THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS:
EQUALITY, HUMAN RIGHTS, PEACE
In 2016, a new global framework of seventeen universal and inter-linked Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) came into effect. The SDGs build on the achievements of the eight Millennium Development Goals (2000-2015). The SDGs encompass a range of ambitious commitments to be realised by 2030 on ending poverty and hunger worldwide and ensuring minimum global standards in relation to health, education, decent work, clean water and energy, sustainable communities, consumption and industry, climate action and environmental protection.
In this important first year of the implementation period of the SDGs (2016-2030), The Mary Robinson Centre International Symposium 2016, held in Ballina, Co Mayo on the 1-2 July, brought together key stakeholders with particular interests in promoting equality, human rights and women’s participation and leadership in the implementation of the SDGs. In doing so, it aimed to foster action-oriented links among policy decision makers, influencers and implementers; academic and policy researchers; practitioners in development, humanitarian and human rights NGOs; and others committed to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.
In September, Mary Robinson gave a keynote speech at the UN General Assembly in New York at the High-level Side Panel Achieving Peaceful, Just and inclusive Societies for Sustainable Development: Converting words into actions. Her speech highlighted the issues we discussed in Ballina at this flagship two-day International Symposium in July.
The agenda for the two day International Symposium can be found below with full videos of each plenary panel.
OPENING PLENARY ROUNDTABLE
“Transformative Sustainable Development Goals: Foregrounding Equality, Human Rights and Peace”
MARY ROBINSON, former President of Ireland and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
NOELEEN HEYZER, formerly Head of UNIFEM and Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia Pacific (ESCAP)
COLM O'GORMAN, Executive Director, Amnesty International Ireland
Chair/moderator: PAUL GILLESPIE, Irish Times columnist and former Foreign Policy Editor
“Transformative Sustainable Development Goals: Foregrounding Equality, Human Rights and Peace”
MARY ROBINSON, former President of Ireland and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
NOELEEN HEYZER, formerly Head of UNIFEM and Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia Pacific (ESCAP)
COLM O'GORMAN, Executive Director, Amnesty International Ireland
Chair/moderator: PAUL GILLESPIE, Irish Times columnist and former Foreign Policy Editor
PLENARY SESSION I
“Goal 5: Mobilising Resources to Achieve Gender Equality and
Empower All Women and Girls”
Speakers:
GERALDINE FRASER-MOLEKETI, Gender Envoy for the African
Development Bank
HEATHER GRADY, Vice President, Rockefeller Philanthropy
Advisors, San Francisco, USA
NOELEEN HEYZER, formerly Head of UNIFEM and Executive
Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia
Pacific (ESCAP)
Chair/moderator: MARY ROBINSON
PLENARY SESSION II
“Goal 10: Combating Inequalities within and between Countries”
Speakers:
PETER POWER, Executive director, UNICEF Ireland, former Minister of State for Overseas Development
DIANE ELSON, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, University of Essex, joint winner 2016 Leontief Prize for Advancing the Frontiers of Economic Thought
SORLEY McCAUGHEY, Head of Advocacy and Policy, Christian Aid, Ireland
Chair/moderator: COLM O’GORMAN, Executive Director, Amnesty International Ireland
PLENARY SESSION III
“Goal 16: Promoting Just, Peaceful and Inclusive Societies”
Speakers:
MOUNA GHANEM, Syrian Women’s Forum for Peace and member of the Syrian Women’s Advisory Board to the UN Envoy on Syria
MONICA McWILLIAMS, Professor of Women’s Studies, Transitional Justice Institute, University of Ulster and co-founder of the Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition Political Party
RAY MURPHY, Director (Acting), Irish Centre for Human Rights, NUI Galway
Chair/Moderator: MARY ROBINSON
