2030 Agenda should be on ‘the walls of every planning ministry,’ Iceland tells world leaders at UN

Emphasizing that the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is the world’s “common roadmap” to sustainability, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade of Iceland underlined the need to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on time.

“The 2030 Agenda should be taped to the walls of every planning ministry,” said Minister Lilja Dögg Alfreðsdóttir in her address to the United Nations General Assembly, noting the global development agenda requires the efforts of the Government, business sector and civil society in every country because it “concerns every one of us.”

In her address, she also underscored the importance of the Paris Agreement on climate change and said that she looked forward to its entry into force.

Noting the importance of education, she said that it shows the way for ensuring human rights for all, but added that the rights of women still lags severely behind in many countries, at great cost not only to women and men, but to society as a whole.

“I stand here today, one of only 30 or so female foreign ministers in the world - as a proof that we have come a long way - yet [hardly] far enough,” she said.

Minister Alfreðsdóttir also expressed concern at the humanitarian crisis in Syria and “strongly condemned” the attack on the UN humanitarian convoy earlier this week, as well as on the new attacks on Aleppo, and called on all parties to the conflict to commit themselves to finding a political solution.

She also highlighted terrorism as a global threat that has left no country untouched and urged for collective action as well as improved coordination within the UN to address the this threat and that of violent extremism.

Also, in her address, she said that new process for selecting the next UN Secretary-General has raised the profile and standing of the global Organization. “It is a major milestone to see such a strong field of women candidates,” she said, adding: “It is now for the Security Council to propose to the General Assembly a candidate, who has wide support, credibility and respect.”