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 13.12.2023

Human Rights and Agenda 2030 complement and reinforce each other

75 years ago, on 10 December 1948, representatives of all of the UN member states signed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In 30 articles, the letter expresses what they considered basic human rights to be, and which are applied without exception to all human beings.

Human rights are fundamental to achieve sustainable development which doesn’t leave anyone behind and are essential for all three dimensions: social, economic and environmental.

The 2030 Agenda preamble explicitly reaffirms that the SDGs “seeks to realise the human rights of all” and 92% of the 169 targets of the SDGs are directly related to one or more of the basic human rights agreements. Implicit in Agenda 2030 is a transformative action that includes the fight against climate change, the reduction of inequalities, the creation of decent work and not leaving anyone behind.

Perhaps the current global situation doesn’t inspire optimism: growing inequalities, unattended vulnerability, forced migration, the inability to stop climate change in addition to the emergence of authoritarian and populist governments that erode legitimacy and confidence in politics and institutions.

The SDGs, based on human rights, should be the driving force behind the recovery of confidence and the commitment to advance in favour of people, the planet, and prosperity.