalized voices. In this context, she urged civil society, governments, and the private sector alike to collaborate boldly and inclusively, rooted in the principle of Ubuntu: “I am because we are.”

Concluding with hope and urgency, she called for a new generation of leadership—transformative, compassionate, and principled. A leadership that listens deeply, restores dignity, heals division, and aligns personal conscience with universal values. “Let us rise together, across borders and generations,” H.E. Ms. Campbell Barr said, “to embody a new liberation that is both bold and compassionate. Only as one human family can we deliver the promise of the SDGs and ensure justice, sustainability, and dignity for every person, everywhere.”

Proceeding with the program, Hon. Mr. Thanassis Chimonas, Vice Mayor for Social Integration of Migrants and Refugees from Athens, Greece shared a stark reminder of the precarious state of democracy in today’s world. Referencing the rising number of global conflicts, from Ukraine to Gaza and Sudan, he painted a sobering picture of civilians, including the elderly and displaced, bearing the brunt of decisions they never made. He warned of the normalization of xenophobia and racism, not just on the fringes but within the mainstream of political discourse across Europe. From anti-migration rhetoric dominating public demonstrations to the rise of far-right parties gaining legitimacy through governing coalitions, Hon. Mr. Chimonas argued that fundamental democratic principles, freedom of speech, rule of law, and civil liberties, are increasingly under siege.

Athen`s Vice-Mayor Mr. Chimonas described a troubling erosion of democratic safeguards, not through violent takeovers, but through the gradual consolidation of power from within. He detailed how media control, the concealment of scandals, and restrictions under the guise of public health have weakened civic trust globally. Hon. Mr. Chimonas concluded with a powerful critique of migration policies, particularly the treatment of asylum seekers and unaccompanied minors in Greece. He asserted that degrading policies and actions reflect a broader trend visible in other Western democracies, where fear-based politics prevail over human rights. Reaffirming the vital role of civil society, he called on the international community to protect democratic values and defend the organizations and individuals who work on the frontlines of migration, social inclusion, and justice.