The United Nations adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 as an agenda for the next 15 years ending in 2030. The year 2022 marks the halfway mark for achieving the SDGs with seven years of effort shown by the global community. More focus and targeted action by all the stakeholders, governments, and all the organizations are required for achieving these SDGs. Integrated and intersectoral policy action needed to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs was discussed in the side events of the United Nations General Assembly 77, held in September 2022 at the UN Headquarters (HQ), New York. Dr. Sashikala Chandrasekar, Chair of the SC RH, participated in the events on the SDGs.
The UN Secretary General, Mr. Antonio Guterres, addressed the Education Summit, which emphasized education for all, and education with equity and inclusion. Educating the girl child is important for women empowerment and economic development (SDGs 4, 5 & 10).
A new global report titled “The gender pay gap in the health and care sector: A global analysis in the time of COVID-19”, was published by the WHO and the ILO at the UN HQ. It was launched to drive worldwide commitment to integrated policy action for gender equality (SDG 5), reduced inequalities (SDG 10), decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), and good health and wellbeing (SDG 3).
Women in the health and care sector, who account for 67% of health and care workers worldwide, earn 24% less than men, on average. Global analysis of gender pay inequalities in this sector finds that women face a larger gender pay gap when compared with the other economic sectors. The importance of achieving these SDGs has a key role to play in women’s economic empowerment which leads to the sustainable economic development of a country.
Primary healthcare, global health equity, health and migration, chemicals and food safety, women and children’s nutrition, sexual and reproductive health, and rights (SDGs 3 and 5) were some of the vital topics which were on the focus in the various side events of UNGA 77.
Planetary health and climate action (SDG 13) sessions held at the UN HQ and the Harvard Club focussed on reducing carbon emissions around the world. It was emphasized that all the organizations and the stakeholders worldwide must take active role in all ways to raise awareness about this important topic of concern. The global warming badge, conceptualised by SC RH, was handed out to the delegates. The initiatives taken by SC RH for creating awareness on global warming during conferences and the SC RH badge were very much appreciated.
