The UNGA Conference 2020 will be held on Wednesday, September 23, 2020 in the margins of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly. The UNGA Conference 2020 is organized by the Journalists and Writers Foundation (JWF) in partnership with the JWF’s Global Partners, Member States of the United Nations, UN organs and agencies, and civil society organizations from around the world. 

The UNGA Conference is the flagship event of the JWF creating a platform for diverse stakeholders to discuss the Global Agenda 2030 and offer innovative solutions, strategies, and policy recommendations, with the view of further advancing the culture of peace, human rights and sustainable development. The conference gathers together a group of panelists and high-level speakers in 3 Panel Sessions to discuss a particular agenda and propose a framework of action. 

Since 2014, the JWF has proudly provided a platform for discussion for hundreds of high-level dignitaries and experts from all over the world, including Heads of States and Delegates to the UN General Assembly, UN High-Level Dignitaries (ASG, USG, PGA), UN accredited diplomats, experts, and prominent civil society actors. Last year, the UNGA Conference 2019 contributed to the SDG #17 in the revitalization of Global Partnerships by mobilizing 36 CSOs and NGOs from 24 countries.

Five Years of Action Towards the SDGs: The successful implementation of SDG #17 (Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development) remains at the focus of the UNGA Conference 2020. The JWF contributes to this mandate by mobilizing its Global Partners to share best-practices and policy suggestions on the achievement of the UN Development Agenda 2030. 

In 2015, the Member States committed to a new path of inclusive, transformative and achievable development strategy for humanity and the planet with a mission of “Leaving No One Behind”. The action-oriented 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development encourages all stakeholders including UN Agencies, Member States, private sector, civil society actors and experts to bridge the gap between policy and knowledge, create interlinkages between the goals and accelerate the implementation progress of the SDGs.  

This year is a strategic turning point for our global community, as we all fight the worldwide spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. This unprecedented global threat is however expected to strengthen the international communication and facilitate collaboration between the Member States of the United Nations, intergovernmental organizations, and civil society organizations, towards a common objective of creating peaceful and inclusive societies, where everyone is equally entitled to human rights, without discrimination.

Following a diligent consideration of policy outcomes from relevant sessions of UN WOMEN, ECOSOC, UN DESA, the Commission for Social Development and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the UNGA Conference 2020 includes the below topics. 

UNGA Conference 2020: Five Years of Action towards the SDGs will include a comprehensive debate taking stock of the past 5-years of actions towards the SDGs in three areas: (1) Women Empowerment and Gender Equality, (2) SDG #16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, and (3) Lessons learned from COVID-19 Pandemic: Evolving Social and Economic Development for Sustainability. Finally, the UNGA Conference will also provide a civil society perspective and assessment of major United Nations Conferences and Summits’ progress since 2015.

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