United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and The Peace Alliance Five Cornerstones of Peace
As Fostering International Peace Lead, one of my objectives is to connect with people and organizations that are doing good around the world. To this end, in my other day job as a United Nations Representative, I have an opportunity to gain a global perspective. Attending meetings, conferences and forums led by delegations from member states, civil society, community leaders, and experts in the field serves as a rich informative environment.
One that I want to share with you is the ‘High Level Forum on a Culture of Peace’ held this past September. The meeting’s chair and moderator and friend of The Peace Alliance as a member of our Advisory Board, Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury elegantly spoke in his opening statement:
“The seed of peace exists in all of us. It must be nurtured, cared for and promoted by us all to flourish. Peace cannot be imposed from outside, it must be realized from within.”
President of this 71st Session of the UN General Assembly, Mr. Peter Thomson, closed the forum with his moving message:
“As global citizens, we all share in the responsibility to build a culture of peace to achieve a world of sustaining peace and sustainable development, as an essential element of our efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.“
These 17 Sustainable Development Goals that range from no poverty, clean water, and gender equality are a framework for partnership for all citizens of this planet.
I will highlight 5 Sustainable Development Goals’s that align closely with the prioritizes of the Peace Alliance’s mission known as the Five Cornerstones of Peacebuilding.
Cornerstone: Empowering Community Peacebuilding:
aligns with SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
Cornerstone: Teaching Peace in Schools:
aligns with SDG 4 Quality Education
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
Cornerstone: Humanizing Justice Systems:
aligns with United Nations SDG 16 Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
Cornerstone: Cultivating Personal Peace:
aligns with SDG 3 Good Health and Well Being,
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
Cornerstone: Fostering International Peace:
aligns with SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals
Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development
The 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Peace Alliance Five Cornerstone of Peacebuilding set an ambitious agenda for change and to develop Powerful partnership between individuals, organizations and governments who are adopting shared values and principles that relate to something bigger than ourselves to safeguard a global culture of peace.
