A million people in every corner of the world mobilizing to #act4SDGs at the UN General Assembly

On 25 September 2018, a million people in over 1300 cities in 165 countries in actions led by 1800 individuals and organizations took part in a worldwide mass mobilization for the Sustainable Development Goals. 

Mangrove restoration in Brazil, top chefs competing to re-discover forgotten foods in New York, or beach clean ups in the Maldives are some of the SDG actions organisations and individuals organized, encouraging a global movement for the achievement of the SDGs.

View highlights



The Global Day to #act4SDGs coincided with the opening of the UN General Assembly, which presented a unique opportunity to amplify the actions being taken across the world and bring them to the attention of world leaders. See the Global Action Hour which was broadcast live at the SDG Action Zone.http://act4sdgs.org 

Speakers: 

  • Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General, United Nations via video message
  • HE Muhammadu Buhari, President of Nigeria, via video message
  • Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice President of the EU Commission via video message
  • Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary, UNFCCC
  • Mitchell Toomey, Director, UN SDG Action Campaign
  • Cristina Gallach, High Commissioner for the 2030 Agenda of Spain
  • Oli Henman, Global Coordinator, Action for Sustainable Development

Introducing:

PROGRAMME:

  • Welcome and Introduction to the Global Day to Act4SDGs
    Mitchell Toomey, Director, United Nations SDG Action Campaign
  • Taking Engagement Forward
    Video message from Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy & Vice President of the EU Commission
  • Global Day as it happens
    Moderator – Yusuf Omar, Founder of Hashtag Our Stories
  • Cleaning up polluted beaches and building cultural bridges in the Maldives
    Where: Malé, Maldives,
    By: Peace Boat, JCI Kaafu
    Presented by Yoskihoka Tatsuya, Co-Founder and Director, Peace Boat
  • 450 SDG Changemakers turn ideas into daily practice in Amsterdam
    Where: Amsterdam, Netherlands
    By: SDG Charter, KIT Royal Tropical Institute, Municipality of Amsterdam and NCDO
    Presented by Jilt Van Schayik, UN SDG Action Campaign and former Dutch Youth Delegate
  • Climate question from Patricia Espinosa, UNFCCC Executive Secretary
  • 200 organisations in Italy join forces to viralize sustainable development
    Where: Italy
    By Italian Alliance for Sustainable Development (ASviS)
    Video
  • Empowering Youth to tackle Health and Peace through Creativity
    Where: Nigeria
    By: Creative Youth, Covenant University
    Presented by Foluke Michael from Creative Youth Development Initiative and UN SDG Action Award Winner
  • World’s Largest Photo Book to capture youth stories from Nigeria’s Informal Settlements
    Where: Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria
    Canon, Slum- Art Project
    Video
  • Reducing Carbon Emissions through Mangrove Restoration in Rio
    Where: Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
    By: Instituto Mar Urbano, UNDP RIO+Centre
    Video
  • Top chefs compete to highlight forgotten foods
    Where: New York City, United States
    By: Food Forever Experience NYC, Crop Trust
    Presented by Erik Oberholtzer, Chef and Founder of Tender Greens
  • Government, civil society and local fisherfolk join forces to tackling ocean pollution
    Where: Philippines
    By: GCAP Philippines
    Presented by Becky Malay, GCAP Philippines on Video
  • 26 youth advocates capture citizens views on the SDGs in Asia
    Where: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam
    By: ASEAN MY World 2030 Initiative, UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub and UNV Asia-Pacific
    Video
  • Building spaces for Orphans to Play
    Where: Morocco
    By: Bloom Charity
    Video
  • Hashtag Our Stories
    Yusuf Omar, Founder
  • Guatemalan students from indigenous communities show that big SDG changes can come in small sizes
    Where: Guatemala city
    By: Education for Sharing
    Video
  • Week of Action for SDGs Brings people together across Mexico
    Where: México
    By: MY World México
    Presented by Karol Arambula, Founder, MYWorld Mexico
  • 200 Youth Discuss citizen engagement and open democracies in Peru
    Where: Lima, Perú
    By: Millennials Movement
    Video
  • Young people share their SDG 360° videos from Brazil, Kenya, Germany & the United States
    By: Digital Promise, Oculus, MY World 360
    Presented by Dimitri Moore, Digital Promise and Christina Jackson, Oculus
  • Promoting fair food and fashion in Bonn
    Where: Bonn, Germany
    By: City of Bonn
    Video
  • Good Life Goals find sustainable development actions for everyone to take
    Where: Worldwide
    By: Futerra
    Presented by Solitaire Townsend, Co-Founder, Futerra
  • From Local to Global Action
    Oli Henman, Global Coordinator, Action for Sustainable Development
  • Young Leaders for the SDGs: powered by the Office of the Secretary General’s Special Envoy on Youth
    Ezequiel Vedana Da Rosa (Brazil)
    Amelie Jezabel Mariage (Spain)
  • Video message from HE Muhammadu Buhari, President of Nigeria
  • The Way Ahead
    Cristina Gallach
    High Commissioner for Agenda 2030, Government of Spain
  • Thank you for taking action
    Video message from Amina J. Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary General

Every year on the September 25th anniversary of the SDGs, the UN SDG Action Campaign joins forces with Action for Sustainable Development, GCAP and thousands of partners to mobilize the UN, national and local governments, youth groups, civil-society organizations, the media, and institutions from every corner of the world with a global call to Act for the SDGs.

Learn about this and other thousands of actions taking place across the world on 25 September and join the movement.

The event can be watched LIVE at http://act4sdgs.org 

Or follow the SDG Action live on #Act4SDGS,

Follow us and #Act4SDGs on:

Twitter: @SDGAction Facebook: @SDGAction Instagram: @SDGAction 

 

The first young 360º media creators screened at the UN General Assembly

Today, on the 3rd anniversary of the Sustainable Development, and as part of the Global day to Act for SDGs, we’re thrilled to announce the first MYWorld360º playlist—a collection of youth-produced immersive stories from around the world that spotlight issues most relevant to young people and their communities. The MYWorld360º playlist will be screened at the UN General Assembly as part of the United Nations Virtual Reality program, and presented virtually at the SDG Media Zone at the UN HQ in New York on the Global Day of Action on September 25th.

In March 2018, the United Nations SDG Action Campaign, Digital Promise Global, and Oculus announced the launch of MYWorld360°, a new global initiative supporting young people worldwide to develop their digital skills, share their perspectives, and advance positive action toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

Over 100 students participated in the first MYWorld360º. The 6 selected stories represent a broad range of creative responses, including a public service announcement about food deserts and access to healthy food, an exploration of social media’s influence, and a celebration of diversity and multiculturalism. The 6 youth created films will be shown to world leaders gathered in New York on the opening day of the UN General Assembly.

Dive into these stories and stay tuned for more youth-produced MYWorld360º media in the months ahead!

Complex City 

A video poem takes the audience to Fifth Ward, a super-neighborhood in Houston, Texas, and challenges simplistic thinking about the area.

Site/Location: Urban Enrichment Institute (with Writers In The Schools), Houston, Texas, USA
Youth Producers: Byron A. (16), Daylen H. (13), Deandre D. (15), Roderick J. (14), Lamar E. (15), Matthew T. (16), Lee R. (16), James W. (12), Jason M. (14), Lynwood O. (15), Tant D. (15)
Educator: SharonFerranti

Food Desert


What food options are available in your community? This film tries to give an answer to this question and how food impacts a community. 

Site/Location: Mt. Pleasant High School, San Jose, CA, USA
Youth Producers: Rogelio L. (18) and Santos W. (18)
Educator: William Cavada

Francisca 

A single woman’s strength and commitment can inspire a whole community in Terra do Sol,  Brazil.

Site/Location: CEPI – Carlos Alberto de Deus, Goiânia, Goiás, Brasil
Youth Producers: Beatriz K. (17), Sabrina R. (17), Gabriela C. (16), Yan Í. (18)
Educator: Layla Rocha

The Influencer


A disturbing look into social media and it’s effect on society.

Site/Location: Gemeinschaftsschule Bellevue, Saarbrücken, Saarland, Germany
Youth Producers: Julian W. (17), Gosia C. (17), Jonas J. (17), Jennifer G. (18), Simon G. (17), Lara K. (17), Akim H. (17), Jason K. (17), Hagjer D. (18), Dennis K. (18.), Jana S. (17)
Educator: Torsten Becker

Myrtle’s Waste-FULL Life

An endangered sea turtle’s Point of View (POV) of sea debris in her home.

Site/Location: Churchill High School, San Antonio, Texas, USA
Youth Producers: Alyssa P. (17), Claire G. (16), Zoe (16), Yasmin M. (16), Lauren M. (20)
Educator: Robin Morriss

Slum Visions

Step into the shoes of a young photographer who is passionate about sharing underrepresented stories in his neighbourhood.

Site/Location: Emerson College, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Youth Producers: Kieran McKeon (21), Jason Blanton (21), and Andrew Arias (18)
Educator: Sarah Berkovich

MYWorld360 is an initiative led by  United Nations SDG Action Campaign, Digital Promise Global, and Oculus.  

Want to be a MY World 360º creator? The program is open to youth and educators worldwide. Explore how immersive storytelling can inspire action to build a better world for everyone and join in the next challenge.

 

“The SDGs in Action: Country-led, Country-owned”

Join the conversation at the UNGA Side Event on “The SDGs in Action: Country-led, Country-owned” on 21 September 2017, hosted by UNDG.  Speakers include Heads of State/Government and Ministers from the Gambia, Kyrgyzstan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, and Colombia as well as the UN Deputy Secretary-General and the UNDG Chair. Find more information here

Colombia pioneers the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

In the early days of SDG implementation, the Goals have proven to be a powerful driver of Colombia’s National Development Plan, the Peace Agreement, and local development plans.

In the department of Nariño on the Pacific coast, young people are overcoming adversities and inequalities. Here is their story on how rural entrepreneurship contributes to peaceful communities.

Chocó and Guajira are among the poorest departments in Colombia, but also home to some of the most biodiverse regions. Here, the 2030 Agenda brings an opportunity to plan a future where the environment is the basis for sustainable and inclusive growth.

The City of Montería has become one of Latin America’s greenest cities, linking green urbanism, transportation and renewable energy to the SDGs. Read more about Montería’s journey.

SDG 6 is coming to life – Korean professor invents device for safer drinking water

For the SDGs to come to life, it is often said that we need new ways of working, new partnerships and everyone to participate – not only governments and UN agencies.

Professor Kyoung-Woong Kim has embraced this message. Together with his team at the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, he has developed a water purification device with the potential to change the lives of millions of people.

So how does the device work? As a specialist in soil and underground water contamination, Professor Kim has developed a membrane allowing the purification device to selectively remove water pollutants including pathogenic bacteria. This means purifying contaminated water to 99.9% drinking water. What’s more, the device can be easily installed in disaster-affected areas since its design allows water to flow through the membrane by manual pedaling, without any need for electricity.

Today, 663 million people are still without access to safe drinking water. To achieve SDG 6 local communities, researchers and business need to come together.

Through project “Ongdalsam”, or “Small water spring” in Korean, Professor Kim aims to engage with developing countries where climate change, rising sea levels and water-borne diseases caused by polluted drinking water is a threat to development. The project was first known across Korea when it was discovered in 2009 that the device could purify two liters of water per minute, providing drinking water to about 200 people a day. Since then the device has traveled to Sudan, Fiji, and Kiribati and soon to Tuvalu, where climate change is a threat to water security.

Global sustainable development requires more researchers and entrepreneurs to follow in Professor Kim’s footsteps.

SDG10: Reducing inequalities –
Early attention to the rights of girls and boys with disabilities in Mexico

In Mexico, an initiative on reduced inequalities focusing on children with disabilities has improved the lives of 12,000 boys and girls. So far, 350 caregivers in 9 states have been trained to improve the quality of care and to achieve the full development of children’s skills and abilities.

The Mexican Ministry of Social Development leads a Childcare Facilities Program for Working Mothers that includes 9,200 facilities and reaches 300,000 children in poverty-stricken homes; about 1.7% of whom have a disability. A while ago the UN carried out an analysis of the program, which showed that those in charge of caring for children with disabilities, mostly women, did not have the adequate training to detect developmental challenges, nor to provide caring that allowed the children to reach their maximum potential.

This is the background to a pilot initiative* that aims to increase the quality of care for children with disabilities. So far, 350 caregivers in 9 states have been trained, benefiting more than 12 000 girls and boys. Focus lies on early intervention. The idea is that attending to children with disabilities at an early age will foster the full development of their skills and abilities, give better opportunities to complete schooling and ultimately increase their prospects of leading a life as a fully empowered society member. Caregivers were also trained in human rights, diversity, inclusive planning of educational activities, accessibility and development of community support and networks.

All people may at some point in their life experience a disabling situation. It is a universal issue and is as such addressed throughout the SDGs. For these 12,000 boys and girls, the pilot initiative has meant real change and development. This is what the 2030 Agenda is about: implementing public policies that target the most vulnerable to ensure that no one is left behind.

*The pilot initiative “Model of care and inclusive care for children with disabilities in the framework of the Program of Childhood Stages to Support Working Mothers” is funded by the United Nations Fund to Promote the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNPRPD) and brings together UNDP, UNICEF and the Pan American Health Organization/WHO. The project seeks to comply with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, signed by the Mexican government in 2007.

Country-led progress on the SDGs – the journey of The Gambia

Only nine months ago, the Gambia stood on the verge of conflict. Yet since then, the leadership has launched a reform agenda towards a progressive democracy that addresses the needs of all its citizens. A new chapter has begun.

After 22 years of authoritarian rule, The Gambia is facing a unique opportunity for transition. The African Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals can be powerful levers for change as the government stands committed to achieving the SDGs.

25 November 2011, Nyangen – Girl explaining the meaning of the photo she has taken for the Participatory Photo Exhibition at the Reastitution. Boys and girls were asked to describe their village, its problems and its achievements using a digital photo camera.

For the Millennium Development Goals, the precursors to the SDGs, Gambia indeed made significant progress in several areas. Gender equality was one. In 2015, the practice of female genital mutilation or cutting was criminalized, placing The Gambia among 26 other African countries that have banned this nefarious practice. The targets on water and sanitation were met with over 85% of the population having access to clean water and sanitation. Child mortality was significantly reduced.

But unfinished business remains. Many mothers still die while giving birth and The Gambia aims at a maternal mortality ratio of less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030 or sooner.

Almost one in three Gambians are vulnerable to food insecurity. To achieve SDG 2, the recently launched National Zero Hunger Strategic Review is identifying hunger gaps at all levels. This will be followed by regional consultative sessions throughout the country.

As a low-lying country, situated close to the sea, The Gambia is one of the most vulnerable places in the world to climate change. To adapt and mitigate the impacts, the government is implementing a series of actions. The Climate Change Early Warning Systems are being strengthened. Energy and environment concerns are being mainstreamed into national, regional, and local policies, strategies, programs, and plans. Disaster hotspots are being identified to enhance the resilience of coastal and vulnerable communities.

Key to all of these challenges is the younger generation. With a population of only 2 million, The Gambia accounts for a disproportionate number of people embarking upon the perilous journey across the Mediterranean in search for a better life. By August 2017, Gambians accounted for 5.6% (or 6 294 persons) of all arrivals in Europe from the Mediterranean, according to UNHCR.

The government is now developing a migration policy, through a participatory and inclusive approach, including youth organizations. But the Gambian youth must also see a peaceful, sustainable society with opportunities for decent work, access to education and healthcare to feel like they play are a role, are excited about and confident in the country’s future.

This is the moment for Gambia to scale up and gain momentum on what has been set in motion. If wholly-owned by the people, and led by the government, the SDGs can be a vital travel companion on their journey.

Join the conversation at the UNGA Side Event on “The SDGs in Action: Country-led, Country-owned” on 21 September 2017, hosted by UNDG.  Speakers include Heads of State/Government and Ministers from the Gambia, Kyrgyzstan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, and Colombia as well as the UN Deputy Secretary-General and the UNDG Chair. Find more information here

High-Level Event on Innovation and Technology

UN High-Level Event on Innovation and Technology, convened by the Executive Office of the Secretary-General’s Global Pulse and the SDG Action Campaign

Monday, 18 September 2017

10:30 – 13:00

UN Headquarters, Conference Room 2

Event registration is closed, but a livestream will be available at: http://webtv.un.org/ and social media coverage with hashtag: #SDGInnovation 

SDG Innovation is convened by the Executive Office of the Secretary-General and the UN SDG Action Campaign, and supported by leaders in the technology sector. It will bring together Heads of State and Governments, CEOs of major technology companies, and innovation and thought leaders to strengthen cooperation and solve major challenges for the people and the planet. Participants will share cutting-edge ideas on frontier issues and new technologies, and explore concrete ways to replicate and scale innovations for SDG implementation.

Download programme

OPENING SESSION

  • Opening remarks by H.E. Miroslav Lajčák President of the United Nations General Assembly
  • Keynote Address by Reid Hoffman, Founder and Chair of LinkedIn
  • Marc Benioff, CEO and Founder of Salesforce in conversation with Ashish Thakkar, Founder of Mara Group and Chair of the UN Foundation’s Global Entrepreneurs Council

11:00 – 11:30 PANEL DISCUSSION

How can governments and innovators effectively partner in solving pressing global challenges?

  • H.E. Kersti Kaljulaid, President of Estonia
  • H.E. Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Prime Minister of Denmark
  • Mitchell Baker, Executive Chairwoman Mozilla (Firefox)
  • Aliko Dangote, Founder and Chair of Dangote Group
  • Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chair of Bharti Enterprises
  • Jimmy Wales, Founder of Wikipedia and WikiTribune

Moderator: James Manyika, Chairman, McKinsey Global Institute

11.30 – 12.50 INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE

What needs to be done to co-create innovation hubs in diverse countries and transfer skills from current epicentres, such as Silicon Valley, to the rest of the world and vice versa?

Moderator: David Wallerstein, Chief Exploration Officer, Tencent

Date:
MON, 2017-09-18 10:30 TO 12:00

Innovation and People’s Actions at the heart of the 72nd UN General Assembly

High-Level events, interactive discussions, data showcases, the latest immersive experiences, UNVR screenings and specially thousands of people and over 500 organisations around the world mobilising action to #ACT4SDGs… we are looking back on a successful UN General Assembly and first Global mobilisation to celebrate the SDGs Anniversary.

At the 72 UN General Assembly the UN SDG Action Campaign provided forums to experience cutting-edge technologies and to explore new ways to scale those innovations, to transfer skills and provide the necessary tools for individuals to be able to own and take action for the SDGs from across the globe, and to celebrate the actions and innovations that are already happening. Here are some of the highlights:

SDG Interactive Exhibition 

 

Hundreds of visitors came by the SDG Interactive Exhibition, curated by the UN SDG Action Campaign, to take part in a multitude of immersive experiences and participatory activations that support the UN system in communicating and advocating for the advancement of the SDGs. The experiences provided a voice to people around the world and a peek into how the SDGs manifest in their daily lives, giving delegates at the 72nd General Assembly the chance to understand their realities at this important annual political forum.

Visitors experienced how today’s available and low cost technology can address tomorrows  constraints on industry and life through today’s available, through the SIMTAINER. Light, a first-of-its-kind live-synced VR experience created by Mae allowed visitors to reveal the underlying fabric of our shared humanity and invite a posture of humility in the face of the radical collaboration required by all of us to accomplish the SDGs.

Moving from empathy to action, visitors could also discover and share citizen perceptions on the SDGs with real time SDG data visualizations, sharing their views on SDG progress through the MY World 2030 survey, and the social media commitment capsules at the #Act4SDGs corner.


High-Level Event on Innovation and Technology: SDG Innovation

On Monday 18 September, the Executive Office of the Secretary-General (UN Global Pulse) and the SDG Action Campaign convened governments, CEOs of major technology leading companies and innovators at the High-Level Event on SDG Innovation during the 72nd United Nations General Assembly.

This unique event exposed governments to breakthrough ideas and innovations available, and leading tech innovators to the concrete problematics and challenges of countries in advancing the Agenda 2030. H.E. Miroslav Lajčák, President of the 72nd General Assembly opened the event. Among the group of participants were: H.E. Kersti Kaljulaid, President of Estonia and H.E. Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Environment and Climate Change of United Arab Emirates, Reid Hoffman, Co-Founder of LinkedIn, Marc Benioff, Founder and CEO of Salesforce, Ashish Thakkar, Founder of Mara Group and Chair of the UN Foundation’s Global Entrepreneurs Council.

To achieve the SDGs, governments, NGOs and the private sector must all work together to unleash a massive wave of entrepreneurship that generates the breakthrough companies at a record pace. That is how we will create greener power, distribute more food and create hundreds thousands of new jobs for the growing middleclass”
Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn 

This unique event exposed governments to breakthrough ideas and innovations available, and leading tech innovators to the concrete problematics and challenges of countries in advancing the Agenda 2030. Read the whole post and watch the videos

SDG Action Campaign at the SDG Media Zone

The SDG Media Zone aims to engage people all over the world in the important conversations happening during this high-level week of the UN General Assembly and to strengthen the commitment of the international community in support of the 2030 Agenda.

The Campaign programmed and participated in 2 sessions:

Data tells the story on the SDGs

Mitchell Toomey, Director SDG Action Campaign with Robert​ ​Kirkpatrick,​ ​Director, UN​ ​Global​ ​Pulse Moderated by​ ​Emily​ ​Courey​ ​Pryor, Executive​ ​Director​ ​Data2X 

The Future We Want in Virtual Reality

Moderated by Kristin Gutekunst,Executive Producer, UN SDG Action Campaign, featuring Monique Marian, BU Architect, Grimshaw Architects
and Marina Gorbis, Executive Director, Institute for the Future.

The UN SDG Action Campaign also participated in the Media for Social Impact Summit, our Global Director, Mitchell Toomey gave a keynote address regarding Action for the SDGs, and Kristin Gutekunst, Executive Producer of the UNVR project, moderated the exciting panel: Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Virtually Reporting the Realities of the SDGs. Find out more

Data Playground: Celebrating data, innovation and technology for the SDGs

The UN SDG Action Campaign, UN Global Pulse, and Microsoft organised the fourth annual Data Playground, an interactive event showcasing data and technological innovations for the SDGs.  Innovators across the UN and private and public sector joined for an evening to discuss and explore opportunities for accelerating sustainable development solutions. Read full post

The Global People’s Summit

The UN SDG Action Campaign participated in the first ever Global People’s Summit for Sustainable Development to facilitate a series of activations and calls to action. 84 MILLION people were reached in 160 COUNTRIES

 

Launch of the ASEAN MY World 2030 survey

The ASEAN MY World survey was officially launched by the UNDP Administrator and all Foreign Ministers from the ASEAN region.

“Multi-stakeholder participation and inclusion are recognized as key drivers of success; however there is still a need to increase public awareness and ownership. The ASEAN MY World survey will increase public awareness and capture priorities and perceptions of progress on the agendas.”
Achim Steiner, Administrator of the UNDP 

The ASEAN MY World survey will increase public awareness and capture priorities and perceptions of progress on the agendas, interpret peoples’ aspirations towards the ASEAN Community Vision and the SDGs at the national and regional level, and subsequently help shape policy recommendations and plans of action for ASEAN Member States to achieve the agenda/vision in a timely manner.

Read the complete speech  or go to the ASEAN My World 2030 Survey: asean.myworld2030.org

Global Day of Action for SDGs  – We the People #Act4SDGs

On 25 September, 2017 – the second anniversary of the ratification of the SDGs. The UN SDG Action Campaign, together with the World We Want 2030, local chapters of the Global Campaign Against Poverty (GCAP), and Action for Sustainable Development, joined forces to invite people around the world to take action and send a strong signal to leaders about the importance of the SDGs.

The result? Thousands of volunteers and citizens around the world, celebrities, journalists and thought leaders joined to inspire people to collectively achieve the SDGs: 

500 organisations
1000 actions
116 countries and 380 cities
11,000 tweets
84 million people reached globally  

Explore the actions and join us: www.Act4SDGs.org

 

Immersive exhibition brings delegates closer than ever to refugees, displaced, and migrants during UNGA

The 71st regular session of the United Nations General Assembly met this past September, which also coincided with the High Level Meeting on Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants. In an effort to raise the voices are those most in danger of being left behind, the UN SDG Action Campaign brought two immersive technology experiences to the UN Secretariat Building, highlighting some of the most complex global challenges the UN faces. The particular focus on refugees, displaced people, and migrants allowed diplomats direct access and a deeper understanding of their everyday realities.

Above: Haider al Abadi, Prime Minister of Iraq speaking to Waleed, a young boy displaced from Mosul by violence now living in the Harsham IDP Camp. Below: Ewan MacGregor, Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF poses with Mirna, young girl he met on his last visit to the Camp in Erbil.

The United Nations Virtual Reality film series and Portals immersive experiences enables people to access locations and situations they would otherwise never experience, providing context for some of the most complex issues the UN is striving to mitigate. By doing so, the Campaign hopes it will help transform understanding of critical global issues that must be addressed in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals into a medium that is instantly empathetic and universally relatable.

Throughout the course of the week, Delegates were able to watch several films on the newly launched UNVR app (available at www.UNVR.org) about the everyday realities of refugees. Filmed in the Zaatari Camp in Jordan, Clouds Over Sidra recounts the new normal for a young girl from Syria, and Born Into Exile by UNFPA highlights the importance of providing safe births for mothers, revealing the amazing statistic that zero mothers have been lost at the camp. Beyond the Lake recounts the harrowing experience of a woman escaping violence in Burundi who is able to start a new life in the DRC through the support of UN Women safe spaces. UNOCHA also previewed Home, a new film documenting the UN Secretary-General’s humanitarian tour, highlighting the plight of refugees living in Lebanon, Syria and the DRC.

Delegates further had the opportunity to have full-body conversations with individuals living these realities, in real time, through the UN Portal, curated by the CampaignShared_Studios, and Bridges of Understanding. It is part of an international project with countless locations around the world by Shared_Studios. The UN Portal connected to the Harsham IDP Camp in Erbil, curated by UNICEF  Iraq, allowing delegates to speak to young Iraqis displaced by fighting in Mosul. It also connected to a refugee resettlement home outside of Berlin, where delegates could speak to people from Chad, South Sudan, Afghanistan, and Syria in varying stages of asylum seeking, and to young people at the University of Kabul in Afghanistan with Turquoise Mountain Institute. In the afternoons, the UN Portal connected to Mexico City with an NGO called Proyecto Habesha that is supporting Syrian refugees in coordinates higher education degrees in Mexico.

This exhibition was made possible through the political support of the Government of the Netherlands, the Government of Germany, the Government of Iraq, and the UN Department of Information.

The Campaign also shared the space with UNICEF’s Time Machine, an installation that  translating childhood memories from data into unique sound – giving visitors and delegates attending the UNGA an opportunity to understand the data on children currently available and areas that fall short.

Open letter from the SDG Advocates

On 22 September, the SDG Advocates have released an open letter urging everyone to co-own the responsibility of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

The letter states that the 17 SDGs “have the potential to make us the first generation to put an end to extreme poverty, the most determined generation to fight inequality and the last generation to be threatened by the effects of climate change.”

The Advocates also urge everyone to “take the substantial and specific actions required to create a better world for all.”

The UN SDG Action Campaign, with the support of Mediacom, secured full page adverts in the Economist European edition (22 October issue) and the Financial Times UK edition (7 October) to publicize the letter, to encourage engagement of all stakeholders in the agenda.

Ambassador Power Visits We the Peoples' Hub

On the 30th of September, the UN Millennium Campaign welcomed US Ambassador to the United Nations H.E Samantha Power at the We the Peoples Hub. Ambassador Power was given a private walkthrough of the Hub along with reporters from Associated Press to see many of the instillations present at the hub.

Ambassador Power viewing a screening of Clouds Over Sidra at the We the Peoples’ Hub during the UN General Assembly.

During her visit, she was able to view the Virtual Reality film, Clouds Over Sidra, the story of a day in the life of Sidra, a twelve year old Syrian Refugee living in the Za’atari Camp in Jordan. Following this experience, Ambassador Power had the opportunity to step into a Portal and have a one on one conversation with Sidra, made possible by a collaboration with Shared Studios and UNICEF Jordan. Power and Sidra discussed topics from Sidra’s favorite classes to her aspirations for the future.

Virtual Reality helps decision makers like Ambassador Power step into the shoes of those living through some of the world’s largest development challenges, allowing them to experience their reality in a very real way. Portals are a global network of interconnected shipping containers that form a community center where people can engage one another in ways otherwise impossible. The Portals installed in the We the Peoples Hub gives individuals the unique opportunity to have a conversation and gain insight from someone living in the Za’atari Camp. These conversations bring a human element to global issues, helping bridge the gap between what we hear on the news and what is actually happening on the ground.

Ambassador Power was very impressed with the ability of the We the Peoples’ Hub to bring the human element to issues like the Syrian Refugee Crisis stating, “what the portal does… it doesn’t just give you those faces… [instead] you feel like you are right there”. Ambassador Power was also hopeful in supporting the introduction of a permanent We the Peoples’ exhibit in the United Nations’ headquarters as well as encouraging members of the U.S State Department to watch the film as well.  

Power’s statements come at a time where the United States are committed increase the number of refugees the United States is accepting with U.S Secretary of State John Kerry stating,We are committed to increasing the number of refugees that we take. And we are looking hard at a number that we can specifically manage with respect to the crisis in Syria and Europe”. As of September 2015, the United States have announced plans to accept a greater number of refugees globally, including a minimum of 10,000 Syrian refugees.

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/141007218]

An Honest and Responsive Government – the Role of Citizen Voice

Blog by Caya Johnson, Global Youth Advocate

GovernancePhilippines

“Throughout history, progress has always been driven by citizens, who have the courage to raise their voices” – US President Barack Obama, Open Government Partnership Side-Event, 24 Sept. 2014

By empowering people around the world to have their priorities heard at the UN, the MY World 2015 Global survey has enabled a more transparent and accountable international development process – so perhaps it is unsurprising that these people have a similar aspiration for the openness and accountability of their own governments.  Out of the 16 MY World priorities, “An Honest and Responsive Government” is the 4th most voted for worldwide.

Disaggregated MY World Results on “An Honest and Responsive Governance”
Low HDI Governance

Furthermore, the MY World survey indicates that in low-HDI countries people feel that governance has a very real impact on their lives.  In these countries an honest and responsive government is the 2nd most voted for priority on average, indicating that governance and poverty are indeed linked. This linkage is backed up by research carried out by Transparency International showing a clear connection between poor governance and poverty.

  Continue reading “An Honest and Responsive Government – the Role of Citizen Voice”