Today, Deputy Minister Marina Sereni opened the third edition of the Conference on Sustainable Development Goal 16 (SDG16) at the Farnesina, called “People-Centred Governance in a Post-Pandemic World”. The event, co-organised by the Directorate General for Development Cooperation with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and the International Development Law Organisation (IDLO), is being attended by representatives of governments, international organisations and civil society, including Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Abdulla Shahid, President of the United National General Assembly.
The SDG 16 aims to promote peaceful, inclusive societies, ensure fair access to justice, and encourage public institutions to be effective, responsible and inclusive in their actions. Sereni said “a fair, just and sustainable post-pandemic recovery requires full trust in public institutions at all levels, and also implies the need to do everything possible to fight gender inequality: women and girls are still left behind, they have fewer opportunities to enjoy their rights and are often silenced and denied their basic right of access to justice. We can only be stronger and more resilient to future challenges if we renew the social contract at global level and build back trust between people and the state everywhere.
This is why Italy, which has long been strongly committed to encouraging peace and development in accordance with the principles of justice, good governance, respect for fundamental rights and strengthening of the rule of law is delighted to organise a meeting like this”. On the fringes of the event, the Deputy Minister met Maria Francesca Spatolisano, the Assistant Secretary-General at UN DESA. The meeting revolved around the funding of sustainable development and the socioeconomic empowerment of young people. The strong commitment by Italy to support the UN DESA was recalled, giving 17 million as a voluntary contribution this year.
