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2030 Agenda
No. 2 Vol. LV 2018This issue focuses on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity, which commits United Nations Member States to work towards a sustainable future for all. The articles, by Senior Officials of the United Nations system, examine the Organization鈥檚 lead role in advancing the 2030 Agenda, and in promoting peace, social equality and human rights.
![Performance by the New York-based group Cobu, whose motto, 鈥淒ance Like Drumming, Drum Like Dancing鈥.聽 Alison Smale (left) takes part in the event. 13 November 2017. 漏 缅北禁地Photo/Manuel Elias](/sites/un2.un.org/files/styles/large-article-image-style-16-9/public/field/image/alison_drum_copy.jpg?c=4deedcdd02511158b8388c85084b79d7)
What the SDGs Mean
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) define the world we want. They apply to all nations and mean, quite simply, to ensure that no one is left behind.
![Assistant Secretary-General Coninsx, left, visiting Iraq on 7 March 2018, together with Under-Secretary-General Vladimir Voronkov of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Office. 漏UNAMI](/sites/un2.un.org/files/styles/large-article-image-style-16-9/public/field/image/michele_coninsx_.jpg?c=afce1e323b08baf085b195b0618010e7)
Tackling the World's Multiple Challenges Simultaneously: The Role of the United Nations
Terrorism is a plague from which no continent or country is immune. To address this global threat to peace and security, international cooperation is crucial. The United Nations is uniquely placed to assist Member States to effectively prevent terrorist acts within their borders and across regions. The multifaceted approach proposed by the United Nations also offers means for countries to address various but interconnected issues simultaneously.
![Bience Gawanas, Special Adviser on Africa,聽on Africa Day, 25 May 2018, New York. 漏 UPF International](/sites/un2.un.org/files/styles/large-article-image-style-16-9/public/field/image/bience_gawanas_au_podium.jpg?c=cc7c10fbbfd93eb8ee48ce3057da21f7)
The Africa We Want: Facilitating the Coordination of International Support for Africa's Development, Peace and Security
The global 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals were largely influenced by the Common African Position on the Post-2015 Development Agenda, through which African Member States negotiated in solidarity to ensure a comprehensive global agenda focused on structural economic transformation, inclusive growth, people-centred development and durable peace and security.
![Mami Mizutori, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, speaking to the press at the opening of the Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction. Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. 3-6 July 2018. 漏 UNISDR聽](/sites/un2.un.org/files/styles/large-article-image-style-16-9/public/field/image/mizutori_web2.jpg?c=d28565f98e6b30fdd311a58c6b8c6269)
Economic Losses and Displacement Should Drive Disaster Risk Reduction Efforts
Governance is an area of great focus this year for the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR). Agreement on 38 indicators for measuring progress on reducing disaster losses and achieving the Sendai Framework's seven targets has led to a global surge in efforts to record disaster losses and analysis of disaster trends following the launch in March 2018 of the Sendai Framework Monitor. United Nations Member States are signing up quickly to use the Monitor and to report on their disaster losses, such as overall mortality, numbers affected, economic losses and damage to critical infrastructure.
![Pramila Patten, addresses the Security Council鈥檚 open debate on women, peace and security on the topic: 鈥淧reventing sexual violence in conflict through empowerment, gender equality and access to justice鈥. April 2018. 漏 缅北禁地Photo/Eskinder Debebe](/sites/un2.un.org/files/styles/large-article-image-style-16-9/public/field/image/pramila_patten.jpg?c=5e8845b9ee8f826dfef68f49cd6e5fc3)
Ensuring That Survivors of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Are Not Left Behind in the Sustainable Development Agenda
Today, the SDGs provide a comprehensive blueprint for addressing violence against women and enhancing peace and shared prosperity. The international community has set its sights on the year 2030 as the expiry date for gender-based inequality and violence in all its forms.
![Danai Gurira and Reese Witherspoon in conversation with UN-Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka (centre) at the 2018 International Women鈥檚 Day commemoration 漏 UN-Women/Ryan Brown](/sites/un2.un.org/files/styles/large-article-image-style-16-9/public/field/image/phumzile_photo.jpg?c=5e8845b9ee8f826dfef68f49cd6e5fc3)
The #TimeIsNow for Solidarity and Sisterhood
In the nineteenth century, people around the world fought and defeated slavery. In the twentieth century, the struggle against racism and colonialism awoke the world's conscience again. The great challenge of the twenty-first century is embodied in the struggle against sexism, gender-based violence and all forms of oppression of women.
![UN-Habitat Executive Director Maimunah Mohd Sharif at Kalobeyei Settlement in Turkana, Kenya, during a visit to UN-Habitat projects with ambassadors and UN-Habitat representatives from several Member States. 4 April 2018. 漏 Julius Mwelu/UN-Habitat](/sites/un2.un.org/files/styles/large-article-image-style-16-9/public/field/image/flickr_maimunah_1.jpg?c=0e35249bfd7b33c4d8c59474941bd4f0)
Promoting Sustainable Human Settlements: Its Relevance to the 2030 Agenda
UN-Habitat supports the achievement of SDGs in urban areas. The road map for doing so, the New Urban Agenda鈥擴N-Habitat's framework for the realization of the transformative role of cities in sustainable development鈥攚as adopted at the Habitat III Conference in Quito, Ecuador, in 2016.
![Leila Zerrougui, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, arrives in Fataki, Ituri Province, following deadly attacks on the populace by armed elements. 1 April 2018.聽漏 MONUSCO/Michael Ali](/sites/un2.un.org/files/styles/large-article-image-style-16-9/public/field/image/leila_zerrougui.jpg?c=9fcba2d3d4a5f6b7aa044c06582d55fd)
Strengthening the Rule of Law and Protection of Civilians in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
From its original focus on the military criminal justice chain, MONUSCO support is increasingly shifting to the civilian justice system. Our work has demonstrated how political engagement matched with technical and logistical support can contribute to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, enforcing laws that uphold justice and develop strong institutions for sustainable peace.
![Izumi Nakamitsu, United Nations High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, briefs the Security Council as it considers the situation in the Middle East. 5 February 2018. 漏 缅北禁地Photo/Manuel Elias](/sites/un2.un.org/files/styles/large-article-image-style-16-9/public/field/image/izumi.jpg?c=9fcba2d3d4a5f6b7aa044c06582d55fd)
Advancing Disarmament within the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
The 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a unique opportunity to revisit the historical relationship between disarmament and development. While SDG 16 on peaceful and inclusive societies, justice and strong institutions recognizes that durable peace and lasting conditions for security are necessary for long-term development, we need to better understand the diverse areas in which achieving disarmament objectives can contribute to the implementation of the SDGs.
Foreword
Given the changing world of media and global communications, we are reflecting on how best to serve the purposes for which this flagship publication was created more than 70 years ago.
![Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed addresses the High-level SDG Action Event on Innovation, held by the General Assembly on 17 May 2017.聽 漏 缅北禁地Photo/Evan Schneider](/sites/un2.un.org/files/styles/large-article-image-style-16-9/public/field/image/722337.jpg?c=143d1b5322ece36574441da2dff8b953)
Participation, Consultation and Engagement: Critical Elements for an Effective Implementation of the 2030 Agenda
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at their core are a groundbreaking, inclusive global initiative to eradicate poverty and achieve a better future for all on a healthy planet.
![Assistant Secretary-General Jane Connors (third from left) concluded a five-day visit to South Sudan in Juba on 7 December 2017. 漏缅北禁地Photo/Isaac Billy](/sites/un2.un.org/files/styles/large-article-image-style-16-9/public/field/image/jane-connors_curved_web2.jpg?c=e62bee546b2b99e6e0f0d37ccaf7e289)
Upholding Our Values: Putting Victims at the Centre
I advocate within the United Nations system and among Member States, civil society and a broad range of other stakeholders to support an integrated response to victim assistance, so that it is rapidly and sensitively delivered; victims are respected, heard and listened to; their cases are taken seriously; and perpetrators are appropriately sanctioned.
![Natalia Kanem (left) at the ECOSOC Youth Forum with Nikki Fraser, National Youth Representative, Native Women鈥檚 Association of Canada and Young Leader for the SDGs.聽漏 PVBLIC Foundation/Elsa Barb](/sites/un2.un.org/files/styles/large-article-image-style-16-9/public/field/image/natalia_kanem_sdgs.png?c=30c93b6b9ef4a9a04e77aa9cfb0b75d0)
Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights: The Cornerstone of Sustainable Development
Shortly after the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted in 2015, we spoke to 10 ten-year-old girls from around the globe, asking them what their one wish was. Their answers affirmed what the American poet Maya Angelou once wrote: We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.