To celebrate UN Day, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) organised an event on 23rd of October at NGO Mondo's World Education Centre on how to implement the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The representatives of UN organisations operating in Estonia, civil society and public sector as well as interested members of the public.
Agne Kuimet discussing the Sustainable Development Goals.
After outlining the 17 Sustainable Development Goals that the UN member states agreed to in 2015, attendees and organisers discussed what international organisations, local actors and every one of us can do to reduce the inequalities in the world and secure the well-being of people while addressing the challenges emerging from climate change and conflict.
Agne Kuimet from the Estonian Roundtable for Development Cooperation/Bridge 47 facilitated a GCE activity known as the ‘How is the world doing?’ quiz, which was an entertaining icebreaker both for participants and organisers.
Some of the attendees of the UN Refugee committee’s open event
UNHCR’s Northern Europe's spokesperson for Estonia, Didzis Melbiksis spoke about the Global Compact on Refugees and the upcoming Global Refugee Forum, while Liis Paloots from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) spoke about regulating global migration. The head of the World Health Organization's (WHO) office in Estonia, Marge Reinap gave an overview of their activities in promoting health and strengthening health systems.
Kristen Aigro from the Estonian Roundtable for Development Cooperation/Bridge 47 spoke about the work of Estonian coalition for Sustainable Development Goals which is a major Bridge 47 partnership. Ave-Marleen Rei from NGO Mondo introduced the coalition's upcoming campaign on the topic.
After the discussion, International House Tartu's social enterprise Köömen offered Egyptian snacks and refreshments to the guests. UN Day marks the anniversary of the entry into force of the UN Charter on 24th of October, 1945. In 2015, the UN member states, Estonia among them, agreed on the global sustainable development goals for the next 15 years.
A panel discussion talking about the Estonian coalition for the Sustainable Development Goals