SDGs CONFERENCE 2024
IN THE MARGINS OF THE UNGA79
PANEL 1
Summit of the Future: Revitalizing the Pact for the Future
25 September 2024, Wednesday | 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM EST | New York
he 9th Annual SDGs Conference 2024 was organized on 25 September 2024, in New York, in the margins of the United Nations General Assembly 79th Session. Convened by the Journalists and Writers Foundation (JWF) in collaboration with 56 global partners from 30 countries, the conference unfolded the 5 main themes of Pact for the Future that was recently adopted at the Summit of the Future, offering a once-in-a-generation opportunity to revive multilateralism with the mission of reflecting the realities of our day and address future challenges and opportunities.
Cemre Ulker, JWF`s Representative to the UN Department of Global Communications, commenced the program by acknowledging the timely significance of this global convention in fostering meaningful and action-oriented discussions on the Summit of the Future and highlighted its critical role in transforming global governance. Cemre Ulker underlined that the SDGs Conference will also reflect on the intersectional themes of the Declaration of the Future Generations and address the challenges posed by information integrity in the context of the Global Digital Compact. Ms. Ulker introduced the diverse array of speakers, including UN diplomats, civil society leaders, journalists, academics and human rights defenders from 15 different countries across the globe.
Mehmet Kilic, President of the JWF, expressed his gratitude to international attendees and global partners for their dedication to be advocates of sustainable peace and development. He emphasized that the conference was not merely an exchange of ideas but a catalyst for a movement toward a more inclusive, sustainable, and peaceful future. Mr. Kilic reflected on the JWF`s UNGA79 side-events leading up to the conference, including the High-Level Reception celebrating the JWF’s 30th anniversary, Roundtable Discussions on interfaith contributions and civil society best practices for the implementation of the SDGs. He also previewed the upcoming Pioneers in SDGs Award Ceremony, aimed at applauding and acknowledging the critical work of civil society organizations making significant contributions to the effective achievement of the Global Goals.
H.E. Dr. Hajo Sani OON, Ambassador of the Permanent Delegation of Nigeria to UNESCO, delivered her virtual keynote remarks on the pivotal role of education in achieving sustainable development emphasizing that the success of all the 17 SDGs, particularly the Goal 4, relies on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education. Ambassador Dr. Sani outlined four key points:
1. Educational Policy Design: She stressed the need for policies promoting gender equality and empowering women and girls in education, highlighting UNESCO’s programs aimed at increasing female enrollment in STEM fields.
2. Alignment with the SDGs: Ambassador Dr. Sani emphasized aligning educational strategies with the SDGs, focusing on protecting education during emergencies and fostering global citizenship through education.
3. Challenges in Implementation: She addressed the obstacles to implementing educational policies, including teacher shortages and the impact of conflicts and climate change on learning environments.
4. Future-Oriented Strategies: Advocating for integrating sustainability education into curricula and leveraging digital technologies to bridge access gaps, Ambassador Dr. Sani called for fostering environmental consciousness among students.
Professor Philip Clayton, President of the Institute for Ecological Civilization, started his remarks by reflecting on his first encounter with the JWF over a decade ago and transitioned into presenting a critical assessment of the ongoing implementation status of the SDGs. Prof. Clayton acknowledged that even though he holds his optimism for the noble mission ensuring peace and development, the present moment is marked by challenges. Prof. Philip echoed UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ urgent call to action, warning that the 2030 Agenda risks becoming an “epitaph for a world that might have been.” He shared concerns from Cedric Schuster, the Environment Minister of Samoa, about vulnerable populations suffering from mere “lip service” in addressing global challenges.
In light of stagnating metrics and widespread conflicts, Prof. Clayton introduced three guiding images for discussions surrounding the SDGs:
1. Global Justice as a Guiding Light: He underscored the climate crisis as a fundamental global injustice, highlighting the disproportionate contributions of the wealthiest 1% to global warming and the lack of resources for poorer communities to adapt.
2. Future Generations as Our Moral Guide: Prof. Clayton emphasized the importance of focusing on future generations, referencing the “Pact for the Future” consensus statement aimed at safeguarding their needs and interests. He introduced the concept of the intergenerational multiplier effect, emphasizing that environmental degradation today adversely affects future generations.
3. Ecological Civilization: He described “ecological civilization” as a fusion of ecological values with global justice, framing the SDGs as actionable steps toward realizing the UN’s vision of celebrating the diversity of cultures and ecosystems through justice and sustainability.
In his closing remarks, Prof. Philip Clayton urged a global call for collective action towards achieving the SDGs, leaving the audience with a powerful image of success in which thriving forests where people and the planet are intricately connected.
Panel Session 1: Summit of the Future: Revitalizing the Pact for the Future featured experts from Denmark, Canada, Kenya, and Washington DC, addressing significant themes including the UN 2.0 and the necessary reforms in multilateral diplomacy to enhance the UN’s responsiveness to in resolving global issues. Among the other diplomatic themes, the empowerment of youth and women peacemakers emerged as a core dialogue element, emphasizing the need for investment in initiatives uplifting emerging young leaders.
Jesselina Rana, an esteemed human rights advocate from Nepal and the UN Advisor of CIVICUS moderated the Panel Session 1 on the Summit of the Future. In her opening remarks, Ms. Rana shared insights about the mission of CIVICUS to safeguard civic freedoms worldwide. Jesselina Rana highlighted an alarming data from the Civic Space Monitor revealing that only 2% of the global population lives in countries with open and safe civic spaces. She addressed the multi-layered challenges civil society faces at the UN, including limited access that hinders meaningful participation. Despite these obstacles, Ms. Rana underscored civil society organization`s critical role in advocating for inclusive and rights-based international policies.
Ms. Rana expressed a cautious optimism regarding the engagement with the Pact for the Future noting the substantial policy inputs made by CIVICUS in shaping the summit’s outcomes. However, she pointed out that diplomatic negotiations around the Pact faced setbacks due to disagreements over language, resulting in minimal traction for civil society proposals in the final draft. Particularly concerning was the removal of wording in regard to human rights defenders from the final version of the Pact. Although advocacy efforts led to the inclusion of civic space protection, Ms. Rana criticized the diluted version focused on online civic space in the global digital compact. Despite these challenges, Jesselina Rana acknowledged the positive aspects of the outcomes of the Summit of the Future and its recognition of the human rights pillar as an equal component of the UN system. She welcomed the call for the UN Secretary-General to assess the need for increased funding for UN human rights mechanisms.
Adj. Prof. Morten Kjaerum from the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law based in Denmark, highlighted the pressing need for a robust and accountable UN amid profound uncertainty. Professor Kjaerum focused on three critical issues: human rights, multilateral diplomacy structures, and inequality. He emphasized that human rights should underpin any reforms discussed in the coming weeks. Citing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted in 1948, he stressed the universal nature of human rights beyond traditions. Professor Kjaerum underscored the inadequate allocation of about 4 – 5% of the UN budget to human rights, characterizing it as an ethical failure. He criticized the lack of prioritization for human rights across UN agencies and noted budget cuts affecting human rights advisors, hampering promotion at the local level.
Shifting focus to multilateral diplomacy, Professor Kjaerum argued that the UN structure, particularly the Security Council, reflects an outdated geopolitical reality. While recalibrating balance is essential, he called for systems that better represent global voices, highlighting youth engagement in recent discussions around the Pact for the Future. He emphasized cities’ role in addressing global challenges, urging stronger representation for city governments in global governance, as they innovate solutions for complex challenges. Professor Kjaerum warned that hyper-economic inequality poses a significant threat to human rights and democracy, calling for policy reforms to redistribute wealth and opportunities. He urged financial institutions to incorporate economic and social rights into their frameworks to meet the SDGs. Professor Kjaerum concluded his reflections by outlining next steps, including strengthening UN human rights institutions and striving for a human rights-based well-being economy. His contributions marked a significant moment in the discussion on multilateral diplomacy and human rights.
Nudhura Yusuf, the Executive Coordinator of the Global Governance, Justice and Security from Stimson Center based in Washington DC took the floor. Ms. Yusuf framed her reflections around three key areas:
1. Summit of the Future: She highlighted significant developments from the initiations of the diplomatic and civil society discussions, amendments leading the way to the adoption of the Pact for the Future. A standout moment she underlined was the African Group’s declaration advocating for a future-oriented UN with support from 163 countries, which strengthens civil society’s advocacy efforts.
2. The Nairobi Civil Society Conference: Nudhura Yusuf described this historic gathering as the first Civil Society conference in the Global South emphasizing its inclusivity. The conference attracted around 3,000 participants, including 317 representatives from Member State with a notable 58% women and 40% youth representation. The outcomes included the formation of 23 impact coalitions focusing on global challenges such as climate governance and AI regulation.
3. Future Actions: Ms. Yusuf emphasized the need for civil society to unmute itself in global discourse, promoting campaigns like those by CIVICUS to enhance civil society’s visibility. Nudhura Yusuf outlined key strategies for effective engagement:
– Unpacking the Pact: Identify actionable items within the Pact.
– Mapping Champions: Engage champions across Member States to support civil society initiatives.
– Timeline Development: Create a timeline with milestones leading to significant events like the World Social Summit.
Nudhura Yusuf concluded her remarks by stressing the importance of translating momentum from the Summit of the Future into actionable outcomes, reminding the audience that the impactful work lies ahead in implementing commitments and ensuring civil society’s central role in shaping global governance.
Anil Wasif, Co-Founder of BacharLorai (BL) based in Canada, a nonprofit organization empowering Bangladeshis globally, was the next speaker of the Panel Session 1. Mr. Wasif started his remarks by posing a critical question about how to design organizations that empower youth to achieve goals set at high-level forums like the UN. He articulated on BL’s mission, which focuses on three pillars: community building, research, and humanitarian work. Anil Wasif`s points included:
– Alignment with SDGs: BL’s projects connect with key SDGs such as poverty reduction and gender equality, promoting awareness among members.
– Youth Leadership: Mr. Wasif stressed the importance of visibility for young people in leadership roles, ensuring their active participation in strategic planning.
– Grassroots Movement: BL originated during the pandemic as a grassroots social movement and has successfully adapted to institutional demands for sustainability. Mr. Wasif emphasized the potential of youth-led organizations to bridge gaps in achieving SDGs and called for trust in young leaders to drive real change.
The moderator then provided historical context regarding the Catholic Church’s approach to interfaith dialogue. He noted that before 1965, the Church primarily focused on promoting Catholicism; however, the Second Vatican Council’s declaration, Nostra Aetate, acknowledged the necessity of engaging in dialogue with other faith traditions, including Islam and Buddhism. The Pope’s recent declarations reflect the Church’s commitment to addressing environmental issues, resonating with the urgent need for collective action among various faiths to tackle global challenges.
Valerie Nangidi Okumu, Research Coordinator of Pan Africa Association of Judges of Environment Land and Labour from Kenya, highlighted the need for an intentional approach to achieving SDGs, particularly in unlocking women’s leadership in peace and security. Key points from her talk included:
– Historical Exclusion: Despite various legal frameworks, women’s governance inclusion remains limited, indicating a need for systemic transformation rather than mere inclusion.
– Patriarchal Governance: She pointed out that women’s contributions are often undervalued in political spaces, necessitating a shift towards ethical, skill-driven leadership.
– Meaningful Inclusion: Ms. Okumu challenged the notion of “empowerment” as simply giving power to women, advocating instead for dismantling systems that hinder women’s leadership.
– Case Studies: She referenced examples like Tanzania’s female president and Kamala Harris to illustrate how purposeful action can lead to women’s ascension in leadership roles.
Valerie Nangidi Okumu concluded by calling for a more inclusive and ethical governance approach that recognizes women’s capabilities and integrates their perspectives into policymaking processes to achieve equitable outcomes. She emphasized that transforming systems is crucial for allowing women to thrive alongside men in shaping a just and sustainable future.
Governor Abdullahi A. Sule, Executive Governor of Nasarawa State in Nigeria, delivered his Closing Remarks by stressing on the following points:
– Frustration with Politics: Governor Mr. Sule started his career in politics in 2018 driven by frustration over the lack of tangible outcomes from high-level conferences.
– Focus on Youth Unemployment: He identified youth unemployment as a major challenge, highlighting the need for more industries and funding.
– Gender Equality in Leadership: Mr. Sule`s administration appointed women to key leadership roles in education and government.
– Skill Acquisition Initiatives: He established centers to equip youth with practical skills, addressing the gap between education and employability.
Governor Abdullahi A. Sule expressed appreciation for the enlightening discussions, noting their relevance to the challenges he faces in governance. He took personal responsibility for addressing these challenges, particularly youth unemployment, which he attributed to the lack of investment in smaller projects. Mr. Sule emphasized the need for educational reform, focusing on why primary school teachers were underqualified and the need to resolve frequent strikes by educators. His administration made strides toward gender equality by appointing women to leadership positions, including the first female Vice-Chancellor and Head of Civil Service in Nasarawa State.
Recognizing that 70% of Nigeria’s population is youth, Governor Abdullahi A. Sule involved young professionals in key state development aspects, particularly investments and implementation of the SDGs. Abdullah highlighted the importance of skill acquisition centers to train youth in practical skills, allowing them to gain employment or become entrepreneurs. He noted that deep-rooted cultural resistance could hinder progress, particularly regarding women’s leadership roles. Governor Abdullahi A. Sule concluded his reflections by reiterating the importance of understanding diverse challenges and customizing solutions accordingly.
