Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, Appoints Sustainable Development Goals Advocates to Support Promotion of New Sustainable Development Goals. Some appointees are controversial choices, like the CEO of Unilever, or the co-founder of the Qatar foundation.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced the appointment of a group of eminent Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Advocates to help promote action to achieve the SDGs adopted by world leaders at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit on 25 September 2015.
The SDGs represent a commitment by all nations to work together to end poverty, achieve shared prosperity, build peace and secure a life of dignity and a healthy planet for present and future generations.
The Advocates will build on their unique standing and leadership to promote the SDGs as part of an ambitious and transformative global development agenda. They are to support the Secretary-General in his efforts to generate momentum and commitment to achieve the SDGs by 2030.
The SDG Advocates will promote the universal character of the SDGs, including their commitment to leave no one behind; to promote the engagement of new stakeholders in the implementation and financing of the SDGs; to encourage partnerships with Governments, civil society and the private sector to share knowledge and resources; and to raise awareness for the integrated nature of the SDGs.
The Advocates include:
Co-Chairs
- John Dramani Mahama, President of Ghana
- Erna Solberg, Prime Minister of Norway
Other Members are:
- Queen Mathilde of Belgium
- Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden
- Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Co-Founder, Qatar Foundation
- Richard Curtis, Screenwriter, Producer and Film Director
- Dho Young-Shim, Chairperson, United Nations World Tourism Organization’s Sustainable Tourism for Eliminating Poverty Foundation
- Leymah Gbowee, Director, Gbowee Peace Foundation
- Jack Ma, Founder and Executive Chairman, Alibaba Group
- Graça Machel, President, Foundation for Community Development
- Leo Messi, World Renowned Footballer, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador
- Alaa Murabit, Founder, The Voice of Libyan Women
- Paul Polman, Chief Executive Officer, Unilever
With a mandate to support the Secretary-General in his efforts to generate momentum and commitment to achieve the SDGs by 2030, the newly named SDG Advocates will add powerful voices to spur action on the visionary and transformational sustainable development agenda. The 17 SDGs aim to end poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while leaving no one behind.
The SDG Advocates will have the task of promoting the universal sustainable development agenda, raising awareness of the integrated nature of the SDGs, and fostering the engagement of new stakeholders in the implementation of the SDGs.
The diverse group of Advocates will engage with partners from civil society, academia, parliaments, and the private sector to develop new and ground-breaking ideas and ways to promote SDG implementation.