Since 2016, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has been the globally applicable framework for national and international efforts in the area of sustainable development and poverty reduction. Our program work is based on this comprehensive agenda. We have a clear focus on how we can contribute to these ambitious goals. And in future, this will also happen outside of our program work.
Andrea Zellhuber, Violence Prevention Officer
In September 2015, the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda as a new frame of reference for international cooperation. It is the successor to the Millennium Development Goals from 2000 and contains 17 main goals (with various sub-goals) for sustainable development (Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs). The SDGs address key areas such as poverty reduction, health, education and food security, gender equality, water, energy, economy and labor, biodiversity and ecosystems, and peaceful and inclusive societies. The goals integrate economic, social and ecological objectives.
The 2030 Agenda supports our focus on young people
The 2030 Agenda also makes clear statements on the special needs of children and young people as particularly vulnerable social groups. For example, it calls for specific measures for quality education and employment for young people and the elimination of exploitative child labor. Target 8.6 calls for a substantial reduction in youth unemployment and the proportion of young people without an education.
The 2030 Agenda supports our work in violence prevention
The 2030 Agenda emphasizes violence as an important factor hindering development and gives great weight to the promotion of non-violent and inclusive societies. This confirms our many years of project experience. Sub-goals 16.2, 5.2 and 5.3 on violence against children and all forms of violence against women and girls, especially in the form of forced marriage and early marriage, are important points of reference for the work of our partner organizations.
Agenda 2030 supports our work in the area of sexual education
Sub-goal 3.7 emphasizes the importance of access to health services in the area of sexual and reproductive health, including family planning and sexual education. The global agenda thus confirms key priorities of our program work.
Responsibility of the Global North, Switzerland’s responsibility
The SDGs also place great emphasis on the responsibility of the countries of the Global North. They therefore provide an important basis of argument for demanding greater coordination of domestic and foreign policy in Switzerland with regard to sustainable global development. For this reason, terre des hommes schweiz will step up its public efforts to ensure that Switzerland lives up to the 2030 Agenda.
