The meeting of policymakers and representatives of various stakeholder groups in the Indian capital New Delhi follows the ‘Summit for the Future’ held at the UN headquarters in September.
At the Future Summit, world leaders adopted the ‘Context for the Future’ and emphasized international cooperation to achieve common goals and address new challenges.
The three-day forum in New Delhi will focus specifically on five Sustainable Development Goals: health and well-being (Goal 3), gender equality (Goal 5), work and economic growth (Goal 8), life below water (Goal 14), and partnerships (Goal 17). ).
United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Armida “We must find solutions to our current multidimensional health challenges,” said Salsiah Alisjahbana.
“We must also ensure that women and girls have equal opportunities and empowerment in the economic, social and political spheres.”
He called for a renewed commitment to achieving inclusive and sustainable development, creating productive employment and providing decent working conditions for all workers.
The Under Secretary-General said that “South and Southwest Asia have a large youth population, so creating employment opportunities for youth will be a major priority.”
Suman Berry, Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, Government of India, said that the Sustainable Development Goals are important from the point of view of presenting a holistic picture of the development process. They can also help in regional cooperation and knowledge exchange.
UN Resident Coordinator, Shambi Sharp lauded India’s leadership in achieving the SDGs, highlighted other initiatives including the SDG Indicator System and emphasized the opportunities inherent in South-South cooperation.
In South and Southwest Asia, progress towards the SDGs is uneven, with large populations affected by global crises and natural disasters.
Delegates participating in the forum gathered to review current progress. Additionally, specific recommendations will be made on issues such as environment and watershed protection, prevalence of informal employment and gender and youth employment gaps.