Need for increased engagement with youths for successful implementation of the SDGs

Tuesday 25th September, 2018.

Today marks the 3rd year anniversary of the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, commonly known as the SDGs or 2030 Agenda, by all 193 United Nations Member States.

Alliance for Future Generations – Fiji, Coordinator Mr. Lavetanalagi Seru said “in order to build a more sustainable and prosperous world for all, it is imperative to engage young people, in all efforts to achieve the SDGs, whether it be planning, implementation, and monitoring & evaluation.”

According to Mr Lagi, young people represent over half of Fiji’s population and have a lot to offer, in expertise & skills, innovative ideas, creativity, determination, and hope.

Governments, civil society, non-governmental organizations, development partners, private sectors, need to scale actions, and investment to realize the 17 Goals, and ensure that young people are meaningfully engaged in all processes, as we only have 13 years ahead of us to meet the goals and their respective targets.

“We cannot talk about the principle of “Leaving No One Behind”, if young people in all their diversity, are being left behind”,’’ he said.

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals and its 169 targets, demonstrate the scale and ambition of this new universal Agenda that seeks to build on the Millennium Development Goals and complete what these did not achieve. The goals seek to realize the human rights of all and to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. It also seeks to strengthen universal peace in larger freedom, recognizing that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development. They are integrated and indivisible and balance the three dimensions of sustainable development: the economic, social and environmental.

The Alliance for Future Generations – Fiji, a young people’s led organization that works to champion the voices and meaningful engagement of young people in sustainable development, recognizes the enormous challenges, that today’s young people face, due to globalization, new technologies, shrinking civic spaces, changing labour markets and the impact of climate change, especially here in Fiji and the Pacific region.

The Alliance for Future Generations – Fiji will be conducting community awareness in the coming days in communities in the Central Division, aimed at increasing people’s understanding of what the SDGs are, and how as individuals, and collectively as communities be able to mobilize and drive actions to achieve the different Goals in the SDGs.

AFG-Fiji’s Western Project Officer Mr. Eparama Qerewaqa said “This generation faces problems unique from previous generation before us, and seeks collective efforts to build a better world, and that the SDGs aren’t far – that it is not an abstract concept that only the UN and national governments should know nor be responsible for, but a responsibility for all who share this planet”. Mr. Qerewaqa further challenged young people “that the SDGs aren’t just a to do checklist, it is a lifetime goal for a world that young people will be soon inheriting, so let’s not give up – but ensure ambition and achievement of the SDGs”.

For more information please contact Alliance for Future Generations – Fiji (AFG-Fiji) Public Relations Officer, Mr. Blake Koroi on email alliance4futuregenerations@gmail.com

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