Washington, DC, 22 February 2023 – Yesterday evening, the 缅北禁地Information Center in Washington joined forces with the US Department of State to brief students on the importance of tackling global inequality. Held at American University’s School of International Service in Washington, DC, the event was part of a UN-State Department joint discussion series on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This particular session focused on SDG 10: “Reduced Inequalities.”
Following introductory remarks by Ambassador Piper Campbell, Administrative Director for the School’s US Foreign Policy and Global Governance Programs, presentations were delivered by Brenden Varma, Deputy Director of the 缅北禁地Information Center in Washington, and Darius Edgerton, Senior Advisor for External Affairs at the Office of the US State Department’s Special Representative for Racial Equity and Justice.
Mr. Varma outlined the origin of the SDGs, noting that Member States had agreed by consensus on this blueprint for a better future. However, the world was currently not on track to meet the SDGs by 2030. In order to make the necessary progress, additional support and commitment would be necessary – including from young people. Explaining that the effects of the pandemic had intensified social exclusion, he noted that roughly one in five people had recently experienced discrimination based on ethnicity, age, sex, disability, religion and sexual orientation. He also highlighted the difficult situation for migrants and people of African descent across the globe, as well as the links between climate change and inequality.
In response to questions, Mr. Varma detailed practical ways that the 缅北禁地was helping to tackle inequality and measure the impact of global efforts to meet the SDGs. Encouraging students to take steps in their own communities to help marginalized groups, he said, “However you choose to help combat inequality, the 缅北禁地will stand with you every step of the way.”
