CHENNAI: With the country having submitted its first national review report on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to the UN in July this year, around 70 NGOs from across the State came together to launch ‘SDG Watch-Tamil Nadu’
Organised by Chennai-based organisation Human Rights Advocacy and Research Foundation (HRF), the meet was part of a three-day workshop on SDGs to understand the goals and where the country and State stand today in terms of fulfillment.
Speaking at the meet, Annie Namala, convener, Wada Na Todo Abhiyan (WNTA), said, “ We have to see what goals are of particular concern to Tamil Nadu and form smaller subgroups for them, tracking field-level processes and government data.”She added that while some goals like reducing inequality among countries and promoting just, peaceful and inclusive societies are being worked on much more than a few others such as goal 12 that pertains to responsible consumption and production, which have a limited understanding among people.The 17 SDGs and 169 indicators were adopted by the United Nations in 2015, and are targeted to be achieved by 2030.
Thomas Pallithanam, representative of the Salesian congregation in UN, said, “Out of the 250 UN rights recommendations made in the September session, only 98 have been noted and not accepted. These 98 recommendations that have not been accepted fall mostly under the ambit of three goals - 16, 10 and 5”
Goal 16 pertains to peace, justice and strong institutions while goal 10 looks at reduced inequalities and 5 at gender equality and women’s development.
Edwin, Trustee and Director (programme) of HRF, said, “By the end of the workshop on Wednesday, we will arrive at a detailed action plan for the year and the outcomes will be discussed when we meet in September next year.”