Excellency, Sergio Mattarella, President of the Republic of Italy,
Excellency, Amina Mohamed, Deputy-Secretary-General of the United Nations,
Distinguished representatives of Member States,
Dear colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is a pleasure and an honour to welcome all of you to the SDG 16 Conference 2024.
I thank the Permanent Mission of Italy to the United Nations and the International Development Law Organization for organizing this fifth edition of the conference with us.
The Conference comes to New York after four successful meetings in Rome. This move brings the discussion closer to key intergovernmental processes, including the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) where SDG 16 will be reviewed.
Today’s Conference aims at three main objectives:
First, to raise awareness and interest in the international community about the role of SDG 16 in enabling and supporting progress on all the SDGs.
Second, to provide an inclusive platform for engagement on SDG 16 implementation.
Third, to shed light on trends, challenges, and opportunities for accelerating action on all dimensions of SDG 16, in the current context of multiple, intersecting crises, including by examining how SDG 16 interlinks with other Goals.
Following in the success of prior conferences, we have convened distinguished speakers from a broad range of institutions: ministers and other officials from Member States and international organizations, experts and practitioners from civil society and academia, as well as youth representatives. Through this, we aim to create a productive exchange of views among a rich mix of stakeholders.
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
SDG 16 is foundational to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. However, progress on this Goal has been inconsistent and unsatisfactory at best, as shown by the last Sustainable Development Goals Report. Urgent action is needed to change course.
I hope that your exchanges will provide concrete, actionable ideas and recommendations for moving forward.
I encourage you, in your exchanges, to explore strategies for addressing the root causes of conflicts, preventing and reducing violence, and promoting inclusivity, to pave the way for more peaceful societies.
You can identify innovative approaches to strengthening the rule of law and access to justice, preventing and combating corruption, and promoting transparency, accountability and integrity in governance.
I would welcome your insight on innovations that can make public institutions more effective and resilient to shocks, more participatory and inclusive, more forward-looking, and able to steer societal change.
And I also welcome your perspective on opportunities for building more inclusive societies that support trust among people and between people and their institutions.
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
As I mentioned, SDG 16 will be reviewed at this year’s HLPF, along with SDGs 1, 2, 13 and 17. In addition to providing a platform for comprehensive review of progress on SDG 16, the HLPF will also be an opportunity to highlight key linkages between SDG 16 and these other Goals. Then, this September, the Summit of the Future will aim to advance progress and commitments in areas closely connected with SDG 16, including future generations, digitalization and social contracts. Your deliberations today can inform these processes.
I look forward to the recommendations that will come from your discussions, and the contribution they will make to accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda.
Thank you.