The published on July 6 Report of the Agenda 2030 platform, in which terre des hommes switzerland also participated, makes a sobering observation: Switzerland is not on track with its contribution to a sustainable world. The broad alliance of organizations demands more leadership from the Federal Council to make the necessary changes, halve poverty, protect the climate, uphold human rights and shape the financial center responsibly.
Seven years after the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in New York, the Swiss Agenda 2030 Platform - a merger from over 50 organizations, which are active in the fields of environment, international cooperation, human rights, sustainable economy, gender, peace, housing and labor - balance: Switzerland is not on a good track to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We live at the expense of the world, but the Federal Council has no convincing strategy presented so farto master the urgently needed transformation towards an economy that respects planetary boundaries. Worldwide and in Switzerland, people are prevented from exercising their fundamental rights, and hunger and poverty are on the rise.
Civil society demands participation
The Agenda 2030 Platform presented its civil society report at the UN High-Level Political Forum, which took place from July 5 to 15, 2022. In doing so, it contrasted its own analyses and recommendations for action with the official Swiss country report presented by Federal Councillor Cassis to the Forum in New York on July 12. "The official Swiss country report misses the opportunity to draw necessary concrete conclusions for the consistent implementation of the 2030 Agenda," commented Laura Ebneterwhich represents Alliance Sud in New York, is critical.
Important role of NGOs
With its report, the Agenda 2030 Platform confirms the important role of civil society organizations. Civil society is an important political actor and thus central to the functioning of a democracy. NGOs advocate for compliance with the legal framework, human rights and international obligations. Political and business decision-makers are thus held accountable for promises made and commitments made. Civil society provides vessels and channels for discussion and opinion-forming and can thus bring voices into political processes that have not been represented in representative democracy to date. Civil society plays the role of a political corrective. To do so, it depends on a framework that guarantees access to information and participation as well as freedom of expression. In many countries, however, these framework conditions are not in place.
Our demands
To achieve the 17 SDGs, all public policies must be clearly aligned with the goals and ambitions of the 2030 Agenda. We call for efficient measures to quickly address the identified shortcomings. Switzerland's spillover effects on the rest of the world must be reduced. Conditions must be imposed on the financial market so that investments contribute to the protection of the climate and human rights. The commitment against militarization and for human security must be strengthened. Future bilateral trade agreements must contain binding sustainability criteria.
Central demands continue to be consistent measures to eliminate discrimination against women, people with disabilities, migrants and racialized persons.
The Agenda 2030 Platform calls on the Federal Council to have more courage for transformative solutions. It is not enough to give "business as usual" a colorful coat of SDGs through cosmetic adjustments. What we need is a real change towards a sustainable society.
