The 17 United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals
Stephanie Orji
The 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) flow from the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by UN member States in 2015. The Agenda I understand, is a resolution that – “…between now and 2030, to end poverty and hunger everywhere; to combat inequalities within and among countries; to build peaceful, just and inclusive societies; to protect human rights and promote gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls; and to ensure the lasting protection of the planet and its natural resources. We resolve also to create conditions for sustainable, inclusive and sustained economic growth, shared prosperity and decent work for all, taking into account different levels of national development and capacities.”[i]
The 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals are –
1. No poverty
2. Zero hunger
3. Good health and well-being
4. Quality education
5. Gender equality
6. Clean water and sanitation
7. Affordable and clean energy
8. Decent work and economic growth
9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure
10. Reduced inequalities
11. Sustainable cities and communities
12. Responsible consumption and production
13. Climate action
14. Life below water
15. Life on land
16. Peace, justice and strong institutions
17. Partnerships for the goals[ii]
Before the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, there were the 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to reduce extreme poverty by 2015, –
1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
2. Achieve universal primary education
3. Promote gender equality and empower women
4. Reduce child mortality
5. Improve maternal health
6. Combat HIV / AIDS, malaria and other diseases
7. Ensure environmental sustainability
8. Global partnership for development[iii]
The Sustainable Development Goals strive to strengthen the success achieved with the Millennium Development Goals, to expand the goals and to complete whatever was left undone.
The UN SDGs aim to improve the lives of the citizens of the world. A core impact of it is – improved living conditions for all, inclusive of humans, animals and nature.
The partners for the goals are – governments, the private sector, and civil society.[iv] The roles of the partners, I understand includes as follows –
i. Governments will provide the framework for the achievement of the goals in their countries, they will also include the SDGs in their programs and agendas.
ii. The private sector will include the SDGs in their activities.
iii. Civil society will continue to raise awareness about the goals and to act as a watch to ensure that governments and private sector are on track to achieve the goals. Civil society will include the SDGs in their activities and programs as well.
iv. Developed countries are to help least developed countries to develop. And to offer them various aid in this quest.
Proactive Gender Initiatives a non-governmental organization based in Abuja, which in recent times has repeatedly described itself thus- “a non-governmental organization established to promote effective, and inclusive democracy through legal advocacy, research, citizens political participation, public interest litigation and innovative approaches. We are focused on advancing the rights and inclusion of women, children, youth, vulnerable persons and marginalized groups.”. In its quest to contribute to the achievement of the SDGs has laudably developed courses on her website (https://progender.org/), particularly the course titled – ‘Gender and Social Inclusion’. The course is geared towards the achievement of goals 5 and 10 of the SDGs – Gender equality, Reduced inequalities.
Call to Action
For a better and sustainable future for all, support the UN SDGs.
Thank you.
Stephanie Orji lawyers at Heptagon & Associates, a full service law firm in Abuja, Nigeria.
[i] https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda
[ii] https://sdgs.un.org/goals
[iii] https://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/
[iv] https://www.un.org/en/exhibits/page/sdgs-17-goals-transform-world , see 17 Partnerships for the Goals, accessed on 29th July, 2024.