Working to end trafficking and moving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals forward

July 30 is World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. Its roots are traceable to 2010 when the General Assembly adopted the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons, urging Governments worldwide to take coordinated and consistent measures to defeat this scourge.

The Plan calls for integrating the fight against human trafficking into the UN’s broader programmes in order to boost development and strengthen security worldwide. One of the crucial provisions in the Plan is the establishment of a UN Voluntary Trust Fund for victims of trafficking, especially women and children.

In 2013, the General Assembly held a high-level meeting to appraise the Global Plan of Action. Member States also adopted resolution A/RES/68/192 and designated July 30 as the World Day against Trafficking in Persons. This resolution declared that such a day was necessary to “raise awareness of the situation of victims of human trafficking and for the promotion and protection of their rights.”

Importantly, goals and targets around addressing trafficking in persons was recognized in the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. These goals call for an end to trafficking and violence against children; as well as the need for measures against human trafficking, and they strive for the elimination of all forms of violence against and exploitation of women and girls.

These goals are diverse and were briefly teased in previous pieces on UN Days of Observances for the Monsoon Journal. What are these goals exactly?

According to the United Nations, the Sustainable Development Goals are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They address the global challenges we face, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice. The Goals interconnect and in order to leave no one behind, it is important that we achieve each Goal and target by 2030.

There are 17 goals in total:

Goal 1: No Poverty

Goal 2: Zero Hunger

Goal 3: Good Health and Wellbeing

Goal 4: Quality Education

Goal 5: Gender Equality

Goal 6: Clean Water

Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

Goal 10: Reduced inequalities

Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Goal 12: Responsible Production and Consumption

Goal 13: Climate Action

Goal 14: Life Below Water

Goal 15: Life on Land

Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals

UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, stated “the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals are our collective response to building a fair globalization.”

To monitor the progress in achieving the goals of the 2030 Agenda, the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development is the main global forum for reviewing successes, challenges and lessons learned on achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – and for countries to present their Voluntary National Reviews. These national reviews are the experiences of member state governments including successes, challenges and lessons learned in implementing the 2030 goals.

In 2019, the High-level Political Forum will be convened twice: first under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council (9-18 July 2019); and then under the auspices of the General Assembly, at the Head of State-level (24-25 September 2019) – the first SDG Summit since the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015.

There are five campaigns that aim at advancing the goals of the 2030 Agenda. The five campaigns focus on gender, youth, water, and climate. The water campaign is the Water Action Decade, 2018-2028: Averting a global water crisis. It prioritizes mobilizing action on how to manage water, considering there is a 40 per cent shortfall in freshwater resources by 2030 coupled with a burgeoning world population.

An ideal way to get involved in the advancement of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development Goals is the Be the Change Initiative. This initiative provides an opportunity for all of us to better “walk the talk” when it comes to the SDGs. This Initiative guides and encourages us to live more sustainable at work and at home by changing our consumption patterns, using active transport such as cycling, and buying local foods. Everyone is welcome to participate. Every little step helps – inform your family, your friends and your community about simple actions they can take in their daily lives.

Readers like you can capitalize on the toolkit located on the UN Sustainable Development Goals website to organize an initiative such as teaching children the importance of climate action.

So, get out there and work towards ending trafficking in persons and moving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals forward.